Advaitamritam ( अद्वैतामृतम् )

The Nectar of Advaitic Knowledge

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Spiritual Retreat at Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati


Swami Vivekananda had founded Advaita Ashrama at Mayavati to facilitate the practice and preaching of Advaita Vedanta. He envisioned the coming of serious spiritual aspirants to this holy place with the intention of seeking the Ultimate Truth.

In line with his wish, Advaita Ashrama will be conducting spiritual retreats in the months of March, April, May, June and September, October, November 2024. These retreats are meant only for serious spiritual aspirants (jijnasus) desirous to learn the way to atma-jnana or Self-realization. Please note that the discussions will be mainly from the Advaita Vedanta (jnana-marga or the path of Self-enquiry) point of view.

Who can participate?

Both men and women in the age group of 18 to 50 can participate. Only those who are inclined towards the path of Advaita Vedanta (the path of Self-enquiry or jnana-marga) should take part in these retreats. The retreat is not meant for those who expect devotional disciplines like puja and bhajans. It is meant only for those who are ready to undergo the rigorous process of Self-enquiry and meditation, which will mainly involve the study of a particular scripture.

The participant should be free from physical or other ailments, so that he or she can fully focus on the course without any hindrance. All the retreats are going to be held in the English language.

Only those who are ready to strictly abide by the daily routine and the discipline of the Ashrama should enroll in the retreat. Please see the daily routine which is given towards the end. All the sessions are mandatory for the participants.

Applicants who wish to participate for the first time in the Advaitamritam retreat should apply for Vivekachudamani session. However, individuals who have previously participated in the Vivekachudamani sessions during 2022 or 2023 are advised against submitting a new application.

GET COPY

Enrollment for Mandukya Upanishad retreat is open only for individuals who have participated in one of the Vivekachudamani sessions during 2022 or 2023.

GET COPY
14 MARCH
TO
20 MARCH
Vivekachudamani

ENGLISH

14 APRIL
TO
20 APRIL
Mandukya Upanishad

ENGLISH

20 MAY
TO
26 MAY
Vivekachudamani

ENGLISH

14 JUNE
TO
20 JUNE
Mandukya Upanishad

ENGLISH

Application process for retreats scheduled in

March, April, May, and June begins on 1 December 2023.

10 september
TO
16 september
Vivekachudamani 

ENGLISH

24 september
TO
30
 september
Vivekachudamani 

ENGLISH

15 october
TO
21 october
Mandukya Upanishad

ENGLISH

25 october
TO
31 october
VIVEKACHUDAMANI

ENGLISH

14 NOVEMBER
TO
20 NOVEMBER
Mandukya Upanishad

ENGLISH

22 NOVEMBER
TO
28 NOVEMBER
VIVEKACHUDAMANI

ENGLISH

APPLICATION PROCESS FOR RETREATS SCHEDULED IN
SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, AND NOVEMBER BEGINS ON 1 JUNE  2024.

Enrolment Fees

Retreat Costs and Inclusions:
Embark on a 6-day retreat at the Ashrama for a nominal fee of Rs. 6000/-. This covers accommodation and meals – breakfast, lunch, tea, and dinner.

Journal Subscription Requirement:
Participating in the retreat requires subscribing to the monthly journal “Prabuddha Bharata” for atleast a year. For a one-year subscription of Prabuddha Bharata, Indian nationals need to pay an additional Rs. 750. For foreign citizens and Non-resident Indians, the one-year subscription will cost an additional Rs.6000 due to extra shipping charges. Existing subscribers are exempt from this additional charge.

Limited Spots on First-Come, First-Served Basis:
Securing a spot in each group of these retreats operates on a first-come, first-served basis, with only a limited number of participants accepted.

Cancellation Policy:
After payment, retreat fees are non-refundable upon participant cancellation. However, participants can freely join any future retreat within a year without incurring additional charges.

