26. ...can happen to anyone

We hang on for dear life, not wanting to give up our personalities so easily. We've worked so hard to create our fabulous enviable lives, right? Inner Awakening makes you dig deep into your core – makes you see how mucked up it is from all the crap you've collected and clutched on to under the guise that it's important life lessons.

Inner Awakening was just that. A liberation, an opportunity for a fresh start to a new me. It pushed me to my emotional, mental and physical limits – and then some. And it proved that there's much more to me than I ever thought.

Our greatest struggle is with ourselves. It seems to be a requisite part of life. The low moods, the churning, the cynicism, they will all come. But now, I'm more aware of how to deal with them – of how to bring myself out of it. And if I feel like wallowing in my misery, I only have myself to blame. I'm not playing the victim anymore.

Sat Priya Ananda, Public Relations, USA

I've attended both Inner Awakening and Life Bliss Engineering (LBE) programs and greatly enjoyed both! Different as they were, I strongly feel that the program itself is a mirror of Truth, which takes you deep into the realms of the true self. I am thoroughly convinced now that the only way to cope with outer world chaos, politics, deadlines, conflicts, and stress is by looking deep within. Swamiji takes us into very profound meditations, which leave us residing in a space of deep silence. That to me, was the best part of LBE - to have actually felt the glimpse of what it means to still the body and mind. It was so refreshing!

In addition to this, I got to experience real yoga for the first time ever. After having multiple back injuries over the years, Nithya Yoga is exactly what my body needed to feel alive again. Waking up early is not even an issue any longer because I know that a vibrant, energetic day lies ahead! I think Life Bliss Envgineering was the best gift I've ever given myself! Swamiji, thank you so much for your teachings and guidance. It was awesome to be with you.

I expected the food to be dull and I expected that we would be fasting often and eating simple food, but to the contrary, the food being completely sattvic, was incredible. We had a few great trips outside of the ashram to magnificent temples. The opportunity to see these temples, which I would not have otherwise seen was very valuable. Overall, the IA program has had a greater impact on my life, finitely positive, than anything thus far. So many 'ah-ha' moments and opportunities to learn about who I am or who I want to be and an awakening to the idea that this is my life and I am free to create what I want and be blissful – priceless!

- Sonal, Clinical Researcher, USA

Especially if you are young and going into college, you are in college, or just got out of college, this is the best place to be in. You can study anywhere else in the world, but you won't get the essentials of the education, the knowledge, the intelligence, the beauty, the life that you would have from IA. We learned amazing tools as to how to work less and be more productive with the best results. Everything you will learn will help you with everything in life when it comes to reading, decision making, quickness, alertness, etc. There are only plus points with this program. Coming to IA was the best decision that I have ever made.

- Sevapriya, College Student, USA

Coming to Life Bliss Engineering (LBE) program is the best decision I have made in my life. This three-month residential program has brought such a tremendous transformation in me! I have a better understanding about myself, clarity about the purpose of my life and I gained so much practical knowledge and tools for a blissful living. Every single aspect of this program was great - the way the curriculum was designed, the incredible loving and caring ashramites and volunteers who took care of us, the great accommodation and amazing food. Also, the uniqueness of this program is that it gives you the experience of meditation and yoga and the great opportunity to take a step further to get trained to become a meditation and yoga teacher.

- Oormi, Geologist, Mexico

- Gauri Dharan, Graphic Designer, USA