The Summit
We are pleased to invite you to the first European Vedanta Summit, which will be held at the Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre in Gretz. The theme of the summit is "Vedanta in Europe : A Meeting of Minds". Swami Suhitananda, the esteemed vice-president of the Ramakrishna Mission, will be the guest of honor.
This four-day summit will bring together spiritual teachers, philosophers, and renowned scholars from across Europe, each offering their expertise and unique perspective on Vedanta teachings. Expect enriching discussions, interactive workshops, and presentations that will illuminate your understanding of Vedanta and its relevance in the contemporary world.
Artistic moments
Artistic expression will also be celebrated. Every movement of the dances presented will embody the poetry of Vedanta. The chants will resonate in the air to elevate your level of consciousness. The notes of piano music will make every cell and molecule of your subtle body vibrate.
You will discover that Vedanta can be experienced and expressed through artistic expression. These performances will offer a true opening to the teachings. (See below)
Cultural excursions
Also enjoy guided tours organized by the center to picturesque places around Gretz, adding a cultural touch to your stay. Discover the medieval city of Provins, the relics of Saint Ayoul, preserved in the crypt of the Saint-Médard chapel. You will visit the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte and its magnificent and inspiring gardens. (See below)
Accommodation
If you wish to fully immerse yourself, various accommodation options are available: choose between the comfort of a room, the originality of a tipi, the adventure of camping on our grounds, or the charm of a bungalow under the trees. (Registration at the bottom of the page)
Translation services
Simultaneous translation services will be available throughout the event. Translations will be provided from French to English and from English to French, allowing all participants to follow the discussions and presentations in the language of their choice. (See below)
Free admission
Additionally, entry to the event is free and open for the entire four days. No prior registration is required, so you are free to come and participate at your convenience.
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Become a volunteer
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Join us for a profound exploration of Vedanta and an unforgettable spiritual communion!
See you soon on our networks for new information.
Dear friends and spiritual seekers,
It is with profound joy that I announce the first European Vedanta Summit, which will be held from August 8 to 11, 2024, at the Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre. We are honored to welcome Swami Suhitananda, Vice President of the Ramakrishna Mission, as the guest of honor.
This unique event will bring together brilliant minds and open hearts around Vedanta. The Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre will serve as a dynamic platform to present, exchange, and debate various aspects of this life science. Swamis, philosophers, and scholars from all over Europe will share their perspectives on the teachings of Vedanta.
The theme of these four days is "Vedanta in Europe: A Meeting of Minds". Discussions will focus on the forms Vedanta takes in Europe, its teachings, and the current challenges and opportunities. Each speaker will bring their valuable experience, enriching the debates and offering us a more comprehensive and personal understanding of Vedanta.
This event promises to be more than just a gathering; it is an invitation to embark on a journey of transformation, to discover the true essence of oneself, and to live in harmony with the universe.
Join us, and let us explore the wisdom of Vedanta together.
With love and blessings,
Swami Atmarupananda President of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre
Speakers
Swami Suhitananda
Vice-President of the Ramakrishna Mission, Swami Suhitananda is an eminent spiritual leader and educator. Born in Kolkata, India, he joined the Ramakrishna Mission at a young age, attracted by its ideal of selfless service and practical spirituality. After completing his university studies, he devoted his life to seeking the truth and helping others.
Swami Suhitananda received extensive training in philosophy, meditation and spiritual teachings from his seniors in the Mission. His dedication and commitment to the cause of humanity have earned him the trust of his peers, leading him to hold increasingly responsible positions within the organisation.
As vice-president of the Ramakrishna Mission, Swami Suhitananda plays an essential role in overseeing the organisation's activities and projects around the world. His visionary leadership and spiritual wisdom guide the Mission in its role of service to humanity, especially in the fields of education, healthcare and community development.
In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Swami Suhitananda is an eloquent speaker and prolific writer, sharing the timeless teachings of Hindu spirituality through his speeches and writings. He is also a mentor and a spiritual guide to many seekers of truth around the world, helping them to attain inner peace and spiritual fulfilment.
