Swami Karunananda, Author at Integral Yoga® Magazine

Walking with Faith

Swami Karunananda — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 04:48:57 +0000

“When we walk with faith we’re never alone. We trust there’s a Higher Power always with us.” In this satsang talk, presented by Integral Yoga TV, Swami Karunananda, senior monk and teacher trainer, speaks on the subject of faith. She also shares amazing stories from her life as a disciple of Swami Satchidananda and student of Integral Yoga.

Watch here.

The post Walking with Faith appeared first on Integral Yoga® Magazine.

Health Benefits of Pranayama

Swami Karunananda — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 23:38:30 +0000

In this talk hosted by the Integral Yoga Institute of New Jersey, Integral Yoga master teacher and senior monastic Swami Karunananda explains the benefits of the practice of pranayama (yogic breathing techniques). She also shares the instructions she received from her Guru, Swami Satchidananda, about this practice and why it has become such an essential part of her daily sadhana (spiritual practice) and life. She also talks about the nature of prana, pranic healing, and shares various breathing techniques.

Swami Karunananda served as president of Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville in Virginia and in California, as well as director of the Integral Yoga Institutes in San Francisco and in Santa Barbara. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees, and as the chairperson of the Spiritual Life Board at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Virginia. Interested in fostering interfaith understanding and harmony, she is featured in the interfaith documentary entitled, “With One Voice.” She also compiled and edited the Lotus Prayer Book, a collection of prayers from various faith traditions, and Enlightening Tales as told by Sri Swami Satchidananda. She served as contributing editor for The Breath of Life: Integral Yoga Pranayama, as well as a senior writer for the Integral Yoga Magazine. In her book, Awakening: Aspiration to Realization Through Integral Yoga, she describes the spiritual path and provides guidance for the journey.

The post Health Benefits of Pranayama appeared first on Integral Yoga® Magazine.

The Light that Shines Through the Ages

Swami Karunananda — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 02:24:23 +0000

Photo: RDNE Stock project via Pexels.

We all need teachers in life; not everything can be learned from a book. According to Hindu tradition, there are four main teachers: Mata, Pita, Guru, Deva: Mother, Father, Guru and God. The mother is the baby’s first guru; she is everything to the baby: unconditional love, life-sustaining nourishment, and protection, even at the risk of her own life. When the child reaches a certain age, the father sees to the child’s formal education. When the time is right, he brings the child to the spiritual teacher, who shows the way to God. Along the way, we have many other teachers that guide us on life’s journey. To become a mechanic, a doctor, an accountant or farmer—to learn how to do any job—we need instruction from those who are already skilled in that area. This is even more true when it comes to spiritual realization, which is the most subtle attainment of all.

According to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, God, as the source of all knowledge, was the first teacher, the Guru of even the most ancient gurus. The Bhagavad Gita reassures us that God sends representatives into the world when the Light has grown dim and humanity is in need of guidance and grace. They come to rouse us from our slumber, set us on the path, and awaken us to our true nature, the divine presence within.

The Guru comes to light the way. In a lineage, the tradition is then passed on in an unbroken line of succession, from guru to disciple, from teacher to student. Through faith, spiritual practice, and service, the spark that we receive grows brighter within us and then gets passed on to others—like one candle lighting another in a beautiful progression. Those with more experience guide and support newcomers, and then they in turn, guide those who come after them. In that way, the torch gets passed from generation to generation.

Integral Yoga: The Beginning

Sri Gurudev, Swami Satchidananda, came to the West in 1966. It was a time when the youth were disillusioned and disheartened, questioning societal values and searching for new direction and meaning. Their sincere seeking attracted an influx of Eastern teachers and Yoga masters. East met West and when the two came together, ignition occurred: powerful forces were set in motion and the New Age Spiritual Movement was born.

Swami Satchidananda traveled the globe and found us in all sorts of places: in cities and suburbs, in communes and mansions, in universities and in business settings; and some who were just drifting with no place to go, nowhere to call home. He attracted people from all walks of life, from diverse backgrounds and faiths, with different temperaments, interests and capacities. The unifying factor amidst all the diversity was his unconditional love for everyone. His love for us was reciprocated by our love for him, and this blossomed into love for one another. That is how the Integral Yoga sangha was born.

He placed before us a vision for a new way of living, devoted to spiritual practice and the wellbeing of others. Sadhana and service supplanted old habits and patterns. It was a blend of the contemplative and active life. Life took on new meaning, filled with greater purpose and commitment. With love as the catalyst, a divine alchemy occurred that transformed our hearts and changed our lives forever. He shared his vision and we made it our own.

Albert Einstein once said: “There are two ways to live your life: One is as though nothing is a miracle; the other is as though everything is a miracle.” With this new vision, so-called miracles became common occurrences. It was as if the veil between the physical and subtle planes became thinner, more permeable, allowing us to feel more our connection with one another and the embrace of divine grace.

From the very beginning, there was a sense of recognition and closeness. At the conclusion of the first big retreat in California, attended by several hundred people, Gurudev told us that in our past birth, we had lived in India. We had heard about the material advances in the West and were eager to experience them. That desire drew us to take birth here. Having spent the first part of our lives enjoying that, and also seeing the limitations and problems, we were now returning to our former knowledge and pursuits.

I first met him on that retreat and it was as if something deep inside my heart rose from its slumber and woke up. His Light kindled the Light within me. When he spoke and I heard the Raja Yoga teachings for the first time, tears began to flow. This continued whenever he spoke for the duration of the retreat. I felt like I was being given another chance, that something deep inside that had been barren for millenia, was finally being watered again. I had studied science and philosophy in college and graduated with more questions than answers. In those five days of the retreat, all my questions were put to rest and for the first time in my life, my mind became still and knew peace.

Gurudev not only imparted the highest teachings, but he awakened, quickened, the Spirit within us. We not only learned about spiritual life, the miracle was that we practiced it. He presented the teachings in a way that made them accessible, graspable, doable. A new way of seeing, thinking, feeling and living opened before us.

He understood us: our condition, capacity, and culture. Accordingly, the Integral Yoga Institutes (IYIs) were established not simply

(Photo: Swami Satchidananda & members of the Berkeley IYI, 1969. The author is just behind Sri Swamiji.)

as schools where we would learn about Yoga, but as spiritual centers, where we could live and practice it every moment. They were places where we could connect with one another and find support, inspiration, friendship and fun, on the journey toward greater wellbeing and spiritual awakening. I feel that was the defining decision that shaped the Integral Yoga organization.

Shortly after that first retreat, I became a resident of the Berkeley IYI. It was amazing—living with a great group of people and doing Yoga together every day. On occasion, when we wanted to get a treat, we would form a line and do a walking meditation to our favorite ice cream parlor, a mile away. Invariably when we arrived, we would find extra people on the back of the line, who had silently joined us for the fun and meditative experience. Some of those original members of the Berkeley IYI went on to become lifelong friends and are living at the Ashram today.

Integral Yoga: The Expansion

Speaking of himself, Gurudev once made the following comparison: “Just like an expert swordsman can pick up a blade of grass and use it to vanquish his foes, God picked me up, an ordinary fellow, and accomplished wonderful things.” In like manner, Sri Gurudev picked us up and founded the worldwide Integral Yoga organization, a Yoga village (Yogaville), and a unique interfaith shrine (Light Of Truth Universal Shrine).

Looking back, one gets a sense of how quickly everything unfolded. He clearly was sent with a mission to fulfill. He arrived in New York in July 1966. Two months later, the first IYI was founded. Within a few years, branches were opening across the country and around the world. In 1972, the first Ashram was established in northern California; the following year, one was established in Connecticut. They were called Yogaville West and Yogaville East respectively.

In 1973, he initiated students into the Sannyas Order, transplanting an ancient monastic tradition from India to Western soil. In 1980, he founded the Integral Yoga Ministry. In 1979, Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville was established in rural Virginia as the international headquarters of the organization.

