2025 Fall Retreat in Kashmir, India

Date: Sept 8-20

Step into the Living Wisdom of Kashmir Shaivism: A Transformational Retreat
 

Some journeys take you to new places. Others awaken something within you that has always been there.

We invite you to Kashmir—the sacred land where the timeless wisdom of Kashmir Shaivism has been illuminated for centuries. Rooted in the profound teachings of Abhinavagupta and Swami Lakshmanjoo, this Non-Dual tradition unveils the divine as ever-present, woven into the fabric of all existence—within and beyond.

This retreat is more than a journey—it is a sacred immersion into living wisdom, a path of inner awakening guided by the heart-opening teachings of Kashmir Shaivism.

Guided by John, Denise, and Shanna Hughes, George Barselaar, and Claudia Dose—dedicated students of Swami Lakshmanjoo—you will move beyond theory into direct experience. Through study, meditation, and sacred pilgrimage, this retreat will dissolve the sense of separation and awaken you to the limitless awareness of Kashmir Shaivism.

Guided by the teachings of Swami Lakshmanjoo (1907–1991), this retreat brings the profound wisdom of Kashmir Shaivism to life.

We anticipate high interest in this retreat, and spots are limited.

Details

Date: Sept 8-20
Length: 12 nights/13 days
Location: Kashmir
Group size: Up to 40
Cost: (not including air)

Luxury accommodation (Only two rooms left):
Shared Room: $3,000 per person 
Private Room: $4,000 per person

Basic comfortable accommodation (only six rooms available):
Shared Room: $2,500 per person (Queen bed, for couples or friends only)
Private Room: $3,200 per person

Registration for the 2025 Four-Day ONLINE Study Retreat (Date: Sept 11-14) will become available closer to the event.

 Questions? Contact us here

What Awaits You

• Swami Lakshmanjoo’s Mahasamadhi Fire Ceremony -
  The heart of this retreat is the sacred fire ceremony at Ishwar Ashram, Nishat, honoring the Mahasamadhi of Swami Lakshmanjoo. Led by a priest personally chosen by Swamiji, this full-day ritual is a powerful offering of devotion, where: Sacred flames consume wood, ghee, flowers, spices, and prayers. Sanskrit chants and hymns fill the air, resonating with ancient wisdom. The presence of Swamiji is deeply felt, an undeniable transmission of grace.
• Four-Day Study Retreat: Enter the Heart of Kashmir Shaivism
• Absorb the wisdom of Swamiji and the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra
• Experience deep meditation and gentle yoga in the land of sages
• Engage in scripture study and soul-stirring discussions
• Nourish your body with traditional Kashmiri vegetarian meals
• Sacred Pilgrimage to Kashmir’s Most Powerful Spiritual Sites
• Meditate at Shiva Rock, where the Shiva Sutras were revealed
• Visit the Abhinavagupta Shrine, where the great master attained liberation
• Experience the living energy of temples and ashrams that have held these teachings for centuries
• Glide across Dal Lake at sunset in a shikara, with devotional hymns carrying you into stillness
• Immerse Yourself in the Divine Pulse of Kashmir

PLEASE WATCH INTRODUCTORY MEETING RECORDING BELOW BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH REGISTRATION. IT WILL ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. 

We anticipate high interest in this retreat, and spots are limited.

Meet your hosts

This retreat is led by John, Denise, Shanna Hughes, and George Barselaar and Claudia Dose. John, Denise and Shanna lived in Kashmir for over a decade and recorded more than 700 hours of Swamiji’s translations of the teachings of Kashmir Shaivism, the great non-dual Trika tradition that dates back to Abhinavagupta, 924 to 1020 CE. 

Typical Daily Schedule

Schedule subject to change

Each day begins at 8:00am with yoga, followed by meditation and recitation of Sanskrit verses specially selected for worship (puja) by Swamiji.

Following this, using the sacred revelations given by Swamiji, we will examine a number of important texts central to the philosophy and practice of this great tradition of Kashmir Shaivism.

We usually end by 7:00pm after a group meditation.

Suggested Reading
Texts we may cover during the retreat to be announced.
 
Practice
Practical Meditations from the Vijnana Bhairava

In the Vijnana Bhairava, Lord Bhairava (God) clears the doubts about the essence of the path toward Self-realization. He explicitly reveals 112 meditation techniques for entering into the state of God consciousness. We will be sharing one of these practices each day.

Yoga Classes
Shanna will teach the yoga classes in the morning. Classes will interweave movement for strengthening and stretching the body, linking the breath with the movement, pranayama (breathing practices), and aligning the heart, body and mind through the sharing of stories and poems. 

Recordings
Recordings will be available for those who cannot attend the livestream. 

Feedback from past participants

I was very pleased and delighted with all of them, learned immensely from the materials and the downloads especially the audios of Swamiji and subsequent commentaries. It was like a mini retreat. Or, maybe I could say, it was analogous to the concept of Yoga in action in the sense that Swamiji’s birthday retreat and Swamiji’s Mahasamadhi Havan and retreat were like our daily meditations early and late. Then the webinar was like the “Yoga in Action” strengthening the practice in between.
Jai Guru Dev.
—Bruce Catalano

One of the most tangible, practical and accessible teachings that perfectly marries the world of science and spirituality and provides tools that all of us can use to make the world into a better place.
—Jody Weiss

I want to congratulate you all of the Academy for reaching this milestone of conducting a successful webinar. This was a great experience for me after a long time. I enjoyed every minute of it and look forward to the next one.
Thank you all for doing this.
Jai Guru Dev!!
—Manika Kaul

Thank you very much for the just concluded and enlightening Webinar series!
I grew up in Srinagar and had heard about Swamiji, but never had the good fortune to either meet him in person, or to listen to his commentaries while growing up.  You, through your assiduous work, have allowed people like myself to go back in time and relive moments, as though in the presence of dear Swamiji. Kudos to you all!
The series was very well conducted and the topic chosen, the Bodhapañcadaśikā, was simple, yet profound. I look forward to more seminars from the Academy. I am sure, having spent a number of years with Swamiji, you folks are in the best position to select the next topic.
—Dr. Jatinder Bhan