Welcome to the Awakening Archive
A Living Treasury of Meditation, Tantra, and Spiritual Realization
The Awakening Archive is a sacred gateway into the teachings of Mark Griffin (1954–2018), a realized master in the tradition of the Siddhas and founder of the Hard Light Center of Awakening. Mark was not only a brilliant spiritual teacher—he was a living embodiment of Nirvikalpa Samadhi, the ultimate state of yogic realization beyond thought, time, and form.
Rooted in the timeless lineages of Swami Muktananda, Swami Nityananda, and Kalu Rinpoche, Mark’s path was one of deep devotion, profound stillness, and radiant clarity. But what set him apart was his extraordinary ability to translate esoteric Eastern truths into clear, practical guidance for Western students. He brought the ancient sciences of meditation, breathwork, Kundalini, and non-dual awareness into sharp modern focus—without losing their sacred depth.
To be in his presence was to encounter both a powerful stillness and a great warmth. He was deeply loving, articulate, and generous, with a gift for transmitting elevated states of consciousness while grounding them in lived practice.
This digital archive is your entryway into those transmissions. It contains decades of audio, video, and written teachings—from intensive retreats and dharma talks to guided meditations and profound discourses on breath, awakening, and the nature of reality itself.
Whether you are:
A serious practitioner exploring Tantra and Kundalini,
A meditator seeking clarity and depth,
Or a curious seeker drawn to the mystery of the Self,
…you will find guidance here.
Begin with our free 8-week course, The Fundamentals of Spiritual Practice, or explore deeper paths through our curated by topic, each one centered around a powerful spiritual theme. Membership gives you access to an ever-growing repository of timeless wisdom that supports transformation at every stage of the journey.
This archive is more than a library. It is a living field of transmission, a consciousness portal created by a master whose teachings continue to awaken, illuminate, and liberate.
What’s Inside the Archive
Free 8-Week Introductory Course
Begin your journey with a self-paced course introducing the fundamentals of meditation, the philosophy of sadhana (spiritual practice), and essential spiritual principles. This course is freely available to all visitors and offers a grounded foundation in Mark’s core teachings.By Topic
The archive is organized into thematic categories, each centered on a specific spiritual topic such as Kundalini, Guru Yoga, the subtle body, or nondual awareness. These sections help you explore the teachings in depth and at your own pace.Membership Access
A subscription grants full access to the teachings. You'll find complete intensives, guided meditations, philosophy talks, and curated study paths. In the future, selected topics will be developed into deeper self-guided courses.Individual Teachings
For those who wish to explore specific teachings, all recordings and PDFs will also be available for individual purchase through the Hard Light Center of Awakening bookstore.
Who Was Mark Griffin?
Mark Griffin (1954–2018) was a spiritual teacher in the lineage of Swami Muktananda and a gifted artist and musician. He studied classical music and visual art in San Francisco before meeting his Guru, Swami Muktananda, in 1976. After seven years of deep meditation practice—including entering the advanced state of nirvikalpa samadhi—Mark went on to study with Kalu Rinpoche and began teaching in 1989.
He founded the Hard Light Center of Awakening in Los Angeles, where he trained students with clarity, intensity, and grace. At the heart of Mark’s teaching was the direct transmission of spiritual energy—Shaktipat—along with a precise understanding of the inner architecture of the Self. Mark emphasized rigorous, experiential practice and offered a rare and powerful model of awakened teaching in the modern West.
As Mark once said:
“It’s one of the dynamics of Hard Light that you’re always being hit with more energy than you can handle—pushing that deep into your system, forcing your system to work overtime... That’s the day-in, day-out work of spiritual life.”
Though he left the body in 2018, Mark’s teachings continue to offer profound guidance to those drawn to the spiritual path.
How to Use the Archive
Start Free – Sign up to receive access to the 8-week introductory meditation course.
Browse By Topic – With a subscription, explore teachings by topic in curated wellsprings of knowledge.
Listen, Read, Meditate, Contemplate – Each teaching is presented in .mp3, .pdf, or video format, allowing you to study and practice at your own pace.
Go Deeper – Select advanced teachings or full-day intensives to deepen your journey.
This archive is a gateway to the luminous legacy of a master teacher. Whether you’re looking for spiritual clarity, experiential depth, or a structured path of awakening, you’ll find it here—guided by Mark’s voice, vision, and transmission.