What is Yoga? In simple words: to remain with ease and peace. You might wonder what that ease is. I am talking about that ease, which you disturbed and then called yourself dis‑eased. Even to become a diseased person you should have had ease before, is it not so? If...
Advaita Vedanta and the Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi
This video features special guests Swami Sarvapriyananda (spiritual director, Vedanta Society of New York) and Michael James (a translator of Sri Ramana Tamil writings) as they discuss the essence of Advaita Vedanta and Sri Ramana's teachings. They also focus on how...
OM: The Universal Vibration of Spiritual Harmony
OM is a letter and a word. It is also a sound or resonance. There are three sounds in OM, known as “matra” (vowel diacritics): ‘a,’ ‘u,’ and ‘m.’ When ‘a’ and ‘u’ merge, they form ‘o,’ and when ‘m’ is placed alongside ‘o,’ it forms OM. Thus, all sounds of all...
The Kleshas: Exploring the Elusiveness of Happiness
The kleshas are Yoga’s framework for understanding the discord between our desires and our lived experience. Deborah Adele’s new book, The Kleshas: Exploring the Elusiveness of Happiness, lays open the insight and wisdom of the sage Patanjali, as described in the Yoga...
Thanks, Little Buddy: How My Dog Taught Me Yoga
My dog Ranger’s rear leg kicked then he exhaled his final breath. I smoothed his tan and black muzzle for the last time. Bone cancer had arrived with terrifying swiftness. A sudden lameness had revealed the insidious way the cancer had secretly been eating his bones....
The Unchanging Amid the Changing
It seems like any birthday that ushers us into a new decade brings with it a whole spectrum of feelings, and that is what happened for me recently. Turning 70 gave rise to that culturally influenced feeling, “OMG! I’m getting old.” But I’m grateful that I also...
The Vegan Athlete’s Nutrition Handbook: The Essential Guide for Plant-Based Performance
Using the latest research in sports nutrition, The Vegan Athlete’s Nutrition Handbook: The Essential Guide for Plant-Based Performance by Nichole Dandrea-Russert, MS, RDN, helps athletes maximize their performance, expedite recovery, and optimize their health through...
“Bear Insult, Bear Injury, Highest Sadhana”
On September 8, 2023, we celebrate the 136th Jayanthi (Birth Anniversary) of Sri Swami Sivananda, the Guru of Sri Swami Satchidananda. In honor of this occasion, we offer this video during which Swami Satchidananda is asked to explain this well-known teaching of his...
Jnana Yoga’s Fourfold Sadhana
The Fourfold Sadhana of Jnana Yoga consists of viveka, vairagya, shadshampat or sixfold virtues and mumukshutva or strong yearning for liberation. Viveka dawns in one who, through the grace of God, has done virtuous actions in their previous births as offerings unto...
Go Within
In this episode of the Integral Yoga Podcast, host Avi Gordon (director of the Integral Yoga Teachers Association) discusses with Amma Kidd the significance of collective prayer, the transformative influence of a Guru, surrendering to God's will, and the...
Forgiveness: Freeing the Heart from the Past
The month of September contains two of the most important holy days in the Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah begins a 10 day period of introspection and repentance that culminates in Yom Kippur, known as the Day of Atonement. These holy...
Near Enemies of the Truth: Pitfalls on the Path
Have you ever been told, “You create your own reality?” Have you been encouraged to “follow your bliss?” Nowadays these slogans are everywhere, but what if they’re doing more harm than good? In his latest book, Near Enemies of the Truth: Avoid the Pitfalls of the...
Mrs. Rukmini Rasiah: A Tribute
On August 26, 2023, seven months after her 105th birthday, Mrs. Rukmini Rasiah—affectionately known to all as “Amma” (mother in Tamil)—passed peacefully surrounded by beloved family members. The Ashram offered 108 Tryambakam Mantras on behalf of Amma's devoted,...
Mahasamadhi Anniversary 2023
On August 19, 2023, Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville will observe the 21st Mahasamadhi Anniversary of Sri Swami Satchidananda. Join us as we honor our Satguru. Our lineage and tradition tells us that after Mahasamadhi, the shakti of the Satguru continues to be...
Who is the Sufferer?
I know it sounds hard, but we must remember that when we go through, or see, suffering it is not the Immortal Self that suffers. Who is the sufferer then? It is the mind that goes through all the changes—the little ego, guided by vasanas, wrong thinking, and...
“I Am Always I”
I Am Always I is a delightful new children’s book by the much-loved spiritual teacher Rupert Spira. The video that accompanies the book is read aloud by Rupert over a wonderful new animation for kids and adults of all ages. Rupert takes you on a journey of...