Offerings

Nourishing your Ground

Introduction to Sahajayana Teachings
Starts on March 8th, 2024

1) Registration: We rarely have public offerings. Most teachings are invite-only groups. This is our first public offering in more than three years. Everyone is warmly welcome. If you plan to attend, then please register soon. Note that we have limited spots for this immersion and they will be offered on first-come-first basis.

2) Background: You can learn more about the history and the relevance of these teachings in these times by reading here. More about the teacher is shared here.


3) Arc of Teachings: This course that you are registering for is the first in a 5-part series that progresses from (a) Nourishing your ground: preparing the body and nervous system such that it becomes a stable and strong container to invoke and hold big energies (b) Working with intensified emotions without bypassing (such as shame, guilt, accountability, anger, hatred, fear, pleasure, eros, joy, etc.). (c) Aligning with the Sacred (here we also explore the relationship between personal, collective and systemic oppression) to help us discover our sacred call or purpose (i.e. Dharma) (d) Subtle energy body and Elemental practices that repair our relationship with the wild (within and without) (e) Mystery school teachings by invitation only.

’Nourishing your Ground’ will serve as a basis for all future teachings.

4) Platform: Online on Zoom

5) Recordings: If you miss a session, you can watch recordings at your own time. All teaching sessions will be recorded and available to you for 90 days

6) Program Descripton

As the tapestry of our world unravels, marked by the tumult of wars, the whispers of a beleaguered Earth, and the fraying threads of societal bond - we stand at the precipice of a time defined by the eroding structures of militarism, consumerist delusions, faltering economic pillars, and the shadows of patriarchal dominion.

The world's chaos is likely to intensify in the coming times; and those without a sound spiritual and emotional anchor risk being drowned. Within this crucible of transformation, as we attune to the quivering of both earth and existence, the question arises: How can we sustain our strength and tranquility in this rapidly crumbling, shape-shifting landscape if we are to be of service to the greater whole? How do our lofty philosophies and grand rituals find their embodiment in the everyday rhythm of our body and breath?

This program is practice-based, experiential and grounded in the body. It is based on the ancient teachings of the Buddha and the Tantric Mahasiddhas. It is deliberately designed so that the teachings can take root within the practitioner, strengthening inner authority, and nurturing an inner confidence that enables them to eventually practice independently. We feel fundamental practices learned here will serve the practitioner throughout their life, relieving unnecessary suffering for self and others.

This course is designed towards three learning outcomes:

  1. Opening portals to Rest, Soothing and Calm
    This immersion invites you to open inner sanctums of tranquility and nurture inner quietude. Showing us how to decelerate time through breath, softening, releasing and staying in contact with profound states of contentment and tranquility -  even amidst full, demanding lives.

  2. Strengthening our spiritual anchor
    In this digital era, our attention is tugged in countless directions by the relentless flow of stimuli, entangling us in other’s priorities, ensnaring us in big business agendas. Amidst this boundless sea of information, in the tide of external demands - we may feel adrift. Increasingly, many are caught in an undercurrent of anxiety, a persistent hum of worry, feeling lost and overwhelmed.

    This course is designed to guide you toward locating your sacred ground and to deeply listen to its wisdom. How can we find strength from this ground of innate goodness and rest in its love and embrace? How can we maintain our connection to this sacred center, instead of losing ourselves in the edges of distractions?

  3. Rigor and Fluidity leads to Bliss
    Spiritual practices can pendulate between being overly simplified, indulgent, diluted and fluffy with excessive language. Or they can be strict and dry with a rigid, patriarchal approach that neglects, and overrides the body's wisdom. Here we will discover what an ancient feminine lens to meditation looks like? How does it honor integrity and rigor? While also nurturing and enlivening Eros. True joy hinges on this equilibrium; much like a sitar's symphony requires its strings to be neither too taut nor too slack.

7) Dates and Structure

This program starts on March 8th, 2024 and ends on March 31st. It  is divided into two parts.

PART 1

  • Friday, March 8th: from 4:30pm to 7:15pm PST

  • Saturday, March 9th: from 8am to 10:45am PST

  • Sunday, March 10th: from 9am to 11:45am PDT (daylight savings)

PART 2
A daily 21 day practice container begins.
Starting March 11th to March 31st
The below Meditation Sessions are not mandatory to attend but encouraged. You can attend morning or evening, or both.

  • 7:30am to 8:05am PDT

  • 6.00pm to 6:35pm PDT


    TEACHINGS + Meditation

  • Sunday, March 17th, 9am to 11:15am PDT

  • Sunday, March 24th, 9am to 11:15am PDT

  • Sunday, March 31st, 9am to 11:15am PDT

For India (IST) timings and Fees, please go here.

