For a limited time, we are granting viewers of Swamiji.tv on-demand streaming access to the Swamiji.tv archive. All videos are copyrighted by the International Sri Deep Madhavananda Ashram Fellowship. We invite you to support our social projects with a donation. With your support, the Fellowship carries out numerous social projects in India. To continue these activities, every donation is deeply appreciated. Please support us here: https://swamiji.tv/support
There is only one reality
Yoga is the science of body, mind, and soul, a practical path to harmonize and unite with the divine.It begins from an understanding of creation. Before the Vedas, there was an endless, dark blue space called śūnyākāśa, which is the body of the Divine Mother. Within that space is endless, desireless consciousness. Between this … read more »
The Thread of Love and the Roots of Devotion
The thread of love is fragile; do not break it with misunderstanding.Today honors a divine incarnation, a light for the world. Relationships are defined by respect: call an elder woman mother, a slightly older woman sister, and a younger person your child. This creates protection and unity, … read more »
Key points for meditation
Svādhyāya, the study of scriptures and the self, is essential for spiritual development.Without study, there are no thoughts to cultivate spiritual growth. This practice is divided into parāvidyā, spiritual knowledge from a master, and aparāvidyā, worldly knowledge for survival. Theoretical knowledge has little value compared to a grain … read more »
Yoga and Yogi
Yoga is the skillful practice of action to reach samādhi.The universe is within the body; a yogi travels inward through infinite inner space. Consciousness exists beyond time and space. All experience, including astral travel, occurs within the body. Practice involves discipline in conduct, diet, and … read more »
Guidelines for Meditation and Self-Inquiry
A guide to seated meditation and self-inquiry.Sit upright with space between bodies. Form Chin Mudrā in the left hand, symbolizing the union of the individual soul and supreme consciousness. Hold your mālā in the right hand to repeat your guru's mantra; it … read more »
The Science of Consciousness and the Path of Yoga
Yoga is the science of body, mind, and consciousness, extending to the entire creation.Spiritual festivals impart cultural impressions that protect society and foster peace, unlike temporary parties. The universe, containing countless solar systems, expands and contracts. The human intellect is a powerful tool within a hierarchy: consciousness is a … read more »
The spiritual path
Meditation requires mastering the inward turn from worldly engagement to inner stillness.You attempt to meditate, but mental modifications persist. Merely quoting "Yogaḥ citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ" is insufficient; it demands practice. The path of pravṛtti is extroverted engagement with the world, where senses and desires create countless uncontrollable thoughts. The … read more »
Navratri
The highest and safest spiritual practice is guru bhakti, or devotion to the teacher.During Navaratri, one's intentions must be pure, as impure thoughts lead to opposite results. While worship of divine energy is potent, it requires absolute purity and carries risk. Guru bhakti is the most sattvic path. Different … read more »
Practice makes perfect
Navarātri celebrates the Divine Mother, the harmonizing force of all creation.Sanātana Dharma is the eternal principle within every heartbeat and entity, not a dogma. True politics, or Rājanīti, is ethical governance bestowed by the ṛṣis upon the capable. Perfection in any field, from art to spirituality, … read more »
Deepak
Dharma is the eternal, unchanging constitution of creation, not a mere thought or opinion.It is established before creation and is rooted in the Vedas, which are the speech of the divine. Action performed with dharma in mind is righteous karma; action without it is vikarma. The human journey passes … read more »
The roots of the parampara
A spiritual lineage provides the clear path, while lacking one leaves practitioners lost on a disappearing footpath.Without a paramparā, one is like an orphan, unable to perform ancestral rites or follow a true spiritual inheritance. A practitioner must follow a master who was also a disciple, creating a chain of knowledge and … read more »
Message of the Deepak
The light of Diwali is the light of Brahman, the supreme truth.Bhagavan Sri Rama established a system of spirituality and satsang. His return to Ayodhya after fourteen years is celebrated as Diwali. This light is lit in every heart through forgiveness and acceptance. It destroys negative thoughts … read more »
Meditation from Jaipur
A closing practice integrates mantra, touch, and prostration to conclude meditation.Massaging the palms and face awakens sensory awareness. Placing the hands and head on the ground directs circulation toward the brain and senses. This influx of fresh blood provides energy and vitality. The sequence harmonizes physical … read more »
Contentment makes you happy
The Mūlādhāra cakra contains a seven-trunked elephant, symbolizing prosperity and the seven bodily constituents.Devas and Asuras churned the ocean for nectar, but first produced a deadly poison. Śiva drank and contained the poison, saving the world. This greed for nectar mirrors modern greed for resources like oil, which creates … read more »
Attachment is the problem
Life is a play of energy, leading to the necessity of renunciation.Energy governs all function; as it diminishes, so does everything else. This mirrors the seasons and the human lifespan: childhood, householder life, retirement, and final monastic renunciation. Worldly collections become burdens with age, mere dust collectors. … read more »
Nadis and Chakras - energy channels and centers in the body
