Words of Appreciation

Here is a small selection of words of appreciation, gratitude & support that Science of Identity Foundation has received over the years from people who’ve been inspired by the teachings of Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa

Through following Jagad Guru’s instructions, I have found such amazing joy, clarity, and harmony, that I cannot help but be inspired to share it with others.

Malia, Yoga Student

Ever since I can remember, I have been on a quest for happiness. Not just superficial, temporary happiness, but real and lasting happiness, happiness that is permanent and completely fulfilling. Although I had spent every moment of every day throughout my entire life seeking this happiness, I was thoroughly unsuccessful. It was easy enough to find fleeting and partial happiness, but the utterly fulfilling happiness that I longed for in my heart of hearts was sadly elusive. That is, until I came upon the teachings of yoga through Jagad Guru and Science of Identity.

Even though I had very little previous experience with the science of yoga, because Jagad Guru explained these ancient teachings from the Vedic scriptures in such a simple, straight forward, and accessible way, I was able to understand them with relative ease. His words touched me very deeply, in way I had not experienced before. They cleared up much of the confusion I had about life and answered my questions as to why I was feeling so deeply unhappy and unfulfilled. The more I heard from him, the more I realized it was well worth my time to continue to hear from him and try to apply the process he explained for realizing the truth for myself.

As I practiced this yoga process daily, I felt a profound shift in my experience of, and approach to, life. In the past, my happiness was based entirely upon the condition of my mind and body. Thus, my whole life was comprised of endlessly pursuing mental and physical objects and situations I hoped would bring me the happiness I longed for - but they never did. However, once I recognized that I am not my body or mind, that I am the eternal spiritual self who is temporarily wearing them, I was able to let go of my dogged pursuit of material happiness and instead focus my efforts on the full realization of my spiritual identity and relationship with God.

Five years later, I am enthusiastically following the path of yoga and experiencing a steadily growing inner joy and satisfaction that is completely independent of my external circumstances. As my personal realization of the yoga teachings deepens, my appreciation and gratitude for Jagad Guru and this invaluable gift of the Science of Identity grows.

Jagad Guru takes the essence, the very heart, of yoga and presents it in a way that is easily understandable and applicable for people of all walks of life. Thus, he allows each of us the opportunity to experience the true happiness and satisfaction that comes from clearly knowing who we are and what our real purpose is. Yoga is not a new fad. It is ancient, timeless science of self-realization, of spiritual realization, that is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago. There is no gift more precious than the happiness of knowing and living our own deepest nature and I am thankful beyond words to Jagad Guru for enabling me to finally discover this happiness for myself. I truly believe he is a bona fide saintly person and genuine representative of what he teaches. Through following his instructions, I have found such amazing joy, clarity, and harmony, that I cannot help but be inspired to share it with others.

I am in my 60’s and have been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But because of these teachings, because of this process, because of Jagad Guru, I am the happiest I have ever been in my life!

Charlie, Small Business Owner

My name is Charlie and I have known Jagad Guru for more than 40 years. These days I am dealing with advanced prostate cancer, but I find great shelter and comfort, and happiness, in what I have learnt from The Science of Identity Foundation and Jagad Guru.

If I’m honest with myself, I had very little attraction for any spiritual process when I first met Jagad Guru in a chance encounter over 40 years ago, but he challenged me to think carefully about spirituality. Not only to think, but check what he was telling me and what we talked about.

To check with acknowledged scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita, and Lord Jesus’ teachings in the New Testament, and to check with the Lord within, to see if what he, Jagad Guru, was saying, what the scriptures where saying, and what I felt in my heart were the same.

For 6 weeks I met with Jagad Guru almost every day. December 1972 and January 1973. We talked about everything. I had never met anyone who exuded such friendship, unconditional friendship. Material friendships are based on give and take. Each party gets something from the relationship. But the overwhelming feeling I obtained from Jagad Guru was one of concern for my wellbeing, without wanting anything from me in return! I had never met anyone like that before.

He introduced me to this process of Kirtan Meditation. The singing, the saying, the chanting of these holy mantras as a way of cleansing my spiritual soul, my essence. Over the years I kept in contact with Jagad Guru, and on a another few occasions had the good fortune of his association.

But I am a slow learner. It took me many years before I had even a little attraction for singing of these sacred mantras, but I kept thinking that if Jagad Guru was the end result of this, then I would persist. So ever increasingly, over the years, this attraction for kirtan has grown and grown in my heart.

