by Swami Ramananda

A group of our sangha had a lengthy discussion about how we want to live as an expression of our Yoga practice, and what we want to contribute to the current world environment. We talked about our intention to disengage from the consumer-oriented messages of our culture by practicing Aparigraha, the Sanskrit term for the absence of greed. We also reflected on the benefit of practicing Santosha, Sanskrit for contentment.

We kept searching for some way to express our desire to make a positive contribution. One person suggested the practice of Karma Yoga best embodies this endeavor to live our beliefs and make a difference. Then we
noted the emergence of Spring and the upcoming observance of Earthday, and we decided to call our practice “planting seeds for a sustainable future.”

In summary, we commit ourselves, in the daily ways that we can, to live by the Yogic values that we have embraced:

  • to honor the Spiritual Light within all peoples of all races and religions
  • to honor the earth, our home, as a manifestation of the Spirit
  • to resist the cultural messages to accumulate achievements and possessions as a source of happiness
  • to practice contentment and gratitude for all that we have been given, and take joy in giving, sharing and serving others
May these efforts bring some benefit to others, bring more peace to our own hearts and in some small way, uplift the consciousness of our planet.

Please join Swami Ramananda for a plethora upcoming classes, workshops and events:

Hatha Mixed Level online & in-person – Saturdays, 9:30-10:45 am PT

Satsang: Taking Refuge from the Storms of Life – Saturday, May 20, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT

Stories as a Source of Wisdom – Wednesday, May 24, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm PT

How We Change, Why We Don’t – Yoga for Transformation, 2-part – Wednesday, June 14, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm PT

Embodied Wisdom: Yoga Teachings and Practice – Wednesday, June 21, 5:45 pm – 6:45 pm PT

Swami Ramananda 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 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.