From the Editor’s Desk
The power of group intentions is a profound principle that blends individual focus with collective energy, magnifying the outcome in worldly and spiritual endeavors. Rooted in Vedic wisdom and echoed in modern studies, group intentions offer a way to deepen unity, reinforce shared purpose, and amplify spiritual growth.
Inspired by the teachings of Shree Swami Mukundananda and the lived experiences of the JKYog community, this issue of Samarpan explores how group intentions guided by a divine vision and rooted in devotion can uplift individuals, fortify spiritual communities, and manifest profound inner transformation.
Vedic Wisdom & Application
Theme of the Month
The Power of Group Intentions: Strengthening Devotion Through Collective Spiritual Resolve
Reflection Questions
- What Is the Power of Group Intentions?
- How does Group Intention Deepen Devotion?
- What Strategies Can Foster Collective Spiritual Sankalp?
An intention is a focused intellectual and emotional resolve directed toward a specific outcome. It is not a passive wish, but an active sankalp – a sacred commitment powered by clarity, emotion, and repetition. Group intention, by implication, is the collective focus on a common goal or higher purpose by like-minded individuals. When they unite in purpose, this sankalp becomes a collective force that resonates beyond each person’s mind. When practiced with sincerity, clarity, and unity, the group sankalp creates a powerful energetic field that can influence outcomes and strengthen the bond among members.
What Is the Power of Group Intentions?
Group intention is not just a mystical belief. Sankalp, as described in Vedic scriptures, refers to a strong, heartfelt resolve or intention, often expressed before performing specific rituals like a Pooja or Havan. It signifies a commitment to the purpose, aspiration, or action, reflecting a deep connection to the Divine or a desire for positive change. It is a conscious effort to align with one's highest purpose in life and core values.
Numerous examples in history illustrate the power of group intentions or collective sankalp. For example, the Ramayan shows how Lord Ram’s mission was supported by the army of monkeys and bears united in their sankalp to serve Him. Even those whose intentions were weak or impure at the start of the mission transformed in the process due to collective energy and Divine Grace. The Mahabharat illustrates how the Pandavas thrived in exile and the war because of their shared values, spiritual vision, and united devotional practice inspired by their unwavering faith in Shree Krishna’s protection.
In Kaliyug, great saints like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu demonstrated the transformative power of group intention through ecstatic congregational chanting (i.e., sankirtan), uniting people across social boundaries in a shared longing for divine love, igniting a bhakti movement that swept across India. Similarly, Shree Ramanujacharya gathered his disciples with the unified purpose of surrendering to Lord Vishnu and living by the principles of humility, service, and devotion.
Sant Eknath gathered devotees from all walks of life to sing abhangs (i.e., devotional songs) in praise of Lord Vitthal. His inclusive gatherings were rooted in love, humility, and shared intention to realize God through collective devotion. Despite facing societal opposition, he united his community around the principle that bhakti transcends all barriers, and their group sankalp created a spiritual revolution in Maharashtra.
More recent in history was Swami Vivekananda, who formed the Ramakrishna Mission with a powerful group intention: to serve humanity as worship of God. He inspired his disciples to adopt the ideal of “Service to man is service to God,” and through collective seva, meditation, and study, their devotion deepened. Their unity of purpose transformed not only individual seekers but also the spiritual landscape of modern India.
By aligning their communities around collective spiritual goals, the saints created powerful waves of transformation that continue to inspire seekers even today.
In the modern era, Mahatma Gandhi's unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance and his fight for India's independence were underpinned by his sankalp to achieve self-rule and social justice for all the people of Bharat. The power of his vision, living by example, the collective strength of purpose, and a commitment to the goal resulted in freedom from centuries of oppressive British rule.
Similarly, Martin Luther King's dream of a society where people would be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character was a powerful sankalp that guided his civil rights movement and ultimately led to significant social change.
