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From time-to-time, Integral Yoga teachers ask how to address yogic practices, traditions, and advice on preparing for death. Here are some tips, from our own expert in the field, that may be helpful in preparing for your or anyone’s journey—starting with some basic information and then moving on to how Yoga teachers can add their special gifts. Additionally, please visit our website: https://yogicendoflife.org

Be Prepared

1. Gather your family and/or friends and have a frank discussion about wishes, desires, needs for yourself and others as you approach end of life. Develop an advanced medical directive, such as the excellent “Five Wishes.” Assign a designated health care agent as well as a financial agent. Make a living will, an estate will, and even plan the memorial or service that you wish. Have on record how you wish to dispose of the body or ashes. Designate recipients of your estate. Have all these records secured and easily obtainable when needed (examples can be found online). You may need a notarized copy or the assistance of a lawyer. Every large hospital and every hospice organization has staff provided to assist you with your questions. Every state has different laws, so be sure you are making the most generic and complete coverage of your wishes.

2. Learn all you can about the grief process, especially anticipatory grief. In all situations we all experience grief, and we must go through the process to move on to our new situation. If you can, work with friends, a group, a professional to recognize and go through the common steps of a grief process. It is commonly accepted that all people experience a fear of death and then have to deal with how to face that fact. The steps to acceptance, which may be experienced in any order, is explained by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross as: 1) Denial and isolation, 2) Anger, 3) Bargaining, 4) Depression, and 5) Acceptance. There are many resources and many health and hospices have staff to assist you. You need not be a recipient of their services to use this assistance. There is a need for grief work before, during, and after any event—this takes time and cannot be ignored.

Approach Gently, Peacefully, Listen Deeply

Practicing peace first, last, and always—with self and others—is foremost. Most people enjoy sharing stories of their past, talking about their beliefs, and saying what is important to them at this time. By listening deeply we can ask real, relevant questions to assist in the transition. Most good listeners will enable the person to finally expose what is bothering him or her and the listener may be able to help facilitate closure. Listen, don’t talk much, share feelings of love, of a worthy life, and of leaving a legacy. These seem to be key areas of concern for everyone.

Yogic Practices: Skills Integral Yoga Teachers Can Share

1. Service of silence—sitting, being, presence: We call on our inner resources to maintain our peace while serving others.

2. Releasing tension: As Integral Yoga teachers, we’ve been trained to help others with deep relaxation, visualization, scanning the body for tension, using imagery (re-focus, relax, re-frame, return to sense of order) and simple stretching to relax the body. Used carefully, with approval if necessary from health professionals, we have many ways to help others relax themselves, releasing tension.

3. Breathing through: Integral Yoga Teacher Training has given us three-part breathing, ways to balance breath, deep breath techniques (“in-spire,” sigh, release tension, etc.), ways of matching breath, concentrated and controlled breath, and even a cooling breath. All of these pranayama techniques, when you are trained and have health professional approval, are very helpful for people in transition.

4. Looking within: All people can use assistance in assessment of their present situation, in talking through a life review, and in reflection of where to go from here. Sri Swami Sivananda, Sri Swami Satchidananda, and other great teachers have all indicated that God will not waste a single breath on a person. When that person’s work/service in this lifetime is done, death happens. The trained yogi can bring peace, acceptance, centeredness, and love to assist the person.

5. Adding Spirit: As Swami Satchidananda and Father Keating have said, we have three practices: prayer, when we talk to God (Divine Presence in any form); meditation when we listen for the divine answer; and contemplation, when we think about the answer and prepare to make changes. This three-part practice directly addresses any concern we may have. You will find it useful for yourself daily and certainly for use when dealing with those on the path of dying.

6. Adapt, Adjust, Accommodate: As yogis, we know this is the key to everything! Keep your peace, enjoy the journey, and apply this quote to everything in your life, and especially in preparing for death.

Some Fine Points

1. As the person comes closer to dying, the body often becomes very still. Movement is still useful, but our job is to aid, not insist on any activity. A few days before death, there is often a burst of energy and close loved ones often interpret this to mean the person is getting better, which is usually not the case. Near death, the breath becomes irregular and even stops for some time. All the organs begin to shut down, energy focuses on the heart area, and the person loses his or her senses. Again, any big hospital or hospice can give you booklets with specifics. Your job is to assist family and friends in not becoming afraid, obsessed, or demanding of interventions as the person goes through these expected experiences.

2. Many would like their loved ones to die at home, and with proper papers in place, this can usually be accomplished. Care must be provided at home and this may mean bringing in home health workers. Others will be sent to assisted living, nursing homes, or specific units, with or without the extra care of hospice, palliative care personnel. Your yogic task is to assist where you can, but focus on bringing peace to the situation and the personnel.

3. Autopsy is not needed unless legally required for some reason.

4. The decision regarding organ donation is an individual one. A discussion is very important here. What does the person believe happens when they die? Are they willing to give organs for use by others or for research? Is their body healthy enough to donate? What are the beliefs of those close to them? There is no universal belief or practice in Yoga regarding donation. (For those who are facing receiving an organ, you should note that often after an organ has been harvested and put in another body, the recipient will have change in tastes, even new ideas that can be attributed to the beliefs and tastes of the donor. Clearly, the transfer is more than just the placing of an organ.)

