AHYMSIN

Guru Purnima Retreat
2024-07-13 09:00 - 2024-07-21 12:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Dhyana Gurukulam, Virpur Khurd, Virbhadra Road, P. O Pashulok, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India
ॐ गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुर्गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः।
गुरुः साक्षात्परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः
Om gurur brahmā gurur viṣṇur gurur devo maheśvaraḥ,
guruḥ sākṣāt paraṁ brahma tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ.
Om. To that beautiful and benevolent Guru who is Brahmā, the Creator, Viṣṇu, the Maintainer, and Śiva, the Great Lord through whom all things return to their origin. To that Guru who is the direct experience of Brahman, salutations.
“This day, the day of Guru Purnima is considered to be the holiest day for the students of life; for those that have been treading the path of light; for those aspiring to attain enlightenment in this lifetime. They remember this day and celebrate it by becoming aware the purpose of life is to attain enlightenment; the state of mind, internal state, that makes one free from all pains and miseries.” – Swami Rama
On the sacred occasion of the Guru Purnima, a 9-day celebration is held annually at the Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama (SRSG) Ashram in Rishikesh. This includes akhanda-patha (24-hour non-stop recitation) of the Guru-Gita, the Song to the Guru, preceding the Guru Purnima Day. The akhanda-patha of the Guru-Gita is offered both at the SRSG and the Sadhana Mandir Ashram by 11 Pandits each. This special celebration is a reminder for us to pay our homage to the Guru Lineage that has bestowed upon us the great blessings of mantra, meditation, initiation and the teachings of the Himalayan Yoga Tradition. This way we also recommit ourselves to our practices.
This year, the Guru Purnima is celebrated on 21 July, 2024. The Guru Purnima Retreat will be organised at SRSG from 13 July – 21 July 2024.

Guru Disciple Relationship
2024-07-14 09:00 - 2024-07-20 12:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Dhyana Gurukulam, Virpur Khurd, Virbhadra Road, P. O Pashulok, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India
ॐ गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुर्गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः।
गुरुः साक्षात्परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः॥१॥
Om Om Om gurur brahmā gurur viṣṇur gurur devo maheśvaraḥ,
guruḥ sākṣāt paraṁ brahma tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ. (1)
Om, Om, Om. To that beautiful and benevolent Guru who is Brahmā, the Creator, Viṣṇu, the Maintainer, and Śiva, the Great Lord through whom all things return to their origin. To that Guru who is the direct experience of Brahman, salutations.
On the sacred occasion of the Guru Purnima (July 21st) and awaiting for our beloved Swami Veda Bharati’s Mahasamadhi (July 14th), let us get together to delve deeper into the meaning of the Guru Prayer and the sacred relationship between a Guru and a disciple with Rabindra Sahu.

AHYMSIN Sangha of the Americas
2024-07-25 09:00 - 2024-08-03 12:00 (America/Chicago) | St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN, United States
AHYMSIN SANGHA OF THE AMERICAS
25 JULY – 3 AUGUST 2024
Dear Friends,
We are excited about the upcoming 2024 Himalayan Tradition, AHYMSIN Sangha of the Americas, coming in July!
This gathering of the Himalayan Tradition Family is the perfect way to deepen your practices during this unique gathering of like-minded seekers through daily yoga and meditation sessions, teachings and inspirations, which will include a 5-day Silence period. The event will take place at the beautiful St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, USA.

From Swami Ritavan Bharati:
“It is my profound wish that we will be able to have the joy of your presence among us, and of your participation for the first four days, or the full ten days of the event, so that we can all reconnect, continue to allow the teaching to grow, and continue to serve the legacy we share. Please do make time to attend this important gathering as a member of the Tradition.”
The 10-day program will be comprised of:

Arrival and check-in for the 10-day program will be on July 25.
AHYMSIN gathering with center presentations, inspirations and family connections, as well as daily prayers, yoga, and meditation, from July 26 to 29.
5 day period of Silence from 29 July to 2 August, with guests departing 3 August.
Daily presentations by senior members of the Tradition will also be available via Zoom.
A Family Gathering Kirtan Event to be held 26 July.

*Prices represent Early Bird Pricing, and will expire 30.04.2024
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AND TO REGISTER
In Loving Service,
AHYMSIN Administration

JOIN US FOR A DEEP DIVE INTO CONSCIOUSNESS
May our minds be filled with beautiful and benevolent thoughts. May those thoughts benefit our world.
This summer, join us for a deep dive into consciousness. We will embark on this journey during the upcoming Spiritual Festival, which begins on June 12 and concludes with Guru Purnima on July 21st. Over these forty days, no matter where we are located, we can explore ways to enhance our spiritual paths and allow the festival’s energy to guide us as we embrace our personal practice goals, growth, and self-transformation under the blessings of the guru parampara.
Immediately following, from July 25 to August 3, we have a profound opportunity to incorporate our spiritual goals into our lives. Join us in like-minded community at the Sangha of the Americas, held at the beautiful St. Olaf College campus in Northfield, Minnesota. Here we will immerse ourselves in an inspiring 10-day retreat that includes speakers and presentations from the Himalayan tradition as well as five days of silence led by our experienced meditation guide from The Meditation Center in Minneapolis, Swami Radha Bharati. The theme of this year’s sangha is “Illuminating Joyful Living.”
At Sangha of the Americas, we will experience the physical presence and guidance of swamis of the tradition, including Swami Ritavan Bharati. With the firm foundation of sangha supporting us, retreat participants will get the profound opportunity for personal interaction with many Himalayan leaders and teachers, giving us space to ask personal questions and truly incorporate new insights into our spiritual practices.
Join us and let the immersion of your own personal 40-day practice, followed by attendance at Sangha of the Americas, serve as a cornerstone for the rest of your year. The peace and harmony gained from aligning our minds with joyful living will not only enrich our personal journeys but also contribute positively to our world.
We look forward to seeing you there.
To register and for more information: www.himalayanyogatradition.com

