The Art of Awareness

A 3- or 5-Day Workshop on Uncovering Your True Nature

with Sahajananda

Starting July 15, 2024

Presented in English in Longeval, France

Dive into the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra

Let the wisdom of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra open you to the most intimate of experiences. This fundamental and fascinating Tantric text describes how to use everything—from commonplace daily experiences to sublime contemplations—to reveal the Consciousness of Oneness, the Reality of Being.

With Hridaya founder Sahajananda as a guide, you’ll spend three or five days exploring an intriguing array of practices that flow naturally from the intuition of the Spiritual Heart and demonstrate the potential for life to blend joyful mystical celebration and silent Self-Inquiry. As you develop a broader understanding of the spiritual path and how it can be walked in countless situations, Freedom and Love will naturally blossom.

Join us and learn to reveal the beauty inherent in every moment.

IMPORTANT: Please note that this is a traditional, spiritual course. The techniques shared may appear straightforward but require a thorough metaphysical explanation rooted in the Kashmir Shaivite tradition. Although we’ll devote much time to practice, when joining us, be aware that there are also satsangs (lectures), short video presentations, formal meditations, etc. Being open to this format will help you understand the subtleties of the teachings and experience them on a more profound level. Due to the metaphysical nature of its content, participation in the 5-day workshop requires prior completion of at least one 10-Day Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat.

To support your practice, a printed booklet of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra will be provided. Participants in the 5-day workshop will also receive a booklet containing a description of The Wheel of the Twelve Kalis.

This workshop is a registered continuing education program for Yoga Alliance teachers.

Content

Days 1–3:

Days 4–5:

The teachings and practices of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, including examples of the techniques as depicted in film
The visualization and arousal of Kundalini Shakti
Micro-practices (moments of intense awareness and energy)
The three fundamental paths (upayas) in Kashmir Shaivism, emphasizing Shaktopaya, the path of energy
The 5 kinds of breath awareness and their relation to the Supreme Consciousness
Sufi whirling
The celebration of both the abundance and lack of energy
Falling in love with both pure Light and Darkness
Yoga Nidra, the yoga of sleep
Spanda—The Sacred Tremor of the Heart; coming to the very origin of a desire—the joy of eating, drinking, aesthetic inspiration, and sexual pleasure
Discovering the gap between two thoughts, perceptions, etc.
Awareness practices (dharanas) based on breath, light, time, fire, the space of the Heart, darkness, and sound
Attitudes for constant Self-awareness (Bhairava and Krama mudras, soham, etc.)

The study of numerous other methods from the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra as well as new ways to deepen, refine, and stabilize the Self-Awareness
The teachings and practices of the Kramastotra regarding The Wheel of the Twelve Kalis, a highly esoteric Tantric approach (called the Krama system) of unfolding the unity between the outer and inner world in twelve steps. The study of each Kali illustrates the spiritual meaning of any quanta of the process of perception and Self-knowledge. Through this internalized form of Shakti worship, Her twelve facets are envisioned as natural phases of time and Self-consciousness. This also represents a radical way of purifying the subconscious mind.
Exploring bhavana (“sheer spiritual impetus”), the Tantric method of supramental imagination that unifies rational and mystic cognition
The presentation of the 36 tattvas, existential categories that disclose the metaphysical structure of the Universe and of the human soul, as well as the intricate journey toward the complete revelation of the Spiritual Heart

Testimonials

“This workshop has been as profound and deeply touching as any 10-day meditation retreat I've ever done. The micro-practices and teachings are incredibly powerful and can be applied easily in many everyday situations. My heart has opened with a newfound awareness to allow a subtle yet supremely obvious connection to myself and a longing for union with God that I have not experienced before. Thank you, Sahaja, for this unique and touching offering. I highly recommend it to anyone on the path of the revelation of the Self.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you for this wonderful experience. We got to dance, dig deep personally, and learn the does and don’ts of meditation, awareness, and self-discovery. While I wish there were a few more practical elements, overall I thought this was one of the best experiences I’ve had in a long time!”

"The ancient tantrics were innovative geniuses as to the many ways we can taste the divine in our daily life. I feel so lucky to feed my soul with their brilliance and Sahaja's guiding hand. For meditation, bhakti and bliss lovers, this workshop is a force that deeply nourishes."

“Sahaja is such a wonderful teacher. The joy he transmits when teaching is beautiful to witness. He has wonderful stories and illustrations to lighten up the density of the content and make it easier for us to understand. His humbleness and welcoming energy provide a very pleasant learning space. I feel very lucky that he has taken a mission to bring these teachings to us and make them accessible for people who are new to all this content.”

“I simply love being in the room with Sahajananda. The depth and width of his articulation and embodiment of spiritual wisdom transforms me every time... I experience his teachings like that of a Hopkins poem where rather than trying to understand them I let each wash over me like rain. I do understand, but on a level far deeper than intellectually. I often have the experience of simply being ‘located’ by his teachings, as in met by Shiva where I am. Like this spontaneous, playful sense of ‘there you are!’ I think this speaks loudly to Sahaja’s being, which is a pure vessel, no dualism, no ego, no judgement, just a mirror of Shiva that has devoted himself to this expression of his true being... What you do there is as real as it gets!”

“I celebrated my 35th birthday at Hridaya this year. I wanted to be in silence and meditation to start the leap into my spiritual longing into the Supreme Awakening this year. It was such a blissful moment to stay connected to the Heart during the entire… Art of Awareness workshop with Sahajananda’s teachings and share it with amazing people in a beach-like paradise.”

“The Art of Awareness is a beautiful and deep dive into the magic of Classical Tantric science through the study of the renowned Vijñana Bhairava Tantra and more. And what makes it so special is that by bringing in his own rich experience and the true dimension of the Heart—often forgotten in these teachings—Sahajananda illuminates the depth, wonderment, and everyday sacredness of these practices, revealing the essence of the teachings. His transmission is infused in love and peace and a quality of profound direct experience. You will find no dry understanding here, but an ever-blossoming of your own heart, of the Heart of hearts. Be ready to reconnect with the beauty of life, the splendor and naturalness of your Self.”

Tuesday - Thursday/Saturday

7:00-8:00	Meditation (optional)
8:00-8:45	Breakfast
9:00-12:00	Teachings and practice
12:00-12:45	Lunch
12:45-15:30	Break
15:30-17:30	Teachings and practice
17:30-18:15	Dinner
18:30-19:30	Teachings and practice
19:30-22:00	Free time
22:00	Mauna (noble silence)

“There is nothing critical, there is nothing urgent, except Self-Awareness.”
–Sahajananda

Pricing and Registration

Click Pricing and Registration for information and to book a spot in this workshop.

DATES	COURSE	TEACHER	PRICING AND REGISTRATION
July 15 – 19, 2024	3-Day Art of Awareness Workshop	Sahajananda	Pricing and Registration
July 15 – 21, 2024	5-Day Art of Awareness Workshop	Sahajananda	Pricing and Registration

Please Note:

This workshop is presented in English at our center in Longeval, France, and is open to all. No previous yoga or meditation experience is required.
The 3-day workshop is open to all. No prior experience is required. The 5-day workshop has the prerequisite of participation in at least one 10-Day Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat.
The dates listed above are for accommodation. The course begins the morning after the date of arrival and ends the evening before departure. Check-in is available from 14:00 on arrival day.
Please read our Payment, Refund, and Amendment Guidelines before booking.
For more information about our center, including how to get to Longeval, please visit this page.