5. The person transitioning should have control over who visits, what rituals are followed, etc. If the person is unconscious, the health care agent should make the decisions. Otherwise it is the spouse, the children from oldest to youngest (over 18), the patient’s parents, siblings—in that order. Laws vary, so be prepared. As a yogic advisor, you may be able to assist in calming the situation, providing music, suggesting schedules, etc. Anything you do can be helpful in the grieving processes of everyone.

6. Most Eastern traditions believe that the time of death is determined by one’s destiny and death and illness (suffering) is a part of life. At this time, life-saving treatment is not necessary. Suicide and euthanasia are forbidden. Therefore, the yogic friend needs to assist the patient and family in these wishes being carried out. If the initial papers are all inclusive, this is easier to accomplish.

7. At time of death, chanting or repetition of prayers, or music that pleases the patient is very helpful. A quiet, calm atmosphere with loved ones around is most comfortable. The person may wish to be “knocked out” or very awake—honor their wishes. This may mean a change in medications and the yogic friend may be able to help the family and the medical people come to the same conclusions.

8. When the person dies, yogic traditions indicate that the body should be attended and a light kept on in the room. When moved, it would be good to still have an attendant as long as possible. Sri Gurudev indicated that the soul may be confused in the transition and these matters make it easier for the soul to be able to move on.

9. Eastern traditions encourage a group of same-sex relatives, friends, and temple members prepare the body. Special prayers, chants will accompany this ritual.

10. In Eastern traditions cremation is preferred because this body has completed its work/service, so there is no reason to keep the vessel. Certain chants and prayers may be said. Ashes must be disposed of according to local laws. In general, it is not legal to spread ashes in public lands, parks, on waterways. Ashes are often buried, sometimes with the burial clothing if it was not burned in the cremation.

11. Most families will hold services, memorials, or gatherings of friends and family to hold a puja that celebrates the person’s memory, and prepares the body ritualistically, such as placing flower petals on all of the bodies orifices to “sweeten the (bodily) temple” and allow the soul a definitive send-off. Rituals differ and the family makes the decisions on what to do if this is not defined in the original health care papers.

Final Reflections

At the time of death, chanting, prayer, or soothing music can help ease the soul’s transition. Yogic traditions suggest that the presence of loved ones, light, and peace helps the soul navigate this sacred journey. As yogis, we are called to offer understanding, compassion, and equanimity at every stage, fostering dignity and grace in this profound transition.

About the Author:

Swami Sarvaananda received Sannyas (monastic) initiation from Sri Swami Satchidananda in 1977 and has served the Integral Yoga organization in many roles. She is a Board Certified Chaplain, served as a hospital and hospice chaplain for 15 years, and serves on many national boards for the Association of Professional Chaplains. She also served as Dean of the School of Divinity at Hindu University of America, developing online courses for volunteer and graduate-level chaplaincy.

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In this enlightening episode of the Integral Yoga Podcast, hosted by Avi Gordon (director, Integral Yoga Teachers Association), Michelle Jacobi shares her captivating journey into the world of Yoga. Starting as a professional dancer in New York with a keen interest in philosophy, Michelle stumbled upon Yoga for its profound background rather than its physical aspect. During this conversation she delves into the Integral Yoga System, highlighting its power to bring balance, self-awareness, and healing. 

The post Challenging the Norms: A Journey into Yoga’s Heart appeared first on Integral Yoga® Magazine.

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Holidays symbolize significance. They are markers for human history, our shared values and beliefs, and a time of remembrance. Holidays can elicit awe, joy, connection, hope, and memories. However, their nourishment can also be a source of pain. I like to think of this paradox as a box of fine chocolates. The chocolates are delightfully scrumptious, but after eating four cream-filled pieces your belly might ache. And, after eating the whole box in one sitting, the delight will likely become regret.

The meaning of a holiday, of course, is accompanied by past and present traditions, memories of family members who have died, and expectations — often lots and lots of expectations. The joy and gratefulness that can be awakened around a holiday may be diminished by what has unfolded in your life this year, and that’s okay. The practice of grateful living can help guide you through this season. Here are some tips to prepare for the holiday season with a grateful orientation.

1. You belong

Whether you are invited to the festivities or excluded, you still belong. At a time when families and relationships are all too often fractured, grateful living reminds you that you are loved and worthy even when you feel alone. Approach the holiday with the knowledge that your life is a gift and then respond to the holiday in a way that honors this truth.

2. Permission granted

Grateful living gives you permission to look at your life exactly as it is and without a silver lining. If you are in pain and your heart needs some space, gratefulness encourages you to listen to and honor your heart. That may mean making a change to rituals and traditions or maybe you need them to resemble how they’ve always been. The opportunity before you is to be present to your needs without conditions.

