Meditation & Philosophy Program at Rudramandir
About
Rudramandir offers a number of programs that focus on meditation and philosophy - two components of knowledge which go hand-in-hand to give students a direct experience and understanding of the potential of human spiritual development.
We are also pleased to present workshops which are given by visiting teachers, who provide unique expertise in their fields.
We invite you to explore the variety of programs offered.
Samarasya
Introduction
Yoga is a way of life, touching not only on the strength and health of the physical body, but also the strength and health of the mind and heart, and balancing their subtle energies. Those who have a longing to dive into the profound and illuminating practices of authentic Yoga will be delighted at this opportunity to immerse themselves into all aspects of Yoga: the physical, energetic, mental, emotional, and spiritual, all integrated into a cohesive whole of unprecedented power.
Entitled Samarasya, “The Experience of Oneness,” this holistic program will introduce students to the fundamentals of Tantrik philosophy, in which the modern practice of yoga is rooted, as well as Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine), Jyotisha (Indian astrology), and of course the practice of asana or physical postures, which will be taught as a spiritual practice with far greater potential to transform your experience of your body, mind, and breath than you ever imagined. You will learn Yoga in a whole new way, and tap into currents of power in your own being that will unleash your full creative potential to live a life of the Heart, a life that is a joyful expression of the one universal Spirit that animates us all.
Samarasya Programs
Samarasya is a program rooted in the philosophy and practices taught by the ancient sages who authored the sacred texts that are the basis for all Yoga. These texts teach a seamless integration of spiritual knowledge, yoga, breathing, and meditative practices. All of these elements are interwoven in all the Samarasya programs:
* Weekly classes: Coming soon.
* Weekend workshops: The first one is scheduled for Fri-Sat, May 29-31.
* 108-hour Immersion: the three-month long immersions are an opportunity for a seamless integration of spiritual knowledge, yoga, breathing, and meditative practices. All of these elements will be interwoven along with basic training in Ayurvedic medicine and Jyotisha astrology, to give participants an experience of Yoga as a complete way of life, as people practiced it centuries ago.
Who is it for?
The Samarasya Immersion is designed for both students and teachers who desire more depth and breadth in their training. Samarasya is for Yoga practitioners and teachers, meditators/contemplatives, seekers interested in studying the wisdom of the ancient sacred scriptures, and cultural creatives who want to delve deeper into their spiritual practice and develop health and well-being by integrating Asana and Ayurveda with ancient authentic philosophy, meditation, mantra and other practices (all which together make up ‘Yoga’ as defined by the ancients).
Our Faculty
Our faculty of experienced teachers is comprised of dedicated and seasoned teachers who have deep and broad training, and skill at making it accessible to others. They are fully dedicated to serving our students and are easily accessible. They are seasoned Asana teachers who are grounded in meditative traditions and whose teachings are integrated with the Tantrik philosophy, as taught by some of the foremost experts of Tantrik studies.
Samarasya Teachers
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Swami Khecaranatha is the in-house resident spiritual teacher of Sacred Space Yoga Sanctuary at Rudramandir. He lives and teaches full time in Berkeley, California. With a mastery etched from 38 years of disciplined inner practice and selfless service, Khecaranatha provides deep spiritual nourishment and guidance to students in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has used his own practice to distill the essence of the teachings of the lineage that he embodies. His teacher was Swami Rudrananda, who was a student of Bhagavan Nityananda.
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Christopher is the co-creator and director for the University of California’s (Berkeley) renowned class, “Meditation, Mysticism, and the Mind” (meditate.berkeley.edu). Chris and his team of instructors have now taught over 2,500 students the practice of meditation and mystical philosophy. Chris has been studying and practicing Yoga for 20 years. He has three degrees in Religion, including a Master’s Degree from Harvard and a Master’s in Sanskrit from UC Berkeley. His dissertation is on the Tantric origins of Yoga. Chris has taught seminars on Yoga philosophy and practice throughout the country in Universities and at numerous Yoga schools/centers. He is the co-founder of the recently inaugurated Yoga Foundation (www.yogasthana.org), a teaching center committed to encouraging instructors to offer Yoga philosophy and meditation as part of their curriculum in adherence to the true teachings of Yoga.
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Sofia Ophelia Diaz is a gifted teacher of Hatha yoga, sacred movement, and feminine spiritual practice, deriving her form of teaching and body philosophy from the South Indian Temple Arts and their accompanying scriptures. Along with 27 years of intensive study and daily practice of several traditions of Yoga, she has apprenticed with dance and music masters of the Balasaraswati lineage of Devadasi sadir. Sofia has published writings on yoga and sacred movement and travels frequently, teaching yoga intensives throughout the world.
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Chris been exposed to Indian spirituality from the age of six and was initiated into the practice of meditation and yoga at the age of 16. Six years later, while traveling through Europe and India, he felt called to study, teach, and practice Indian philosophy and meditation full-time. He now has 18 years of practice, 10 years of academic study, and 11 years of teaching experience. His degrees include a B.A. in Religion from the University of Rochester, an M.A. in Sanskrit from U.C. Berkeley, and an M.Phil. in Classical Indian Religions from the University of Oxford. He is currently earning a third masters from U.C. Santa Barbara, as well as doing doctoral research at Berkeley on the traditions of Tantric Shaivism. He received traditional education at yoga ashrams in upstate New York and India - in kirtan, mantra-science, asana, karma-yoga, and more. He currently teaches meditation, yoga philosophy, Sanskrit, chanting, and offers spiritual life-coaching. His goal in teaching is to balance accuracy with accessibility, profundity with clarity, and intellectual integrity with heart-expanding inspiration. His students have commented that his combination of rigorous and thorough knowledge with profound love for the tradition is rare and delightful.
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Bette Timm has been a practicing Vedic astrologer for over 17 years, and dedicated to the study of various Vedic traditions for over 30 years. Mentored by Hart deFouw, she organized Mr. deFouw’s astrology courses in the Bay for many years and is a board member of the Vedic Vidya Institute. Ms. Timm has written numerous articles on Jyotisha, Yoga, Ayurveda and other spiritual, philosophical and metaphysical subjects. Her teachings are lively and insightful, always incorporating the deep wisdom of the Vedas.