Both Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King accomplished their highest purpose based on their unshakable faith in their spiritual beliefs and devotional aspirations. These precedents reinforce that group intention is not just powerful – it is scripturally sanctioned.
How does Group Intention Deepen Devotion?
Devotion, when nurtured in solitude, is beautiful. But when kindled collectively with like-minded souls, it becomes a blazing fire that illuminates everyone’s spiritual path. Group intention magnifies devotion by aligning individual hearts into a single, unified longing for God. In such a sacred atmosphere, each person draws strength from the sincerity of others, their commitment is reinforced, and even the wavering mind finds stability.
Swamiji frequently emphasizes that association with devotees strengthens spiritual resolve, because in a collective sankalp, the divine vibrations multiply. Through shared practices like hearing, chanting, meditation, and seva, spiritual communities not only deepen their own bhakti but inspire one another to strive for something higher for the pleasure of God/Guru.
The JKYog Global Satsang Movement During COVID-1
When the world came to a standstill in March 2020, so did in-person gatherings and temple visits. The conditions of the global lockdown made the world turn inward in search of answers to their grief, disbelief, and cognitive dissonance. During that time, JKYog’s previously launched online courses through the Zoom platform gained momentum. People hungry for divine knowledge started registering by the hundreds. At that time, Swami Mukundananda ji, the JKYog Founder and global expert in Mind Management, initiated a historic system to support devotees around the world.
Swamiji started delivering live discourses on how to deal with the coronavirus and took enormous time to answer the questions of devotees via Zoom. Swamiji got vaccinated Himself, wore a mask, maintained healthy habits, and inspired all JKYog community members to do the same to keep themselves and their family members safe. These messages and videos were publicly shared on Swamiji’s YouTube and Instagram channels, allowing others to benefit from the practical wisdom.
Swamiji also launched His first virtual retreat, bringing together thousands of devotees from different time zones to listen to His divine discourses, seek solace in the will of God as they struggled with challenges never experienced before – job loss, illness, death, etc.
Under Swamiji’s divine vision, JKYog kicked off global Akhand Mahamantra chanting, increasingly more free online classes for the global community with opportunities to gain knowledge of the Vedic scriptures, engage in chants and meditation, participate in book reading and discussions, and so much more. Swamiji personally delivered innumerable talks and held Q&A sessions, providing compassionate support to devotees and non-devotees alike. Millions of people worldwide connected with Swamiji for guidance, inspiration, and hope.
Additionally, JKYog offered free yoga classes online for over a year to keep the community physically and mentally healthy. Devotees across the world became friends through virtual connections and joint seva. On one occasion, Swamiji said, “Let us use this time to deepen our love for God and serve others through devotion.” His words and inspiration were like a global sankalp, where people were united by a desire to connect to God/Guru during uncertain times. Over a hundred free online classes continued even in the post-COVID era, having become a sacred support system that transformed countless lives.
The power of these collective intentions was evident. Many devotees testified that they experienced an inner shift from fear to faith, loneliness to belonging, and distraction to discipline. The global Satsang community began to flourish, creating a ripple effect of spiritual inspiration in households across continents. Numerous in-person classes were adapted to virtual forums. Children recited shlokas, and the youth launched virtual seva projects. Elderly devotees, once unfamiliar with technology, became active participants. The wave of devotion brought millions of seekers into the JKYog sanctuary. Swamiji exemplified the motto, “Be Good, Do Good, and Feel Good” by providing countless resources in a variety of formats to enable the community to strengthen from within and also empower others.
This story is a living example of how a sacred support system can nurture, protect, and amplify the devotional journey, especially in adversity.
The YouTube Revolution: Reaching Millions through Sankalp
In response to this growing digital momentum, tens of thousands of people started watching Swamiji’s videos on YouTube, searching for inspiration, hope, scriptural knowledge, and practical wisdom. Many were dealing with the grief of lost jobs and loved ones, adjusting to staying home 24/7 with family members under stressful conditions, and wondering if they would stay alive or be gripped by the virus.