Through his selfless dedication and commitment to the ideals of the Ramakrishna Mission, Swami Suhitananda continues to inspire and touch the hearts of many people, bringing light, love and hope to the world.
Swami Atmarupananda
was born in America and was introduced to the Vedanta tradition during a student exchange in Sweden, marking the beginning of a life dedicated to this spiritual path. In 1969, he joined the Chicago branch of the Ramakrishna Order of India as a monk, after being initiated by Swami Vireswarananda, the tenth president of the Order. He then spent many years in India, undergoing training in monastic life, science, and spirituality. Swami Atmarupananda was a pioneer in establishing several centers, including the San Diego Center, the Vivekananda Retreat in New York State, and the Vedanta Work Center in Puerto Rico. He also traveled the world to give lectures, conduct retreats, and participate in inter-spiritual dialogues and conferences on economic and social development. From 2012 to the end of 2017, he served at the headquarters of the Order near Calcutta, India, before being appointed resident minister of the Vedanta Society of Greater Houston, USA. Most recently, in April 2022, he was appointed president and spiritual director of the Ramakrishna Vedantic Center in Gretz.Bas du formulaire
Swami Amarananda
born in British India in Bengal, began his career as a civil engineer, graduating in Kolkata in 1962. Quickly, he came into contact with his spiritual master, Swami Madhavananda, and joined the Ramakrishna Order in 1966. His spiritual commitment led him to oversee the restoration of the building where Swami Vivekananda lived and passed away in Belur. Additionally, he participated in four relief operations following disasters in India. Subsequently, Swami Amarananda held several positions, including that of director of a boarding school for over nine years. He also contributed to the management of a hostel providing food and accommodation to poor students of the University of Calcutta. In September 1986, he was appointed assistant minister of the Vedantic Center of France, and later became director of the Vedantic Center of Geneva starting from January 25, 1989. Swami Amarananda has also been involved in interfaith initiatives, such as the World Committee on Religion and Development and the Interfaith Platform of Geneva. He represented the Ramakrishna Order at several Parliament of the World's Religions and delivered annual lectures on Hinduism-related topics on the campus of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Bossey.
As an author, he contributed to several works, including stories of Vedanta and dramatic texts for children. He is also the co-author of the "Biography of Ramakrishna," an adapted translation of the famous biography composed by Swami Saradananda, a direct disciple of Sri Râmakrishna.
Swami Yogananda Sarasvati
was ordained into the venerable order of Paramahamsa Sannyasa in 1971 by his master Sri Swami Satchidananda in Kandy, Sri Lanka. As a member of the "Sarasvati" lineage of Paramahamsa ascetics, Swamiji is closely associated with the Shringeri monastery, founded in the 9th Century by Sri Adi Shankaracharya (788-820).
Proficient in Sanskrit and the major texts of Vedanta, he has translated and commented on numerous works by Shankara, which he has notably presented at the Ramakrishna Vedanta Center since 1995. Praised for the exceptional quality of his teachings and the depth of his experience, Swami Yogananda is also known and appreciated for his devotional chants and his remarkable pronunciation of Sanskrit, in which he composes versified hymns. His most notable merit lies in his ability to preserve the originality and authenticity of Vedanta through his teachings.
Swami Rameshwarananda Giri
Hindu monk and eminent representative of the Vedic community in Spain, plays a crucial role in inter-religious dialogue and the promotion of sustainable development. His early spiritual journey led him to meet his Master at the age of nineteen, triggering a profound inner transformation.
Swami Rameshwarananda has enriched his practice and knowledge through multidisciplinary training and experiences with various spiritual traditions.
His philanthropic commitment in India, particularly with the Vicente Ferrer Foundation, bears witness to his holistic vision of human and environmental well-being. The creation of the PHI Foundation and the PHI Campus reflects his desire to promote the development of human potential and harmony with nature through innovative and sustainable initiatives.
