The School of Life welcomes you to come experience the joy of community, with a program designed to engage body, mind, heart and soul. Come for any part or all day.

9:00-10:30 am: Yoga class: asana, pranayam, relaxation, dhyana/meditation.
10:40 Spiritual Group Activity: Strategies for Positively Coping with Stress (tentative)

11:45 Soulful Service / Karma Yoga Project: This month: CSA / Storefront & Landscaping Revitalization
1:00: Mindful Meal: Potluck

• Short Silent meditation on Light

• Chanting of Aum and prayer

• Eat in silence.

2:00 Clean up, Social Tea

As one Master says, "There are three occasions in which human beings understand each other: when they eat together, when they pray together, and when they sing together."
5:00 pm (optional) For those who would like to join, all our welcome to the 5 p.m.: Satsang Interfaith prayer service and meditation for world peace.

The School of Life is immensely grateful to have the presence of Dr. Mahapatra Gyanendra on this most holy night. He will be performing a 4 hour puja for the purification and sanctification of all participants and peace in the world.

“ ‘Ratri’ means ‘night,’ and Maha Shivaratri is the Great Night of Lord Siva. On the holy occasion of Maha Shivaratri, millions of people around the world observe the Maha Shivaratri Vrata (Vow), in which they refrain from eating any food or sleeping throughout the entire night of Sivaratri. In the pursuit of Atma vidya—the knowledge of the supreme Self—one has to be very vigilant and alert. This is the real significance and motive behind staying awake throughout the night of Sivaratri. Only by remaining alert and aware can we guard against being taken over by the six inner enemies—wrong desire, greed, illusion, arrogance, jealousy, and anger. Holy devotional activities, especially when performed on Maha Shivaratri, will tame the senses and the mind, thereby allowing one to be immersed in the sacred lake of absolute silence and inner purity. By chanting stotras, singing bhajans, doing mantra japa or meditating, one can completely fill one’s entire mind with the divine vibrations of supreme consciousness.” Sri Karunamayi

Dr. Mahapatra became a meditation teacher in 1974. From 1986 to 1993 he was the Vice Chancellor of Maharishi Vedic University. He teaches Vedic Meditation and advanced techniques, which he has evolved with the blessing of many Saints from India. Mahaji has also mastered the art of performing Yagyas and Pujas, for the benefit of individuals and society. For this occasion, a donation of $50 is requested to cover program costs and support Mahaji’s mission. This program is an offering of the Global Coalition for Peace.

The School of Life welcomes you to come experience the joy of community, with a program designed to engage body, mind, heart and soul. Come for any part or all day. (please note, the order of the day’s events and the themes may shift.)

9:30-11 am: Yoga class: asana, pranayam, relaxation, dhyana/meditation.

11-11:15: Break

11:15-12:45: Soulful Service / Karma Yoga Project: Spring Cleaning!

1:00: Mindful Meal: Potluck

• Short Silent meditation on Light

• Chanting of Aum and prayer

• Eat in silence.

As one Master says, "There are three occasions in which human beings understand each other: when they eat together, when they pray together, and when they sing together."

1:45-2:15: Cleanup and Break

2:30-4 p.m.: Spiritual Group Activity: This month, we will watch “Cleaning with Meaning”, a surprisingly transformative video prepared by disciples of Master Omraam Mikahel Aivanhov, in which we learn to approach this prosaic activity sacramentally, engaging the spirits of place to nurture and bless all who use the space.

5 p.m.: Satsang Interfaith prayer service and meditation for world peace.

We warmly invite you to join us for a half day of spiritual camaraderie and practical inspirations for the coming year.

Guruji Victor (Vyasa) Landa urged us to put our minds, hearts and bodies to work for the dawning of a new era on Earth, wherein every aspect of life: education, economy, governance, the arts, family and communal life, will be based on spiritual laws, so that beauty, harmony, and joy will permeate every sphere.  

This is the meaning of the School of Life's vision: "To bring the Kingdom of God to Earth." It starts with each individual, rippling out to the family, community, region etc. until one day the Earth will be encircled by points of Light.

Many spiritual groups all over the planet are working for this goal. One of them is the Fraternal Forum (www.omraam.world). The teachings of their Master, Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov, are part of Guruji's School of Life curriculum. 

On Sunday, Jan 21, we will explore commonalities between the two Teachings, enjoy delicious refreshments, hear about magical collaborations that took place in 2023, and get a preview of what's to come in 2024.

