Jaya Kula is a vibrant nonprofit community of diverse people learning and practicing in the direct realization traditions of Trika Shaivism and Dzogchen. Teachings are offered mainly in Portland, Oregon. Shambhavi Sarasvati is our spiritual director.
Jaya Kula exists to support its community and all people in the natural process of unfoldment toward self-realization.
We envision continuing to host a collaborative, sustainable, supportive mandala of people who are committed to waking up and becoming living examples of the human potential to embody wisdom, skill, compassion, tenderness, devotion, freedom of expression, and spontaneity.
Our practice is firmly rooted in the direct realization traditions of Trika Shaivism and Dzogchen. These are householder, not monastic or ashram traditions. We work, study, raise families, make art and music, hang out, and fully engage with life. We try our best to approach everything we do as an opportunity to wake up.
The direct realization traditions, such as Trika Shaivism and Dzogchen, are “find out for yourself” traditions. They are not faith or belief or dogma-based. We do spiritual practice in order to explore the nature of the self and reality directly.
Many of us maintain a substantial daily seated practice of one to several hours a day. Our practices include mantra, meditation, kriya yoga, ritual, hatha yoga, kirtan, and self care.
The goal of our practice is to embody uncontrived naturalness, freedom of expression, kindness and devotion by coming to recognize ourselves as aspects of the continuous wisdom of an alive, aware reality.
You are invited to participate for a day or a lifetime. We require no membership and no commitment to our traditions. People from any tradition or none are welcome to practice with us.
In order to achieve our mission, we try our utmost to embody total integrity in our organizational and personal interactions.
We are committed to:
By embodying these expressions of integrity, our Board, teachers, and the students of Jaya Kula collectively strive to create and maintain favorable circumstances for people to receive teachings and do spiritual practice.
Shambhavi Sarasvati is the spiritual director of Jaya Kula. Her principle training is in the View and practices of Trika Shaivism and the Dzogchen tradition of Tibet. Shambhavi is a householder and a devotee of Anandamayi Ma.
The best place to start is by exploring the Jaya Kula website. You’ll find our full calendar of teachings and events, links to resources, and more information about Shambhavi, the tradition and our community.
If you like what you see, the next step is to attend satsang. Satsang means “being in reality together.” During satsang, Shambhavi gives a dharma talk. This is followed by question and discussion time. Satsang concludes with open-mic community kirtan. Satsangs are held every Sunday at 3:30pm Pacific.
We have established a COVID-19 resource page where you can find out about Jaya Kula protocols during the pandemic.
At Jaya Kula, we are committed to doing our utmost within our means to create a welcoming, accessible space where people can relax, feel cared for, and experience continuity with others.
Matrika House, Jaya Kula’s teaching space, is limited in its accessibility due to its location on the second floor of an older building, up two sets of stairs.
We are currently searching for a new teaching space, with greater accessibility among our top priorities.
In the meantime, we have taken the following measures to ensure that all who are able to attend teachings and events are well cared for and supported:
If you need assistance or special accommodations not mentioned here to participate in a teaching, contact us here.
Jaya Kula is funded entirely by its community of practitioners. Community members offer seva (community service), fees for teachings, and donations.
We also are grateful to receive discounted and free services from for-profit companies with a commitment to supporting nonprofit organizations. Check out our allies!
Matridarshana Lamb – Treasurer
Sahaji Fisher – Secretary
Sangitapriya Pedro – Treasurer (in training)
Shambhavi Sarasvati – Spiritual Director
Tania Doles – Member-at-Large
Vidhra Jackiw – Board Chair, Fundraising
Embodying the Heart of Virtue – Code of Conduct for the Board of Directors and the students who are collectively running Jaya Kula (PDF)
Jaya Kula has zero tolerance for any form of harassment, including harassment based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, caste, religion, neurodivergence, mental or physical disability, age, socio-economic status, marital status, medical condition, military status, or physical attributes.
Harassment creates a hostile environment and reinforces our sense of separateness. It disturbs the energy body of the community, undermines our mission, and obstructs the transmission of teachings. It is also illegal.
At any Jaya Kula teaching, event, or meeting; or in any meeting place owned, controlled, or rented by Jaya Kula; or during any Jaya Kula sponsored, sanctioned, or affiliated event; or on any Jaya Kula social media or collaborative online platform, it is prohibited to harass a person for any reason.
Jaya Kula’s 2023 Annual Report: Reality? Check!
Jaya Kula is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. In each annual report, we reflect on the year past and fulfill our commitment to financial transparency.
TEACHINGS / MATRIKA HOUSE:
4160 SE DIVISION ST, 2ND FL
PORTLAND, OR 97202
MAILING ADDRESS:
3439 NE SANDY BLVD #859
PORTLAND OR 97232
JAYA KULA IS A REGISTERED 501(C)3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION | Ⓒ 2022 Jaya Kula