Why Yoga?
Yoga means 'union'. But what is yoga asking us to unite with? Is it with a deeper part of the brain or mind? As an ancient Hindu scripture says, "That which the mind cannot feel but due to which the mind is ABLE to feel." Yoga is trying to connect us to THAT which is the source of everything. In this journey, many find that participating in a free meditation class or utilizing guided meditation videos enhances their practice, blending yoga and meditation into a holistic experience.
About Me
Namaste
A hearty welcome. I am Rajan Narayanaswamy, with a last name that honors Lord Vishnu. While I consider myself an ordinary person, I have a deep passion for teaching and learning about yoga and meditation, as well as Vedanta. By some strange grace of providence, I spent 21 years in Varanasi, the holiest city of Hindus, the land that gave u
A hearty welcome. I am Rajan Narayanaswamy, with a last name that honors Lord Vishnu. While I consider myself an ordinary person, I have a deep passion for teaching and learning about yoga and meditation, as well as Vedanta. By some strange grace of providence, I spent 21 years in Varanasi, the holiest city of Hindus, the land that gave us luminaries such as Kabir, Tulsidas, and Lahiri Mahasaya. Just 18 kilometers away lies Sarnath, where the Buddha delivered his first sermon. Varanasi is no ordinary place; every step is accompanied by gentle bulls or cows that close their eyes when you reach out to pat them, the sadhus, anointed in ash, intoning 'Bhum Bhum Bhole' as they walk the narrow streets to the mighty Ganga, and the distant sounds of ringing manjiras and drums. The air was always filled with calls of the Infinite and Eternal, creating a spiritual intoxication that was unique to Varanasi. Although time and economic progress have changed Varanasi—polluting the holy Ganga and making it tough for sadhus and sanyasis to survive—I cannot forget the seeds that Varanasi sowed in me, which have now blossomed into a passionate interest in yoga and meditation. I started my journey in Massachusetts and now reside in New Jersey, USA, where I am actively involved in the Chinmaya Vrindavan ashram of the Chinmaya Mission. Through a series of coincidences, I encountered the revered yoga and Vedanta teacher, Late Dr. V.S. Rao in MA, and I had the honor of driving him to his classes at the Chelmsford Library for a period of time. I also attended his classes and greatly benefited from his guidance on the spiritual path. After moving to NJ in 1997, I continued my yogic and Vedantic journey through the Chinmaya Mission, where we are fortunate to have the learned Swami Shantananda as our revered Acharya. Swamiji is a direct disciple of the illustrious Swami Chinmayananda. It has been my honor to learn the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads under his guidance. At the Chinmaya Vrindavan ashram, I teach yoga classes on Saturday mornings and also moderate a study group for adults on Sundays. Recently, we completed our study of Tattvabodha and Bhaja Govindam by Adi Shankaracharya, along with Upadesa Saram by Ramana Maharshi. This year (2012-2013), our study group will delve into Atma Bodha by Adi Shankaracharya. It has truly been a beautiful journey for me, for which I am eternally grateful to Lord Shiva, Krishna, and all my Gurus. I would love to hear from you, so feel free to send me a message at info@omkara.org. Welcome again, and I pray that you may also be as fortunate as I am. May peace always be with you. Additionally, I often share free meditation classes and guided meditation videos to help others embark on their own yoga and meditation journey.