Shaivism: A Path to Supreme Consciousness

Workshop of Hridaya Kamala Center with Simona Trandafir, Sebastian Teodor, Carmen Prema – 20-23 November 2024

„God and the individual are one; to realize this is the essence of Shaivism.”
— Lakshmanjoo

In this workshop, we will delve into the profound depths of Kashmir Shaivism, one of the most refined branches of non-dual Tantra. This spiritual tradition is renowned for its sublime aesthetics, sophisticated esoteric practices, and its powerful influence on Hridaya Yoga.

Kashmir Shaivism offers a unique and original philosophy, presenting a vision of the world not as an illusion but as a real and blissful expression of Shakti, the dynamic energy of the all-pervading consciousness of Shiva. Often referred to as Trika, this system encompasses the trinity of consciousness (Shiva), energy (Shakti), and humanity (nara, the incarnated spirit), guiding the aspirant on a path of self-recognition as the divine Self.

This tradition embodies radical non-duality, where the entire universe is seen as a playful manifestation of consciousness, inseparable from consciousness itself. In this cosmic dance, the transcendent and the immanent unite in an eternal, blissful embrace.

Our everyday lives are composed of countless moments, often dismissed as mundane or unremarkable. However, Kashmir Shaivism teaches us that by cultivating awareness, each moment becomes a gateway to the Consciousness of Unity. Through a harmonious blend of theoretical understanding and practical application—both in formal meditation and daily life—our true nature (Shiva, Atman, the Spiritual Heart) emerges as the very fabric of our existence. In this state, the world becomes a canvas for celebrating the Divine in every action.

Kashmir Shaivism is a direct path to transcendence that embraces the entirety of human life. During this workshop, we will explore:

• Practical Techniques: Practices that deepen meditation and bring heightened awareness into everyday life
• Love as Being – the profound dimension of love 
• Bhakti  (the devotion)- an important fuel for the spiritual journey
• The Five Energies of Śiva: Consciousness, bliss, will, knowledge, and action, and how these energies shape our experiences.
• The Five Actions of Śiva: Creation, preservation, dissolution, revealing, and concealing, and how we mirror these actions in our lives.
• The Shaivite Roots of Hridaya Meditation: Connecting the philosophy of Shaivism with the practice of Hridaya Yoga.
• The Three Impurities (Mala): How these impurities transform divine consciousness (cit) into the bound individual consciousness (citta) and the methods to liberate ourselves from them.
• The Four Upayas (Paths): The paths available in meditation, shaped by our aspiration and divine grace.
• Bhāvanā (Creative Contemplation): Utilizing meditation as a tool for self-knowledge and understanding the world.

We will intertwine study and practice to uncover this ancient wisdom that infuses spirituality and supreme awareness into the fabric of everyday existence.

„Let Shiva, who is my nature, bow down to his real nature—Universal Shiva—by his own Shakti, for the removal of obstacles, which are no other than Shiva.”
— Somananda

The workshop will be in English and Portuguese offered by Hridaya Yoga teachers. 

The teachers have an experience of more than 30 years in Yoga and Tantra.

Location: Portal das Artes, Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal 

Period: 20th to 23rd of November of 2024

Schedule: 

Wednesday, 20th of Nov – 18:30 to 21:30

Thursday, 21st of Nov – Nov – 18:30 to 21:30 

Friday, 22nd  of Nov – 18:30 to 21:30

Saturday, 23rd of Nov – 10:00 to 13:00; 15.00 to 17.30

For more information, please contact at:

+351965239432 

 carmenmitroi@gmail.com