At this time, the 21-day Challenges that had been previously launched gained even more momentum, and Swamiji introduced a few more to inspire the global community. Some of the most popular challenges included the ones on Life Transformation, Happiness, Mind Management, and the Purpose of Life. These Challenges provided tools for implementation to help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application of spiritual principles. The JKYog Community’s collective sankalp created spiritual momentum during a time of global stagnation, leading to increased devotion and renewed understanding of the purpose of our lives. Under these conditions, Swamiji’s effort multiplied manifold, as He created more videos to support His ever-expanding community of seekers.
In addition to numerous 21-day Challenge videos, Swamiji’s team of JKYog volunteers also made a sankalp – to serve the organization with whatever skill sets they possessed. Equipped with Grace, in a collective seva sankalp, volunteers united to caption videos, optimize content, respond to comments, and disseminate Swamiji’s teachings through a variety of mediums like online classes, publications, official news outlets, etc., while strengthening their own spiritual resolve.
The JKYog community’s intentions bore incredible fruit. The devotional levels of the volunteers also increased as they connected more deeply with the divine knowledge of their revered Guru. As Swamiji said in one virtual meeting during the lockdown, “When the love for God becomes the shared focal point of our lives, no physical distance can weaken that bond.”
Millions of seekers from all corners of the world discovered Swamiji’s profound wisdom for the first time through these YouTube videos. They were deeply moved by His clarity, simplicity, practicality, and depth of knowledge. Many began watching regularly, joined online Satsangs, and soon transitioned into committed participants in JKYog’s SMEx initiative.
SMEx: Collective Growth Through Shared Values
Swamiji, recognizing the needs of the growing digital community that was constantly searching for answers to philosophical and personal struggles, launched Swami Mukundananda Exclusive (SMEx). This is a structured and membership-based spiritual community of devotees whose goal is to intensify devotion and connect with their Guru to seek guidance on a variety of aspects of life.
In recent SMEx sessions, Swamiji has emphasized the importance of adopting the JKYog Values, such as humility, selflessness, gratitude, integrity, respect, and the spirit of seva.
A striking feature of this phase is the collective sankalp by volunteers to practice humility. Swamiji has been emphasizing that humility is the ornament of a devotee, and only with it can we truly serve God and Guru. Inspired by this message, countless members took a personal and group vow to reflect on manifestations of their ego, to refrain from fault-finding, blaming, holding others accountable for their distress, gossiping, and practicing empathy. They also resolved to be solution-oriented and to take personal responsibility for their sevas as well as their thoughts and actions.
This shared intention to become humble devotees for the pleasure of God/Guru has started to create a powerful current of transformation in the JKYog community. Members are consciously working to support one another in becoming better instruments in seva.
What Strategies Can Foster Collective Spiritual Sankalp?
Here are some practical strategies to establish and sustain group intentions, drawn from Swamiji’s teachings and JKYog’s community experience:
1. Anchor the Group in a Shared Spiritual Goal: Begin each satsang or group meeting with a clear sankalp. Define the central intention: Is it to improve meditation, cultivate seva-bhav, uplift collective purity, or any other?
2. Practice Roop Dhyan Collectively: Group visualization of God’s form during meditation creates a divine atmosphere. Use guided Roop Dhyan meditations during Satsangs to inspire and increase devotion.
3. Form Sacred Accountability Circles: Create small groups to track individual progress and offer encouragement.
4. Offer Seva with Group Intention: Approach service projects with a spiritual focus, not just logistics. Recite a sankalp prayer before starting any group seva to align energy.
5. Harness the Power of Collective Bhav in Chanting and Prayer: Let the emotion behind prayer be shared. When a group sings and prays together with shared yearning, their sankalp echoes through the universe. Include prayer circles for healing, gratitude, or specific intentions.
