Goal of the competition: Creative, artistic, or analytical disclosure of the idea of Refuge (Sharana) in the context of the teachings of Advaita Vedanta, Kashmir Shaivism, and personal spiritual experience.

This can be a story about searching for, finding, losing, or doubting the Refuge, or a reflection on its nature and transformative power.

“For the wanderer in this world, there must be an island of peace, a haven of tranquility. Such a haven is the knowledge of the Atman.”

Nominations and Themes

We invite you to express your understanding through five directions. Choose the one that resonates with your heart.

1. Spiritual Fiction

(Real stories, parables, essays, autobiographical prose, confession of the heart)

• Focus: Personal experience, emotional depth, psychology, recognizable life situations.
• Example themes:

1. “My First Step into Refuge” (a story about how the teaching became a support during a crisis).
2. “The Guru as a Living Refuge” (a tale of a meeting, a dialogue, a moment of transmission of knowledge).
3. “Refuge Within: How I Found Peace in Self-Awareness.”
4. “Refuge Beyond Walls: A Story of How an Ashram or Community Became a Spiritual Home.”
5. “When the Refuge is Silent” (on periods of doubt, the “night of the soul,” and faith).

2. Spiritual Science Fiction

(Sci-fi with a spiritual core)

• Focus: Technology, the future, other worlds, and space as a backdrop for exploring spiritual laws. Refuge can be a concept, a technology, or a state of consciousness.
• Example themes:
  1. “The Absolute Code: Refuge as a Program Erasing the Illusion of the Ego in Digital Consciousness.”
  2. “The Starship ‘Advaita’: Humanity’s Last Refuge is Not a Planet, but a State of Unity.”
  3. “The Chronicles of Sharana: Explorers Find a Guru-Planet in the Universe Radiating Knowledge.”
  4. “When AI Finds Refuge in the Atman”: Ethics, consciousness, the nature of the “I.”

3. Spiritual Fantasy

(Fantasy with elements of mythology, magic, archetypes)

• Focus: Myth, symbol, archetype, quest-journey, the battle of light and dark forces within and without.
• Example themes:

1. “The Wanderer and the Guardian of the Threshold: A Story of Finding Refuge in the Heart of Darkness.”
2. “The Song of Sat-Chit-Ananda: A Magical Artifact Leading to the True Refuge.”
3. “The Abode of Silence: A Legend of an Ashram Outside of Time, Accessible Only by Renouncing the Self.”
4. “Battle with the Vritti-Dragon: A Warrior Finds Refuge Not in the Sword, but in the State of the Witness.”

4. Spiritual Research Work

(Essay, article, analytics)

• Focus: Intellectual and philosophical research. Yoga. Rigor, reliance on sources (texts of Swami Vishnudevananda Giri, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita).
• Example themes:

1. “The Triad of Refuge (Guru-Vidya-Mantra): In the Tradition of Shankara and Swami Vishnudevananda Giri.”
2. “‘Sarvam Eva Brahman’ – How the Assertion ‘All is Brahman’ Becomes the Absolute Refuge of the Jnani.”
3. “Psychological and spiritual aspects of the concept of Sharanagati (complete self-surrender).”
4. “Comparative Analysis: Refuge in Buddhism (Triratna) and in Advaita Vedanta.”

5. Spiritual Poetry

(Lyrical meditation, hymn, prayer, dialogue or monologue, poetic parable)

• Focus: Poetry as prayer, as a direct experience of Truth that goes beyond logic. Verses where rhythm, image, and the silence between lines speak of the Refuge louder than any words.
• Themes for inspiration:

1. · Basic (for initial immersion):
   · “Silence Between Thoughts”
   · “Awakening at Dawn”
   · “Light in the Depths of the Heart”
   · “The Presence That is Always With You”
2. · Advanced (through the prism of the teachings):
   · “The Dance of Maya and the Silence of Brahman”
   · “Hymn to the Non-Doer (Akarta)”
   · “Non-duality: The Ultimate Refuge”
   · “Reflection of the Moon in the Waves of the Mind (Chitta-vritti)”
3. · Bold and Imaginative:
   · “I Am the Space in Which Birds of Thought Fly”
   · “The Sannyasin’s Song: My Home is the Entire Universe”
   · “Listening to Anahata-nada (the Inner Sound)”
   · “A Letter from the Ashram of the Soul”‌

Evaluation Criteria

1. Depth of theme disclosure and understanding of the teachings (Key criterion).
2. Sincerity and personal experience (The value of living testimony).
3. Literary craftsmanship (Imagery, style, grammar).
4. Originality of idea and form.
5. Inspirational potential (The ability of the text to touch the heart).

Timeline and Awards

Questions and Answers

1. Who can participate?

The competition is open to all students of Master Swami Vishnudevananda Giri (from the "Refuge" creed).

2. Can I participate in multiple nominations?

Yes, you can submit works to several nominations if they meet the requirements.

3. Who will be the judges?

A three-stage evaluation of the entries is planned:

1. Primary Selection by the Organizing Committee (Checking works for compliance with formal requirements and the competition theme).
2. Expertise by the Council of Senior Students (Sangha) (In-depth evaluation of the disclosure of the theme, sincerity, and alignment with the spirit of the teaching).
3. Final Decision by Gurudev (Works that pass the previous stages will be presented for final consideration and blessing by Swami Vishnudevananda Giri or an authorized sannyasin appointed by Him.).

4. Where will the competition works be published?

The publication of the works will take place in a dedicated thread of our Sattvic Book Club on Telegram. Subscribe to the channel

The publication schedule will be announced later in the club's announcements.
Subscribe so you don't miss out!

5. When will the competition results be announced?

The results will be published on the website and on social media after the final tally.

6. What prizes await the winners?

The main prize is your sincere response to the "Refuge" theme and the spiritual work performed during the writing process.
Specific awards for the best authors will be lovingly prepared and announced later — stay tuned for updates on our Telegram channel!

 Submit an application

Your participation is a valuable contribution to the common field of the Sangha!