
Vyasa Vedanta
Sedona, Arizona
July 31-August 3, 2025An Invitation from Thom
Jai Guru Deva.
Some 5,000 years ago, one of the great masters of our tradition, a Rishi by the name of Vyasa, produced a compendium on the subject of Unity Consciousness.
Unity Consciousness is the state of consciousness of ultimate realization that one’s own deep inner Self, that field of Pure Consciousness, which is the Unified Field itself, is also the baseline reality of all that is perceptible and conceivable.
There is One indivisible whole consciousness field, and one oneself is that. There is nothing excluded from that in Unity Consciousness. The Knower inside finds himself or herself extended through all of space-time, into all objects, all forms, all phenomena. There is nothing other than Self.
Enlivening this consciousness state offers an immeasurable advantage, not the least of which is the ability to experience from within another.
In Unity Consciousness, one experiences true empathy, as the word itself is properly defined: the ability to know how to behave with reference to the genuine need of the time, without any guesswork.
The subject of much discussion and philosophical debate has been: Is there Oneness appearing as many, or is there just Oneness, and it doesn’t have any appearances?
Vyasa taught Brahma Sutras as a means to elucidate and awaken the principles of non-duality, that there is indeed only one indivisible wholeness, and to solve the evident problem of it appearing as many. Through his cognitions, one closes the gap and moves closer to Unity through direct experience of the teachings and sutras.
“Brahman” means Totality Consciousness.
“Sutras” means aphorisms.
It’s time we come together as a community to explore Unity Consciousness in depth and make this understanding a practical framework from which to experience the greatest expression of Unity in the dynamic times in which we find ourselves.
Our course will be called Vyasa Vedanta, Vyasa being the name of the great master of our tradition, who is also my spiritual namesake. Vyasanand means “the bliss of Vyasa,” and a name I was given for my mastery over the subject of Vyasa’s cognitions.
Veda means “knowledge” or “truth.”
Anta is where we get our English word “end,” meaning the final conclusion.
In our course, I will bring you to the real core of what could be a lifetime of learning and get to the core principles of Vyasa’s teaching about the value of Unity Consciousness:
- What is the sequence of the Absolute moving from its unmanifest state in the process of manifesting?
- What is the process of being, becoming, and then into the very manifest, the object world, the forms, the phenomena, the multiplicity, the variability of the world around us?
- How does one directly experience Oneness and wholeness on the move?
- How do we use this understanding to experience life as a moving One, indivisible whole, an ocean of consciousness in motion?
Vedanta is the most beautiful and highest product of Vedic knowledge ever brought to light. It is, in fact, the pinnacle of the Supreme Knowledge that was given to me by my master, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and I want to share it with the world of meditators.
This course is designed to go straight to the core of this knowledge.
Prerequisites and Course Outline
We are making a narrow gateway of entry into the course. I will require participants to have completed the following:
- Exploring the Veda, Parts 1-6
- Mastering the Siddhis, Parts 1-6
These prerequisites will ensure that we do not have questions of an intermediate or beginner nature interrupting our favoring of the highest knowledge that the great masters of our Tradition brought to light.
All of this will be covered over a three-night, four-day retreat in Sedona, Arizona.
There will be ample time for direct experience, ample time for theoretical and conceptual delineation of the knowledge, and for your questions and my answers on the entire subject of the ultimate Vedic teaching of Vedanta.
For those who have attended a previous course on Vyasa Vedanta, I will bring over a decade more of experience and wisdom that I did not yet possess when the last course was held. This will be a new depth of knowledge and experience integrated into our exploration.
I look forward to seeing you in Sedona this July for this pivotal and groundbreaking course.
Jai Guru Deva
Love,
Shri 1008 Mahamandaleshwar Maharishi Vyasanand Giri Maharaj

About Our Retreat Location
Mago Retreat Center is a healing campus located among the majestic Red Rocks of Sedona.
Stillness in Nature
173 acres of sprawling retreat space
Walks on tree-lined paths
Shaded gazebos on the Red Rocks for rounding and relaxation
Serene lake and outdoor pool
Accommodation and Meals
Climate controlled casitas
Comfortable full beds and private or semi-private baths
Farm-to-table fare sourced from local farms
Spacious indoor and outdoor dining areas
Sustainability
Certified sustainable center
Composted meals
Recycled wastewater
Reduced carbon footprint
Minimalist accommodations

