Krotona School Programs for Spring 2023
Ravi Ravindra
The Necessary Journey of
Self-Transformation
On site and Zoom
Eleven mornings 10-noon
March 14-17 and 21-24 Tuesday-Friday,
March 28-March 30 Tuesday -Thursday
The one single lesson of all the scriptures and sacred writings is that unless searchers undergo a radical transformation of the whole of their being, they cannot come to the Truth or God or the Real. Although the description of the demands of transformation vary, in general the transformation leads not to freedom for myself but to freedom from myself. For example, a remark of the Christ in the Gospel of Matthew, “Unless you leave yourself behind, you cannot be a follower of mine.”
We have a spiritual nature as well as a carnal nature. Most of the world is driven by the bodily fears and desires. In order to be free of my usual ego-driven self, it is essential to engage in an impartial self-inquiry in order to understand the self of which I need to be free and the Self which I need to understand and follow. The Self is a part and parcel of the Highest Reality and the call is for each one of us to become an instrument of the Divine will or the Cosmic Intelligence pervading the vast universe, bringing our own unique talent of service.
A searcher soon becomes deeply interested in the long but adventurous journey of self-transformation rather than the destination which always remains a Mystery. Drawing from the traditional sacred literature, Theosophical writings and the teachings of some modern sages, we will explore the voyage of the necessary inner transformation.
Single session $15 Series $150
Ravi Ravindra is professor emeritus at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada, where he taught in the departments of Physics, Philosophy and Comparative Religion. He has authored many papers in physics, philosophy and religion and several books, including Pilgrim Soul; the Gospel of John in the Light of Indian Mysticism; Science and the Sacred; The Wisdom of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and The Bhagavad Gita: A Guide to Navigating the Battle of Life.
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Martin Leiderman
Taimni’s 15 Points of the Occult Philosophy
On site and Zoom
Apr 21 – 23
Friday 7:30 – 9 pm, Saturday 10-noon, 2 – 4pm, Sunday 10-noon
Dr. I. K. Taimni in his book A Way to Self-Discovery (formerly titled Self-Culture) points out that in order to discover and realize our highest potential, we must first steep ourselves in those spiritual Ideas which, once brought to our attention, are self-evident. In this book, we find his unique summary in 15 points of the whole corpus of Divine Wisdom. These will serve as our stepping stones towards a better understanding of our place in the world in which we live, in order to fulfill our responsibilities to ourselves, our fellows, and the beautiful planet on which we live. We’ll explore, study and contemplate these Ideas, expanding them with quotes from Blavatsky’s The Secret Doctrine, Platonic philosophy and other traditions.
Single session $15 Series $50
Martin Leiderman is an industrial engineer, born in Venezuela and resident in Los Angeles, who retired in 2019 after 37 years with an avionics company. A Life Member of the Theosophical Society in America, he is a national and international lecturer for the Society in English and Spanish. He has facilitated studies at Blavatsky House – the Hague, ITC Naarden, in Spain, Mexico, and Costa Rica, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Krotona Institute. Along with his wife, Susan, Martin has hosted the West LA Theosophical Study Group at their home for over 20 years.
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Cynthia Overweg
Reclaiming the Sacred Feminine:
A Transforming Power
On site and Zoom
Apr 25 – 27
Tuesday – Thursday 10-noon
“Every living being comes from the Mother of us all.”
Lao Tzu
In myth, art, music, poetry and spiritual literature, the Sacred Feminine is a transforming power that unites the mind with the compassion of the heart. While the Sacred Feminine is beyond gender and form, conceptually it is the Feminine Principle that gave birth to the matrix of all life. She is our Cosmic Mother and the Earth is part of her manifestation. For centuries the Sacred Feminine has been suppressed, exploited, demeaned and misunderstood. Sufi mystic and author, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, put it this way: “We need to reclaim the sacred feminine both for our individual spirituality and for the well-being of the planet.”
Our sessions together will explore the significance of the Sacred Feminine through time, in the world as it is today, and in a re-imagined world that embraces the Sacred Feminine and Sacred Masculine as primal energies and unified polarities in the mysterious dance of life.
