Sadhana Mandir Ashram

Founded in 1966 on the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh, India, Sadhana Mandir Trust was established by Swami Rama as an international retreat center for sincere aspirants to practice meditation in a spiritually elevating environment. Away from the hustle and bustle of Rishikesh, nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, Sadhana Mandir is located on the banks of the holy river Ganges. Surrounded by beautiful flowering gardens, mango trees and a lotus pond, a quiet and serene atmosphere permeates the ashram making it ideal for sadhana.

The Himalayan Tradition

Swami Rama’s tradition is an unbroken chain of Himalayan sages that is more than 5,000 years old. The tradition was formally established by Shankaracharya 1,200 years ago. The scriptures of his tradition are the Vedas, the oldest spiritual scriptures in the library of humanity. The teachings have been passed on primarily orally, each sage transmitting knowledge directly to prepared students. According to his tradition, yoga encompasses all the philosophies and practices that have ever been followed by the great sages, not only of the Himalayas, but also of Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Zen, and Sufism as well.

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times

“You have the capacity and strength to expand your conscious mind with the help of a method that is called ‘interior research,’ the internal journey. . . . This instruction is leading you on the path called ‘the path of the keyless door.’ . . . To open the door and start your inner journey you need to learn several points and to apply them systematically.”

Swami Rama

Retreats

Sadhana Mandir Ashram offers a variety of retreats for both beginners and experienced practitioners. These individualized residential retreats lead the participants to experience the nature of their beings on the physical, pranic, mental and spiritual levels. The participants engage in daily gentle yoga classes, breathing and relaxation practicums, guided meditation practice, and individualized instruction in yoga science.

“Meditation will give you a tranquil mind. Meditation will make you aware of the Reality deep within. Meditation will make you fearless; meditation will make you calm; meditation will make you gentle; meditation will make you loving; meditation will give you freedom from fear —those are the results of meditation.”

Swami Rama

News

Meditation and Its Practice — Online

Started Thursday, Jan 28, 2021 (6 classes) (Jan 28, Feb 4, Feb 11, Feb 18, Feb 25, Mar 4) Next session beginning Thursday, April 1, 2021 (5 lessons only) (Apr 1,  Apr 8, Apr 15, Apr 22, Apr 29) 5 consecutive weekly zoom online classes 60-90 minutes duration each Time:...

read more

Revitalize Mind and Body, while Living in Stressful Times

Dates: February 12-14, March 12-14 “Stress is that something that grows in our mind, in human mind. It doesn’t come through physical strain.” Swami Rama This weekend program focuses on how individuals who are experiencing stress in their daily lives can use these...

read more

New Guidelines for Retreat Participants

September 21, 2020. Dear Participant, We hope you will be able to visit the ashram and participate in a retreat. Due to the covid19 pandemic temporary restrictions are now imposed on all visitors. Guidelines will be reviewed and updated monthly as per State of...

read more

Shri Mahalakshami Dipavali Puja

Mahalakshami Dipavali Puja at Sadhana Mandir Date: 14 November 2020 Program at Sadhana Mandir   Shri Ganesh and Panachang Puja, 5:00 PM Shri Guru Puja, 5:30 PM Shri Mahalakshmi Puja,, 5:45 PM Shri Dipavali Puja, 6:00 PM Arti, & Puspanjali, 6:15 PM Ashirvada,...

read more

Retreats

Revitalize Mind and Body, while Living in Stressful Times

Dates: February 12-14, March 12-14 “Stress is that something that grows in our mind, in human mind. It doesn’t come through physical strain.” Swami Rama This weekend program focuses on how individuals who are experiencing stress in their daily lives can use these...

Deepening Breath, Deepening Meditation

Dates: March 19-21, April 9-11,  2021 “The breathing process is a powerful variable, which has an enormous impact on the tension level of your body, as well as on the calmness and clarity of your mind.” “…without breath awareness a deep state of meditation is...

Self-Guided Meditation Retreat

Self-Guided Meditation Retreat The self-guided meditation retreat is offered to those visitors who have already attended one of the ashram programs, and want to practice what they have learned. Visitors are encouraged to avail themselves of the quiet ashram...

Meditation and Its Practice

Dates: To Be Announced “Meditation annihilates time and then you are free, and you can be here and now.” Swami Rama This 3-day guided meditation retreat is based on Swami Rama’s book, Meditation and Its Practice, a practical guide to inner life. In this program you...

Meditation and Its Practice — Online

Started Thursday, Jan 28, 2021 (6 classes) (Jan 28, Feb 4, Feb 11, Feb 18, Feb 25, Mar 4) Next session beginning Thursday, April 1, 2021 (5 lessons only) (Apr 1,  Apr 8, Apr 15, Apr 22, Apr 29) 5 consecutive weekly zoom online classes 60-90 minutes duration each Time:...

Basic Practices of the Himalayan Tradition as Taught by Swami Rama

Dates: October 19-24, 2021 This 6-day residential program is experiential, and designed to introduce the participant to the basic practices of the Himalayan tradition as taught by Swami Rama. The emphasis will be on the first 4 rungs of Ashtanga Yoga (the Royal Path):...

Meditation, Mindfulness, and Stress Reduction — Online Class

Dates & Time: Starting Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 9:00 A.M. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA time (or 19:30/7:30 P.M. India time) 6 weekly online zoom classes every Wednesday beginning March 17. Class duration is 60-90 minutes. March 17, 24, 31 April 7, 14, 21 This...

8 Steps to Self-Transformation

January 28-31, April 20-25, September 21-26,  December 21-26, 2021 “You have the capacity and strength to expand your conscious mind with the help of a method that is called ‘interior research,’ the internal journey. . . . This instruction is leading you on the path...

Intense Meditation Retreat

Dates: February 20 - March 7, & November 6-21, 2021 This 16-day residential program has two parts. The first part of the retreat will provide training and coaching to make you independent and proficient enough so you can start guiding yourself in the second part...

Guided Silence Retreat

Guided Silence Retreats are now being offered for serious sadhakas to experience silence, personal renewal, and deepening of meditation practices. Self-reliance is essential for this program.

Applied Yoga Psychology

Dates: August 20-29, 2021 This 10-day residential program is focused on exploring the functioning of the mind through the lens of yoga. Through self-observation, self-awareness and self-exploration will the theory of our inner instruments come to life and be witnessed...

Fundamentals of Yoga Meditation

Dates: May 14-23, 2021 “The yoga practices described by the ancient manuscripts are not just physical; they are mental and spiritual too, for yoga is the science of self-effort, of self-examination, and of self-awareness.” ~ Swami Rama Throughout his books and...