As President of the Transcendence International Interfaith Forum, he promotes dialogue and understanding between different spiritual traditions. His dedication to preserving ancient wisdom and promoting universal values such as equality, peace and fraternity makes him an inspiring spiritual and humanitarian leader, working for a better world for future generations.
Swami Maitreyi
is a teacher and sannyasi in the Satyananda Yoga®/Bihar Yoga® tradition, a tradition and system of yoga founded by Swami Satyananda Saraswati that has its roots in the ancient yogic traditions of India and the classical branches of yoga. It includes a combination of asana, physical practices and postures; pranayama, breathing practices; deep relaxation, Satyananda Yoga Nidra®; and techniques of concentration and meditation.
Swami Maitreyi lived and worked at the Bihar Yoga School in India for 15 years and at the Satyananda Yoga Academy in South America for 10 years. She now lives in Sweden where she provides yoga workshops, seminars and retreats for the various Satyananda yoga schools and for various institutions in society when there is a need for yoga. She also gives online yoga courses and courses
Swami Bhajanananda
born in Mexico and raised in the United States, began his spiritual search and studies in his teens. While still in high school in 1987, he met his guru, the great saint and yogi Swami Vishnudevananda Saraswati from Prayag (Allahabad), who initiated him as a brahmachari in 1993. He received further initiations from Swami Chidananda Saraswati, the late president of the Divine Life Society from Rishikesh, and Sri Haradhan Chakraborti, the late pujari head of the Dakshineswar Kali Temple. In 1999 he received his final monastic ordination as dasnami sannyasi, from Swami Omananda Saraswati, spiritual successor of Swami Vishnudevananda Saraswati, and director of Yoga Vedanta Kutir in Allahabad.
Swami Bhajanananda holds a BA in Religious Studies from the University of California at Berkeley and a doctorate in Applied Theology/Ministry (DMin) from the New Seminary for Interfaith Studies in New York. He has been an instructor at the University of California, Irvine, in the yoga studies programme for several years and is currently the Hindu advisor at New Seminary. He has translated and written several books, including Return to the Source, Collected Writings on Spiritual Life; recorded devotional kirtan albums; and spoken at universities, colleges, religious centres and professional gatherings on Hinduism and interfaith relations. Swamij Bhajanananda is considered an expert in the ritual worship of the Mother Goddess according to the dakshina-marg (right hand path) of Tantra, which adheres to traditional conservative Hindu norms in a spirit of selfless devotion. He regularly gives discourses on Hindu scriptures, the teachings of the saint and sacred tradition.
Swami Shantivratananda
the current minister of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Center in Dublin, spent over 8 years at the Sri Ramakrishna Institute in Mysuru, India, before coming to Europe. Initiated by Swami Ranganathanandaji Maharaj and Swami Atmasthanandaji Maharaj, he underwent rigorous training in Sanskrit, meditation, and rituals. As a speaker, he has mentored numerous young people on stress and depression management. He led Balaka Sangha and Taruna Sangha, cultural centers for boys and adolescents. A brilliant student, he won a gold medal in philosophy from Bangalore University and earned a PhD from Mysuru University. A prolific author, he has written several philosophical books and over 50 research articles for reputable journals. His expertise led him to become a columnist for popular newspapers such as Vijayavani and Prajavani. Through his speeches across India, he has transformed the lives of many people.
Jean Claude Émériau (Nitai)
is President of the "Festival of India" association, which has been organising the Ratha Yatra chariot festival in Paris for 36 years. His passion for India, where he has travelled extensively, led him to be initiated as a brahmana, enabling him to conduct Vedic samskaras for births, marriages and deaths, as well as puja for murtis in temples.
Director of the Radha Krishna temple in Paris for 20 years, he is also a translator, from English to French, of works originally written in Sanskrit or Bengali and dating back several centuries. He is one of the 8 founding members of the Fédération Védique de France.
