Shri Swami Satchidananda, a disciple of Swami Sivananda from Rishikesh, is the founder and spiritual director of the Integral Yoga Institute, which has yoga centers throughout the world. He lives at his ashram, Yogaville, in Buckingham, Virginia.
Swami Satchidananda exemplifies equanimity in his ability to be fully present in any moment and to draw from that moment joy, wonder, and profundity, and then to share his findings with those fortunate people who hear his teachings. Reading, hearing, and contemplating the words of a realized master has the effect of satsang. You feel as if you are in a saintly presence.
The following quotes are drawn from various books by Sri Swami Satchidananda, (published by Integral Yoga Publications).
From Portrait of a Modern Sage:
“Show the same love to one and all. Let nothing get harmed, hurt, or pained, even by your thought. Love everything and everybody as God would love: unconditionally.”
“True love knows no bargains. It is one-way traffic: giving, giving, giving.”
“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.”
From his opening speech at the Woodstock Festival, 1969:
“My beloved brothers and sisters, I am overwhelmed with joy to see the entire youth of America gathered here in the name of music. In fact, through music we can work wonders. Music is the celestial sound and it is sound that controls the whole universe, not atomic vibrations. Sound energy, sound power, is much, much greater than any other power in this world.”
“One thing I very much wish you all to remember – with sound we can make, and at the same time break. So let all our actions and all our arts express Yoga. Through the sacred art of music let us find peace that will pervade all over the globe. The future of the whole world is in your hands. You can make it or break it. The entire world is going to be watching. The entire world is going to know what the American youth can do for humanity.”
From Enlightening Tales:
“The entire world is nothing but your own projection. It is based on your thoughts and mental attitude. If there is hell in your mind, you won?t see heaven anywhere. If there is heaven in your mind, even hell will be a heaven for you.”
“It’s not possible to please everyone. Instead, satisfy your own conscience by doing things without any selfish motive. Then you will be pleasing God.”
From The Golden Present:
“I don’t think just the name of a country, Israel, is what is real. And whoever thinks of that reality and works to realize the reality are the chosen people. Whoever is interested in reality is an Israelite. So this song is addressed to the true children of that reality: Hear, O children of the reality! The Lord is our God. There is only one God who is our Lord, who is the life in us. We are of that image. God is always one. Every religion talks about this.”
From Beyond Words:
“People often ask me, “What religion are you? You talk about the Bible, Koran, Torah. Are you a Hindu?” I say, I am not a Catholic, a Buddhist, or a Hindu, but an Undo. My religion is Undoism. We have done enough damage (with religious dogma). We have to stop doing any more and simply undo the damage we have already done.”
“Peace and joy is our goal. Whatever we do, we are doing it for that. Not everyone believes in God. But the real God, the absolute God, the cosmic God who is being searched for by one and all, is that peace and joy. Everyone wants that.”
“If anybody asks me, “What is your philosophy or God?” I say, “Peace is my God.” If they ask, “Where is He?” I reply, “He is in me and He is everywhere. He is all-peaceful; He is all serenity. He is to be felt and experienced within oneself.”
From The Living Gita:
Chapter 5:22 – Pleasures that come from sense contacts, Arjuna, actually are the womb of pain. A wise person does not delight in pleasure that comes and goes.
“A wise person will never expect joy from the outside world or by contact with outside objects. The truth is, joy can never come from outside?.Even if it seems to be coming from outside, it’s only a reflection of your own inner happiness.”
From The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali:
Chapter 1:1 – Now the exposition of Yoga is being made. “Mere philosophy will not satisfy us. We cannot reach the goal by mere words alone. Without practice, nothing can be achieved.”
