Guru Poornima is celebrated annually to honor and express gratitude to our spiritual teachers, the Gurus, who guide us on our path to Self-realization. This special day acknowledges their invaluable contributions in helping us recognize our True Nature. In this issue, we pay tribute to our Guru and founder, Sri Swami Satchidananda, his Guru Sri Swami Sivananda, and all the great spiritual teachers of every faith who point us to this recognition. We are ever grateful for our beloved Gurudev’s teachings and presence in our lives. We hope these articles serve to inspire you on your journey.
Photo: Interfaith program (L-R: Prabhasa Dharma Roshi, Swami Satchidananda,
Rabbi Joseph Gelberman, Fr. James Quinn) Guru Poornima, Yogaville East, 1979.
Mumukshutva, is the final qualification in the fourfold means of spiritual attainment in Advaita Vedanta. It is the intense longing, the burning desire for liberation, freedom and Self-realization. Who is the one who will be very keen in learning how to get released from all this turmoil, all this suffering? The one who got bound everywhere. Otherwise, why should they even be looking for liberation? We try to use our little, finite intelligence to understand, grasping after things, to make our lives happy. MORE
The ego is like a very powerful elephant which cannot be brought under control by anything less powerful than a lion, which, in this instance, is no other than the Guru, whose very look makes the elephant-like ego tremble and die. You will know in due course that your glory lies where you cease to exist. In order to gain that state, you should surrender yourself. Then, the Master sees that you are in a fit state to receive guidance, and guides you.MORE
America’s First Guru, by director Raja Choudhury, premiered on PBS this year. 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 the profound wisdom of Yoga and Vedanta in the USA for 8 years. He became America's first Guru, forever changing American spiritual culture. He established the first Vedanta Society in New York City.
Even before The Beatles famously made their way to study Transcendental Meditation in Rishikesh, people have been venturing consistently to the East, drawn by the allure and liberation of spiritual enlightenment. Hence, we have come to believe that extraordinary and exotic environments – cultures such as India, Japan, China, Thailand and Tibet – hold the key to awakening. But such beliefs are founded on an innocent misunderstanding. MORE
When asked to reflect upon his life, Swami Satchidananda once said, "It’s hard to summarize a long life in a few words. But I can just say I am fortunate, in a way, to be born in a family of pious parents. They were my first Gurus. They instilled faith in God in my heart. And somehow from then on, I never worried about anything. Everything just fell into it proper places. Even while I was a little student, I always felt that God was guiding me. From school, I went into business. MORE
Ever have questions about Yoga, the meaning of life and other burning questions? Now there’s a new website, Ask Swami (askswami.org), where you can ask those questions in real time and get your questions answered! Answers are sourced from the teachings of Swami Satchidananda! We will be continually expanding the database of teachings and improving the website functioning.
In this short, self-directed, free online course, "Introduction to The Essential Teachings of Swami Satchidananda," you will be able to hear Swami Satchidananda sharing some of his core teachings in his fun, accessible, and inspirational manner. He also reflects on how he himself has dealt with life’s biggest questions. All the essential teachings and practices of Integral Yoga help us to regain the health and happiness that is our essential nature. MORE
