Swami Tureyananda
Ashrams have been to this day the training centres for India’s spiritual culture. Like the nucleus of an atom, ashrams are the central core for the study of the spiritual sciences. In contrast to academic studies, ashrams stimulate learning through the guru/disciple relationship, an initiation-based lineage of self mastery where life is pursued through the dominion of the spiritual sciences.
For the Tureya Ashram, Swami Tureyananda (or Swamiji for short) is the guiding force for the ashram’s values and spiritual principles. A descendent of the well known spiritual master and historic Indian philosopher Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, Swami Tureyananda extends his teachings from the pillars of spiritual wisdom, self-explorative discipline, and practical conscious training.
Prior to his birth swamiji’s mother was guided with the information from an astrologer that her child would spend a life devoted to god. In his childhood Swamiji spent much of his time exposed to the spiritual world through both practitioners of esoteric yoga and through his own study and reflection.
By the time swamiji emerged into his young adult years his thirst for knowledge had emerged to a prolific level. An intense desire for knowledge and inner development guided Swamiji into a passionate study of many fields of both spiritual and academic disciplines, from social economic to psychotherapy, English literature to Christianity. But despite the diversity in training his heart was only contended by the holistic sciences of spirituality, and while still in university swamiji undertook the lifetime commitment of sannyasihood.
As a spiritual guide from India there are several features of Swamiji that are valuable to note to any visiting student. Firstly, swamiji’s teachings and principles bloom from the tantric philosophy where all is experienced and viewed as divine. As a derivative of this, the ashram does not teach fundamental/religious concepts but rather practical and experiential truths. The heart of swamij’s teachings is expressed in the form of inner transformation where mind, body, and energy align to create spiritual awakening.
Secondly, swamiji teaches that every life presents an opportunity for self-realization. One does not have to become a monk in order to enter into the gates of enlightened awareness. What is important is the self-discipline and inner-devotion to spiritual evolution.
“One must grow within to know within” teaches Swamiji, which is why the ashram is a place where science and spirituality merge together to create a constructive environment for the development of self-awareness. Be joyous, be courage, be free; these are swamiji’s teaching to students.
The ashram is also true to the essential glory of Indian spirituality: every religion is an expression of humanity’s search for the divine. Spiritual growth is a scientific process that can be applied to any tradition. You may be Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, or even atheist and yoga will work with you to expand your sense of being and experience of life.
Swamiji’s life is a devotional expression of self-expansion, his soul committed to the growth of spiritual awareness within each and every student who visits the ashram. A guru is a lighthouse for the souls travelling through the ocean of self-exploration. The journey is filled with many undercurrents and hidden obstacles, but with the light of a teacher the pitfalls can be avoided so that the journey may be abundantly filled with deep spiritual experience and connection.