Dates for Arrival and Departure
for the Participants of Advaitamritam

MARCH RETREAT (VIVEKACHUDAMANI)

The participant should reach Mayavati on 14th March by 3 pm and report at the Manager’s office. At 7 pm on that day, there will be a special session to welcome all the participants and to introduce them to the retreat. The retreat will commence on the 15th and continue till the 19th. The participant will have to leave Mayavati on 20th March morning.

APRIL RETREAT (MANDUKYA UPANISHAD)

The participant should reach Mayavati on 14th April by 3 pm and report at the Manager’s office. At 7 pm on that day, there will be a special session to welcome all the participants and to introduce them to the retreat. The retreat will commence on the 15th and continue till the 19th. The participant will have to leave Mayavati on 20th April morning.

MAY RETREAT (VIVEKACHUDAMANI)

The participant should reach Mayavati on 20th May by 3 pm and report at the Manager’s office. At 7 pm on that day, there will be a special session to welcome all the participants and to introduce them to the retreat. The retreat will commence on the 21th and continue till the 25th. The participant will have to leave Mayavati on 26th May morning.

JUNE RETREAT (MANDUKYA UPANISHAD)

The participant should reach Mayavati on 14 June by 3 pm and report at the Manager’s office. At 7 pm on that day, there will be a special session to welcome all the participants and to introduce them to the retreat. The retreat will commence on the 15th and continue till the 19th. The participant will have to leave Mayavati on 20 June morning.

SEPTEMBER RETREAT (VIVEKACHUDAMANI)

The participant should reach Mayavati on 10 September by 3 pm and report at the Manager’s office. At 7 pm on that day, there will be a special session to welcome all the participants and to introduce them to the retreat. The retreat will commence on the 11th and continue till the 15th. The participant will have to leave Mayavati on 16 September morning.

SEPTEMBER RETREAT 2 (VIVEKACHUDAMANI)

The participant should reach Mayavati on 24 September by 3 pm and report at the Manager’s office. At 7 pm on that day, there will be a special session to welcome all the participants and to introduce them to the retreat. The retreat will commence on the 25th and continue till the 29th. The participant will have to leave Mayavati on 30 September morning.

OCTOBER RETREAT (MANDUKYA UPANISHAD)

The participant should reach Mayavati on 15 October by 3 pm and report at the Manager’s office. At 7 pm on that day, there will be a special session to welcome all the participants and to introduce them to the retreat. The retreat will commence on the 16th and continue till the 20th. The participant will have to leave Mayavati on 21 October morning.

OCTOBER RETREAT 2 (VIVEKCHUDAMANI)

The participant should reach Mayavati on 25 October by 3 pm and report at the Manager’s office. At 7 pm on that day, there will be a special session to welcome all the participants and to introduce them to the retreat. The retreat will commence on the 26th and continue till the 30th. The participant will have to leave Mayavati on 31 October morning.

NOVEMBER RETREAT (MANDUKYA UPANISHAD)

The participant should reach Mayavati on 14 November by 3 pm and report at the Manager’s office. At 7 pm on that day, there will be a special session to welcome all the participants and to introduce them to the retreat. The retreat will commence on the 15th and continue till the 19th. The participant will have to leave Mayavati on 20 November morning.

NOVEMBER RETREAT 2 (VIVEKACHUDAMANI)

The participant should reach Mayavati on 22 November by 3 pm and report at the Manager’s office. At 7 pm on that day, there will be a special session to welcome all the participants and to introduce them to the retreat. The retreat will commence on the 23th and continue till the 27th. The participant will have to leave Mayavati on 28 November morning.

daily schedule of the retreats

The daily schedule of the retreat has been chalked out to give ample scope for the three steps involved in the process of Self-enquiry, viz shravanam (listening), mananam (thinking), and nididhyasanam (meditation). The day will start with the chanting of the Vedic mantras. Every day there will be three sessions of shravanam (of 90 minutes each). Shravanam will involve the study of the text of Vivekachudamani under the guidance of a monk. There will be two sessions of mananam (time for deep thinking), and two sessions of nididhyasanam (meditation). Out of the two sessions of nididhyasanam (meditation), one will be guided meditation (by a monk). The details of the day are as follows:

Morning session
Post lunch session

The schedule given above is open to further modification for the sake of improvement or for the sake of workability.