The following year, Sri Gurudev performed a puja, mounted a bulldozer, drove onto an open field and began digging. That is how the construction of the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS) began. There were no funds on hand to support the project, but Gurudev said, “This is God’s work. If God wants it to happen, all that we need will come.” Little by little, drop by drop, it did. From all over the globe, people came forward to offer their prayers, energy, skills and support. In 1986, almost twenty years to the day after he arrived in the United States, LOTUS was dedicated. Then, in 2014, in commemoration of Sri Gurudev’s 100th birth anniversary, LOTUS India was consecrated at the site of his boyhood home in South India.

Everything we see here and throughout the world in the name of Integral Yoga are expressions of his vision, guidance, teachings, and tireless efforts: our Integral Yoga institutes, Centers and Ashrams; all of our books, manuals, and publications; ground-breaking and unique teacher trainings; Yoga’s impact on healthcare and the natural treatment of illness; our very way of life. His mission was peace: peace for the individual through the six branches of Integral Yoga and peace for the world through his pioneering work in the field of interfaith understanding and harmony.

As all of this outer work was being accomplished, he became an integral part of our lives. He prayed with us and played with us; he celebrated and mourned with us. He brought out capacities we didn’t know we had and helped us to realize our potential in so many ways. And whenever anyone needed him, somehow, he was there—to comfort and guide, to heal and uplift.

So many memories come to mind. One of the ashramites had a bad fall on his bike. Within moments, Gurudev was on the ground at his side, calming and comforting him. Another returned from a difficult appointment at the eye doctor. As she pulled into the parking lot, so did he, and went over to bless and reassure her.

In California, he took us to see a premiere of the movie Gandhi. In Virginia, a new Star Wars movie premiered at the time of my birthday one year. I secretly had a wish to see it with him. No sooner had that wish formed in my heart, than an announcement went out that Gurudev would be taking the whole Ashram to see the film as his guest. We rented the theater for a private showing and I was blessed to sit in the seat next to him as we all enjoyed the movie.

Also in California, he took us on a whale watch. The captain cautioned us not to be disappointed, because the whales didn’t always appear, but as soon as we were out in deep water, we were flanked by mamas and babies that accompanied us for the rest of the cruise. In Virginia, every day after work in the summer, we all headed down to the lake for a swim and he would join us in his paddle boat. Under the hot southern sun, we were refreshed, relaxed, and having fun with our beloved Gurudev.

On the evening of 9/11, Gurudev called a meeting of the entire Yogaville community. He entered Sivananda Hall, and his presence was like a cool breeze flowing into the maelstrom of our anger, distress, and shock. With calm assurance, he quoted ancient scripture, saying “Not even an atom moves without the will of God.” Then, he spoke about karma. He provided a context, a container, in which to hold the unimaginable and restored solid ground beneath us. He steadied all of us through that crisis.

With a word, a touch, or a glance, he was able to remove any obstacle, dispel the deepest sorrow, and restore peace to the most troubled heart. All you had to do was to present your plight before him. He would listen patiently, and when you had said all there was to be said, he would sit quietly for a few moments. Then, you would hear his signature “Hmm”—the precious sound of divine comprehension and dispensation. With that single, “Hmm,” you knew that no matter how tangled or convoluted the problem seemed—it was now under the mantle of his knowledge and grace. You would have his backing, and with that, the strength and courage to face it.

The Light Shines On

Photo: Gurudev blesses the central altar in the LOTUS sanctuary, Guru Poornima, 2002.

At one of his final satsangs, Sri Gurudev gazed at us long and lovingly. He paused reflectively and then said, “I have given you everything. I haven’t held anything back. There is nothing more for me to give you. You have everything you need.” And he gave this assurance: “Remember, you will never be without me; never, never, never! The body may go, but I am always with you. Always!”

“When I leave my body, I will continue to guide you from a higher level. Spiritual help need not depend on the physical body. Most of the teachers became well-known and were able to help most of the disciples after their physical death.”

Many years back, he had told a group of early followers that they were like fertilizer for the real crop he was sent for—that was in generations yet to come.

In retrospect, it became clear that he had spent the months preceding his passing contacting and connecting with people for one last time. Guru Poornima was a beautiful celebration at the Ashram that year. On Sunday afternoon, we blessed the upper sanctuary of LOTUS. Before leaving the shrine, Gurudev made a very slow circumambulation of the All Faiths Hall, pausing a long time before each display, as if trying to memorize and imprint on his consciousness every single detail. As he entered his car, buckets of rose petals were suddenly there, and we gently tossed them onto the vehicle as his physical form faded from our view for the last time.

Several days later, he left the Ashram for Europe to see, bless, and spend time with the European sangha. From there, he went to India. His last official function was on August 13, 2002, when he served as the keynote speaker at a Global Peace Conference near Coimbatore. Six days later, on August 19, 2002, in Chennai, India, he passed from this earthly existence. His body was eighty-seven years old. His Indian devotees were able to offer their final devotions. Then his body was flown back to Virginia for his American devotees to view one last time and entomb according to the ancient sacred rites.

He is no longer physically present in our midst, but the Light of his Spirit and the Light of his teachings are with us always.

In the 1960s, when Gurudev first came to the West, Yoga was considered a fad, something exotic that the youth were exploring. By the 1990s, Yoga had gone mainstream. Yoga studios were popping up everywhere, along with articles, books, and magazines touting its benefits. An industry featuring Yoga clothing, props, and paraphernalia began to flourish. Conferences, cruises, vacations, and retreats had Yoga themes. Last year, the global Yoga industry was valued at $106 billion.

Today, it is the deeper message of Yoga that has become essential. Yoga has gone from fad, to mainstream, to essential. So much depends on more and more people understanding, and ultimately experiencing, that the same Spirit dwells within and unites us all. When we experience that Spirit within us, we will be able to see it in others as well. That vision of unity is the ultimate remedy for restoring peace to our polarized communities, countries and world—fraught with social, political, religious, economic, and cultural strife.

What we are seeing in the world today is an expression of our cumulative collective consciousness. Just as individuals have karma, there is national and global karma as well. Even the forces of Nature have been thrown out of balance today. If we want the nations of the world to release all their mistrust, intolerance, and violence, we can begin by cultivating forgiveness and loving-kindness in our own hearts. We are part of the world and each one of us is contributing to what we see unfolding around us. Our very survival and the healing of our planet seem to be hanging in the balance.

I feel that all that has come before in our lives has prepared us for the colossal challenges facing humanity now. As Integral Yogis, as a worldwide sangha, we can make a difference by prioritizing our spiritual practice. We can devote time every day to meditation and prayer, to finding the peace within and praying for the wellbeing of all creation. Personal practice will translate into global benefit.

We are more powerful than we realize. United, we can make a big difference. Sri Gurudev used to say that when crossing a turbulent river, one person might tumble, but tied together, we can all make it safely across. May we remember with gratitude all that we have been given and with love in our hearts, let us recommit, reconnect, and move forward with renewed hope and courage for the good of all. May God bless our humble efforts and may peace prevail on earth.

About the Author:

Swami Karunananda is a senior disciple of Sri Swami Satchidananda. In 1975, she was ordained as a monk into the Holy Order of Sannyas. She has had almost 50 years experience teaching all aspects of Yoga and specializes now in workshops, retreats, and teacher training programs that focus on the science of meditation, the philosophy of Yoga, personal transformation, and Yoga breathing techniques for better health and well-being. She developed, and for 30 years has taught, the Integral Yoga Teacher Training programs in Raja Yoga and in Meditation.

Interested in fostering interfaith understanding and harmony, she is featured in the interfaith documentary entitled, “With One Voice.” She also compiled and edited the Lotus Prayer Book, a collection of prayers from various faith traditions, and Enlightening Tales as told by Sri Swami Satchidananda. She served as contributing editor for The Breath of Life: Integral Yoga Pranayama, as well as a senior writer for the Integral Yoga Magazine. In her book, Awakening: Aspiration to Realization Through Integral Yoga, she describes the spiritual path and provides guidance for the journey.

The post The Light that Shines Through the Ages appeared first on Integral Yoga® Magazine.

Awakening to the Deeper Teachings of Yoga

Swami Karunananda — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 19:54:04 +0000

Photo by Ron Lach via Pexels.

The Chinese sage, Chuang-Tzu, once had a dream in which he was a butterfly. When he woke up, he didn’t know for sure if before, he had been a man dreaming he was a butterfly, or if now, he was a butterfly dreaming he was a man. Likewise, we are all caught in a dream of our own creation. We don’t see things as they truly are. Now, imagine for a moment what would happen if you were in the middle of a dream, and suddenly someone who is fully awake, an enlightened being, entered it?

