Past Seminars, Conferences etc.
July 25 - 29, 2024
The Goddess residing in the Heart: Meditations on the Absolute
A Retreat on selected texts of the Parātrīśikā Tantra and Abhinavagupta’s Vivarana Commentary
A retreat seminar was held at the Smiley Homes, Trins, Tyrol with a wonderful group of 28 participants. The host Mr Paul Prousek also participated and very kindly arranged for the delicious meals. The program included recitation of the slokas combined with text teaching, meditation and walks in nature.
August 31 - September 05, 2023
Madhya, Finding the Centre
A Retreat with Selected Texts of Kashmir Shaivism
Conducted by Bettina Sharada Bäumer and Sadananda Das
Venue: Deer Park Institute, Bir, Himachal Pradesh
About 50 participants from various backgrounds and age groups participated in this intense retreat. The teaching of some of the fundamental texts of the Kashmir Shaiva tradition was shared by Bettina Sharada and Sadananda, texts such as Vijnana Bhairava, Netra Tantra, Pratyabhijna Hridaya and others. It was complemented by practice of the sloka recitation supported by Patricia Obermeier. The meditations were inspired by the sacred surroundings of the Kangyur Hall of Deer Park Institute.
A joint pilgrimage to the Baijnath Temple offered another sacred space and sharing meditation in its atmosphere.
Bettina Sharada and Sadananda are very grateful to Deer Park for having facilitated such retreats over the years and having created a certain continuity of the tradition of Kashmir Shaivism and its practice.
August 03, 2023
Ulrich Winkler Award, Presentation
Salzburg University: International Summer School of Religious Studies
In the context of an International Summer School of Religious Studies organized by the Centre for Intercultural Theology and Study of Religions, an Award in the name of late Professor Ulrich Winkler was bestowed on Bettina Sharada Bäumer and Dr. Christian Hackbarth-Johnson, in recognition of their project and partial completion of a biography of Bettina Bäumer. On this occasion, on 3rd of August 2023, both awardees were giving a presentation to the participants of the Summer School and other Professors and students of the University.
Dr. Christian Hackbarth-Johnson gave an introduction to the project which has been under progress since 2016, and on his first part of the Biography (from her birth in 1940 till 1964) which is expected to come out in February 2024. He has done extensive research on the historical context of Bettina Bäumer’s life.
Bettina Bäumer’s own presentation of her memoirs in English consisted in her sharing two chapters of the ongoing work. The first chapter was from her childhood and titled “Persecution and Refuge in Grossarl, and Father Linsinger, Righteous among the Nations”, the Catholic priest who protected the Bäumer family during the World War II. The second chapter described her meeting and learning from two great spiritual masters in Varanasi, J. Krishnamurti and his follower P.Y. Deshpande. The presentation was illustrated by historical photos.
The response of the audience was very moving, especially because the participants came from different religious traditions, who could sympathize with the aspect of religious/racial persecution.
June 27 - July 03, 2023
Flashes of Enlightenment: Abhinavagupta’s Hymns as a Mirror of Experience
Venue: Retreat Centre, Trins, Tyrol, Austria
In the newly established Retreat Centre established by Mr Paul Prousek in the beautiful mountain area of Tyrol, a weekend Retreat was held and attended by 22 participants. The large Meditation Hall served both for the teaching sessions and meditation. The mystical Stotras of Abhinavagupta provided the textual basis and inspiration. Bettina Bäumer has translated them both in German and English, published in her recent books.
Along with the text teaching and meditation we practiced the musical recitation of slokas and stotras, led by Patricia Obermeier.
One pilgrimage led the group to a sanctuary of Mother Mary, “Maria Waldrast”, high up in the mountains, where we could also enjoy a meditation and meditative walk in the nature.
A very special food was prepared by Paul and his helper as an expression of spirituality in action.
The participants were very inspired by these extraordinary texts.
