Retreat
1-Week Meditations from the Tantras Retreat
With Asanas & Pranayamas, learn and practise Meditation from the Tantras in the Satyananda Bihar tradition.
Dates
No dates are scheduled right now. Ask us and we will tell you when it runs next.
Starting dates
When it runs
Each batch has its own arrival and departure day. If you want to arrive earlier or depart later, please contact us.
Introduction
About the retreat
Learn and practise Meditation from the Tantras as taught in the Satyananda Bihar tradition, with daily asana, pranayama, chanting and meditation. The techniques give a firm foundation for meditation at home, and suit beginners and experienced practitioners alike. Alongside the daily classes we offer a variety of optional workshops. In our ashram we follow ‘simple living and high thinking’, with organic farming and a play school. We are not a resort, guest house or a hostel. Life here runs much like a spiritual family: we eat, chant, meditate, sing, learn, work and play together.
Itinerary
The retreat
The retreat focuses on one or two Meditations from the Tantras, chosen from techniques such as Ajapa Japa, Tratak, Antar Mouna, Chidakash Dharana and mantra meditation (described below). You can request your choice before the retreat, or Swamiji will decide with the group at the start. There are daily classes of asana, pranayama and mantra chanting, suitable for all levels. Mornings are asana and pranayama; afternoons meditation.
Choice of Meditation from the Tantras
The techniques you can practise
Meditation
Ajapa Japa
Meditation on the breath with universal or personal mantra, to calm, focus & purify the mind, taking it deeper and connecting with the rhythms of nature and with your Higher Consciousness. The breath is a constant companion and faithful friend.
Meditation
Antar Mouna Meditation
Witness your senses, thoughts and emotions, learn to stand back from them, and rest in the deep, silent inner space of antar mouna (inner silence).
Meditation
Chidakash Dharana – Art Meditation
Exploring the inner screen of consciousness, and expressing what is seen there through art.
Meditation
Tratak
If you cannot keep your eyes closed, open them: gaze steadily at a candle flame, a sunrise or a sunset. Tratak focuses and settles the mind. Good for restless minds, children’s concentration and sound sleep.
Meditation
Chakra Shuddhi
Purify, balance and energize your chakras (energy centres) through breathing, visualization and mantra. A complete practice which also prepares for Kriya Yoga and safe Kundalini awakening.
Meditation
Swan Meditation
Devised by Swami Niranjanji to view your personality objectively: its strengths, weaknesses, ambitions and needs. A practice for overcoming confusion, finding focus, and planning your future.
Meditation
Mantra Meditations
Experiencing Mantra chanting as Vaikhari (aloud), Manasic (mentally), and Upanshu (silently) through Likhit Jap (writing and drawing mantras), Chankramanam (walking) and finding the best way to benefit from mantras & their associated Yantras (geometric shapes of power).
Meditation
Naada Yoga
The yoga of sound – singing through the chakras, listening to the deep silence beneath it.
Meditation
Attitudinal Yoga
Becoming aware of and empowering our attitudes, with ancient techniques from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras; and using them to become happier and more loving individuals.
Daily schedule includes
The practices of the day
Asana & Pranayama sadhana session
The morning is an ideal time to connect with the body and breath, and to calm the mind through asana. Asanas build fitness, strength and flexibility, and suit beginners, experienced practitioners and therapy students. Pranayama (breathing practice) settles and focuses the mind. You will get a daily practice, adapted to your needs, that you can continue by yourself at home.
Mantra chanting
Morning and evening mantra chanting sessions steady and focus the mind. In the evening there is a short group meditation followed by kirtan (singing spiritual songs) or satsang (spiritual discussion). All are welcome to join, or simply to sit and listen.
Karma Yoga
In this session you take an active part in ashram life – in the garden, in the kitchen, helping in the office, housekeeping. “To find the Higher Self you must lose yourself in the service of others” – this is Karma Yoga, seva (selfless service).
A day here
Sample daily schedule
In the ashram we maintain silence from 9:00 pm to the next morning 9:00 am to help us be more aware of our inner consciousness. Please cooperate.
