The Direct Path of Kashmir Śaivism
The Vajra Way
In these three classes we will examine The Vajra Way. Vajra Marga in Sanskrit means “Lightning-Bolt Path,” which describes a specific branch of Śakta-Śaiva Non-Dual Tantra (popularly known as Kashmir Shaivism) that is a non-progressive “path” to realizing one’s Nature.
In the Vajra Way emphasis is placed on directly entering the inherent state of your self-perfected True Nature, your Natural Presence. It is a radical view of spirituality that says… “Since its impossible to get anywhere by halves – I should just directly jump into my ultimate Essence.” This way of being views avoidance, control and transformational ways of practice as laborious, and in the end not striking the vital point, which is to instantly reveal your already present Essential Nature and to abide in uninterrupted Natural Presence.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
In these classes we’ll examine and discuss some of the relevant supporting verses from the cannon of Śaivism and go over clear “pointing out” instructions from the Oral-Practice Tradition. All of the content covered in this course will give a better understanding of the Vajra Way or the “No-Path Path” and more confidence for Direct Meditation practice and integration.
This course is for those who are interested in exploring, or are already practicing, Direct Realization meditation from Daoism, Dzogchen or Śaivism.
DETAILS
Dates:
Feb 7, March 7 & Apr 4 (2026)
Time:
Saturdays, 9am-12pm (Maine, USA Time)
* Recordings will be available in our community platform if you are unable to attend live.
COURSE FEE
$236 / 3 classes (9 hours total)
About the Teacher
Dharma Bodhi (Kol Martens)
Dharma Bodhi began practicing yoga at seven years of age. In his teens he moved into practices of Chan Buddhism and Daoism received through his Chinese martial arts teachers in New York. After completing his chiropractic degree he studied in an Oral-Practice Tradition of Non-Dual Śaiva Tantra, taking initiation into one of the Daśnami Orders of practice from India. In 1996 he complete ācārya training under his Śaiva gurus. This training emphasized traditional Kundalinī Hatha Yoga and a progressive system of Meditation, along supportive studies in ritual/pūjā and yoga texts. Since graduating as a Śaiva ācārya, he took refuge with a great master of Bönpo Dzogchen meditation, and studied with him by taking multiple trips per year to his monastery in India for a period of 8 years. He studies both Dzogchen meditation & yoga (trul khor), and Dzogchen preliminary and advanced texts. Both his Śaiva and Dzogchen masters gave him the task of teaching these systems stripped of the unnecessary aspects of the cultures and languages they are found in. His Dzogchen master also gave him the task of translating two Tibetan texts. One of which is finished and the other is in process. He now lives with his wife, Sahaja Dakinī, and their two children in rural Maine, USA. He is developing a practice hermitage in the wilderness of Maine and a European teaching center on the border of Italy and Switzerland.
