
Introduction to Inspirational Messages from Swami Rama
Introduction to the instructors.
Listen gently, but attentively. When something catches your attention, pause and reflect on it internally, in your own language and words. Ponder what it means to you personally, to your life, and your spiritual practices of meditation, contemplation, prayer, and mantra. Allow that reflection to draw you deeply into silence. There is also a 1-page map of the functioning of the mind, which Swami Rama talks about a lot, and also an article on the 'circle chart' which was designed by Swami Rama.
What is Yoga? from Lectures on Yoga
What is Meditation? from Meditation and Its Practice
Ashtanga Yoga from Sadhana, the Path to Enlightenment
Engage in a lighthearted attention exercise that links to the 8 wrongs of Ashtanga yoga, guiding you from outer awareness toward inner stillness through breath, senses, and mind.
Preparation for Choosing a Path from Choosing a Path
A Personal Philosophy of Life from Conscious Living
Sit quietly and ask your personal goal, aim, and purpose in life; choose a keyword that captures your core philosophy and explore its meaning of God and reality.
Knowing Yourself from Art of Joyful Living
Death and Transition from Path of Fire and Light
Emotions from A Practical Guide to Holistic Health
Ego from The Essence of Spiritual Life
States of Consciousness from Inspired Thoughts of Swami Rama
Explore states of consciousness by guiding learners to observe the conscious mind, sensory input, memory, and inner processing, and to glimpse the awareness behind them.
What is Love? from Love Whispers
Samskaras from Freedom from the Bondage of Karma
The Four Functions of Mind 119 from Inspired Thoughts of Swami Rama
The Rope of Karma from Freedom from the Bondage of Karma
Identify everyday actions as karma and notice the formless memory behind them. Release the sense of the doer (I am) to glimpse freedom from karmic bondage.
Kleshas from Sadhana, the Path to Enlightenment
Engage in a guided activity exploring attractions, aversions, and neutrality to illuminate the awareness behind them, and reduce their coloring through meditation as a foundation of yoga.
Sin and Obstacles from Perennial Psychology of the Bhagavad Gita
Meditation is not Religion from Inspired Thoughts of Swami Rama
Meditation in Christianity from Meditation in Christianity
Guide learners through a meditation activity in Christianity, inviting awareness of infinity and oneness with the father as truth and reality.
What God Is from Enlightenment Without God
The Profound Teachings of the Ancient Sages from Wisdom of the Ancient Sages
A Program for Progress in Meditation from Meditation and Its Practice
Sadhana from A Call to Humanity
Practice activity sadhana guides you from body awareness to breath, energy, and mind, cultivating effortless stillness as the mind rests in silence.
Internal Dialogue from Path of Fire and Light
What is Atman? from Life Here and Hereafter
Divine Grace from Sacred Journey, Living Purposefully and Dying Gracefully
Book of Life from Book of Wisdom, Ishopanishad
Explore the book of life by contemplating birth and death, and cultivate present-moment awareness of the self that remains here and now.
Explore Swami Rama's 25 core principles and embrace the idea that you are infinity, unlocking inspirational messages about boundless potential and inner strength.
*******Over 5,000 students are enrolled in this course*******
May your meditations bring you peace, happiness, and bliss. SJ
Yoga is a whole life process. Ultimately, there is only one Yoga with many aspects. Swami Rama does a superb job of describing the various aspects of this one Yoga.
In this course, over 25 core principles and practices of traditional Yoga are presented as described by the 20th century Yogi, Swami Rama of the Himalayas. Along with each of the 25 presentations, there are 25 (1 each) brief guided meditations/contemplations from Swami Jnaneshvara that bring added life and personal experience to the presentations.
This course is for those who already have some exposure to Yoga, and wish to explore the subtler principles. If you have ever heard of, or are interested in Yoga as expounded in the traditions of the Himalayas, you may quite enjoy this overview of the essence of Yoga through the eyes of Swami Rama of the Himalayas (1925-1996). Yet, the information and practices of this tradition are universal, and applicable to all people. My most endearing memories are of walks and talks with Swami Rama along the River Ganges, in the foothills of the Himalayas. He held my hand and guided me in the subtler principles and practices of Yoga as practiced by our Himalayan meditation tradition. For over 20 years I have been helping to pass on these principles and practices, which are being highlighted here in this course. It has been widely said that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. Putting this together is—for me—an act of gratitude and love for Swami Rama, the one who showed up in my life, as well as a gift to you.
We hope this course gives you lots of 'food for thought' about Yoga and spiritual life. Please use these readings as contemplations, reflecting on the principles in your own words. Then, allow the insights to lead you to silent, wordless inner contemplative meditations. May your meditations bring you peace, happiness, and bliss.
We had a lot of fun putting this together for you. For those of you who will enjoy this offering, I am…
In loving service,
Swami Jnaneshvara (Swami J)