{"id":183,"date":"2008-10-09T11:50:00","date_gmt":"2008-10-09T11:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/lessonsfromarecoveringdoormat\/2008\/10\/interview-withmahamandaleshwar-paramhans-swami-maheshwarananda-swamiji.html"},"modified":"2008-10-09T11:50:00","modified_gmt":"2008-10-09T11:50:00","slug":"interview-withmahamandaleshwar-paramhans-swami-maheshwarananda-swamiji","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lessonsfromarecoveringdoormat\/2008\/10\/interview-withmahamandaleshwar-paramhans-swami-maheshwarananda-swamiji.html","title":{"rendered":"Interview withMahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda–Swamiji"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I recently was honored with a very special visitor. His Holiness, Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda<\/span>\u2014known as Swamiji<\/span><\/a>\u2014came over to do an interview. Swamiji has traveled around the world 35 times to help spread world peace to as many people as he can through his practice of Yoga in Daily Life<\/span><\/a>. This a holistic system for the body, mind, consciousness and soul, based on ancient teaching of yoga and adapted for today. Swamiji<\/span><\/a> says through practice you can regain your physical, psychic, social and spiritual health and achieve self-realization and God-realization.<\/p>\n

Swamiji<\/span><\/a> has addressed people in many countries, dignitaries at the UN, and me! ?<\/span><\/p>\n

It takes a lot for me to be in awe of someone. But when Swamiji<\/span><\/a> entered my place, with an entourage of people from around the world, it felt like the energy suddenly changed. My doorman felt the same way. Bearded, in long orange robes, Swamiji<\/span><\/a>\u2019s presence brought calm. His smile radiated out. I felt very happy. Originally from India, he\u2019s spent most of his time in other countries. I asked him to explain how his system of yoga creates inner peace<\/span>:<\/p>\n

\u201cYoga is a part of discipline, a science of body, mind and consciousness. Practitioners of Yoga in Daily Life harmonize their body, mind, and consciousness. The yoga exercises are psychosomatic movements. They\u2019re not a sport. They influence our body and psychic, and beautify our intellect. It gives you inner peace and contentment.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n

Swamiji<\/span><\/a>\u2019s system, Yoga in Daily Life<\/span><\/a><\/span> is designed with ancient wisdom for modern life. It\u2019s a scientific system that has many, many steps so that you can baby step, step by step, gradually, to come forward. The first aim in Yoga in Daily Life to achieve is physical, mental, social, and spiritual health. So it\u2019s a lot more than most of us associate with yoga. Yoga in Daily Life<\/span><\/a><\/span> is a lifestyle, not that different from what how I encourage people to live. It\u2019s practiced around the world in more than 35,000 different locations.<\/p>\n

I was confused, since there are different yoga disciplines. I asked <\/span>Swamiji<\/a> if he thinks they all bring the same kind of inner peace or have some taken a different direction.<\/span> He answered:<\/p>\n

\u201cYoga is yoga. Many are practicing yoga only on the physical level\u2014to be relaxed and have good health through this practice with good energy. Yoga in Daily Life is a completely holistic system. Every kind of yoga brings goodwill, to give the people something good.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n

Swamiji<\/span><\/a> says that when you practice Yoga in Daily Life<\/span><\/a><\/span>, the first thing it gives you is good health. When you have that, your mind is automatically calm and relaxed. Then you realize that within you there is peace. He adds, \u201cWithin you is the fountain of the joy and the immortal soul. Leave out the ego and live the divine life. Inner contentment creates harmonious vibration and peace, and that will affect all.<\/span>\u201d Another way for the Law of Attraction to be in action. He encourages us all to see the world with positive thinking. When life isn\u2019t positive, avoid reinforcing it by saying things like, \u201coh my God, what terrible things.\u201d He strongly advises trying to accept life as it is.<\/p>\n

Swamiji<\/span><\/a> exudes love, I mean really exudes it with passion and compassion. I asked him how important he feels it is to love yourself.<\/span> He says: \u201cYou have to learn to love yourself. It means to understand \u2018who am I?\u2019 \u2018How am I?\u2019 Ask yourself:<\/p>\n

*\u2018Am I a good person or a negative person?\u2019
* \u2018What have I done which people don\u2019t like and how can I change myself so that my behavior and my being doesn\u2019t distance others.’<\/p>\n