April 10 - 17, 2023
Advaita Bhakti : Meditation inspired by Utpaladeva’s Śivastotrāvalī and selected verses from Bhaṭṭa Nārāyana’s Stavacintāmani
The Trika Interreligious Trust in collaboration with Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Rishikesh, organized a Retreat-Seminar in the tradition of Trika Śaivism of Kashmir.
The teaching was conducted by Bettina Sharada Bäumer, along with the recitations led and taught by Patricia Obermeier. Sri Nochur Swami from Tiruvannamalai graced the retreat with his invited lecture on 'Advaita Bhakti in the light of Ramana Maharshi', which was a great blessing.
Mystical poetry has been a source of inspiration and enlightenment in many traditions, and Kashmir Śaivism is rich in hymns and poetry which are an essential part of the living tradition, through recitation and meditation. The most famous and widely used Stotras are by Utpaladeva and Bhaṭṭa Nārāana, both approximately of the 9th century.
Utpaladeva, paramaguru of Abhinavagupta, was both, the founder of the philosophy of Recognition or Pratyabhijñā, and a mystic of Bhakti, as expressed in his Śivastotrāvalī.
The best summary of his characteristics is by Raffaele Torella: “The work of Utpaladeva can be viewed as the very icon of the integration of the rational and emotional sides of man: his extremely sophisticated philosophical arguments are to be viewed side by side with his passionate mystical poetry.”
In this retreat we explored Kashmir Śaivism from its Bhakti aspect, which no doubt is also underlying the other texts and traditions of Tantra, Yoga, Philosophy and Aesthetics.
There were 30 participants from 10 countries, and the retreat has enriched and deepened their spiritual life in the light of these mystical poets, where one verse may sometimes be enough to reach the highest state of consciousness.
February 12, 2023
Lecture: Raimon Panikkar - Bridgebuilder between Cultures and Religions
Venue: Maitri Bhavan, Varanasi
YouTube link: www.youtube.com/watch
At the initiative of the Diocese of Varanasi and its Bishop, the Most Reverend Eugene Joseph, a plan was made to begin a lecture series on Raimon Panikkar (1918-2000) at the diocesan dialogue center, Maitri Bhavan.
Knowing of my long and close association with Panikkar, which began with his being my spiritual guide and which subsequently led to an intense intellectual and spiritual collaboration, Fr. Yann Vagneux, the coordinator of this series, invited me to deliver the first lecture on February 12, 2023.
The principal purpose of this lecture series was to bring this genial thinker and prophet of interreligious dialogue with its practical and theoretical implications back to the awareness of the people of Varanasi. To make these theoretical topics more alive, I also wanted to present him in his spiritual and human dimension
The was a technical problem with the microphone during the introductory remarks and the first few minutes of my lecture. The problem was resolved by minute 20 of the video.
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August 14 - 21, 2022
Vijñāna Bhairava or 112 Ways of entering into Divine Consciousness
Venue: Deer Park Institute, Bir H.P.
A Retreat Seminar in the tradition of nondualist Kashmir Shaivism
with Dr. Sadananda Das and Dr. Bettina Sharada Bäumer
From 14th to 21st August a retreat-seminar was held at Deer Park Institute, Bir, on the Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra. This was a practice-oriented retreat. The entire text was commented upon and its importance for spiritual practice and experience was emphasized. The teaching was shared between Dr. Bettina Sharada Bäumer and Dr. Sadananda Das, a Sanskrit scholar from the University of Leipzig, Germany. The benedictory verses (mangalasloka) and the text itself was musically recited under the guidance of Patricia Obermeier. The meditation sessions were also very intense and a necessary complement to the text sessions. The group of participants was lively and advanced, and it was an enjoyable experience. The visit to the Baijnath Temple with an introduction by the head priest was an important addition to the experience.
