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The Guru Who Gives Us Eyes to See
The full moon of Guru Poornima has waned, but the contemplation it awakens does not end with the observance. Only a few weeks later, on August 19, we mark the Mahasamadhi of our beloved Guru, Sri Swami Satchidananda (Sri Gurudev). These two sacred observances...
Swami Daasyananda: A Life of Service, Stillness, and the Infinite Self
On the blessed morning that marked the beginning of the Guru Poornima celebration at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, July 25th, 2026, our beloved brother and senior monastic, Swami Daasyanandaji, peacefully left the body. The timing of his departure seemed deeply...
200-hour Integral Yoga Hatha Teacher Training – October 2026
The Integral Yoga 200-hour Teacher Training is a month-long residential intensive running from October 4 – November 1, 2026 at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville where you will learn to teach asanas (Yoga poses), Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation), pranayama (breathing...
A New Book Honors Brother David Steindl-Rast’s 100th Birthday
The Benedictine monk David Steindl-Rast is one of the most influential spiritual figures of our time. As a seeker of truth, a bridge-builder, and a mentor of gratefulness, he has inspired people across religious and cultural boundaries for decades. After many years in...
Maha Mrityunjaya: A Mantra for Life, Healing, and Liberation
In the Integral Yoga Tradition, certain sacred sounds become woven into the rhythm of daily life. They are not reserved only for formal worship or special ceremonies; they accompany us through the ordinary and extraordinary passages of human experience. Among the most...
Enlightening Moments: From a First Meeting in 1966 to a Lifetime of Guidance
I’m sure that many of Swami Satchidananda's (Gurudev’s) followers have had enlightening moments in his presence and their personal relationship. As I reflect on the 60 years since his arrival in New York, here are a few of mine. On that auspicious day in 1966 when we...
A Sacred Tapestry: The Spiritual Roots of Integral Yoga
This month, in place of our regular installment of “Embarking on a Spiritual Odyssey,” we turn to the spiritual lineage that shaped Sri Swami Satchidananda (Sri Gurudev) before he arrived in America in July 1966. As we celebrate Guru Poornima, we also mark 60 years...
Brotherhood Beyond Boundaries: The Profound Friendship of Br. David Steindl-Rast and Swami Satchidananda
There are friendships that transcend the limitations of time, culture, and tradition—friendships that seem destined, woven into the very fabric of life’s unfolding story. Such was the deep and abiding bond between Br. David Steindl-Rast, OSB, and Sri Swami...
LOTUS at Forty: The Light That Welcomes Every Path
In July 1986, during the International Year of Peace, a luminous vision took form in the rolling hills of central Virginia. On July 20, spiritual leaders, dignitaries, devotees, neighbors, and seekers gathered at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville for the dedication of...
“How I Came to the West”: Sri Swami Satchidananda in His Own Words
Editor’s note: On July 31, 1966, Sri Swami Satchidananda arrived in New York City for what was expected to be a brief visit. Sixty years later, and as we also mark the 40th anniversary of the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS), we revisit Sri Gurudev’s own...