A practical approach to happy living

Swami Anubhavananda

While most philosophers and spiritual leaders would preach abstinence as a way to achieve peace, there is at least one person who shows you ways and means of leading a fuller life, with happiness at the core.

Swami Anubhavananda, popularly known as ‘The Happy Swami’ will deliver lectures on practical aspects of life at the Hindu Heritage Centre (2-30 Bukem Place, off Gadsby Road, Mangere) in South Auckland from May 5 to 7, 2009.

The nightly talks in English are open to all and will begin at 715 pm and will be respectively on ‘No argument is worth losing your patience,’ ‘Happiness is creative and bitterness is destructive’ and ‘Result is evaluation in the outer world and evolution in the inner world.’

Weekend retreat

Organising committee member Rajendra Naidu said Swami Anubhavananda will continue his evening lectures in addition to other activities at a weekend retreat beginning on May 8.

The three-day retreat, at the Steadfast Park in Piha Beach, will be held under the theme, ‘Celebrate Life.’

Mr Naidu said Swami Anubhavananda endears himself to people with his simple and easy-to-practice tips on achieving happiness in life.

“He is a karma yogi of the current information revolution.

“Suave, witty and a master of Vedanta, Swami Anubhavananda is a favourite of children, teens and adults,” he said.

Swami Anubhavananda was a disciple of the late Swami Chinmayananda, and was earlier connected with the Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, a postgraduate academy for Vedantic Studies, based in Powai near Mumbai.

He is a visiting member of the faculty at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in the North Indian state of Rajasthan and the Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute located at Lonavala in Maharashtra, where he teaches Management, Yoga and Vedanta.

Swami Anubhavananda established the Sat Bhavana Trust to propagate his theory of happiness in an otherwise tense world.

The Open University in the Netherlands honoured him with a doctorate in 1999.

“His lively discourses on the Bhagvad Geeta, The Upanishads, Srimad Bhagavatam, Patanjali Yoga Sutras, Panchadasi, Amrutanubhav, Tripura Rahasya have attracted thousands of people throughout the world.

“His sparkling series Mauj Me Raho (‘Be Happy’) have evinced the interest of children, youth and adults,” Mr Naidu said.