We trust this meeting will spark enthusiasm to work together to amplify Light in the new year, for the benefit all beings.

10:30 am: Informal Social with Coffee & Tea

11:10 am: 'Sharing the Light of the Teaching' Talk, with refreshments. Those who cannot come in person may join via zoom: https://zoom.us/j/7190836440 or dial 719-083-6440, password Omshanti

12:40 pm: Circle of Light (music, discourse, prayer and dialog) Those who cannot come in person may join via zoom:  https://tinyurl.com/OmraamForum (Meeting ID 886 7853 5740, Passcode 217888, dial in +1 669 444 9171)

RSVP: shantiyoga.sol@gmail.com 

As a follow up to the first-ever Stakeholder Dialog on Oct. 7, we are delighted to announce the first program-specific Stakeholder Dialog: for the Homeless Service.

In Person: 4217 East West Hwy Bethesda MD 20814 
Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/7190836440 or dial 719-083-6440, password Omshanti
RSVP: shantiyoga.sol@gmail.com

Since 2011, The Essene Church has prepared hot, home-made, vegetarian meals from organic and Biodynamic produce for our homeless brothers and sisters living in DC. Weekly service continued throughout covid, but radical changes had to be adopted. 

Consequent shortages in volunteers and food donations now make it essential to revise the program to make it sustainable.

Last night, a passionate group of volunteers held a Task Force meeting. All commit to rekindling the spiritual and human heart of this program in honor of our founder, Victor Landa. The agenda of talking points they agreed to present at the Dialog may be found here.

Please join us Thursday, Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. to share your inspirations and talents to keep the Homeless Service going far into the future. 

Please join us Saturday, Nov. 11 at 7:00 p.m. for a lecture by Dr. Mahapatra Gyanendra ("Mahaji",) about how meditation helps us to meet life's challenges with greater insight, resilience and ease.

Dr. Mahapatra became a meditation teacher in 1974. From 1986 to 1993 he was the Vice Chancellor of Maharishi Vedic University. He teaches Vedic Meditation and advanced techniques, which he has evolved with the blessing of many Saints from India. Mahaji has also mastered the art of performing Yagyas and Pujas, for the benefit of individuals and society.

This will be a good preparation for the Vedic Meditation Course he will offer Dec 1-3. Please look for an email with details soon.

Join us in person at 4217 East-West Hwy or via zoom: https://zoom.us/j/7190836440 (please click on link or paste into browser) or dial 719-083-6440, password Omshanti 

RSVP: shantiyoga.sol@gmail.com 

SCIENCE OF THE INITIATES IN THE LIGHT OF THE AGE OF AQUARIUS:
NUTRITION, SEXUALITY, AND REINCARNATION

Sunday, Oct 8 at 11:30 a.m at the
Pathways Natural Living Expo.
11:30 in Room 1103
College Park Marriott Hotel and Conference Center
3501 University Blvd, East Hyattsville, MD 20783
RSVP: shantiyoga.sol@gmail.com

These three topics concern each and every one of us. We will explore:

FOOD as a love letter from the Creator
POLARITY for healthy, harmonious relationships
COSMIC MORAL LAWS as they influence reincarnation

Emphasis will be on applying these insights to prepare ourselves for the coming solar civilization in line with the energies of Aquarius.

Carmen was trained in the USA as a yoga teacher. She discovered the esoteric teaching of Master Omraam Michael Aivanhov in the 1970s. She then integrated the practical methods of his Teaching while continuing her airline career. See her interview from Lilou Mace’s Web TV on tinyurl.com/ Carmen Froment. Now co-author of three books, she is a motivational speaker and teaches the sacred dance called Paneurhythmy.

Receive a free copy of the latest book by The Aquarian Team with your participation in our workshop (while supplies last.) Just stop by The Aquarian Team stand, booth 110, where you can also find a good variety of books by the Master.

Your participation in the stakeholder dialogue this Saturday is vital. We count on your insights and feedback to challenge our assumptions and to guide us in improving, refining and prioritizing the list more effectively.

Should you not be able to participate in person, feel free to join us by www.zoom.us/j/7190836440 or dial 719-083-6440, password Omshanti

Please find a summary of the "Roadmap to Harmony" here. For our upcoming discussion, kindly familiarize yourself with the vision and mission statements. A brief look at the table of contents will also provide a snapshot of the document. Additionally, if you have time, please review the two-page summary.