Editor’s Note:
If you have any questions, please email: info@himalayanyogatradition.com
You may find information on the presenters and topics here: https://files.constantcontact.com/aba2bc11101/94e031ce-ba69-4a9d-9670-4bf3a634a4d3.pdf
If you are unable to attend the Sangha in person, there is a package of the presentations via Zoom, and hope that you can enjoy participating this way! Information regarding the specific schedules will be forwarded closer to the event, and, the sessions will be recorded for your convenience. You can register here.

To know more about the 2024 American Sangha gathering, you may want to read
1) Experiences from the AHYMSIN U.S. Sangha by Dowlat Budhram – https://www.ahymsin.org/experiences-from-the-ahymsin-us-sangha/
2) Why I Will Joyfully Attend the Sangha of the Americas by Jenny May – https://www.ahymsin.org/why-i-will-joyfully-attend-the-sangha-of-the-americas/
3) Sangha Blessings by Swami Ritavan Bharati – https://www.ahymsin.org/sangha-blessings/
4) A loving invitation to the Sangha of the Americas by Swami Ritavan Bharati – https://www.ahymsin.org/a-loving-invitation-to-the-sangha-of-the-americas/

Family Yoga Summer Camp in Greece
2024-08-01 09:00 - 2024-08-08 12:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Scout Center Agios Andrea, Nea Makri, Greece, 27 Poseidonos Avenue, Nea Makri, Marathon, Greece
Dear kalyanamitras (friends on the spiritual path),
Dear leaders of the AHYMSIN affiliated Centers,
Dear sisters and brothers,
Those who joined in August 2023, might still remember the joy of those days of early morning practice, family beach-time, shared meals, meditation and play. A group of us are already organizing the 2nd AHYMSIN Family Summer Camp – a gathering of yoga-minded families in a climate of sun, beach and playfulness in Greece.
When: 1-8 August 2024
Where: Same place as last year: Scout Center Agios Andreas, 27 Poseidonos Avenue, Nea Makri, New Makri, Municipality of Marathon, Attica, Greece
Intention: To create a space in Europe where we can all meet and where families are welcomed. We are connected to the SRSG Ashram, where where the air we breathe is full of the subtle bodies of our Teachers, Swami Rama and Swami Veda Bharati. We will live a week together in a scout center, living in small houses or tents, practicing yoga for all ages in a forested area of 40.000 square meters, going swimming, and having a space for discussions about family and spirituality, creativity, and handcrafts workshops. We are also planning a one-day sightseeing visit. Three vegetarian/Mediterranean meals a day are catered so that families can use their time for maximum play and be together.
Information about the Camp facilities
The camp will take place in a scouts’ forested center. It is located approximately 30 minutes from the Athens airport. The rooms and conditions are simple. Participants can choose between sleeping in bedrooms or tents. There are 2 and 3-bed non-smoking bedrooms with bathrooms, hot water, and A/C for 100 people. There is space for 90 people who prefer to bring their own tents (no camping cars are allowed). Also, one can use rented tents for 8 people. Participants in tents have also access to toilets and hot water showers, as well as two open-air kitchenettes and dining areas. The camp has several shady areas for yoga and other activities. The scout camp has peripheral security with cameras, and the entrance doors close at night. Pets are not allowed in the camp.
Sightseeing
The camp includes a one-day visit to the Vavrona temple, museum and family time at Avlaki beach.
Beach and swimming
There is a beach 5 minutes walking from the camp, which is sandy and clean, to use every day.
What to bring

Bed sheets or/and sleeping bag
Pillow case(s)
Towel(s)
Toiletries (ex. soap, body and hair shampoo, etc).
Yoga mat and meditation cushion (for those who travel from abroad there will be yoga mats available). Also very important, bring a protective towel to place under your yoga mat to protect it from dust and stones.
Bathing suit, sea towel, hat, sun protection cream
Flashlight(s)
Mosquito repellant
Reusable water bottles
Ideas for non-competitive games that you think kids would be interested in.

