When we want to learn something in our present day and age, we often turn to media: books, television, videos, internet.  In earlier ages, spiritual knowledge was gained in two ways–transmission by a teacher and immediate experience.  The great teacher Lalleshwara of Kashmir left behind a canon of poetry.  However, we know that she never enscribed any of her poems.  She composed them, committed them to memory and passed them on to followers.  Lalleshwara’s followers recorded her poems and sayings and thus we have them today.

The foundation for spiritual wisdom and personal evolution is self-discovery.  If we wish to evolve in wisdom and quality of life, we must discover a “sadhana” or spiritual practice that we may incorporate into the structure and conduct of our daily lives.

An experienced teacher can be instrumental to our path toward living an enlightened life.  Knowledge that will stimulate spiritual evolution arrives most effectively from a guide who has walked the path and has experienced first hand the challenges and fruits of activities such as meditation, pranayama, mantra, and the awakening and yoga of Kundalini.

Most importantly, however, spiritual evolution occurs as a dynamic dialectic between student and teacher. Here is what I believe makes a good teacher:

A experienced guide brings to the relationship an open and empty mind.  Spiritual sadhana generally–and meditation particularly, evolves consciousness toward openness and non-attachment.   What transpires between teacher and student will arise spontaneously from the character and quality of each interaction.

A valued teacher possesses no personal agenda beyond the spiritual welfare of the student.  The teacher, having experienced the benefit of spiritual evolution, knows that his or her personal well-being or satisfaction has nothing to do with the success of failure of any person.  If the student is humble and teachable, this is wonderful.  If the student is dominated by opinions and emotionally attached to many beliefs, the student may not evolve.  This may disappoint the teacher but will bear no effect on the quality and character of her peaceful consciousness.  It is in part the teacher’s purpose to assist the student in discovering that abiding peace and contentment is each person’s birthright and is not conditioned by events past or future, or by perceived successes or failures.

My purpose with each spiritual session, is two-fold.  First, to establish and share spiritual energy, and second, to teach the student how to cultivate and develop spiritual energy for themselves.

The dynamics of group interactions are powerful and can be instrumental to spiritual evolution.  However, real progress toward enlightenment can only occur on the foundation of personal practice.  No one can meditate for you.  Powerful experiences and interactions can sometimes assist, but often as not can lead to emotional attachments rather than substantive spiritual transformation.  For this reason, most of my sessions are one on one.

Enlightenment is not a matter of knowledge or beliefs.  Enlightenment is literally a transformation of the structure and dynamics of consciousness.  The first and second verses of the Siva Sutras explain who and what we beings are:

“Universal Consciousness is one’s own nature.  Knowing the individual consciousness as one’s own nature and not knowing the Universal Consciousness as one’s own nature is bondage.”

In sum, if you come to me for instruction, here is our shared purpose–to walk about the world free of the illusion that we are in any way, shape or form, separate from any and all beings in our world.  Indeed, we shall no longer know what is meant by the word, “world” at all.  Any separation between some sort of ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ experience of selfhood has disappeared.  The personhood that we experience is of a single, manifold, equally transcendent and immanent Self.  All is Real, from the subtle energy that constitutes the inner depths of our ocean of Personhood, to the vast and changing dance of life that plays on the surface of our ocean of Self.

Trika yoga is a path to freedom and enlightenment.  My teachings are based on more than twenty years of yoga and meditation practice.  Here’s a bit of my story:

“One evening in 1994, following several years of intense yoga practice and personal transformation, I was sitting in meditation.  Suddenly, as if from the center of the earth, an energy burst through the base of my spine, rushed upwards through my body and burst again through the top of my head.  I was filled with indescribable peace and joy.  I no longer perceived myself as different from the world around me.  No longer was anything foreign to me.  I experienced the fluid connection that yokes all things together as a single, elegant Being.

From that event to the present, Mother Kundalini has led me, taught me and, at times, chastened me.  I have spent thousands of wonderful hours in meditation and devotion.  I have followed the path of  the awakened Kundalini shakti through the journey of the chakras.  I can tell you that the chakras and the subtle energies that link our microcosmic body/minds with the macrocosmic Self are real and tangible.  They are not the creations or property of the marketplace, popular culture, or spiritual self help publications.  The path of awakening Kundalini and following Her leadership from root to crown, from the evolution of ecstasies gross to subtle, is an immeasurable treasure.  My friends, I know what it is like to experience a whole new character and quality of life.  This is the gift that the divine Mother continues to bestow upon me.

My journey has not been an easy one.  Regardless of what anyone may claim, the path to utter and complete joy and contentment is not easy–simple, in many respects–but not easy.

If you surrender EVERYTHING that you believe you are–from the thoughts in your head to the sensations that comprise your bodily awareness, what you have surrendered will be returned to you a thousand fold.  You will discover a life that exists entirely in the Present Moment.  Your heart, mind and body will be liberated with the recognition that all you see and experience is your own Self–and that the Self that you recognize is the joyfully, eternal NOW.  For, the simple truth of enlightenment is that nothing exists that is not the Present Moment.  YOU ARE NOW.  Literally.  Entirely.  Joyously.

Trika yoga is a millenia-old tantric tradition originating from the Kashmir region of India.  This is an oral tradition.  The potency of this yoga is in the relationship between yourself, God (Shiva/Shakti) & the guidance of one who is awakened.  That is what I offer.  I beg the goddess, Mother Kundalini, to bless me with the compassion, wisdom and Realization that may assist you–whoever you are–in discovering that you are, as I am, that God Shiva/Shakti that is the source and substance of this Universal Now.

For appointments, directions, further questions, please email madhyanandi@gmail.com, or call/text 828-772-5050.

Classes held at 2 W. Rosecrest, “A”, Asheville, 28804.  Please call or email your intention to attend a class or to schedule a session with Madhyanandi.

DIRECTIONS:

Take Interstate 26 toward Weaverville.  Exit at Elk Mountain, bear to the right.  Take the first right at Rosecrest Street.  Go 50 yards and take the right at W. Rosecrest.  Follow down the hill into the small complex.  The Peoples Ashram is the first unit, “A” in the middle building.