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 and June 2023  respectively. 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.

Dates of the retreats in 2023
10 MARCH
TO
16 MARCH

ENGLISH

10 APRIL
to
16 aPRIL

ENGLISH

10 MAY
to
16 MAY

ENGLISH

14 JUNE
to
20 JUNE

ENGLISH

Who can participate?

Both men and women in the age group of 18 to 70 can participate. It is strongly recommended that 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, because the discussions will be purely from that point of view. The participant should be free from any 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 English language.

Further, only those participants should enrol for this retreat who are ready to strictly abide by the daily routine and the discipline of the Ashrama. Please see the daily routine which is given towards the end. All the sessions are mandatory for the participants.

One who has already taken part in one of these retreats in 2022 will not be permitted to take part again in this year.

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.

Enrolment Fees

For the 6 days of his/her stay in the Ashrama for any one of these retreats, the participant will have to pay a nominal fee of rupees 6000/- (six-thousand rupees only), which will include arrangements for his/her stay, breakfast, lunch, morning/evening tea, and dinner.

In each group of these retreats, only a limited number of participants will be allowed. Place in this retreat will be reserved on “first come first basis”.

After the payment of the fee, if the member cancels his participation for some reason, the fee will not be refunded. Instead, he/she can participate in any of the future retreats without paying the fees again.

Dates for Arrival and Departure
for the Participants of Advaitamritam

March Retreat

The participant should reach Mayavati on 10th 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 11th and continue till the 15th. The participant will have to leave Mayavati on 16th March morning.

April Retreat

The participant should reach Mayavati on 10th 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 11th and continue till the 15th. The participant will have to leave Mayavati on 16th April morning.

May Retreat

The participant should reach Mayavati on 10th 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 11th and continue till the 15th. The participant will have to leave Mayavati on 16th May morning.

June Retreat

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.

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.

Our Prayer

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)

This retreat is an unique opportunity for any sincere spiritual seeker to progress rapidly in their path.  The entire routine has been carefully designed to gain maximum benefit from the Advaitic method of Shravanam, Mananam and Nididhyasanam. This retreat shall always remain etched in my memory as a great learning experience in the land of Swamiji.

Gairik Dutta
(Oct 20, 2022)