Food
Mr. Stathis, the Kitchen Chef and the responsible of the Scout camp, will prepare 3 vegetarian/Mediterranean meals per day and will provide lunch boxes for the outing day.
There are water coolers of filtered water around the camp.
There are 4 supermarkets around the camp and a bakery shop in 15 min walk, if you need to buy some supplies. In addition, we offer:

Daily yoga classes for all ages given by an international team of
Himalayan Yoga teachers
Story time and Art and Craft activities.
Activities for teens
Games and beach time fun (our camp is only a 5 minutes’ walk from the beach)
Parents’ meetings and talks
Sightseeing tour

All these program activities are lovingly offered to participants by teachers or sadhakas of the HYT. If you feel like it, you can leave a donation (dakshina) which would be greatly appreciated as a love offering.
Prices per participant: To reserve you accommodation and meals please pay at least 50% with your registration (if you can 100%). We will send each family an email with the sum to be paid before 31st March (to benefit from early bird prices).
NB: All prices include accommodation, three meals per day, as well as a 20€ administration fee, which is not refundable, for one person for seven nights. Early Bird prices are valid if registration and payment is completed by 31st of March 2024.
Extra costs not included in the table:
Organization should know and payment needs to be done in advance if you wish to rent:

2 bed sheets + 1 pillow case = 8 €
1 sleeping bag = 10 € FOR 7 NIGHTS
Cleaning the room costs 10€/per room/per service, only available if 10 rooms request this service.
Yoga mats are available at the camp for a caution of 20€.
The outing day costs are excluded because it depends on your passport:
For Europeans under 25 years old: Free entrance at the Vravrona temple of Goddess Artemis and the museum.
For Europeans between 25-64 years old: 6€
For Europeans 65+ years old: 3€.
For all non-Europeans: 6€

Entrance for Avlaki beach with access to sunbeds, sun shade umbrellas, as well as the use of changing rooms, showers and toilets:

0-5 years old – Free
6-12 years old – 3€
13+ years old – 5€

We will have 50-person bus(es) for the whole day, for all visits, for 12€/person over 2 years old. This shall be paid together with your registration payment.
Payment information:
If you’d like us to book your family a spot, please transfer at least 50% of the fee before the 31st of March 2024 to the following bank details:
CAFÉ ECOLE- HIMALAYAN YOGA
Himalayan Yoga Meditation of Hellas
Address: 12, Thessalonikis Str. Chalandri 15234, Athens, Greece
NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE
IBAN GR 720110 69200 000 69200 177 280
BIC/SWIFT Code: ETHNGRAA
The remaining payment will be done by cash during the registration at your arrival.
Please note:

Parents are responsible for their children’s safety at all times except when they are in a group with a teacher.
All members should arrange on their own premises health/accident insurance.
The use of alcohol or recreational drugs are not permitted.
English will be the common language for communication, it is possible to plan for translations.
The beautiful place we will be staying was created and is sustained by volunteer scouts, so all participants in the camp are kindly invited to offer their selfless service to keep the place clean, functional and tidy as it was found at arrival.
All program activities are lovingly offered to participants by teachers of the HYT. If you feel like it, you can leave a donation (dakshina) which would be greatly appreciated as a love offering.
We will refund your registration completely if you cancel it before the 15th of May and it can be replaced by another person/family.
All information collected will be used only for the purpose of facilitating your stay in the camp.

To register please fill up the registration form before the 31st March 2024: https://forms.gle/KKudyv2zzHz3sCqG8
We will send each family an email with the value to be paid at registration.
Official Website: https://himalayanyoga.gr/en/summer_camp.php
If you have questions:
Sofia +30 6937122768 (Whatsapp) and info@himalayanyoga.gr Looking forward to meeting you all on 1-8 August 2024!
The organization team
Csilla Horvath (Hungary) Timi Varga (Hungary)
Tamara Soru (Italy and Mozambique)
Maria Miguel Ribeiro (Portugal and Switzerland)
Athina Papadopoulou (Greece) Anna Zaharopoulou (Greece)
Irene Laskaratou (Greece) Sofia Foteina (Greece)

Developing a Personal Philosophy in life
2024-08-04 09:00 - 2024-08-09 21:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Dhyana Gurukulam, Virpur Khurd, Virbhadra Road, P. O Pashulok, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India

Annual Silence Retreat in the Netherlands
2024-09-20 09:00 - 2024-09-24 12:00 (Europe/Amsterdam) | The Beukenhof Monastery, Biezenmortel, Netherlands
Annual Silence Retreat in the Netherlands
With Swami Ma Tripura, Pierre Lefebvre and Uta Bisseswar
20 – 24 September 2024
The retreat will be at the beautiful location of “De Beukenhof”, a former monastery in Biezenmortel (near den Bosch), Netherlands.
For information and registration, and/or if you would like to receive our monthly newsletter, you are very welcome to contact: info@yoga-hymns.nl

Cultivating Love Within, Entering the Sacred Chamber of the Heart Retreat in Japan
2024-09-21 09:00 - 2024-09-23 12:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | Retreat Dorm OR, Yamanashi 409-1501, Hokuto, Ōizumichō Nishiide, 5606, Japan
Swami Rama has said, “Many students misunderstand meditation. They think it means withdrawing from the world and avoiding their responsibilities and relationships. Meditation is not needed for this; you already have many ways to avoid your duties. Meditation is the simple and exact process of becoming aware of who you are. It is the practice of gently freeing yourself from the worries that gnaw at you so that you can be free and respond to the needs of the moment and experience the joy of being fully present.” (~ Swami Rama, Art of Joyful Living)
Often we are looking for happiness, for something that gives us contentment. Or we may sometimes feel anxious, incomplete, or lonely, as if something is missing in our lives. Studying the teachings of authentic and traditional teachings of yoga and meditation, and applying them in our daily lives will allow us to be present and realize joy of being “Here and Now”.
Inviting Rabindra Sahu from Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Ashram in Rishikesh, India, you will be given an opportunity to deepen your awareness of your body, breath, and mind through practical teachings of yoga and meditation. Let us embark on journey to meet Inner Self in a peaceful and nature-rich environment surrounded by the Japan Alps mountains and tranquility. We look forward to seeing you all soon!
Venue: Retread Dorm OR, Kobuchizawa, Yamanashi
Details: https://sites.google.com/site/ahymsinjapan/retreat-workshop/kobuchizawa-retreat-2024_en
Registration: ahymsin.jp@gmail.com

