Non-Duality West:
Neuroscience and Meditations in the Spiritual Heart
with Dr. Olga Louchakova

September 12-19, 2010
$610 Overnight / $530 Commuter

In the West, non-dual consciousness has become a subject of scientific research. Recent advances in neuroscience and psychology demonstrate that the experience of non-dual awareness enhances attentional resources of the brain, improves memory, and promotes personal growth. In this retreat, based on the research done by Olga Louchakova, participants will be introduced to meditations that lead to the emergence of non-dual consciousness, experience the positive outcomes of non-dual awareness, and learn about the relationship between attention and awareness from the standpoint of the scientific research of non-duality.

In order to attain non-dual awareness, we will learn meditations on the Spiritual Heart, which is the center of non-dual awareness in the human body. These meditations are at the core of the wisdom traditions of Sufism, Hasidism (mystical Judaism) and Hesychasm (mystical Christian tradition of the internal stillness). In the East, they are found in traditions of Advaita and Shakta Vedanta. Focusing attention in the Spiritual Heart opens access to subconscious and enhances self-knowledge, brings up the direct intuition, expands consciousness, purifies the mind and, above all, leads to the gestalt of the non-dual awareness.

This retreat will include initiations into the Spiritual Heart; work with sacred imagery, periods of guided and silent meditations, discourses on non-dual consciousness and scientific research of the non-dual brain, psychospiritual guidance, and other exercises relevant to the journey into non-duality.

Olga Louchakova, M.D., Ph.D., is a spiritual teacher, medical doctor and neuroscientist. She is the founding Director of the Neurophenomenology Research Center at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, and the mandated teacher of Advaita Vedanta, Kundalini Yoga and Prayer of the Heart. Her original spiritual training comes from the Russian spiritual underground. Her recent research of visual awareness in Tibetan monks was featured in the Science Daily, on the Discovery Channel, and on BBC News.

CANCELLATION POLICY: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE REGISTERING FOR A RETREAT

Full payment is due upon registration. We accept MasterCard and Visa issued by US banks and financial institutions. Deadline for registration is 3 days prior to start of the retreat.

If you need to cancel your registration for a retreat or program, please provide as much advance notice as possible so that we can offer your place to another retreatant. Registration fees cannot be transferred to another retreat or another person.

If a request for cancellation is received seven (7) or more days prior to the start date of a retreat or program, a refund of the program cost minus a $50 administrative fee will be issued. If a cancellation request is received less than seven (7) days prior to the start of a retreat, 50% of the program cost will be refunded. Refunds cannot be transferred to another retreat or to another person.

No refund will be given if a retreatant leaves early or arrives late. Out of consideration for others on the waiting list, please make a commitment to attend the entire retreat.

If you have any questions, or if you would like further assistance in registering for Mercy Center's programs or retreats, please contact us at (650) 340-7454.