On the 19th of June, we, an aspiring group of Tantra students, set out on a journey that was not too far from home for some, but a profound search, nonetheless. In the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, up on Shivpuri hill, we began our search under the guidance and light of our Gurudevi Nila 1 whom we fondly call Nila Amma. Enthusiastic to receive Nila Amma’s wisdom, we participated in a four-day residential event with Nila’s Mystic School, with the aim of ‘Transforming Through Tantra’.2 All throughout the retreat, with Her blessings and protection, Nila Amma taught us to explore new realms of self and healing through connecting with the five elements and nature around us. We learnt and undertook various practices such as tree hugging, water cleansing, fire evoking, breathwork and meditation. Each of these experiences, their purpose and eOects shall be described subsequently, with the aim of illuminating the purpose of the event and our exalted, guided, journey towards it.
1 ‘From Sanskrit, guru means “teacher” or “imparter of knowledge,” while deva (or devi) comes from the root word, div, which can mean “light,” “luminous” or “glowing.” Therefore, Gurudeva (or Gurudevi) may be translated to mean “luminous guru,” “guru as God” or “of God as guru.” It is said that this refers to the self- luminous form of the master, which shines with its inner subtle light from a place beyond the physical body’, definition provided by Sri Paramahansa Yogananda in ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’