Our Vision for Europe

Our Vision:

“To create an Integral Yoga Ashram that is rich in faith, nature and spirit. It will be a place where people of all faiths and beliefs are welcome; a place where all can come together to celebrate the one Truth.

This living yoga community, based on the teachings of Sri Swami Satchidananda, will empower people to embrace the principles of peace, selfless service and easeful and balanced living. It will be a community that is light on the environment and inspirational to its visitors and residents.

The Ashram will be designed to be green from its very foundations. It will be a building sourced locally that breathes with the seasons. It will blend in organically with its surroundings and be grounded and grounding. It will be a place that leads the way in eco living and shares the art of the possible with others.

The building will be heated from local sources and its land will provide a refuge for local wildlife and nature as well providing as much food and fuel as possible to be self-sufficient. It will be a beautiful and graceful building inspiring people to come and visit, to rest and renew and reconnect to our Source.

It’s heart will be a L.O.T.U.S. Temple, celebrating the One Light and sharing the message that Truth is One, Paths are Many."



A copy of the US Ashram’s Mission Statement
STRATEGIC PLAN FOR SATCHIDANANDA ASHRAM – YOGAVILLE
Virginia, U.S.A.

MISSION
Our mission is to practice, live, and impart the Integral Yoga teachings of Sri Swami Satchidananda to experience Supreme Peace and Joy, and to share that with one and all.


VISION
We envision Satchidananda Ashram – Yogaville as a thriving center where people from diverse backgrounds come to study and practice the teachings of Integral Yoga and realize their essential oneness. We envision ourselves as a vibrant spiritual community, a Yoga village, where people of all ages live and serve joyfully. Dedication, cooperation, mutual support, and trust are pillars of our community life. Imbued with the guiding spirit of Sri Swami Satchidananda, the Ashram is a place of pilgrimage to learn about his life and service. We are internationally recognized as a beacon of interfaith harmony and understanding, and known for our commitment to peace—for the individual and for the world.


VALUES

Respect for our Guru: His Holiness Sri Swami Satchidananda is the founder and Spiritual Master of Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville. We are deeply grateful for his gift of Integral Yoga, his ever-present blessings, and for providing us with our spiritual home. We offer our respect and honor Sri Gurudev through traditional devotional practices, as well as by following his guidance and teachings in our daily lives. We also recognize that Sri Gurudev is a manifestation of the Divine Universal Consciousness, and that the teachings of Integral Yoga allow each of us the freedom to relate to God and Guru in a way that resonates with our own heart.

Faith and Trust: We believe that everything happens due to God’s Will, and ultimately, it’s all for good. When life presents us with challenges, we turn to God and Guru, the Integral Yoga teachings and the sangha, for guidance and support. Our faith in God and Guru helps us to face situations fearlessly, to do our best, and then to accept the outcome.

Integrity: We have the courage to live according to our principles and do not forsake them in pursuit of economic or other gain. Honoring the True Self in one another, we strive to have our thoughts, words, and deeds always in alignment.

Truthfulness: We are committed to honest, open, and clear communication. In so doing, our intention is always to bring benefit to someone and harm to no one.
Non-violence: We strive to be non-violent in our thoughts, words, and deeds by treating everyone and everything with respect and loving-kindness. If instances of harmful behavior do occur, they are addressed and redressed in a compassionate and timely manner.

Accountability and Stewardship: On a personal and organizational level, we take responsibility for our actions and their consequences. We seek to use all of our resources— whether money, equipment, time, or the contributions of others—in a careful and conscientious manner. In the spirit of sangha, we support one another to act in accordance with our shared values and commitments.

Equanimity: We seek to maintain our balance and ease under all conditions. To help us experience the peace that is our true nature, we practice Integral Yoga, which is a synthesis of the various branches of Yoga: Raja, Hatha, Japa, Karma, Bhakti, and Jnana. Based on ethical values, self-discipline, and meditation, the practice of Integral Yoga leads to mastery over the mind and Supreme Realization.

Love and Compassion: True love is unconditional, seeking nothing in return. We express this love through our service and support of one another. Recognizing that on life’s journey, we all make mistakes, we practice compassion and forgiveness.

Selfless Service: Sri Gurudev often said, “The dedicated ever enjoy Supreme Peace. Therefore, live only to serve.” By joyfully performing action without attachment to the results or seeking personal gain, we become conscious instruments of the Divine and fit to realize the Supreme Truth.

Interfaith Harmony: In light of the teaching, “Truth is One, Paths are Many,” we honor all the world’s faiths, seeing their underlying unity while celebrating their diversity. We seek to foster global harmony through interfaith dialog. While the teachings of Sri Gurudev and the practices of Integral Yoga form the basis of our path and yogic lifestyle, we also offer programs with speakers of other traditions who embrace this spirit, in order to enhance our appreciation of other faith traditions.

Ecological Awareness and Healthy Living: We aspire to be good guardians of this beautiful planet that we have been given as our home. We partake of the beauty and bounty around us with gratitude and reverence. As much as possible, we seek to use natural, organic products and be earth-friendly in all our activities. We follow a vegetarian diet and refrain from alcohol, smoking, and recreational drugs. By living in this way, following the yogic practices and guidelines, we support the wellbeing of the planet, as well as our body’s natural state of health.