Once I had a dream in which I was giving a lecture to a roomful of people. As I was talking, Sri Gurudev, Swami Satchidananda, suddenly entered and sat down directly in front of me. It was one of those special types of dreams; it felt as if he had really dropped in to check on me. The quality of his presence was different from everything else in the dream. As he sat there watching me, with perfect, unwavering attention, I became totally unnerved. I forgot what I was saying. All my mental constructs began to evaporate. That gaze of pure awareness, of perfect knowing, produced profound changes in me. He didn’t have to do anything. He just was there, in the dream, watching.

As I stood there stuttering and stammering, one by one, everyone in the audience began to leave, and I thought, I better do something quick. And then the thought came, “Why not talk about Raja Yoga? I’ve done that so often, I could do it in my sleep.” So I proceeded to give an introductory talk on Raja Yoga, which had the effect of pulling me out of the dream to the waking state. When I awoke, I was still giving the talk.

In a similar manner, Sri Gurudev entered into the life we are dreaming. Among all that we saw and experienced in the world, we could sense a definite difference in the quality of his presence. It may have been indefinable, but it was nonetheless undeniable and irresistible. He entered into our dream like the dawning of a great sun, and by his very presence, darkness was dispelled, and we began to stir from our slumber.

It was in 1966 that Sri Gurudev entered the “dream scene” in the West. At a time when many were exploring altered realities, there he stood rooted in the ultimate Reality. He shined like a beacon and offered a lifeline to all who were struggling, sleep-walking through self-created mazes of delusion.

It was a time when many great Yoga masters were being drawn to the western world, attracted by the awakening aspiration of the youth. Their spiritual Light ignited the flickering flame within the hearts of those young seekers, many of whom dedicated the ensuing years to realizing that same Spirit within themselves. That’s when Yoga began to flourish in the West. It was the first big wave.

During that period, several hundred people would typically attend our Yoga retreats. In California, those early retreats were held at Camp Kennolyn in the Santa Cruz Mountains. I remember one such retreat well. One afternoon, around 3 PM, we had a walking meditation. The leader set out with several hundred people in single file behind him. Several hours passed, and the staff gathered in the dining hall for dinner, only to find it totally empty. This was serious; no one missed meals in those days, so we immediately became concerned.

Photo by Maël Balland via Pexels.

It was dusk; darkness was quickly descending. We began to compare notes about when we had last seen anyone, when before our startled gaze, the retreatants began trickling in, still silent and in single file. They had been lost in the Santa Cruz Mountains for three hours. They marched in peacefully, just as if everything had transpired according to plan. It was beautiful to behold, and in a way, it conveys the spirit that characterized that first big wave of Yoga in the West.

In recent decades, we have witnessed another big wave: Yoga has gone mainstream. Articles abound touting its benefits. Classes are available everywhere: in studios, gyms, schools, resorts, hospitals, prisons, and businesses. With a tap of the finger, we have access to unlimited classes online. Yoga has become a multi-billion dollar enterprise, featuring retreats, vacations, and all sorts of specialties; offering lines of clothing, accessories, and props.

Along with this tremendous expansion of interest, we have seen the physical departure of the Yoga masters who came to lead the way. Since ancient times the Yoga teachings have been passed from master to disciple in an unbroken chain of succession, and now the torch has been passed to us. A question to consider is: In the midst of the popularity and material success, are we retaining the vision, fervor, and intention that our teachers ignited within us?

A well-known Yoga teacher once visited the Ashram and shared a conversation he had with a group of students. They were complaining of injuries they had suffered from attending Yoga classes that were too strenuous for them, and yet said they were still going to the same classes. When he asked them why they would do that, they replied that they liked the clothes.

Beyond the formidable physical and mental benefits, the teachings and techniques of Yoga have the power to totally transform our lives and enable us to experience the unshakable peace that resides within us as our own true nature. We understand and eventually realize the essential divine Spirit that is within us and pervades the entire creation. We recognize our interconnectedness and that we have a shared destiny. That peace and understanding are the need of the hour—for our own health and happiness, for the wellbeing of the global community, and for the healing of our planet.

The challenge before us is to keep that higher purpose in the forefront. In the year before his Mahasamadhi, Sri Gurudev said it was time for the Yoga community worldwide to go beyond the physical level and explore the deeper teachings of Yoga. In a way, that is what we have been seeing in our teacher trainings, residential programs and retreats. On site and online, in light of the common challenges we have all been facing in recent years, there is a renewed interest and dedication to go deeper in practice and experience all the benefits. As Yoga teachers, it is up to us to gently guide our students to that deeper level and the most effective way to do that is to experience it ourselves.

We need to walk our spiritual path with renewed conviction and commitment, with patience and perseverance, with faith and courage. What is the spiritual path? The path is what happens between intention and fulfillment; it is the gap between effort and realization. The bridge that spans that gap is forged by our practice.

The spiritual path has been likened to a razor’s edge—sharp, straight, and narrow. In the Hindu scriptures, it has been compared to a bridge made of a single hair over a river of fire. In either case, one would need to walk quickly, carefully, and lightly to reach the goal.

Life is fleeting. Time is short. Let us commit to doing all that we can to realize that supreme peace and then share it with others. If we do, the great spiritual teachers who went before us will no doubt shower their blessings, and we will continue to carry the torch of Yoga with the integrity, intention ,and love with which it has been passed through the ages.

About the Author:

Swami Karunananda is a senior disciple of Sri Swami Satchidananda. In 1975, she was ordained as a monk into the Holy Order of Sannyas. She has had almost 50 years experience teaching all aspects of Yoga and specializes now in workshops, retreats, and teacher training programs that focus on the science of meditation, the philosophy of Yoga, personal transformation, and Yoga breathing techniques for better health and well-being. She developed, and for 30 years has taught, the Integral Yoga Teacher Training programs in Raja Yoga and in Meditation. In her book, Awakening: Aspiration to Realization Through Integral Yoga, she describes the spiritual path and provides guidance for the journey.

The post Awakening to the Deeper Teachings of Yoga appeared first on Integral Yoga® Magazine.

Remembrances of My Guru on His 108th Birth Anniversary

Swami Karunananda — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 04:31:18 +0000

Decorations for Swami Satchidananda’s Birthday at the San Francisco IYI, 1970s.

For thirty-two years, I had the great good fortune to sit at the feet of Sri Swami Satchidananda (Gurudev). There were happy times and sad times, countless comings and goings, many ups and downs, but through it all, he remained the same: peaceful, patient, balanced, loving. He was always ready to forgive and forget; ever there to comfort and guide.

When I think back on those days, I feel that there are no words big enough, deep enough, strong enough or sweet enough to really describe those times. But I will do my best to describe a little of what it was like to be with him, to learn from him, to be trained by him, to and to grow under his guidance. I remember at one point he said: “I gave you the name ‘Karunananda,’ which means bliss of mercy.” And he said: “I’m going to have to watch you now, all the time, every moment, to see if you are merciful.”

Knowing that he was watching helped me to develop my own inner witness, observing my thoughts, feelings, words and deeds as I moved through all sorts of interactions and situations. It opened up an inner space where I could pause and reflect before acting or reacting.

During the 1970s, I was serving as treasurer at the San Francisco Integral Yoga Institute (IYI) and Swami Hamsananda (Sister Hamsa, at that time) was serving as executive secretary. We shared an office and often chatted as we worked. One day I turned to her and said: “Hamsa, I really need a push now to expand my capacity to serve.” Almost immediately, the phone rang and it was Gurudev, calling from Connecticut. He rarely called us in San Francisco. Hamsa answered the phone and Gurudev said: “I want to make a change. Let Sister Parvati (my name at the time) be the executive director. And Hamsa, I want you to work full-time transcribing my talks.”

It was like he was sitting in the room with us. He heard my sincere aspiration to grow and immediately opened a pathway so that could happen. And the transcriptions that Hamsanandaji proceeded to do for many years became invaluable for our learning, research, and for the production of books.

