When Swami Muktananda brought Siddha Yoga meditation to the West, he was inspired to create the meditation Intensive. A one- or two-day retreat, the Intensive is a means for receiving shaktipat, spiritual awakening. The Intensive also offers a way for long-time students to accelerate their spiritual development.

The mystical dimension of the Siddha Yoga path is most apparent in the Intensive. Here is the arena for the subtlest level of experiences and the teachings that context them. We are guided through a full range of spiritual practices (meditation, chanting, mantra repetition and contemplation) and are given in-depth time to immerse ourselves in them. From this instruction and practice period, we are able to start or enhance our own practice at home.

Each Intensive is empowered by the sankalpa, or divine will, of the Guru. To enter the Intensive is to enter an ocean of divine energy or spiritual power. It is this power that allows our efforts and practices to bear fruit. The Intensive conveys the intention and grace of the Guru to propel our spiritual journey toward unity-awareness, the highest purpose of life.

Many Siddha Yoga students participate in Intensives as a core practice in itself. Conducted by Siddha Yoga swamis, lay teachers, or Gurumayi Chidvilasananda herself, each Intensive addresses a particular theme of spiritual life. In recent years, under Gurumayi's guidance, Intensives are broadcast via satellite so we can easily participate in Intensives from our own cities and countries. Intensives are also held in local Siddha Yoga meditation centers and ashrams around the world.

In The Bookstore
What is an Intensive

See the Ashram in Melbourne Calendar or Ashram in Sydney Calendar for the latest information on upcoming Intensives