User:ChabierG/Swami Satyananda Saraswati

Swami Satyananda Saraswati (Barcelona, 1955) is a Hindu monk and master. Disciple of Swami Muktananda. He has lived most of his life in India dedicated to the study and practice of Hinduism. Since 2009, Swamiji resides in Spain where he founded the Advaitavidya association. He periodically travels to Argentina and Mexico sharing his teaching. He is the author of several books and articles on Hinduism (sanatana dharma).



Biography
Swami Satyananda Saraswati was born in Barcelona, Spain. In 1975 he traveled to India in search of a spiritual master to guide him on the path of self-knowledge.

In 1976, Swami Muktananda initiated him on the path of meditation and yoga, as well as the metaphysics of advaita vedanta and kashmir shaivism, beginning an intense spiritual practice under his tutelage. Later he received the initiation in sannyasa (renouncer of the order of Sri Shankara).

In 1983, after the death (mahasamadhi) of his guru, he began a long pilgrimage through the sacred places of India where he met and lived with relevant masters and mahatmas. He later settled in Tamil Nadu, in southern India, where he lived more than twenty years at the foot of the sacred mountain of Arunachala, near the ashram of Sri Ramana Maharshi. During this period Swamiji lived with direct disciples of Sri Ramana, deepening the advaita vedanta and carrying out an intense practice of contemplation, yoga, study and meditation.

The last five years of his period in India, he resided in Sri Gnanananda Niketan, dedicated to the study of the upanishads and the traditional texts of advaita vedanta under the guidance of Swami Nityananda Giri.

In 2009, encouraged by a group of devotees, Swamiji founded the Hindu Advaitavidya association in Catalonia where he now resides. As of 2013, he regularly travels to Mexico and Argentina teaching his teachings.

In 2017 he founded Kailas Ashram, a space dedicated to practice, meditation and study.

Advaitavidya
It is a Hindu association created in 2009 in Barcelona by Swami Satyananda Saraswati.

This association regularly organizes retreats, seminars and satsangs (talks), and collaborates in the edition of books, texts and videos. Its purpose is to spread the knowledge of the writings and traditional practices of Hinduism.

In 2018, Advaitavidya Editions was born with the aim of publishing in Spanish and Catalan translations of relevant texts on Hinduism, master biographies, as well as editions of the teachings of Swami Satyananda Saraswati.

Teachings
“Meditation is the center to which all spiritual practices lead. Hatha yoga, kirtan, concentration and study, among many other practices, are supports for the energy of the senses and the mind to go inwards.”

“When we know our own nature, non-dual Consciousness, we realize that ignorance never existed. This is the essence of advaita vedanta. Sri Ramana Maharshi emphasized that the only thing to do is to remove the veil that does not let us see our real nature. ”

“The yogi lives with high values and contemplates the divinity of his own essence. Gradually, and through the intensity of his practice, he begins to perceive this same divine essence in others, in the universe, in trees, in animals, in the mountains and enters a natural and elevated state of consciousness."

“The need of the master and of initiation (diksha) is something very important in the way of tantra, since it implies an empowerment of shakti in the seeker. The union of Shiva and Shakti takes place within the yogi, recognizing in itself a state of absolute bliss and fullness. For tantra, all without exception, we are essentially conscience and joy.”