• This Month On Vac

    Namovaha dear kula -

    Welcome to the Winter '08/'09 issue of Vac. This is an exciting time for the kula - there has been much change and growth in this last year, and the kula is quickly becoming a large international entity. In that spirit we have an article by our esteemed puja teacher Rami, which addresses the structure of kulas in general and what is needed for a successful and healthy kula body.

    This season's Vac also features an article on Adi Yoga (actually an excerpt from the Adi Yoga First Gate training manual) by Dharmanidhi, explaining what Adi Yoga is, how the system is structured, and how it is taught.

    We also have the first several articles in what we hope to be an on-going series on the topic of permaculture. Permaculture is of significance to us for a couple of reasons. The first and most obvious is that Kailash Akhara, the new kula retreat center in Thailand, is being designed and run using the principles of permaculture, so it would behoove all of us to have at least a cursory idea of what permaculture is and how it works. The second is that permaculture is founded upon the ideas of living in harmony with the wisdom and cycles of nature - an idea that is foundational for everything we are practicing in tantra, ayurveda, and yoga.

    Additionally, Dharmanidhi has written an article on the subject of cults - what is meant by the word 'cult', charecteristics of cults, cult leaders and members, brainwashing and mind control, and how to discern whether or not a group, individual, or path are exhibiting cultish behavior.

    We round out the issue with a smattering of articles on various topics of interest, including an introductory article on Jyotish by Bette Timm, an Anandamayima book review by Kirana, an article on the connection between body and fire ceremony by Sri Acala, and an article on patterns of suffering and how to escape them.

    In service,

    Muktabodha


    UPCOMING EVENTS

    Dharmanidhi's Bay Area Schedule

    We are happy to welcome Dharmanidhi back to the Bay Area this Spring. We highly recommend pre-registeration as these courses are liable to fill up early. Special discounted package available - Click Here for details.

    *All courses taught by Dharmanidhi unless otherwise specified. Clicking on a link takes you to our online registration service through Yoga Mandala.


    History & Theory of Tantrik Sexual Practice
    March 7, 6-9pm (Sat.)
    $25

    Tattva Shuddhi:
    Transforming the 5 Elements

    March 9 & 10, 7-9 pm (Mon. & Tues.)
    Mon night pasu and vira practices
    Tues night divya practice
    $40 ($20 for one night)

    Tantraloka*
    March 11, 7-9pm (Wed.)
    w/Manomani, Omkarnath, Sasisekhara & Sruti
    $15

    Tantrik Relationship Series:
    Identifying and Resolving Karmic Relationship Patterns
    March 12, 7-9pm (Thur.)
    Dharmanidhi w/ Sumanasa
    $20 or $54 full series (3/12, 3/19 and 3/26)

    Lakshmi Abhiseka
    March 13, 7pm sharp, seated by 6:30pm (Fri.)
    $5 suggested minimum donation (towards food and ceremony supplies)

    Transforming Ignorance to Enlightenment:
    The 12 Stage Tantrik Journey

    March 14 & 15, 9am-5pm (Sat. and Sun.)
    $130/pre-reg or $150/door

    Yoga Nidra: Practice and Theory
    March 17, 7-9pm (Tues.)
    $20

    Life, Works and Teachings of Adi Shankaracarya
    March 19, 7-9pm (Wed.)
    w/Swami Maheshananda Sarasvati
    $20

    Tantrik Relationship Series:
    Picking Compatible Partners for Dual Cultivation
    March 19, 7-9pm (Thur.)
    $20 or $54 full series (3/12, 3/19 and 3/26)

    Kali Abisheka
    March 21, 1pm sharp, seated by 12:30pm (Sat.)
    $5 suggested minimum donation (towards food and ceremony supplies)

    Consort, Mother, Witch
    March 21, 7-9pm (Sat.)
    $10

    The Kriya Yoga system of Swami Rudrananda
    March 23 & 24, 7-9pm (Mon. and Tues.)
    $40

    Tantraloka*
    March 25, 7-9pm (Wed.)
    w/Manomani, Omkarnath, Sasisekhara & Sruti
    $15

    Tantrik Relationship Series:
    Parvati & Shiva as a Model for Spiritual Cultivation
    March 26th, 7-9pm (Thur.)
    $20 or $54 full series (3/12, 3/19 and 3/26)

    Gateway to Freedom:
    A beginner's guide to getting started on the path of Tantra in the tradition of Jnanagnikula.
    March 28 & 29, 9am-5pm (Sat. and Sun.)
    9am - 5pm
    $130/pre-reg or $150/door

    A Yogini's Journey:
    Advice from a Tantrik practitioner and consort
    March 30, 7-9pm (Mon.)
    Kiranamayi Sarasvati
    $20

    Recognizing the Enlightened Capacity of our 6 Inner Beings
    (Including yoga practice)
    May 30 & 31, 8:30am-6pm (Sat. and Sun.)
    $150/pre-reg or $175/door

    Tantrik Satsang - Open Q & A
    June 1, 7-9pm (Mon.)
    $5 minimum suggested donation

    Please send any correspondence to newsletter at trikainstitute.org.

Letter from the Guru: Namaste Kula!

This is our first issue of Vac from our new center in Thailand. We are all very excited about the construction of the various buildings. Seeing them go up around the new aquaculture pond amidst the lychee trees is like a dream come true for us.
It has also been a great time for [...]

by Siddhiratna and Nityabhoda Sarasvati

When in the presence of your Guru, it’s a wonderful time of never-ending formal and informal empowerments, learning, transmissions and transformations. Though as Guruji spends more time over seas, this phase becomes an excellent time of self-discovery, focus and refinement. It is an empowering time for yourself and a time for focusing and refining what [...]

by Dharmamegha Sarasvati

The end result is the product of the amount of work and ability to persevere against all outer manifestation.
-Swami Rudrananda
You’re in Asia. You know this because everyone around you is speaking Asian. Packed in like a bloated sardine, one among 7 million, on this tiny island called Hong Kong; in the crowded downtown Central [...]

by Tejasvini Sarasvati

Sitting here I have struggled a little with what to
write for this Vac. It was asked that I share my
experience of life separated from physical contact
with the Kula body and Guru. Something inspirational
they said!!! Which proved to be a little difficult as
every sentence started, went uncompleted…..the
realisation dawned that “My Story” was irrelevant and
could possibly only [...]

Thailand Update

by Sruti Sarasvati
AMAZING! I just returned from Thailand where I was fortunate to attend the groundbreaking for the Adi Yoga retreat center. Seeing the land for the first time was deeply inspiring. It is a beautiful piece of land with lovely rolling hills, lychee orchards, and freshwater ponds…all with a view [...]

Poems by “no-name”

The following poems are from an anyonymous kula member under the pen name, “no-name.” It should be noted that these are works in progress, not as much in terms of the writing, but rather the content – i.e. the high View is not always lived. But through these writings and sadhana, the yogi [...]