Yoga & Vedanta Retreats

17th – 23rd April 2023

Who am I? What is the purpose of my life? What is the purpose of this Creation? When did it all start? Is there God? Is there one God or many? What does God do?

If you want to know the answers to the above questions, come join us for a 1-week long Vedanta retreat to delve into some of life’s most fundamental questions.

Vedanta is the study of the ancient Indian Scriptures – the Upanishads. The Upanishads are the philosophical teachings of the Vedas. This teaching is said to be timeless and eternal, handed to humanity directly from the Lord himself. It is not a teaching that was designed or invented by any person. It addresses the fundamental and universal problem of the human condition – the problem of sorrow and suffering.

Join us as we systematically explore the subject of life itself.

What will be covered?

The teachings will be loosely based on a text called Tattva Bodha, by Shankaracharya.

The following topics will be covered:

• Benefits of the study of Vedanta
• Classification of Hindu Scriptures
• Varna Dharma and Ashrama Dharma
• Purushartha Catustayam (4 goals of human life)
• Moksha (Liberation) – Explanation of the word Moksha and its description
• Roadmap to moksha – Karma Yoga, Upasana Yoga, Jnana Yoga
• Qualities of a student – Sadhana Catustayam (4-fold Inner Disciplines)
• Qualities of a teacher
• Analysis of Jiva (individual)
  • Sharira Trayam (3 bodies)
  • Pacha Kosha (5 Sheaths)
  • Avastha Trayam (3 States of Experience)
• Concept of Satyam and Mithya
• Analysis of Creation
• What is Atma?
• The Essential Unity between Jiva and Atma
• Description of a Self-Realised or Enlightened person
• 3 Types of Karma
• Laws of Karma

Why should I do this course?

• Deep intellectual satisfaction is experienced having obtained the answers to many of life’s questions
• The fruit of Vedanta study is lasting and limitless happiness. Having understood the nature of the world and of myself, there is a strong buffer against sorrow and suffering.
• Reduce the violent emotional fluctuations of the mind
• Reduce or even eliminate the desperate cravings for objects. Reduce dependency on external world
• Be protected against the trauma of tragic events. Become more mentally resilient against the fluctuations of the world
• Become more efficient and enthusiastic in all that you do.
• Real behavioural improvements can only happen through cognitive changes. Change your outlook about the world and yourself, and see how your behaviour, your productivity and even your life transforms!
• Learn accurate meanings of Sanskrit words
• Learn about Vedanta tradition from an authentic lineage of teachers
• Experience life in a Gurukula (traditional school) for the duration of your stay

12th – 18th June 2023

Upadesa Saaram originally written in Tamil by Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi, is also known as Upades Undiyar, is regarded as one of the greatest composition of the realized saint.

This scripture containing 30 verses in which Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi refers to various paths to Liberation and says that Self-Enquiry is the best method. He explains the path of selfless Karma, Bhakti, Yoga and the path of Self-Inquiry.

Ramana Mahrishi then explains that one is not liberated by action but by renunciation of action. The verses are very cryptic and packed with deep knowledge. All the verses will be explained in the light of Knowledge of the Self, the Reality.

The verses will be covered in 12 lectures of approximately 60 minutes duration. No specific exercises will be required. However, doubts will be clarified through Q & A sessions.

Why do you need this in your life?
Most of us seek happiness from outside world craving for external pleasures and fulfilling endless desires. Study of Vedanta scriptures like Upadesa Saaram makes life more meaningful and have a positive purpose in life. It helps us to understand more about the self, the purpose of being in this world, karma and samsara and the freedom from Samsara.

On the practical side, it helps one to perform duties and responsibilities with efficiency and to maintain equanimity in the face of success and failure, happiness and sorrow by accepting them with the right attitude. And helps to learn to lead a simple and contended life.

Sundar (Vasudeva) Nandagopal is an MBA graduate working in marketing management. He completed 500 hours of yoga teachers training in 2017. He is an active teacher of Patanjali Yoga sutras, Vedanta and a coach for Yoga Certification Board exams.

11th – 17th September 2023

Atma Bodha is a classified as a “Prakarana Grantha” a basic text presenting Vedanta and its essential ideas in a capsule form. There are several such texts and they are studied both before starting a formal study of the Bhagavad Geeta and the Upanishads as well as during the study – as a reminder of the basic tenets.

Prakarna granthas are also valuable for people who want to have an idea about the teachings of Vedanta, but do not have the time or the inclination to undertake a comprehensive study of Vedanta which takes several years.

Atma bodha is attributed to Adi Sankaracarya, a very important and revered figure in the Indian shastric tradition. The word Atma means “myself” or the Self –Bodha is understanding or knowledge. Atma Bodha therefore is understanding my real nature.

Many of us, having had not much exposure to the scriptures, are unaware that they are not so much about religion or blind belief in some supernatural God. Scriptures give us a method of understanding who we are, what is the mind, how the mind can affect us and how we can get a good measure of control over the mind so that we can lead a peaceful and productive life.

At a higher level scriptures also point out that we are more than just the body-mind complex and train us to see the underlying oneness behind the seeming multiplicity of the Universe.

This six-day session will answer many of the questions regarding you, God and the Universe and the relationship between the three. A basic understanding of Hindi would be helpful, though it is not essential to attend the course.

Sri Ravi Easwaran is the son of Sri Eknath Easwaran, the prominent mystic, who lived and taught at his ashram, Ramagiri, in the town of Tomales, near San Francisco, California (USA).

He worked as a commercial and investment banker in the corporate sector until 2010 when he resigned from corporate life and switched full-time to his lifelong passion-Yoga.

Sri Easwaran is a qualified Yoga Acharya from the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram. He is actively associated with the Ashram and is senior faculty for Bhagavad Geeta classes during Teacher Training Courses. He has also taught several meditation courses at the Ashram.

Sri Easwaran teaches Vedanta on an online platform which has students from several countries as participants. He can be reached at [email protected] and [email protected]