October 06 - 15, 2021
A Navarātra Retreat, Celebration and Meditation on Parā Bhaṭṭārikā
Venue: Ishvar Parvat, Phulchatti
It was a unique experience of performing the Parā Pūjā as described by Abhinavagupta in his Tantrāloka for seven days, performed by Pandit Sameer Jotshi in the tradition of Kashmir. The worship is done on the triśūlābjamaṇḍala, which was drawn on the ground in the Dhyan Mandir, and on the ritual metal yantra. We spent daily three to four hours in the morning meditating and participating in this worship, and in the afternoon Bettinaji was teaching the related texts, above all the Parāprāveśikā by Kṣemarāja, “Entrance into the Supreme (Goddess)”, and related verses by Abhinavagupta and others. Thus the three aspects were complementary: ritual, text study and meditation. Only five participants could be accommodated in Ishvar Parvat which added to the intensity.
May 30, 2021 - December 23, 2021
Vatulanatha Sutras: Thirteen Sutras on Sudden Enlightenment
Since we have been mostly under lockdown for the last one-and-a-half years it was not possible to have any retreat seminars. Therefore Bettina ji decided to give short teachings on YouTube in order to continue our spiritual sharing. The text chosen, Vatulanathasutra, is apt because of its brevity and depth. The 13 Sūtras have been completed in December 2021.
The full list of uploaded videos can be found here: https://bit.ly/3iq1pQr
December 16, 2019 - February 28, 2020
Study of Vijnana Bhairava Tantra
Venue: Samvidalaya, Abhinavagupta Research Library, Varanasi
This was an ongoing bi-weekly seminar studying the ‘Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra’ with Bettina Sharada Bäumer for a close group of students.
November 18, 2019 - December 06, 2019
Study of Kundalini Vijnana Rahasyam
Venue: Samvidalaya, Abhinavagupta Research Library, Varanasi
This was an ongoing bi-weekly seminar studying the ‘Kuṇḍalinī Vijñāna Rahasya’ with Bettina Sharada Bäumer for a close group of students.
November 11, 2019 - January 11, 2020
Study of Sambapancasika
Venue: Samvidalaya, Abhinavagupta Research Library, Varanasi
This was an ongoing weekly seminar studying the Sāmbapañcāśikā (hymn to the Sun God) with commentary by Kṣemarāja, guided by Prof. R.C. Panda from BHU.
September 19 - 26, 2019
Madhya: Finding the Centre. Meditation with selected texts of Kashmir Shaivism
Venue: Deer Park Institute, Bir, Himachal Pradesh
In this retreat we dived deep into the “ocean of Śaiva knowledge” as the Āgamas or scriptures of non-dualist Kashmir Śaivism are called (Śivajñānārṇava). This tradition has paid particular attention to Madhya, the core of our consciousness and to the ways to experience it, which comprise forms of Yoga and jñāna (gnosis, awareness). In this context Madhya is the Heart centre as well as the central channel in the yogic body, called Suṣumnā or Madhyanāḍi.
We studied the following texts which guided us in our meditation, leading to the Centre:
Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra
Vātūlanātha Sūtra
Sāmbapañcāśikā
Netra Tantra
Pratyabhijn̄ā Hṛdayam
A very diverse group of participants from India, Europe and US engaged in a week of intense retreat, also enjoined with walks in Nature, musical recitations and visual documentaries on Migratory Birds and a pilgrimage to Kailash.
July 5 - 9, 2019
Madhya: Finding the Centre
Venue: Retreat Centre in Trins village, Tyrol, Austria.
In this retreat we dived deep into the “ocean of Śaiva knowledge” as the Āgamas or scriptures of non-dualist Kashmir Śaivism are called (Śivajñānārṇava). This tradition has paid particular attention to Madhya, the core of our consciousness and to the ways to experience it, which comprise forms of Yoga and jñāna (gnosis, awareness). In this context Madhya is the Heart centre as well as the central channel in the yogic body, called Suṣumnā or Madhyanāḍi.
