Dear Friends,

Springtime is a beautiful time of year in the Bahamas. Gardens are blooming, birds are singing and the ocean is tranquil. March is the perfect month for new beginnings, growth and cultivation of your spiritual practice. This March the ashram is excited to present Swami Swaroopananda's Bhagavad Gita Certification Course, Swami Shantananda's teachings on Exploring our Essential Nature, Geshe Michael Roach's teachings on Nirvana and David Newman's Kirtan singing. We will also present an Interfaith Symposium on Meditation as a Path to Enlightenment, as well as other inspiring programs. We invite you to experience the beauty of nature and the depth of spiritual teachings at the ashram, and we are looking forward to seeing you this March!

Click to play. View a video of Bharatanatyam Dance performance that was a part of the vibrant Classical Indian Music and Dance Festival last month.

Qualities of a Jivanmukta as a Spiritual Practice
Q&A with Swami Swaroopananda

This article is from one of Swami Swaroopananda's spontaneous question and answer sessions. To hear more of his teachings from the Bhagavad Gita, come to the Advanced Bhagavad Gita Certification Course March 11-March 21.

What is it like to become realized? Does something obvious happen?

Answer: At the end of his text the Tattva Bodha, the great Adi Shankaracharya poses the question, "What are the signs by which we can identify a jivanmukta, a realized soul?" He then answers, "There are no external signs. There are no external signs." Does this mean there are no signs that show us a person has attained realization? No, it means there are signs, but that these signs manifest internally.

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Quote of the Month

What is the highest achievement? It is not health, wealth, pleasure, power, or secular learning. What then? It is self-realization. Self-realization demands very great struggle. Strive, strive, strive with faith and single-minded devotion. . .you will come out victorious in the end.
Many Lord Blessings, Sivananda.

Ashram News

A Direct Disciple of Swami Sivananda visits the Ashram

Swami Atmanada, one of the few living direct disciples of Swami Sivananda, visited our ashram for the first time. It was an unforgettable experience. To host Swami Atmananda was an honor and a true pleasure, as he inspired us with his heartfelt lectures and blessed us with his loving presence. He is a lion of Vedanta, a great Bhakta (devotee) and a caring, compassionate human being. During his stay, we all strongly felt the presence of Master Sivananda.

Mahasivaratri

Guests, yoga teacher trainees, devotees, Swamis, staff and the Nassau community all gathered to celebrate the sacred night of Lord Siva. All-night chanting, pujas, high energy, joy, bliss (and lots of prasad at the end!) made it an unforgettable night for us all. Even after staying awake until dawn, we felt energized and ready to serve humanity and deepen our practices the next day. The best part of Mahasivaratri was Swami Swaroopananda's chanting. We hope you enjoy this video.