3. Stop. Look. Go.

The grateful living practice of Stop.Look.Go reminds us to pause, observe, and proceed when we are ready. It also encourages us to start all over — to stop again — if we don’t discover what the present moment is offering. This is to say that the path before you this holiday is not linear. Stop and look. Take your next step when it feels right to do so based on what you have observed.

4. Be open to opportunity

This holiday season be on the lookout for the opportunity in every moment. If you seek the opportunity to connect with someone — maybe they are grieving and need your tenderness or maybe they hold some joy they can share with you — your alertness will ground you in your life. Your life is the resource that is always right in front of you however it may be unfolding. It’s here where you may be surprised to find your next step forward.

5. Say yes to joy

Saying yes to joy is not a betrayal of grief. In fact, it may be a deeper and fuller acknowledgment of your pain. It is in the experience of joy that we also encounter the absence of those who cannot share in it alongside us. Our yes to joy is not a forgetting but a carrying forward. And what courage it takes to hold the past in the present, the joy among the grief.

Often times the days preceding a holiday are more challenging than the holiday itself. That is why preparedness through the practice of grateful living can help. Before the day is upon you, you are invited to ground yourself in your life — to look inward and outward and explore every moment that is leading you towards the holiday that awaits. Every step towards your heart’s desire is the goal.

About the Author:

Joe Primo is the Chief Executive Officer of Grateful Living. He is a passionate trainer, community-builder, and program developer whose accomplishments in the field of grief made him a leading voice on resilience and adversity. Grateful living became a pillar to his work since his first introduction to Br. David Steindl-Rast in 2005. An entrepreneurial leader, Primo designed, built, expanded, and led Good Grief, Inc., the largest children and family bereavement organization in the Northeast, from 2007-2022. His TED talk, “Grief is Good,” reframed the grief paradigm as a responsive resource. He is the author of “What Do We Tell the Children? Talking to Kids About Death and Dying” and numerous articles.

Source: Grateful.org

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This may seem more than doubtful when we look around us and see what we have made of the world: “Things fall apart,” says the poet W. B. Yeats succinctly. A “blood-dimmed tide is loosed” upon the world, and in the face of this tide of violence “the best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.” Gratitude? The very word seems utterly out of place, even offensive, under the given circumstances. And yet, we speak of “given” circumstances. This is significant. Whatever is given is gift; and the appropriate response to any gift is gratitude.

But what could be the gift in this given moment of history? The gift hidden in our unprecedented world crisis is an equally unprecedented opportunity. The gift within every gift is opportunity. For us, these days, it is the opportunity to wake up—wake up to the madness of violence and counter-violence. For far too long we were able to ignore the vicious circle of violence against violence—international or domestic, our own or that of others. Let us face it: the supreme danger is violence—regardless who commits it, terrorists or legitimate governments. No rhetoric, no posturing can any longer obscure the fact that violence breeds violence. We must break that cycle of madness.

Violence has roots in every heart. It is within my own heart that I must recognize fear, agitation, coldness, alienation, blind anger and the impulse to retaliation. Here in my heart I can turn fear into courageous trust, agitation into stillness, confusion into clarity, isolation into a sense of belonging, alienation into love, and irrational reaction into Common Sense. The creative intelligence of gratefulness will suggest to each one of us how to go about this task. As examples I will list here five small gestures of gratitude that I have personally tested. They create a ripple effect to counteract violence.

Five Small Gestures of Gratitude to Counteract Fear

1. Say one word today that will give a fearful person courage

All gratitude expresses trust. Suspicion will not even recognize a gift as gift: who can prove that it isn’t a lure, a bribe, a trap? Gratefulness has the courage to trust and so overcomes fear. The very air has been electrified by fearfulness these days, a fearfulness fostered and manipulated by politicians and the media. There lies our greatest danger: fear perpetuates violence. Mobilize the courage of your heart. Say one word today that will give a fearful person courage.

2. Make a firm resolution never to repeat stories and rumors that spread fear

Because gratitude expresses courage, it spreads calm. Calm of this kind is quite compatible with deep emotions. In fact, mass hysteria fostered by the media betrays a morbid curiosity rather than deep feeling—superficial agitation rather than a deep current of compassion. The truly compassionate ones are calm and strong. Make a firm resolution never to repeat stories and rumors that spread fear. From the stillness of your heart’s core reach out. Be calm and spread calm.

3. Make contact with people whom you normally ignore

When you are grateful, your heart is open—open towards others, open for surprise. When disasters hit we often see remarkable examples of this openness: strangers helping strangers sometimes in heroic ways. Others turn away, isolate themselves, dare even less than at other times to look at each other. Violence begins with isolation. Break this pattern. Make contact with people whom you normally ignore—eye-contact at least—with the cashier at the supermarket, someone on the elevator, a beggar. Look a stranger in the eyes today and realize that there are no strangers.