We studied the following texts which guided us in our meditation, leading to the Centre:
Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra
Vātūlanātha Sūtra
Sāmbapañcāśikā
Netra Tantra
Pratyabhijn̄ā Hṛdayam
The retreat was organized by "Yoga Mitte" of Innsbruck in collaboration with the Hungarian branch of Himalayan Yoga (AHYMSIN). The participants mostly included yoga teachers from Hungary, Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Because of its location in the beautiful Tyrolean mountains, the group also made excursions to sacred places such as Maria Waldrast, St. Barbara and Obernberger Seen.
April 22 - 30, 2019
Advaita Bhakti: Meditation with the Sivastotravali of Utpaladeva
This retreat was held at Ishvar Parvat, Phulchatti Village for the first time in the sacred space of Dhyan Mandir. The natural beauty of the foothills of Garhwal Himalayas created a meditative atmosphere for a deep immersion into this text of mystical poetry.
September 23 - 29, 2018
Retreat Seminar on The Yoga of the Netra Tantra
Venue: Deer Park Institute, Bir, Himachal Pradesh
The Netra Tantra, “Tantra of the Third Eye (of Shiva)”, also called Mṛtyujit, “Conquerer of Death”, is one of the fundamental scriptures of non-dualist Kashmir Shaivism, which teaches three forms of Yoga, besides containing important chapters on ritual and Mantra. The aim of the highest Yoga is an overcoming of death and attaining a state of divinity.
The text is in Sanskrit and has received a Hindi translation, the English translation by Bettina Sharada Bäumer is in the process of publication.
The seminar consisted in two units of text teaching, several sessions of meditation with the aim of practising the Yoga contained in it, periods of silence, besides meditative walks in nature and sharing sessions.
26th October, 2017 - 30th October, 2017
Retreat Seminar on Pratyabhijñā Hṛdayam of Kṣemarāja: "The Heart of Recognition"
Bettina Bäumer gave a Retreat Seminar on Pratyabhijñā Hṛdayam at Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Rishikesh from October 26-30, 2017.
The Pratyabhijñā Hṛdayam, “The Heart of Recognition”, of Kṣemarāja (early 11th century), is a profound and concise summary text of the spirituality of non-dualist Kashmir Śaivism. Pratyabhijñā or divine recognition is the core philosophy, as expounded by Utpaladeva (9th century) in his Īśvarapratyabhijñā Kārikās (“Verses on the Recognition of the Lord”), and Kṣemarāja, genial disciple of Abhinavagupta, gives an experiential key to this non-dualism. He places the mystical experience of pure Awareness at the centre, giving both, the background and the practical ways to reach the permanent state of samādhi.
17th October, 2017
Illuminazione e via tantrica - Cristiani e Induisti in dialogo
Venue: Gregorian University, Rome
Bettina Bäumer was invited as a principal speaker at a one-day Conference on "Illumination and the Tantric Way - Christians and Hindus in Dialogue", at the Gregorian University which brought together scholars of Tantra, theologians and representatives of the council for Interreligious Dialogue from the Vatican.
A video recording of her talk at the seminar can be seen on YouTube.
8th - 9th July, 2017
Retreat Seminar on Shiva Sutras, Innsbruck
Bettina Bäumer led a study and meditation retreat on selected Shiva Sutras with a group of yoga teachers at the Yoga Zentrum, Innsbruck.
23rd May, 2017
Panel Discussion on "Die Weisheit Indiens: Was Hindus und Christen verbindet"
Bettina Bäumer gave a presentation and participated in the Panel with Father Sebastian Painadath, organized by Salzburger Nachrichten in collaboration with the University of Salzburg, Zentrum für Theologie Interkulturell. The event was open to the general public for participation and discussion.
18th - 20th May, 2017
Tagung: Spiritualität der Zukunft: Suchbewegungen in einer religiös pluralen Welt
Venue: Universität München
Bettina Bäumer gave a lecture on Swami Abhishiktananda and participated in a Panel discussion on the theme of the seminar. The proceedings are going to be published in 2018
15th April, 2015 - 15th April, 2017
National Fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla
Prof. Bettina Sharada Bäumer completed her term as National Fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. She has been engaged in a book project on the Netra Tantra of Kashmir Shaivism as part of this Fellowship, which is due to be completed in the next few months.