Marc Ballanfat
holds an advanced degree (Agrégation in France) in philosophy and a PhD in the history of religions. A specialist in the philosophers of ancient India, he is also an excellent translator from Sanskrit. For fifteen years, he shared his knowledge of philosophy in Aubervilliers, then taught to preparatory classes for the Grandes Écoles (Elite schools) at the Lycée Alexandre Dumas in Saint-Cloud from 2011 to 2020. Additionally, he serves as a lecturer at the University Paris-IV Sorbonne.
Jacques Vigne
a French psychiatrist, embarked on a spiritual journey from Paris to the Himalayas. Starting his career in psychiatry in Paris and Algeria, he ventured to India with a scholarship to study yoga and Hindu philosophy. Close to his mentor Swami Vijayânanda and influenced by Mâ Anandamayî, he spent a decade studying and teaching, alternating between solitude and learning under his guide.
A prolific author with 17 books, Jacques Vigne focuses on spiritual psychology and meditation, exploring comparative mysticism and secular meditation. He advocates for an inclusive vision of secularism, respectful of religions but promoting meditation for all, highlighting its scientifically proven benefits.
As a passionate traveller, he shares his expertise through conferences and spiritual journeys across Europe, the Middle East, and China. He establishes connections between the East and the West, modern psychology and spirituality, as well as Indian wisdom practices and Christianity.
Dominique Lussan
is an ethnologist, psychologist, farmer, chemist and economist. In 2001, following her doctoral thesis, she founds Harmonic Vision, a research centre on "States of consciousness and the creation of global value."
A yoga practitioner since the age of 11 and teacher, she founded in 2015 the Adi Vajra Shakti Yoga school, where she trains teachers with the aim of reconnecting each individual with consciousness in action, by harmonising the body, movement and action as a whole. In her seminars, she offers seven paths for reintegrating the different dimensions of the human being into daily action, thereby encouraging the regeneration of the individual and planetary ecosystem. Her experimental centre, located on a 46‑hectare estate in the Cévennes, provides the perfect setting for this holistic approach.
Dr. Andreas K. Freund
studied physics at the Polytechnic School of Munich, where he graduated, before pursuing research in the field of atomic and molecular structure for his doctoral thesis. For forty years, he worked as an expert in two major European scientific institutions in Grenoble. In addition to his research work, he also studied in psychology, communication, and yoga, thus developing a multidisciplinary approach to his field of expertise.
Siddharta Sen
is a mathematical physicist with a wide range of interests that range from quantum field theory, many body physics, black hole physics to neuroscience. He is an Emeritus Fellow of Trinity College Dublin and a Member of the Royal Irish Academy. Currently he is associated as a researcher with the Centre for Nanoscience of Trinity College.
Peter Van Lierde
was trained in yoga and Vedānta in ashrams part of the Divine Life Society founded by Swami Šivananda in Rishikesh and Uttarkashi. He also studied in the United States at the ashram of Swami Satchidananda, who gave him his spiritual name Krishna. Peter Van Lierde studied the scriptures with Swami Krishnananda, Swami Brahmananda and Swami Chidananda.
Throughout his life, he remained associated with the Divine Life Society, which also has a branch in Aalst. He has long been active in charitable organisations such as the non-profit Kurukshetra, which supports leprosy clinics in North India, and built the Sivananda Seva Samhiti Hospital in Ganeshpur.
Peter teaches the Upanishads at yoga teacher training colleges and is a gifted kirtanist. He was the delegate for YFN (the Dutch-speaking Yoga Federation) at the 2023 Zinal Congress. He is a member of the Board of Directors of YFN Belgium (https://yogafederatie.be/).
Mario Shivakumar Di Grazia
a disciple of the Yoga tradition, is a renowned spiritual guide and teacher. His spiritual journey began in 1979 in India, where he deepened his understanding of Rajneesh's teachings. Over the years, he has encountered and studied with numerous spiritual masters, including J. Krishnamurti, Jean Klein, and Eckhart Tolle, among others. It was in 1989 that he met his master, Jean Klein, and had the opportunity to work closely with him as an assistant, student, and translator.
