https://www.blossomfoundation.com/

The Blossom Foundation, 302 Racetrack Road, Graham, TX (2026)

05/29/2026

Sri M concluded the 2026 spring retreat season at the Sacred Grove, Graham, after a profound series of five retreats, which featured discourses on the Tripura Rahasya, five major Upanishads, and two sacred Kriya Yoga initiations.

On the final day of this transformative gathering, he brought the teachings to a powerful close by weaving together the core essences of the Katha and Mandukya Upanishads.

Drawing from the Katha Upanishad, Sri M illuminated Lord Yama’s description of Brahman as the ultimate reality hidden within the heart of every creature. This divine essence is simultaneously smaller than the smallest and greater than the greatest. It does not exist in space; rather, space exists within it. As Yama beautifully notes, Brahman sits still yet travels far, and while lying down, it goes everywhere.

To show how a seeker can realize this unmoving reality, Sri M highlighted the Upanishad’s famous chariot allegory:
* The Master of the Chariot is the true Self (Atman /Brahman).
* The Charioteer (driver) is the higher intellect (Buddhi).
* The Reins represent the mind (Manas).
* The Horses are the five senses (Indriyas).
* The Roads they travel are the objects of the senses.

05/29/2026

Sri M concluded the 2026 spring retreat season at the Sacred Grove, Graham, after a profound series of five retreats, which featured discourses on the Tripura Rahasya, five major Upanishads, and two sacred Kriya Yoga initiations.

On the final day of this transformative gathering, he brought the teachings to a powerful close by weaving together the core essences of the Katha and Mandukya Upanishads.

Drawing from the Katha Upanishad, Sri M illuminated Lord Yama’s description of Brahman as the ultimate reality hidden within the heart of every creature. This divine essence is simultaneously smaller than the smallest and greater than the greatest. It does not exist in space; rather, space exists within it. As Yama beautifully notes, Brahman sits still yet travels far, and while lying down, it goes everywhere.

To show how a seeker can realize this unmoving reality, Sri M highlighted the Upanishad's famous chariot allegory:
* The Master of the Chariot is the true Self (Atman /Brahman).
* The Charioteer (driver) is the higher intellect (Buddhi).
* The Reins represent the mind (Manas).
* The Horses are the five senses (Indriyas).
* The Roads they travel are the objects of the senses.

The spiritual journey succeeds when a seeker masterfully aligns their intellect and mind to quiet the senses. By gaining control of the chariot, one safely navigates the roads of the material world to reach the ultimate destination: the supreme, deathless state of Brahman.

Transitioning to the Mandukya Upanishad — the shortest of the major Upanishads at just 12 verses — Sri M drove home the radical truth that our ultimate internal reality (Atman) is entirely identical to the absolute reality of the universe (Brahman).

The text maps this truth out through the sacred syllable AUM, revealing it as a precise phonetic tool for enlightenment:
* A represents the waking state (Jagrat), our outward-facing awareness of the physical world.
* U represents the dreaming state (Svapna), our inward-facing awareness of thoughts and desires.
* M represents the deep sleep state (Susupti), where all dualities temporarily dissolve into peaceful, unmanifest potential.

Sri M emphasized that the absolute truth lies in the silence that follows the chant. This silence is Turiya—the underlying, infinite reality. Turiya is not a fourth state to be reached, but the background screen of pure consciousness that witnesses the other three change and pass.

By shifting our identity away from the changing ego and realizing we are Turiya, the silent witness, we instantly realize our true nature: entirely free from the limitations of time, space, and suffering.

05/28/2026

On the second day of the Upanishad Retreat, Sri M introduced the Ishavasya Upanishad. Though one of the shortest of its kind with only 18 verses, this text from the Shukla Yajurveda delivers a profound message.

It warns that while living blindly in worldly desires and rituals leads to spiritual darkness, seeking abstract knowledge while completely neglecting your worldly duties leads to “even greater darkness.” Instead, it advocates for a spiritualized life: performing your duties in the world, but without personal attachment to the outcomes.

According to the Isha Upanishad, anyone who perceives all beings in their own Self, and their own Self in all beings, transcends fear and hatred.

