Upcoming Retreats

As Manjakkudi 1 is fully booked, we are now offering Manjakkudi 2.

During this retreat in Manjakkudi, South India at our Guru Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati’s birthplace, you would have a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the traditional teaching of Vedanta. This retreat would be attended by a group of individuals from all over the world who are interested in learning more about the Self, the universe and its cause.

The program consists of study of Katha Upanishad and Bhagavad Gita – Chapter 12.

The teaching of these two texts will be accompanied with morning meditations, practice of meditative movements, vedic chanting and dialogue sessions.

Participants are required to register at www.discovervedanta.com . Your registration is considered complete when booking fees are paid. The closing date for registration for this retreat is 29 November 2024. Seats are limited, so do not wait to register!

The program consists of study of the following texts: 

Katha Upanishad

Selected verses Katha Upanishad is in the form of a dialogue between Lord of Death (Yama) and a young boy called Nachiketa. It begins with Nachiketas fearlessly asking a fundamental question on existence to Yama: There is this doubt about what happens after death. Some say there is a self that is distinct from the body and that it will acquire a new body. Some say there is no such self at all. Who better than you can teach me about the nature of this I? Lord Yama, who first discourages Nachiketas to inquire further into this question, soon discovers that he is mature to be imparted this knowledge. He first helps him discover what is truly searched for by a human being and the means to attain it. Then Lord Yama makes Nachiketas see through various ways how the true nature of ‘I’ is limitless, not subject to birth or death, and reveals the nature of this ‘I’ with the cause of the universe.

Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of the Gita unfolds all the different ways the individual can relate to Isvara (the cause of the universe) in a beautiful manner. Arjuna is taught how one can grow from our basic understanding of the nature of Isvara as the all intelligence and power pervading the universe to an appreciation of this fact that is fully assimilated and integrated in our lives. Thus, wherever we start from, Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna the importance of building this relationship with Isvara if we want to know the essential oneness between ourselves as individuals and Isvara. In the final verses of this chapter, Lord Krishna describes vividly the qualities, values and attitude of the person who has transformed himself and is living his understanding of Isvara, so that we can develop these qualities in ourselves and grow to become a mature person, in touch with realities of life.