by Swami Ramananda

As the first signs of spring emerged, I invited a group of sincere seekers to embark on a journey of inner cultivation through a 3-part series called Keys to Sustainable Growth. Just as the earth awakens in spring, offering fertile ground for new life, I encouraged everyone to reflect on the seeds they wished to plant—not only for the season ahead but for the years to come.

We began by envisioning the growth we longed for in our spiritual lives, asking ourselves: What do we hope to cultivate? What experiences do we wish to nurture? I reminded the group that, like any good gardener, we must also take stock of the soil before planting. Only when we honestly assess the current state of our physical, emotional, and intellectual condition can we take meaningful and sustainable steps toward realizing our vision.

Through a guided process of reflection and inquiry, we explored where we stood on our spiritual journey and how best to move forward with clarity and purpose. Each reflection was an opportunity to align our aspirations with reality, ensuring that the seeds we planted would have the strength to take root and flourish in the seasons ahead.

This exploration was not about striving for quick results but about fostering growth that is steady, authentic, and enduring—growth that unfolds in harmony with the natural rhythm of life and leads us ever closer to the fullness of our spiritual potential.

An Invitation to Cultivate Your Vision

These reflections are not merely intellectual exercises—they are seeds that, when nurtured, can lead to lasting transformation. I invite you to take this same journey of inquiry and contemplation. Set aside a quiet moment to reflect on these five guiding steps and allow them to shape your path toward sustainable spiritual growth:

1) Create a vision of how you want to grow, what you want to experience or how you want to feel as you go through your days. Think seriously about what you want to do with the time left in this lifetime.

2) Do an honest assessment of where you are now in relationship to that vision. Where do you feel stuck or struggle to live by what you believe in and your spiritual values? Without judgement or shame, consider your strengths and challenges.

3) Consider one or two small healthy steps you can take right now toward that vision, keeping in mind the obstacles you will face.

4) Find creative ways to support your small steps with some form of reminder or by linking a new habit to an existing habit. Support your efforts with a checklist, a practice partner or someone to share your efforts with. Celebrate your successes.

5) Alongside whatever steps you take, do your best to create a daily meditative practice of some kind, even if it’s very brief. If you pursue this practice with enthusiasm, you can free yourself from all the limiting mental ideas about who you are and what you can experience.

I recommend backing away from ambitious resolves that might make you look good, and instead, searching your heart for goals that are both meaningful and feel healthy. Starting small is a great way to build confidence and will power by being successful.

Just as you would protect a fragile new seedling, it is equally important to protect and support the measurable steps to which you have committed. Attending group scripture study classes, like the ones we offer at most of our Integral Yoga centers, can be a great way to share your efforts and derive support from the personal connections you make there. Attending a weekly Yoga class or group meditation session can be a great way of reinforcing your intention and staying inspired.

Having both an overall intention and specific ways of carrying it in your heart breathes spiritual life into the day. Remembering again and again a higher purpose frees you from being captive to the consumer-oriented messages of our culture. Each step taken in harmony with that higher purpose will strengthen your resolve to progress on the spiritual path. I pray that by practicing this way, all of us will grow more aware of the deep peace and love that is ever-present within as our true nature.

You can join Swami Ramananda this month for any of the events/workshops that he is leading or co-leading:

• Spring into Action: A BIPOC Wellness Retreat and Fundraiser IN-PERSON with with Mia Velez, Celeste Fa’ai’uaso, Dominique dela Cola & April Leung • Sun. APR 6 @ 12:00 – 7:00 pm
• Scripture Study: Raja Yoga – Keys to Sustainable Growth, 3 of 3-part ONLINE • Mon. APR 7 @ 6:00 – 7:00 pm
• Passover Seder IN-PERSON with Jackie Barshak • Sat. APR 12 @ 4:30 – 6:00 pm

Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco, C-IAYT, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.
He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced-level Yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U.S., Europe and South America. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI), which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.

by Kealoha DeLuz

Aloha!

As I delve deeper into my spiritual journey, I’ve come to realize the profound impact of purpose. It’s like having a compass guiding me through the sometimes-turbulent waters of life. You see, I used to feel a bit lost on this path, my efforts feeling scattered and unfocused. My yoga practice felt like a chore, my meditations fleeting and unfulfilling. I was going through the motions, but without a clear direction, my progress felt stagnant.

