In 1976, Swami Satchidananda was giving this talk (below) on Yoga in Denver, Colorado. Yoga was something that wasn't widely practiced, or understood, in its broader and deepest sense at that time—and in large part, still isn't today. And, the use of mantras in...
In this short video, ecologist Stephan Harding shares a simple practice to transform our relationship with the natural world and to help us engage more fully with the real vs. the unreal.
In this inspiring meditation, Rupert Spira (teacher of the "direct path," a method of spiritual self-inquiry) uses the analogy of a person watching a movie in a cinema to explore the imperturbable nature of awareness. The peaceful presence of awareness, as if watching...
Yoga is now known and practiced all over the world. This is because it’s not only for people who believe in religion, spirituality, or a particular philosophy. The yogic teachings comprise the very same foundation that is found in all faiths and religions. And, even...
Nalanie Chellaram, Integral Yoga teacher and Gibraltar and Sotogrande, Spain centers head, recently published a book, Loss, Love, Life. In this article, she shares the inspiration behind writing the book and her journey through loss into life and love again. The book...
In this short video "The Inner Guru" from 1998 during Guru Poornima, Swami Satchidananda speaks about the true meaning of "Guru" and also about attuning oneself to the inner Guru. Using examples from his own Guru (Sri Swami Sivananda), the Bhagavad Gita and South...
We seem to do many things each day that create our problems. But, we can undo everything in a meditation practice. You just sit. You don’t need to do anything but = be aware of yourself. In meditation you are the witness that sits behind the body and mind. When you...
When I was in my 20s, I used to go to the New York Integral Yoga Institute on 13th Street and buy books and tapes and great things. And then I took a shiatsu class there with a great bunch of spiritual people for 20 weeks and we were all different, but we all got...
We can find lessons in everything we do. One of the lessons that I learned as a mechanic, many years ago, is very useful in being able to control the mind. The newer vehicles probably don’t require this anymore, but way back then, a car had to be periodically...
In this video, host Kim Weeks and Swami Asokananda (president and spiritual director of the New York Integral Yoga Institute) explore the origins, evolution, and modern-day story of Integral Yoga. Hosted by Yoga Alliance, "Yoga Lineages" is a series of conversations...
Sometimes miracles happen through someone, even without their knowledge. There have been many who, like Jesus, performed miracles. And they didn’t claim that they were doing everything, but that it was the God’s will. That shows that there was no ego involved....
What does it mean when a scripture or spiritual teacher tells us to “mentally keep quiet?” It means to raise above your mind. When I did that, in that moment, I didn’t see all the differences, all the separateness. I saw only the unity in all of the diversity—the...
You will inevitably encounter adversity in life, either on a personal level or, as we are experiencing it now, on a collective level. If you haven’t delved deep enough, if you haven’t found anything beyond the conceptual thinking mind, then adversity, whatever it is...
Ever wonder how Indian temples are built? This documentary-style video gives an overview of daily life in the building of a temple. The Kauai Aadheenam is a temple under construction in India. Artisans from India are responsible for the authenticity of the temple...
Obstacles along the spiritual path are necessary to test your strength. If everything is easy, we would probably lose interest in doing anything. Something that is worthwhile and beautiful should not be attained too easily. The more you work for something, the more...
Swami Ramananda, Integral Yoga's resident swami poet shares this inspiring poem on the ego's true purpose. dear little ego are you not tired of this treasure hunt, no gold at the end of the rainbow and no end your story is a dark cloud it blocks the light but has no...