Swami Information

Swami is a formal title and term of respect, used to address one who has taken the vows of monkhood within the ancient tradition of yoga. Swami literally means "master of oneself," referring to two things: the knowledge of the Inner Self and the mastery of the senses. These go together, because when you don't have the knowledge and experience of your own divine essence, you are attracted to or even dependent on the things of the world, including people, objects and places. One who lives in the constant inner experience of Beingness-Itself is able to live in the world, participate fully in it, and enjoy it fully without being needy or dependent.

The formal ceremony is called sannyasa (or sannyas), with the initiate becoming a sannyasi (or sannyasin). It is a fire ritual which is done in the same way as thousands of years ago, from Vedic times. Sannyasa is sometimes described as the traditional funeral ceremony, with the one who is being initiated actually officiating at her or his own funeral. At the end of the funeral, instead of being burned in the fire (cremation of the body), the sannyasi takes off her clothes and immerses herself in the river.

When she emerges, she wears the orange color of the flames and lives in the fire of yoga for the rest of her life. When her life in her body is completed, no funeral is conducted; her body is merely cremated. This ceremony does not mark the end of her life, but it burns up her dependencies and need for the world - she becomes "dead to the world," while living in it. The ultimate model for this is Shavasana (Corpse Pose), with Swami Nirmalananda (Rama)'s article, "Living in Shavasana", describing it well. Click here to read this article.

Thus, Swami Nirmalananda (Rama)'s vows as a swami do not divorce her from the world - in fact, she has committed to serve Svaroopis by teaching for Master Yoga as well as working with the ashram residents who join her in the new SVA - Svaroopa^® Vidya Ashram. Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) describes her teaching as the way she serves her Guru, which is completely consistent with her initiation into the Saraswati order. Saraswati is the Goddess of Learning, so the swamis in this order are generally teachers. As Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) will be unable to own anything after her initiation, Master Yoga will be providing for all of her needs until SVA is established.

The title of swami is bestowed on very few westerners, but it is not a recognition of one's accomplishments. It is a formal dedication of her life to attaining the highest state available to the human being. Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) will be making three vows:

Celibacy

Non-ownership

Service

Some dedicated yogis take sannyasi vows at the beginning of their spiritual path. Others, like Swami Nirmalananda (Rama), are given the ceremony later, when it reflects the inner experience that has been blossoming for a long time. This initiation is very powerful and it will deepen Swami Nirmalananda (Rama)'s state, thus expanding her capacity to guide and teach us. At the same time, her new title gives us a way to recognize and honor that "something" that we have been seeing in her and getting from her for a long time.

The word sva is a Sanskrit word meaning "Self", and is part of the compound word, svaroopa, as well as part of the word swami. At the same time, SVA is an acronym that stands for Svaroopa^® Vidya Ashram . Svaroopa is "your own divine essence," vidya means "the knowing of the Self," and an ashram is a spiritual community living together in order to do deep practice for progress toward Self-Realization.

Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) has dedicated her life to the path of yoga and the Kashmiri Shaivite practices for more than 30 years, living as a monk without having gone through the formal ceremony. The purpose of the sannyasa ceremony is to publicly commit oneself to the purpose of Self-Realization. It's about focus, intent, and dedication. No one is surprised that this is Swami Nirmalananda (Rama)'s purpose. We celebrate her opportunity to make it official. After her many decades of practice and of service to others, this ceremony is an external acknowledgement of the life she is already living and the way she serves.

To send a message to Swami Nirmalananda (Rama), click here.

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