After experiencing inner freedom during spiritual retreats and meditation practices, Mario Shivakumar Di Grazia dedicated his life to transmitting the path of spiritual awakening. In 1999, he founded the Samveda Ashram in Turin, where he has been teaching for over 20 years. His teaching method is based on the principles of Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness, as well as non-dual practices inspired by Jean Klein's teachings.
As a spiritual guide and teacher, Mario Shivakumar Di Grazia organizes individual counselling sessions, classes, retreats, and meditation seminars. His holistic approach also includes professional training in holistic primary prevention and spiritual awakening, as well as counselling based on the teachings of J. Kabat-Zinn and Eckhart Tolle. His commitment to transmitting spiritual wisdom is manifested both online and in person, reaching a wide audience seeking personal growth and well-being.
Andreas Sternowski
is a German publisher who has taken on the mission of making the ideals and values of yoga and Vedānta part of the search for a sustainable and peaceful civilizational future.
Andreas Sternowski grew up in Poland, where he worked as a radio journalist after his studies at the Technical University in Gdansk. In 1990, he decided to follow a long-felt call from Western culture and moved to Germany with his wife. It was there that he discovered his first great love for German culture and language. He graduated from the Free University of Berlin with a degree in business marketing and worked for 30 years as a manager and management consultant.
In 2012, he discovered his second great love for yoga sadhana, which soon led him to the philosophy of the Vedānta and the spiritual tradition of India. During his intensive study of this tradition, he crystallised the conviction that the necessary change in the Western view of the world and of humanity cannot succeed without the ideals of the Vedānta and the values of ahimsa, or frugality, nor without the work that people do in their inner universe.
Based on this conviction, he founded Continentia Verlag, where he publishes books designed to inspire German readers to rethink their world. Andreas Sternowski also writes articles about Vedānta and Hinduism for the publisher's own blog, and (under a pseudonym) in Visionen magazine. His article "Understanding Hinduism" will soon be published in Vedānta Magazin in Berlin. He is currently working on the translation of the book Let us be God written by Swami Ashokananda.
Photo Michael Schick
Santhanu Jana
born in India, began his graduate studies in engineering at the National Institute of Technology (REC) in Rourkela in 1995. In 2002, he was invited to do joint research and master's studies at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany. In 2008, still in Germany, he transfered to the Technical University of Aachen (RWTH) to carry out advanced research into new materials and manufacturing processes. There he obtained a doctorate and took part in projects to improve the competitiveness of Europe's leading aircraft engine manufacturers and the automotive industry, as well as the European Commission. Since the beginning of 2019, he has been leading a global team of manufacturing simulation experts at a US multinational. He lives in Cologne with his family and his two children.
While living in Rourkela, Santhanu Jana associated with several swamis on visits organised by a Râmakrishna sangha, Rourkela. Among them was the Reverend Swami Gahananandaji Maharaj, from whom he received mantra initiation. Since his arrival in Germany, he has been in regular contact with several swamis of the Râmakrishna Order and is associated with the Vedantic Centre in Germany.
Michael Leboeuf – Varuna
At the age of 27, Varuna discovered Vedic spirituality while participating in a prayer group where Vedic mantras were recited. The following year, he came to know Maïtreyi Amma, who had just returned from India where she had met her spiritual master Sri Tathâta. Varuna continued to follow Maïtreyi Amma's spiritual teachings and for the Navaratri in October 2002, he travelled to India for the first time to Sri Tathâta's ashram. He received the master's initiation. Two years later, he left his job at the university to dedicate himself to spreading Sri Tathâta's teachings and to his new activity as a Vedic astrologer. He is one of the founders, with Maïtreyi Amma, of the Namaskaram ashram in the Lot region of France, which welcomed Sri Tathâta every year from 2007 to 2015. He is Tathâta Vrindham representative to the French Vedic Federation and its secretary. As a Vedic astrologer, he gives individual consultations and leads workshops and training courses. In this respect, he is a regular speaker at the Veda Dharma Foundation and the Ramakrishna Vedantic Centre's Human University.