4. Give someone an unexpected smile today

You can feel either grateful or alienated, but never both at the same time. Gratefulness drives out alienation; there is not room for both in the same heart. When you are grateful you know that you belong to a network of give-and-take and you say “yes” to that belonging. This “yes” is the essence of love. You need no words to express it; a smile will do to put your “yes” into action. Don’t let it matter to you whether or not the other one smiles back. Give someone an unexpected smile today and so contribute your share to peace on earth.

5.  Listen to the news today and put at least one item to the test of Common Sense

What your gratefulness does for yourself is as important as what it does for others. Gratefulness boosts your sense of belonging; your sense of belonging in turn boosts your Common Sense—not the conventional mind set which we often confuse with it. The common sense that springs from gratefulness is incompatible with a set mind. It is just another name for thinking wedded to cosmic intelligence. Your “yes” to belonging attunes you to the common concerns shared by all human beings—all beings for that matter. In a world we hold in common, nothing else makes sense but Common Sense. We have only one enemy: Our common enemy is violence. Common Sense tells us: we can stop violence only by stopping to act violently; war is no way to peace. Listen to the news today and put at least one item to the test of Common Sense.

The five steps I am suggesting here are small, but they work. It helps that they are small: anyone can take them. Imagine a country whose citizens—maybe even its leaders—are brave, calm, and open towards each other; a country whose people realize that all human beings belong together as one family and must act accordingly; a country guided by Common Sense. To the extent to which we show ourselves not hateful but grateful this becomes reality.

About the Author:

Brother David Steindl-Rast — author, scholar, and Benedictine monk — is beloved the world over for his enduring message about gratefulness as the true source of lasting happiness. Known to many as the “grandfather of gratitude,” Br. David has been a source of inspiration and spiritual friendship to countless leaders and luminaries around the world including Swami Satchidananda, Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Thomas Merton, and more. He has been one of the most important figures in the modern interfaith dialogue movement, and has taught with thought-leaders such as Eckhart Tolle, Jack Kornfield, and Roshi Joan Halifax. His wisdom has been featured in interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Krista Tippett, and Tami Simon and his TED talk has been viewed almost 10,000,000 times. Learn more about Br. David here.

Source: Grateful.org

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The Serenity Prayer

While humility is the hallmark of a sincere spiritual aspirant, we may rarely think of practicing it. In an age where self-empowerment is synonymous with personal growth, the idea of humbling oneself is decidedly unpopular. It can easily be dismissed as a sign of weakness or allowing oneself to be pushed around.

Understood and practiced correctly, humility is an essential part of spiritual growth. It is letting go of the need to be right, the effort to defend ourselves, and making space for the truth, whether or not the truth is in agreement with what we want. For example, no real communication can happen without accepting the possible validity of another person’s point of view. Then even when we disagree, we have allowed ourselves to be touched by another person’s perspective.

We humans, like all animals, make an instinctual effort to achieve some mastery over our lives in order to survive. Things like securing a home and a livelihood depend upon asserting ourselves enough to achieve success. A healthy self-esteem serves us in accomplishing these basic goals, but will lead us astray if we then identify our success in life completely with this ability to control the world around us.

It is just as important to realize that there are ways in which we cannot control the outcomes of our efforts, and that our happiness does not have to depend on events conforming to our plans. We can put tremendous effort into building our dream house or getting the perfect job, only to have a hurricane or a stormy boss take it away in a matter of minutes.

Real mastery requires not only the courage to try, but also the courage to accept being unsuccessful, without losing the ability to learn and adjust. This is where humility comes in — it is exactly the virtue that allows us to accept what comes or to see that we are making a mistake. Then, instead of being lost in disappointment over that mistake, we can move onward with a new lesson to guide future efforts.

The serenity prayer of St. Francis beautifully expresses this need for a balance of courage and humility: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” This serenity is born from humility – the ability to know that we (our bodies and minds) have limitations, and that we are powerless over some things. A posture of humility then opens the door for wisdom, that truth that is available when our hearts and minds become quiet enough to listen, allowing them to be guided by spiritual principles that reside in the depths of our being.

We can develop humility in a number of ways. In a Yoga class, we can practice with the clear intention to listen and accept the body’s capacity in each asana, without wanting it to be better or to impress others. When we meditate, we consciously affirm an effort to quiet the mind, so that deeper wisdom can express itself. Thus, we acknowledge the limitations of the mind and the need to keep it in its place. During daily life, we can cultivate the belief that each challenge that befalls us is an opportunity to learn. Even when we feel hurt by someone else, we can learn to focus more on our own part in the problem.

Sri Swami Satchidananda often taught that when we make fist and point a finger at someone, blaming them, there are three fingers pointing back at us. It can be a powerful experience to apologize and see how the other person’s heart also softens and caring communication can take place. Some people will not respond to our efforts, but we can be at peace in our own hearts knowing we did all we could.

Of course, we will struggle with this practice and get lost in our pride numerous times. But even a small success with accepting the truth comes as great relief from the pain and tension of trying to live up to a false image, and closing our hearts in defense of that image.

When we begin to live with a little more humility, everything we experience becomes an opportunity to learn, to discover something. Like in the well-known Buddhist story, we become an empty cup that is ready to receive. All the saints and sages tell us that there is much more to receive than we can imagine.

