As some of us were discussing the strange feel of this life with social distancing, we expressed both a sense of gratitude for being safe and healthy, and a deep pang of sorrow for those many souls who are suffering. Those in my immediate circle of friends are...
In the Yoga Sutras, we learn that the practice of Yoga is aimed at addressing the fluctuations or disturbances in the mind (chitta vritti) so we may experience our natural state of peace and joy. Some misunderstand this and think "Yoga chitta vritti" means Yoga is the...
Question: What do you think will happen to our natural environment? Swami Satchidananda: It’s already happening. We are ruining it. Now, we are thinking of repairing it. Well, that’s the way we learn. Mother Nature allows us to make the mistakes and to learn by our...
News Release: April 2020 Now is a time when many people, heeding the call to stay at home, may want the solace of being able to reach out to Integral Yoga swamis and ministers to talk on the phone and through email. Clergy-on-Call is a service recently established to...
How do we find peace and joy in the middle of a chaotic world? In the midst of the chaos, find the balance, and then you find the peace. When are you peaceful? When there is nothing to disturb your peace? That is not the true test of real inner peace. When there is...
During the days of the COVID-19, Rev. Dhyani Simonini has been writing remembrances of special interactions, over the years, with Swami Satchidananda. Here is a recent one: I’d like to share a little love tale of Swami Satchidananda—our Gurudev—and a special project...
For those who have heard about or seen the compelling Netflix documentary "Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution," Yogaville's own Swami Suddhananda (who has cerebral palsy) only appears briefly in it—but she figures more centrally in its main storyline. "Crip Camp" is...
You have to be strong to face things. Going into seclusion, or into a protected environment, helps you make yourself strong. You don’t need to be afraid of this always. Once you build up physical and mental stamina you don’t have to be afraid of anything. Nothing can...
Soon after 9/11, a large Yoga conference was being held in the USA. The organizers asked Swami Satchidananda to send a message of comfort and inspiration to those attending the conference gathering. This was his message, which seems tremendously timely in current...
In this video, Swami Satchidananda and students chant the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra 27 times for healing and protection. This mantra enhances health and well-being on all levels. It can be used for personal healing and protection, and is the perfect mantra to repeat to...
By chanting Hari Om, you elevate yourself to a higher level. It is chanted for its vibrations—not to disturb anyone’s religious beliefs. Hari Om is a universal chant and does not belong to any particular religion. Begin with the sound “ha” at the naval. By repeating...
Over many years, Swami Satchidananda made recommendations for keeping our bodies strong, our minds calm, and our hearts open, which all apply especially in this age of the Coronavirus or what I like to call: the “Karuna”-virus. Karuna is the Sanskrit for “compassion.”...
In this short video, Swami Satchidananda addresses the fear expressed during another health crisis—AIDS. He said that no matter what the disease or condition we face, "The fear of the disease is worse than the disease itself. Many people lose their life because of the...
Again and again, people ask me, “Why is there suffering? How can I avoid suffering?” My answer is, “You cannot.” If anything has to happen, it will happen. Think, All right, let it happen. I am bold. What’s the use of being afraid of it? I’m not going to be able to...
When anger arises, the mind becomes deluded. The Bhagavad Gita has two beautiful slokas about this: From brooding on sense objects, attachment to them arises. Out of that attachment, personal desire is born. And from desire, anger appears. Anger confuses the thinking...
As we gather for various events celebrating the 50 year anniversary of Integral Yoga in San Francisco, we are reminded again and again of the importance of spiritual community. We have committed ourselves this month to making good use of the support and inspiration...