Why altars?

The word “altar” comes from the Latin altārium, meaning “high,” or a place for sacrifice to what is great. It is also related to adolere, which means to worship and to burn up or sacrifice.

Each year, Shambhavi chooses a theme for us to learn about, contemplate, practice with, and embody. Jaya Kula’s theme for 2024 is “healing.”

Each year, Shambhavi chooses a theme for us to learn about, contemplate, practice with, and embody. Jaya Kula’s theme for 2023 is “Belonging.”

Trika Shaivism and Dzogchen are my home spiritual traditions. In these traditions, magic is fundamental to reality and mystical experience is what we humans call deeper contact with that reality.

A poem from Shambhavi on the occasion of turning sixty-five years old. She also wrote Inexplicable Grace, a short reflection on her life as a student of her teachers.

This year, 2021, I turned sixty-five. Seeing me grow older, a student suggested that I write about my life. I’m not very interested in what has already happened, so I wrote the following few words. ~Shambhavi Sarasvati

Dohas are spontaneous songs of spiritual experience, celebration, and prayer. They often contain spiritual teachings. The dohas of teachers are sometimes sung by students as part of their sadhana. Dohas have existed since ancient times in traditions from both India and Tibet.

Dohas are spontaneous songs of spiritual experience, celebration, and prayer. They often contain spiritual teachings. The dohas of teachers are sometimes sung by students as part of their sadhana. Dohas have existed since ancient times in traditions from both India and Tibet.

Dohas are spontaneous songs of spiritual experience, celebration, and prayer. They often contain spiritual teachings. The dohas of teachers are sometimes sung by students as part of their sadhana. Dohas have existed since ancient times in traditions from both India and Tibet.

Occasionally someone gets angry with me because I don’t publicly live stream many teachings, especially teachings that include instructions for practicing.

I want to always offer
the sweet taste
the jasmine scent
the diamond View
to my teachers
to the wisdom senders
and all who come around.

Decades ago, I listened to a radio program in which a young man who had immigrated to the U.S. from somewhere in Asia described his experience as that of moving from the round world to the flat world.

The 2020 theme for the Jaya Kula community, and anyone who cares to join in is courage.

Because I am this,
I train to see the lights
unfurling like brilliant smoke
reaching from all to all.

Dear Friends in worship,

In July 2019, many of us in the Jaya Kula community gathered for a retreat dedicated to devotion. We explored both teachings about and practices of devotion in our spiritual traditions.

Dohas are spontaneous songs of spiritual experience, celebration, and prayer. They often contain spiritual teachings. The dohas of teachers are sometimes sung by students as part of their sadhana. Dohas have existed since ancient times in traditions from both India and Tibet.

Dohas are spontaneous songs of spiritual experience, celebration, and prayer. They often contain spiritual teachings. The dohas of teachers are sometimes sung by students as part of their sadhana. Dohas have existed since ancient times in traditions from both India and Tibet.

Dohas are spontaneous songs of spiritual experience, celebration, and prayer. They often contain spiritual teachings. The dohas of teachers are sometimes sung by students as part of their sadhana. Dohas have existed since ancient times in traditions from both India and Tibet.

Dohas are spontaneous songs of spiritual experience, celebration, and prayer. They often contain spiritual teachings. The dohas of teachers are sometimes sung by students as part of their sadhana. Dohas have existed since ancient times in traditions from both India and Tibet.

Dohas are spontaneous songs of spiritual experience, celebration, and prayer. They often contain spiritual teachings. The dohas of teachers are sometimes sung by students as part of their sadhana. Dohas have existed since ancient times in traditions from both India and Tibet.