What is The Essence?

The Essence is a lived philosophy, a special path of personal maturation. In contrast to other philosophies and development models, the focus here is not on the personality – the ego – but on recognising and uncovering our real being.

Such an approach follows the natural structure of our consciousness and allows developmental progress that cannot be achieved by other means. It accelerates our development on all levels of being and gives our lives new dimensions of depth, meaning and value orientation.

The Essence Yoga Workshops Meditation

Ganeshyogi J. Bormann

Spiritual master and mystic, from his youth vividly interested in philosophy, psychology, consciousness research and existential questions.

Joachim Bormann completed over 30 years of intensive spiritual practice in different traditions and under the personal supervision of various masters. During this time he practised and studied the most advanced spiritual practices from classical Kundalini Yoga, Kriya Yoga, Advaita Vedanta, Saiva Siddhanta as well as Rinzai Zen. He researched and verified their sources and backgrounds through excursions and visits to renowned masters in India, among other things.

The work of Ganeshyogi J. Bormann as a spiritual teacher within The Essence consists of a combination of Eastern mysticism with elements of modern consciousness research.

Integral school of consciousness

The Essence is not a school in the traditional sense. It is an integral school of what really matters in life.

Ordinary ways and procedures exclude the achievement of unusual results from the outset.

The Essence widens the view “through the straw” of our ordinary, limited perceptions. It adds new dimensions of being to our lives; it brings us into contact with ourselves and our natural, immeasurable potential.

Wurzelbaum zur Illustration der Schule des Bewusstseins

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What really matters in life

The Essence is a project whose central concern is to promote and support human development on all levels of being.

To follow your path, you do not have to withdraw from the world. Whatever your aspirations, your concerns and visions may be – take them seriously and pursue them with all your passion! But remember: Behind every single one of your goals are other goals. In the end, however, they all flow together into one…

We organise seminars and workshops that provide all participants with in-depth but easily accessible knowledge. And this is independent of extensive previous knowledge or religious confession – because The Essence is neither a sect nor a religious community.

The pursuit of happiness

Billions of people living in this world pursue only one goal: they want to be happy. But how many people do you know who can claim to always be completely happy with their lives? You will hardly find one among hundreds of thousands! Yet happiness is something that is intrinsic to us. How could we find something outside of ourselves that has long been laid out within ourselves – in our innermost being?

The process of further development

If we look carefully at animate nature, we will realise that everything around us is in a constant process of evolution. Why should we, of all people, as the “crown of creation”, be excluded from this process?
As long as we are in the process of development, we are happy. Unhappiness occurs as soon as the process of our inner growth stagnates.

The longing for freedom

As long as our sense of freedom depends on external conditions, we have no real freedom. Only complete inner liberation provides us with true freedom – and only it allows us to be happy at all times and unconditionally. Happy under all circumstances is the one who has recognised himself.

The path to self-knowledge

Striving for self-knowledge is superfluous; you are already this Self!
However, if it is overlaid with “contractions” that you believe to be your real self, you are in a deep delusion about your true nature.
When these limitations are removed, you simply remain as what you really are – you have recognised your true nature and thus yourself! Understanding and experiencing this simple fact will change your life from the ground up.

What really matters in life

The Essence is a project whose central concern is to promote and support human development on all levels of being.

You do not have to withdraw from the world for your search for knowledge. Whatever your aspirations, your concerns and visions may be – take them seriously and pursue them with all your passion! But remember: Behind every single one of your goals are other goals. In the end, however, they all flow together into one…

We organise seminars and workshops that provide all participants with in-depth but easily accessible knowledge. And this is independent of extensive previous knowledge or religious confession – because The Essence is neither a sect nor a religious community.

The pursuit of happiness

Billions of people living in this world pursue only one goal: they want to be happy. But how many people do you know who can claim to always be completely happy with their lives? You will hardly find one among hundreds of thousands! Yet happiness is something that is intrinsic to us. How could we find something outside of ourselves that has long been laid out within ourselves – in our innermost being?

The process of further development

If we look carefully at animate nature, we will realise that everything around us is in a constant process of evolution. Why should we, of all people, as the “crown of creation”, be excluded from this process?
As long as we are in the process of development, we are happy. Unhappiness occurs as soon as the process of our inner growth stagnates.

The longing for freedom

As long as our sense of freedom depends on external conditions, we have no real freedom. Only complete inner liberation provides us with true freedom – and only it allows us to be happy at all times and unconditionally. Happy under all circumstances is the one who has recognised himself.

The path to self-knowledge

Striving for self-knowledge is superfluous; you are already this Self!
However, if it is overlaid with “contractions” that you believe to be your real self, you are in a deep delusion about your true nature.
When these limitations are removed, you simply remain as what you really are – you have recognised your true nature and thus yourself! Understanding and experiencing this simple fact will change your life from the ground up.

Yoga and meditation: Seminars and workshops

The following events and teachings on topics such as integralyoga, meditation, spirituality and personal development are currently planned.

The Essence Annual Group 2025

1. January 2025 – 31. December 2025

Regular meetings online via Zoom

Self-realisation with yoga and meditation

7. January – 16. December

14-day Zoom meetings

The Essence »OnlyZOOM«

14. January – 23. December

14-day Zoom meetings

Happiness – a decision

5. May – 9. May

at Balduinstein Castle near Limburg

Chakra, Kundalini, Parashaktikriya

6. October – 10. October

auf Burg Balduinstein bei Limburg

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    The Essence Podcast: Conversations with Ganesh

    The deepest secrets of life in audio format: In the individual podcast episodes you will learn how The Essence works. You will be led deeper and deeper into the most fundamental themes of your existence. What is the difference between religion and spirituality? How are psychology, philosophy and spirituality related? Is meditation and spiritual practice really necessary? Whether topics like Satsang, Awakening, Kundalini Yoga, Tantra or Enlightenment; from Advaita-Vedanta to Zazen. Just sit back, listen and experience what happens.

    You can also listen to all episodes of “Conversations with Ganesh” for free at the following services:

    Listen on Spotify
    Listen on Apple Podcasts
    Listen on Youtube