Sadhviji was raised in an American family in Hollywood, California and graduated from Stanford University. She was completing her Ph.D. when she left America in 1996 to come and live permanently at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, India. She has been living there for the last twenty-one years, engaged in spiritual practice and dedicated service.She was officially initiated into the order of Sanyas (monastic renunciation) in the year 2000, by her Guru, His Holiness Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji.
Sadhviji is a renowned speaker who gives keynote addresses at large forums, on a wide variety of topics ranging from conscious business to science and spirituality to sustainable development to the keys of happiness and peace in life to all aspects of yoga. She has also been a featured speaker at the United Nations, Parliament of World Religions and many international conferences and summits. Her talks blend the knowledge and logic of the West with the insights, spirituality and wisdom of the East, and she is renowned as a spiritual bridge between the two cultures.
She has also received numerous national and international awards and recognition.
At Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, where Sadhviji lives most of the year, she gives daily spiritual discourses and satsang, teaches meditation, provides counseling and oversees myriad charitable and humanitarian projects and activities.
Sadhviji is:
- Secretary-General of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, an international interfaithorganization dedicated to bringing clean water, sanitation & hygiene to the children of theworld.
- President of Divine Shakti Foundation, a foundation dedicated to bringing education and empowerment to women and children which runs free schools, vocational training programs and empowerment programs.
- Director of the annual world-famous International Yoga Festival at Parmarth which has been covered in Time Magazine, CNN, New York Times, Le Monde and other prestigious publications.
Sadhviji has a Ph.D in Psychology and was the Managing Editor for the monumental project of the 11-volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism.
Websites:
- Sadhviji.org (personal site)
- Sadhviji’s TED talk
- @SadhviBhagawatiSaraswati (Sadhviji’s Facebook page with announcements of events, videos, etc.)
- @ParmarthNiketan (Parmarth’s Facebook page where they stream Sadhviji’s satsangs live daily when she is in town.)
- Youtube channel with all of the videos of Sadhviji’s lectures (and also a lot of other good stuff…)
- Twitter: @SadhviBhagawati
Book: Vegetarianism: For Our Bodies, Our Minds, Our Souls & Our Planet
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Interview recorded February 6, 2018.
Second BatGap interview with Sadhvi.
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
- 00:00:00 – Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
- 00:04:22 – A Trip to India for Vegetarian Food
- 00:08:12 – A Shift in Beliefs
- 00:12:17 – A Swinging Footbridge and a Vision of Truth
- 00:16:37 – A Profound Spiritual Awakening on the Banks of the Ganga River
- 00:20:51 – A Call to Stay in the Ashram
- 00:24:49 – The Inner Voice and Following Your Vow
- 00:28:26 – Seeking Permission to Stay at the Ashram
- 00:32:11 – The Phantom Higher Authority
- 00:36:18 – The Presence of Divinity
- 00:40:39 – A Mysterious Phenomenon
- 00:44:42 – A Confusing Journey in the Ashram
- 00:48:57 – The Importance of the Guru-Disciple Relationship
- 00:53:07 – Ego Development and Self-Identification
- 00:57:39 – The Ego’s Desire for Spiritual Superiority
- 01:01:49 – The Role of a Guru and Discernment in Choosing a Genuine Guru
- 01:05:44 – The Nature of Guru’s Offerings
- 01:09:47 – How to Identify a Genuine Guru
- 01:13:44 – Feeling the Presence of the Guru
- 01:17:42 – The Power of a Guru’s Presence
- 01:21:24 – Providing Medical Care and Sanitation in India
- 01:25:23 – Service as Spiritual Practice
- 01:29:29 – Seva: Serving Your Way to Enlightenment
- 01:33:15 – The Importance of Sadhana in Spiritual Practice
- 01:36:43 – Falling in Love with Spirituality
- 01:40:17 – Witnessing Hatha Yoga as a Path to Divinity
- 01:43:43 – The Feminine Energy of Creation
- 01:48:19 – Objectification and Self-Worth
- 01:52:13 – The Unity of all Beings and the Divine Nature
- 01:56:28 – Parmarth Niketan’s Facebook Livestream
- 01:59:21 – End of Conversation
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