VLP S2 01 Sadhviji : On Yoga, Meditation, Shakti and more!

Our guest today is Sadhviji. Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji,  was raised in an American family in Hollywood, California and graduated from Stanford University . She was completing her Ph.D. in psychology when she left America in 1996 to come and live permanently at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, India. She has been living there for the last twenty years, engaged in spiritual practice and dedicated service. She has a really interesting story of how India claimed her as it's own,  and I urge you to check out the video that's linked in the show notes where she explains it. She was officially initiated into the order of Sanyas (monastic renunciation) in the year 2000, by her Guru, and the spiritual head of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, His Holiness Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji. Sadhviji is a renowned speaker who gives keynote addresses at large forums, on a wide variety of topics ranging from conscious business to science and spirituality to sustainable development, to the keys of happiness and peace in life to all aspects of yoga. She has also been a speaker at the United Nations, Parliament of World Religions and many international conferences and summits. Her talks blend the knowledge and logic of the West with the insights, spirituality and wisdom of the East, and she is renowned as a spiritual bridge between the two cultures. At Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, where she lives most of the year, she gives spiritual discourses and daily satsang, teaches meditation, provides counseling and oversees a myriad charitable and humanitarian projects and activities.   Sadhviji is: Secretary-General of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, an international interfaith organization dedicated to bringing clean water, sanitation & hygiene to the children of the world. President of Divine Shakti Foundation, a foundation dedicated to bringing education and empowerment to women and children which runs free schools, vocational training programs and empowerment programs. Director of the annual world-famous International Yoga Festival at Parmarth which has been covered in Time Magazine, CNN, New York Times, Le Monde and other prestigious publications. Sadhviji has a Ph.D in Psychology and was the Managing Editor for the monumental project of the 11-volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism. We  did this interview deep in the heart of The Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh which serves as the home of The International Yoga festival and where I stayed for about 5 weeks . Something you need to know about this interview and Sadhviji is that she has such a calm and warm presence, and as I was re-listening to this interview to edit it for you, I was wishing I had this on video, because I remembered how she had such a lovely smile on her face the whole time. She smiles with her eyes, you know what I mean, she has a really authentic presence, You heard her bio, she a real activist and is doing so much sacred service to the world with all the projects she's running, and I am truly honored I got so much of her time. I sat in her  satsangs many nights while I was at The Parmarth Niketan Ashram, and every time she managed to bring me so deeply into my heart that I literally shed tears, every time. She has a way of speaking truth in a very practical way that anyone can understand. I encourage you to check out the Parmarth youtube channel and even tune into the facebook live videos of her leading satsangs to learn even more from her. I've provided links in the show notes. In the interview we talk about the 8 limbs of yoga, the international yoga festival, the meaning of shakti, being of service, conscious eating, the dairy industry, the plight of the cows in India, meditation and more. We packed a lot in! I hope you enjoy spending this time with Sadhviji as much as I did. And make sure you make it to the end to hear her wish for the world. It's a great one … To follow her and learn more about her work in the world, make sure you check out the show notes for all the links. And now, on with the show Websites: www.Sadhviji.org , www.WashAlliance.org, www.DivineShaktiFoundation.org Facebook: @SadhviBhagawati (personal page), @SadhviBhagawatiSaraswati (public page) Twitter: @SadhviBhagawati Youtube @ParmarthNiketan Sadhviji's story of coming to India https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8eYkvW4SK4 watch at about 5minutes in.