Yoga Wisdom with Swami Satchidananda

By popular demand! The beautiful and stirring Song of Sannyasin, as recorded in the late 1970s by then Swami Vivekananda of Integral Yoga USA, later known as Trip (Wayne Vishnu) Hunt. He recently passed away, and we wanted to share his rendition of this poem written in 1895 at a retreat in Thousand Island Park, New York, "The Song of the Sannyasin" is one of Swami Vivekananda's (disciple of Sri Ramakrishna) most famous and celebrated poems. It serves as a triumphant anthem of spiritual freedom and the path of complete renunciation. For many senior disciples, especially those who received Sannyas in Integral Yoga, this is a deeply resonant and inspiring rendition. Rest in peace, brother. Om Shanti. (Thank you Susanna Sushila Ronner for the photo of Trip).

The beautiful and stirring Sri Guru Gita, as recorded in the late 1970s by then Swami Vivekananda of Integral Yoga USA, later known as Wayne Vishnu Hunt. He recently passed away, and we wanted to share his rendition of this holy prayer to the Satguru, which, for many senior disciples in Integral Yoga, became a soundtrack of our spiritual lives. Rest in peace, brother. Om Shanti.

Dans cette conférence donnée au milieu des années 1980 à Val Morin, au Canada, Swami Satchidananda parle de son Guru, Sri Swami Sivananda. Il explique comment Swami Sivananda présentait le « Sampoorna Yoga », ou « Yoga Intégral », en anglais, comme une voie complète du yoga dans laquelle la tête, la main et le cœur sont engagés dans la pratique spirituelle. Il évoque également la manière dont le sentier aux huit membres de Patañjali devrait idéalement être pratiqué afin que le yoga apporte ses bienfaits les plus profonds.

In this talk from the mid-1980s in Val Morin, Canada, Swami Satchidananda talks about his Guru, Sri Swami Sivananda. He shares how Swami Sivananda presented "Sampoorna Yoga" or "Integral Yoga," in English as a complete path of Yoga in which the head, hand and heart are engaged in spiritual practice. He talks about how Patanjali's eight-limbed path should ideally be practiced so that Yoga yields the greatest benefit.

This prayer is repeated before meals at Satchidananda Ashram and all Integral Yoga centers worldwide. It is chanted in Sanskrit by Swami Satchidananda. The original slokas were written by Sri Shankaracharya. Translation:

Annapūrṇe Sadāpūrṇe

Śaṅkara Prāṇa Vallabhe

Jñāna Vairāgya Siddhyartham

Bhiksham Dehī Cha Pārvati

Mātā Cha Pārvatī Devī

Pitā Devo Maheśvaraha

Bāndhavāḥ Śiva Bhaktāha

Svadeśo Bhuvana Trayam

Hari OM Tat Sat Brahmāpaṇamastu

Lokāḥ Samastāḥ Sukhino Bhavantu

Jai Srī Sadguru Mahārāj Ki!

Jai!

Om Beloved Mother Nature. You are here on our table as our food. You are endlessly bountiful, benefactress of all.

Please grant us health and strength, wisdom and dispassion, to find permanent peace and joy and to share that peace and joy with one and all.

Mother Nature is my mother.

My father is the Lord of all.

The whole creation is my family.

The entire universe is my home.

I offer this unto OM, that truth which is universal.

May the entire world be filled with peace and joy, love and light.

May the light of truth overcome all darkness.

Victory to that light.

A tribute in music and verse to Yoga master Swami Satchidananda. Produced by Lakshmi Harilela, a longtime student and devotee of Swamiji. Lyrics below:

In the stillness of the dawn, his wisdom shines so bright,

Guiding us with love, like stars in darkest night.

Sri Swami Satchidananda, gentle, wise, and true,

Showed the path of Yoga, in everything we do.

*Chorus*

Oh, Master of the heart, you taught us how to see,

Beyond the restless mind, to true serenity.

With kindness as our guide and wisdom as our light,

You showed us Yoga’s way—pure love, eternal sight.

*Verse 2*

“Conquer the mind,” you said, “be free from fear and pain,”

Through breath and sacred sound, find peace within again.

A bridge of harmony, you built for all mankind,

Uniting East and West, in spirit, heart, and mind.

*Chorus*

Oh, Master of the heart, you taught us how to see,

Beyond the restless mind, to true serenity.

With kindness as our guide and wisdom as our light,

You showed us Yoga’s way—pure love, eternal sight.

*Bridge*

Hari Om, the chant resounds, in every soul you touched,

Your legacy of grace, it heals us all so much.

The gift of true Yoga, not just the asana’s flow,

But living every moment in the light you’ve shown.

*Outro*

So we walk this path with gratitude and grace,

Honoring your name in every time and space.

Sri Swami Satchidananda, your light will never fade,

In our hearts, your love lives on—the peace you’ve made.

In this powerful and uplifting talk, Swami Satchidananda reminds us that true peace in the world begins with peace in our own hearts. Drawing from timeless yogic wisdom, he shares how cultivating inner tranquility is not only the key to personal fulfillment, but the only way we can genuinely contribute to harmony around us. With clarity and compassion, he emphasizes the vital role of self-discipline as the bridge to self-mastery and lasting inner peace. This episode offers both inspiration and practical guidance for those who long to be instruments of peace in a turbulent world.

For more information please visit: www.linktr.ee/swamisatchidanandaofficial and www.linktr.ee/integralyogainternational

In this illuminating talk, Swami Satchidananda reveals why chasing after external pleasures can never bring true fulfillment—they offer only fleeting happiness. He explains how real, unshakable peace and joy come from within, from the very source of all existence, which he calls the God or peace within. Discover how to stop seeking outside and turn inward to find the boundless peace that is already yours.

Ⓟ© 2025 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / For more information please visit: www.linktr.ee/swamisatchidanandaofficial and www.linktr.ee/integralyogainternational

This audio of Sri Swami Satchidananda is copyrighted by Satchidananda Ashram. Feel free to share this audio as long as it is not altered in any way and is shared in the spirit of respect for Swami Satchidananda’s teachings. Om Shanti.

Swami Satchidananda gives a talk that begins with an explanation about what renunciation means and how when we renounce our identification with the “small self” we are able to realize the Infinite Self. Through an analogy, he shares the real key to true peace and joy in life and freedom from all suffering.

Ⓟ© 2024 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. / For more information please visit: www.linktr.ee/swamisatchidanandaofficial and www.linktr.ee/integralyogainternational

Swami Satchidananda explains that happiness is our True Nature and when we seek happiness outside of ourselves we will only be disappointed. He shows how a contented mind, a mind that runs after no one or nothing, brings everything.

Ⓟ© 2024 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc.

For more information please visit: www.linktr.ee/swamisatchidanandaofficial and www.linktr.ee/integralyogainternational

Swami Satchidananda speaks explains the nature of happiness, how we disturb our natural state of happiness, and how to maintain it. He also explains Cosmic Consciousness as our essential nature.

Ⓟ© 2024 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc. For more information please visit: www.linktr.ee/swamisatchidanandaofficial and www.linktr.ee/integralyogainternational