Path to Successful Relationships
2024-09-22 09:00 - 2024-09-27 12:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Dhyana Gurukulam, Virpur Khurd, Virbhadra Road, P. O Pashulok, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India
We all go through a spectrum of emotions and life experiences. According to ancient wisdom, the constant and continuous act of self-observation and purification help us examining the sources of our pains and unhappiness. Only by accurately identifying and examining these sources can we effectively uproot our sufferings. The choice to come out of existing conditionings of the mind is solely our own act of volition.
This retreat is an invitation to embark on the journey of self-improvement and emotional purification which naturally leads to a pleasant mind (chitta-prasadanam). In this retreat with Dr Divya Gupta and Dr Swati Saharan, both psychologists by training, we will attempt to foster self-awareness that can help us alleviate negativity, cultivate inner strength and establishing profound meaningful relationship with others. We will learn from Swami Veda Bharati’s book of same title on how to prepare ourselves, and then how to foster and nurture healthy relations with others in our life.
Swamiji says, “Do this: keep cleaning your mind, keep cleansing it all the time, each day, and remain self-observant. Let your problems be solved in light of an established philosophy of life, not by what is pleasurable, desirable or demanding now, which is likely to become unpleasurable later. Get your philosophy of life straight. Observe yourself dispassionately, apply your philosophy of life at every moment and to your questions and problems, and you will find answers.”

Navaratri Retreat – Cultivating the Divine Feminine
2024-10-03 09:00 - 2024-10-11 12:00, 2025-03-30 09:00 - 2025-04-06 12:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Dhyana Gurukulam, Virpur Khurd, Virbhadra Road, P. O Pashulok, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India
During the sacred days of Navaratri (the nine nights), we will have Devi-Puja with akhanda (24 hours non-stop) recitation of the Lalita-sahasra-nama (Thousand Names of Divine Mother). One may come and join the daily morning and evening pujas, join the recitation of the Lalita-sahasra-nama. Twelve priests preside over the pujas and the recitations, which are offered both at the Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama and Sadhana Mandir Ashram.
Our beloved Swami Veda Bharati has said, “These events are charged with special spiritual energy and a very special time to renew your silence and sadhana.”
In this special retreat with Rabindra Sahu, we will be learning about the principles of the Divine Feminine within the Nature and the entire Universe around us. Swamiji has also reminded us “to bring the feminine kindness, compassion, motherliness among all of us. This has nothing to do with the gender of the person undertaking the observance but rather it is for the enhancement of the motherliness in all of us.”
We will thereby learn how can we cultivate these divine feminine qualities within ourselves. All the participants will also get an opportunity to practice recitation of the Lalita-sahasra-nama.

Mind: The Playground of Gods
2024-10-20 09:00 - 2024-10-25 12:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Dhyana Gurukulam, Virpur Khurd, Virbhadra Road, P. O Pashulok, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India
We all have a mind that helps us navigate both the internal and external world, while adding meaning to our everyday experiences. The mind can be our most dear friend when nudged gently in the direction that leads us to our goals in life. However, we often misunderstand our own mind and its workings, thus creating many challenges within ourselves and within our interpersonal relationships.
All ancient Indian spiritual traditions and saints have offered the secrets of the mind. Repeatedly, Swami Veda Bharati has lovingly and very patiently taught us the importance and techniques of beautifying our minds.
As Swamiji has written in his book of the same title, “Our purpose here is to show how this much maligned “devil’s workshop” mind can be restored to its primary and pristine nature where gods play, sing and frolic. How can it show its full glory, granting us a glowing and serene personality that becomes the medium for the peace of devas, the shining ones whose bodies are made of light.”
This retreat is a blend of ancient wisdom and practical insights for application in contemporary life and will be for all those who are seeking to understand and master their minds. During this unique retreat with Rabindra Sahu, we will explore practical ways and methods of making our minds a most beautiful, benevolent, and pleasant place—a place where the gods may play within us.

Editor’s Note:
You may be interested in purchasing the kindle edition: https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Playground-Swami-Veda-Bharati-ebook/dp/B0CMD3R9RN
If you are interested in purchasing a printed version you may contact the Himalayan Yoga Publications Trust at hyptbooks@gmail.com

Meditation & Silence in Mallorca, Spain
2024-10-24 09:00 - 2024-10-27 15:00 (Europe/Madrid) | Uttarakhand
A residential retreat in the Monastery of Santa Lucia in Mallorca, Spain.
Date: 24 – 27 October 2024
Information: atma63@gmail.com

