Beginning of the Journey – Yoga and Vedanta

I started studying Yoga and Vedanta more than 30 years ago to deal with stress, to keep healthy in body-mind-spirit and to find life’s purpose. I was happy to be able to gain more energy and to be able to serve from inside-out, to serve God and humanity through understanding the laws of Karma and Dharma instead of functioning out of a sense of doership based on emotions and preconceived ideas.

Karma Yoga

I found this service to be more effective as it goes to the causes of our human conditioning, but more importantly, our actions in the spirit of Karma Yoga (selfless service) are more sustainable.  Accompanied by asanas, pranayama and the right spirit, selfless action can be continued for a long time and recharge you at the same time with inspiration and joy.

Articles on Karma Yoga.

Jnana Yoga

Vedanta philosophy is an important part in the journey as it alleviates the stress that comes with expectations of results, bypasses our disillusions when things change. It also helps to remind ourselves of the temporary condition of things and people, and at the same time gives us the wonderful realization of the Self, the real “I” always there as the witness, the companion, the inner ruler, the energy giver, the true intelligence giving sense to all happenings if only you can stay calm, trust and detach. 

Read some articles to learn more about Jnana yoga.

Bhakti Yoga

This life’s journey is not for a moment boring as it is accompanied by daily kirtan, rituals and mantras in praise of Gods and Goddesses who represent the different aspects of the same Supreme Reality– but with all the names and forms and colors that allow our imagination and emotions to be beautifully expressed. Thus, Bhakti Yoga and the science of Tantra brings us to the palpable presence of the Divine in our daily life.

We have many blog posts where you can learn more about Bhakti Yoga.

Un-diagnosed Illness – Ayurveda

I started Ayurveda (Vedic healing science) after an intense travel in pilgrimage to India, and even though I was very uplifted spiritually from the visit to different temples, I came back with an undiagnosed body and mind discomfort that no western doctor could diagnose.

After a battery of medical visits and tests, the doctors indulged in words to describe my condition that threw me into more anxiety: from cancer to tuberculosis!

I decided to let go of all the visits, continue my meditation and Yoga practice and found Ayurveda, which explained my condition to be an extreme vata derangement due to too much travelling. Thus I started studying Ayurveda and applied Ayurvedic principles in my daily life, diet and herbs. The ashram started to offer Ayurveda courses and retreats.

You can read this article about Applied Ayurveda in Yoga of Recovery.

Deeper Understanding – Vedic Astrology

Jyotish (vedic astrology) is the Science of Light throwing light on the karmas we all have to go through. Jyotish came next in my journey as it helped me to understand and to provide guidance to students and staff, knowing their specific strengths and weaknesses and their karmic tendencies. This incredible and deep knowledge helps us to not waste time in untimely pursuits and to understand why people behave the way they do. It helps further in the detachment and the acceptance of the Divine Will.

You can read this article to understand more about Vedic astrology as it relates to the Inner and outer world.

Vaastu – Sacred Architecture

Last but not least, Vaastu came to my life and I realized my mistake in understanding of this divine science of space and energy. In the past I have worked with Feng Shui Masters who were more available in the west than Vaastu practitioners.  Now Vaastu teaching has come to the Yoga Farm and helped me see clearly its incredible effectiveness in improving the quality of life and the health of the environment. Vaastu principles and the energetics of space and buildings are coming from the same body of Vedic knowledge and are very powerful and easily applicable.

You can read this article about Vastu tips for your home.

Conclusion

In this incredible journey of discovery and practice of this Vedic knowledge, I have learned from my Guru Swami Vishnudevananda, from books of Swami Sivananda–our SatGuru, and many Vedic teachers including Acharya David Frawley, who wrote 30 books on these topics.

© Swami Sitaramananda 2014 No part of this article may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the author.