One year, Gurudev visited us in San Francisco during his birthday. We had a beautiful puja in the morning at the IYI. That evening, we had an unforgettable program at the Scottish Rite Auditorium. We had been searching for venues all over the city. I would always inquire as to the capacity. When I called the Scottish Rite Auditorium, they said that the capacity was 770 people. I immediately replied: “I’ll come right down and sign the contract.” I knew that it was the right place, because the address of the IYI was 770 Dolores Street. It seemed like some sort of divine synchronicity. We went on to use that venue numerous times in the coming years.

Photo: LOTUS Fundraising Dinner at Gaylord’s, mid-1980s.

The evening culminated in a magnificent and inspiring slide show celebrating Gurudev’s life and Integral Yoga. At the end of this slide show, the whole audience jumped to their feet in a standing ovation. It was around 11 pm when we left the auditorium. We had arranged to go for an Indian dinner at Gaylord’s restaurant in San Francisco after the program for a LOTUS fundraising dinner. Many people had signed up and traveled from all over California to attend.

After dinner, the guests came up to greet and visit with Gurudev. This went on until about 2 am. Then, we left the restaurant and entered the elevator to go down to the main level. Gurudev went in and started beckoning specific people to join him. At this point, I noticed a little sign that stated “Twelve people maximum occupancy.”

Soon, there were over two dozen people in the elevator. And then Gurudev invited a few more in, including me. We were shoulder to shoulder when he pushed the button. The door closed, the elevator started moving, and then, with a lurch, it stopped between floors. My first thought was: “Oh, no, there are too many people. It’s 2 am on a Saturday night, who is going to be available to help us?” Those who hadn’t gotten into the elevator started making calls all over the city. Some people stayed on the floor above us, others went to the floor below. They all started praying and chanting, because we didn’t know if, all of a sudden, the elevator might drop and crash down.

It began getting very hot and stuffy in the elevator. My logical conclusion was that we should all be as still as possible to conserve oxygen. As if in response to my thought, Gurudev immediately said: “Let’s all start chanting Rama Rama Rama Rama Rama.” So not only would we be using up a lot of oxygen on the physical level, but on a subtle level, we would also be increasing the heat by chanting a fire mantra.

People started acting out in different ways. Some were just trying to stay cool on all levels; others began to panic. People would jump up every few minutes and try pushing buttons. One person got on someone’s shoulders and tried to crawl out the top of the compartment. I trusted that Gurudev knew what was happening. At the same time, my mind was wondering: What’s going on here and how is this finally going to play out?

After about forty-five minutes, Gurudev leaned forward, pushed a button, and the elevator started. We found ourselves at ground level and everyone dispersed. I happened to be in the car with him as we were returning to the IYI. We asked him to please explain what had occurred. He said, “God wanted to make a test. When all the information was in, there was no need for the test to continue. So, the elevator easily started up again.” It was a good lesson and provided a way to understand challenges that could arise in life.

Photo: Karma Yoga gardening day in Santa Barbara with Gurudev, 1970s.

One time, I had the opportunity to watch Gurudev prune a bougainvillea plant at his residence in Santa Barbara. Bougainvillea plants are very beautiful and colorful. Gurudev took some garden shears and started chopping and pruning away. When he was done, all that was left was a small stump. I wondered what would become of this ugly little stump? It grew back quickly into an even more beautiful bush. This was the occasion of another good lesson. Sometimes losses in life can make room for something more beautiful to manifest. For gold to shine, the dross has to first be removed.

Another time, a Swami who was the head of an ashram in Hawaii, came to visit Gurudev and the Santa Barbara ashram. The main house at the ashram had originally been a pony express stop. We gathered in the small living room to enjoy the darshan of the two Yoga masters. At one point, the Swami looked around the room, tenderly gazing at each one of us. He then turned to Gurudev and said: “Swamiji, I can tell that these people are your disciples. They all have your eyes.” I thought it was the most beautiful compliment a disciple could ever receive.

Another revered Swami once visited the ashram in Virginia. He spent a week, getting to know us and participating in the ashram life. At his final satsang, he shared his experience with us. He said he had visited many ashrams and had never seen what he observed here. What struck him most was the love that united us all — the love of Gurudev for all of us, and of us for him and for one another. He described how special and unique that was.

After Gurudev’s passing, I visited the homes of many students and disciples of his. Everywhere I went, I saw photos of Gurudev at family weddings, graduations, dance recitals, baby blessings, and other meaningful events. He didn’t simply sit on a stage and deliver lectures. He drove a bulldozer, involved himself in every aspect of the building of LOTUS, oversaw the development of a school for the children, created a Fine Arts Society, was the master planner for Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, established an international Yoga organization, trained us how to teach all aspects of Yoga, and so much more. He participated in our lives, in our joys and sorrows. He worked with us and played with us. He celebrated and mourned with us. His very presence uplifted and transformed us.

On this auspicious occasion of his 108^th birth anniversary, I offer my profound gratitude for his blessings and grace in my life and in the lives of the many thousands of souls who have experienced comfort, inspiration, guidance and healing from his presence and teachings. Jai Gurudev! Jai Integral Yoga! Peace, peace, peace be unto all.

About the Author:

Photo: Swami Karunananda with Sri Gurudev, Santa Barbara, 1980s.

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Tender Recollections of My Guru

Swami Karunananda — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 02:29:44 +0000

Photo: Swami Satchidananda, 1966.

Sri Gurudev Swami Satchidananda came to the West in 1966. His presence was magnetic. He attracted people from all walks of life, from diverse backgrounds and faiths, with different temperaments, interests and capacities. The unifying factor amidst all the diversity was his love for everyone and everything. His love for us was reciprocated by our love for him, and this blossomed into love for one another. That is how the Integral Yoga sangha was born.

He placed before us a vision for a new way of living, devoted to spiritual practice and dedicated to the wellbeing of others. Sadhana and service supplanted old habits and patterns. Life took on new meaning, filled with greater purpose and commitment. With love as the catalyst, a divine alchemy occurred that transformed our hearts and changed our lives forever. We participated in his vision, became instruments of its manifestation, and saw with a new perspective.

Albert Einstein once said: “There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” With this new vision, so-called miracles became common occurrences. It was as if the veil between the physical and subtle planes became thinner, more permeable, allowing us to feel more the interconnectedness of all life and the embrace of divine grace.

Sri Gurudev loved animals and had an extraordinary connection to them. Many interesting creatures were drawn into the circle of his love. He had two dogs at the Connecticut Ashram, named Sita and Ram. When they got on in years, Gurudev sent them to live at his winter home near Santa Barbara, California. He felt the warmer weather would be better for their health. If you spent even a little time with them, it soon became clear that they were like an old married couple who had been together forever. A comfortable, warm place was set up for them in the laundry room that was next to the carport. Every once in a while, Ram would get restless and stay out till the wee hours of the morning. When he finally returned from his escapades, Sita would refuse to allow him to enter their room and he had to sleep on the proverbial couch; in this case, on a mat in the carport.

Photo: Swami Satchidananda and Ram.

Ram could be a bit overbearing at times and Sita humbly accepted his behavior. But all this would change when we went for a walk along the beautiful meditation path that the members of the Santa Barbara ashram had created on the property. There were shrines to St. Francis, the Buddha, Lord Siva and others and as we approached them, Ram would always bound ahead in front of us. But this behavior always changed when we approached the shrine to the Divine Mother. Ram would respectfully fall behind, allowing Sita to slowly proceed first. I would fall back as well, as there was something profoundly holy as she approached the shrine. With some effort, she would carefully jump onto the meditation bench and sit there steadily gazing and clearly worshiping the image of Mother Mary. Ram and I would stand there silently and respectfully until she finished her devotions. And as soon as she stepped down from the bench, Ram would quickly run down the path ahead of us again.

Over time, Sita’s body grew frail and her spirit passed from that sweet form. Ram went into a period of profound mourning and completely stopped eating. Sri Gurudev was traveling at the time. I became concerned and called him. He told me he would rearrange his plans and come as soon as possible.

