Yasodhara Ashram

In this episode of Ask a Swami, Swami Padmananda reflects on the lessons of grief and how spiritual practice can help us meet sorrow with compassion, presence and courage. Whether you're navigating a recent loss or carrying grief from years past, this conversation offers thoughtful insights into living with grief while remaining open to love, connection and meaning. Got questions that need ans...

What does it mean to live at an ashram? In this episode of  Ask A Swami , Swami Jyotihananda reflects on life in spiritual community and shares her hopes for the future of Yasodhara Ashram. Drawing on her experience with Swami Radha and the many stages of Ashram life over the years, Swami Jyotihananda offers insights into commitment, connection across generations and the deeper value of living in...

In this episode of  Ask A Swami , Swami Lalitananda reflects on what it means to walk the path as a disciple and the role that devotion plays in spiritual life. Drawing from her experience as Swami Radha's disciple, she shares insights into trust, discipline and the deep heart-longing that keeps one grounded on a chosen spiritual path.

In this episode of Ask A Swami, Swami Matananda, Ashram teacher and resident, reflects on the deeper spiritual dimensions of Love and Attachment. Drawing on her lived experiences, she speaks about how she has navigated attachment, emotions and competition within relationships. Inspired by the spiritual teachings of her guru, Swami Radha, Swami Matananda invites us to look more closely at our emoti...

In this new episode of  Ask A Swami , Swami Samayananda discusses life inside and outside of the Ashram, and how Karma Yoga can be woven into everyday living. Reflecting on her own experience of working in the world, she shares the powerful teaching that "Yoga Is Now," emphasizing the importance of living the practice and integrating the teachings into each moment of daily life.

In this podcast episode of  Ask A Swami , Swami RadhaTarananda, a disciple of Swami Radha, reflects on the advice she would give to her younger self at the beginning of her spiritual journey. She speaks about what faith means to her and the power of reflection, emphasizing her guru's example of living on faith as she built the Ashram. Swami RadhaTarananda invites Katie to reflect on the advice...

n this episode of Ask A Swami , Katie sits down with Swami Matananda to explore how to be in a relationship while nurturing spiritual life and practice. Drawing on her lived experience, Swami Matananda reflects on being in a partnership, living at the Ashram and Swami Radha's guidance. Swami Matananda shares practices she's explored with her partner as ways to become more aware of attachme...

In this episode of  Ask A Swami , Katie sits down with Swami Satyananda to explore how we can move through moments of crisis - both our own and those of our loved ones. They speak from lived experience, reflecting on the importance of acceptance and presence in navigating a crisis and supporting loved ones. Swami Satyananda shares insights into the first three cakras of the Kundalini System and di...

In this podcast episode of Ask A Swami, Swami Padmananda, Ashram teacher and resident, responds to questions asked by our listeners: How can a spiritual perspective help us face rejection, self-doubt and disappointment? How can I stop overthinking and move forward with confidence? Swami Padmananda reflects on the power of choice in how we respond to life’s challenges and the life-long journey of b...

In this podcast episode of Ask A Swami, Swami Samayananda, long term teacher and disciple of Swami Radha, explores the themes of happiness and hope, responding to questions asked by listeners: What does happiness mean from a spiritual perspective? How can we carry hope in difficult times? Drawing from her own experience, Swami Samayananda reflects on the importance of cultivating a rich inner lif...

In this debut episode of our new series Ask A Swami, Swami Lalitananda, spiritual director and president of Yasodhara Ashram, explores questions asked from our Yasodhara community and beyond: What is a lineage? and What is ananda? Swami Lalitananda reflects on the steps of initiation, the diversity within her tradition, including the initiation of Western women, the presence of Divine Mother and t...

In this podcast, Katie Taher interviews Alicia Pace, a long-time teacher with the Ashram. They dive into Alicia's experiences growing up in the Ashram, living there with her parents, and what it meant to be part of that unique community and knowing Swami Radha during her formative years. Today, Alicia is driven by a passion for bridging worlds, combining her spiritual roots with organizational dev...

