"The dedicated ever enjoy supreme peace, therefore live only to serve." -- Sri Swami Satchidananda
"If you have complete faith, nothing is impossible," Swami Satchidananda
Sri Swami Satchidananda, fondly known as Gurudev (meaning: “respected Guru”) was a Master of Yoga and renowned spiritual teacher and apostle of peace. He worked tirelessly to bring unity to mankind. His motto, “Truth is One, Paths are Many,” taught that we should not allow religious beliefs, creed, caste or race to divide us. As a result of his dedication, Sri Gurudev was honoured with several awards during his lifetime, including:
1996 The Juliet Hollister Interfaith Award, presented at the United Nations. (Other recipients include: H. H. the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, Queen Noor of Jordan, and Pandit Ravi Shankar.)
2002 U Thant Peace Award, presented at the Interfaith Centre of New York by the Peace Meditation at the United Nations. (Other recipients include: Nelson Mandela, Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, and the Dalai Lama)
As part of his ecumenical service and vision of world peace, he built an Interfaith shrine called LOTUS (Light Of Truth Universal Shrine). LOTUS celebrates the unity behind the diversity of the world religions. Open to people of all faiths to meditate and pray, this shrine uses the universal symbol of light as the symbol of the Divine. It is the first shrine ever built to house altars for every major faith and also faiths less well-known and those not yet known.
Sri Gurudev founded Yogaville (Sri Swami Satchidananda Ashram) the
world-wide Integral Yoga Institutes. His system of Integral Yoga is a
simple and pure system that provides all who practice it with an
easeful body, a peaceful mind and a useful life. He is the author of
many books, among them:
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
The Living Gita
To Know You Self
Beyond Words
Integral Yoga Hatha
I am truly blessed to have studied under the loving guidance of His Holiness Sri Swami Satchidananda and formally initiated into his lineage.
Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS)
Different world faiths celebrate at LOTUS dedication
