Walking the Path of Purpose and Presence with Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati and Peter Russell
Original Air Date Wednesday, November 3, 2021
We all have stories we acquire based on what happens to us as we live our lives.
Some of us identify as mothers, fathers, artists, hustlers, hard-workers, and the list goes on. But, are those identities who we truly are? When we sit with ourselves in the present moment, is our identity our true essence, or simply an amalgamation of what happened to us in the past? To discern how we can perceive our purpose, true nature and commence on a spiritual journey, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two authors who have studied meditation and philosophy in India. Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati exchanged her Western culture for eastern philosophy. She discusses the transformational journey that came from shedding her identities and embracing forgiveness from her book, Hollywood to the Himalayas: A Journey of Healing and Transformation. Peter Russell reveals the lessons in his book, Letting Go of Nothing: Relax Your Mind and Discover the Wonder of Your True Nature and unpacks the mantra let it go and let it be.
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati — Walking the Path of Purpose:
- Are humans approaching life from the wrong direction? [2:16]
- Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati shares her transformational journey as recorded in her book, Hollywood to the Himalayas. [4:43]
- Sadhvi’s path to healing and finding purpose was not identifying with what happened to her, but in letting go and forgiving. [17:58]
- Sadhvi learned being in service to others is a means to awaken, understand your purpose and connect with the divine. [21:17]
- A spiritual journey can be thought of as creating space. [24:56]
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati serves on the United Nations Advisory Council on Religion and the steering committees of the International Partnership for Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD) and the Moral Imperative to End Extreme Poverty, a campaign by the United Nations and World Bank. Sadhvi has lived for the past 25 years at the Parmarth Niketan ashram in Rishikesh, India, where she oversees a variety of humanitarian projects, teaches meditation, lectures, writes, counsels individuals and families, and serves as a unique female voice of spiritual leadership throughout India and the world.
Book: Hollywood to the Himalayas: A Journey of Healing and Transformation
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati
Hollywood to the Himalayas
@SadhviBhagawati on Twitter
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati on Facebook
@sadhviji on Instagram
Peter Russell — Walking the Path of Presence:
- Peter describes why we become attached, not only to things but the belief that we need things, and why it can be difficult to let go. [31:49]
- In his book, Letting Go of Nothing, Peter asks readers to see things through a different lens. [35:26]
- Peter Russell describes the practice of letting go of emotions, letting in a story, and letting it be within ourselves. [39:17]
- When we let go or release, we begin to taste what presence and a spiritual awakening is like. [45:50]
- Small, effortless micro-meditations throughout the day can be just as effective as longer meditative practices to walk the path of presence. [49:54]
Peter Russell is an author, speaker, and leading thinker on consciousness, presence and contemporary spirituality. Russell earned a first-class honors degree in theoretical physics and psychology — as well as a master’s degree in computer science at the University of Cambridge, England. He also studied meditation and Eastern philosophy in India.
Book: Letting Go of Nothing: Relax Your Mind and Discover the Wonder of Your True Nature
Peter Russell
@PeterJRussell on Twitter
Peter Russell Author on Facebook
@Peterrussellauthor on Instagram
This episode of Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio about purpose and presence is sponsored by:
Best Fiends — is an action-packed adventure and a brain-boosting mobile puzzle game all rolled into one. The fun never ends on Best Fiends because there is always something new to explore. Make Best Fiends your go-to digital playpal. Stress less and play more. Download the 5-star rated mobile puzzle game on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Shopify — is an all-in-one commerce platform that is a gateway to building your online sales. For entrepreneurs, Shopify has customizable resources to turn ideas into things that sell. Start, run, and grow your business from anywhere in the world. Supercharge your knowledge, sales, and success. Shopify.com/happiness for a free 14-day trial with 24/7 support. Who says money can’t buy a little happiness?
Are We Happy Yet? Eight Keys to Unlocking a Joyful Life — A boot camp manual for greater emotional fitness. Happiness waits for no one and sometimes we all need support. What is getting in the way of your happiness right now?
H–Factor: Where is Your Heart? — Lisa’s documentary film explores the journey of human happiness. Emotions are contagious and happiness is a universally desired state. We tend to forget we all have the freedom to be happy or the liberty to be miserable each day.
“The act of letting go is such a simple thing but so difficult to do.” @LisaKamen on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“Experts have to be the students of their own teachings.” @LisaKamen on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“My entire way of thinking about myself, the world, and my place in it, everything exploded. I knew at that moment I was one with God.” @SadhviBhagawati on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“I had carried the identity of Abuse Survivor and Bulimic and they had always gotten me sympathy.” @SadhviBhagawati on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“There are challenges of being a white woman in a man's world of religion in India.” @SadhviBhagawati on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“Life is a package deal.” @SadhviBhagawati on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“Guess who has front row seats to the voices in your mind?” @SadhviBhagawati on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“We put far too much into the doing and not enough into the undoing.” @PeterJRussell on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“Paradoxically, we think if we hold on to things we are going to feel better, but actually it is the opposite.” @PeterJRussell on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“An emotion has an action tendency. An emotion wants us to do something.” @PeterJRussell on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“Our thinking in one way or another is always creating a subtle tension within ourselves.” @PeterJRussell on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“Simple, everyday meditation practices should be effortless.” @PeterJRussell on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“Doing micro-meditations is as valuable as a twenty-minute meditation.” @PeterJRussell on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet
CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY
RELATED EPISODES
Mothering Ourselves: Healing Primal Wounds to Stand Tall
Mothering Ourselves: Healing Primal Wounds to Stand Tall with Bethany E. Webster Original Air Date Wednesday, May 17, 2023 How do you feel on Mother’s Day? Is it a day when you turn away from social media because you don’t have a flattering Mother’s Day meme you want...
Sex, Biology, and You
Sex, Biology and You with Dr. Stephen Furlich Original Air Date Wednesday,May 3, 2023 Do you wish your partner understood you better? Have you considered that they may not be wired to? Biology and chemistry are important factors in why we communicate the way we do....
From Happiness to Hopefulness
From Happiness to Hopefulness with Carol Graham PhD Original Air Date Wednesday, April 26, 2023 How would you define the American Dream? For some, it means hard work pays off, and for others, it represents a period of time in their lives. Some believe that time has...