Ravi Ravindra. Presenter

Professor Ravi Ravindra is a renowned scholar and spiritual teacher whose work bridges the profound wisdom of Eastern and Western traditions. Born in India, Ravindra pursued his academic studies in Canada, earning a Ph.D. in Physics before expanding his intellectual horizons to include Comparative Religion, Philosophy, and Mysticism.

Ravindra’s unique approach integrates his deep understanding of Yoga with Christian mysticism, highlighting the universal quest for spiritual truth across cultures. His book “The Gospel of John in the Light of Indian Mysticism” exemplifies this synthesis, offering a fresh perspective on Christian teachings through the lens of Indian spirituality.

A practitioner of Yoga for decades, Ravindra emphasises its spiritual dimensions beyond physical postures, advocating for a transformative practice that cultivates inner awareness and connection with the divine. His teachings draw from the Yogic principle of union, aligning with Christian concepts of divine communion and inner transformation.

Ravindra has taught at prestigious institutions, including Dalhousie University and the California Institute of Integral Studies. His profound insights and teachings continue to inspire spiritual seekers worldwide, inviting them to explore the interconnectedness of all spiritual paths and the universal quest for truth and enlightenment.

The European Yoga Union has invited Ravi Ravindra on several occasions to give key-note addresses in their annual meetings in Switzerland. Ravindra is now Professor Emeritus at Dalhousie University where he taught courses in the departments of Physics, Philosophy and Comparative Religions

My Search for Truth – Meeting Krishnamurti – Ravi Ravindra

Publications

•               Theory of Seismic Head Waves (with Vlastislav Cerveny);
•               Whispers from the Other Shore: Spiritual Search–East and West;
•               The Yoga of the Christ. [Also published as The Gospel of John in the Light of Indian Mysticism];
•               Science and the Sacred: Eternal Wisdom in a Changing World;
•               Spiritual Roots of Yoga;
•               Krishnamurti: Two Birds on One Tree;
•               Heart Without Measure: Gurdjieff Work with Madame de Salzmann;
•               The Wisdom of Patañjali’s Yoga Sutras;
•               The Bhagavad Gita: A Guide for Navigating the Battle of Life;
•               The Pilgrim Soul: A Path to the Sacred Transcending World Religions;
•               Blessed by Mysterious Grace.
•               In addition, Ravindra has edited many texts; for details, please see his website www.ravindra.ca.

Conference statement

In 1947, when India was divided into India and Pakistan there was terrible massacre of both the so-called Hindus and Muslims.  Having witnessed this terror as a young boy I was against anything to do with ‘religion.’ Later I discovered the importance of spiritual search in order to approach the deep-seated questions in me regarding ‘Who am I?’ and ‘Why have I been created?’   Sadly, I discovered that in general religions have done more harm to spiritual search than any other institution. Also, I realized that there have been great sages and spiritual teachers in many places throughout human history.  The teachings of these sages are trans-religious and trans-cultural, hinting at something beyond expression and calling us to be free of me-me-me and to connect with the ONE.

Presentation description

I was born in India, but I had never met a Christian until I came to Canada at the age of 23.  I will describe my gradual understanding of the teaching of the Christ and its closeness to the spiritual teachings in India and also some important differences. Unlike in the Abrahamic teachings, there is no creation myth in India.  Instead, there is an emanation myth according to which the whole manifested universe has oozed out of the substance of Brahman, the Highest Reality. Since each level of the manifested cosmos has a particle of Brahman in it, there is much emphasis on the oneness of all that exists. In the Abrahamic traditions the emphasis is on the uniqueness of each creature.  Many social consequences result from this difference, including whether a dead body should be cremated or buried.

In the increasingly global culture the differences in expressions can assist us to go beyond expressions and come closer to actually experiencing what the sages have tried to express in different ways. 

Door to Nowhere that I Know

              Lao-tse departed by the Western gate;

                           he did not come back.

              Gautama sneaked out of the palace gate,

                           never to return;

                           forever a wanderer, homeless

                           dwelling in places without doors.

              The prophet of Galilee,

                           the bodhisattva of Judea,

                           invited us to enter

                           through him as the door.

              Door opening to an unknown realm,

                           a kingdom not of this world,

                           other than the world of my knowledge.

              And Krishna, the dark

                           blue god of vast mysteries,

                           invited all who will to enter.

              “Enter through any door; they

                           all lead to me. But wait.

                           You must leave your baggage, be naked.

                           Enter. Never to return.

              The Vastness has no particularity.”

              These portals of no return,

                           beckoning to regions vast, mysterious,

                           unknown—where I don’t look like me.

              Am I ready to go in?

Ravi Ravindra. August 2, 2005