Swami Vidyanand, a renowned Traditional Yoga and Transformational Yoga Master from India who created Transformational Yoga, TIME Meditation, founded SriMa International School of Transformational Yoga, and is also the Founder of Yoga Alliance International, Meditation Alliance International, Yoga Alliance India, Yoga Alliance Europe, Yoga Alliance Africa Kundalini Alliance International – organizations devoted to nurturing authentic Yoga traditions throughout the world and foster a community of Authentic Yoga & Meditation teachers, schools and practitioners. He also founded the Grand Master Yoga® and Grand Master Meditation® Courses. Born in a family of Bhakti Yogi’s of an unbroken tradition of over 500 years, Swamiji received his initiation into the Spiritual and Yogic practices at an early age and was trained by Swami Satyananda Saraswati (Founder of the Bihar School of Yoga) among other great Masters. Swami Vidyanand is currently living at SriMa Shanti House, Meerambigai Gardens near Auroville, close to Pondicherry and is guiding yoga practitioners and teachers across the world.
The Literature Times: Author, welcome to The Literature Times. Congratulations on the publication of your book! What feedback do you get from your readers? Please share your thoughts on this book.
Author: The book contains knowledge and information that is not available on the Internet or in other books. Readers generally appreciate learning more and gaining a deeper insight into chakras, kundalini and other aspects of yoga and meditation that are explained in a simple and practical manner.
The Literature Times: What motivates you to become a writer?
Author: To share authentic knowledge and wisdom of yoga. Brining a truer understanding of yoga and yogic sciences, and their application in the 21st century.
The Literature Times: What are your favourite writing topics? Please tell us a little bit about your literary interests.
Author: I started writing because people were asking if there was a book where they could get the information that I was talking about. All my knowledge comes from lived experience and inner connection, so I enjoy writing about yoga, mediation, kohas, chakras and how people can progress in their everyday life.
The Literature Times: We were hoping you might tell us about some of the authors who have influenced you and whom you read!
Author: I am most influenced by Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. Their writings come from the highest consciousness and their word has a living power and presence.
The Literature Times: The title is unique and appealing; how did you come up with it? Please tell us the story behind it.
Author: The idea was to make it clear that the book is helping readers understand Chakras, Kundalini, koshas and other mechanisms of yoga and their connection to practical life and everyday living. Hence the tile.
The Literature Times: What are your achievements so far? Tell us something about your writing career.
Author: My writing career is simply to spread yogic knowledge and wisdom. I had no interest in becoming an author. However, I was requested so often by people, that I had to take it up. Through my system, Transformational Yoga, people can get a deeper and at the same time, simpler understanding of chakras, kundalini and other yogic concepts that are otherwise shrouded in mystery. This system synthesises of Hatha Yoga, Prana Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Kundalini Yoga. It is through Divine Grace that I received this knowledge and a lot of my writing is complementary to practice, so particularly useful to those who have practiced or learned under my guidance, but want something in a book form to keep as a reminder and refresher. In addition to my writing, I have founded international organisations like Yoga Alliance International, World Yoga Federation Meditation Alliance International that have spread all over the globe and offer certification and professional guidance to yoga teachers and yoga schools from across the world. I have also founded the Grand Master Yoga and Grand Master Mediation Courses for advanced practitioners to their their practice up another level and gain insight into the secret wisdom of yoga.
The Literature Times: What is your current goal in writing a career? How do you see your future in writing?
Author: No goal. I am living in the present moment and the goals emerge from this present moment. Continuous integral progress is the purpose, and this comes from being in the present.
The Literature Times: Do you have any other novels in the works? Please keep us updated on your future endeavours.
Author: Yes, there are books on many subjects and aspects of yoga in the pipe line. I am working on books in Integral Kundalini and Integral Tantra.
The Literature Times: How do you view Indian writing in the twenty-first century? What changes do you see in today’s writing style? Do you feel it has changed over time?
Author: I’m not too much into contemporary intellectual writings. However, for yoga, I can say a lot of the books have some basic but surface level knowledge or are repetitions of the same information in new packages. A lot of the publications are from vedas, upanishads and sutras which are more that 5000 years old and don’t necessarily have the same relevance in todays modern lifestyle.
The Literature Times: How simple/difficult was it for you to publish your book? What message do you want to send to aspiring authors?
Author: To aspiring authors, I would say, stay true to yourself, express from your heart and speak your truth.
