Category: Swami Rama

Our tradition has the following orientation:

1. One absolute without a second is our philosophy.
2. Serving humanity through selflessness is an expression of love, which one should follow through mind, action and speech.
3. The Yoga System of Patañjali is a preliminary step accepted by us for the higher practices in our tradition, but philosophically we follow the Advaita system of one absolute without a second.
4. Meditation is systematized by stilling the body, having serene breath, and controlling the mind. Breath awareness, control of the autonomic system, and learning to discipline primitive urges are practiced.
5. We teach the middle path to students in general, and those who are prepared for higher steps of learning have the opportunity to learn advanced practices. This helps people in general in their daily lives to live in the world and yet remain above. Our method, for the convenience of Western students, is called Superconscious Meditation. I am only a messenger delivery the wisdom of the Himalayan sages of this tradition, and whatever spontaneously comes from the centre of intuition, that I teach. I never prepare my lectures or speeches, for I was told by my master not to do so.
6. We do not believe in conversion, changing cultural habits or introducing any God in particular. We respect all religions equally, loving all and excluding none. Neither do we oppose any temple, mosque, or church, nor do we believe in building homes for God while ignoring human being. Our firm belief is that every human being is a living institution or a temple.
7. Our members are all over the world, and for the sake of communication, we also believe in education. Our graduate school imparts the knowledge by the sages, thereby fulfilling the inner need of intellectuals.
8. We practice vegetarianism. We teach a nutritional diet that is healthy and good for longevity, but at the same time we are not rigid and do not force students to become vegetarians.
9. We respect the institution of the family and stress the education of children by introducing a self-training program and not by forcing our beliefs, faiths and way of life on them.
10. Our trained teachers systematically impart all aspects of yoga relating to body, breath, mind and individual soul. Awareness within and without is the key, and the methods of expansion are carefully introduced to the students.
11. To serve humanity, we believe in examining, verifying, and coming to certain conclusions regarding the yoga practices, including relaxation and meditation.
12. Our experiments are documented and published for the benefit of humanity.
13. We believe in universal brotherhood, loving all and excluding none.
14. We strictly abstain from politics and from opposing any religion.
15. Of great importance is the practice of non-violence with mind, action and speech.

Editor’s Note

Excerpt from Living with the Himalayan Masters by Swami Rama.

“The human being is on a pilgrimage. His goal is the eternal abode, where he finds perfect happiness, peace, and bliss. The ignorant ones who consider this earth their permanent abode are deluded. Every moment of life until one reaches his eternal is precious. Therefore one should remember the Lord in every moment. That practice is called ajapa japa. Those who remember the name of the Lord in every breath of their lives are the fortunate few. When a student learns to remember the name of God in silence with a one-pointed mind and strengthens that habit, he can continue practicing anywhere and everywhere he goes. Thus ajapa japa leads one to constant awareness of the Self, which helps him during the period of departure.” –
Perennial Psychology of the Bhagavad Gita

Swami Rama writes further about ajapa japa in Choosing a Path:

“In the path of bhakti one of the easiest practices is to remember God’s name – a mantra or a word – constantly. Ajapa japa, remembering God’s name constantly, becomes a part of life and makes one aware of the Lord all the time. Constant remembrance makes a deep groove in the unconscious mind, for the unconscious mind is actually the seat of habit formation. Once the habit is formed, then it becomes part of individual life. Ajapa japa is that state of remembering God’s name in which a devotee does all his duties, yet remembers God all the time, even during sleep. It is an effortless way of remembering God, but a constant and long practice of japa is necessary. Those who have formed a habit of ajapa japa enjoy inner silence without any effort. They do their duties and remember the Lord’s name all the time.”

Editor’s Note

These are excerpts from Perennial Psychology of the Bhagavad Gita by Swami Rama and published by the Himalayan Institute Press in 1985 and Choosing a Path by Swami Rama and published by The Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy of the USA in 1982.

You might also enjoy reading the chapter “My Grandmaster in Sacred Tibet” in the book Living with the Himalayan Masters
by Swami Rama.

“The essence of sacrifice is giving selflessly. It is a complete expression of love in the true sense. Those who learn to be content with only their essential needs fulfilled are truly happy, and they use all their resources in the love and service of others. The little bit that is left over is used for the sustenance of their existence in the world so that they can continue giving. Such individuals live for others. But the selfish are not aware of the law of giving and are doomed. In the universe every action is a ritual, and the ritual is performed for the sake of sacrifice. The raindrop sacrifices itself to become part of the plant, and the sun gives up its energy to give light and life to all beings. The rain that nourished the plants, herbs, and all sorts of food for human beings is a free gift from providence. That free gift is called sacrifice. The governing center of the universe itself is full of sacrifice: its nature is to give. This very universe is its gift, and it goes on giving freely of itself to the universe.”

— Swami Rama, Perennial Psychology of the Bhagavad Gita