Meditation in the Bhagavad-Gita
2024-10-27 09:00 - 2024-11-02 12:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Dhyana Gurukulam, Virpur Khurd, Virbhadra Road, P. O Pashulok, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India
The Bhagavad-gita is a most sacred ancient Indian scripture, offering timeless teachings on how to live a meaningful and balanced life while pursuing one’s duties in the world and spiritual growth within. This beautiful text is a condensed form of the teachings of all the Vedas and Upanishads, and contains teachings on many aspects of yoga, including karma yoga, jnana yoga, bhakti yoga, dhyana yoga, and more.
Chapter 6 of the Bhagavad-gita—Dhyana-yoga—offers profound insights into the practice of meditation, including theoretical understanding and practical tips on one’s meditation pracitce.
This six-day programme with Rabindra Sahu is as much appropriate for beginners as for more advanced practitioners treading the path of spirituality. In this special retreat, we will explore and practice the wisdom of the Bhagavad-gita, while immersing ourself in the daily ashram schedule of the ashram with daily havana (fire offerings), morning and evening prayers, gentle hatha yoga, pranayama, relaxation, and guided and silent meditation.
In his book Meditation and Its Practice, Swami Rama of the Himalayas wrote:
“For thousands of years, the science of meditation has been studied and practiced by aspirants who sought to make their lives more serene, creative and fulfilling. Meditation will give you the capacity to improve your health, your relationships and the skilfulness with which you perform your activities. This is because meditation can do something no other technique can accomplish – it introduces you to yourself on all levels and finally leads you to the center of consciousness within, the higher self, which is called Atman.”

Bondage or Freedom
2024-11-03 09:00 - 2024-11-08 12:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Dhyana Gurukulam, Virpur Khurd, Virbhadra Road, P. O Pashulok, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India
All our actions in the world are determined by our desires, thoughts, emotions, habits, preconceived ideas, and notions. Often this can become an automated process, rather than a conscious process when we fail to pause and reflect upon the sources of our thoughts and emotions. When we are not aware of the subtler workings of the mind, we miss the chance to imbue our actions with mindfulness and awareness reflecting the light of knowledge within.
Over millennia, the Himalayan Sages have paved the way for us to follow the path towards Self-discovery. This path of fire and light, as Swami Rama has put it, is “… an unflickering flame burning in the heart of the aspirant.”
On this journey of Self-discovery, an aspirant learns to carefully and diligently observe and examine both the external and internal world to uncover the layers of conditioning that keep us bound to limited beliefs and perceptions, that keep us from realising the state of Buddhahood, the state of Christhood, the state of enlightenment that all the great masters have spoken of.
In this special retreat with Rabindra Sahu, we will learn of valuable tools that can help us break free from the shackles of our own minds and embrace the inherent freedom that comes with realising one’s true nature.
As kalyan-mitras (friends on the noble path), we gather together encouraging each other to take ownership of our personal choices and actions in order to create a more fulfilling and purposeful life. We will learn to explore the interconnectedness of all our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Together, we will embark on a profound exploration of the mind, unravelling the mysteries that have kept us bound to patterns of fear, doubt, and limitation. Through this process of self-inquiry and awareness, we will learn how to cultivate a sense of inner liberation and empowerment.
Based on Swami Veda Bharati’s book of the same title, this special satsang will explore practical teachings on how we end up binding ourselves and how can we free ourselves from our own self-created bondages.
Swamiji writes, “My message to you is to learn to be self-inspired. Wherever you walk, walk in the awareness of your heart being the dwelling place, the throne of the Lord and you are carrying that throne of freedom inside you. There is no power in the world that can subdue you. No matter how small, how feeble you are, you are a being of light, the light that is called life force, you are a being of light, light that is called the consciousness-force. So, learn to be self-inspired and wake up from this sleep about your own true, inherent nature.”

Himalayan Yoga Tradition – Teacher Training Program Retreat
2024-11-03 09:00 - 2024-11-16 12:00, 2025-03-09 09:00 - 2025-03-22 12:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Dhyana Gurukulam, Virpur Khurd, Virbhadra Road, P. O Pashulok, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India
Our Himalayan Yoga Tradition – Teacher Training Program (HYT-TTP) offers an integrated program of self-transformation leading to self-realization in the authentic tradition of Swami Rama of the Himalayas. HYT-TTP, as its parent organization, AHYMSIN, is dedicated to making available the teachings of Swami Rama.
Our program is a systematic, sadhana-based program. “Sadhana” is a Sanskrit word which means undertaking a practice so as to cultivate and refine one’s character. The main goal of our program is to deepen the students’ sadhana so that they can transmit authentic yoga teachings to others, not only from a storehouse of academic knowledge, but also from a depth of personal experience.
Our comprehensive curriculum offered through home study, mentoring, and ashram retreats presents all aspects of yoga and meditation in a spiritually inspiring context. The student’s progression through the home study is managed interactively and facilitated by an active discussion board, each student being followed and supported by a mentor who is well versed in the tradition.
The HYT-TTP consists of 3 levels. Each level requires at least one year of study and practice. The student will progress through three study levels becoming gradually more aware of the subtle layers of personality. Swami Rama defined this growth process as the attainment of some degree of disentanglement from attachments, allowing one to see that which s/he was previously “blind to”:

Level One – Awareness: exploration and self-acceptance
Level Two – Control: mindfulness and regulation of emotions
Level Three – Synthesis: harmonious whole personality