About the Author:

Swami Ramananda is the Executive Director of Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco, a certified Yoga therapist, and a founding board member of the Yoga Alliance. He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced-level Yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco and teaches throughout the world. Having dedicated his life to teaching Yoga for nearly 50 years, Swami Ramananda is highly-respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition in Yoga communities worldwide. Swami Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings, and has taught mind/body wellness programs throughout the US and abroad. He is also a co-founder of The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI) which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world.

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When I feel defeated by all of the distractions and information I consume on a daily basis, I go to the river near my home. On the shore, my senses are inundated with beauty — the light in the trees, a heron passing by, the roar of water over stones that drowns out most thoughts, and birdsong that enchants. The enormity of the world is very small there, and it is where I often recognize that my inner life needs liberation from the distractions and misinformation provided by external sources.

Fear can be the greatest distraction in daily life. It is a reaction that fertilizes a limited perspective, causing you to forget what is good in others and yourself. It leads you to quickly draw conclusions and to react based on the primal instinct of fight or flight. This binary approach is helpful if you are in the jungles of the Yucatan fleeing a jaguar, but is otherwise inadequate for living a full life, which requires a broad perspective to explore many possible routes and responses.

The grateful life is a liberated life. Liberation means to “set free.” And, in some regards, living gratefully could be summed up as being free of fear. Br. David Steindl-Rast is quite clear: anxiousness is a part of life but fear is a choice. In other words, where we are told to see danger there may be another way of perceiving and responding.

When fearful thoughts and reactions contribute to limited thinking, living gratefully guides you towards an alternative path that begins with observation. Rather than only seeing a threat, you can explore what is before you and look for an opportunity. Here, you see the ever-changing and fluid nature of life and can respond accordingly.

A mighty gift that exists within living gratefully is that when your thoughts constrict your perspective, your practice opens you up to life — it liberates you from dualistic thinking that distracts you from whatever gifts, opportunities, beauty, and precious moments fill a day. It does so because it grounds you in each breath, step, and encounter, and in every moment where you are on this side of death.

This practice can also set you free from the belief that you are unworthy or unlovable. And, as a result, it can free you from any conviction that some people deserve inclusion and rights while others do not. Here is where we see that living gratefully compels you to cherish and safeguard people and the earth, challenging a “throwaway” culture in which we have become too quick to discard both people and things. By freeing yourself from fear, you expand your perspective and what it asks from you, which allows you to better understand life and others and all that truly matters.

Through practice we see that our inner life is where living gratefully cultivates growth for tomorrow. After all, how are we to be repairers of the world and to re-imagine a life worthy of future generations if we are not first repairers of ourselves? This is a question at the heart of living gratefully. You can return to it daily.

About the Author:

Joe Primo is the Chief Executive Officer of Grateful Living. He is a passionate trainer, community-builder, and program developer whose accomplishments in the field of grief made him a leading voice on resilience and adversity. Grateful living became a pillar to his work since his first introduction to Br. David Steindl-Rast in 2005. An entrepreneurial leader, Primo designed, built, expanded, and led Good Grief, Inc., the largest children and family bereavement organization in the Northeast, from 2007-2022. His TED talk, “Grief is Good,” reframed the grief paradigm as a responsive resource. He is the author of “What Do We Tell the Children? Talking to Kids About Death and Dying” and numerous articles.

Source: Grateful.org

The post The Grateful Life Is a Liberated Life appeared first on Integral Yoga® Magazine.

Photo: Front cover.

Swami Satchidananda, the revered founder of Yogaville and a world-renowned spiritual teacher, presents a transformative vision in his book, Heaven on Earth: My Vision of Yogaville. This compelling vision encapsulates his dream of creating a haven of peace, love, and spiritual growth through the establishment of Yogaville—a vibrant, thriving community dedicated to the principles of Integral Yoga. Enjoy this overview of this newly updated book and read the whole eBook here.

Chapter 1: A Heaven on Earth

The opening chapter sets the tone by describing the idyllic essence of Yogaville. Swami Satchidananda envisioned Yogaville as a microcosm of global harmony, where love, unity, and understanding prevail. He believed that if we could establish a harmonious community on a small scale, it would serve as a model for global peace. This chapter paints a picture of Yogaville as a place where universal love flows abundantly, creating a heaven on earth where every individual, plant, animal, and even inanimate objects are cherished. The emphasis is on the interconnectedness of all life and the importance of living as one yogic family, devoid of the divisions of “mine” and “yours,” but embracing the collective “ours” by putting his teachings of Integral Yoga into practice daily.

Chapter 2: My Vision of Yogaville

In this chapter, Swami Satchidananda elaborates on the core principles and the foundational vision that led to the creation of Yogaville. He shares his deep desire to build a community that adheres to yogic principles and fosters spiritual growth. Yogaville is more than just a physical space; it is a manifestation of his dream to create a world where people live in harmony with themselves, each other, and nature. This chapter explores how one can make this vision a lived reality.