\u201cThen your love will radiate outside. <\/span>There\u2019s a difference between self-respect and ego.<\/span> Self-respect means that first you learn that loving yourself means to behave properly, dress properly, clean properly, speak properly. For example, if you wear makeup, you are not putting it on for yourself. You think that whoever will look at you will feel happy and good that you\u2019re not disturbing them. So, love thyself to love all. You love yourself to keep your body healthy so that you can love others. You love yourself to keep your heart positive so that you can help others feel positive. You learn about your heart so that you can open your heart to others. That\u2019s what I call the inner peace.<\/span>“<\/p>\n

Many of us are always on the run. I asked Swamiji<\/span><\/a> how we can integrate yoga into our routines to reduce stress. His outlook is very interesting, since his system isn\u2019t just about yoga movements; it’s more a lifestyle that you practice<\/span>. He explains:<\/p>\n

\u201cYoga in Daily Life is not just about the physical exercise or only sitting down to meditate. You go, you move, you behave according to the yogi principles.<\/span> So when you walk, you walk full of awareness. If you are walking and someone is coming in front of you, it\u2019s doesn\u2019t cost you money to move a little bit to the side of the road. When you go on the bus and a handicapped or disabled person gets on, it doesn\u2019t cost money if you stand up and let them sit down. If you eat something, eat it with love and decide you\u2019ll only eat what your body needs. Even in a crowd where people smell, think about the beauty of the people and how nice it is to be close to so many humans. And that you won\u2019t be there for long.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n

Yoga in Daily Life<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span> is seeing the world through the eyes of kindness and tolerance and practicing it with everyone you encounter. It\u2019s living on a spiritual level at all times and being conscious of how your actions and reactions affect others. Swamiji<\/a> says it\u2019s an everyday life, 24 hours practices. He\u2019s traveled the world for the last 40 years with 3 aims. He says they are:<\/p>\n

\u201c1. To awaken the consciousness in people to lead a healthy way of life<\/span>, to be healthy while practicing the divine science of yoga, and eating vegetarian, balanced and organic, healthy food.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. To awake the consciousness in the people that we are not alone on this planet<\/span>. Besides the humans, there are many other creatures, mountains, lakes, vegetation, desert, rivers and oceans, We should learn to live in harmony with our surrounding nature.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. To awaken the consciousness in the people that we are all children of one God<\/span>. There\u2019s no need to fight. God gave equally to everyone. There\u2019s only one reason for us\u2014humanity. With these 3 aims I started my journey and have traveled around the world 35 times.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n

I asked <\/span>Swamiji<\/a> what he\u2019d you say to someone who says he or she doesn\u2019t know how to be spiritual?<\/span> He says:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe belief does not change the reality. The reality is the realty. Even if you don\u2019t believe, within you things are changing always. You are facing good and bad. But if you will accept the spiritual energy, life will be easier for you. I suggest you read more spiritual books. Not only one kind of direction or faith but open up your heart and view to the whole world. The readings and meeting spiritual persons and going to spiritual gatherings will awake in your consciousness the longing to drink that water. You will search for a drinking fountain and you will find it.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n

Swamiji<\/a> is very concerned about all the restlessness and fighting against religions, companies, neighbors, partners, etc. on the planet. That\u2019s why he feels it\u2019s very urgent to realize that love will awake our inner peace, which will go to world peace if you practice Yoga in Daily Life<\/span><\/a><\/span>. It\u2019s a comprehensive system\u2014mind, body and spirit. This spiritual man just cares about people finding peace in themselves that can radiate out to others and create a more peaceful world.<\/p>\n

Swamiji<\/a>\u2019s book, Yoga in Daily Life\u2014the System<\/span><\/a>, is quite big, with beautiful illustrations and detailed instructions for following his system. When he left, I had to hug him. I can still feel the light of his presence when I see the photo of us together. He continues his journey around the world to do what he can to nurture world peace. I asked him for some final words for you:<\/p>\n

\u201cAll dear readers, brothers and sisters, we have not seen us maybe, but in this way, I wish you very, very good health; a happy, harmonious and long life; love and mutual understanding in your family and your society. And spiritual development for God realization. With this dear brothers and sisters, I bless you in the name of the almighty. Ohm Shante Shante, Shante.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n

I feel VERY blessed to have been in Swamiji<\/a>‘s presence.<\/p>\n

If you enjoyed my post, please leave a comment and\/or click on the bookmark and write a short review at some of the sites, especially Stumbleupon and Digg. Thanks!

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I recently was honored with a very special visitor. His Holiness, Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda\u2014known as Swamiji\u2014came over to do an interview. Swamiji has traveled around the world 35 times to help spread world peace to as many people as he can through his practice of Yoga in Daily Life. 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