Conducted By

Swami Shuddhidananda
Adhyaksha, Advaita Ashrama

All the seats for the Advaitamritam retreats in 2024  are filled up.

Applications for summer sessions in 2025 will be accepted from December 1, 2024.

Apply Now

After the submission of the form, the participant will be informed (through email) whether he/she has been allowed to take part in the retreat. Only then he/she should pay the fee.

We pray to the Supreme Divinity to shower his grace (anugraha) on every member of this retreat so that he/she can uplift himself/herself and rediscover oneself in a NEW LIGHT.

–OM TAT SAT

Swami Shuddhidananda
Adhyaksha
Advaita Ashrama

What our participants say

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to attend the Advaitamritam spiritual retreat, I feel blessed to have been there. My pranams to Adhyaksha maharaj, Swami Shuddhidananda ji, there are no words to even thank him for showering his grace on us. As he said, the grace of the guru can assume any human framework and in this instance Thakur and Ma literally spoke through him. Please accept my pranams. My thanks also to those cooking and serving the food, all the volunteers who at every stage made us feel so much at home.

Sonali Chakraborty
(Sep 18, 2022)

No words can express what I got from Advaitamritam.  I can say that it is life changing if I can really change myself! But these five days in my life are definitely a lifetime treasure which will help me to realise myself and this world more in the light of the eternal truth.  

It’s really God’s grace by which we all got this opportunity!  Mind is saying Shivoham ! Shivoham !  

Swati Basu
(Sep 19, 2022)

Swamiji, Your mere presence made me forget the world for the time I was in the Ashram. The key takeaway was the essence of the scriptures as discussed in the retreat discourse to which I was absolutely unaware before attending the retreat. For lack of better words, I can only explain it as an eye opening experience. I further realized the value of time and punctuality which was practiced for the entire duration of the retreat. Swamiji, I really am speechless and expressionless viz. my experience in the retreat, for lack of any better expression, I can just say it was Life Changing and Your mere presence was Divinity.

Parakram Roy
(Sep 19, 2022)

Advaitamritam retreat really gave me Amrutham to my spiritual life. For me it ignites in my heart and removes the darkness of my spiritual doubts. I have so many doubts for last 20 years about the link between Guru Maharaj (Sri Ramakrishna) teachings and Swamiji (Vivekananda) teachings. At Mayavati it’s clarified. I understood the link among Sri Shankaracharya, Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda. Now onwards I am understanding the teachings of Swamiji and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna in the new dimension.  Your teaching and explanation of the Viveka Chudamani is marvelous.

Sridhar Jalla
(Oct 7, 2022)

I feel it’s a God’s  grace that I got this opportunity to be a part of this enlightened discussion on Vivekchudamani. I feel blessed and I convey my gratitude towards everything that I received in the ashram, good, comfortable accommodation, delicious food, a cosy reading room and a spiritually charged meditation hall. The classes held in the lap of nature was a completely new experience for me.

Sweta Roy
(Thu, Oct 20, 2022)

After attending the classes of “ADVAITA AMRITAM” based on “Vivekchidamoni” of Sri Shankaracharya, I got all the answers of my questions. Last few months I was in deep mental agony due to my family properties, health issues of my near ones and some other problems. “ADVAITAMRITAM” worked on my mind as a super medicine. I don’t know how much I would be able to implement the method you taught but I know if I can follow little bit, it will give me immense peace through rest of my life.

Raktima Majumdar
(Oct 19, 2022)