Shortly after arriving, he had a conversation with Ram. I was in the next room and peeked in to see what was happening. Sri Gurudev was in the chair and Ram was sitting at his feet. Gurudev spoke to him softly as if he were speaking to an elderly gentleman who was a very dear friend. He told Ram that he had been very blessed to have his sweetie, Sita, with him for so many years. She was with God now and it was time for him to renounce and become a sannyasin. By his gaze and demeanor, Ram seemed to understand Gurudev’s words. Sri Gurudev stroked and petted him lovingly. He asked me to bring Ram some food and we watched as he began to eat again. Ram’s heart had been comforted and the burden of grief lifted. Ram proceeded to live in a gentle manner, a renunciate in that precious little form.

At that time, when Gurudev was away, I was living and serving as a caretaker at his home. Every day, after tending to various chores, I would go to our ashram in Santa Barbara to serve. One day, I was halfway down the hill when I realized I had left behind some documents that needed to be filed at the bank by noon. So, I headed back. As I pulled into the carport, I felt a strange vibration. It was very peaceful and at the same time, wild, almost primordial. When I got out of the car and looked across the long expanse of lawn in front of the house, it didn’t look green; it was black and seemed to be moving. As I drew closer, it became apparent that it was covered with snakes everywhere. Black snakes, rattlesnakes, and others abounded in the area, but I had never seen anything like this before.

I felt that the snakes were no doubt drawn to the peaceful vibration that permeated the property and came out to enjoy it when I was not there. They respected my time. I was the intruder now; it was their time to enjoy Sri Gurudev’s holy vibration. So, I bowed to them, explained the situation, told them what I needed to do, and humbly requested safe passage. Then, I proceeded to walk through that carpet of snakes, retrieve the papers, and before getting back into the car, bowed again and thanked them.

Photo: Heading out to whale-watch.

Sri Gurudev once invited the Santa Barbara sangha on a whale-watch. We chartered a boat and eagerly gathered for the outing. Before we set out, the captain told us not to be disappointed if we didn’t see any whales, as they didn’t always show up. As soon as we entered deep waters, much to everyone’s surprise, mama and baby whales flanked us and joyfully accompanied us for the duration of the trip.

The ashram cat was named Sarasvati. She was a regular farm cat whose job was to serve as chief mouser. She did her job well, often leaving remains of her nighttime endeavors under my desk the next morning. When I came to work, she would eagerly stand by waiting for praise for having done a good job.

We got a glimpse of her higher nature one Navaratri, the Hindu festival of nine nights in honor of the Divine Mother. The first three nights are dedicated to the Goddess Durga, the next three nights to Goddess Lakshmi, and the final three nights to Goddess Sarasvati. On the first night of the worship to Sarasvati, our cat by that name entered the barn we had converted into a meditation hall and slowly, ceremoniously, walked up to the altar and gently touched and sniffed every item to be offered in the service. Then she slowly exited the room. It felt like the Goddess, herself, had come to receive our offering through her namesake.

At the Integral Yoga Institute (IYI) in San Francisco, we also had a mouse problem. So, Swami Divyanandaji wrote a “Help Wanted” ad for a cat and posted it on the swinging pet entrance on our back door. The ad read: “Good mouser needed, ideal work conditions, loving home.” Within twenty-four hours, a cat showed up and stayed with us for the duration of the problem.

Some of the mice had taken up residence upstairs in our temple. They particularly liked the puja closet and one chose to live under the altar. Late one night, I decided to go upstairs to meditate. My mind drew inward quickly and as the mantra began, I seemed to notice a small form scurry out from the altar and run under my blanket. I was so peaceful and inward that, somehow, I just ignored it. When I arose two hours later, I felt something fall out of my blanket and run back under the altar. Our little temple mouse had sat “quiet as a mouse” and meditated along with me.

At Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Virginia, one of the families had a cat called Bhuvaneshvari, which means “The Goddess of the World.” Every morning the cat showed up outside Guru Bhavan (the meditation hall) around 4:45 a.m., ready for our 5:00 a.m. meditation. When Sri Gurudev gave satsang on Saturday nights, she would sit outside the glass side door and watch him attentively, gently meowing, as he gave darshan.

On one occasion, I hosted a press interview for Sri Gurudev and a reporter inside the Display Hall at the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS). It was a little stuffy inside, so I left the door propped ajar. A few minutes into the interview, a large, bright green praying mantis hopped into the room. It stood there transfixed, its gaze focused on Sri Gurudev. After a few minutes, it advanced about a foot closer. Its gaze unwavering, every few minutes, it came closer still. Soon, it was at Gurudev’s feet, continuing to gaze upward at his face. All the while, both the reporter and Sri Gurudev appeared not to notice the determined little creature.

The next moment, the praying mantis jumped onto Gurudev’s leg. Continuing to look at Gurudev’s face, the little insect jumped onto his lap. It was difficult to miss the bright green praying mantis on Gurudev’s bright orange robe, yet the reporter and Sri Gurudev talked on as if nothing unusual was happening. At about now, I was beginning to wonder if I had slipped into a parallel universe.

Next, it hopped onto Gurudev’s arm. As it jumped onto his shoulder, it became clear that I was going to have to intervene soon. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that the next move would be atop Gurudev’s face. So, I stood up and walked over to Sri Gurudev with my hands cupped, hoping to gently scoop up the mantis. I figured they were both pretending not to see the praying mantis, so hopefully, I could make my move unnoticed as well. As I leaned over, Gurudev quickly turned to me and said, “Leave it alone; it has come to hear my talk.” I withdrew and sat down. The praying mantis remained perched on his shoulder, watching and listening for a while longer, and then slowly made its way back down Sri Gurudev’s body and out the door.

Gurudev once commented that the dog you see on the road could have been a saint in its past birth and due to one mistake, came back in a dog’s body. At a satsang, he gazed around the room and remarked that we were not the only ones present. He said the room was filled with souls who had come for the satsang.

Such comments suggest that our normal way of seeing doesn’t always grasp the full picture. I believe that the divine presence peeks through in innumerable ways, through various forms, at important moments in our lives. If we have the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and hearts open to receive it, we experience that special guidance and support.

Photo: Swami Satchidananda with a life-size portrait of Swami Sivananda as “Givananda.”

I would like to conclude with our spiritual beginning: a story concerning Sri Swami Sivananda (the Guru of Swami Satchidananda) and divine intervention. Swami Sivananda wrote over three hundred books on all aspects of Yoga—on health, religion, world peace and spiritual life. When visitors came to his ashram in Rishikesh, he would delight in giving away the books, never thinking of the cost. When the ashram was having financial difficulties, the disciples would sometimes try to encourage people to make their purchases before they saw Sivanandaji—because they knew that once they saw him, Swami Sivananda would simply give them everything they needed. The ashramites referred to him as “Swami Givananda.”

In the mid-1970’s, at the San Francisco IYI, we had an opportunity to experience this generosity directly. One day, an elderly woman showed up at the IYI with several cartons of books by Swami Sivananda. Many were rare, some were first editions, and there were even some that were autographed by him. Somehow, she was inspired to donate them to us. The only problem was the binding on many of the books was broken. We weren’t quite sure what to do with them, because if we put them on our shelves, they would soon fall apart.

A couple of days later, a salesman rang our doorbell. The IYI in San Francisco is set high off the street in a beautiful old Victorian home. You have to climb a long flight of stairs to reach the front door. No salesperson had ever come to the door before, nor did any come after. You’ll never guess what he was selling: a portable book-binding machine! He asked if we had any books that needed binding, and I told him, “As a matter of fact, we do.” He then gave us a demonstration of how the machine worked and asked if we’d be interested in purchasing it. I told him it was much too expensive for us to consider that, and other than the books in those cartons, we really had no need for it.

And then he offered to leave the machine with us for a week to try it out. I told him again that we wouldn’t be purchasing it. He said, “That’s okay; just bind the books that need it and I’ll pick it up in a week.” He proceeded to remove from his briefcase sheets of blue vinyl to use for the covers. When I offered to pay him for the materials, he even refused that. He just said, “Bind your books and I’ll be back.”

We made a schedule, rotated shifts and had someone binding books non-stop till he returned a week later. We finished just as he arrived. He simply asked if we had bound all the books. I said, “Yes.” He said, “Good.” And then he took the machine and left. We never heard from again. We never received any literature from his company in the mail. I’m not sure if a company even existed! Knowing how much Swami Sivanandaji loved to give, I believe that he wasn’t simply satisfied in giving us all those books. He made sure they were in top condition, too!

