Prabhuji

Prabhuji is a faithful official member of Hinduism, as well as a ‎universalist advaita mystic. He combines his deep religious commitment ‎with a remarkable artistic work as a writer and abstract painter. He is ‎recognized by his line of disciplic succession as a realized master. As an ‎avadhūta, a title conferred upon him in recognition of his state of ‎realization, he has developed the Retroprogressive Path, an original ‎contribution rooted in the inclusive principles of sanātana-dharma (the ‎Hindu religion).‎

His solid training includes a doctorate in Vaiṣṇava philosophy, ‎awarded by the prestigious Jiva Institute of Vedic Studies in Vrindavan, ‎India, and a doctorate in Yogic philosophy earned at Yoga-‎Samskrutham University. These doctorates reaffirm his commitment to ‎traditional teachings and his connection to the spiritual roots of the ‎Hindu religion.‎

In 2011, with the blessings of his Gurudeva, he adopted the path of a ‎secluded bhajanānandī and withdrew from society to lead the ‎contemplative life of a hermit. Since then, his days have been spent in ‎solitude, praying, writing, painting, and meditating in silence and ‎contemplation.‎

Prabhuji is the sole disciple of H.D.G. Avadhūta Śrī Brahmānanda ‎Bābājī Mahārāja, who in turn is one of the closest and most intimate ‎disciples of H.D.G. Avadhūta Śrī Mastarāma Bābājī Mahārāja.‎

Prabhuji was appointed as the successor of the lineage by his master, ‎who conferred upon him the responsibility of continuing the sacred ‎paramparā of avadhūtas, officially appointing him as guru and ordering ‎him to serve as Ācārya successor. Prabhuji is also a disciple of H.D.G. ‎Bhakti-kavi Atulānanda Ācārya Mahārāja, who is a direct disciple of ‎H.D.G. A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda. ‎

Prabhuji’s Hinduism is so broad, universal, and pluralistic that at ‎times, while living up to his title of avadhūta, his lively and fresh teachings ‎transcend the boundaries of all philosophies and religions, even his own. ‎His teachings promote critical thinking and lead us to question ‎statements that are usually accepted as true. They do not defend ‎absolute truths but invite us to evaluate and question our own ‎convictions. The essence of his syncretic vision, the Retroprogressive ‎Path, is self-awareness and the recognition of consciousness. For him, ‎awakening at the level of consciousness, or the transcendence of the ‎egoic phenomenon, is the next step in humanity’s evolution.‎

Prabhuji was born on March 21, 1958, in Santiago, the capital of the ‎Republic of Chile. When he was eight years old, he had a mystical ‎experience that motivated his search for the Truth, or the Ultimate ‎Reality. This transformed his life into an authentic inner and outer ‎pilgrimage. He has completely devoted his life to deepening the early ‎transformative experience that marked the beginning of his process of ‎retroevolution. He has dedicated more than fifty years to the exploration ‎and practice of different religions, philosophies, paths of liberation, and ‎spiritual disciplines. He has absorbed the teachings of great masters, ‎shamans, priests, machis, shifus, roshis, shaykhs, daoshis, yogis, pastors, ‎swamis, rabbis, kabbalists, monks, gurus, philosophers, sages, and saints ‎whom he personally visited during his years of searching. He has lived in ‎many places and traveled the world thirsting for Truth.‎

Prabhuji is a recognized authority on Eastern wisdom. He is known ‎for his erudition on the Vaidika and Tāntrika aspects of Hinduism and all ‎branches of yoga (jñāna, karma, bhakti, haṭha, rāja, kuṇḍalinī, tantra, mantra, ‎and others). He has an inclusive attitude toward all religions and is ‎intimately familiar with Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Sufism, ‎Taoism, Sikhism, Jainism, Shintoism, Bahaism, Shamanism, and the ‎Mapuche religion, among others. ‎

His curiosity for Western thought led him to venture into the field of ‎philosophy in all its different branches. ‎

His profound studies, his masters’ blessings, his research into the ‎sacred scriptures, and his vast teaching experience have earned him ‎international recognition in the field of religion and spirituality.‎

Prabhuji’s spiritual quest led him to study with masters of diverse ‎traditions and to travel far from his native Chile to places as distant as ‎Israel, India, and the USA. ‎

Prabhuji has been honored with various titles and diplomas by many ‎leaders of prestigious religious and spiritual institutions in India and ‎dedicated more than forty years to studying hatha yoga with prestigious ‎masters of classical and traditional yoga. ‎

Retroprogressive Yoga is the result of Prabhuji’s efforts to improve his ‎practice and teaching methods. It is a system based especially on the ‎teachings of his gurus and the sacred scriptures. Prabhuji has ‎systematized various traditional yoga techniques to create a ‎methodology suitable for Western audiences. Retroprogressive Yoga ‎aspires to the experience of our authentic nature. ‎

Prabhuji visited the United States in 2000 and during his stay in New ‎York, he realized that it was the most appropriate place to found a ‎religious organization. He was particularly attracted by the pluralism ‎and respectful attitude of American society toward freedom of religion. ‎He was impressed by the deep respect of both the public and the ‎government for religious minorities. After consulting his masters and ‎requesting their blessings, Prabhuji relocated to the United States. In ‎‎2003, the Prabhuji Mission was born, a Hindu church aimed at ‎preserving Prabhuji’s universal and pluralistic vision of Hinduism and his ‎Retroprogressive Path.‎

Although he did not seek to attract followers, for 15 years (1995–‎‎2010), Prabhuji considered the requests of a few people who approached ‎him asking to become his monastic disciples. Those who chose to see ‎Prabhuji as their spiritual master voluntarily accepted vows of poverty ‎and life-long dedication to spiritual practice (sadhāna), religious devotion ‎‎(bhakti), and selfless service (seva). Although Prabhuji no longer accepts ‎new disciples, he continues to guide the small group of monastic disciples ‎of the contemplative Ramakrishnananda Monastic Order that he ‎founded. ‎

According to Prabhuji, the quest for the ‎Self is individual, solitary, ‎personal, ‎private, and intimate. It is not a collective ‎endeavor to be ‎undertaken through ‎organized, institutional, or communitarian ‎‎religiosity. Since 2011, Prabhuji has ‎disagreed with spirituality practiced ‎in a ‎social, communal, or collective manner. ‎Therefore, he does not ‎proselytize or preach, ‎nor does he try to persuade, convince, or ‎make ‎anyone change their perspective, ‎philosophy, or religion.‎ His message ‎does not promote collective spirituality, but individual inner search.‎

In 2011, Prabhuji founded the Avadhutashram (monastery) in the ‎Catskills Mountains in upstate New York, USA. ‎

In 2022, Prabhuji founded the Retroprogressive Institute. Here, his ‎most senior disciples can systematically share his teachings and message ‎through video conferences. The institute offers support and help for a ‎deeper understanding of Prabhuji’s teachings.‎