Alongside our daily classes, we offer a wide range of workshops for a reasonable extra cost (optional extra class): Yoga Nidra, Chakra Sadhana, Yoga therapy, Bhakti Yoga. Please inquire.
Through the week
Weekly schedule
Saturdays
- Havan preparation - 3pm
- Havan (Sacred Fire Ceremony) - 5:30pm, followed by Prasad (holy food)
- Optional Talent show (share your talent with us) – 7:45pm
Sundays
- Sunrise meditation by the Ocean 5.30am.
- Visit of Gokarna, beaches, optional swimming etc.
Mondays
- Courses start.
Tuesdays
- Ganesh puja & chanting at 8pm
- Optional movie night - 9pm
Thursdays
- Market day: 4.00pm - shopping/swimming
- Dinner in town is optional. Please inform us in the morning if you are not eating at the ashram.
Fridays
- Free Introductory Class to Satyananda Bihar School of Yoga (Oct-April) - 11:30am
- Sunset Meditation by the Ocean – 5.30pm
Fees cover
What is included
What is included
- Accommodation for every night of your batch
- 5 Meditation classes
- 5 Asanas and Pranayama classes
- Daily Chanting and meditation
- 3 daily vegetarian meals and tea and coffee
- Filtered water 24 hours
- Every Saturday Havan (sacred fire ceremony)
- Weekly Sunrise meditation by the Ocean
- Weekly Sunset meditation by the Ocean
- Swimming at one of the popular beaches
What is not included
- Airfare
- Transport to and from the airport
- Personal expenses
- Internet (WIFI), washing machine, bicycles, and hot water for showering are available at an extra cost
- Optional classes: Chakra Sadhana, Meditation medley, Yoga therapy, Kriya Yoga, Bhakti Yoga. Please inquire.
Things to do (optional)
Around the ashram
- Visit the holy town of Gokarna (Maha Ganapti Temple, Mahabaleshwara Temple, Koti Thirta holy pond)
- Discover amazing beaches, accessible by trek or by Tuk Tuk
- Waterfalls visit
- Sea kayak
Location, stay & food
Where you are, and how you live
Location
The ashram is in the village of Bankikodla, Karnataka. Gokarna, an ancient temple town, is 5 km away: temples, beaches and a weekly market.
Accommodation
Twin shared room with attached bathroom. Rooms are in heritage buildings surrounded by gardens and the ashram’s organic farm, with twin beds and an attached bathroom with toilet and shower. Bed sheets and pillows are provided.
Dormitory with shared bathroom. The dormitories are in the century-old heritage house. They sleep between 2 and 5 people on sleeping pads. Clean toilets and bathrooms are shared. Bed sheets and pillows are provided.
Food
Three vegetarian meals are served daily, with tea or coffee. Meals are cooked here: traditional, local vegetarian food. Shankar Prasad grows its own rice and many of its vegetables on the fully organic farm; what is not grown on the land is bought from organic farmers in the village and neighbouring town.
How to get there
By air: Goa, Mumbai, Mangalore or Bengaluru
Dabolim (Goa) is about 3 hours by taxi, Manohar (Mopa, Goa) about 5. We can arrange a trusted village taxi: send us your flight details and it will be waiting.
By train: Gokarna Road, Kumta or Ankola
Any train on the Konkan line. Gokarna Road is 20 minutes away by auto-rickshaw; from Kumta or Ankola take a bus or taxi. Overnight buses also run often from Mumbai and Bengaluru to Gokarna Cross. Full routes on the How to reach page.
Fees
Fee
- Twin shared room with attached bathroom: 10,275 INR
- Dormitory with shared bathroom: 8,665 INR
Booking / cancellation policy: A reservation requires a 10% deposit, which is non-refundable if the booking is cancelled. The balance is paid on arrival.
Booking
How to book
Tell us your dates and we’ll confirm availability, fees and how to hold your place.
Staying with us for it? See the rooms. You book the room on the same form.
Enquire
Ask about 1-Week Meditations from the Tantras Retreat
Tell us when you would like to come and what you have practised before.
No dates are scheduled for this course right now. Write to us and we will tell you when it runs next.