For more details, kindly visit – www.HimalayanYogaTradition.com

Breath Retreat
2024-11-17 09:00 - 2024-11-22 12:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Dhyana Gurukulam, Virpur Khurd, Virbhadra Road, P. O Pashulok, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India
“One who has mastered the breath has discovered Superconsciousness.” — Swami Veda Bharati
Within the teachings of the Himalayan Tradition of Yoga Meditation, the practice of breath and pranayama exercises is one of the most important preparations for experiencing the depths of the practice of meditation.
Swamiji writes, “Often we see a rush to learn advanced pranayamas. This is being done without training the breath, without making it slow, subtle, deep. In our tradition there are multiple paths and exercises for achieving the full benefits from subtleties of breath.”
In the Himalayan Tradition, preliminary to the practice of pranayama, an emphasis is placed on correct posture to enable correct diaphragmatic breathing and the subtle elements of breath awareness as taught by the Himalayan sages. Mastery of these serves as a foundation for more advanced pranayamas, which flow as a continuum into the practices of sense withdrawal, concentration and meditation.
This special retreat with John Sellinger is a unique opportunity to learn the subtleties of breath practices. We will practice pranayamas thrice daily. The programme is open for both complete beginners and practitioners. There will be daily instructional sessions and theory/philosophy sessions about breath and pranayamas. Of greatest importance in the programme is the emphasis on guided personal practice.

Recommended Readings:

Science of Breath by Swami Rama, Dr. Rudolph Ballentine, and Dr. Alan Hymes.
A Practical Guide to Holistic Health by Swami Rama
Meditation and Its Practice by Swami Rama
Path of Fire and Light (Vol. 2) by Swami Rama
Yogic Practices of the Himalayan Tradition as taught by H.H. Swami Rama of the Himalayas by Dr. Prakash Keshaviah
What Really Is Pranayama? by Swami Veda Bharati
Diaphragmatic Breathing by Swami Veda Bharati
14 Breath and Meditation Practices by Swami Veda Bharati

Peace, the Fruit of Silence - A Silence Residential Retreat in Italy
2024-11-21 - 2024-11-24 | Camaldoli, Italy, Camaldoli, Italy
Peace, the Fruit of Silence
A Silence residential retreat, 21-24 of November 2024
with the teachers of the Himalayan Yoga Institute of Florence, Oasi Divin Maestro, Camaldoli, Italy.
The healing power of Silence, in action, word and thought, gives us a deeper understanding of ourselves. Diving into Silence leads us to witness, with deeper awareness, the nature of our mind, allowing it to calm down and turn inward. The proposed practices (hatha yoga, pranayama, relaxation, meditation, contemplative walking, ecc.) will help us to dive deeper towards the centre of silence, immersed in the location of Camaldoli’s forest.
“However, it is not Silence if you are silent because you happen to be alone!
Silence is silence when you have the intention, make the sankalpa, to keep a spiritual silence and then your mind is filled with spiritual contemplation and mantra, whether sitting, eating, bathing, lying down or running.”
Swami Veda Bharati
For more information, you may contact the Himalayan Yoga Institute of Florence directly at segreteria@himalayanyogainstitute.it or follow them on Facebook and Instagram. You may also visit their website.

Bridging Outer and Inner Worlds with Yoga Retreat in Thailand
2024-12-05 - 2024-12-08 | Baan Phu Waan Sampran, Baan Phu Waan Sampran, Thailand
Invitation to join yoga retreat “Bridging Outer and Inner Worlds with Yoga” Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th December 2024 Baan Phu Waan Sampran, Thailand
Feel the Origin of Yoga from Himalayas with Himalayan Yoga Meditation (Thailand).
You are invited to meet Ashutosh Sharma and John Sellinger, who have been trained in Yoga Science by Gurus from Himalayan Yoga Meditation Tradition (Swami Rama and Swami Veda Bharati). The two outstanding teachers will lead the practices of Yoga and Meditation and communicate timeless knowledge and wisdom of ancient yoga with all of us so that we can find peace, happiness and wisdom from within
Registration fee: Bt7,000/person (double room) and Bt8,500/person (single room), including accommodation and all meals – we request our friends to consider making some donations to support us according to your capacity as the registration fee only cover some of the costs.
Interested person please contact ahymsinthailand@gmail.com
Facebook : Ahymsinthailand Himalayanyoga
Mobile contact +6681-932-5413
May Guru blessings be with you always

Systems within Personality
2025-01-05 09:00 - 2025-01-10 12:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Dhyana Gurukulam, Virpur Khurd, Virbhadra Road, P. O Pashulok, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India

Meditation and Its Practice
2025-01-12 09:00 - 2025-01-17 12:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Dhyana Gurukulam, Virpur Khurd, Virbhadra Road, P. O Pashulok, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India
This six-day programme is as much appropriate for beginners as for more advanced seekers treading the path of spirituality. The foundation stones of meditation will be approached in a scientific and systematic manner. Preparations and progressions of meditation practice will be shared step by step. This course will give you the tools to establish and pursue a regular personal meditation practice.
In his book Meditation and Its Practice, Swami Rama of the Himalayas wrote:
“For thousands of years, the science of meditation has been studied and practiced by aspirants who sought to make their lives more serene, creative and fulfilling. Meditation will give you the capacity to improve your health, your relationships and the skilfulness with which you perform your activities. This is because meditation can do something no other technique can accomplish – it introduces you to yourself on all levels and finally leads you to the center of consciousness within, the higher self, which is called Atman.”