Please note:

  1. Some teachings sessions might go over by 15 minutes. So please plan accordingly.

  2. All teaching sessions will be recorded. But the daily morning and evening meditation sits will not be recorded. Also some extra question & answer sessions might not be recorded.

  3. Time Zone Converter: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

8) Sliding Scale Fees

(For Indian Participants: If you live for minimum 8 months in a year in India then please click on this link)

We are not a foundation, nonprofit or institution. We are not funded. The teacher does not have any inherited trust fund either. This series is financed solely by your contributions. It is our hope that these priceless spiritual jewels will be accessible to all. The payment structure is based on an ‘honor system'. Therefore, it is important that you consider the scale with care and conscientiousness. Please take an honest look at your own financial position and pay at the highest level of the sliding scale that you can afford. This helps support the teacher and the team for the enormous amount of time, hard work and commitment it takes to offer a program like this. In a culture of patriarchy, feminine led lineages have received the least support across centuries.  As a result, important lineages across the world have disappeared in spite of their beauty and depth. We thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity.

Registration Process
STEP 1) Fill this form: https://www.sahajayana.com/registration2024

STEP 2) Make payment using one of the options mentioned in the sliding scale below.

  • The actual cost of this course is $550. In order to complete your registration please finish making the payment as soon as possible.

    Payment method options:

    1) Most preferred method: Zelle
    Please use email address: nirali@shvaas.org. Make sure to add first name, last name, email address and ‘March 2024 in the notes section of Zelle).

    2) Second most preferred: Venmo
    Please use this link: https://venmo.com/Nirali-Shah-3 Make sure to add first name, last name, email address and ‘March 2024’ in the notes section of Venmo.

    3) Credit card Payment (this option will add a 3% transaction fee): https://www.sahajayana.com/actual2024/p/nourish

  • The Benefactor Scale is $550 to $950. Your generosity supports us in keeping our programs highly accessible to low income groups.

    In order to complete your registration please finish making the payment as soon as possible.

    Payment method options:

    1) Most preferred method: Zelle
    Please use email address: nirali@shvaas.org. Make sure to add first name, last name, email address and ‘March 2024 in the notes section of Zelle).

    2) Second most preferred: Venmo
    Please use this link: https://venmo.com/Nirali-Shah-3 Make sure to add first name, last name, email address and ‘March 2024’ in the notes section of Venmo.

    3) Credit card Payment (this option will add a 3% transaction fee): https://www.sahajayana.com/benefactor_march2024

  • You may pay anywhere between $150 to $550.

    In order to complete your registration please finish making the payment as soon as possible:

    https://www.sahajayana.com/sliding-scale to complete your registration

  • You may pay anywhere between $1 and $150 if you can say ‘yes’ to at least One of the below statements.

    (Note:     A "safety net" is defined as a separate savings account, retirement fund, stock, investment or an emergency fund that can be used to cover unexpected expenses like job loss, medical emergencies, or home repairs. By "support" here, we mean any regular financial assistance, occasional help during emergencies, or a significant potential for future inheritance from financially stable or wealthy family or friends).

    (1)     I work at least 30 hours a week on minimum wage job (i.e. I earn less than $17 an hour).

    (2) I do not own any property and I do not have any investments, stocks, retirement accounts, savings or inherited money. I live paycheck to paycheck. And I do not have any "safety net" or I cannot count on any "support" from financially stable or wealthy family or friends.

    (4) My income only supports my minimum daily needs and I do not have any disposable income (i.e. income that remains after paying for necessary expenses such as taxes, housing, food, healthcare, transportation, phone and internet), available for spending on leisure travel and entertainment, and investing and savings.

    (5) I (or my immediate family) is going through a health crisis and it has created intense financial stress to meet my minimum daily needs. (i.e. housing, food, healthcare, transportation, phone and internet).

    (6) My financial situation has forced me to delay or forego critical medical or dental care because I cannot afford it.

    (7) I frequently rely on community services or charities for essentials like food and clothing due to financial limitations.

    (8) I am currently living paycheck to paycheck, with no ability to absorb unexpected expenses without incurring further debt.

    (9) I am a full time student, and I am navigating a delicate financial balance with no "financial safety net" or any "support” from financially stable or wealthy family or friends.

    (10) I have no income, no "safety net" and I cannot count on any "support" from any financial source (including government support, friends or family). My aggregate of all my bank accounts,  and all fixed and liquid (stocks, savings, retirement accounts, etc.) assets are no more than $10,000.

    In order to complete your registration please finish making the payment by going to this page: https://www.sahajayana.com/sliding-scale

8) Refund Policy

You will get a refund minus payment processing fee if you cancel before February 21st, 2024. There are no refunds after February 21st, 2024