July 2026 Newsletter from Srivatsa Ramaswami---Nivritti
Srivatsa Ramaswami
July 2026 Newsletter from Srivatsa Ramaswami–-Nivritti
In June 2026 I taught a four day 20 hr Vinyasakrama Yoga program in Houston, TX. It was organized by my friend Pam Johnson and well attended by a very attentive group of yogabhyasis. The program included several vinyasas pertaining to three important asanas, Tadasana (Palm tree pose), Paschimatanasana (posterior stretch pose) and Sarvangasana (wholesome pose) apart from introduction to a variety of pranayamas. The program also included an overview of three vedic nivritti sastras viz., Samkhya, Yoga and Vedanta.
In July/August 2026, I am scheduled to teach a 100 hr Vinyasakrama yoga Teacher Training program in Wicklow, Ireland. It is organized by Liz Richards (Ananta Yoga). The program is now open even for those who may want to participate in different sections of the prgram. It basically has a 60 hr component of Vinyasakrama asanas (Scores of asanas with hundreds of breath oriented vinyasas) as learnt from my Guru Sri Krishnamacharya. Here is the link. The program also included detailed study of two classics, Samkhya Karika of Iswarakrishna and Yogasutras of Patanjali.
I am also scheduled for a 100 hr Vinyasakrama Teacher Training program (in person and online) in Chennai India in October/November 2026 . It is hosted by the versatile Joshna Ramakrishnan of Atmayogashala.
https://atmayogashala.com/100-hour-advanced-teacher-training-program/
I may also teach a ten hour online program organized by Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, USA
Nivritti
Recently I taught an overview program on the three vedic nivritti sastras which are Samkhya yoga and vedanta. Samkhya is the first darsana to show that the real self is non changing and hence immortal consciousness whereas the prakritic individual person is part of the objective universe. Lord Krishna used the information to get Arjuna out of the toxic depression on seeing his revered teacher and respected grand uncle on the opposite side at the beginning of the epic Kurukshetra war.
This knowledge even as it was indirect or paroksha was sufficient for Arjuna to come out of his depressive mental state as it came from the Lord Himself the most reliable authority. With the indirect knowledge of the immutable Atman Arjuna was able to function as a karmayogi without the burden of the irrational emotional baggage. So the samkhya, even if it is indirect, can be of great help to ordinary mortals. It would reduce pain when one regularly remembers that the true Self or purusha is immortal unlike the prakritic person.
Then yoga of Patanjali while accepting the samkhya system in toto goes one step further to show that for complete freedom from future birth and end samsara, one should have a direct experience or realization of the purusha through samadhi . Yoga identifies three different levels of truth seekers of the Self. The entry level yogi would first practice kriya yoga which would warrant the study of the atmavidya texts like samkhya and yoga in addition to austerity and puja or worship of the Lord. The next level yogi the ashtanga yogi would practice the eight limbs of yoga and develop the unique yogi skill or capability of going into samadhi. Samadhi is a state wherein the yogi is able to stay with concentration on a higher tatva. When the yogi with that samadhi focuses on the immutable Atman, one directly realize the majesty of the immortal Atman leading to to total freedom from pain in this lifetime and preventing painful future births. Yoga even if one is unable to reach kaivalya present lifetime helps to make one satvic. A satvic undercurrent keeps the individual in a peaceful state ( sukha). Yoga is thus said to be beneficial at every level.
Vedanta on the other hand postulates only one entity ( advaita) the immutable consciousness or Brahman as real, unlike samkhya and yoga which recognize two separate principles, viz., the prakriti the source of the manifest universe and purusha the individual Self. According to Vedanta Brahman is viewed as the individual self or atman as the subject in each person and as God when viewed as the creator of the universe. According to the Gita, the Lord who is none other than the Brahman with His Maya –variously interpreted as the creative power or the power to create an illusion of the universe– is the father of the universe. By realizing that the source of the universe ( Brahman) and the individual Self ( Atman) are one and the same and not two different entities ( advaita) one attains moksha or release from the samsaric cycle. Even those who have not attained the maturity of the sanyasi or renunciate could considerable relief from duhkha by periodically reminding oneself with the vedic mahavakya “Aham brahmaasmi” or I am none other than Brahman