Introduction

Adhyatmik Foundation is currently operating and supporting these Activities and Projects in the US.  Detailed descriptions along with Paypal donation buttons for each are laid out below.  Your generous support of these important initiatives is greatly appreciated!  For more information about specific activities or projects, please Contact Us.  

•  Telephone Consultations (Darshans)- one on one with Dr Svami Purna
•  ParaNadam- band playing spiritually focused music to disseminate Dr Svami Purna's teachings 
•  House of Gods- opportunity to have murti and mantra installed in home or office
  
•  Retreats and Workshops- on a variety of topics related to applying wellness and spirituality to day to day living
•  Inner Wisdom, Outer Peace- wellness and spiritual education through publications  

Telephone Consultations (Darshans) 

Personal telephone consultation (or Darshan) can be arranged with Dr Svami Purna on the basis of a minimum donation of $151 per 15 minutes for time with Svamiji.  The donation will support Adhyatmik Foundation’s various Activities and Projects, operating under Svamiji's guidance.  To inquire about a personal Darshan, please Contact Us. 

                      Darshan Donation

                              

If you prefer to pay by check, please make check payable to “Adhyatmik Foundation, Inc.” and mail the check to Adhyatmik Foundation, Inc., 106 Crestview Court, Hawley, PA 18428 USA..  Please write "For Consultation/Darshan" on the check.

ParaNadam Band

Para means Beyond and Nadam means the original vibration of creation (Om, The Word, Amen, Amin, Logos, Pranav, Shabda are a few terms used in different traditions).  ParaNadam refers to the reality beyond the original vibration of creation (the Unmanifest).   The band, ParaNadam, has been inspired by Dr Svami Purna to create and perform spiritually focused music for the benefit of humanity.  The three members that make up ParaNadam have dedicated their lives to the furtherance of Dr Svami Purna’s teachings through music and sound.  ParaNadam’s music is beautiful and melodic; yet, the primary purpose of their musical performance is not entertainment.  The music is created and designed to heal and transform people on all levels of their being, depending on what is needed for the person whether s/he is listening live or to a recording.  The band’s “magic” lies in focused spiritual energy transmission. ParaNadam’s music serves as a vehicle for transmitting, and making more consciously felt, different types of Universal Energies.  Some examples of the energies that may be transmitted during a performance are Loving Kindness, Surrender, Mother Earth energy and even the energy of Wholeness.    

ParaNadam’s sound is varied and wide-ranging.  The band writes original music that updates classic Indian bhajans with contemporary melodies, incorporating traditional Vedic mantras and teachings in Sanksrit and English.   Devotional themed songs open the heart, support expressions of love and soothe the longing to be whole and complete.  The band also includes long form meditation music in their repertoire to calm the mind and relax the body.  Instrumentation includes harmonium, tablas, keyboard,  guitar, drums and electronically synthesized sounds.  ParaNadam performs live at various retreats throughout the year. Looking to expand their reach to a larger group of people, recordings of their music will be available for purchase in the future (check back here for details).  

While it would be obvious to presume that music was the initial connection for the three band members, it was their commonly held desire to seek Truth that brought them together in 2005.  It was not until Dec 2008 that the first two band members felt drawn to begin playing together, not with the goal of entertaining people but with the purpose of offering healing music for the Spirit.  As the two began to practice and work on developing a sound and style, they felt some element was missing.  So they encouraged the third member to join as female vocalist and keyboardist and ParaNadam was formed.  

Band Member Bios 

The three members are not seeking fame, glory or money.  They are serving God, Guru and the Expression of Truth as they walk their musical path.  Not wanting to promote their personalities over the purpose of the music, the band members prefer to serve as anonymous “instruments” of divine Grace.  Thus, the bios do not include names or photos. 

The first member seems to have been born with a guitar in his hands.  A gifted and intuitive player, he realized in his late teens that what he wanted to do most in this world was to transmit love and healing energy through his music.  At that time, he did not know how to transmit through guitar or voice, or even if that was possible; yet, this purpose, held deeply in his heart, is what directed his musical development.  Although he enjoyed many musical accomplishments over the years, those experiences did not fully and completely support his search for Truth.  Now, with ParaNadam, he has found the medium through which he can deepen his spiritual growth and explore his heart's true desire. 

