Explore Latest Posts

Raja Yoga II: A Deeper Dive into the Sutras, Online July 2025

Join the San Francisco Integral Yoga Institute for this online 5 week advanced study of Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali from July 1 - August 5, 2025. We will explore key sutras from each chapter, examine how they are grouped together, and learn how to both integrate these...

How to Control Thoughts and Stop Vasanas?

In this short video, Swami Ramanacharana Tirtha answers this question. Sri Swamiji is an Acharya of Vedānta sampradāya. His discourses and writings are filled with the power of Atmajñāna and the fragrance of bhakti and one gets an intimation of one’s spiritual essence...

Ahimsa As a Gift

Ahimsa is a Sanskrit word that translates as “without injury” or “nonviolence” in English. It’s a principle in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jainist philosophy that involves causing the least amount of harm possible to all beings. It’s the first ethical principle given as a...

Explore Videos

More Articles

Real Contentment

Real Contentment

Santosha, the second niyama in the Raja Yoga system, means contentment. We also have a saying in the West that “Contentment is golden.” Why? Contentment is golden because it doesn’t depend on the things around you, the things that you have. Whenever I think of...

read more
Making Peace with Desires

Making Peace with Desires

How to let go of or make peace with a desire in the mind? Try to stay away from the object. Then the thought will slowly die away because the thought is not being fulfilled; the desire is not being fulfilled. Even though the desire comes in, when you don’t give it the...

read more
Helpful Hints for the Practice of Yama and Niyama

Helpful Hints for the Practice of Yama and Niyama

The first two limbs of Raja Yoga are called yama and niyama. They consist of five precepts each and constitute the ethical foundation of Yoga. Sri Swami Satchidananda said: “All spiritual life should be based on these principles. They are the foundation stones without...

read more
Raja Yoga Teaching of the Month: Ahimsa

Raja Yoga Teaching of the Month: Ahimsa

In this monthly series on the Yamas and Niyamas, Swami Karunananda offers wisdom and reflections on applying these foundational principles of Yoga in daily life. Sutra 2.35: In the presence of one firmly established in non-violence, all hostilities cease.  —from The...

read more
Raja Yoga Teaching of the Month: Satya

Raja Yoga Teaching of the Month: Satya

In this monthly series on the Yamas and Niyamas, Swami Karunananda offers wisdom and reflections on applying these foundational principles of Yoga in daily life. This month's teaching is on Satya, truthfulness. Sutra 2.36: To one established in truthfulness, actions...

read more
Raja Yoga Teaching of the Month: Asteya

Raja Yoga Teaching of the Month: Asteya

In this monthly series on the Yamas and Niyamas, Swami Karunananda offers wisdom and reflections on applying these foundational principles of Yoga in daily life. This month's focus is on Asteya, non-stealing. Sutra 2.37: To one established in non-stealing, all wealth...

read more
Raja Yoga Teaching of the Month: Brahmacharya

Raja Yoga Teaching of the Month: Brahmacharya

In this monthly series on the Yamas and Niyamas, Swami Karunananda offers wisdom and reflections on applying these foundational principles of Yoga in daily life. This month's focus is on Brahmacharya, moderation. Sutra 2.38: By one established in continence, vigor is...

read more
Raja Yoga Teaching of the Month: Saucha

Raja Yoga Teaching of the Month: Saucha

In this monthly series on the Yamas and Niyamas, senior Integral Yoga teachers offer wisdom and reflections on applying these foundational principles of Yoga in daily life from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. This month's focus is on Saucha, purity. FROM THE HOLY BIBLE:...

read more
A Practical Guide for Life

A Practical Guide for Life

The teachings of Raja Yoga are a golden key to unlock all health, happiness, peace, and joy. Everyone, everything, in the creation wants to be happy. If you put a plant in the shade, its leaves will turn toward the sun, because the plant wants to be happy. Place a...

read more
The Yamas and Niyamas

The Yamas and Niyamas

Deborah Adele says that the yamas and niyamas (the ethical precepts that are the first two foundational limbs in Patanjali’s eight-limbed system of classical Yoga) offer us tools to help us stay centered in the midst of the ups and downs of life. She’s written a book...

read more