Lakulish Yoga and Health Retreat

Life Mission, USA - Purpose

Grand Opening of the Yoga and Health Retreat
Life Mission USA
May 15th and 16th 2010
Mebane, NC., USA

At the Grand Opening of the Retreat, Swami Satyanand addressed the gathering and explained why a sannyasi would be found among worldly people rather than practicing his Yoga in seclusion as well as some of the background behind the creation and purpose of the Retreat. He commented that he had taken sannyas solely for the purpose of liberation, but had been instructed by his Guru, Swami Rajarshi Muni, to go to the West to propagate the principles and practices of sanatan dharm and Yoga according to the command of Lord Lakulish, the 28th incarnation of Lord Shiva, and Head of the lineage. In this way, this ashram has been chosen and developed exclusively for the inspiration and education of the all.

He went on to explain that in February 1993, when his Guru, Swami Rajarshi Muni, had attained to a very high stage of Yoga, Lord Lakulish appeared before him and gave him darshan. The Lord also gave him a Divine Command to work for the resurgence of sanatan dharm (eternal culture) as well as the propagation of bhakti, karma, and jnan Yoga. At this time Swamiji also received shambhavi diksha and thereby gained entry into Divine Yoga, which leads to the highest goal of Yoga: the transformation of the gross body into a Divine Body.

Swamaji relayed Lord Lakulish's message that a person can progress only if his or her physical and mental development takes place with his spiritual development and that Dharm represents the sum total of morality, truthfulness, restraint, and right conduct, while Yoga is the universal science of liberation Swami Satyanand outlined the purpose, goals and activities that will be offered throughout the year, including Yoga classes, health retreats, workshops, seminars, certificate programs and summer youth camps. These activities are aimed at the purification of body and mind that lead to spiritual development.

Swamiji Satyanand outlined the path of Dharm as the guiding principle in life encompassing natural laws, moral laws, and laws of intrinsic justice in which every meritorious act brings rewards while sinful acts incur punishment. It also includes universal religious rites and transcendence of the Spirit through Yoga. Sanatan dharm is open to all and cries out, "May we receive from all directions ideas and principles of true and everlasting value that will lead us to outstanding actions and works." Thus, sanatan dharm is both generous and universal. It has a place for the atheist and the theist, the materialist and the spiritualist and those who believe in creating their own future as well as those who would surrender to the dictates of destiny.

In this way there is a place for all religions, races and philosophies at the Lakulish Yoga and Health Retreat. The ancient scriptures of India are also varied in their approach. The philosophy of Vaisheshika, for example, talks of materialism and sub-atomic theory. The Nyay philosophy addresses logical inferences; Purva Mimansa, religious rites and, Vedanta addresses knowledge. Finally, Sankhya philosophy does not reference God, but only references spirit and nature.

The beauty of the Indian scriptures is that you may begin with any ideology, but you end up with the same ultimate truth. For example, you may start with materialism, searching for the secrets of material world, and end up with spirituality As Albert Einstein said, "Everyone who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science inevitably becomes convinced that a Spirit is manifest in the laws of the universe - a Spirit vastly superior to that of man and one in the face of which we, with our modest powers, must feel humble." Similarly, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said, "Neither in its impetus nor in its achievements can science go to its limits without becoming tinged with mysticism and charged with faith." Thus, all these philosophies, combined with the practice of Yoga, will be taught here at the Ashram.

It should be understood that Yoga is not a religion. It is a pure science and scientific experiments can be carried out by anyone. Yoga makes one fully aware and inwardly consciousness of one's "whole being" through experiences on the spiritual plane. In this way it is a unified system that begins with purification, and progresses toward the more subtle phases of mental and spiritual development. The Lakulish lineage teaches a most esoteric science: the science of the Divine Body. It leads one to total liberation. As stated, it is a science, and, therefore, it is not based on any particular creed or religion. So no matter what religion you practice or what ideology or philosophy you follow, you have a place in this Ashram irrespective of race, culture, gender or nationality.

When one goes to a church, temple or synagogue, one goes for worship, but here you have worship as well as the true scientific practice that God has recommended for all of mankind. Swamiji concluded his discourse by stating that this beautiful and peaceful Ashram has been created for you. Come and take full advantage of it.