Program

Brief introduction by Lakshmi about the creative process we adopted so far

• Each of us will share aspects of the proposed new orientation

• Anatole will moderate the discussion whereby we seek your insights and ideas

Light refreshments

May we all be inspired by timeless teachings, grow together as a center of Light, nurture Divine Love, and furthering the transition to the Kingdom of God on Earth.

All are welcome to join us for an evening of prayer, sacred song, spiritual teaching, and a fire ceremony to celebrate one of the four Cardinal Feasts of the Year, the Fall Equinox, on the occasion of the Feast of Archangel St. Michael.

“ It is Archangel Michael who has the principal role to play in the purification of the Earth. During the course of the centuries, a multitude of evil beings have inundated the Earth with immensely destructive forces [which] have accumulated in a vast reservoir and have taken the form of a monster known as … the Dragon.

When the time is ripe, however, St. Michael will rise and defeat it. Light will triumph over darkness: this has been foretold and will be so.

Why not have a share in that triumph? We should link ourselves to St. Michael and ask Him to protect us and to allow us to unite our efforts to His in order to strengthen His victory.  The children of God who take part in this combat led by this Sun Spirit-- the mighty and most luminous power of God, Archangel Michael-- will receive the kiss of the Angel of Fire. And this kiss, instead of burning them, will illuminate them.”
~Master Omraam Mikhail Aivanhov

This celebration will be officiated by Brother Anatole, of the Fraternal Forum, and direct disciple of Master Aivanhov.

Location: TBD

Registration: Email Durga at shantiyoga.sol@gmail.com to secure your space.

*This event is offered as a service by THE FRATERNAL FORUM,  a not-for-profit organization that exists to spread the teachings of Master Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov. All donations in excess of any third party fees in case of renting a venue will go to support their work.*

 As part of our Summer Solstice Celebration, please join us for an inspiring spiritual discourse by the great Master.

“When humans succeed in mastering the tendencies of their lower nature, which they have inherited from the animal kingdom (egoism, fear, aggression) and begin to nurture their higher nature, which aspires to harmony, unity and brotherhood, then peace and happiness will reign on the earth. Yes, a universal family is possible !”

You may join for morning prayers and the films in person or via zoom at https://zoom.us/j/7190836440 or dial 719-083-6440, password Omshanti

Join us in person at 4217 East West Hwy or or via zoom at https://zoom.us/j/7190836440 or dial 719-083-6440, password Omshanti

‘Often, in the past, when they wanted to draw water from a well, they used a big wheel to which animals or even men were harnessed. Onlookers would have seen some coming towards them and others moving away from them, and they would have concluded that they were going in opposite directions. But if they could have seen this scene from above, they would have noticed that all of them were going in the same direction and doing one and the same work.
In the same way, it only seems that good and evil are the expressions of contrary currents forever in conflict… The day human beings are able to observe events from above, meaning from the spiritual, initiatic point of view, they will understand that good and evil are two forces harnessed to do the same work of keeping the wheel of life turning…’

Robert Karp is a writer, educator, consultant, and social entrepreneur informed by the insights of the philosopher and social activist Rudolf Steiner. Robert is the former Executive Director of, and current Strategic Advisor to, the Biodynamic Association and former Executive Director of Practical Farmers of Iowa. He is the founder and director of New Spirit Farmland Partnerships and the Monarch Farms Project.

This presentation will address the question of how the biodynamic preparations and other BD practices can bring healing to forests, rivers, mountains, and bioregions, as well as to the climate and the greater “immune systems” of the earth and directly engage elemental beings to become allies in helping the planet and mankind attain our high spiritual destiny.

At the beginning of the millennium it was decided that the day on which we celebrate Divine Mother in the form of Mary Help of Christians would also be the Annual Celebration of the School of Life and Shanti Yoga Ashram.

Mary Help of Christians is closely entwined in the history of the families of Victor & Lakshmi Landa. We are very appreciative of the circumstances that have brought us to establish our centers in Maryland (the Land of Mary), in Bethesda (the name of the healing pool in Jerusalem—we have also been blessed with a warm, indoor pool to use for therapeutic purposes) on East-West Highway. Our work is to help bridge Eastern wisdom with Western pragmatism. The program prepared for this event reflects this purpose.

Please note you do not need to be Catholic to participate in the Mass!

