Title: Atma

Gender: Male

Age: 31

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Chinese Sign: Fire Snake

Location: Toronto, ON

I was born and have been in Toronto my whole life, but I didn’t ever fully mesh into the culture. I went through high school and university, feeling a bit out of place at times, as my interests were different than my peers. While growing up I went through the association of different people, spiritual teachers, and read spiritual/religious material, but quietly I always yearned for something else. That something else was a questioning inside, if I would ever in this lifetime meet the truly enlightened Guru.
 
The silent prayer was answered years later in 2005, when I began to attend the satsangs of Sri Swami Sai Premananda in Toronto. Sri Swamiji was giving teachings that I had never heard before. He began to give me guidance, shatter my concepts and explain how freedom was attainable through loving God. After some time, slowly my depression began to lift, slowly happiness started to come into my life, and I finally felt like I belonged.

As the path continued, there was bliss and joy however, disillusionments with family, friends and past teachers began to take place. The disillusionments were hard but there was definitely a new found feeling of freedom. Eventually, the decision was made to leave the material world and soon to my surprise, I was initiated into monkhood and given the new name, Swami Sai Atmananda.

Today, I am full-time in Sri Swamiji’s mission. There is still far to go on the journey and lots of personal transformation to take place however, this is something I love. I also like watching and learning about consciousness, reflections and visiting places of pilgrimage. I enjoy satsangs as they are vibrant with singing, chanting and welcome you to come and experience the bliss.