As we approach Guru Poornima, as well as the Mahasamadhi anniversaries of both our Guru, Sri Swami Satchidananda, and our Paramguru, Sri Swami Sivananda, it is good to remember their blessed presence and teachings in our lives. If not for them, probably most of us would never have met. The Integral Yoga organization would not exist. Yogaville and LOTUS would never have been established. A particular pathway to spiritual realization and liberation would not have been opened before us. Our souls would not have been invited—beckoned—to embark on the journey and attain the highest.

At one of his final satsangs, Sri Gurudev gazed at us long and lovingly. He paused reflectively, and then said, “I have given you everything; I have held nothing back. There is nothing more for me to give. You have everything you need.”

Tender recollections are reminders of how much we have to be grateful for and how their spirit, teachings, and grace continue to illuminate our lives today.

About the Author:

Photo: Swami Karunananda with her Guru in Santa Barbara, California, early 1980s.

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A Spiritual Formula for Meeting Overwhelming Challenges

Swami Karunananda — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 19:58:25 +0000

Photo by Matt Hardy from Pexels

Most of you will probably recognize the following prayer by St. Francis of Assisi. As you read it, let the words enter your heart. Take a moment to reflect on how you could apply it both outwardly to others and inwardly toward yourself.

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

This prayer is an expression of what in the Hindu tradition is called Sanatana Dharma, the eternal truth. It is true for all times and places, all cultures and nations, irrespective of one’s politics, philosophy or religion. It encapsulates, expresses in a nutshell, the essence of the major paths of Yoga: Karma, Bhakti, Jnana and Raja — service, love and wisdom. It is a pure and powerful application of a key practice in Raja Yoga, called Pratipaksha Bhavana, in which we overcome something negative by cultivating the opposite positive.

It is a prayer of healing, inclusivity and equality. It is a call to the soul to lead a truly holy life and offers a pathway to the highest spiritual realization. It is as relevant today as when it was first uttered — a formula for dealing with the seemingly overwhelming challenges facing every individual in the global community today. As the new year approaches, if you are contemplating making some resolutions, you need look no further than one of these exhortations. They can serve as an anchor during the current storm, as well as a guiding light for a lifetime.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

God resides in the sanctuary of our hearts in the form of peace. The mind is like a lake. Thoughts are like waves. When we still the thoughts, we can see to the bottom of the lake, to the very depths of our being, and experience that supreme peace within us. Daily meditation, practiced regularly over time, will enable us to experience that peace. Try to have at least two sittings daily, working up to thirty minutes each. Good times for meditation are first thing when you arise in the morning and last thing before you retire at night. It is also very beneficial to sit at the junctures, or transitions, of the day when sattva, or purity, prevails in the atmosphere: before dawn, at noon, and at dusk.

To be an instrument of peace, we also need to bring that peace into our lives. Even if we don’t feel peaceful at times, we can choose peace in our interactions. We can set the intention of fostering peace in all that we do. In tense situations, we can pause, breathe, and carefully select our words. When there are difficult decisions to be made, we can check our motives and reflect on the consequences before acting. If all of us committed to choosing peace above all else, our combined soul-force would have a significant impact on our families, friends, neighbors, community and the world.

Where there is hatred let me sow love. 

Photo by Диана Дунаева from Pexels

The Holy Bible states: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” This means that everything depends on our connection, attunement, and coming into right relationship with the Higher Power, (which is none other than our own true Self), and with one another. This entails reverence, respect, kindness and love.

There is no greater force than love — to heal broken hearts, to restore broken lives, to reignite the will to persevere in the face of hardships. It is a basic human need to feel cherished and valued, to feel that one is truly seen and understood, and that one’s life has meaning and purpose. Not only can we offer this to one another; it’s part of our dharma, our duty, to do so. We are an interdependent species; our existence depends on mutual support. As the poet John Donne said, “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a part of the continent … any man’s death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind.”

Our collective humanity needs the healing grace of love. We can choose love in our interactions with people, with our pets, plants, and possessions. A gentle touch, a kind word, a thoughtful smile, an unexpected check-in call — can change a day, can save a life. Mother Teresa said: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” The quality of a life is not determined by rare heroic feats, but by how we meet each moment. We can strive to do so consciously, mindfully and lovingly.

There is a Zen saying: “The way we do anything is the way we do everything.” Consider that the next time you prepare a meal, or answer the phone, or drive your car, or clean your home. Do you move through life carefully, patiently and lovingly? Or do you often find yourself rushed, scattered, or frustrated? The entirety of who we are is reflected in every little thing we do. If you really look closely as you move through just one activity, you will learn volumes about yourself and where improvement may be needed.

Many years ago in Europe, there lived a holy rabbi. Along with the local villagers, a man who lived a great distance away, would always come to the rabbi’s service. He would quietly attend and then depart for home.

In the fullness of time, the rabbi’s life came to an end. The man who had traveled every week to see him came to the funeral. When the rites were completed, the other congregants surrounded him and inquired: “In all these years, come rain or shine, no matter what may have been happening in your personal life, you never missed the rabbi’s service. What drew you to him? Was it his reading of the Torah or his brilliant discourses; did he give you special guidance? With tears in his eyes, the man humbly replied, “I came to watch him tie his shoes.” The greatness and holiness of the rabbi were fully revealed in the simplest of acts that he performed.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Each one of us is a “work in process.” Swami Satchidananda used to refer to the universe as a universe-ity. We are here to learn, to grow and evolve, and this means that we will make mistakes. Without forgiveness, we would all be caught in endless karmic webs of suffering, devoid of redemption. Forgiveness provides a pathway to salvation for both the giver and the recipient.

Photo by Rodnae Productions from Pexels

The prayer states: “It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.” The Holy Bible puts it this way: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” This can be understood if you picture a funnel that is being used to transfer honey from a greater source to another vessel. The funnel, too, gets the sweetness. Likewise, when we forgive others, the spirit of forgiveness flows through us, and we, too, are forgiven.

There is a saying: “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” Forgiveness involves rising above ordinary patterns of reactivity, divesting ourselves of stories we may have been telling ourselves for years and attitudes that no longer serve our higher good. It can flow spontaneously as a dispensation of divine grace or it can be offered deliberately as an act of choice. It is the letting go of anger or resentment even if the situation seems to warrant it and giving instead the gifts of mercy, generosity, and love.

If we don’t forgive, the hurts we experienced in the past continue to have power over us in the present. As we stand on the cusp of a new year*, we can make it a new beginning. Consider what you wish to retain and remember, and what you wish to release, to forgive and forget.

You may wonder, “How is it possible to forget when someone has wronged you?” There was once a spiritual teacher, who as a boy, had a classmate that treated him very cruelly. Years later, the former classmate came to visit the teacher and was received with much kindness. After a while, overcome by the love and gentleness of the teacher, the former classmate asked: “Don’t you remember how badly I treated you when we were boys?” And the teacher replied, “I distinctly remember forgetting it!”

Mahatma Gandhi was once asked how he could put up with all the injustice and cruelty in the world. He responded: “I’m such a scoundrel myself, I have compassion for the other scoundrels in the world.” When we think of all the failings and weaknesses we may have, all the mistakes we have made, shouldn’t that inspire us to be more compassionate and forgiving toward others? The Tao Te Ching states: “Mercy is the means by which heaven saves and guards.” Forgiveness, mercy and grace are what ultimately set us free.

Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

Together, we are on a path of unknowing, uncertain as to what each day might bring. Faith can be understood as an acronym for Fear Absent In The Heart. No matter what may come, girded by faith, we can face it with courage and inner strength.

Hope is a Light that will sustain us through the darkness. Standing before a turbulent river, one can easily give way to despair. But when others link arms with us, ready to face the rocky waters alongside us, hope is restored and the impossible becomes doable. For certain, this period in our shared journey shall pass: the turbulent waters will settle; the elements will come back into balance; harmony will be restored.

St. Frances de Sales one noted that “A sad saint is a sad saint indeed.” In the coming year, we can all make renewed efforts to bring some laughter and lightheartedness into one another’s lives. The Tirukkural, a holy scripture from South India, enjoins us to “Laugh when a calamity comes upon you. There is nothing like laughter for overcoming it.”