Program will include Silent Meditation, Mass celebrated by Abbott James Wiseman, OSB of St. Anselm’s Monastery, Interfaith Prayers and Songs, Lunch, and a Spiritual Film

PEACE MEALS are a monthly offering of GLOBAL COALITION FOR PEACE (GCFP). We offer a home-made, hot organic meal at no charge, and the opportunity to hear an inspiring speaker on a topic relating to Peace. 

11:30: Meet and Greet  
11:45 Traditional Vedic Blessing of the Food
12:00 Talk begins and goes for about one hour followed by Q & A

You are invited to join the Ashram’s ‘Bridge to Freedom’ Ascended Master study group, formed at the request of our Guru, Victor (Vyasa Deva) Landa. The material is very inspiring and timely, geared towards helping our individual spiritual growth as well as facilitate the ascension of the planet and all beings on it to a higher state of being. Topics of study include: how we can help prevent natural disasters, help to heal others, visit Ascended Master retreats, purify negative karma, and bring more Light into the planet to hasten the incoming Golden Age.

Global Coalition for Peace holds space for this monthly group to explore the spiritual and practical significance of current events.

OTP offers a supportive space for respectful conversations exploring what is the truth about—and ways to navigate— difficult situations and challenges in today’s world.

All persons and views are welcome.

We invite you to join us at the start of a very special group: a twice-monthly sacred study circle of a book called Arpas Eternas, which chronicles the Life of Jesus the Christ in the context of the revered Essene community.

This book was held in high esteem by the Ashram’s founder and Guru, Victor (Vyasa) Landa, who Arpas Eternas is a revealed text that chronicles the Life of Jesus the Christ in the context of the revered Essene community. It was held in high esteem by the Ashram’s founder and Guru, Victor (Vyasa) Landa, as being uniquely important for our times. He often quoted Yashua as saying, "My words won't be understood for 2,000 years," and would add, 'That time is NOW!".

All are welcome to join us for a reading and discussion circle that includes prayer and short meditations. For more information or to RSVP please email Durga at: shantiyoga.sol@gmail.com

Join us IN PERSON or VIA ZOOM: https://zoom.us/j/7190836440   or dial 719-083-6440, password Omshanti.  RSVP for all events by emailing: shantiyoga.sol@gmail.com

Transhumanism is a subject that frightens and fascinates many people. Kabir Helminski writes: "Trans-humanism is not ...a futuristic daydream, but a pervasive phenomenon that is already impacting our humanness itself. We’re talking about the merging of human beings with technology ..What compels me to write about the challenge of trans-humanism and artificial intelligence.... is our culture’s lack of a metaphysical framework to understand what’s happening." How can we take a constructive approach to this subject? Anthroposophist Andrew Linnell offers a compelling way forward based on the work of Rudolf Steiner, creator of Biodynamic agriculture.

EARTH HEALING w/ BD PREPS at Shanti Peace Garden (4209 East West Hwy)
Saturday, March 25th at 3:15 p.m. (Rain date: Sunday, March 26)

Celebrate the Equinox by nourishing our local Nature Spirits with song, prayer, mantra, and a sacramental offering of the Biodynamic Earth Preparations. This event will be a symphony of Essene, Ascended Master, Vedic and Anthroposophical elements, perfectly suited for a garden located on "East-West Highway!" . Inspired by Mr. Robert Karp's lecture at the recent Prepmakers' Fellowship conference, we will stir and apply Biodynamic preparations potentized with local flora to the Ashram gardens, and then wend our way to two nearby greenspaces and offer tree-paste to Mother Trees. Please ask about simple requirements for participating.

According to both Vedic and Western spiritual science, the human body is a microcosm of the universe, and every part of nature is continually revealing the spiritual laws the underlie creation. In this talk we will hear how the life cycle of plants corresponds with stages of development in the human soul, and how what we eat can impact our spiritual being and evolution. Stewart Lundy, along with his partner and wife, Natalie, farms 50 acres of land on a tiny peninsula in rural Virginia.

PEACE MEALS are a monthly offering of GLOBAL COALITION FOR PEACE (GCFP). We offer a home-made, hot organic meal at no charge, and the opportunity to hear an inspiring speaker on a topic relating to Peace. 

11:30: Meet and Greet  
11:45 Traditional Vedic Blessing of the Food
12:00 Talk begins and goes for about one hour followed by Q & A

Join us IN PERSON or VIA ZOOM: https://zoom.us/j/7190836440   or dial 719-083-6440, password Omshanti.  RSVP for all events by emailing: shantiyoga.sol@gmail.com