The subject is Kuṇḍalinī and the three primary nāḍīs, symbolically represented as sacred rivers.The 72,000 nāḍīs channel energy, with Iḍā, Pi galā, and Suṣumnā being paramount. These correspond to the Ga gā, Yamunā, and Sarasvatī rivers. Their confluence symbolizes union and higher consciousness. Harmonizing these energies through practices like … read more »
Wonders of the human being
The human body is an inner rainforest containing the complete mystery of life.Different chakras exist within, just as different climates exist in forests globally. All facilities for self-realization are provided within this container. Modern technology imitates this inner wisdom; answers, like those from Google, mirror the knowledge stored … read more »
The five bodies - koshas
The human being is composed of five sheaths, from the physical to the blissful.These layers are the Annamaya, Prāṇamaya, Manomaya, Vijñānamaya, and Ānandamaya Kośas. The first sheath is the body of nourishment, sustained by food which is life itself. The second is the sheath of vital energy, gained from … read more »
God realization
Yoga is the ancient science for harmonizing body, mind, and soul, leading to health and beyond.It originates from the primordial reality of space, consciousness, and energy. From nothingness, the first vibration emerged as the sound Aum, which is light and life. This cosmic consciousness multiplied into all creation. The human body … read more »
Resonance of the Atma
The universe is a resonant sound, and that resonance is Brahman.Beyond earthly noise, space holds a harmonious sound that fills the body with energy. We can only experience this resonance deeply through meditation and the astral body. Scientists record sounds like from the Sun, which is … read more »
Atma and the five bodies
We perceive and act through ten subtle senses.Five are senses of knowledge: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. All learning enters through these. Five are senses of action: speech, hands, feet, and the excretory and reproductive organs. These generate karma through deed, word, … read more »
Asana and Pranayama
Yoga is for body, mind, and consciousness, aiming for comfort, health, and balance.The essence is to feel comfortable and happy, not to compete or force the body. The yoga mat itself is called an āsana, meaning a seat or a comfortable posture. Health is foundational; without it, everything … read more »
Yoga for Body and Beyond: A Glimpse
Yoga is the ancient science of union for physical, mental, and spiritual health.It creates harmony between body, mind, and soul. The principles begin with infinite space, the consciousness within it, and the union between them. Creation stems from a divine vibration, the sound Om, manifesting as light and … read more »
The path of the human
Human life is a struggle to find the path back to our origin, like a river flowing to the ocean or rain seeking the sea.The soul travels through ages, and a human birth is a chance to return. We are all moving toward the light, bound by belief and destiny, which exists whether we accept it or not. Attachment leads … read more »
Value of the human
Self-inquiry begins by asking "how am I" before asking "who am I." Theory is insufficient without practice. The human intellect is a powerful tool requiring proper education. This essential human education comes primarily from parents, shaping one's nature for life. Humans are born as protectors, meant to … read more »
Self-inquiry meditation
Self-enquiry meditation involves two steps.First, ask "How am I?" to examine your qualities and character. Second, ask "Who am I?" to understand you are not the body, breath, mind, or intellect. Do not hide from this inquiry, for you and … read more »
Technology makes people lonely
True adoration arises from selfless responsibility, not self-proclamation.A king is adored only within his kingdom, but a saint is adored everywhere. Do not declare yourself a king; be made one by others. A self-made ruler is a dictator, not a true king. When … read more »
Remain with one Parampara
Rāja Yoga is founded upon lifelong discipline.The Vajranāḍī is the foundational energy channel, balancing energy from the earth to the highest chakras. Yoga begins, needs, and completes with discipline. When the soul departs the body, it travels at high speed toward light, … read more »
Don't share your divine experiences with all
The first lesson of trust in Rājayoga is to listen to all but trust nothing until it is fully tested.A politician taught his son this by having him jump from a height, breaking his limbs, to demonstrate that one must not trust anyone completely, even a father. In spiritual practice, you must not fully trust … read more »
Ahimsa is the highest principle
Rāja Yoga connects one to the kingly principle, which is governance without abuse.Nature provides for need, not greed. A true ruler possesses yogic knowledge. Harmony in marriage reflects this unity, where husband and wife share one opinion and support each other as one soul. A story illustrates this: … read more »
Healthy nourishment
Nutrition must be understood from a holistic perspective beyond mere physical components.Four essential qualities define proper nourishment: the energetic and vitamin content, the individual quantity consumed, the food's inherent vitality, and the spiritual surroundings of the meal, such as prayer. The common view focuses only on vitamins … read more »
Humans must have discipline
Rāja Yoga is the yoga of discipline, a lifelong practice beginning now.All of nature exists in perfect discipline according to its dharma, but humans have lost this human nature. Acting against our dharma creates the great problems on earth. A lack of discipline leads to destruction, as … read more »
You are the king
Yoga is a mighty tree of oneness.Jñāna Yoga is its branches, the beauty of non-dual knowledge. Rāja Yoga is the trunk, the strength and discipline of mastery. Bhakti Yoga is the humble devotion of the branches, offering shelter and service. Karma Yoga … read more »