Gradually this process made me see clearly again who I am, and see other living beings for who they are, my brothers, my sisters; and my true position and role with this existence. It’s a truly enlightening experience when we look at the world this way!

So today I am in my 60’s and have been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But because of these teachings, because of this process, because of Jagad Guru, I am the happiest I have ever been in my life!

Finding a genuine and highly esteemed spiritual teacher is a rare gift ... Jagad Guru has given me the road map, as passed down by his teachers, to leading a life that has meaning, purpose and is rooted in service to others.

Chantelle, Social Worker

I remember so clearly amongst the haze and heaviness which clouded my mind and heart a rare and defining moment that changed the course of my life! A routine walk through the local weekend market where I shopped and my encounter of passing a market stall that had some flyers for a local yoga and meditation studio. As soon as my eye caught sight of this I immediately knew this is exactly what I needed.

As a youth worker working at the grass roots levels of youth homelessness; being exposed to a polar opposite reality to my own day in and day out was equally as rewarding as it was taxing to my well-being. I worked in a high crisis environment where most days I was exposed to violence, drug use, poverty, self harm cases, family break downs and abuse. There would be frequent calls to the police and ambulance, trips to mental health hospitals, breaking up fights between different groups and ongoing frustrations due to the limited and overburdened systems aimed at assisting these young people.

Self-care practices were something that was talked about at university; suggestions of exercise, external supervision, time in nature, spending time with family, mindfulness, etc. And whilst I implemented these into my life, I was experiencing that they only provided a temporary relief to the demands of my work and the emotional and physical toll it had on me but it didn’t provide a lasting solution.

Taking up the practice of Mantra Meditation not only helped me to gain control over how I processed my professional life by giving me real tools and resources to achieve peace of mind and heart but it also helped me to understand on a deeper level the context in which I was working and the real extent of each individual’s needs beyond just the physical, mental and emotional support I provided to the young people I was working with.

My Friday night slosh sessions at the pub with colleagues to unwind from a hectic week turned into me attending amazing kirtan meditation evenings where the crows on my shoulders from a heavy week flew away leaving me feeling light, refreshed and peaceful. My Sunday night blues and anxieties around the working week ahead vanished the more I added these simple and effective techniques into my daily life.

I am forever grateful for the endless efforts of Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupanda in helping me on my quest in life. Finding a genuine and highly esteemed spiritual teacher is a rare gift, his endless encouragement and care for me has truly touched my heart. All he ever wants for me is to be happy and never wants anything in return; he has given me the road map, as passed down by his teachers, to leading a life that has meaning, purpose and is rooted in service to others.

The irony of it all is that I really learnt what real welfare work is only after coming across his teachings and as a result was able to be of better service to my community for this.

On a daily basis, I follow Jagad Guru’s teachings as best I can, and have experienced in a very real and relevant way the positive effects they have on my life. I’ve experienced a great weight off my shoulders and an understanding of things that had once frustrated me and caused me a great deal of anxiety in my life.

Dale, Truck Driver

For as far back as I can remember as I grew up, I had questions and things about life that I didn’t understand. Things that parents, teachers, friends couldn’t answer. I was soon reluctant to ask anyone because they started to tell me I was weird for wanting to know these things and that I was stupid, wasting my time being concerned about them and I should just get on with school, enjoying life, making a living etc.. Like everyone else.

But I felt a very real sense of knowing that they were wrong. And that to be happy or to feel fulfilled in life then I would have to find the answers to these questions.

I went through different life experiences and when I was in my late 20’s at a stage were again felt as if I needed to know what this is all about.

I had the extreme good fortune along with my wife Suzanne to have met and become good friends with some students of Jagad Guru.

Here is where I first heard Jagad Guru Speak on Meditation, and the Science of Identity, Reincarnation and how we weren’t these material bodies. He spoke about the meaning of real religion and how we can develop our relationship, love and remembrance of our Supreme Friend.

On a daily basis, I now follow Jagad Guru’s teachings as best I can , and have experienced in a very real and relevant way the positive effects they have on my life. I’ve experienced a great weight off my shoulders and an understanding of things that had once frustrated me and caused me a great deal of anxiety in my life.
I now experience a great fulfillment in sharing what I have been given with my family. And as a family together we offer Meditation classes at our local Community centre.

I also get together with friends with a common interest in music and practice Kirtan at various Meditation and Yoga Centers in our town.

I am more peaceful, happy and I have become more compassionate toward all living beings.

