Question: What if we think we have made a mistaken life decision? Is it actually a mistake?

Answer: Sometimes at an early stage in life we make a mistake. We make what at the time seems to be a logical decision. Sometimes society is pushing us, sometimes the parents, sometimes our considerations are mistaken. For example, we take money into consideration: I want to have a career; I want to have money. How am I going to have money if I become an artist? Artists never have money; musicians never have money. Yogis, they never have money. Yogis are professional beggars!

We are making this so-called logical choice, but it's not truly logical. What's logical about being miserable?

If, however, at a certain stage of life you find yourself feeling sorry about your decisions, don't be sorry. Everything has its own value, and we are going to get another chance anyway, but that's not the point. As yogis we can make it in this very life without regard to external circumstances. They are not the most important consideration when it comes to being a yogi. The inner life is the most important consideration.

Swami Swaroopananda

Swami Swaroopananda is a senior disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda. A practicing yogi from a very young age, Swami Swaroopananda has dedicated his life to the practice and teaching of yoga. He taught in Yoga Teacher Training Courses around the world and is currently teaching advanced yoga philosophy courses and lectures internationally. He is Director of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat and acharya (spiritual director) for the Sivananda centers and ashrams in the Bahamas and the Middle East. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres.

Upcoming Courses

Yoga Vacation Program

June 2 — 9, 2024

Swami Swaroopananda's Birthday Celebration

Swami Swaroopananda, Dr. John Douillard, Swapan Chaudhuri, Pankaj Mishra, and Senior Staff of the Yoga Retreat

In honor of the Sivananda lineage and Swami Swaroopananda's birthday, we invite all guests, friends, and residents of the ashram to come together for a celebration.

 

Yoga Vacation Program

December 21, 2024 — January 2, 2025

Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year Unity in Diversity Symposium

Living a Life of Devotion

Swami Swaroopananda, Snatam Kaur and Sopurkh Singh, Lama Tashi Norbu, Daniel Matt, Imam Jamal Rahman, Acharya Mangalananda, Jose Stevens, Lena Stevens, and Hillary Raining

During this special time of year we invite you to join us in celebrating wisdom, love, compassion, and the transcendence of artificial barriers.