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| Teachings on Yoga |
The Origins of the Himalayan Institute’s Teachings on Yoga
The founding and inspirational force behind the Himalayan Institute is Swami Rama and the unbroken lineage of sages in his tradition. Swami Rama was born in North India, and was raised in the tradition of the cave monasteries of the Himalayan mountains. For more than four
decades he traveled widely, studying at the feet of sages throughout India, Tibet,
and Pakistan. He complemented his study of traditional Eastern practices with studies in
Western psychology and philosophy at Western universities, including Oxford University
in England. In the 1960s, Swami Rama was sent by his master to bring the teachings of
yoga to the West, with this pithy message: “Inner strength, cheerfulness, and selfless service
are the basic principles of life. It is immaterial whether one lives in the East or West. A
human being should be a human being first. Be spontaneous. And let yourself become the
instrument to teach pure spirituality without any religion and culture.”
and Pakistan. He complemented his study of traditional Eastern practices with studies in
Western psychology and philosophy at Western universities, including Oxford University
in England. In the 1960s, Swami Rama was sent by his master to bring the teachings of
yoga to the West, with this pithy message: “Inner strength, cheerfulness, and selfless service
are the basic principles of life. It is immaterial whether one lives in the East or West. A
human being should be a human being first. Be spontaneous. And let yourself become the
instrument to teach pure spirituality without any religion and culture.”
Swami Rama arrived in the United States in 1969. He quickly gained recognition
in his role as a research consultant to the Menninger Foundation in Topeka, Kansas. He amazed the scientific community by demonstrating that he could control the functioning of his autonomic nervous system and brain. At the Menninger Foundation, Swami Rama demonstrated that it was possible to stop the heart while remaining fully lucid.3 The results of these experiments revolutionized the way in which the medical community views the functioning of the human being and serve as the basis for the now widespread knowledge about so-called “yogic powers.” Two books have been written on his work at the Menninger Foundation: Swami (Himalayan Institute) by Doug Boyd and Beyond Biofeedback (Rinella Editorial Services) by Alyce Green.
in his role as a research consultant to the Menninger Foundation in Topeka, Kansas. He amazed the scientific community by demonstrating that he could control the functioning of his autonomic nervous system and brain. At the Menninger Foundation, Swami Rama demonstrated that it was possible to stop the heart while remaining fully lucid.3 The results of these experiments revolutionized the way in which the medical community views the functioning of the human being and serve as the basis for the now widespread knowledge about so-called “yogic powers.” Two books have been written on his work at the Menninger Foundation: Swami (Himalayan Institute) by Doug Boyd and Beyond Biofeedback (Rinella Editorial Services) by Alyce Green.
The Himalayan Institute and its many branch locations offer a wide range of programs
relating to yoga principles. Swami Rama’s dedication to making the principles of yoga a concrete reality is reflected in his establishment of the Himalayan Institute Charitable
Hospital in the foothills of the Himalayas. This 500-bed, modern medical facility is the
result of the selfless service that was the hallmark of his life and a pillar of yoga. It provides up-to-date medical treatments to the poor.
The spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Ph.D., is the successor of Swami Rama of the Himalayas. Pandit Tigunait walks in the footsteps of his master—he writes, teaches, guides, and administers the work and mission of the Himalayan Institute. This mission includes Sacred Link, a project launched by Pandit Tigunait in fall 2001. The mission of Sacred Link is to bring forward thousands of years of cumulative knowledge embodied in the spiritual heritage of people of different faiths, cultures, and ethnic groups.
