Dharmananda

From an outsider’s perspective he appears to be cloaked in mystery with an unassuming character and nature, his staid demeanor at times giving way to a witty, playful sense of humor that will charm even the most serious individuals. But beneath this guise lies a humble spiritual master, an extraordinarily diligent yogi, and a highly accomplished authority on meditation and the mind.

The formative years

As a child Dharmananda experienced a period of debilitating health concerns that accelerated his maturity and prompted him to question human suffering and the meaning of life at an early age. He was fascinated by the Scriptures of the Bible and the Book of Genesis story of creation. Although innately he had faith and a strong belief in God, his spiritual inclinations didn’t heighten until 2001 when Somananda advised him to join the Tantra Yoga Level 1 retreat. He was 24 years old at the time.

A peak experience

While that Yoga program was eye-opening and deeply transformative, Dharmananda was beckoned by familial and financial obligations to return home to Israel, where he worked basic jobs for the next two years. All the while he yearned to be in the presence of spiritual masters once again and to immerse himself deeply on the path. His dream became a reality in 2003 when he was able to return to his spiritual studies, this time in Thailand.

That year marked a pivotal time for Dharma’s evolution as he completed his first Kashmiri Shaivism Workshop and a retreat that followed. During these weeks, he had his first peak spiritual experience, which left him physically, mentally, and emotionally transfigured. As a result he realized that everything he had known to be true up until that point about life, love, and our purpose as human beings was effectively false. He made the decision to abandon all inconsequential life pursuits and instead to dedicate himself wholly and completely to his inherent purpose of self-realization. He has devoted many hours a day to his sadhana, or spiritual practice, ever since, and as a result he progressed quickly on the yogic path, receiving rare initiations in Yoga, meditation, Kashmiri Shaivism, Tantra, and Kundalini Yoga.

An international teacher and spiritual guide

In 2004 Dharmananda became a teacher of Hatha Yoga. As his spiritual achievements reached higher levels of success, his teaching skills advanced and his responsibilities deepened.

By 2008 he was personally leading meditation retreats and assisting students from all over the world in how to discover and uncover the mysteries of their own minds. His aptitude lies in the areas of Laya Yoga, the opening of the third eye, and the awakening of the crown chakra for achieving higher states of consciousness.

Currently, Dharmananda travels throughout the year internationally, passionately sharing the ancient wisdom of Tantra and Yoga to spiritual aspirants in Thailand, Estonia, Portugal, Slovenia, Greece, and India as part of the Somananda Tantra School’s offerings. His lectures captivate and inspire audiences worldwide. He transmits the knowledge of his own gurus and lineage in the areas of sexual Tantra, Hatha Yoga, Kashmiri Shaivism, Kundalini Yoga, metaphysics, meditation, and the Art of Dying.

Divinely motivated to help others realize the beauty and love that Yoga can offer, Dharma spends much of his time outside of teaching in deep personal retreats.