6. Celebrate Progress and Reflect Together: Pause regularly to reflect on what the group has achieved spiritually. Reflection is the mirror of inner growth. When a group reflects together, they realize the strength of divine grace guiding their path.
Call to Action: Be a Part of a Living Sankalp
If you are looking to deepen your devotion, do not walk alone. Join a JKYog Satsang – in person or virtually, join SMEx, or seek guidance from Swamiji on how to be a part of a living sankalp. Together, your intentions can shift energy, transform habits, and invite the divine presence into every aspect of your life. As Swamiji says, “True transformation begins with intention.”
Tools for Your Personal Growth
When an individual JKYog community member practices the JKYog Values and the Rules of Engagement in seva, the power of our collective intentions under Swamiji’s guidance will create a huge impact. Besides, sincerity in implementing these values will attract divine grace as per God’s Law of Grace. Use this tool to assess yourself.
Would you like to be a part of this collective sankalp and work toward self-improvement? If yes, a downloadable weekly self-assessment tracking sheet is available for you to use.
If you need to speak with anyone about this topic or your practice, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]. Please also give us some time to respond. Thank you.
Gems of Wisdom from Swamiji
Here are a few YouTube video titles with related links and books where Swamiji has described the power of intention to please God.
Watch this Video to Learn what Enables Us to Purify Our Intention
- Understanding God’s Plan for You - The Power of Surrendering to God’s Will
- Mukundananda, S. (2024). Spiritual Secrets from Hinduism: Essence of the Vedic Scriptures. Rupa Publications Pvt Ltd: New Delhi, India.
- Mukundananda, S. (2023). The Art & Science of Happiness, Penguin Random House India: GuruGram, India.
- Mukundananda, S. (2022). The Power of Thoughts, Penguin Random House: Gurugram, India.
Hold Your Breath! Check out Upcoming Events
We are very excited to share three dynamite events with you!
Sita Ram Pran Pratishta – Radha Krishna Temple of Bay Area
JKYog is delighted to announce a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in the Sita Ram Pran Prathistha at the Radha Krishna Temple of Bay Area. This historic and divine event will immerse you in sacred rituals and spiritual blessings. It is a milestone for this temple and the community. Here are the details:
- Dates: May 9th – May 11th, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM daily
- Location: Radha Krishna Temple of Bay Area, 4411 Hyland Ave, San Jose, CA
- Details: www.rktbayarea.org/sitaram
It is your opportunity to participate in many different devotional Poojas, feel blessed, experience the divine energy, and witness the Pratham Darshan (i.e., First Darshan) of Lord Sita Ram after the Pran Prathistha.
- Ganesh Pooja, Tan Man Shuddhi Pooja, Mandap Pravesh, & Sarva Devta Pooja
- Kalash Sthaapna and Kalash Yatra
- Adivas and Mahanyas
- Havan
- Sita Ram Pran Prathistha
- Pratham Darshan of Lord Sita Ram
- Ram Rajya Abhishek
The Temple community invites devotees to come together to celebrate this auspicious occasion and receive the blessings of Sita Ram during this unforgettable three-day celebration. Seva opportunities are available for devotees (see website).
West Coast Retreat with Swami Mukundananda
All retreats with Swamiji provide the most blissful of experiences regardless of age, gender, and spiritual level. This is your opportunity to benefit from divine discourses, yoga practice, meditation, soulful kirtans, fun-filled festival celebrations, and outdoor parikramas. This year, Swamiji will deliver enlightening discourses on Narad Bhakti Darshan.
As always, there will be parallel Bal Mukund and Youth Club sessions for children and youth, offering adults the chance to focus 100% on the Satsang with Swamiji.
Here are the details:
- Dates: May 24 to 26, 2025
- Venue: Wyndham Garden Fresno Yosemite Airport, 5090 East Clinton Way, Fresno, CA 92727
- Contact: (510) 331-0910
- Details: https://www.jkyog.org/west-coast-retreat
JKYog's Youth Leadership Workshop
The JKYog Youth Leadership Workshop is an opportunity for youth to invest in themselves and their future. By attending, they will gain practical skills and transformative insights that will set them apart, inspiring confidence and capability wherever their journey takes them.