Acaryas Yogagnana
Acaryas Yogagnana, a graduate of the Sofia Academy of Arts, is an artist and art teacher. Practicing yoga since 1983, she found an integral approach to personal development in the Satyananda-Bihar Yoga tradition. In 1993, she was initiated into Poorna Sannyasa by Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati. Teaching yoga since 1992, she helped found the Bulgarian Yoga Association (BYA) and became its president in 2022. Since 2015, she has been a member of the Yoga Vidya Council.
Acaryas Vivekamurti
Acaryas Vivekamurti, an electronics engineer graduated from the Technical University of Sofia, has been practicing yoga since 1979. He studied at the Bihar School of Yoga (BSY) in India and at the Satyananda Yoga Academies in Europe and Australia. In 1990, he co-founded the Bulgarian Yoga Federation and served on its board until 2018. In 1993, he was initiated into Poorna Sannyasa by Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati. In 1996, he founded the Bulgarian Yoga Association (BYA) and was its president until 2022, then honorary president. Since 2015, he has been a member of the Yoga Vidya Council.
Their shared journey highlights their significant contributions to the development and spread of yoga in Bulgaria and beyond.
Artists
Artistic expression will also be celebrated. Every movement of the presented dances will embody the poetry of Vedanta. The chants will resonate in the air to elevate your level of consciousness. The notes of piano music will make every cell and molecule of your subtle body vibrate.
You will discover that Vedanta can be experienced and expressed through artistic expression. These performances will offer a true opening to the teachings.
Naren et Sarada
is a European duo. Sarada is a Dutch singer, and Naren is a songwriter, singer, and guitarist.
At a very young age, they realized that music was more than just a passion; it was a way of life. Their music is a blend of rock, pop, and folk. Many of the themes addressed by the group revolve around spirituality and existential quests.
The music of Naren & Sarada is imbued with a deep love for Eastern mysticism.
Beyond their intention to spread love and joy through music, they both live in an ashram near Paris where they serve, study Vedanta philosophy, and practice yoga and meditation. All of this influences their life and their music.
Julie Oosthoek – Radha
As a contemporary dance and yoga teacher, I discovered the Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre in Gretz and Vedanta through Swami Veetamohananda in 2011. Since then, I have continually returned to this center, and my interest in this philosophy and Indian culture remains a constant source of inspiration.
This interest has allowed me to reflect on my relationship with life, my practice of yoga, and my dance. Moving from the profane to the sacred, from diversity to unity, in a dimension of expansion and complete trust.
Today, I strive to live movement and dance as a form of yoga, in a spiritual and transformative approach.
Involved in some activities at the center, I have been offering seminars titled "Living Yoga Through Dance" this year, where we explore this dance-yoga together. I also host yoga practices on Radio Gandharva Gana.
After being a professional dancer, I now teach contemporary dance, improvisation, and yoga for dancers and actors at the Bordeaux Conservatory. I also work in various structures and yoga studios around the Bordeaux area.
Deeply interested in holistic approaches and natural health, I am also a certified Bach flower counselor and trained in various aromatherapy methods. All these practices are united, all serving balance, evolution, and the consciousness of being.
Alexandra Del Sol
My name is Alexandra, I was born in Sarcelles, a city rich in cultural diversity.
I grew up in this diversity, which taught me a lot, with friends from all religious backgrounds, opening my heart and mind.
It is certainly this multicultural richness that led me to the path of Vedanta, when I first walked through the doors of the Vedanta Centre in Gretz Armainvilliers in 2017.
Vedanta teaches us that love is the only truth, a divine energy that allows us to be happy, at peace, and to live in harmony with others.
