Yoga Vacation Program
April 23 — 26, 2025

The Path to Liberation

Discovering Vedantic Truths

Acharya Shunya

Vedic teacher and scholar Acharya Shunya will cover the profound teachings of Bhaja Govindam, an 8th century nondual Hymn by Adi Shakracharya, over three transformative satsangas, each designed to unveil the deep wisdom of Vedanta and guide seekers on the path to inner peace and liberation.

Offered as 3 satsangs and 3 workshops (subject to change).

Satsang 1: Awakening from Illusion: Unveiling the Truth of Bhaja Govindam

In this opening satsanga, we will introduce Bhaja Govindam, also known by its ancient name “Moha Mudgara,” meaning “The Hammer that Destroys Delusion.” Authored by Adi Shankaracharya, this profound text has shaped the spiritual journey of yogis and seekers for centuries. This session will help you see through the illusions (Maya) that obscure our true nature. Understanding these concepts will prepare you for the path toward peace and equanimity.

Workshop 1: Break Free from the Sorrow Prison in Your Mind

In this immersive experience, you will be introduced to the profound Vedic concept of Samsara—the subjective world we each create through our thoughts, emotions, and beliefs. This samsara often becomes a virtual prison, trapping us in cycles of sorrow and discontent. Through guided teachings, introspective exercises, and a powerful meditation, Acharya Shunya will lead you on a journey to identify and dismantle the walls of this mental prison.

Satsang 2: The Path of Liberation: Embracing Non-Attachment in Bhaja Govindam

The second satsang will focus on the practices and mindset required for spiritual advancement as taught in Bhaja Govindam. Central to this is the practice of non-attachment (Vairagya), which helps us break free from the delusions that lead to suffering. We will explore verses that emphasize detachment from material wealth, relationships, and worldly pleasures, guiding us toward true inner happiness and peace.

Workshop Title 2: What You Want is Different from What You Need: Breaking Free from Ego Cages

Vasanas are often the invisible forces driving our dissatisfaction, compelling us to chase after what we think we want, while obscuring our true needs and the inner treasure we already possess. In this workshop, Acharya Shunya will guide you through the process of identifying and disempowering these vasanas, helping you to break free from the ego’s cages of habitual desires and attachments.

Satsang 3: The Supreme Revelation: Realizing the Divine Within through Bhaja Govindam

In the final satsang, we will focus on the ultimate goal of life as outlined in Bhaja Govindam: realizing the Supreme Self within. We will explore select verses that emphasize seeing the One Vishnu in all beings and achieving liberation by transcending the ego and worldly desires. This session will guide participants in meditating on the Self, abandoning delusion, and entering the abode of Brahman, where true freedom and lasting peace are found. The teachings will underscore that liberation is not a distant or abstract concept but a present realization of our true nature, accessible in our daily lives.

Workshop 3: Embrace the Light that is Hidden Within You: Unveiling the True Self

Conclude your transformative journey with Acharya Shunya in this final afternoon workshop, Embrace the Light that is Hidden Within You, where the deepest layers of your being will be revealed. Building on the teachings of samsara and vasanas, this session will guide you to the ultimate realization: the discovery of your true Self, beyond the illusions of the ego and the shadow self.

The presentations associated with this Yoga Vacation Program begin with an 8pm satsang on the first day of the program and conclude with a 90-minute noon workshop on the last day of the program.  Click here to read more about the Yoga Vacation Program details and view the ashram schedule for yoga classes and meals during your stay. We suggest you arrive at least one day prior to the start of your program for the optimal experience.

 

Acharya Shunya was born and raised in Ayodhya, the sacred city of Lord Rama in northern India, in a family of grhastha sadhus, householders who were also yogis and teachers rooted in a living spiritual tradition. Her great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were all respected teachers of the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and Advaita Vedanta. From them, she inherited not only scriptural wisdom but a lived understanding that spiritual life can unfold in the very heart of household life.

Today, she carries her lineage forward as the founder of Vedika Global, an international nonprofit based in the San Francisco Bay Area and dedicated to preserving and sharing her lineage’s wisdom. She is also the guiding teacher of the Vedic Study Circle, a global learning community with students from 21 countries studying the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and the four yogas: Bhakti, Karma, Jnana, and Upasana.

She is the award-winning and bestselling author of Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom, Roar Like a Goddess, and Sovereign Self, and the host of the widely heard podcast Shadow to Self. As a mother, teacher, and lineage-holder, she has devoted her life to making the wisdom of the sages accessible, lived, and transformative for seekers today.

AcharyaShunya.com

VedikaGlobal.org

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