Sri Swami Satchidananda-Apostle Of Peace - Softcover

Bordow, Sita

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0932040314 ISBN 13: 9780932040312

Publisher: Integral Yoga Publications, 2014

Synopsis

“The dedicated ever enjoy supreme peace. Therefore live only to serve.” This direction from ancient scriptures has been a guiding light for Sri Swami Satchidananda, one of the world’s most respected and loved spiritual masters. His life has been dedicated to the service of others―all others regardless of race, religion, nationality, or any other category.

An authentic holy man with a keen sense of humor and humility, Swami Satchidananda’s radiance, benevolence, tolerance and understanding have helped to bring peace and enlightenment not only to those who practice Yoga but to thousands of Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and others all over the globe.

Sri Swami Satchidananda: Apostle of Peace tells the life story of this remarkable being. Born into a deeply spiritual family, he became a successful businessman and happy family man. After losing his wife, he chose the path of renunciation and devoted himself completely to spiritual life. Years of studying with many great sages and saints led him to his Guru, the legendary Sri Swami Sivananda. Swami Satchidananda soon became known as a great spiritual teacher in both the East and the West.

Nicely balanced between the actual sayings, writings, and informal teachings of Swami Satchidananda himself and the running narrative of his extraordinary life, this biography stands as both an amazing, highly entertaining story, and as an inspirational guide and book of spiritual wisdom.

From the Foreword by Father Thomas Keating, OCSO:

“Sri Swami Satchidananda has devoted himself tirelessly to the promotion of spirituality, transcultural values and understanding among the world religions.”

About this title

About the Author

Swami Satchidananda is the founder of Integral Yoga® International, Satchidananda Ashram Yogaville, and the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine. He was one of the first Yoga masters to bring the Yoga tradition to the West and he was welcomed as a truly universal spiritual teacher. The distinctive teachings he brought with him blend six branches of classical Yoga and the nondual philosophy of India, as well as the interfaith ideals he pioneered. These techniques and concepts influenced a generation and gave rise to Yoga culture that is flourishing today. There are now 20 Integral Yoga centers and thousands of Integral Yoga teachers around the globe. Integral Yoga is the foundation of Dr. Dean Ornish’s landmark work in reversing heart disease, Patricia Kerr’s Big Yoga, Sonia Sumar’s Yoga for the Special Child, and many other trailblazing programs. He is the author of Integral Yoga Hatha, To Know Your Self, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Beyond Words, The Living Gita, and The Golden Present, among other titles. He is also the subject of the documentary, Living Yoga: The Life and Teachings of Swami Satchidananda. He received many honors for his humanitarian service including the Juliet Hollister Interfaith Award presented at the United Nations, the U Thant Peace Award and a posthumous honor during his centenary in 2014, the James P. Morton Interfaith Award. In addition, he served on the advisory boards of many world peace and interfaith organizations. For more information, please visit: swamisatchidananda.org and integralyoga.org

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The following excerpt is taken from a point about two-thirds of the way into Sri Swami Satchidananda: Apostle of Peace.

They didn't know they were creating history as they gathered in Max Yasgur's cow pasture for the Woodstock Festival-Aquarian Exposition--three days of free music, free food, free entertainment. Almost all of the most famous contemporary musicians had volunteered to perform at the Festival - for free. When the fences couldn't hold back the almost half a million young people, the promoters chopped up the ticket booths for firewood. Soon there were miles of tents--green, red, blue, orange,--on the hills. There were open kitchens for cereals and vegetables. The sun burned down, and then it poured rain. The ground turned to mire, but good spirit and a loving consciousness never faltered.

The promoters had expected a few thousand people, and as they watched many more than that pouring into the farm for the festivities, they became concerned. Such large numbers gathered in much less than perfect conditions usually made for trouble. One of the people in charge had met Gurudev [Swami Satchidananda] and felt that his calming vibration could have a soothing effect on the crowd.

The roads were too choked with cars and people for his car to pass so a police escort drove Gurudev toward the site. A boy fell off the back of a speeding car, and Gurudev sat by him until help arrived, rubbing his head gently and soothingly. When the roads became too clogged even for the police, a special helicopter was pressed into service, lifting Gurudev high into the air above the hundreds of cars parked every which way, and the thousands and thousands of people milling like tiny ants below. How he loved it, this smooth soaring above the festival, descending finally into the midst of it. Backstage he sat on a makeshift wooden stepladder, waiting to go on. Out front were 400,000 people.

"My beloved sisters and brothers," Gurudev began, I am overwhelmed with joy to see the youth of America gathered here in the name of the fine art of music. If fact, through music we can work wonders...

"One thing I wish you all to remember: with sound we can make or break. On certain battlefields animal sounds are used. Without such sounds - war cries - human beings couldn't become the kind of animals that kill their own bretheren.

"So I am very happy to see that we are all gathered to create some 'making' sounds rather than 'breaking' sounds, to find that peace and joy through the celestial music. I am honored for having been given the opportunity for opening this great, great music festival.

"America leads the world in several ways. Very recently, when I was in the East, the grandson of Mahatma Ghandi asked me, "What's happening in America?" I said, 'America is becoming whole. America is helping everybody in the material field, but the time has come for America to help the whole word with spirituality also.'

"That's why across its length and breadth we see people, thousands and thousands of people, yoga-minded, spiritual-minded. So let all our actions and all our arts express yoga or unity. Through the sacred art of music let us find peace that will pervade all over the globe. Often people shout, 'We are going to fight for peace!' I still do not understand how they are going to fight and then find peace. Therfore, let us not fight for peace, but let us find peace within ourselves first..."

Woodstock amazed everyone. Despite adverse conditions, the thousands of people lived together in total harmony for the duration of the festival. No comparable gathering before or since could make that claim.

Edition details

• Publisher: Integral Yoga Publications
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0932040314
• ISBN 13: 9780932040312
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 454