Andrew Holecek (author, Buddhist scholar and teacher), recently shared the following message with students in his online course, "Bardos in Everyday Life." Hi friends, I received this teaching and prayer from Dzogchen Rinpoche to contemplate. A Tibetan dharma friend...
Some people think that monks have these esoteric practices and “What can we poor laypeople do?” But when you really understand what the monastic life is about, you realize that we are only doing — under more favorable circumstances and in an environment that...
In youth, my earliest spiritual urges came in the form of Roman Catholic community. I was in awe of the church structures, the architecture, the liturgy, the mystery. I served as an altar boy and had imaginings of becoming a priest. I was pious and sincere. Yet,...
The Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS) was founded by Swami Satchidananda (Integral Yoga founder) and is dedicated to the Light of all faiths and to world peace. It is the first interfaith shrine to include altars for all faiths known and yet unknown. People...
The Very Reverend James Parks Morton, the president of the Interfaith Center of New York and former Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine—largest cathedral in the world—offered a heartfelt and personal tribute on the occasion of the 90th Jayanthi (birth...
The Integral Yoga Ministry was inspired by Sri Gurudev Swami Satchidananda's example and motto: "The dedicated enjoy supreme peace, therefore live only to serve." Some of his students have chosen the path of sannyas or monasticism. The first of his American students...
Question: If, as you say, “Truth is one and paths are many, must the paths be prescribed, or can one gain the truth through independent Self-realization? Swami Satchidananda: Well, if you know the way, you don’t have to ask anybody. Nobody has to prescribe to you. If...
Yoga is not another religion or new philosophy to be added to the many that are there already. Instead, the teaching of Yoga is the essence of them all. What Moses gave us as the Ten Commandments, what the Buddhists call the Dasa Sila or Ten Virtuous Practices, and...
What is the relationship between Yoga and Buddhism? Yoga is often perceived as being focused on the body and Buddhist teachings as emphasizing the study of the mind. In this article, (the late) Michael Stone addresses these issues, explores the connections between the...
The wisdom of these ancient traditions share many common boundaries in their approach to enlightenment. In this article, Prahaladan Mandelkorn, a teacher of Yoga and Kabbalah, explores parallels between these two traditions. Swami Satchidananda and the White Stone In...
Swami Satchidananda initiated the tradition of celebrating all the great spiritual teachers of every faith during each Guru Poornima celebration. In this same spirit, we include this essential teaching of his regarding the essential unity of all spiritual wisdom. Even...
Padma Wick, one of Swami Satchidananda most senior students, reveals the innermost yearnings that took her deep into Zen Buddhism as part of her Integral Yoga path. In this article, she shares her journey through personal stories, conversations with Sri Gurudev, Swami...
In his Yoga Sutras, Patanjali says: “Tapah Svadhyayesvara Pranidhanani Kriyah Yogah.” Sri Gurudev Swami Satchidananda translates this as: “Accepting pain as help for purification, study of spiritual books, and surrender to the Supreme Being constitute Yoga in...
Daily we pray: Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya, which means “Lead us from darkness to light.” In a way, it is the darkness that makes us look for light. If the light is always there, we won’t be worried about it. So, it is the darkness that makes us cry for light. Every faith...
What did I do the summer of 2018? No, it wasn’t kayaking the Na Pali coast in Kauai. No, it wasn’t trekking to Machu Picchu in Peru. No, it wasn’t band camp in the Adirondacks. But, it was something just as adventurous, demanding, and engaging. First, a little...
“Yit’gadal v’yit’kadash sh’mei raba . . .” As I realized that these words of the Mourner’s Kaddish were coming out of my mouth, my head dropped, my eyes closed and I heard wails of grief come from both me and my family. I could no longer say the words. I was sixteen...