The text notes that while the world is beautiful and dazzling, its very brilliance acts as a distraction, hiding the ultimate truth right behind it.

Sri M then transitioned to the Kathopanishad, a text embedded in the Yajurveda that unfolds as a dialogue between a persistent young boy named Nachiketa and Yama, the Lord of Death.

When Nachiketa asks, “When a person dies, some say he still exists, others say he does not—what is the truth?”, Yama begins to reveal the core mysteries of life and death.

Central to these teachings is the doctrine of Shreya (The Good) versus Preya (The Pleasant)
* Preya is the path of immediate pleasure, comfort, and gratification. It feels good in the moment but keeps a person trapped in a cycle of desire and suffering.
* Shreya is the path of spiritual growth, truth, and lasting goodness. It demands discipline and discrimination, but ultimately leads to true liberation.

05/27/2026

The second Upanishad Retreat—the final retreat of the Spring 2026 season commenced yesterday during which, Sri M shared that the Upanishads represent some of our oldest available spiritual literature. Dating back at least 2,000 years, these ancient texts serve a singular, profound purpose: to explain the nature of ultimate reality.

Sri M broke down the etymology of the word ‘Upanishad’ into three foundational concepts:
Upa: Moving closer, or profoundly journeying toward the Supreme Truth.
Ni: Establishing oneself in a receptive physical position while emptying the mind to receive the teachings.
Shad: To sit both physically and mentally. Sri M noted that Adi Shankaracharya famously interpreted this as a call to “stir a change in one’s mode of thinking.”

Historically, these teachings were kept secret and transmitted only to a small, select groups of students. This was because the Upanishads were fundamentally iconoclastic—powerfully challenging, criticizing, and dismantling established traditions and institutionalized beliefs of their time. Having said that, while they were composed in ancient Sanskrit within the Indian subcontinent, their core message remains entirely universal.

The inspiring first day concluded with a vibrant cultural program featuring a diverse array of presentations, including performances on the Tabla and Sitar, a recitation of the Ganga Stotram, and a moving Meera Bhajan.

05/24/2026

On the third and final day of the first Upanishad retreat, Sri M dealt with parts of ‘Mundaka Upanishad’ which is from Atharva Veda.

The word Mundaka means “to shave” which can represent the shaving of the head by monks, or more deeply, the “shearing away” of ignorance and delusion from the human mind. The Upanishad represents the answers given by sage Angiras to a question of Saunaka - “What is that, by knowing which, everything else becomes known?”.

The Upanishad splits all human understanding into two categories - Apara Vidya (lower knowledge), which includes Vedas, grammar, astronomy, etc., and Para Vidya (higher knowledge) which is the direct, experiential realization of the Changeless Reality (Brahman).

The Upanishad offers a meditation technique in which the bow is the sacred syllable Om,
the arrow is the mind, sharpened by meditation, and the target is Brahman. When the practitioner draws the bow with complete absorption and releases the arrow, it doesn’t just hit the target but dissolves into it becoming one with the target.

Sri M also said
- The holy world of Brahman can only by won through good deeds.
- Prayers, chants and meditation are needed to purify the mind to grasp the Brahman. Constant chanting of Gayatri Mantra and understanding the meaning, helps greatly.

The retreat concluded with Sri M blessing the participants and volunteers, who expressed their gratitude and respects by offering their pranaams.

05/23/2026

On the second day of the first Upanishad Retreat, Sri M dealt with Kenopanishad, belonging to the Talavakara Brahmana of the Sama Veda. Kena means “By What” or “By Whom”.

The Upanishad opens with a student asking a fundamental question - who makes the mind think, who directs the life force (prana) to move and who commands our eyes to see and ears to hear?

The Upanishad answers by stating, Brahman is the the eye of the eye, ear of the ear, the mind of the mind, the speech of speech and the life of life. Our senses cannot perceive Brahman, because Brahman is the very power that allows our senses to perceive in the first place.

Kenopanishad states true spiritual wisdom requires moving past the intellectual ego. It states that anyone who claims to fully understand the Ultimate Truth does not know it at all.

