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What is God?
“If anybody asks me, ‘What is your philosophy or God?’ I say, ‘Peace is my God.’ If they ask, ‘Where is God?’ I reply, ‘God is in me, God is in you, and God is everywhere. God is all peaceful; God is all serenity. God is to be felt and experienced within oneself.’
“God bless you. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.” —Sri Swami Satchidananda
(photo: Meditative moment in Hawaii, mid-1980s, during an Integral Yoga Retreat)
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How to Make Your Formal Meditation Practice More Effective
By Sri Swami Satchidananda
Meditation is something we should learn to practice, not just in formal meditation, but all the time. But, for our formal, sitting meditation practice, preparation is most important. Is there not a saying, “Well begun is half done?” We often don’t begin well. We don’t take care of the cause that disturbs the mind. And we want our little meditation time to calm everything, quickly. No. At the same time, there are certain methods to prepare you for meditation. At least when you go to sit for meditation, temporarily keep all the worldly problems locked out. Keep a separate room if you can, or at least a separate corner that is curtained off. Keep that place free from worldly problems. Charge that area with only meditative thoughts. And before you go there, as a way of leaving day to day problems outside, change your dress and have a bath. Even when you go to sleep, you don’t go with your softball hat. You have sleeping clothes and when you want to play tennis you have a tennis outfit. For everything there is a dress; likewise, for meditation there should be a dress. Use it only for meditation. MORE
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In this video webinar, Avi Gordon (Integral Yoga Teachers Association director) talks with Gary Kraftsow about the nature of the journey that Yoga offers to sincere practitioners. With the great depth of experience that Kraftsow brings to the discussion, he illuminates the esoterics of Yoga and what he has gleaned about the transmission of Yoga for health, healing and personal transformation. For over 40 years, Gary Kraftsow has been a leading expert in Yoga and Yoga Therapy, having begun his studies in India with Sri T.K.V. Desikachar, in 1974. Kraftsow is the Director and Senior Teacher of the American Viniyoga Institute®, the author of numerous books and he's been a regular presenter at Yogaville for nearly a decade.
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Question: What do you do when you are scared? TNH: Usually, when we’re afraid, we try to run away from whatever scares us. When I am scared, I breathe deeply and calm myself. I try to stop my thinking and just breathe. This always helps me. Every time I have an upset stomach, I fill a hot water bottle and I put it on my stomach. In five minutes, I feel much better. My mindful breathing is like a hot water bottle for my mind. Every time I apply mindful breathing to my fear, I get relief.
Question: Why do I sometimes feel lonely and that no one loves me? TNH: Sometimes the people around you are distracted and may forget to express their love. But if you feel like no one loves you, you can always look outside at the natural world. Do you see a tree out there? That tree loves you. It offers its beauty and freshness to you and gives you oxygen so you can breathe. The Earth loves you, offering you fresh water and delicious fruit for you to eat. The world expresses its love in many ways, not just with words.
Question: How can I remain calm when I see so many bad things happening in the world? MORE
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In this series of short talks, Swami Asokananda (Integral Yoga) shares his insights from years of study and contemplation on the great Indian scripture, the Bhagavad Gita. In Part 17, we continue on to Chapter 2, verse 4. Here, Arjuna asks Sri Krishna how to get over his dejection and move forward. Over the next three verses, with Sri Krishna's "tough love" approach, we will see Arjuna's ego structure begin to shatter as he drops his facade, leading to a true spirit of spiritual surrender. (Note: As Asokanandaji is traveling abroad this week, our series may be on pause until the following week.)
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This new release joins the Peter Max Art Series of mini-books by Sri Swami Satchidananda! In this book, Sri Swamiji shares the secret to living a happy, peaceful, and prosperous life. Based on the classical teachings of Yoga philosophy and wisdom, The Secret to Prosperity illuminates the conditions necessary for success in life. Sri Swamiji explains where lasting happiness can be found, the key to peace, how endless desires won’t bring prosperity, and how a balanced, selfless, and spiritually expansive attitude in life will bring you everything you seek. “Give up everything and then everything will come to you. If you stop running after things, things will run after you. That is the greatness of renunciation. Renunciation is an attitude—that nothing truly belongs to you. With that attitude, everything will come to you.” –Swami Satchidananda
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In this new series, Nalanie Chellaram (director of Integral Yoga Gibraltar & Sotogrande) shares the joy of gratitude. This inspirational video is part two of a series of short films under the title of "Love of Life, Life of Love." The music in this video is "Set Me Free," courtesy and kind permission of Terry Oldfield & Soraya Saraswati. Enjoy!
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A new feature has just been added to thegoldenpresent.org. On the first day of each month, you can now hear Sri Swami Satchidananda read that day's words of inspiration. Thegoldenpresent.org features the daily readings from Sri Swamiji's classic book of the same name: The Golden Present. So, on September 1st (and the first of every month after that), click on "Today's Reading" to not only read the teaching, but hear it as well!
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Hersha Chellaram, Integral Yoga teacher, teacher trainer, and director of Hersha Yoga, offers Integral Yoga Teacher Training programs in Hong Kong. This inspiring new video gives an overview of the program. She also offers many different trainings and programs (including Integral Yoga affiliated programs like Yoga for the Special Child, Accessible Yoga, and Kidding Around Yoga), in addition to the nonprofit work she does as cofounder of the YAMA Foundation.
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Recently, Haris Harini Lender (founder of Kidding Around Yoga), shared this story: "In 14 months, both of my kids graduated from their 200-hour Integral Yoga Teacher Training at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville. This month, it was Jessie Rubin's turn. This is not an easy training. Students must wake up at 5:30 each morning for meditation and hatha, followed by lectures and more meditation and bonding and all sorts of tasks throughout the day. It's a lot of work. I know because I did it 20 years ago! (photo: Harini & Jessie)
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"You learn a lot about yourself, others, the world around you, and how your mind works. It's an OMazing experience. Special thanks to my Swami Mommies: Swami Divyananda Ma and Swami Vidyananda... I guess that makes them Jessie's Swami Grandmommies. It does take a village and these Swamis, and so many more, helped Jessie to achieve this goal. Congrats Jessie! Keep the teachings close to you and use them often. I am so proud of you!" (photo: Jessie with Swamis Vidyananda and Divyananda)
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