India Retreat at Arunachala | Meditation & Satsang with John David | Sri Ramana Maharshi | January 2027

Join us on a journey to one of India’s most powerful spiritual sites—at the foot of the sacred mountain Arunachala.

For over 20 years, John David has been hosting an intensive three-week retreat at Arunachala. For millennia, this extraordinary mountain has drawn spiritual seekers who long for self-knowledge and a direct experience of their true nature. Here you’ll encounter India’s timeless spiritual wisdom in a vibrant, contemporary setting. Guided by John David, you’ll have the opportunity to turn your gaze inward from external things and connect with a deeper level of your being.

The retreat centers on self-inquiry in the tradition of Sri Ramana Maharshi and his central question: “Who am I?” Rather than accumulating new spiritual concepts or ideas, you are invited to explore your own experience and discover what lies beyond your usual thoughts about yourself.

In the special atmosphere of Arunachala—nurtured by satsang, meditation, silence, and community—your perception can shift: toward what is already there and can reveal itself as silence, joy, and love.

This self-inquiry is not limited to the three weeks in India. You’ll discover a direct path that you can take home with you and integrate into your daily life—as a living possibility to return to yourself again and again.

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SELF-INQUIRY ACCORDING TO SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI

Self-inquiry according to Sri Ramana Maharshi leads us inward with the simple question “Who am I?”—beyond thoughts, roles, and conceptions of ourselves. By tracing the source of the “I” thought, a deeper stillness can open up, allowing us to experience what we truly are at our core.

SATSANG WITH JOHN DAVID

Satsang is an invitation to step out of the stories, thoughts, and ideas you have about yourself for a moment and encounter what lies beneath: Who are you really?

The Sanskrit word satsang means “being together in truth.” In the Indian spiritual tradition, it refers to coming together with a self-realized master—in an atmosphere where silence, clarity, and direct self-experience become possible.

A satsang with John David often begins in silence. Afterward, he may speak spontaneously or invite questions and a direct, personal dialogue. The focus is less on gathering new answers or spiritual knowledge and more on questioning your usual notions about yourself and directly experiencing something deeper.

You can simply be present, listen, and let the silence and presence of the satsang work its magic on you. Or you can bring your own questions and engage in a direct dialogue with John David—about what’s on your mind, what’s holding you back, or what’s calling you to go deeper within yourself.

RETREAT ACTIVITIES

Satsang, meditation, self-inquiry
Mantra chanting, yoga, Heart Dance
Active and silent meditations
Spiritual films

Encounters with Indian masters and Western spiritual teachers
Excursions to the Ramana Ashram and Ramana’s caves on Mount Arunachala
Ox-cart ride around Arunachala
Visits to temples and other powerful places