The Finnish-born artist Iria Leino is known not only for her expansive body of abstract work but also for her deep spiritual devotion, which played a central role in her artistic development. Throughout her life, she found inspiration in a rich spiritual practice and,...
How God Came Into My Life
It would be easy to dismiss the question by saying: "Yes, after a prolonged period of intense austerities and meditation while I was living in Swarg Ashram, during which I had the darshan of a number of maharishis and their blessings, the Lord appeared before me in...
H. H. Sri Swami Sivananda: 137th Jayanthi and 100th Sannyas Anniversary
September 8th 2024 marks the 137th Jayanthi (birth anniversary), as well as the 100th Sannyas (monkhood) anniversary of H. H. Sri Swami Sivananda, the Guru of Sri Swami Satchidananda. Swami Satchidananda humbly said of his Guru, " I feel very fortunate to have sat at...
Documentary: “Divine Harmony”
On August 27, 2024 a special kirtan service in celebration of the anniversary of the birth of Swamini Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda was held at the Integral Yoga Institute of New York. Special highlights of the program included special guest, Sita Michelle...
Integral Yoga Podcast: Mataji
In this episode of the Integral Yoga Podcast, senior Integral Yoga monk Swami Gurucharanananda (Mataji) shares insights into her life journey and spiritual path, first as a Catholic nun and later meeting her Guru, Swami Satchidananda. Born in Washington DC on April...
Reflections on a Journey: Unity Under the Desert Sky
I set out on a journey to the 2024 Integral Yoga European Reunion held in Spain not knowing what to expect. It’s been more than six years now of serving as director of the Integral Yoga Teachers Association (IYTA) at Yogaville, and during that time, I’ve gotten to...
“America’s First Guru”
America’s First Guru, by director Raja Choudhury, premiered on PBS in May 2024. The film is the compelling story of how a young charismatic Indian monk named Swami Vivekananda came to America for the first World’s Parliament of Religions in 1893 and went on to share...
“Lotus Girl”
From one of the central figures in Buddhism’s introduction to the West and the founder of Tricycle magazine comes Lotus Girl: My Life at the Crossroads of Buddhism and America by Helen Tworkov, a brilliant memoir of forging one’s own path that Pico Iyer calls...
“The Last Ecstatic Days”
Ethan Sisser, a young man with terminal brain cancer started livestreaming his death journey. Thousands joined to celebrate his courage. Honoring Ethan's wish, his doctor Aditi Sethi transported him to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. What...
A Journey with Sri Gurudev: Remembering Parameshwari Dinsmoor
Integral Yoga's beloved Parameshwari Mary Dinsmoor, an early disciple of Swami Satchidananda (Sri Gurudev), passed away on May 29, 2024, from cancer. Born on Oct. 6,1940, she was a true embodiment of love and selfless service and leaves behind a legacy of devotion,...
Wandering Turtle: A Heartfelt Tribute
Wandering Turtle, a a cherished member of the Choctaw community and beloved member and resident of Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville for the past 25 years, passed on into the Divine Light on May 15, 2024. Turtle, as he was lovingly known, was a dedicated Karma Yogi,...
Remembering Reverend Saraswati Beth Neumann
Born in 1947, Rev. Saraswati was a graduate of American University in Washington D.C. After graduation she worked in an interior design firm and architectural companies in New York city and in New Jersey and even worked as a professional clown for some time. She...
In Memoriam: Swami Murugananda, 1942 – 2024
On Jan. 6, 2024, after some time at the Acute Care Center at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia, our dear brother Swami Murugananda has passed into the Divine Light, embraced by the eternal love of his beloved Sri Gurudev Swami...
Christmas Message 2023 from Br. David Steindl-Rast, OSB
+ Dear Family and Friends, The days are growing short. Winter daylight is fading early, as I’m watching the chickadees quickly snatching a few last sunflower seeds from the bird feeder. From my armchair by the window i can enjoy their antics all day long, as i look...
The Broken Christmas Tree: How Love Saved Its Light
My dad ascended the rickety ladder, thus launching our family’s annual quest to decorate our Christmas tree. Ours was no snowy trek to an idyllic woodland. Instead it was an ascension up the world’s oldest wooden ladder to a high and bafflingly small closet where our...
The Light that Shines Through the Ages
We all need teachers in life; not everything can be learned from a book. According to Hindu tradition, there are four main teachers: Mata, Pita, Guru, Deva: Mother, Father, Guru and God. The mother is the baby’s first guru; she is everything to the baby: unconditional...