”The real way to celebrate the new year is not to run after happiness outside of yourself. Try to find that hiding happiness within you. Essentially we are all happy, joyful, and peaceful. Nobody and nothing can make you happy. It is up to you to enjoy your own happiness or run after borrowed or temporary happiness. So may this new year make you realize your own happiness and to celebrate not only the new year, but to celebrate new minutes, because every minute is new.“–Swami Satchidananda
(photo: Zinal, Switzerland during European Union of Yoga Congress, late 1980s).
The goal of Yoga is to realize the Divinity within. This can be explained in different ways. A devotee will say, “I want to know God. I want to commune with God.” The jnani will say, “Tat Tvam Asi. I am That. I want to know this Truth—this Self or Cosmic Consciousness—fully.” These are different pathways to God, to the one Truth. Pathways are like escalators or ladders. To go up, we make use of the escalator, but once we go up, we no longer need it. Pathways help to raise us up.MORE
After some time 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 Satchidananda. After a unique life of dedicated service and spiritual practice, we pray that his soul may rest in peace. There will be a public memorial for Swami Muruganandaji at Sivananda Satsang Hall, which will also be live-streamed, date to be determined and announced. MORE
All major mystical traditions have recognized that there is a paradox at the heart of the journey of return to Origin. Put simply, this is that we are already what we seek, and that what we are looking for on the Path with such an intensity of striving and passion and discipline is already within and around us at all moments. The journey and all its different ordeals are all emanations of the One Spirit that is manifesting everything in all dimensions... MORE
Everyone seeks happiness, but happiness seems to never be stable. Something always happens to disturb our happiness. Religions were born to show a path to happiness that never dies. The mystical aspect of most faiths are particularly focused on this quest. Integral Yoga Ministry is honored to host a series of Interfaith dialogues to draw out the specifics and the experiences of those of different faiths who were drawn to the mystical aspect of their faith... MORE
The beginning of a new year is a natural time to reflect on and re-envision our lives. The tradition of New Year’s resolutions can be life-changing or it can be a temporary way of fooling ourselves with lofty ideas that fade when reality hits. Clarifying our intentions for this life is useful, but really makes an impact when we translate the vision into committed actions. For example, I may be clear that I want to be more rested and energized as I embark on each day. MORE
Integral Yoga Media is please to offer the newly mastered audio recording “Swami Satchidananda Teaches the Pūjā Ślokas.” These prayers are used in daily pūjā, a service of devotion. At Chidambaram (the Mahasamadhi Shrine of Sri Swamiji), the pūjā is offered to the Sivalingam (according to Tamil Saiva tradition, Sri Swamiji's root tradition). In Sanskrit, Siva means “auspiciousness,” and lingam means “sign” or “symbol.” MORE
Join Integral Yoga Master Teacher Nalanie Chellaram as she teaches the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The series begins with an overview of the text and why it is such an inspiration to so many. Utilizing the commentaries by Swami Satchidananda, along with insights from Nalanieji's own in-depth study, each video in the series goes sutra by sutra. The videos are from sessions Nalanieji conducts via Zoom and her live classes will resume in February 2024.
2024 is now underway and as we transition out of the festivities returning to our daily routines again, many of us may have found ourselves pondering the year ahead. This often includes setting New Year’s resolutions. We may have even already boarded that bus of self-criticism, listening to that voice telling us that we are not doing enough, we are not getting to our goals fast enough and even falling into the deadly social media comparison. Instead of setting the same old New Year’s resolutions... MORE