This sacred source of teaching has allowed me to deepen and better understand my spirituality, which today is expressed through meditation, yoga, karma yoga, and prayer.
Vedanta also encourages us to become the best version of ourselves, to heal our wounds and rediscover our essence, reconnecting with our soul so that we can shine again within and around us.
Thanks to Vedanta, I have fully regained the life force within me, nourished by my passion for music. I reopened the door to my childhood dreams and let music once again permeate every cell of my body.
For seven years, I have been diligently and regularly taking several Indian dance classes each week (from classical to semi-classical to Bollywood) under the teaching of Megha Jagawat, my dance and yoga teacher, who is very dear to me and a great source of inspiration in my life.
With my teacher, I learn more about Indian culture and develop confidence, joy, love, and creativity. These are exactly the aspects that Vedanta also influences.
I have also resumed writing and singing. Singing and dancing are for me the best means of expression, communication, and sharing, from soul to soul, the emotions that flow through us. It is also a way of connecting with the divine energy within us.
I am infinitely grateful to Vedanta for illuminating my life and those of all beings in search of love and light.
I also thank the Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre for offering everyone a wellspring of light and rest for our souls on earth.
I especially thank Swami Veetamohananda for guiding me on this luminous path of life, where love and sharing are the key principles.
Through my practice, I hope to convey in my own way this message of love, strength, courage, and inner peace.
Johann Grangereau
"I didn't play the piano for many years. Then, practicing yoga and studying Vedanta and the Bhagavad Gita brought a new light to my musical practice. An opening.
As a result, the pleasure of playing 'without sheet music' gradually opened up the unknown space of composition. That's what I do now."
Nilanjana Roy
'La Minute Hindi' on Radio Gandharva Gana is a show that elegantly blends Hindi music and Vedantic philosophy, offering listeners a unique experience that is both educational and spiritually enriching.
Each episode of 'La Minute Hindi' focuses on a specific Hindi song, breaking down its lyrics, musical elements, and cultural significance. Nilanjana translates and explains key phrases, helping listeners understand the deep meaning and emotions conveyed by the music. This linguistic insight is essential for anyone learning Hindi or interested in Indian culture.
To experience this journey live, join us at the Vedantic Center for the first European Vedanta Summit."
Nilanjana Roy
Welcome to FoodieMoodie Roy, where culinary art meets the profound wisdom of Vedanta. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Strategic Marketing Management, I'm doing an internship in Paris. I bring a unique blend of academic excellence and spiritual insight to my time in the ashram kitchen as well as to my cooking channel www.youtube.com/@FoodiemoodieRoy and my Instagram page. My journey through culinary arts began in an ashram, the Ramakrishna Vedantic Center, where I learned that cooking is not just about creating delicious meals but also about nourishing the soul.
Prema
was initiated into Vedanta by Swami Veetamohananda (president of the CVR from 1995 to 2019). She lives next door to the Centre and will be delighted to guide you around these two landmarks of French heritage and spirit.
Translators
Simultaneous translation services will be available throughout the event. Translations will be provided from French to English and from English to French, allowing all participants to follow discussions and presentations in their preferred language.
Andrée Fortin-Aditi
discovered the Gretz ashram in 2018 during a meditation weekend. She completed the curriculum at the Institute for Research and Practice of Vedic Yoga and graduated in 2023. Every day, she thanks the heavens for having led her to discover this place and the teachings offered there.
Bill Walker
although born American, has lived on "the old continent" for a long time. In February 1973, he was initiated into Transcendental Meditation (TM), becoming a TM teacher in October 1976. He then continued his studies at Maharishi International University in Fairfield, USA, where he obtained his degree in August 1980. From then until the fall of 2011, Bill started a family and pursued a career as an operator in the oil trading industry in Switzerland. Over the next five years, Bill focused on honing his counseling skills while offering his services as a translator/interpreter to associations with spiritual purposes. For the past two years, he has dedicated most of his time to assisting Steven Rudolph (an American educator) in teaching and spreading his concept of Multiple Natures (MN) throughout France.