Single session $15 Series $50
Cynthia Overweg facilitates workshops and retreats that focus on self-transformation and inner stillness from a nondual perspective. She is the author of Silent Awareness: The Revelation That Changes Everything and the forthcoming book, Awareness Meditations, as well as numerous articles about the spiritual quest that have been published internationally. www.cynthiaoverweg.com
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Cynthia Overweg
Weekend Retreat
Embracing the Empowered Feminine
On site only
Apr 28 – 30
Friday 7:00 – 8:30 pm, Saturday 10 – noon and 2 – 4 pm, Sunday 10 – noon
“We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.”
Malala Yousafzai
The empowered feminine speaks authentically from inner wisdom and from the truth of lived experience. We express who we are, without reservation or fear. Our voice is clear, distinct and confident. Our weekend retreat will be a relaxed meditative inquiry into the empowered feminine. What does this empowerment mean? How is it acquired? Why does it matter? Our time together includes interludes of meditation, deep relaxation, communion with nature, sacred music, journaling, and an exploration of feminine archetypes that have an impact on women, girls and modern culture. Our aim is to create a supportive and quiet space where the empowered feminine can be fully embraced and a balanced relationship with masculine energies can be approached. Join us for a weekend of meditative inquiry, inner quietude and relaxed exploration in a beautiful setting.
Series $50
Vegetarian Box Lunch option available for Saturday. $15
Cynthia Overweg facilitates workshops and retreats that focus on self-transformation and inner stillness from a nondual perspective. She is the author of Silent Awareness: The Revelation That Changes Everything and the forthcoming book, Awareness Meditations, as well as numerous articles about the spiritual quest that have been published internationally. www.cynthiaoverweg.com
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Rev. Jim Burklo
Nurturing the Natural Spirituality of Youth
May 5 – 6
Friday 7:30 – 9pm (On site and Zoom)
Saturday 10 – noon, 2 – 4pm (On-site only)
Recent brain and behavioral research make it clear that spirituality is a universal, natural developmental process. These fresh scientific observations establish an imperative for all parents and educators to actively encourage the spiritual formation of young people.
This workshop will begin on Friday evening. Rev. Burklo will lead adult participants in a brief mindfulness meditation practice, and then give an overview of the recent brain and behavioral science of natural spiritual development. Resources will be introduced and explored to address how parents, educators, and mentors can attend to and nurture the spiritual experiences of young people.
Saturday will be on-site for caregivers and children. (Wear your grubbies because some of our sessions will engage in hands-on artistry!) In this session ritual will be explored that can be adapted at home. Children will be introduced to chants from the world’s religious and spiritual traditions while learning to create sand mandalas, prayer bead necklaces for meditation, and dorodangos– shiny mud-balls – a meditative Japanese art form.
To prepare for the sessions, participants are urged to read the resources at his website, Souljourning.org. Also, participants are urged to read The Spiritual Child by Dr Lisa Miller – an introduction to the brain and behavioral science of natural spiritual development.
Single session $15 Series $25
Rev. Jim Burklo has been a spiritual educator for over 40 years. He is the Executive Director of Progressive Christians Uniting, and is the founder of ZOE, a global network of progressive Christian groups at colleges and universities. He is the founder of Souljourning.org, a resource for parents and educators to nurture of the spirituality of young people. Jim recently retired as the Senior Associate Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at the University of Southern California. He served as chaplain to students and staff, supported spiritual and religious student organizations, and organized interfaith events on campus.
He and his wife Roberta live in Ojai, California.
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Enrique Reig
Analisis detallado de algunas de las
cartas de los Maestros
(En persona o por Zoom)
Mayo 19 – 21, (Fin de semana en español)
Viernes 7:30 – 9:00 pm; sábado 10 am – mediodía y 2 – 4 pm;
Domingo 10 am – Mediodía, hora del Pacífico
Un estudio selectivo de Las Cartas de los Maestros de la número 9 a la 25. Se estudiará reflexivamente las Cartas filosóficas y teóricas sobre temas tales como El Espíritu Planetario, el primer Adam, la Esencia Divina, Los Ciclos de la Naturaleza, La Fuerza y Energía Potencial, la Mónada Pitagórica y el desenvolvimiento del Pensamiento Divino entre otros tópicos.
sesión única $15, serie $50
Enrique Reig de Puebla México es el actual Presidente de la Federación Teosófica Interamericana y conduce seminarios en una serie de temas teosóficos, tales como Karma, Reencarnación, La Doctrina Secreta, Las Cartas de los Maestros. El es un psiquiatra por profesión y ha escrito varios libros y artículos sobre la salud mental y el desenvolvimiento personal.