Experience an evening of darshan
“When you come for darshan and I look at your soul in that moment, what I see is your Self, your true Self. And what I see is the beauty of what you carry within you. That is what I want you to see, and that is what I want you to realise for yourself.”
– Paramahamsa Vishwananda
Darshan means the auspicious sight of a holy being, understood as a mutual exchange: one comes to see, and is seen in return. Darshan with Paramahamsa Vishwananda is a personal meeting — brief, and different for everyone.
Some people describe a quiet that settles deeply and stays for days. Others describe the feeling of having been seen in a way they did not expect — and did not know they needed. Others describe something opening that had long been closed. For others it is simply a pause that means something in a full life. There is no single way to experience darshan, and no right way to receive it.
Register today for this rare occasion. Places are limited.
Just Love
There is nothing more transforming than true, unconditional love.
Arrival
On arriving at the venue you will be greeted by our welcome team. As you enter the sacred atmosphere of the hall, you will be enveloped by the uplifting energy of live kirtan. You may join the singing, sit in silence or connect with other seekers over a cup of tea. Every moment prepares your heart for the blessing of Darshan.
Spiritual talk and Kirtan
When Paramahamsa Vishwananda arrives, he shares an inspiring satsang with profound spiritual wisdom that goes straight to the heart. Afterwards, the atmosphere is lit with ecstatic kirtan: the hall fills with divine love and joy. With open hearts, the sacred moment of Darshan begins.
Darshan
The Darshan begins with a collective blessing from Paramahamsa Vishwananda. He will invite you to close your eyes, go to the depths of the heart and offer a personal prayer or intention. Afterwards, by sections, you will receive your personal blessing. During that time the hall resonates with devotional music and Vedic chanting — you may sing, dance or sit in silence while you wait your turn.
Date: 7 September, 2pm – 6pm
Unitarian Church of Montreal, 5035 boulde Maisonneuve O.,Montreal, H4A 1Y5
The event will be held at the beautiful Shepard Community Hall, a historic and welcoming community landmark in southeast Calgary. Originally established in the early 1900s and rebuilt after a fire in 1922, the hall has served the community for generations as a gathering place for cultural, educational, and spiritual events. Its spacious grounds, peaceful rural surroundings, and warm community atmosphere make it an ideal setting for a day of devotion, celebration, and spiritual connection.
On arriving, Paramahamsa Vishwananda begins with a satsang — a gathering in truth — sharing a teaching drawn from the Bhagavad Gita and the lives of the saints, relevant to everyday life. He then leads the gathering in kirtan. Once the hall has warmed, the darshan begins.
At the start of the darshan, Paramahamsa Vishwananda first turns to everyone present. He invites each person to close their eyes, to go within, and to offer a personal prayer or intention.
People are then invited to come forward by sections for their own darshan. During this time the hall is filled with devotional music and kirtan. You are free to join the singing, to sit in silence, or to meditate while you wait your turn.
After the darshan you are free to stay in the atmosphere, to meditate, or to leave whenever you wish. Indian snacks and chai are offered. The Bhakti shop is open. Open to all.
At a darshan you can
These are some of the things you could do, but they are not required.
You may write a personal question on a small piece of paper and give it to Paramahamsa Vishwananda. There is no expectation of a written reply; the practice is in the act of offering the question.
Many people come with something in mind — a difficulty, a hope, an open question. There is no script. The meeting is brief and, for most people, in silence.
In the tradition, it is customary to bring a photograph of someone (a family member, a friend, someone who is ill) and to ask for a brief blessing in their name. Many people do this for their parents or their children.
There is no need to say anything, ask for anything or understand anything. Simply being there is already enough. No previous experience of meditation or knowledge of the tradition is required. Darshan is open to anyone, regardless of their faith or beliefs.
It is recommended that you arrive a few minutes early so that you can register at ease, sit down, breathe, join the kirtan singing beforehand and be present before the meeting. Comfortable and modest clothing is recommended.
“Before the Darshan, several synchronicities awakened the presence of God in me. The Satsang gave me exactly what I needed. During the Darshan I felt an unconditional love that quietened my mind for days. Since then His teachings have been transforming my life, and His divine presence remains accessible, even from afar.”
“Meeting Guruji for the first time at a Darshan transformed my life. From the moment our eyes met, I felt a deep peace, an unconditional love and a connection that words cannot describe. That meeting marked the beginning of a genuine spiritual journey that continues to guide my life.”
“For me, Darshan with a realised Master is a quantum leap in my spiritual journey. It is a little like a dam giving way after a few bricks are removed. The walls I had built to protect myself and cut myself off from the world are gently taken down. With each Darshan I connect more through the heart, which gives me access to the depths of my being.“
The venue
Date: Sept 13 | 6pm – 9pm
Address: Unity of Vancouver, 5840 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6M 2V9
Darshan is open to everyone! You do not need to be Hindu, or even to consider yourself a religious or spiritual person, in order to take part. All you need is to come with an open heart.
Paramahamsa Vishwananda’s Darshan is a gift of unconditional love, offered to anyone seeking a deeper connection, inner peace, or simply a beautiful experience.
No previous experience and no particular belief system is required; simply be yourself and let the uplifting energy of the event carry you.
Registering in advance is strongly recommended! Although we can sometimes offer registration at the door, this is not guaranteed, as many of our events sell out in advance.
Darshan is a joyful and festive occasion, and everyone is welcome as they are.
As a general guide, we encourage you to wear modest, respectful clothing in keeping with the sacredness of the experience.
If you are wearing a vest or sleeveless top, we ask that you bring a shawl to cover your shoulders when you receive Darshan.
Yes!
Yes! You may bring books, photographs, murtis — that is, sacred representations of deities — or malas. We will also have items available at our shop. Simply hand them to a volunteer before you receive Darshan.
Doors open 1 hour before the event begins. The length of the Darshan depends on how many people attend, but you can expect the full event to last around 2 to 4 hours. We strongly recommend staying for the whole event so that you can enjoy the divine atmosphere fully, but you are of course free to leave at any time after receiving your blessing.
Absolutely! The beginning of the event will be livestreamed on YouTube, including the powerful group blessing with Guruji.
You will have the wonderful opportunity to receive Darshan from the comfort of your own home and to feel the divine energy flowing through the whole gathering.
It is a beautiful way to connect with Guruji and to experience that energy, wherever you are.