Ravi Ravindra is best known not as a yoga practitioner in the physical or asana tradition of Iyengar Yoga, but as a profound scholar whose lifelong interest in spiritual wisdom has deep resonance with the philosophy of yoga. Born in India and later becoming a distinguished academic in Canada, Ravindra earned a Ph.D. in Physics before expanding his intellectual pursuits to embrace Comparative Religion, Philosophy, and Mysticism.
Over decades, his spiritual search has woven together threads from a broad and diverse tapestry of traditions: from the insights of J. Krishnamurti and G. I. Gurdjieff to the contemplative depths of Zen, Christian mysticism, and, centrally, the Yogic tradition of India. His writing reflects this rich synthesis, offering reflections on seminal Yoga texts such as the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali and the Bhagavad Gītā, and exploring their relevance both philosophically and spiritually for modern seekers.
Among Ravindra’s books that illuminate his understanding of yoga across contexts are The Wisdom of Patañjali’s Yoga Sutras, The Spiritual Roots of Yoga: Royal Path to Freedom, and The Yoga of the Christ. In these works he distils yoga not as simply a physical practice, but as an inner science—an alchemical path towards inner stillness, self-transcendence, and integration of insight across spiritual traditions. Freedom from the Self: A Study of the Yoga Sutras particularly underscores this theme, emphasising the heart of yoga as liberation from the ego and cultivation of Saṃādhi.
As Professor Emeritus at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Ravindra held positions across Physics, Philosophy, and Comparative Religion, exemplifying his integrative approach to knowing. He has lectured widely—at institutions like Princeton, the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, the Theosophical Society’s schools in Adyar and Ojai—and remains actively engaged in dialogues that bridge science, spirituality, and global wisdom traditions.
In essence, Ravi Ravindra’s relationship with yoga is rooted not in the alignment of limbs, but in the alignment of consciousness. His contribution lies in discerning its spiritual and philosophical pulse—invigorating the timeless voice of yoga, and making it accessible across traditions, cultures, and eras.
This conversation with Ravi Ravindra and Alan Goode, was recorded on 31/08/2024 in Lantershofen, Germany, as part of the Yoga and Christianity conference