Recommended Readings:

Meditation and Its Practice by Swami Rama
“Beginning Meditation” in Night Birds by Swami Veda Bharati
Meditation: Art and Science by Swami Veda Bharati
Audio with book: Learn to Meditate (plus relaxation exercises) by Swami Veda Bharati.
Video: Treading the Path of Superconscious Meditation by Swami Rama
The Royal Path by Swami Rama
Holistic Living Manual by Swami Rama
Conscious Living by Swami Rama

Read More Information:

About visiting the ashram – Accommodation
About our other short-term upcoming events – Events
About our ongoing short-term Ashram Immersion Program
About how you may contribute towards the ashram – Donate

Winter Weekend Retreat with Pierre Lefebvre and Uta Bisseswar in the Netherlands
2025-01-17 - 2025-01-19 | The Beukenhof Monastery, Biezenmortel, Netherlands
Theme: “DESIGNING YOUR SADHANA, develop and deepen your daily practice for your spiritual growth”
You can find more details together with the application form here: https://yoga-hymns.nl/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/25weekend-subscription.pdf
For information send an e-mail to info@yoga-hymns.nl

Mauni Amavasya Silence Retreat
2025-01-19 09:00 - 2025-01-29 12:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Dhyana Gurukulam, Virpur Khurd, Virbhadra Road, P. O Pashulok, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India
Mauni Amavasya (Silence Day) is an annual observance. The observation of Silence Day is a practice that Swami Veda Bharati invited us to practice.
In 2025, Mauni Amavasya is 29 January.
There will be 7-day silence retreats at Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Rishikesh, India from 19 to 29 January 2025. Swami Ritavan Bharati and Adhikari Bhoi will be available to guide the silence participants.

Swami Veda has said, “…there is also an annual silence day in the traditions of India. It is called Mauni Amavasya. Mauni means ‘of or for silence’, and amavasya means ‘no-moon day.’
It occurs on the no-moon day of the Maagha month in the Hindu calendar when sun and moon are both supposed to enter the sign of Capricorn (makara rashi).
It is held in the tradition as the day when Manu, the Archetypal Man first appeared on earth; he wedded Shata-roopa (She of a Hundred Beautiful Forms) and generated humankind.”
All silence retreats in the Himalayan Tradition are always guided and each participant is interviewed by a silence guide before the retreat may begin. Everyone is given a silence schedule to follow for the duration of the retreat. These schedules may vary among participants, depending upon the prerequisites or health issues or other individual factors. You will also be given some articles and handouts to read.
Everyone’s silence schedule will include the ashram morning and evening meditations, morning joints and glands class and an afternoon relaxation practice session. Schedules will also include breathing practices, contemplative walking and japa.
Arrival and Departure Plans
You are strongly advised to arrive on campus two days before your retreat begins in order to rest, get settled, take care of any pending business, get needed supplies etc. This is important. Only with rested body and a relaxed mind will you be able to enter a silent state of mind from the first day.
You should also plan to have at least one full day at the ashram at the end of your retreat before you leave or travel anywhere. This is to allow time for making a gentle transition from silence to everyday life.
At the end of your retreat you will have an opportunity to debrief with your silence guide. The silence guide will also advise you about ways to maintain some silence in everyday life.

Contemplations on: Who am I?
2025-02-02 09:00 - 2025-02-07 12:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Dhyana Gurukulam, Virpur Khurd, Virbhadra Road, P. O Pashulok, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India

Meditative Lifestyle: Online Seminar
2025-02-02 10:00 - 11:30 (Europe/Zurich) | Online via Zoom
Dates: every Sunday in February and April 2025
Time: 10-11.30am CET
Suggested contribution for all 4 sessions: min. 80CHF
“In this series of four seminars we will continue our journey of cultivating a lifestyle that supports meditation. We will explore practices and topics that promote physical, emotional, and mental well-being, all of which enhance our meditation practice, thereby nurturing every aspect of the human personality.”
For more information and to receive zoom link, you may contact AHYMSIN Switzerland directly at ahymsinch@gmail.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.