As we embark on yet another unpredictable year, we have the power to choose how we will meet it. Whereas external circumstances may not be under our control, our attitude toward them is. We can choose peace; we can choose love; we can choose mercy and forgiveness. We can affirm our faith, keep the light of hope burning bright, and find joy in the blessings big and small that come our way. We can greet each day with gratitude for the gift of life, of breath, of nourishment, of family and friends. In some subtle way, our souls have chosen to be here, now, to undergo this experience. Let’s make the most of it, inwardly and outwardly, for the benefit of one and all.

For it is in giving that we receive;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

In the culmination of the prayer, St. Francis reflects the signature teaching of Sri Swami Satchidananda and the guiding principle for Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville. The yogic version comes from the Bhagavad Gita, where the Sanskrit states: Tyagat Shantir Anantaram. Swami Satchidananda interpreted this to mean: “The dedicated ever enjoy supreme peace. Therefore, live only to serve.”

In yogic terms, we would say that a dedicated life is one of selfless service, giving without expecting anything in return, as an instrument in the hands of the Divine. By renouncing selfish desire, we die to the promptings of the lower egoistic self and awaken to our true nature — the ever-blissful, peaceful, eternal Spirit within.

May the Light shine ever brighter in the coming year. Wishing you all health and happiness, peace and prosperity, fun and fulfillment, in the days, weeks, and months to come as, together, we make another trip around the sun. Om shanti shanti shanti. May peace be unto all.

About the Author:

*Article is from a talk given on New Year’s Eve 2022 by Swami Karunananda

The post A Spiritual Formula for Meeting Overwhelming Challenges appeared first on Integral Yoga® Magazine.

Raja Yoga’s Essential Teaching: The Quest for Happiness

Swami Karunananda — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 01:18:18 +0000

In this 3rd installment of this series on “Raja Yoga Now,” Swami Karunananda encourages our readers to explore what they are truly searching for in life. And, to consider how the teachings of Raja Yoga can support one’s inner exploration and spiritual journey.

What do we really want out of life?

If you ask any parent what they want for their children, they invariably reply: “I want them to be happy.” The basic want behind all the other wants seems to be happiness. Our lives are spent seeking that happiness, usually through possessions, positions, relationships, and attainments. Even our addictions are a misguided search for happiness.

What do we find? We get some temporary happiness mixed with problems and pain. Often, there is anxiety that we won’t get what we want. We get angry if something obstructs our efforts; depressed if we fail. After we get it, comes the fear of losing it. Sometimes there’s disappointment, because it doesn’t meet our expectations. So much effort and energy are expended in the process.

We may work hard to save money to purchase a new car. Finally, the long-awaited day arrives. We go to the car dealership to pick up our new vehicle. The moment we drive it off the lot, the value of the car depreciates considerably. Already, it is worth less than we paid for it.

Analysis

A little analysis will show that if we seek permanent happiness in external ways, we are destined for frustration and failure—because everything in the world is subject to change. Winter gives way to spring, day to night. The garden is in bloom and goes to seed. Consider all the changes in your own life in the past ten years. Are you living in the same place or with the same people? Do you have the same car? Are you working at the same job? Has your bank balance fluctuated? Is your body the same—your health, weight, or even your hairstyle? How many friends have you seen come and go? In everyone’s life, the pendulum swings between pleasure and pain, loss and gain, praise and blame, success and failure.

Yet through it all, something propels us onward in this quest for happiness. That is because the source of all happiness is within us as our own true Self. What we seek is who we are. Our innermost Self calls to us to return and discover the peace and joy, beauty and fulfillment, within. We are like the fabled musk deer that roams the universe looking for the source of a beautiful fragrance that is emanating from a spot above his forehead. Or like someone who is looking for their glasses, when all the while they are comfortably perched on top of their head.

Paradox

It seems like a paradox: If that’s who we are, then why don’t we experience it? Swami Satchidananda gave an explanation in the form of an analogy. To see our face, we need a mirror. In like manner, to experience our true Self, we need an inner mirror. We have a mirror within—the mind. If the mirror of the mind is clean and steady, we see an accurate reflection and experience the perfection of our true nature. However, if the mirror is colored, curved, or twisted, we see a distorted reflection.

Even though we are still perfectly fine, we identify with the reflection and think that is who we are. If there’s a sad reflection, for example, we say, “I am depressed.” Then, to remedy the situation, we usually look for external things to make us feel better, which only perpetuates the problem.

First, as was already stated, we can never find lasting happiness that way because everything external is subject to change. And secondly, every time the mind goes outward to experience objects, it takes their form and gets colored by them. Thus, the mental mirror is continually distorting, so we don’t see the true reflection.

Solution

The very act of seeking happiness outside prevents us from experiencing the true happiness within. Instead, if we restrained the mind from going outward and let it rest calmly within, we would experience the happiness we are seeking. That is the essential teaching of Raja Yoga. When we forget our true nature and seek happiness outside ourselves, that is the basic ignorance, and the root of all suffering.

The secret of happiness lies not in getting things, but in gaining mastery over the mind. Raja Yoga is a practical and comprehensive guide for attaining this goal. It is a handbook to enlightenment: to transformation, illumination, and liberation from all suffering.

About the Author:

Swami Karunananda served as president of Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville in Virginia and in California, as well as director of the Integral Yoga Institutes in San Francisco and in Santa Barbara. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees, and as the chairperson of the Spiritual Life Board at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Virginia. She is a contributing editor for The Breath of Life: Integral Yoga Pranayama, as well as a senior writer for the Integral Yoga Magazine. In her book, Awakening: Aspiration to Realization Through Integral Yoga, she describes the spiritual path and provides guidance for the journey. This article is an excerpt from her forthcoming book: Raja Yoga Now.

The post Raja Yoga’s Essential Teaching: The Quest for Happiness appeared first on Integral Yoga® Magazine.

Raja Yoga Now: The Beginning

Swami Karunananda — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 00:39:16 +0000

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali begins with a call that reverberates through the ages: Atha Yoganusasanam: Now the exposition of Yoga is being made. It is an invitation to seekers of truth everywhere, irrespective of place, time or circumstance. It offers a universal message: a guide to peace, freedom and happiness for one and all. The auspicious moment has arrived. We are beginning a journey of inner discovery, of refining, returning, and realizing who we are in truth.

The very first word, “Now,” conveys the focus and one-pointedness needed for success. Probably, most of us, most of the time, are not in the “here and now”; instead, we dwell in the “there and then.” Our minds fluctuate between the past and future and, intermittently, land on the present moment. In the “now,” there is peace and clarity. The fluctuations give room for suffering. Memory and anticipation cloud our understanding and obscure the truth of what is happening. We create stories for ourselves, rather than perceiving what “is.” Then, those stories define who we are, the world around us, and our experience of life.

Once I was accompanying my guru, Swami Satchidananda, to the airport in San Francisco. We were late in departing and there was a lot of traffic. The driver was doing his best to get us there quickly, weaving in and out of the cars on the congested highway. Suddenly, a car darted in front of us and we barely missed having a collision. The driver seemed dazed by what had happened and the car slowed down to a crawl. Clearly, at that rate, we were going to miss the flight.

At that point, Gurudev turned to him and said, “What happened is over; it’s in the past. Move on; go forward.” It was if the fellow snapped out of a dream. He dropped the memory and the story he was creating about it, and got us to the airport on time.

We are all caught in a dream of our own creation. Now is the time to wake up.

About the Author:

Swami Karunananda served as president of Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville in Virginia and in California, as well as director of the Integral Yoga Institutes in San Francisco and in Santa Barbara. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees, and as the chairperson of the Spiritual Life Board at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Virginia. She is a contributing editor for The Breath of Life: Integral Yoga Pranayama, as well as a senior writer for the Integral Yoga Magazine. In her book, Awakening: Aspiration to Realization Through Integral Yoga, she describes the spiritual path and provides guidance for the journey. This article is an excerpt from her forthcoming book: Raja Yoga Now.

