Brahmacharya

arati-tray

Brahmacharya opportunities at Shoshoni

For those seeking to dedicate themselves more deeply to their own spiritual growth and service to others, Shoshoni Yoga Retreat is open to a new lifestyle opportunity for Brahmacharya and Sannyasa candidates. Brahmacharya is cultivating a life of service in our beautiful Ashram community. This lifestyle is available to those individuals who would like to have a supportive environment to learn and to practice in the Shambhava tradition. Aspects of this lifestyle of service include daily chanting and meditation classes, an opportunity to learn pujas (chanting worship in Sanskrit) and to attend Vedic fire ceremonies. A similar daily workstudy schedule is followed by all.

Daily Ashram Schedule

5:30 am Guru Gita chant and meditation

7:00 am Breakfast

7:45 am – 12:00 pm Seva

12:00 pm Lunch

12:45 – 4:00 pm Seva

4:00 – 5:00 pm Hatha yoga (optional)

5:00 pm Dinner

5:30-6:15 pm Cleanup

6:30- 7:30 pm Evening chanting and meditation

What Is Involved?
This is a vegetarian ashram lifestyle cultivating healthy balance through diet, hatha yoga, daily meditation, kirtan, and supportive hobbies such as sacred art, gardening and music. Classic Kashmir Shaivist texts, Ayurvedic books, and Shambhava publications may be studied in philosophical support classes.

How do Shambhava Teachings Help?
The daily meditation and chanting classes, selfless service (seva) and supportive hobbies set the stage for inner purification and an opportunity to grow spiritually. Shambhava yogic teachings and philosophy combine to make a powerful set of tools that teach a person how to make use of (not be distracted by) the resources of our culture while being immersed in a meditative framework. People find that the problems of life do not just go away, but that by using inner resources and meditative tools, the problems become fuel to grow spiritually.

What is Bramacharya? 
Bramacharya a virtuous lifestyle that also includes simple living, meditation and service to the community. This is simply trying out the lifestyle and focusing on your inner work and daily practice.

What is Sannyasa?
Sannyasa, renunciation of material desires, has the purpose of spending one’s life in peaceful, love-inspired, and simple spiritual pursuit. This is a serious life choice, more than simply trying out the lifestyle.

Shambhava Tradition 
The Shambhava tradition bridges both the householder spiritual practitioners and the bramacharya/sannyasa tradition. The Shambhava approach offers an opportunity for everyone to have the tremendous support of a deeply rooted spiritual community to further inner growth.

Dedicate Time to Work on Yourself
Consider taking time off to work on yourself inwardly. As one’s inner focus is strengthened through meditation and service, a person becomes better at all pursuits. Since anyone may benefit from a life of spiritual focus, and because it is a precious opportunity to grow and receive support as a bramacharya/sannyasa candidate, Shoshoni welcomes those individuals interested in this to contact us.