Mantra and Purashcharana
2025-02-09 09:00 - 2025-03-01 21:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Dhyana Gurukulam, Virpur Khurd, Virbhadra Road, P. O Pashulok, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India
Swami Veda Bharati has said in his writing on ‘Mantra What and Why’, “Mantra is a word or a series of words; it is a thought; it is a prayer, but not in the sense in which the word “prayer” is used ordinarily, but rather a linkage of our lower consciousness with the higher consciousness, which we call the Divine Consciousness, or the Divine Life-Force. A mantra is a sound-unit, a thought-unit. It is a sound or a series of sounds given to a Yoga student or disciple to remember constantly for a specific spiritual purpose.”
Those who have been graced with an initiation into a personal guru mantra within the Himalayan Tradition are connected to the Guru Lineage through their personal mantra. When an intensive practice of japa (mantra remembrance) of one’s own personal mantra is undertaken, this connection with the Guru Lineage is strengthened within.
Under the guidance of Swami Ritavan Bharati, the participants will undertake a sankalpa (resolve) to begin the practice of purashcharana of one’s own personal mantra. A purashcharana is the practice of repeating a mantra 125,000 times plus 10 per cent with fire offerings (or 20 per cent without fire offerings), sometimes in a certain period of time. One makes a resolution and then japa is done faithfully every day until the 125,000 is completed. The practice may be undertaken along with personal silence. Each participant will receive personal guidance from Swami Ritavan Bharati or one of the available mantra initiators.
Everyday during the 21-days retreat from 9 Feb – 1 Mar, there will be dedicated times for personal fire offerings, silent japa, one-on-one guidance from Swami Ritavan Bharati and Raghavendra Adiga about one’s personal practices, and theory classes on ‘Mantra and Purashcharana’ with Raghavendra Adiga and Rabindra Sahu.
In 2025, Mahashivaratri will be on 26 February and there will be special activities and pujas around the sacred occasion. There will be a yajna (fire offerings) with the current AHYMSIN Sangha Mantra (ॐ गं गणपतये नमः । Om Gaṁ Gaṇapataye Namaḥ ।). Special announcements regarding AHYMSIN Sangha Mantra will also be made at the same time.
Applications for participation are invited from those family members who have received Mantra Initiation within the Himalayan Tradition. When applying, the participants are requested to share about the following –

Date and place of your mantra initiation, and the name of the initiator.
Practiced a purashcharana before? If yes, please share details.
Practiced silence before? If yes, please share details.
Anything else you would like to share with Swami Ritavan about your personal practice.

Signs of Spiritual Progress
2025-03-02 09:00 - 2025-03-07 12:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Dhyana Gurukulam, Virpur Khurd, Virbhadra Road, P. O Pashulok, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India
As students and initiates within the Himalayan Tradition of Yoga Meditation, we often find ourselves in moments of self-enquiry, questioning about our spiritual progress and growth. We wonder if we are truly advancing on our spiritual path, or are we merely indulging and fulfilling the mind’s fantasies.
Our beloved Swami Veda Bharati has taught us the importance and ways of identifying marks and signs that manifest in our everyday lives when we are making spiritual progress. His book of the same title will serve as a compass that helps us in navigating our individual spiritual journey with greater awareness and understanding. We will discover practical tools for ongoing self-enquiry that supports sincere discernment between true spiritual growth and the distractions of the mind. This will allow us to not only gauge our own growth but also to stay aligned with our ultimate spiritual goals.
Based on Swamiji’s teachings, this retreat with Rabindra Sahu is designed for all those spiritual seekers who wish to reflect upon, assess and deepen their own personal spiritual progress. We will explore practical ways and methods that may help us in cultivating those choices and habits which will support our ongoing progress.

25-Days Immersion into the Shri Lalita Sahasranaam
2025-03-13 - 2025-04-06 | Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Dhyana Gurukulam, Virpur Khurd, Virbhadra Road, P. O Pashulok, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India
The retreat will be an immersive study of Shri lalitha Sahasranaam (1000 names of Mother Divine). It will include daily Fire offerings, philosophical sessions with contemplations on the 1000 names of mothers, and chanting the sacred names of the Divine mother. This immersive 25-day retreat invites you to delve deeply into the essence of the Divine Feminine.

Mantra and Meditation: An International Residential Retreat, Camaldoli, Italy
2025-05-22 - 2025-05-25 | Camaldoli, Italy, Camaldoli, Italy
“Mantra is a means, meditation is a method…”
“…mantra and meditation are inseparable just like two sides of the same coin.” – Swami Rama
Swami Veda Bharati has repeatedly emphasised the importance of a solid and stable meditation foundation in order to allow our personal practice to progress towards subtler levels.
During this retreat, the expert guidance of Swami Ritavan Bharati will introduce us to the importance of the mantra in the meditative practice and will accompany us in refining, fine tuning and deepening the use of the mantra, to progress to more profound and subtler levels.
The retreat is recommended to both, beginners and experienced practitioners, and will be held from Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 May 2025, at L’Oasi del Divin Maestro, Camaldoli, Italy.
“The mantra is a powerpack contained within itself, and, like an atom, is a whole vibrant universe”. Swami Veda Bharati
For more information, you may contact the Himalayan Yoga Institute of Florence directly at segreteria@himalayanyogainstitute.it or follow them on Facebook and Instagram. You may also visit their website.

Annual 40-Days Spiritual Festival
2025-06-01 - 2025-07-10 | Uttarakhand
Plan now for what spiritual improvements you will make in the next 40-days, in the next one year, in the next five years…

Each summer during the 40 days that precede Guru Purnima, sadhakas are invited to participate in the 40-Day Spiritual Festival, to expand and refine one’s sadhana.
In 2025, the 40-Day Spiritual Festival will begin on 1st June and will end on 10th July, which is Guru Purnima.
These 40 days are celebrated wherever you are.
“We are all here for a purpose; it is an on-going spiritual process. We are all here for spiritual liberation and serving that mission. For that purpose we are purifying ourselves of our pride and ego. For these reasons we train ourselves in constant self-observation: to see oneself, to hear oneself to develop this internal dialogue. I have used one criterion for all my thoughts, my words, and my actions: ‘Is this conducive to spiritual liberation.’” – Swami Veda Bharati
It is a time to contemplate (and talk with others about) the many ways you can participate.
For more information you may visit https://www.ahymsin.org/annual-40-days-spiritual-festival/