Chapter 3: The Light at the Center

At the heart of Yogaville stands the Light of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS), symbolizing the spiritual core of the community. This shrine represents the unity of all faiths, embodying Swami Satchidananda’s belief in the essential oneness at the foundation of all religions. In this chapter, he discusses the significance of LOTUS and how it serves as a beacon of light, guiding individuals on their spiritual journey. The shrine is not only a place of worship but also a symbol of the divine light that resides within each person, encouraging self-discovery and inner peace.

Chapter 4: Yogaville: Its Real Purpose

The purpose of Yogaville extends beyond being a spiritual retreat; it is a living, breathing community that exemplifies the principles of Integral Yoga in daily life. Swami Satchidananda envisioned Yogaville as a place where individuals could come to learn, grow, and transform. This chapter explores how one should live as a resident of Yogaville, which he designed to foster personal and spiritual development. From Yoga classes and meditation sessions to sustainable living practices and community service projects, every aspect of life in Yogaville is geared towards spiritual enrichment and practical application of yogic principles.

Chapter 5: Let Us Walk Together

Photo: Light Of Truth Universal Shrine

Swami Satchidananda emphasizes the importance of unity and collective effort in achieving the vision of Yogaville. He calls upon individuals from all walks of life to join hands and work together toward creating a harmonious community and supporting each other on the spiritual path. This chapter highlights the collaborative spirit that underpins Yogaville, where everyone contributes to the common good. Whether it is through teaching, selfless service, or simply living in alignment with yogic values, every action counts toward building a supportive and loving environment.

Chapter 6: Dedicate Your Life

Dedication to a higher purpose is a recurring theme in Swami Satchidananda’s teachings. In this chapter, he inspires readers to dedicate their lives to further developing Yogaville into an ideal environment for the pursuit of spiritual growth and joy of service. By aligning personal goals with the greater good, individuals can experience profound fulfillment and contribute to the collective well-being. This chapter serves as a motivational guide, encouraging readers to find their own path of service and dedication within the framework of Integral Yoga.

Chapter 7: Continue Continue Continue!

The concluding chapter is a heartfelt exhortation to persevere on the spiritual path. Swami Satchidananda urges readers to maintain their commitment to the vision of Yogaville, despite any challenges or obstacles they may encounter. The mantra “Continue Continue Continue!” encapsulates his unwavering faith in the power of perseverance and the transformative potential of sustained effort. This chapter is a testament to his belief that with dedication and continuous practice, the dream of creating a heaven on earth can become a reality.

Conclusion

Heaven on Earth: My Vision of Yogaville is more than just a book; it is an invitation to be part of a transformative journey. Swami Satchidananda’s vision of Yogaville as a haven of peace, love, and spiritual growth offers a blueprint for creating a harmonious world. Through his profound wisdom and practical guidance, readers are encouraged to embrace the principles of Integral Yoga and contribute to the realization of this beautiful dream. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or new to the path of Yoga, this book provides invaluable insights and inspiration to help you on your spiritual journey.

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To learn from a spiritual teacher, more than anything else, you need faith in God: “God, I really want to experience the Truth. Put me in good hands. Present a good teacher to me.“ Then, when you meet them, feel—not through the head, but through the heart. And if you feel very comfortable, and if their approach is good for you, then say, “I’m here as an empty cup; you fill it.” You don’t go as a half-filled cup and ask them to fill the other half.

There is a story where a teacher refused to teach the student so the student said, “All right. You refused. But I’m going to learn from you. I took you as my teacher.“ So the student made a crude image of the teacher, sat in front of it with the thought, “Sir, you are going to teach me everything,“ and started meditating. And he learned. That means it’s not even the Guru who is important, it’s the disciple. How much sincerity do you have? How much confidence you have?

In the ancient way of teaching—not only Yoga, but all the ancient arts—no teacher taught in the sense of classrooms and lectures and things like that. In the ancient way, you just live with the teacher. For example, if you want to learn music, you approach a music teacher to whom you are drawn and you live with them, serve them, wash their clothes, carry their instrument, help in the kitchen. Maybe after a couple of years the teacher will begin to teach you “do, re, me, fa.“ That is the way real lessons are imparted—through living, observing, and listening. Sri Ramakrishna used to tell a story about somebody who came and said, “How can I see God? I want to experience God quickly.” The teacher replied, “All right, I’ll teach you something after we have a bath. He took the seeker to the Ganges, and as the student was bathing, the teacher put his hand on the student’s head and held him under the water. He struggled to get out but the teacher kept him under for a few minutes. He knew the moment he had to take his hands off.
The gasping student came up demanding, “Why did you do that?“
“Before I answer your question tell me, what were you thinking of under the water? What was it you were looking for? God realization? The Bhagavad Gita? Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras?
“None of that sir; I wanted air. Nothing but air!” If your interest is that keen, if you want nothing but God, then you are a good seeker and you can attain faster.

