Intensive Vedanta Retreat met Andre Vas van 5 tot 12 juli 2026
The 8-day Intensive Vedanta Retreat is held at the Vlierhof, an eco-community where there is plenty of accommodation. In the large seminar house next to the farm are an attractive group room, a dining room, a relaxation lounge and there are twelve bedrooms for 1 or 2 persons. There is also a large and beautifully situated camping area with good facilities. Meals are provided by the Vlierhof cooks, using vegetables from their own garden. Or you can cook your own pot if you are camping.
Information about the Vlierhof: www.vlierhof.org
Address Vlierhof: Klever Strasse. 115 47533 Kleve, Germany
For questions about the accommodation, please contact the Vlierhof: groepen@vlierhof.org
Videos of the Vedanta Summer Week in 2025 (Mundaka Upanishad and Bhagavad Gita) can be found here.
Practical
The seminar is from July 5 to 12, 2026. Arrival is at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon and departure is also at 2 p.m. on Sunday. There are 4 sessions each day.
The registration fee is €100, intended to pay for the rent of the seminar room and the organization costs. You pay the costs of the overnight stays and meals at the Vlierhof.
The accommodation cost for the entire week is €575 for sleeping in a double room. There is a surcharge of €35 for a single room. If you come with your own tent you pay €480 (or €130 if you provide your own meals). If you come with your camper you pay €40 extra.
Look here for accommodation options at the Vlierhof. The registration form can be found here.
Additional accommodation can be found in a nearby (walking distance) vacation home, the Fristerhof. There are 5 bedrooms there for 1 or 2 persons. The cost is the same as above when you eat at the Vlierhof. You can also prepare your own meals in the Fristerhof. The costs are then €260 for 1 person or €440 for 2 people in a room.
There is no charge for the Vedanta education itself, as the knowledge of Vedanta is priceless. In the tradition of Vedanta it is customary to show your gratitude for the teaching. Every donation, small or large, is greatly appreciated. This can be done after the seminar on the website of Andre Vas with a payment button.
For those with low income, a 20% reduction is available on the price of room and meals.
About Andre Vas
Andre lives in Australia and says the following about himself: “Shortly after I reached financial freedom in my mid-twenties, I felt uneasy about the impermanence of financial security, friendship, the world around me and self-help. ” How can more of all this make a difference and for whom?” became the spontaneous protest of the spirit. The nature of the questions eventually shifted to the topic of “I”, who or what am I really?
An inner urge brought me to Arunachala in India to pay homage to Ramana Maharshi. Nearby was a 25-day seminar in which the essence of the Bhagavad Gita was explained by James Swartz. Upon completion of that program, I spent the next year self-examining in the light of Vedanta teachings. I had no proof that Vedanta was better than alternative methods. But the understanding of the glorious intelligence that connects you and me, that guides us even now, the essence of all that is, grew firmly and clearly. This vision was further refined by brilliant courses at the Chinmaya International Foundation (Kerala, India) for the next 2 years. At the same time, I met Neema Majmudar (student of Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Arsha Vidya) in Rishikesh. Her style further clarified the direct meaning of Advaita Vedanta. In addition to teaching Vedic wisdom and Sanskrit, which I studied for 2 years at the Australian National University, I research areas of biological sciences and cosmology in my spare time.”
Website: www.yesvedanta.com
Youtube channel: youtube.com/c/YesVedanta
Subject matter 7-day Intensive Vedanta Retreat
Mundaka Upanishad & Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 16
You will share the retreat with a small group of people who, like you, are interested in learning more about yourself. This retreat in a natural environment offers a unique opportunity to gain new perspectives, cultivate inner peace, and change your outlook on life.
The program consists of studying the following texts:
1. The Mundaka Upanishad is often praised for its brilliant and comprehensive exploration of spiritual teachings. It opens with a deeply meaningful dialogue between a curious student, Shaunaka, and a wise teacher, Angiras. Here Shaunaka asks a profound question: “Is there anything by which everything else becomes known?” 
Angiras answers this with a resounding yes. He explains that there is indeed one fundamental reality, the actual cause of this universe, which, once understood, reveals the essence of everything.
The text makes an important distinction between two types of knowledge. There is apara vidya, the lower knowledge that relates to the material and empirical world. And there is para vidya, the higher knowledge that reveals the ultimate truth of existence.
Moreover, one of the most imaginative metaphors in the text is that of two birds sitting on the same tree. One bird tastes the fruit of the tree and tastes both the sweetness and bitterness that life offers. The other bird, however, observes simply, calmly, objectively and unfazed. Through this imagery, the Mundakopanishad gently reminds us of our dual nature: the self that is entangled in worldly experiences and the self that is the pure, unchanging witness: Bhagavad Gita, CH16 (Wise Qualities)
2. Chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Gita gives us a clear overview of qualities that promote or hinder spiritual growth. Krishna sets divine virtues (daivi-sampat) against demonic tendencies (asuri-sampat) to help us recognize what we need to improve in ourselves. 
The chapter shows how we can refine four key areas: our physical and emotional health, our actions, how we deal with the ups and downs of life, and our spiritual practice. Through qualities such as fearlessness, mental purity and truthfulness, we create a mind that is ready for self-knowledge. Krishna warns against traits such as vanity, anger, and greed—the “gates to hell”—while reminding us that consistent thinking based on inner wisdom leads to a successful, meaningful life.
Andre Vas guides us systematically and carefully through the texts so that our understanding is in line with what is meant to convey. The lessons are based on Swami Dayananda’s and Swami Chinmaya’s lineage.
There are 4 sessions per day (2 in the morning, 1 in the afternoon and evening) of 1 hour each, to integrate wisdom more deeply in the midst of like-minded friends.
Download Mundaka Upanishad PDF
Download Bhagavad Gita, CH16 PDF
