Yoga Wisdom With Swami Satchidananda

"Realizing the Spirit": In this talk, Swami Satchidananda is asked some questions about how the mind and spirit relate in terms of the process of enlightenment. And, what role kundalini plays in awakening. Ⓟ© 2018 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / www.integralyoga.org

Swami Satchidananda is asked why abstinence or denying the senses is needed in spiritual life. He explains that what is needed is discipline and mastery of the body and mind. He warns desires and greed in the mind, which leads to imbalance. He explains how a contented mind will convert everything into gold and then you can live a balanced in which you will enjoy everything. Ⓟ© 2018 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / www.integralyoga.org

This recording is a rare and special gift. It is the voice of Swami Satchidananda chanting the 12th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita on Bhakti Yoga. Swamiji recommended that his students learn this chapter by heart as it conveys the essence of the Yoga of devotion. This track is part of a re-release of "Songs of Grace," an album first recorded in the 1980s in California. The master tape was recently found in the Integral Yoga Archives and now made available on CD and digital download. The album contains 14 tracks of Swamiji leading kirtan and prayers in Sanskrit, Tamil, and English languages, including several more tracks from the Bhagavad Gita. A small group of students join in with rhythm instruments and responsive chanting. The Gita slokas were selected by Sri Swamiji as particularly important for students of Yoga. The Tamil songs are poems and prayers written by South India sages and saints from the 10th century and later (English translation is provided at www.shakticom.org, where the CD and digital download

Swami Satchidananda answers various questions including the time it takes to change one’s body and mind into a yogic body and mind, the meaning of dreams, and the distinction between male and female monks. Ⓟ© 2018 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / www.integralyoga.org

Swami Satchidananda is asked about his essential beliefs that he bases his teachings upon. He is asked a series of questions including: What is important to you? What makes you happy or sad? What do you believe in, What truths do you base your life on?, among others. Ⓟ© 2018 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / www.integralyoga.org

Swami Satchidananda gave this talk in the 1990s to a group of health practitioners taking a program at the Wellness Center in Yogaville. He speaks about complementary medicine. He also talks about how hope, positive thinking, and the power of meditation are powerful tools in healing. Ⓟ© 2018 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / www.integralyoga.org

See God Within: In this talk that Swami Satchidananda gave in Singapore, he speaks about the difference between temporary and permanent happiness. Lasting happiness comes from knowing one’s inner, True Self—the God within. He describes how to experience this, referencing the Yoga of Patanjali, the Bhagavad Gita, and the teachings of the Bible regarding “Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God.” Ⓟ© 2018 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / www.integralyoga.org

Swami Satchidananda speaks about the nature of the mind, how the thought waves can wreak havoc in an unbalanced mind, and how to rise above the waves in order to experience inner peace. Ⓟ© 2018 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / www.integralyoga.org

In this talk recorded in India in 1981, Swami Satchidananda explains Yoga’s view of the nature of turbulence that arises in the mind. He compares the mind to a weighing scale—if the scale isn’t balanced to zero, it can’t weigh things properly. Similarly, if we don’t have a balanced mind, we can’t keep it on the zero point. The zero point enables us to be understand nothingness and fullness. Ⓟ© 2018 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / www.integralyoga.org

Swami Satchidananda was asked to give a talk about universal love, which leads him to speak about the nature of God’s love and that is the example we have of universal love. He compares this to a mother’s pure love for her child and explains how nature and the world teach us hard lessons, but these are sourced in God’s love. Ⓟ© 2018 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / www.integralyoga.org

After Swami Satchidananda talks briefly about the essence of Yoga, he is asked a series of questions about the Judgment Day of the Bible, burial vs. cremation, and how to avoid rebirth. Ⓟ© 2018 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / www.integralyoga.org

Recently, Integral Yoga teacher Carole Kalyani Baral was interviewed on Unity Online Radio's "Main Street Vegan" program by its host Victoria Moran. In this excerpt from the show, Kalyani talks about her Integral Yoga journey, becoming a vegetarian (and, later, vegan), and the health challenges that culminated in a life-threatening diagnosis. Kalyani discusses how a liver transplant, Yoga, and a healthy lifestyle gave her a new lease on life and a renewed dedication to selfless service. Kalyani also talks about contributing several sections to the new book, The Yoga Way: Food for Body, Mind & Spirit by Swami Satchidananda and that she was instrumental in bringing to fruition. https://www.unityonlineradio.org/main-street-vegan Ⓟ© 2018 Unity Online Radio

During an Integral Yoga retreat in Bali, Swami Satchidananda is asked a series of questions: about Jesus being in India, how to free oneself from karma and desires, and the purpose of our Yoga practices. Ⓟ© 2018 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / www.integralyoga.org

Swami Satchidananda explains that an important part of anyone’s spiritual path is to have a clear idea of their goal. This leads into a discussion about what we all seem to share in common: a search for happiness. During this talk, he also discusses a new documentary that has been produced about the interfaith ideals that he is shares with some of his fellow clergy and Sri Swamiji’s plan to build an interfaith shrine Ⓟ© 2018 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / www.integralyoga.org

During an Integral Yoga retreat in Bali, Swami Satchidananda speaks about the human tendency to worry about things over which we have no control. He gives advice, referring to prayers he repeated as a child that were helpful to him. He is also asked about his experiences in meeting Mother Theresa and the Pope. Ⓟ© 2018 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / www.integralyoga.org

Part 2 of talk by Swami Satchidananda, followed by questions and answers (with Greek translation). Μια συζήτηση από Swami Satchidananda, ακολουθούμενη από ερωτήσεις και απαντήσεις 28 April 1979, Athens, Greece Ⓟ© 2018 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / www.integralyoga.org (F1176)

A Talk by Swami Satchidananda, Part 1 Μια συζήτηση από Swami Satchidananda, Μέρος 1 28 April 1979, Athens, Greece Ⓟ© 2018 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / www.integralyoga.org (F1175)

In honor of Guru Poornima 2018, we offer this compilation of devotional bhajans by various artists who have dedicated these tracks to Sri Swami Satchidananda. Sri Swamiji founded Integral Yoga International (headquarters: Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, in Virginia). Our deepest respect and gratitude to Swami Satchidananda for the teachings of Integral Yoga and his unconditional love and guidance for thousands worldwide. Guru Poornima is a time that students and devotees pay tribute to the source of the teachings they have received. We offer our sashtanga pranams to our beloved Gurudev! Jai! Ⓟ© 2018 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / www.integralyoga.org

In honor of Guru Poornima 2018, we offer this compilation of devotional bhajans by various artists who have dedicated these tracks to Sri Swami Satchidananda. Sri Swamiji founded Integral Yoga International (headquarters: Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, in Virginia). Our deepest respect and gratitude to Swami Satchidananda for the teachings of Integral Yoga and his unconditional love and guidance for thousands worldwide. Guru Poornima is a time that students and devotees pay tribute to the source of the teachings they have received. We offer our sashtanga pranams to our beloved Gurudev! Jai! Ⓟ© 2018 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / www.integralyoga.org

In honor of Guru Poornima 2018, we offer this compilation of devotional bhajans by various artists who have dedicated these tracks to Sri Swami Satchidananda. Sri Swamiji founded Integral Yoga International (headquarters: Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, in Virginia). Our deepest respect and gratitude to Swami Satchidananda for the teachings of Integral Yoga and his unconditional love and guidance for thousands worldwide. Guru Poornima is a time that students and devotees pay tribute to the source of the teachings they have received. We offer our sashtanga pranams to our beloved Gurudev! Jai! Ⓟ© 2018 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / www.integralyoga.org