Then I started to ask myself the crucial question: “Kealoha, why are you on this journey? What are you hoping to achieve?” This simple inquiry opened a door to deeper self-reflection. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali provided valuable guidance. Sutra 1.13 emphasizes the importance of consistent practice (abhyasa). But what fuels this consistency? For me, it’s the deep understanding of my “why.”

I realized that I wasn’t just seeking physical flexibility or stress relief. I yearned for inner peace, a deeper connection to myself and the world around me. I wanted to cultivate compassion and cultivate a sense of gratitude. This clarity of purpose transformed my practice. Each yoga class became an opportunity to cultivate inner strength and connect with my breath. Each meditation became a sacred space for introspection and self-discovery. Every act of kindness, no matter how small, felt like a meaningful step towards my spiritual goals.

Life, as we know, throws curveballs. There are days when doubt creeps in, and the practice feels like a heavy burden. This is where Sutra 1.14 comes in. It reminds me of the importance of sustained effort, with sincerity and without interruptions. My “why” becomes my anchor during these times. It reminds me of the profound sense of peace I experience when I connect with my inner self. It reminds me of the joy of helping others. These reminders give me the strength to overcome obstacles and continue on my path, even when the going gets tough.

Sutra 1.15 speaks of vairagya, or non-attachment. Letting go of distractions and desires that don’t serve my spiritual growth has become easier as I’ve clarified my purpose. My practice has become more meaningful and fulfilling. It’s like I’ve tuned into a higher frequency, where everything I do aligns with my spiritual goals. This deep connection brings me a sense of joy and a profound sense of peace. I find myself less attached to the outcome of my practice and more focused on the journey itself.

So, I encourage you to reflect on your own “why.” What truly drives you on this spiritual journey? What are you hoping to achieve? Take some time to journal, meditate, or simply contemplate what truly matters to you.

Understanding your purpose is not about achieving perfection, but rather cultivating awareness and embracing the present moment. Let your “why” be your guiding light, illuminating your path and empowering you to connect with your true self.

Mahalo and blessings on your journey!

You can join Kealoha DeLuz Ph.D. for Sunday Spiritual Talk: The Power of Purpose in Spiritual Practice happening ONLINE this Sunday, March 16 from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PDT. $5-$20 or enroll for free, use promo code FREE.

Kealoha Deluz, Ph.D, has been a holistic health practitioner for 30 years, holds a Master of Divinity, Ph.D. in Holistic Studies, and is currently working towards a degree in transpersonal counseling. He has been an Integral Yoga Teacher since 2006 and is a Raja Yoga trainer, advanced level Hatha Yoga, meditation and stress management instructor. Kealoha is a licensed massage therapist, skin care practitioner, and holistic life coach. Kealoha was born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii, and currently lives and works in San Francisco, California.

by Swami Ramananda

What determines how we respond when a stressful situation arises in our lives? Are we influenced by past experiences, current needs, or the opinions of those close to us? Is our thinking shaped by deeply ingrained messages from our culture? Or are we free to act with full awareness in the present moment and in harmony with our true nature, our interconnection with all of life?

The residents of the institute decided to practice choosing freedom for the month of March. For us, this implies responding to life free of the “shoulds” we may have residing in our psyches from childhood. This can be harder than it sounds, since we are easily compelled by habitual beliefs and thought patterns that are so entrenched and familiar that we may not be able to see them.

For example, do I find it difficult to be honest about a mistake that I made because of what others might think about me? I may find myself spinning the truth to protect my self-image if I am unconsciously in need of approval to feel good about myself. I might rationalize taking advantage of someone else financially, swayed by a deeply rooted need for security.

Our Yoga practice is a good place to begin cultivating greater self-awareness of the ways we react to life. Even here, we may find ourselves trying to look good, comparing ourselves to others or to some image we have, or judging our practice as good or bad by some unintentional standard. Instead, we can cultivate approaches to practice that free us from past conditioning.

During Hatha Yoga sessions, we can practice moving freely by tuning into the raw sensations of the body. We can train ourselves to act with non-judgmental awareness and in caring response to our capacity in this moment. We cultivate this same kind of experience during meditation, disengaging over and over again from the stream of thought that we normally identify with. A mind that thus becomes focused, quiet and open can truly perceive and respond to events as they are, without looking through a colored lens or projecting onto things our hopes or fears.