In this episode of My Time with Radha, Katie Taher dives into a conversation with Clea McDougall, daughter of Swami Radhananda, former editor of Ascent Magazine and now a freelance editor. Growing up at the Ashram alongside Swami Radha, Clea offers a unique perspective on what it was like to be a child in such an extraordinary environment. Join us as she shares her intimate experiences of living a...

In this satsang talk, Swami RadhaTarananda discusses learning the essence of selfless service. Swami Radha emphasized the importance of giving back to life, a challenging yet rewarding process when one lets go of the expectation of receiving something in return. With guidance from Swami Radhananda, she embraced selfless service, even during travel, fostering personal transformation and deeper self...

Selfless service (karma yoga) is a practice deeply rooted in compassion, humility, and a genuine desire to help others. Engaging in selfless service not only benefits those receiving assistance but also nurtures a sense of interconnectedness and fulfillment in ourselves. Chuck McNab, a long-time resident and teacher, shares in his satsang how karma yoga enriches his daily life with a sense of fulf...

We are excited to introduce a new 'minicast' series featuring satsang talks recorded live in the Temple of Light during our evening satsangs. These talks explore various aspects of everyday life, discussing how spiritual practices can help us navigate challenges and create meaning in our lives. In this episode, listen to Swami Padmananda share her insights on the wisdom of simplicity and t...

In this episode of My Time with Radha, Katie Taher engages in a conversation with Draupadi, a devoted follower of Swami Radha. They explore the power of curiosity and the strength found in embracing life with an open mind. (Apologies for any sound quality issues) Draupadi found Swami Radha's directness and fierce demeanor admirable. Swami Radha challenged her students to face the facts and di...

In this episode of My Time with Radha, Katie Taher speaks with Praksha, a longtime devotee of Swami Radha and a physicist. He intersects science and spirituality as they explore the theme of Light. Swami Radha encouraged humility in Prakasha to balance the intellect and spirituality. He manifested this in his life by writing a book about the connection between science and yoga - a promise to Swami...

In this episode Swami Lalitananda interviews Natasa Sljuka, an employment counsellor with Immigrant Services Society in Nelson, BC. Natasa lived through the Bosnian war and immigrated to Canada in 1997. She describes the emotional and physical upheaval of being immersed in a war and leaving her country to start a new life in Canada. She now supports newcomers to Canada.

In this episode of My Time with Radha, Katie Taher speaks with Swami Matananda and Swami Premananda. They discuss the theme of love and the importance of care, consideration and independence in relationships. Swami Radha played an essential role not only in their individual growth but within their own spiritual relationship with one another.

In our first podcast of 2024, Katie Taher sits down with Swami RadhaTarananda, long-time Ashram teacher and resident. They discuss the power of movement and dance as well as Swami RadhaTarananda's moments with Swami Radha. Swami RadhaTarananda reflects on what dance means to her and how it lifts the spirit, allows for the expression of emotion and provides stability.

"Faith can be cultivated and increased by practicing devotion because devotion gives purification. Devotion is a selfless act. It cultivates the emotions towards sincerity, true giving and selflessness." - Swami Radha In this episode, Katie Taher interviews Swami Lalitananda, current president and spiritual director of the Ashram. She discusses her intuitive connection and love for Swami...

In this episode, Katie Taher interviews Swami Sukhananda, a long-time resident and teacher at the Ashram. She discusses what is to have peace of mind in turbulent times and how to develop self-mastery in order to achieve an inner world that matches the outer world you want to live in. She reflects back on the unseen forces that guided her to come to Canada from England and eventually brought her t...

In this episode Katie Taher interviews Swami Samayananda on the theme of wisdom. She discusses the difference between knowledge and wisdom and how to cultivate our inner wisdom. She reflects back on her relationship with Swami Radha and her implicit trust she had in Swami Radha's wisdom - she knew what to nurture or challenge in her and in it she continually learned more about herself and to g...

In this episode Swami Lalitananda interviews Candace Batycki, a conservation advocate for more than 30 years, specializing in protecting ecosystems for threatened and endangered wildlife, and caribou in particular. She served as the BC and Yukon Program Director for the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y). She lives in Nelson, BC. and is now retired. She reflects back on her work an...