The Institute honored Prof. Bäumer with a traditional Himachali cap and shawl on April 13th, at the farewell ceremony after her final presentation. The former Director, Prof. Chetan Singh, Tagore Fellows Martin Kämpchen and Amit Datta, and other Fellows and friends also celebrated the occasion with a farewell dinner.
2nd - 5th February, 2017
Intensive Retreat Seminar on Vatulanatha Sutras:
Thirteen Sutras on Sudden Enlightenment
We held an intensive retreat seminar in Varanasi from 2nd - 5th Feb, 2017.
The Vatulanatha Sutras belong to the Krama School of sudden enlightenment connected with non-dualist Kashmir Shaivism. These terse Sutras have a commentary by Anantashaktipada, and they have been taught by Swami Lakshman Joo to his disciples. Three versions of the text and translation are available: the original text published by KSTS, Swami Lakshman Joo's own translation and commentary, and a French introduction, translation and commentary by Lilian Silburn. Copies of these will be made available at the registration for the seminar. The text belongs to the anupaya level, beyond any means, and leads directly to a state of intensity and silence beyond speech. Each sutra conveys an esoteric meaning and requires an oral teaching along with the existing commentaries.
21st - 23rd November, 2016
International Seminar on Science and Spirituality: Bridges of Understanding
Prof. Bettina Bäumer organized a seminar on a dialogue between science and spirituality, at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. The aim of the seminar was overcoming of opposites and dichotomies. We can live neither without science nor without spirituality, and it is a bridging of the gap between the two that will contribute to greater harmony in society. The seminar was a reminder of the vision of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan: “Progress in the realms of Science, Art, and Morality shows that self and not-self are only relatively opposed. It is the business of man to break down the opposition, and make both express the one spirit. This view restores the balance between nature and spirit, and makes life worth living.”
The participants came from the different sciences, such as Physics, Neuroscience, Microbiology, Medicine, etc, and different spiritual traditions and personalities including Buddhism, Christianity, Jainism, Patanjali Yoga, Vedanta, Shaivism, Vivekananda, Krishnamurti, Tagore and others. The participants engaged in lively and insightful discussions over a broad range of relevant issues. The intellectual discussions were also complemented with a musical performance by the Dhrupad Maestro, Ustad Baha'ud-din Dagar on Rudraveena.
The proceedings of this seminar will be published in due course of time for wider dissemination.
20th - 27th October, 2016
Yoga of the Netra Tantra: Third Eye and Overcoming Death
A Retreat Seminar on the 'Yoga of the Netra Tantra' was held from October 20-27, 2016, at Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Rishikesh. More than 70 participants, from Australia, Europe, India, South America and USA attended the seminar. The Netra Tantra is one of the authoritative scriptures of non-dualist Kashmir Shaivism (dated not later than 700 AD) with important sections on Yoga. It is the only Tantra on the third Eye of Shiva, and it is also called Mrityujit or Mrityunjaya, “the Overcomer of Death”, relating to the form of Shiva revealed in it and to his mantra. The commentary by Ksemaraja (early 11th century) is an important help in understanding this profound text and its practice.