The second member came to music a second time around, in a sense.  In his teen years, he played guitar as a serious hobby; he was never really satisfied with the music.  Around that time, he embarked on a deep and focused spiritual journey, renouncing all forms of music (playing and listening) along with many other “passions” in order to find Truth.  He realized that all of these passions were a distraction from God that needed to be released if he were to progress on the spiritual path.  During many years of spiritual practice, he learned the art of energy transmission.  It was his desire to transmit through sound that brought him back to music, first to playing Tibetan sound bowls, then to guitar.  He even took up the drums for the first time in his life.  Now he approaches music from a deeper place of knowing that allows for a more full and expanded spiritual energy transmission.  This knowing also has brought a whole new dimension to his playing; his skills and abilities have increased remarkably as he has begun to explore new dimensions that continue to unfold musically and spiritually.  ParaNadam provides a wonderful outlet through which this creative spring can flow. 

When she was a small child, the third member discovered her love of singing and music especially when singing devotionally to God.  Starting at age 10, she began to study music and participated in various activities that allowed her to perform and develop her voice.  As she matured, she began composing her own songs and chose to study classical voice and dance at college to further explore the possibilities for self-expression.  Following graduation, she considered a professional singing career; but none of the opportunities allowed her to truly express what was in her heart and connect to the spirituality she felt was inherent in music.  Her singing has never been focused exclusively on entertaining others.  She sings because her heart sings- a beautiful, melodious song of love and devotion to God, to Truth.  Now, as part of ParaNadam, she is able blend her singing and songwriting talents with the light of spiritual truth residing both within and without.

SUPPORT for PROJECTS

House of Gods

Under the precise guidance, blessings, inspiration, and training of HH Sri Sri Svami Purna Ji Maharaj (Svami Purna), an ancient service is being offered for upliftment, healing, and awakening of individuals, organizations, and places in these harried modern times.

What is the process?

Addressing such areas as spiritual advancement, health, relationships, education, business, creativity, family, and many more, you will select and submit the specific focus for which you would request the blessing and upliftment of Grace.  A particular deity embodying the qualities and energies most conducive to your situation will be chosen in the form of a small statue (murti) and a short mantra.  This statue will be installed by Scott Schwenk in your home or office through a beautiful, simple, and ancient Vedic ritual that empowers and awakens the needed qualities in your life. 

In essence this process is much like planting a seed for a mighty tree.  Crucial to the healthy and abundant growth of the tree is the daily nurturing that it receives as it sprouts, grows, and matures over time into its full potential.

This nurturing over time will be your part in the process.  You will receive a mantra empowered by Svami Purna to repeat three times while focusing your attention on the statue once per day.  You will be guided in the best ways to engage this daily practice for maximum benefit to all concerned.

How does it work?

Vedic Wisdom transcends any particular religion, sect, organization, or group.  It is a precise science holding the keys to understanding and living in harmony with natural law.  Preserved, taught, and expressed through the layers of sound, this perennial Living Knowledge is trans-epochal, meaning that it is appropriate to every time and place because it is rooted in Understanding that is beyond, yet inclusive of time and place.

Vedic Wisdom tunes one to coherent, organized, and health-promoting energies beyond the mind’s traditional ways of understanding change and growth.  The sounds that carry this Living Knowledge are called Mantras.

“Early in the Vedic Age (1500-1000BC) it was discovered that sound can produce vibrations which affect the body and the emotions.  Most people have experienced how a piece of music can affect us emotionally, the sound of a car horn can arouse and annoy us, and the mechanically monotonous sound of a moving train can lull us to sleep.  By the same token, there are certain sound vibrations which, if combined in rhythm with sacred syllables, affect us on a deep, spiritual level.  These sacred sound vibrations are called mantras.” (From the book “Practical Wisdom” by Dr Svami Purna)

While the deities of the Vedic tradition may appear particularly Indian in their appearance, this is solely due to the culture in which we are seeing them.  These deities are aspects of the One consciousness represented in physical form.  They have appeared with different forms and appearances based on the individual cultures in which they have been known.  Ultimately, these deities are formless Universal energies.  However, it can be difficult for many to engage in a productive and beneficial relationship with the formless, so these specific forms and mantras are a focal point for attention.  What one focuses on magnifies.  Having a specific form through a statue and mantra to focus attention on will magnify its specific healing, uplifting, and transformative qualities into one’s life and environment.