In this way, we train ourselves to pause and discriminate between the anxious reactions that may be triggered by stressful situations, and the deeper, neutral voice of our Spiritual Consciousness. This occurs over time with steady effort, patience and without expectation for how and when results will come.

When we repeat such a practice and experience moments free of habitual thought patterns, we begin to see ourselves and our relationship to the world in a fresh way. We begin to feel our connection to each other and all of nature. A natural compassion and wisdom arise in our hearts. Over time, a regular practice of this kind will gradually restructure even the subconscious mind so that we are no longer compelled by old beliefs, and approach life with a sense of deep belonging, inner contentment and wonder.

Please join Swami Ramananda for Scripture Study: Raja Yoga – Keys to Sustainable Growth, 3-part, over 3 Mondays; March 24th, 31st and April 7th from 6:00 – 7:00 pm PDT. Each session is offered individually.

Swami Ramananda C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition, who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life, and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.

He leads all levels of Yoga teacher trainings and programs around the globe. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program and has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings. He a founding board member of Yoga Alliance and is a co-founder of The Spiritual Action Initiative which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.

by Swami Ramananda

Many people I know are searching for ways to actively respond to the chaotic events unfolding in the U.S. and a world filled with violence, suffering, and injustice. We don’t want to see our Yoga practice as a retreat from the world, nor do we want to simply shake our heads and shrug our shoulders at the turmoil around us.

Often, we think of spiritual awakening as a passive practice—something that involves withdrawing the senses and quieting the mind to experience the spiritual presence within. While this is an important aspect of spiritual growth, it is equally vital to consider how we engage with the world. Both approaches are necessary, as we want our responses to the challenges we face to be guided by the source of spiritual wisdom we all share.

We may need to reconnect with this inner spiritual light repeatedly, awakening it fully so that it shines in our hearts and minds as we go about our days. However, we need not wait for a certain level of enlightenment before we take our Yoga practice off the cushion or mat and into the world. We can intentionally practice moving, speaking, and thinking with peace and compassion in our hearts.

This intention remains vague unless we find specific ways to cultivate it. We bring compassion into conversations when we listen deeply to others, making a real effort to understand and respect their needs. Even when we disagree, we can approach others with an open heart, focusing on common ground rather than our differences. We can speak out against injustice when we witness it and strive to be peacemakers in moments of conflict.

Above all, we can maintain our equanimity in the face of unjust or violent words or actions. By keeping our balance, we sustain a connection to an inner well of peace and bring that energy into the situation. Mindfulness allows us to pause and make conscious choices that consider the well-being of everyone involved.

We can also bring more compassion into the world by serving our local communities. Whether it’s offering Yoga classes, volunteering at a soup kitchen, becoming politically active, or reaching out to those in need, serving locally connects us to the needs and disharmony in our own neighborhoods, where we can truly make a difference. It compels us to look beyond our own worlds and reminds us that, beneath our differences, we all seek the same happiness. A grateful heart is naturally inclined to uplift others.

On a subtler level, Sri Swami Satchidananda strongly affirmed that each time we pray for peace in the world—such as we do at the end of each Integral Yoga class—we send subtle yet profound energies into our world. Even though we may not see the effects, each time we visualize peace in our hearts and intentionally send it outwards, our intentions have a real impact on those who are ready to receive them.

Every choice we make, every action we take, can be guided by either a ‘me’-centered or ‘we’-centered mindset. Understanding that our daily actions are an expression of our beliefs can transform our lives, giving meaning to every aspect of it. May we all learn to see how bringing spiritual values into everyday life is both a vital response to a violent world and an essential part of awakening our inner Light.

Join Marc Morozumi and me for a discussion on how we can make a difference together at a Satsang we will co-lead on Saturday, March 1, from 5:30 – 6:30 pm, entitled Responding Together to a World in Chaos. Sign up

Swami Ramananda C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco and a gr.eatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition, who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life, and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.

He leads all levels of Yoga teacher trainings and programs around the globe. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program and has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings. He a founding board member of Yoga Alliance and is a co-founder of The Spiritual Action Initiative which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.