Debora, Healthcare Provider

I would like to express my gratitude to Jagad Guru, the founder of The Science of Identity Foundation, for his teachings which has profoundly helped me to live a better life. From being born in Brazil to have worked as a Paramedic in the United States I have faced a lot of hardship and have seen all kinds of suffering. These experiences led me to inquire about the truth, what the purpose of my life is, who God really is and how I can come to know Him.

By studying and applying Jagad Guru’s teachings in my life for 8 years now, I can say that I am more peaceful, happy and I have become more compassionate toward all living beings. I have learned about God and how to relate to Him as a Person. The Science of Identity Foundation has helped me to become a better person and for that I am eternally grateful to Jagad Guru.

Jagad Guru is the most wonderfully compassionate person who spends his life teaching people how to find true happiness and as one of those people, I’d like to thank him from the bottom of my heart, I can never ever repay him for what he has given me, never.

Fiona, Meditation & Yoga Teacher

My journey to seek important spiritual answers began at a very young age. I used to ask my mum, “Why am I here, what is the purpose to my existence?” but she didn’t have the answers and I had to continue on with my seemingly purposeless life.

As the years progressed I began successful businesses, married and had two wonderful children, and I would honestly have to say that I had everything I could possibly ask for so I couldn’t understand why I was still so empty inside, emptier than ever before. Sure I put on a happy face and tried to maintain a positive attitude as I’d always been taught not to be negative, but in reality, nothing seemed to satisfy my craving for fulfillment and purpose.

One day, I happened to stumble across a free three-part meditation course and decided that this might take me in the right direction. In the class we learned some different forms of Mantra Meditation and lo and behold, I immediately felt some relief. I didn’t realize what that relief was at the time, I just knew that it took away some of that emptiness inside and made me feel happier. I continued through the course and continued applying meditation in my daily life as it was recommended in the meditation course. I found that the more I practiced this meditation, the happier I became. I started to sing the Mantras when I was doing the housework, hanging out the washing, driving in the car and when I was stressed. Whenever I sang them, it seemed to fill that inner emptiness a little more.

The meditation teacher happened to be a disciple of Jagad Guru and after I had finished the meditation course, asked me if I’d like to go to see him in person. I absolutely jumped at the opportunity. I wanted to meet the person behind this wonderful meditation practice that had already helped me so much in such a short time.

The gathering was held at the beach and there was lots of kirtan meditation. I remember it being something I’d never experienced before, but also something really amazing. Jagad Guru was there leading the kirtan and then he began to speak. Even though it was so many years ago, I still remember the main message of the talk.

Whenever there is love in this world, there is also pain and this is why we are hesitant to place our love on God, because we have all experienced the pain involved in a loving relationship. However when we place our love on God, there is no question of pain there is only pleasure, because the nature of that love is spiritual, not material.

This lecture totally answered why I was feeling such emptiness and purposelessness, it was because I wasn’t tasting love for God. This was when I made the decision that I wanted to love God and I knew that Jagad Guru could teach me how to develop this love.

Twenty-two years later, my life has turned around completely. I’m no longer feeling emptiness and purposelessness, I have such inner-satisfaction and there is so much purpose to my life. I’ve never been happier and as I continue on my journey, that happiness keeps increasing.

Jill, Yoga Asana & Meditation Teacher

Sometimes things happen in our lives that make us question that there must be more to life than working our whole life, and then dying! As I watched my father go through an extremely painful event in his life, it made me question what life is really meant to be about. I felt sure it couldn’t be all for nothing. Not just born and die for no real reason.

In my early 20’s I travelled around the world looking for something, some useful purpose to my existence, some meaning to my life but didn’t find what I was looking for and returned to New Zealand feeling rather lost.

To my great fortune, I came across the teachings of Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda and learnt the science of identity – that I am not this body nor the changing and fickle mind, but the life force, the person only temporarily within this body. Jagad Guru taught this in such clear and easily understandable ways. It was such a relief and has continued to have profound ramifications in my daily life.

I previously never had any interest in God but when I learnt from Jagad Guru that the actual goal of life is to redevelop, in my case my long-lost relationship with God, and to render loving service to Him and to be serving others it was real and relevant to me.

Studying the science of identity; learning that each living being is spiritual in essence, and thus relating to others from that platform, along with the daily meditation practices Jagad Guru teaches, has made for a peaceful and happy heart. There are stresses at times living in this hectic world but underneath I have a deep sense of inner peace and happiness which makes it easy to deal with the events that happen in my life with clarity. I have been fortunate to pass on the teachings of the science of identity to others and seen firsthand how their lives change for the better.

Words of Appreciation

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