How do I start?

First, select an area of your life for which you would like support.  Some areas to consider – Health, Well-Being, Education and Study, Relationships and Family, Work, Creativity, Developing Wisdom, Spiritual Growth and Awakening.

Next send your donation via Paypal (see button below).   The minimum suggested donation is $501 and proceeds benefit Adhyatmik Foundation.  Please ensure you include "House of Gods" in the instructions to seller box.

Then send an email concisely detailing the specific issue you would like addressed to scott [at] trustthebreath [dot] com.  Please be sure to include all of your current contact information, including phone numbers and email.

You will be contacted to arrange the time, date, and location for the installation of your murti (statue) and mantra.

SUPPORT for PROJECTS

Retreats, Webcasts and Teleconferences

Twice  a year, a Supreme Grace Retreat is held with Dr Svami Purna.  These Retreats provide a wonderful opportunity to leave the thoughts and concerns of every day life behind and be immersed in a loving, supportive, peaceful environment.

 Dr Purna offers discourses on the science of Yoga, which encompass different techniques and practices for developing a healthy and balanced lifestyle and spiritual fulfillment.  Retreat activities  are based upon  Dr Purna’s teachings and  include meditation,  mantras, yoga (asana) and walking meditation.  All meals are vegetarian, respecting the Yogic tradition of Ahimsa (“non-violence”).

Throughout the year, webcasts or teleconferences featuring Dr Svami Purna are offered to complement and enhance the Retreats and to provide more frequent access to the oral teachings and knowledge. Please see www.svamipurna.org EVENTS page.

Dr Svami Purna at Guru Purnima Retreat in the Pocono Mountains in PA, 2010

Inner Wisdom, Outer Peace

There are a number of projects that fall under this category of Inner Wisdom, Outer Peace.  The activities and projects focus on education through publication of books, DVDs, CDs and websites.

Today humanity is extremely divided on many levels and in many respects including politics, culture, religion, ideology, economy, ecology, race and gender.   Peace, inspiration and love have been increasingly replaced with anger, disillusionment and hate.  The Internet, with the world as a stage, brings the horror of the latest atrocity right into our home or office, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  The media, in general,  appears to be more interested in producing news and programs that sell advertising rather than providing educational and inspirational programming.   With the litany of negative imagery comes a sense of overwhelming helplessness and hopelessness.

People need to work together to pursue these goals of unity, tolerance, coexistence and peace with open minds and hearts. Most people inherently know that through inner peace they gain outer peace.  Yet, many people are not able to find the inner peace that they seek. 

Adhyatmik Foundation offers a selection of materials to help people understand how to find that inner peace and truly understand what they already are on the deepest level of their being. As each person begins to take steps to improve his or her understanding of the true self and accepts responsibility for his or her actions, others can be inspired to take their own first step towards peace and fulfillment.   As the individual grows, so grows the whole of society.

Transcription, Translation and Publication

• Discourses from Seminars, Retreats and Webcasts:  The transcription and publication of the discourses of Dr Swami Purna in written form as well as the publication of retreats and webcasts on DVD and CD.  His teachings are universal, spreading beyond the limited confines of geographical divisions, beyond barriers of cast, gender and race and beyond political rhetoric or religious dogma.

• Vedic Texts: The translation and publication of Vedic texts. There are a vast number of Vedic texts that have yet to be translated from Sanskrit into English.  Sanskrit literature is arguably the richest in the world (see Publications).   In addition, the study of Sanskrit  as a languageoffers exposure to one of the finest cultures known to manA Moment of Stillness: includes contemplative quotations to enhance peace of mind

• Adhyatmik Foundation website:  Continued expansion of Adhyatmik Foundation website to encompass all aspects of the organization and the works of Svami Purna at www.adfoundation.org.

• A Children’s Guide to Meditation and Yoga:  This proposed publication is very important and  is intended to give children guidance on quieting their thoughts and centering themselves. This guide would take the form of a quality workbook, featuring a guide to yoga, breathing, relaxation and meditation exercises. It would also contain stories, poetry and great works from Vedic texts to inspire the young mind. It is intended to nourish all aspects of the child: the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

SUPPORT for PROJECTS