Women can bring peace
The four yogic paths are interdependent, each requiring the others for fulfillment.Karma Yoga needs the knowledge of Jñāna, the devotion of Bhakti, and the discipline of Rāja. Bhakti Yoga requires the action of Karma, the understanding of Jñāna, and the structure of Rāja. These paths are united … read more »
Anusthan, sadhana and upasana
Anuṣṭhāna is a disciplined practice leading to freedom.Initially, it can seem difficult, requiring one to sit and repeat mantra all day. Yet it is a great blessing, a form of heaven where everything is done for you, allowing you to simply be with … read more »
Learn the original Sanskrit names
Preserving the original Sanskrit terminology is essential for maintaining the integrity of yoga's wisdom.Translating or changing these names alters their meaning and leads to the loss of the tradition. Every āsana, kriyā, and technique must be known by its Sanskrit name. For instance, Paścimottānāsana describes the stretching of the … read more »
Mana Saba Khoyo Re
The mind is lost in bad company.The mind loses everything through negative association, abandoning the Guru's shelter and creating obstacles in devotion. Worldly life is a dream-like illusion that distracts and creates forgetfulness. Desire is an unquenchable thirst, leading one endlessly like … read more »
Vishwaguruji's Birthday
The spiritual path requires surrender to the Guru and daily practice to receive and transmit divine light.Success comes only through the Guru's grace, not personal effort. Disciples share experiences of being called to serve, such as teaching yoga in new countries, which initially provokes fear. By following the Guru's instruction, fear dissolves … read more »
Prakrti - The mother nature
A remedy for joint health and the duty of a teacher to connect with nature.A yearly treatment for joints involves a specific food preparation. Combine roasted fenugreek and whole wheat flour with ghee, almonds, jaggery, and spices to form laddūs. Consume one each morning for about a month during the … read more »
Knowledge is given to give further
True knowledge must be shared, or it is lost.There is only one knowledge with many branches. The best knowledge supports God's original creation, not manipulations that damage the planet. Man-made techniques create dependency, unlike God's perfect gifts given freely. Scriptures preserve knowledge, though some … read more »
The Principles and Practice of Yoga in Daily Life
The principle of yoga is to achieve harmony of body, mind, and soul through systematic practice in daily life.This is not a temporary emotional state but a disciplined path from basic to advanced understanding. Perfection comes only through relentless practice, as illustrated by ancient stories and the potter molding clay. The physical system balances … read more »
Eat for living
The essence of prāṇa is living naturally.Modern life has lost this natural way, making us weak and ill. We consume far too much, eating for taste rather than need, while tribal peoples survive on far less with greater vitality. Our artificial foods … read more »
Ujjayi Pranayam
A guided practice of Ujjāyī Prāṇāyāma integrates breath, awareness, and movement.Begin with a personal mantra and breath awareness through a specific nostril. Practice the Ujjāyī technique with a focused breath pathway between the navel and the eyebrow center, feeling the cool inhalation and warm exhalation. This … read more »
Devas and Asuras
The path of prāṇa leads to the nectar within.Prāṇāyāma consists of inhalation, exhalation, and breath retention. These practices affect the entire being. The story of the churned ocean reveals inner truths. Devas and asuras represent the qualities within us, churned by the mind. The … read more »
Do not change your Gurudev
The ultimate achievement depends solely on the Guru's grace.All spiritual practices are secondary to this divine grace. Even divine incarnations honored their gurus. The devotee must approach the divine with the helplessness of a crying infant to receive nourishment. Intellect alone is insufficient; it … read more »
Yoga practice with children
A joyful closing practice integrates review, gratitude, and communal connection.The session begins with chanting and a playful nursery rhyme to wake the sun, celebrating the learning of love for the sun, friends, and animals. The physical practice reviews immunity-strengthening āsanas learned during the seminar, encouraging … read more »
Sutra Dhauti
Haṭha Yoga techniques purify the body and strengthen the digestive fire.Netī uses water or purified cow urine for nasal cleansing. Dhauti cleanses the alimentary canal; Sūtra Dhauti involves swallowing a cloth, while Jala Dhauti, or Kuṇḍjalakriyā, involves drinking and expelling salty water. These practices remove impurities … read more »
Adi Shankaracharya and Advaita Vada
Yoga purifies prāṇa and leads to meditation, which opens the door to higher consciousness.Modern science gradually accepts ancient wisdom, such as the existence of the astral body containing memories after death. The day will come when daily yoga and reading holy books about love and non-violence become essential for … read more »
Neti and Kapalabhati
Master the six techniques of Haṭha Yoga, beginning with Netī.Netī cleans the nostrils. Jala Netī uses lukewarm salt water. After it, practice Kapālabhāti Prāṇāyāma to expel water from the sinuses and oxygenate the brain. Perform this only from the stomach. Practice Netī and Kapālabhāti in … read more »
Yoga unites space and consciousness
Sanātana Dharma is the eternal, uncreated order governing all existence.Everything perceived and the body's functions operate within this timeless principle. Yoga is the union of the individual self with the supreme consciousness, hindered only by ignorance. Knowledge unites; ignorance divides. The aim is oneness. True … read more »