Dec. 1
Registration will remain open through Dec. 8
For those that register after the start of the program the 1st LIVE session will be available as a recording.
with Swami Jyotirmayananda, Swami Priyaananda, E-RYT 500, Swami Murugananda, Swami Karunananda, E-RYT 500 and Revs. Bhagavan and Bhavani Metro
By Donation
Your donation helps support the Ashram and production costs.
Wednesdays: Dec. 8, 15, and 22
Join four longtime students and devotees of the esteemed spiritual teacher Sri Swami Satchidananda, known affectionately as Gurudev, as they share enlightening personal experiences from their decades spent with a spiritual master. You will be captivated by the fun-filled, revelatory, and transformative stories of the beloved teacher who founded Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville and the system of Integral Yoga.
Sri Gurudev first came to the U.S. in the 1960s, bringing the teachings of Yoga to the West and sharing a message of peace, selfless service, and interfaith understanding. Every encounter with the beloved Swami Satchidananda was a precious moment outside of time that lifted students out of their minds’ limits to experience themselves closer to Divine essence. Put another way, whenever Gurudev entered the room, every molecule of that space was changed forever. This was not just the special privilege of a few disciples. That light of wisdom continues to grace us all, now and into the future. Some of the best Gurudev stories are happening right now or are yet to be experienced.
Sessions
Live sessions on Wednesdays from 7:30–8:45 pm ET.
You will have access to the video recordings.
In addition, you will have access to the Ashram’s Hatha Yoga classes at 5 pm ET and access to an online social community to connect and communicate with other participants about this course.
Testimonials
Treat yourself to living legends of Integral Yoga who studied at the feet of my Guru and their Guru Swami Satchidananda. — Manorama Rakhmanov
I was delighted that the sessions were recorded and I must say that I have enjoyed every minute of listening to them. Some of the stories I listened to more than once. Thank you for offering us the opportunity to hear beloved stories with Sri Swami Satchidananda. I enjoyed my experience to the nth degree! The stories have always drawn me into learning more about Sri Gurudev. — J.G.
These stories were so great—funny and inspiring and thought-provoking. Since I never met Gurudev, it is wonderful to hear these memories from someone who was with him for so long and who loves to laugh, Thank you! — Past Participant
As I have never been blessed to meet Gurudev in person, these stories gave me personal insights into what it was like to interact and be in his presence. — S.J.
Student Walkthrough – How to Navigate this Course
Welcome to Sacred Gurudev Stories
Resources, Materials, and Assistance
LIVE – Satsang with talk by Special Guest 7:30–9:30 pm ET — Join us on Saturday
LIVE – Sunday Q&A with Special Guest Speaker – 2–3 pm ET
Sacred Gurudev Stories Community Page
LIVE – Integral Yoga® Hatha – 5–6:30 pm ET
RECORDING - Swami Murugananda
LIVE – Integral Yoga® Hatha – 5–6:30 pm ET
RECORDING - Session 2 with Sw. Jyotima and Sw. Priyaananda
LIVE – Integral Yoga® Hatha – 5–6:30 pm ET
Gurudev Stories with Swami Karunananda
LIVE – Integral Yoga® Hatha – 5–6:30 pm ET
RECORDING - Session 4 with Garuda Buss
Congratulations!
Program Evaluation – Help us create amazing experiences
Swami Priyaananda is a senior disciple of Swami Satchidananda with thirty years of experience in the practice of Integral Yoga. She served in the Integral Yoga Health Services division and the Distribution Department at Satchidananda Ashram in Connecticut, as well as Executive Secretary and Coordinator of the Living Yoga Training program at the Ashram in Virginia. Currently, she is Vice President of the Office of Spiritual Development and Manager of Satchidananda Archives.
Swami Murugananda is a senior sannyasi (monastic) and has been a disciple of Sri Swami Satchidananda since 1966. He has served in all the Integral Yoga Institutes and Ashrams of California, New York City, Connecticut, and Virginia since 1982. He has served in various capacities as an advanced Yoga teacher, counselor, gardener, farmer, chef, bookstore manager, “Rabbi”, herbalist, and more.
At Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville he established the first website registered with the domain name yogaville.org and founded the SASTRI project (Satchidananda Automated Satsang Text Retrieval & Indexing). SASTRI is the master archival database containing all the transcripts of Sri Gurudev's satsangs and talks spanning over 36 years. Swami Murugananda created and now maintains the Yogaville Library of over 25,000 holdings. In his spare time, he also writes and has performed stand-up comedy for the past 33 years.
Swami Murugananda will soon publish his first book detailing his journey on the spiritual path and the way to it, adventures and frequent misadventures, the numerous times he was protected from extreme danger, and so much more.
Reverends Bhagavan and Bhavani have been devotees of Sri Gurudev Swami Satchidananda since 1974. They moved from their home in Colorado to Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville East, Connecticut in 1979 to be close to Sri Gurudev and the Integral Yoga sangha and to enroll their children in the Vidyalayam school.
In 1980 they moved their family to Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Virginia where they currently reside. Their construction company, New Age Builders, built most of the structures at Yogaville.
They are surrounded by a large, loving family composed of 5 generations living within a few miles of their home at Yogaville. Their 6 children, 15 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren, all raised in Integral Yoga, bring wisdom and light into their lives through their unique relationships with Integral Yoga and Sri Gurudev.
Reverends Bhagavan and Bhavani, who were personally ordained and guided by Sri Swami Satchidananda, have gleaned rich techniques from the Integral Yoga teachings and practices, which they use to enlighten and support their family, community, and friends.
Bhagavan and Bhavani are in service as ministers, spiritual guides, teachers, speakers, wedding officiants, and workshop leaders. Bhagavan is active on the Spiritual Life and Ministry Boards at Yogaville.