The Upanishad shares a famous allegory where Brahman appears as a Yaksha (mysterious spirit) before Gods who had turned arrogant after a victory. The Yaksha humbles Agni (the God of Fire) and Vaayu (the God of Wind). Finally, when Indra (The God of Senses) approaches Yaksha, he couldn’t perceive the Yaksha, indicating the Brahman can’t be perceived by the human senses. Devi, in the form of Goddess Uma, reveals to Indra that the Yaksha was none other than the Brahman.

Kenopanishad emphasizes that Brahman is beyond ordinary perception and comprehension, and can only be realized through deep contemplation and humility.

05/22/2026

The Spring 2026 Upanishad Retreat kicked off with Sri M asking participants a fundamental question: “What is your understanding of the Upanishads?”

While explaining that these sacred texts form the concluding sections of the Vedas, Sri M offered a gentle caution - the Upanishads are not meant for entertainment. Instead, they reveal a reality so profound it can be shocking.
They are designed to shatter our preconceived notions, a necessary disruption because we cannot touch the core until our mental barriers are broken.

However, Sri M also clarified that intellectual study isn’t the only path. Many great yogis have realized the core without ever reading the scriptures—with Ramana Maharshi being a prime example.

When a participant asked about the connection between Kriya Yoga and study of the Upanishads, Sri M explained their beautiful synergy: practicing Kriya Yoga stills and calms the mind, creating the perfect internal clarity needed to truly absorb the depth of the Upanishads.

05/18/2026

On the third and final day of the 2nd Kriya Yoga retreat, Sri M concluded the instructions by imparting the complete Kriya Yoga technique and guiding participants through a comprehensive, end-to-end practice session.

During a Q&A session, a participant asked whether women could chant the Gayatri Mantra and practice Kriya Yoga during their menstrual cycles. Sri M responded with an affirmative “yes” to both, clarifying that women can absolutely chant the mantra and practice Kriya during their periods.

He further advised that the Gayatri Mantra should be chanted silently. If integrated into a Kriya Yoga session, it should be chanted before beginning the Kriya practice.

The retreat concluded with Sri M blessing the participants and volunteers, who expressed their gratitude and respects by offering their pranaams.

05/17/2026

On the second day of the Kriya Yoga retreat, Sri M provided essential context to help participants truly appreciate the significance of Kriya Yoga.

He clarified that Kriya Yoga is ultimately a technique—a powerful tool designed to channel the vital energy (prana) that otherwise flows erratically through the body, directing it into the three main nadis (energy channels). Sri M cautioned against mistaking the technique for the ultimate goal, which is meditation. It is through meditation alone that one touches the core essence of existence.

To contextualize this journey, Sri M referenced Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Of the eight limbs of Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga), the final four turn completely inward, systematically shifting the practitioner’s focus from the physical body to the mind and spirit:

Pratyahara (Withdrawal of the Senses): Consciously drawing awareness away from external stimuli and distractions, redirecting the attention entirely toward the inner landscape.

Dharana (Concentration): Cultivating single-pointed focus by fixing the mind on a solitary object, sound, image, mantra, or the breath.

Dhyana (Meditation): Entering a deep, uninterrupted flow of concentration where the distinction between the observer and the object of meditation begins to dissolve.

Samadhi: An extension of Dhyana into a state of profound spiritual absorption. Here, individual identity merges into pure consciousness, experiencing absolute oneness with the universe.

Following this philosophical foundation, Sri M initiated the participants into the practical techniques of Kriya Yoga and concluded the session by addressing questions from the attendees.

05/16/2026

Kicking off the second Kriya Yoga retreat, Sri M expressed his delight at seeing a large number of teenagers in attendance, taking the time to have each of them introduce themselves individually.

During his address, Sri M emphasized that practicing Kriya Yoga does not require anyone to change their religious beliefs. Instead, it serves as a powerful aid to any spiritual path a practitioner follows—and remains equally effective even for those who do not practice a religion at all.

According to Sri M, a daily Kriya Yoga practice helps maintain physical health, fosters inner peace, promotes happiness, and calms the mind, ultimately allowing one to touch the divine within every being. He beautifully noted that “a calm, quiet, and peaceful mind acts as a tarmac from which the mind can take off to touch the divine.”

The day concluded with a vibrant cultural program featuring three wonderful songs and a dance, all enthusiastically performed by the attendees.

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