1st to 7th December, 2015
Quest for the Absolute: Paratrishika Tantra and Vivarana by Abhinavagupta
(in collaboration with Theosophical Society, Indian Section, and Samvidalaya, Abhinavagupta Research Library, Varanasi)
Venue: The Theosophical Society, Indian Section, Varanasi
We studied Abhinavagupta’s Parātrīśikā Vivarana and practiced with the text. The following books were used:
1. Parātrīśikā Vivaraa by Abhinavagupta: The Secret of Tantric Mysticism – ed. and transl. by Jaideva Singh (Delhi, Motilal Banarsidass, several editions)
2. Śri Śri Parātriṃśikā, Hindi translation by Acharya Nilakantha Gurtoo (1985, Delhi, Motilal Banarsidass)
3. Bettina Bäumer – Abhinavagupta’s Hermeneutics of the Absolute: Anuttaraprakriyā (IIAS, Shimla & D.K. Printworld, New Delhi, 2011)
17th - 19th November, 2015
Seminar at IIAS on 'Comparative Aesthetics in a Contemporary Frame'
Prof. Bettina Bäumer participated in the seminar at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. She presented a talk on 'Some unexplored sources of Aesthetics in Trika Shaivism of Kashmir'. At the inauguration of the seminar, the following book was released by Prof. Chetan Singh (Director, IIAS): Utpaladeva, Philosopher of Recognition, ed. by Raffaele Torella and Bettina Bäumer (2015, IIAS Shimla and D.K. Printworld, New Delhi)
25th - 27th October, 2015
Hami Ast: International Symposium on Rishi-Sufi Traditions of Kashmir
Organized by Indian Council for Cultural Relations and University of Kashmir, Srinagar
Prof. Bettina Bäumer presented a paper titled "Mystical poetry of Utpaladeva, Abhinavagupta and Lal Ded - a bridge with Sufism" at the seminar on Rishi-Sufi Traditions of Kashmir. The aim of the seminar was to establish a dialogue between Muslim-Sufi and Hindu scholars and practitioners.
The seminar was also the occasion to re-visit Ishvar Ashram of Swami Lakshman Joo and some of the sacred places connected with Kashmir Shaivism.
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21st - 23rd August, 2015
Seminar on Netra Tantra
at the Yoga-Zentrum, Innsbruck (Yoga Austria)
A follow up seminar on The Yoga of Netra Tantra was held in continuation of seminar in 2013 (in German). The leading team of the center, Michael and Nura Kissener, the participants were all yoga teachers.
18th - 22nd July, 2015
Salzburg Festival, Disputationes
At the Salzburg Festival 2015 (Salzburger Festspiele) the Ouverture Spirituelle was centered on Hindu music, dance and theatre. In this context a symposium took place under the title: "Disputationes: Über Europa hinaus - Indiens Kultur und Philosophie (Crossing Europe - Indian Culture and Philosophy)" from 18th to 22nd July, 2015. Prof. Bettina Sharada Bäumer delivered a lecure on: "Shaivism and the Foundations of Indian Aesthetics" on 21st July at the Festspielhaus, Salzburg. She was also actively involved in arranging the programs of Indian artists.
16th - 21st May, 2015
The Vibration of Consciousness: Spanda Karika
Retreat Seminar on Kashmir Shavism with Dr. Bettina Bäumer
Venue: Deer Park Institute, Bir, Himachal Pradesh
The Spanda Karika with Kshemraja's commentary and his Spanda Sandoha
8th April, 2015
Award of Padmashri by the President of India
Venue: Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament House, New Delhi
On 8th April, the President of India presented the Padmashri Award to Prof. Bettina Sharada Bäumer in a Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi, along with a number of distinguished personalities from various fields. She was nominated from the state of Jammu and Kashmir for her contribution to the fields of Scholarship and Education.
15th to 30th March, 2015
Certificate Course on Kashmir Shaivism at Sanchi University for Buddhist-Indic Studies, Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
Introduction by Prof. Bettina Bäumer
Introductory lectures and text study of Sivasutras
18th to 20th February, 2015
Vatulanathasutra
Thirteen Sutras on Sudden Enlightenment
The Vatulanathasutra is a short text of the higher Krama tradition of Kashmir, consisting of 13 sutras with a commentary by Anantasaktipada. The age of the text is not known but it cannot be earlier than 13th century.
Swami Lakshman Joo has taught this text to his disciples and his commentary is also available.
The Sanskrit text with commentary and translation will be made available to the participants.
