Swami Kashi is a Brahmachari (monk) living in the Himalayas… yet he started his life in a communal settlement in Israel. Swami Kashi shares his story of how he went from living in a Kibbutz to joining the Israeli military, and how finding yoga completely changed the trajectory of his life. In this episode, Swami Kashi shares the sweet and simple Vedantic truths about authentic love, fear, connection, and gratitude. He also provides insight on how meditation works, and offers an explanation that helps to demystify the concept of non-attachment.

In Episode 5, Molly and Hans speak with Swami Kashi who was born in Israel and served in the Israeli Army as a Special Forces soldier. When he was 25 years old, he happened to visit the Sivananda Yoga Center in Tel-Aviv and took a yoga class. This was a turning point in his life. He started practicing yoga regularly and began studying the philosophy of yoga and the spiritual aspect of yogic life. In 1998, he took the Sivananda Teacher Training Course in the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas, after which yoga became the center of his life. In 1999, he decided to become a Brahmachari (monk) and joined the Sivananda Yoga Center in Tel-Aviv as a staff member. In the year 2000, he completed a BA degree in Computer Science and Management and moved to India where he was fortunate to live very closely and learn from Swami Chaitanyananda, who is a direct disciple of Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh. Today Swami Kashi pours his heart into sharing the teachings of yoga through retreats, pilgrimages and workshops across the globe. 

Show Links

Below are links to all the items we discussed during our conversation with Swami Kashi.

Discipline

According to Swami Kashi, discipline is freedom. Freedom happens when you have complete control over your mind. Discipline is that which is giving me the freedom to choose despite the tendencies of the mind. This is what constitutes freedom. 

If I’m a rational being and I want to be happy, I will never choose something that I know will cause me suffering.” – Swami Kashi

The intensity of the longing does the work.” – Molly Birkholm

When we have no attachment to anything, we can enjoy life so much better.” – Swami Kashi

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