Join us for a soul-nourishing 90-minute workshop designed to help you transcend the thinking mind and experience the blissful state of pure being. Through a blend of meditation, devotion, and kirtan, we’ll cultivate presence, heart-centered awareness, and deep inner stillness.

Who is this for?
Open to yogis, chanters, meditators, and anyone drawn to the path of inner exploration and devotional practice.

Why Attend?

• Experience the transformative power of chanting and meditation in community
• Deepen your spiritual journey toward expanded consciousness and bliss
• Immerse yourself in embodied devotion rooted in direct experience
• Learn and practice various meditation techniques, including:
  • Shamatha (calm abiding)
  • Anapana (mindful breathing)
  • Vipassana (insight meditation)
  • Benefactor practice (cultivating loving-kindness and gratitude)

Come as you are, and leave renewed, centered, and uplifted. Transcend: A 90-Minute Journey into Meditation, Devotion & Kirtan

Tickets: Sliding Scale $25-$35

Facilitator Bios:

Tara Porter is a classically trained violinist and violist based in San Diego. She was a member of the Buffalo Suzuki Strings Friendship Touring Ensemble from 2013-2017 and traveled with them on tour to South Africa in 2015. She is currently an active member of the UCSD chamber music program, performing regularly in string quartets and small chamber ensembles in addition to pursuing her PhD in medical devices. Beyond classical music, Tara deeply enjoys meditation and devotional music.

Ashok has been meditating for twenty-five years. He was trained at the Vipassana Meditation Center in Chicago and by many spiritual leaders including Lama Blythe Baker, Ph.D. and Lama Liz Monson, Ph.D. from Harvard Divinity School, Lama Samten, Lama John Markansky, Venerable Khenmo Drolma, and Swami Tyagananda. He graduated in a two-year Margha Program studying with Lama Blythe Baker, Ph.D. The Margha Program trains students thoroughly and deeply in a variety of meditative practices. He has guided meditation at Bhakti Fest, Lovelight Festival, Maine Yoga Fest, and in yoga classes. He is a student of Self Realization Fellowship. He enjoys his daily meditation. He founded Sadhana, a meditation center. He has published articles on meditation in the Portland Press Herald and in Inner Tapestry.

Ashok has given talks at primary schools, universities, national festivals, national conferences, and churches on various topics. He founded Swan Kirtan, in which he plays harmonium and leads devotional chanting (Kirtan). He has served as the Master of Ceremonies at Bhakti Fest of California, Boston Yoga Chant Fest, Omega Ecstatic Chant of New York, Denver Chant Fest, and Devotion Fest. He hosted Chant for India, a benefit concert during the Covid-19 pandemic with Jai Uttal, Snatam Kaur, Krishna Das, Deva Premal, and Mitten. Five thousand people from around the world attended this online event.