Lynne Burney
is a certified yoga teacher accredited by the French Federation of Hatha Yoga. For the past twenty years, she has been leading small groups of "soul explorers" at the Gretz ashram. She sees this endeavor as an opportunity for each individual to refine their psycho-physical instrument so that they are better equipped to make their rightful contribution to their surroundings.
Emilie Piette
I started attending the Center in 2017, taking Martine Texier-Paramesvari's maternity yoga training. Later, I met Swami Atmarupananda, whose teachings enlighten and nourish me. I regularly participate in seminars on the sacred science of Vedanta.
Nathalie Pavlowsky
is an explorer in body and visual art, a Yoga teacher, and a mediator in art therapy-dance and voice. She lived in Quebec for 15 years before returning to France, where she develops multidisciplinary creation workshops. A self-taught student of spirituality, she journeys through the mystery of faith and the multiple manifestations of the divine at the heart of life through Christian faith and Yoga.
Tours
The excursions on the program will enrich your experience of Vedanta by combining cultural discovery with spiritual and philosophical exploration.
We offer two excursions: the treasures of Provins and Vaux le Vicomte, remarkable heritage sites. You will be able to enjoy guided tours, organized by the center, of picturesque places around Gretz, thus adding a cultural dimension to your stay.
These visits are not just tourist excursions; they are an integral part of the Summit experience. The philosophy of Vedanta teaches us to see unity in diversity, to find harmony in the world around us. By visiting these sites, we contemplate human beauty and creativity, reflecting the fundamental unity of existence. These moments of discovery are opportunities to meditate on the interconnectedness of all things, to perceive this unity in diversity in situ.
A bus will be provided for the visits.
Meals
Fruit of solar energy stimulated by the Infinite, food provides joy and energy to the body and mind. Cooking and meals can also be prayer or meditation. Our meals are vegetarian without alcohol, blending flavors from both the Eastern and Western worlds. Picnicking is not allowed.
A word from the chef!
Get ready to savor a culinary delight! My culinary journey began at the Ramakrishna Vedantic Center, where I learned that cooking nourishes not only the body but also the soul. Our dish of freshly roasted vegetables with aromatic spices and fresh herbs is an explosion of balanced flavors in textures and tastes. Our exquisite desserts include a creamy vanilla sponge cake and a fresh fruit tart on a buttery crust, designed to delight your senses. To experience this culinary journey, join us at the Vedantic Center for the first European Vedanta Summit.
Nilanjana Roy from the Ramakrishna Vedantic Center
Accommodation
During these 4 days, it will be possible for you to stay at the center from Wednesday, August 7th, 2:00 PM, to Sunday, August 11th, 5:00 PM, on a full board basis (3 meals a day).
Residing within the center will allow you to fully experience the Summit. That's why we have prepared a range of accommodation options to meet your needs and preferences to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. You will have the choice between double, quadruple, or quintuple rooms at the center, 6-person tipis, camping (tent, van, motorhome...), and 4-person bungalows.
Photos non contractuelles. For any additional information:
If you wish to stay outside the center, or if the center is fully booked, a list of various accommodations is available within a 15 km radius of the Ramakrishna Vedantic Center: click here
How to join us?
To reach us, you can use various means of transportation.
The center is easily accessible by car and by RER E.
In the document below, you will find all the options whether you are coming from the regions, abroad, or from Paris, including carpooling.
For all practical information, please download the attached PDF: click here
Cancellation
• If the event is canceled by us, you will receive a full refund of the amount paid.
• In case of written cancellation on your part (cancellation not possible by phone):
- 2 weeks before the start of the Summit, a flat fee of €20 for administrative costs will be retained, the remainder will be refunded to you.
- Less than 2 weeks before the start of the Summit, the deposit will be retained by the Ramakrishna Vedantic Center.
All cancellation requests will be processed within the month following your cancellation.