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Raja Yoga Now: The Master’s Touch

Swami Karunananda — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 19:55:38 +0000

(Photo: Integral Yoga Retreat)

It was in September 1970 that I first met my spiritual master. It was a time when many great Gurus were being drawn to the West, attracted by the awakening aspiration of the youth. Several hundred of us had gathered at a rustic site in the mountains of California for our first spiritual retreat. Sri Swami Satchidananda was to be our guide for this inner journey of discovery.

Every morning and evening, as the mist touched the mountains, he would come and impart the sacred teachings, just as they had been passed from Guru to disciple since ancient times. In the brisk mountain air, we sat rapt in an atmosphere electric with knowledge and power, permeated with peace and love.

For grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them. —St. Augustine

On those five precious days, Sri Gurudev, (as we came to call him), presented the teachings of Raja Yoga and changed my life forever. As he spoke, tears filled my eyes. It was if the deepest part of my soul was being watered after eons of drought, and something that had been lying dormant, almost forgotten, was suddenly quickened and awakened.

I had recently graduated from college where I had studied science and philosophy, and found myself with more questions than answers. By the end of the retreat, all those questions had been resolved, and my mind knew peace. His words resonated deep within my heart. It was like hearing that which I had always known to be true, but with a clarity and authority that put all doubts to rest.

The following year, Sri Gurudev returned for a second retreat. He spoke at length about yama and niyama, the first two limbs of Sri Patanjali’s eight-limbed system of Raja Yoga. Yama refers to the Great Vows, five abstinences that all are asked to follow: non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence or moderation, and non-greed. Niyama refers to five observances for spiritual life: purity, contentment, accepting pain as help for purification, spiritual study, and surrender to the Divine. It was clear from his emphasis that these were the foundation of spiritual life.

His presentation of the teachings fanned the flame of my flickering aspiration, and along with numerous other participants, I requested mantra initiation. Much to my surprise and dismay, he refused my request. I was stunned, confused and didn’t know what to do. Then one day, he recounted the story of Ekalavya, a young hunter boy who wanted to learn archery from Drona, the teacher to the children of the royal family. Drona refused, explaining that certain techniques were given only to the princes, because they were the ones charged with defending the country. They were not to be imparted to an ordinary hunter, who armed with that knowledge, might one day challenge the royal family. Unmoved by Ekalavya’s pleas and promises, Drona remained firm in his refusal to teach him.

(Photo: Ekalavya requesting Drona to be his Guru.)

At first, Ekalavya was very disappointed. But then, he had an idea: “Drona may not want to teach me, but I will learn from him.” In his heart, he took Drona as his Guru. Out of clay, he fashioned a crude image of Drona, placed it on a pedestal, and started meditating on it. He was one-pointed in his devotion and determination. And as he sat there and meditated, all that Drona was imparting to the princes in the forest was revealed to him as well.

The proof came one day when Drona was teaching Arjuna the “multiple warhead” secret. Arjuna was told to take one arrow, repeat certain mantras, aim and shoot. The arrow would then multiply itself into ten arrows and pierce the target in ten places. Simultaneously, Ekalavya received the secret teaching as he was meditating in front of the clay image. As fate would have it, both Arjuna and Ekalvya chose the same wild pig as their target. When they tracked down the pig, it was pierced by twenty arrows. Even though Drona had refused to teach him, Ekalavya had received all the knowledge because of his faith and focus.

Emboldened by the story, I decided to take a similar approach. I summoned my courage and declared to the invisible presence of my teacher, “You may not have accepted me as your student, but I have chosen you as my Guru.” Then, as an offering to my Guru, I resolved to spend the next year working on the precepts of yama and niyama. I would focus on one a month, and just as Gurudev had recommended, if I slipped in my resolve on any given day, I would observe a certain consequence. He indicated that the consequence could be any beneficial practice, like more pranayama, meditation, or selfless service. That way, you would be continually asserting your mastery over the mind.

I was a typical beginner—eager, but clueless as to my capacity. The first precept was non-violence, so I decided to be non-violent in thought, word and deed. Being a beginner, I also chose what seemed to be the most challenging consequence I could imagine: If I failed in my resolve, I would fast for the rest of the day. I sent Sri Gurudev a note telling him of my commitment and began the practice immediately. Needless to say, the part of my mind that did not want to be disciplined was equal to the challenge I had set before it. In the morning, shortly after awakening, my mind would produce a thought that was not in keeping with my resolve, so I would have to fast for the rest of the day. Daily, I struggled with my mind’s resistance and attempts to sabotage my efforts. Determined, I persisted with the practice.

(Photo: Swami Karunananda receives her Guru’s blessing.)

On the last day of the retreat, Sri Gurudev unexpectedly called me to see him. As I approached, it felt like everything that had come before in my life converged to this one moment in time and then came to a standstill. Space and time fell away; all that existed was this extraordinary presence I felt before me. His eyes looked totally black, yet filled with light. They seemed like a portal, through which one could see into the center of the universe. He said nothing, but extended his hand and placed it firmly on my head. I was filled with a power and blessing beyond anything I could conceive. Then, he softly said he would accept me as his disciple. Casually, he indicated that the meeting was over and I returned to the retreat. I believe that one moment of grace shaped and has sustained all my efforts on the spiritual path ever since.

After leaving the retreat, I continued the practice, working on one precept per month for the balance of the year. I learned so much that I decided to have a second go-around. It was time to practice non-violence again, but by now, I was a more seasoned aspirant. I retained the same consequence, but re-evaluated my goal for the month. Whereas before, it was to be totally non-violent on every level, now I wished to set a goal that seemed so easy I wouldn’t have to fast. So, I eliminated trying to control my thoughts; that would definitely be too hard. Next, I eliminated trying to control speech. Even being vigilant with respect to all actions seemed too taxing. So, I kept narrowing the field till, at last, I came to one thing: doors. In the name of non-violence, I wouldn’t slam doors.

This was a moment of stark personal reckoning. I thought I could be totally non-violent in thought, word and deed, only to discover I couldn’t even be trusted to close a door gently. But that month spent trying not to slam doors turned out to be one of the most important steps on my spiritual path. It laid the foundation for all the inner work that has followed. It was meaningful on two counts:

First, it was a good match for my capacity. Previously, I had been trying to fly, when I could barely crawl. No real growth can happen that way. Trying to reach too far too fast is a trick of the mind that can sabotage our efforts. Goals have to be challenging, but doable. If we make the effort, we will succeed. That way we feel a forward momentum; our progress becomes tangible and our confidence grows.

Secondly, spiritual practice was no longer confined to a couple of hours at the beginning and end of the day. I began to see doors everywhere. A sliding window was a door, a lid for a box became a door, even a zipper was a door. Life, itself, became the field for practice and the comprehensive system of Raja Yoga became my roadmap.

About the Author:

Swami Karunananda served as president of Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville in Virginia and in California, as well as director of the Integral Yoga Institutes in San Francisco and in Santa Barbara. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees, and as the chairperson of the Spiritual Life Board at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Virginia. She is a contributing editor for The Breath of Life: Integral Yoga Pranayama, as well as a senior writer for the Integral Yoga Magazine. In her book, Awakening: Aspiration to Realization Through Integral Yoga, she describes the spiritual path and provides guidance for the journey. This article is an excerpt from her forthcoming book: Raja Yoga Now.

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Spiritual Goals for a New Year

Swami Karunananda — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 04:26:53 +0000

A new year often means making resolutions and setting goals. In this video from an annual New Year’s Silent Yoga Retreat at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville (Virginia) several years ago, Swami Karunananda (senior monk and chair of the Integral Yoga Spiritual Life Board) gives a talk on the benefits of setting spiritual goals, recognizing and celebrating diversity, and living a life in alignment with one’s deepest beliefs and values. Watch here.

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Forgiveness: A Radical Strategy for Healing

Swami Karunananda — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 04:30:01 +0000

In this video, Swami Karunananda (senior monk and chair of Integral Yoga’s Spiritual Life Board) gives a Thanksgiving talk that stresses the healing power of forgiveness, which is an oft-overlooked aspect of gratitude. Through Yoga teachings, stories and parables, she shares the wisdom of living a life with a heart full of gratitude and forgiveness. Forgiveness is healing when we can extend it to ourselves and to others. Watch the video here.

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