Gurudev Sivanandaji used to say that we should watch our thoughts because they create habits. Once you develop a habit, it becomes your character. And then your character becomes your destiny. So, it all originates with your thinking. That is why it is so important to...
It was 1995, and I had just arrived at St. John’s University in New York, fresh from a summer spent at a Hindu monastery. I was on a spiritual quest—a journey sparked, in part, by post-traumatic symptoms I had only just begun to name. Perhaps they were gifts in...
On August 30, 2025, the world lost a devoted priest, scholar, and bridge-builder between faiths. Fr. Christie A. Joachimpillai, OMI—affectionately known as Fr. Pillai to many in the Integral Yoga community—passed away peacefully in Toronto, surrounded by loved ones....
When tracing the spiritual roots of Sri Swami Satchidananda’s extraordinary life and mission, one finds a constellation of saints, Siddhars, and sages who shaped his vision. Among these was a yogi of remarkable attainment and discipline: Sri Swami Sivananda...
In a special episode of the Spirit Matters podcast, the tables are turned as regular host Philip Goldberg steps into the guest’s chair. Taking over the microphone is guest host Rabbi Rami Shapiro, who engages Goldberg in a lively and illuminating conversation about...
In July 2025, Integral Yoga Norway director, Arjuna Gangdal organized and hosted an Integral Yoga meditation retreat in Norway. We're grateful that he has shared this short report from the retreat. I’m delighted to share the heart‑opening journey of our five‑day...
When you make a spiritual commitment—what kind of commitment is it? And why do you make it? A spiritual commitment doesn’t have to be to become a swami, a minister. Particularly in the spiritual field, what are you committed to? Not to an organization or an ashram,...
It's hard to trust that any words of wisdom are dependable until you experience their truth in your own life. So, when as a child I first came upon Jesus' words, “Seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you; ask and it will be given to you,” I...
After spending several years immersed in sadhana under the guidance of Sadhu Swamigal at his ashram in Palani, Ramaswamy—who would one day be known to the world as Swami Satchidananda—felt a stirring once again in his soul. His heart was restless, not from...
“If you ask me ‘What is Yoga?’ the only reply I can think of is: Yoga is a state of grace.” These words by Narayana Kiekens distill a life wholly devoted to the spirit of Yoga and the teachings of his Gurus. For more than six decades, Narayana—alongside his wife...
All there is, is Infinite Consciousness. There is neither the perceiver nor the perceived. This is the great silence. This is the birthless and deathless state. All that we call unconscious, subconscious, conscious, and superconscious are the different states of...
As the world celebrates the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in July 2025, we pause to offer our deepest gratitude and reverence for a life that has become a beacon of compassion, wisdom, and spiritual courage. For nine decades, His Holiness has...
Sometimes, the light of Yoga shines through in the most unexpected places. Meet The Tiny Chef—a hand-crafted, herbivore chef with a big heart, a love for nature, and an infectious giggle that has captured the hearts of millions. Though just a few inches tall, Cheffy...
On one fateful Wednesday night in January, I texted a friend words I never thought I would say: “I just decided to go to Maha Kumbh. I’m leaving tomorrow.” As a chronically over-working PhD student, my connection to my Indian Hindu roots was limited to saying a quick...
From the stillness of dawn to the farthest corners of the heart, the legacy of Sri Swami Satchidananda continues to inspire and uplift. One beautiful expression of this devotion comes from Lakshmi Harilela, an Integral Yoga teacher in Hong Kong and a gifted creative...
Throughout history, seekers have turned to spiritual masters for guidance. While scriptures and saints of the past offer enduring wisdom, there is something uniquely powerful about the presence of a living master—a person who embodies spiritual truth in the here and...