Spiritual longing is not something that we build up. We are prepared by nature itself. How? By going out in the world, doing things, getting burnt, and then leaving the world, forgetting how it burnt us, going back and getting burnt again. Then we understand the world. Then we say, “Whatever I start to do, it seems to affect me. It’s not the world that is the cause—it’s my wrong approach to the world, my wrong interest. I don’t want that kind of selfish approach to the world. What else can I do? There’s nothing more to try, so let me try sadhana (spiritual practice).”

There’s a saying, “I’m sick and tired of the world.” When we know the world well, we get sick and tired of running after things to make us happy, and then we begin to seek. When we become “sicker,” we become a “seeker.” It’s Mother Nature, the world itself, that prepares us. Mother Nature says, “Don’t come to me for your permanent happiness. I’m not the one to give it to you. That’s how we learn from the world. We get tired of the world—money, name, fame, this, that. And we think, “Everything is a problem, nothing but a problem. I just want to be free from all this.” Only then we really look for God. At that point we are ready.

We all must come to the realization: “Out there I cannot get anything. It’s all inside.” The teacher is like a mirror. If you are trying to find out whether you have a face or not, you will look everywhere and but don’t see your face. But when you stand in front of a mirror, you will say, “Ah yes, I have a face!” It’s not that the mirror brought it to you; you already had it. The teacher only reflects what you have. If you don’t have a keen interest, you don’t see it. I tell students that if they depend on the Guru, they’ll be in trouble. A Guru is only a temporary helper. If you want to eat a lollipop, you have to hold the stick. Eat the pop, and when you finish it, throw the stick away. A Guru is like the stick. Stick with them until you experience the sweetness of the lollipop. Then you don’t need a Guru. But until that keen interest arises, it’s very hard to teach proper Yoga. You can give students something that can make them comfortable, happy, healthy. But these are not really reasons for Yoga. The real reason is ultimate peace, ultimate happiness, without depending on anything.

Yoga is not one-sided. Nobody can practice only Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, or only Jnana Yoga. You need a combination of everything. When you want to understand something, use Jnana Yoga. When you express your feelings, use Bhakti Yoga. When you want to do something, practice Karma Yoga. You are a mixture—you have a head, you have a heart, you have a hand. I can’t teach only through your head or only through the heart. It should be a combination. That’s what we call it Integral Yoga, complete Yoga, Pūrna Yoga. I see the student’s attitude and capacity and guide them to what will be most beneficial for that seeker. I present what you need. What do you want to achieve? Optimal health? Even there, it’s not just about the body—it’s how comfortable you are in the body you have. If you are physically challenged and you are living with that disability comfortably, you are not disabled. Keep the body as healthy as possible and the mind as peaceful as possible. What is your natural condition, disease or ease? You had ease. You did something to disturb it, so you say you are “dis-eased.” Disease is nothing but disturbed ease.

The same case with people who ask, “How can I find peace?” You don’t have to find it. You have it. Do not disturb it. The question is, “What did I do to disturb my ease and peace?“ Simply stay away from doing that—that’s Yoga. So, it’s up to you. When peace and happiness are your aim, you will begin to think, “Will I be always happy by doing this?“ Put that question to everything. Take a cigarette, for example: “Will I be healthy in smoking it?“ If the answer is no, then throw it out. Negate things that will make you sick, that will make you uneasy. That is what we call spiritual practice.

You are not going to get anything from outside. If you get happiness or peace from outside, you’re depending on outside things. When they go away, you lose your peace. When there’s a coming, there’s always a going. But what is within is always within. So find your peace and happiness, without depending on things to make you happy. Temporarily, you can make use of those outside things, but remember that permanent peace and joy only come from inside.

Photo: Sand painting of the Integral Yoga All Faiths Yantra

All spiritual paths have this common theme: Whatever you do should make you healthy and happy. If you don’t want to fall sick, if you want to remain peaceful and happy, you should follow certain guidelines in life—like we see in the ten Commandments, or the Buddhism’s ten Dasa Sila, or Yoga’s ten Yamas and Niyamas, for example. There are certain precepts that are common to all faiths. In the same way, you have to follow certain guidelines if you are not to disturb your mind. There are hundreds and thousands of restaurants. Because I start an Indian restaurant, should I say, “All the people should come here and eat this food, otherwise they’ll go to hell?” No. My taste buds are different from yours. You may like less spicy food, I may like spicier food. That’s natural. We have various restaurants, but they all have one purpose—satisfying your hunger.

So there is one goal, but many ways of approaching it. What is important is total freedom in religion. If you don’t find freedom in religion or spirituality, you can’t enjoy anything. But we gain freedom by following certain disciplines. For example, our center in Virginia is called “Yogaville.” Thousands of people come and go in Yogaville. Those who live here full-time accept certain conditions—no smoking, no alcohol, no drugs—certain conditions like that. If you can’t follow these conditions, stay outside, do whatever you want, and come for a visit if you wish. But, this is the place especially kept for the people who want to follow rules that will make them healthy and happy.

