Sri Shankaracharya was the 8th century Indian philosopher/theologian who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta. He also organized the Daśanāmi Saṃpradāya (the order of Swamis) of which the Integral Yoga lineage is a part. Swami Sarvapriyananda (spiritual...
Recognize the God in You
What we call “God,” is the Cosmic Consciousness. It is our natural state of peace and joy. That Cosmic Consciousness is infinite. It has no limitation, it never changes, it is omnipresent and eternal. That’s what is meant by immortal. It is in you, as the real you. So...
East-West Fusion
American jazz pianist and compose Dave Brubeck's most famous song is "Take Five." Brubeck is considered one of the foremost exponents of cool jazz. In this video, it is re-imagined with an arrangement by musicians from Sachal Studios in Lahore, Pakistan. The result is...
Do You Believe in Free Will?
Sam Harris is a bestselling author, neuroscientist and host of the "Waking Up" app and podcast. In this talk, he demonstrates—with scientific rigor and humor—that free will is an inherently flawed and incoherent concept, even in subjective terms. If he is right, this...
Early Days at Yogaville West: Adventures in “Rubbing & Scrubbing”
In the early 1970s, Seigler Hot Springs, California was the site of the first Integral Yoga Ashram. It was called Yogaville West and it was inhabited by a ragtag motley group—including me—who became the first ashram residents there. Some folks were pretty grounded...
The Integral Yoga Anti-Racism Task Force
The Integral Yoga Anti-Racism Task Force took shape in July of 2020. It is made up of a group of Integral Yogis from the New York and San Francisco Integral Yoga Institutes, as well as Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville (Integral Yoga Global headquarters) who came...
Falling in Love with Yoga (and out of love with Hot Yoga)
You know that time in your life when you find the one you want to spend the rest of your days with...your soulmate? And you start to lose sight of things you once cared about, like personal hygiene, fitness? When I fell in love with Seth I lost sight of some of my...
Mind the Gap! A Teaching from Deepak Chopra
In this short video, Dr. Deepak Chopra (doctor, spiritual teacher and author) summarizes the teachings of the nondual traditions with this explanation of one's true essence-nature. He says, "The knowing secret is in the gap between every thought, every sensation,...
Become Like Children
You don’t need to do anything or go anywhere to become peaceful. There’s no need to go live in a cave or somewhere in the forest. And then how many people would lose their peace when they become very excited about living in the cave itself? Just be as you are. You...
Gratitude: A Short Film
The invitation: Open up your heart and feel grateful for this day, the beauty of this planet, the people we meet. How? By focusing on the positive aspects rather than the negative. By showing who other people are, in all their individual specialness rather than...
Keeping our Eyes on the Sacred
Human beings are by nature attuned to the threats around them as a primary means of survival. For the past year, threats to our safety have abounded in numerous forms: the Coronavirus, racial injustice, the climate emergency, political violence and senseless killings....
Maintaining the Zero Point
Equanimity is Yoga. To know yourself, to see yourself and others clearly, you should have neutrality—complete neutral vision. The scriptures ask us to know ourselves. Check yourself or weigh yourself. The first thing many do in the morning is to step on the scale,...
Make a Living and an Impact
In this episode of the Integral Yoga podcast, Mado Hesselink talks about helping Yoga teachers integrate their heart-centered mission with practical business and teaching strategies so that they can make both a living and an impact. Join host Avi Gordon (director of...
The Vibrating Subtle Body
The chanting of mantras brings certain beautiful vibrations and helps us in lifting our own energy and consciousness. Modern scientists have proven the power of sound vibration. Sounds are even being used for cleaning purposes, as well as for soothing and comforting...
Wynne Paris: Love + Light—A Remembrance
On Monday, March 22, 2021, Wynne Paris (acclaimed kirtan artist and music producer) suddenly passed away from a heart attack. He leaves behind his parents, Kimberley Maddox (his life partner Kim), a brother- and sister-in-law, William and Kim Paris, nephews Nate and...
The Remarkable Story of Joe
Dr. Mehmet Oz was traveling recently and he recounted the story of a man named Joe who went into cardiac arrest at an airport baggage claim area. Fortunately, Dr. Oz was also in that baggage claim area and he was able to save Joe's life. After Joe recovered, he was...