Ashram Yoga : India's Spiritual Tradition » Yoga

Yasodhara Ashram: Young Adult Program

admin — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 04:31:59 +0000

Practice focus, discipline and independence in a supportive spiritual environment. As a valued member of the Ashram community, you join other young people in exploring options and in opening your mind to new possibilities. Supported by donation and available to youth ages 18-30. Located in Kootenay Bay, British Columbia, Canada. For more, visit: WWW.YASODHARA.ORG or 1-800-661-8711.

Practicing the Light

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:32:13 +0000

In this satsang video, Swami Radhananda leads us through a guided meditation on relaxation and Light. She stresses the power of choice that we have to use spiritual practices like this to create space in our daily lives and in challenging situations.

ashramchic™ on Vipassana ~ India

admin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 03:15:05 +0000

Starting from the Beginning

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 04:32:49 +0000

In this satsang talk, Swami Radhananda reads from the manuscript of her upcoming book. The book is based on reflections from her diary, spanning the time she has spent at the Ashram, including her first arrival in the 1970’s and the years of learning with her guru, Swami Radha.

Yoga

admin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:54:23 +0000

Yoga Ashram for yoga, yoga therapy, vedanta, philosophy, echo farming on beach and on hills.

Sivananda Yoga Farm – asanademo

admin — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 15:14:44 +0000

Short demonstration of Yoga Asanas at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm

Ideal practices

admin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:31:00 +0000

Sacred texts and scriptures teach the means for salvation. The path is arduous, demanding constant practice and determination and not easily attainable. Yet the state of liberation is described to be blissful (Brahmananda) and definitely worth the attempt on the part of the Jivatma. The nature of this bliss is calculated on the basis of human enjoyments and it is shown that human joys are mere raindrops in the blissful ocean of Brahmananda. While Karma, Jnana and Bhakti are shown to be ideal practices in this quest, the text Yoga Vasishta champions the path of Jnana, said Sri S. Srinivasa Sarma in a lecture. The Kaivalya Upanishad states that the highest knowledge or immortality is attained not by work or action (Karma), progeny (Praja) and wealth but only through renunciation. In Yoga Vasishta, Lord Rama, Himself the essence of Jnana, is a disciple in search of enlightenment and is advised the path of meditation and renunciation by Sage Vasishta. But Rama leads his life to fulfil the purpose of His incarnation. Those caught in samsara have to strive to attain the realised state. That is why in the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna assumes the role of the preceptor and hails the path of Karma Yoga as a stepping stone to Jnana. Even Bhakti is seen as part of Karma Yoga and this is a preparation to Jnana. Karma Yoga helps us to evaluate the impact of the Gunas — Satva, Rajas and Tamas — and guide us to transcend their effects gradually. Only then can Jnana be practised. The desire for happiness is innate in all of us. Happiness and joy are the result of our Karma. Trying to find happiness in worldly gains and objects is always a mixture of pleasure and pain. All material gains will be lost. Even one’s earned period of life in Indra’s realm as a result of Karma is not going to last forever. It comes to an end when the Karma is expended. Hence Vasishta emphasises the pursuit of knowledge that can release one from the bond of samsara. Both Karma and Jnana are equally important for liberation. They are as important as the two wings a bird needs for flying.

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Ideal practices

Yoga for Stress Reduction at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm by Dr. Timothy McCall

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:19:58 +0000

Dr. Timothy McCall describes the health benefits and stress reduction that comes from practicing Yoga.

To benefit from mantra

adam — Mon, 31 May 2010 14:21:00 +0000

The Vishnu Gayatri shows us that the Lord is everywhere, and the Narayana mantra is the most efficacious of all mantras. But in order to benefit through a recitation of the Narayana mantra, we must have bhakti towards the Lord, K.B. Devarajan said in a discourse. Suppose there is a tank full of water. There are three orifices in the tank, which are kept plugged. Suppose even one of the plugs is removed, all the water will drain out. Similarly, in order to get the benefit of the Narayana mantra, there are three holes that we must plug — lack of bhakti towards the Lord, lack bhakti towards one’s Acharya and lack of belief in the efficacy of the mantra. We often lack all the three requisites. We lack bhakti towards the Lord, whom the mantra extols. We lack bhakti towards the Acharya who teaches us the mantra. Or we lack faith in the mantra itself. A mere recitation, without faith, is not going to help us. All the three conditions are essential for us to reap the benefits of the mantras taught by our Acharyas. Those in samsaric life are in a pitiable condition. They have forgotten who they are. They have forgotten who God is. So they do not serve God. And the saddest part is that they are not sorry to have forgotten God. They are like a man who has lost his property, does not know he has lost his property, and is therefore not sorry about his loss. The Lord has great sympathy for our plight and is eager to save us, if only we have bhakti towards Him. Bhakti yoga is difficult for most of us. That is why the Lord shows us the path of surrender at His feet. But we do not even resort to this, often. We will resort to surrender only if we have the knowledge about our ‘atma’ and about God. An ignorant man does not know that he is imprisoned in a cycle of births and deaths, and to escape from this repeating sorrow, he must surrender at the Lord’s feet. If we understand the Lord’s qualities of kindness and willingness to forgive us for our transgressions, love for God will result, and will prompt us to resort to surrender.

Work and Healing

admin — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:33:29 +0000

In this satsang talk given at Yasodhara Ashram, Swami Radhananda reflects on the healing potential of work and the opportunities it provides us with to expand our awareness, and to make better choices.