It’s almost like airplane seating—there is a no smoking section and a smoking section. If you want to smoke, we don’t have an objection but go to the smoking section. This isn’t your section. People come to Yogaville to stay, and then say, “Oh, I find it hard to follow these things.“ All right, go and do whatever you want. When you feel that a yogic lifestyle is the best thing for you then come back again. The doors are always open. Many come and go—it’s their freedom. If you can’t find freedom in religious practices, spiritual practices, where else will you find it? No teacher can command the student to come. You come on your own accord. If you find it difficult, maybe you are not yet ready for it. Go back, get burned out, and come again. Then my work will be easy for you. It will be easy for me too. Otherwise, you’ll sit here and think of outside things and grumble.

We expect residents to be Yogavillians not Yogavillains! They should understand that everything here is designed to be a support for their spiritual path. But, naturally conflicts will arise. Why do they usually arise, even in a Yoga community? There will always be some conflict as long as there is the thought, “I, me, mine.” Getting into this conflict will make you realize that nothing was ever “mine.” When it really begins to burn you, you think, “Oh boy! Did I bring all these things with me? Can I take them with me when I say goodbye? That kind of understanding will come only when you get burned enough by the world. You will get into conflicts and begin to think, “Why am I in this situation? Because I am making it my own. I’m trying to possess, control, or cling to people and possessions.“

The world is not interested in binding you—not at all. The world is neutral. The way you approach the relationship you have with the world—the way you make use of it—makes you happy or unhappy. This is true of anything in life. A small pen knife, is it good or bad? If you use it to cut a fruit, it’s good; if you use it to cut a throat, it’s bad. Who makes it good or bad? Me. When you realize this, you are free. If I know how to have proper relationship with everything, everything is fine. It’s my improper relationship to people and things that brings me problems, brings me likes and dislikes, along with their ups and downs. But if I am neutral, no problem. And that lesson you learn only by living in the world, by getting tossed, fried, roasted, then you get cooked well. You have to become properly matured, ripened. Unripe fruit is not so enjoyable.

Maturity comes only in the field. There you face challenges. Facing challenges brings strength. Life is a challenge. Take a seed, put it on your altar, worship it daily, and pray, “Seed, please grow.” Will it grow? No. Dig a hole, put it in there, and it gets a challenge. Then it begins to sprout.

from a Yoga International Magazine interview in Yogaville with Swami Satchidananda, August 1992

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The Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco will host a Yoga Immersion Program online in several modules from April 23 through June 23, 2024 led by Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT-500, Diana Meltsner, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500 & Mia Velez, E-RYT 500. This comprehensive 9-week course will offer a chance to take your own practice to a deeper level, experience Yoga as a way of life and receive well-rounded Yoga studies founded in the teachings of Integral Yoga, a classical Yoga tradition. All levels of practice are welcome and some prior experience is required. The whole course can be completed online. All the sessions will be recorded.

“Yoga believes in transforming the individual before transforming the world. Whatever change we want to happen outside should happen within. If you walk in peace and express that peace in your very life, others will see you and learn something.” –Sri Swami Satchidananda

Curriculum offers in-depth learning of varied aspects of Yoga practice:

• Yoga Asana – practice and theory based on Integral Yoga Level 1 sequence of an inward, spiritually-focused form of Hatha Yoga, a style of practice that is designed to lead practitioners to an experience of inner peace and greater awareness. There will be focus on developing a personalized Hatha practice.
• Philosophy –  comprehensive Raja Yoga course with Swami Ramanada, exploring the Yogas Sutras of Patanjali based on Sri Swami Satchidananda’s book. The course will be concluded with a written review.
• Pranayama and Meditation – offering guidance in a personal practice based on traditional yogic practices with discussion of benefits based on current scientific research and practitioners personal experience.
• Anatomy – including basic physiology of the body’s systems that helps understand the benefits of the practices and to make informed choices about what to include in our practice.
• Introduction to various traditional yogic practices supporting a yogic lifestyle that Integral Yoga is well known for such as Jnana, Karma and Bhakti Yoga.

The Integral Yoga Immersion Program provides a strong foundation from which one can choose to become a Yoga teacher. This is regarded as a Module 1 of our 2-part format of  200-hour teacher training. Whether you decide to teach others or not, this program will help you expand your Yoga practice, take it off the mat and integrate it more fully into your daily life to sustain a sense of ease in the body and peace in the mind.

Graduates of both Modules 1 & Module 2, are certified to teach Beginner Level Hatha Yoga and are qualified to register with Yoga Alliance as a RYT-200. You can choose to complete Module 2 within the next 2 years to fulfill the requirements for this certification.

All the materials shared online and the recordings of the lectures will be available throughout the training and for 3 months after the graduation.

Tuition includes free access to all Yoga classes offered at Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco and free access to IYTV, a large and ever-expanding library of recorded Integral Yoga Teachings and classes, throughout the duration of this training!

Online

Yoga Immersion Program can be completed online. If the current situation allows, we will add some non-mandatory in-person options.  We are committed to providing a safe and high-quality program for all participants.

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Enjoy being in the Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville environment with like-minded yogis who also enjoy asanas, pranayama, meditation and the yogic lifestyle and Yoga practices.

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