At the heart of our Youth Leadership Workshop lies the mission to inspire inner growth and cultivate timeless values that empower young minds to thrive in every aspect of life. Beyond skills and success, the program emphasizes “Becoming Your Best Self” – to nurture qualities like humility, integrity, and empathy.
The workshop is designed for high school and college students interested in developing skills in communication, goal setting, decision-making, problem-solving, teamwork, and time management. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from Swamiji and other industry leaders and university faculty on ways to become successful leaders in society.
The theme of the Youth Leadership Workshop is "Fostering a Culture of Continuous Learning: Learn, Grow, Lead."
The primary goal is to empower youth and young adults to take on leadership roles in their schools, communities, and beyond. By providing participants with the tools and competencies they need to become successful leaders, this workshop will enable them to become more confident, responsible, and engaged members of society.
- Dates: May 29-30, 2025, from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM
- Registration: https://radhakrishnatemple.net/leadership-workshop-youth
- Venue: Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas, 1450 N. Watters Rd, Allen, TX 75013
"A true leader serves with humility, inspires through integrity, and empowers others to achieve their highest potential."
~ Swami Mukundananda
JKYog Transforming Communities
Here, we share evidence of amazing activities and news about the programs and initiatives of JKYog and its various U.S. centers.
Life Transformation Programs (LTP)
Life Transformational Programs with Swamiji are the highlight of his US tour. Spanning twelve cities from coast to coast between April and August 2025, the LTP is a much-awaited event. The week-long program truly transforms the lives of people in ways that are difficult to quantify. For many, this is the first opportunity for a direct connection with Swamiji and to learn the divine knowledge in an easy-to-understand manner.
Each LTP event across different cities may have a different topic, but some common aspects include:
- Divine discourses on a specific topic or theme
- Devotional kirtans
- Guided meditation
- Morning walk, Satsang, and breakfast
Participants utilize the informal sessions to interact one-on-one with Swamiji, seek answers to complex concepts, and clarify their doubts. This is one of the most inspirational of all events, with a schedule convenient to most working professionals.
Check the dates for the LTP in your city and register for the free program. Seva opportunities are also available for interested participants.
JKYog’s Bhagavad Gita Krishna Bhakti App
Are You Proactive in Your Spiritual Growth?
In the vast timeline of creation, we at JKYog are among the rarest of rare souls, fortunate to have caught the divine train of spiritual wisdom. Reflect on this blessing: How rare is it to be born a human, and rarer still to exist in the same timespan as great saints like Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj and Swami Mukundananda? And even beyond that, how extraordinary it is to have received their divine grace and guidance!
We were handpicked by Shree Radha Krishna to walk the supreme path of Madhurya Bhakti. But the question remains – do we truly make the most of this opportunity, or let it slip away unnoticed?
External encouragement is vital, but real progress comes only through internal effort. True transformation begins when we take conscious steps every day to:
- Deepen our contemplation,
- Surrender a little more with each passing moment,
- Feel God’s presence in every circumstance,
- Recognize His quiet hand in all our experiences, and
- Remain grateful for His mercy, which allows us to serve – even in our imperfection.
The Bhagavad Gita Krishna Bhakti App is here to walk with you on this journey—your daily companion in spiritual growth. Whether it is listening to Swamiji’s commentary in your language, asking heartfelt questions through the Ask Swamiji chatbot, or immersing in photo and video stories, meditations, lecture videos, and festival glimpses, the app offers a constant stream of divine nourishment.
No matter where you are or what stage of life you’re in, this app is a reminder that God is always with you. He speaks to us; all we have to do is choose to listen.
Take one step closer today. Experience daily transformation.
If you have not already downloaded the app, do it now!