Venue:
Veda Nidhi, Dumraobagh, Assi, Varanasi
11th February, 2015
Celebration of the Padmashri award at Samvidalaya
Prof. Bettina Sharada Bäumer was nominated to receive the Padmashri award as declared by the Government of India on January 26, 2015. In celebration of this honour, her students and staff organized a Dhrupad Music concert by Pt. Ritwik Sanyal and Shri Ashutosh Bhattacharya, in the presence of eminent personalities of Varanasi.
24th January, 2015
Sarasvati Puja: Foundation day of Samvidalaya
Venue: Samvidalaya: Abhinavagupta Research Library, Varanasi
Program:
Puja and Prasad
Inauguration of Pt. H.N Chakravarty Collection donated to the library by his family
Followed by a music program
November, 2014 - February, 2015
Study of Tantrasara of Abhinavagupta (Bi-weekly)
Venue: Samvidalaya: Abhinavagupta Research Library, Varanasi
17th to 26th October, 2014
Vijnana Bhairava or Divine Consciousness: A Retreat Seminar with Bettina Sharada Bäumer
Rishikesh: Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, Virbhadra Road, Virpur Khurd, P.O. Pashulok, Uttarakhand, India
See website for registration: www.ahymsin.org
September 14–21, 2014
Mystical Poetry of Kashmir: Śivastotrāvalī of Utpaladeva
Sidhbari, Himachal Pradesh
Due to the floods in Kashmir, the venue had to be shifted from Srinagar to Sidhbari
In continuation of the retreat-seminar of September 2013, we studied and meditated on the Śivastotrāvalī of Utpaladeva.
The purpose of studying and meditating on these texts is to awaken us to a level of consciousness which can receive, reflect and absorb their meaning in our own spiritual life. Poetry is not a description of the spiritual path such as texts on upāyas and yoga, and it requires a subtle sensibility (sahṛdayatā) to apply it in practice.
June 11th, 2014
Inauguration of the Bibliothek Bettina Bäumer at the Center Intercultural Theology of the University of Salzburg
May 29 – June 1
«Le Dialogue interreligieux, chemin de transformation intérieure»
("Interreligious Dialogue: the Path to Inner Transformation") (French)
Voies de l'Orient, Brussels (BE)
mail: info@voiesorient.be
16th–21th May, 2014
Overcoming Death: The Yoga of the Netra Tantra
(chapters 7 and 8 of the NT)
Deer Park Institute, Bir, HP
www.deerpark.in/programs/schedule/retreat-on-the-yoga-of-the-netra-tantra-silent-retreat/
registration: info@deerpark.in
28th January, 2014
New Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Lecture on: "Acārya Lakshman Joo"
3rd December, 2013
New Delhi, India International Centre in the lecture series of the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of H.H. Dalai Lama
Lecture on : "The Non-dualist Kashmiri Śaivism".
November 30 – December 1, 2013
New Delhi, India International Centre
Seminar on: Remembering Raimundo Panikkar: A Pilgrim across worlds.
Paper on: "Tradition and Modernity in Panikkar's Thought: A Challenge".
September 26 – October 2, 2013
Conference on: Śikṣā: Perspectives of Traditional Education
at: Deer Park Institute, Bir
Presentation: "Inspirational Ideas from the Non-dualist Tradition of Kashmir Śaivism"
September 16-20 2013
Srinagar (Kashmir)
Retreat Seminar on: "Mystical Poetry of Kashmir: Śivastotrāvalī of Utpaladeva, Stavacintāmaṇi of Bhaṭṭa Nārāyaṇa, Lal Ded".
6th December, 2012
Award of "Österreichisches Ehrenkreuz fur Wissenschaft und Kunst I. Klasse" from the Austrian Government
Received the "Österreichisches Ehrenkreuz fur Wissenschaft und Kunst I. Klasse" from the Austrian Government, Ministry for Science and Research (Ministerium fur Wissenschaft und Forschung) for her merits in the bilateral relations between India and Austria at the scholarly level.