Getting to Sedona and Planning Your Travel
Complimentary airport transfers to and from the retreat center are included in your course fee.
Arrivals
We recommend booking a flight that arrives at Phoenix Airport (PHX) no later than 11:30 am to match our first-day schedule.
First Day Schedule – Thursday, July 31, 2025
11:00 am – 1:30 pm Airport Arrivals and Shuttle Transportation
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Check-In
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm: Group Long Program
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Dinner
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm: Opening Lecture
Departures
Please book a flight out of Phoenix Airport no earlier than 3:45 pm.
Last Day Schedule – Sunday, August 1, 2025
6:00 am – 8:00 am: Group Long Program
8:00 am – 9:00 am: Breakfast
9:00 am – 11:00 am: Closing Lecture
11:00 am: Farewells and Checkout
Once you have registered for Vyasa Vedanta, we will send you a link to book your airport transfers to Sedona Mago.

Room Types & Course Fees
All room types at Sedona Mago feature climate control and a minimalist and comfortable aesthetic.
Single occupancy ROOM
USD $3,400
- Climate-controlled private room
- Full-sized bed, private bath
DOUBLE occupancy ROOM
USD $2,900
- Climate-controlled shared room
- Full-sized bed, shared bath
Included in your experience:
- Vyasa Vedanta Advanced Knowledge Course
- Twice-daily group long programs
- Room & Board at Sedona Mago Retreat Center
- Round-trip airport transfers from Phoenix Airport
- Farm-to-table vegetarian, Ayurvedic meals
- Full use of Sedona Mago facilities
NOT Included in your experience:
- Flights to and from Phoenix Airport
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)

Frequently Asked Questions
Who can attend Vyasa Vedanta? What are the prerequisites?
We are making a narrow gateway of entry into the course. We will require participants to have completed:
– Exploring the Veda, Parts 1-6, as taught by Thom Knoles
– Mastering the Siddhis, Parts 1-6, as taught by Thom Knoles
These prerequisites will ensure that we do not have questions of an intermediate or beginner nature interrupting our favoring of the highest knowledge that the great masters of our Tradition brought to light.
I’ve taken a similar Vedic Knowledge course from another teacher. Does that satisfy the prerequisite for Vyasa Vedanta?
Courses other than Exploring the Veda, Parts 1-6, as taught by Thom Knoles, and Mastering the Siddhis, Parts 1-6, as taught by Thom Knoles, will not satisfy the prerequisite for Vyasa Vedanta.
What time does the retreat start and end?
Our retreat schedule for the first day and last day together is as follows:
First Day Schedule – Thursday, July 31, 2025
11:00 am – 1:30 pm: Airport Arrivals and Shuttle Transportation
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Check-In
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm: Group Long Program
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Dinner
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm: Opening Lecture
Last Day Schedule – Sunday, August 1, 2025
6:00 am – 8:00 am: Group Long Program
8:00 am – 9:00 am: Breakfast
9:00 am – 11:00 am: Closing Lecture
11:00 am: Farewells and Checkout
It would be best to book a flight that arrives by 11:30 am on the first day and departs between 3:30 pm and 6 pm on the last day.
Do you cater to dietary restrictions?
Our Rounding Retreat will feature gourmet farm-to-table, vegetarian meals prepared onsite. Many of the vegetables are grown in the organic gardens at Sedona Mago. There will be gluten-free and dairy-free options at every meal; please let us know if you have any additional restrictions, preferences, or allergies.
I’ve taken the 2015 Vyasa Vedanta Course. Will this course be different?
From Thom: “For those who have attended a previous course on Vyasa Vedanta, I will bring over a decade more of experience and wisdom that I did not yet possess when the last course was held. This will be a new depth of knowledge and experience integrated into our exploration.”
Do you offer discounts for Initiators?
There’s one standard price for this course, which is the same for both Initiators and non-Initiators.
Register now
Complete your registration to secure your spot.