2025 HYMTA ANNUAL RETREAT
SEPTEMBER 12th - 14th
THEME: Be your own light
Recharge your Practice with Sri Vidya tools, Sangha Mantra and Silence.
The Sri Vidya science embodies the core teaching and practices of The Himalayan Tradition.
Swami Veda Bharati described Sri Vidya as the science of the Universe. It honors the Mother Divine as the Shakti, the source of all creation.Sri Vidya encompasses all Tantras (sacred texts and teachings).
Swami Ritavan will share with us the philosophy and practices of Sri Vidya.
The participants who wish to register for two or more days of silence can opt to arrive and register on the 13th and practice silence till the afternoon of the 15th or continue as they wish.
At the retreat, participants will be introduced to our new Sangha Mantra given to us during the 2023 Sangha Gathering in February this year.
Our Guest Speakers: Pandit Dabral
Pandit Hari Shankar Dabral was born near Dehradun, India, in a family of Sanskrit scholars. He holds a Ph.D. in yoga philosophy and Sanskrit from the University of Varanasi, India.
A disciple of H.H. Swami Rama of the Himalayas, he has been trained by Dr. Swami Veda Bharati for the past sixteen years and works closely with him in teaching meditation and yoga philosophy in Asia, Europe and North America.
H.H.
Swami Rama sent Pandit Dabral to the US in 1992. In 1994, Swamiji appointed Pandit Dabral as spiritual director of his Himalayan Institute in Chicago where he served for four years. Trained and authorized by Swami Rama to give initiations, Dr. Dabral has initiated many hundreds of people.
An inspiring speaker, he guides students in meditation in various centers in North America. Pandit Dabral is a senior teacher and coordinator of the International Himalayan Yoga Teachers Association and their teacher training program.
He travels internationally to initiate and teach.
Panditji is an experienced teacher in the Himalayan Tradition who is capable of bringing the authentic teachings of the yoga masters to all types of students. People of all ages enjoy his accessibility and humor. His knowledge of Sanskrit and the yoga scriptures is vast and comprehensive yet he is able to explain complex ideas in ways that are easy to understand and apply to daily life. He brings the experiences and knowledge of the Himalayan sages to life.
RETREAT SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th
4:00 pm Arrival and Registration
6:00 pm SUPPER
7:15 pm Orientation for new participants
7:30 pm “Aapo Deepo Bhavah”–
Swami Ritavan:Being Your Own Light (Via Zoom)
9:45 pm Evening Prayers - Eric Ness
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th
6:15 am Morning Prayers with Eric Ness
6:30 am “Be Your Own Light” Meditation – Swami Ritavan (Via Zoom)
7:00 am Himalayan Hatha Yoga
8:00 am BREAKFAST
10:00 am Om Kriya – Ma Radha
12:00 pm LUNCH
1:30 pm Building Good Sadhana Habits - Eric Ness
3:30 pm Himalayan Hatha Yoga
4:30 pm Cultural Program
GONGTOPIA with Michael Bettine
6:00 pm SUPPER
8:00 pm Shakti (Sri Lalita) Sadhana –
Swami Ritavan: Lecture & Practice (Via Zoom)
10:00 pm Evening Prayers- Eric Ness
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14th
6:15 am Morning Prayers with Eric Ness
6:30 am Meditation with Ma Radha
7:00 am Himalayan Hatha Yoga
8:00 am BREAKFAST
9:30 am Check Out
10:00 am Lalita Sahasranama
(Thousand Names of Mother Divine*) - Ma Radha
12:00 pm LUNCH
2:00 pm Departure
* Lalita Sahasranama translation text will be provided
Retreat Pricing
Includes silence practice, workshops, hatha yoga classes and vegetarian meals with ashram experience.
(At the time of registration, please inform us of any dietary or other special needs.)
Day Scholar Participant Options
Pricing - (per person – includes meals/unless noted)
$80 Friday Lecture only
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$225 Saturday Programs plus Meals (B-L-D)
($190 no meals)
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$125 Sunday Programs Plus Lunch
($99 no meals)
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$360 Fri-Sat-Sun All Programs plus Meals (D-B-L-D-B-L)
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$265 Fri-Sat-Sun All Programs no Meals
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Location & Accommodations
About 50 miles northwest of Chicago, Loyola’s Retreat and Ecology campus sits in the serene countryside of Woodstock, Illinois. The campus space is encompassed by 98 acres of greenery and serves as a peaceful place for spiritual and intellectual growth and connection with peers, colleagues, and friends.
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GREEN PROMISE
LUREC’s fundamental guiding principle is conservation on our campus through reducing, reusing, and recycling. Loyola is committed to restoring and maintaining the biodiversity of our campus, and during your stay with us, we invite you to take part in our mission of sus- tainability, conservation, and restoration. As part of our green promise, we installed a geo- thermal system in our north wing so that guests can enjoy the ground’s gift of warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer.
Address:
Loyola U Retreat & Ecology Campus
2710 S. Country Club Rd.
Woodstock, Il 60098
815.338.1032
www.luc.edu/retreatcampus/
