In this episode we discuss:
The nature of reality as wisdom and compassion even in the face of obstacles
Spiritual challenges we are facing in the Covid19 pandemic
Staying in our spiritual practice even in the face of existential threats 
Leaning into fear and finding refuge in God and nature
Building the Ojas, immunity and the bridge between the ordinary love and universal love
The teaching of Ananda, holding the absolute and relative reality at the same time
Reconciling the teaching of the naturalness of death with the commitment to stay engaged and to help others
Accessing the heart as a gateway to unconditional wisdom

Shambhavi is the spiritual director of Jaya Kula. Her principle training is in the View and practices of Trika Shaivism (a.k.a. Kashmir Shaivism or Shaiva Tantra) and the Dzogchen tradition of Tibet. She has also studied meditation with teachers in the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions. Her root Guru is Anandamayi Ma.
Shambhavi is known for making complex teachings about the nature of the self and reality understandable, practical, and always relatable to everyday experience. Her teachings are grounded in her more than thirty-five years of daily personal practice and personal retreats.
In addition to offering teachings in spiritual practice and view, Shambhavi conducts festival day pujas, yajñas, and also weddings and other rites. She is a trained jyotishi and diviner.
At one time, Shambhavi taught at Northwestern University. She left academia in 2004 in order to devote herself to practice, writing and teaching in her spiritual tradition.

SHAMBHAVI’S BOOKS
Shambhavi is the author of The Reality Sutras: Seeking the Heart of Trika Shaivism (2018), Nine Poisons, Nine Medicines, Nine Fruits (2017), The Play of Awakening: Adventures in Direct Realization Tantra (2012), Pilgrims to Opennness: Direct Realization Tantra in Everyday Life (2009), Returning  (2015), and No Retreat: Poems on the Way to Waking Up (2016). In addition, she published an academic book, Avatar Bodies: a Tantra for Posthumanism. She holds an MFA in Fiction from Mills College and a Ph.D. in Modern Thought and Literature from Stanford University.

In this episode we discuss:
<ol data-stringify-type="ordered-list" data-indent="0">
<li>The nature of reality as wisdom and compassion even in the face of obstacles</li>
<li>Spiritual challenges we are facing in the Covid19 pandemic</li>
<li>Staying in our spiritual practice even in the face of existential threats&nbsp;</li>
<li>Leaning into fear and finding refuge in God and nature</li>
<li>Building the Ojas, immunity and the bridge between the ordinary love and universal love</li>
<li>The teaching of Ananda, holding the absolute and relative reality at the same time</li>
<li>Reconciling the teaching of the naturalness of death with the commitment to stay engaged and to help others</li>
<li>Accessing the heart as a gateway to unconditional wisdom</li>
</ol>
Shambhavi is the spiritual director of Jaya Kula. Her principle training is in the View and practices of&nbsp;<a href="https://slack-redir.net/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjayakula.org%2Ftrika-shaivism%2F" aria-describedby="slack-kit-tooltip">Trika Shaivism</a>&nbsp;(a.k.a.&nbsp;<a href="https://slack-redir.net/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjayakula.org%2Fwhat-is-self-realization-in-kashmir-shaivism%2F" aria-describedby="slack-kit-tooltip">Kashmir Shaivism</a>&nbsp;or Shaiva Tantra) and the Dzogchen tradition of Tibet. She has also studied meditation with teachers in the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions. Her root Guru is Anandamayi Ma. Shambhavi is known for making complex teachings about the nature of the self and reality understandable, practical, and always relatable to everyday experience. Her teachings are grounded in her more than thirty-five years of daily personal practice and personal retreats. In addition to offering teachings in spiritual practice and view, Shambhavi conducts festival day pujas, yaj&ntilde;as, and also weddings and other rites. She is a trained jyotishi and diviner. At one time, Shambhavi taught at Northwestern University. She left academia in 2004 in order to devote herself to practice, writing and teaching in her spiritual tradition.
SHAMBHAVI&rsquo;S BOOKS Shambhavi is the author of&nbsp;The Reality Sutras: Seeking the Heart of Trika Shaivism&nbsp;(2018),&nbsp;Nine Poisons, Nine Medicines, Nine Fruits (2017),&nbsp;The Play of Awakening: Adventures in Direct Realization Tantra&nbsp;(2012),&nbsp;Pilgrims to Opennness: Direct Realization Tantra in Everyday Life&nbsp;(2009),&nbsp;Returning&nbsp;&nbsp;(2015), and&nbsp;No Retreat: Poems on the Way to Waking Up&nbsp;(2016). In addition, she published an academic book,&nbsp;Avatar Bodies: a Tantra for Posthumanism.&nbsp;She holds an MFA in Fiction from Mills College and a Ph.D. in Modern Thought and Literature from Stanford University.

Chitheads is a smorgasbord of contemplative education. Each episode is like a mini masterclass, exploring the diverse landscapes of spiritual practice, philosophy, and the transformative power of embodied knowledge. Each episode is crafted with the curious and open heart in mind, aiming to illuminate the path of self-inquiry and empowerment for yoga teachers, scholar-practitioners, meditators and other spiritual seekers and contemplative folks from around the world.

From the profound teachings of Yoga and Buddhism to the sometimes complex theories of contemplative psychology and the vibrant tapestry of indigenous wisdom, our guests share insights that awaken, challenge, and inspire.

With every episode, we dive into discussions that matter, exploring questions that guide us closer to our true selves and to a deeper understanding of the world around us. Our mission is to create a space where wisdom (and not fame, power, or money) is the center of gravity and what we are most concerned about cultivating in this lifetime. 

Join us on Chitheads as we explore the liminal spaces of consciousness, embrace the complexities of the human experience without dogma or self-righteousness, and discover the beauty again and again of the interconnectedness of all things.

Subscribe to Chitheads on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform, and please consider leaving us a positive review on one iTunes, or your favorite podcast player. Come dive into these in-depth conversations that illuminate our path of contemplative discovery. If you’ve felt like you’re the only one full of chit – full of consciousness or awareness ˀ– welcome home. This community of listeners, seekers, and scholar-practitioners is for you.

Chitheads is a smorgasbord of contemplative education. Each episode is like a mini masterclass, exploring the diverse landscapes of spiritual practice, philosophy, and the transformative power of embodied knowledge. Each episode is crafted with the curious and open heart in mind, aiming to illuminate the path of self-inquiry and empowerment for yoga teachers, scholar-practitioners, meditators and other spiritual seekers and contemplative folks from around the world.
From the profound teachings of Yoga and Buddhism to the sometimes complex theories of contemplative psychology and the vibrant tapestry of indigenous wisdom, our guests share insights that awaken, challenge, and inspire.
With every episode, we dive into discussions that matter, exploring questions that guide us closer to our true selves and to a deeper understanding of the world around us. Our mission is to create a space where wisdom (and not fame, power, or money) is the center of gravity and what we are most concerned about cultivating in this lifetime. 
Join us on Chitheads as we explore the liminal spaces of consciousness, embrace the complexities of the human experience without dogma or self-righteousness, and discover the beauty again and again of the interconnectedness of all things.
Subscribe to Chitheads on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform, and please consider leaving us a positive review on one iTunes, or your favorite podcast player. Come dive into these in-depth conversations that illuminate our path of contemplative discovery. If you’ve felt like you’re the only one full of chit – full of consciousness or awareness ˀ– welcome home. This community of listeners, seekers, and scholar-practitioners is for you.

Interviews with leaders, elders and teachers from the yoga and wider wisdom community on eastern philosophies, consciousness studies, social justice, and the human spiritual condition.

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