This episode was featured on The Huffington Post.
On today’s episode of The Soulfully Optimized Life, I bring on an extraordinary guest who’s lived lifetimes within his lifetime: Sridhar Steven Silberfein.
Steven Silberfein grew up in the 60s in Long Island, New York.
Throughout his teenage years, he became fascinated in spiritual studies.
Around the same time, his aunt recommended he meet a teacher in NYC named Albert Rudolph.
Rudi was the only Western disciple of the Indian Guru, Bhagavad Niytananada.
His main teachings were involved around kundalini eye gazing and it was with Rudi where Steven first experienced shaktipat (the reception of spiritual grace).
Steven continued on with his kundalini practices with Rudi while simultaneously studying hatha yoga from Sri Swami Satchidananda, the man who gave him the name “Sridhar”.
Soon after, he became one of the main Yoga teachers at the revered Integral Yoga Institute on 500 West End Ave. where he taught iconic artists, prolific producers, renegade real estate agents, and spiritual seekers alike.
Around the same time, Sridhar would hang out with people like Michael Lang and Artie Kornfield (the two producers behind the Woodstock festival), Salivador Dali, and other extraordinary people.
One day Michael and Artie asked Sridhar what was missing from their lineup for Woodstock.
“Spirituality,” said Sridhar.
He suggested he bring Sri Swami Satchidananda to the festival and Michael and Artie were thrilled.
At Woodstock, Sri Swami Satchidananda gave a speech and finished it by leading over 500,000 attendees in chanting “Hari Om” and “Ramaramarama”.
Afterward, Sridhar whispered to Sri Swami Satchidananda, “Swamiji, wouldn’t it be great to bring this amount of people together to chant the names of the Divine?”
Sri Swami Satchidananda smiled and said, “Yes, it would be great if you could do that.”
This sparked the idea of what would become Bhakti Fest 40 years later.
Sridhar went on to create the first organic health food store in Southern California years before Bhakti Fest made it’s first appearance.
That health food store was called The Food Chakra and was located in Topanga Canyon.
Then, in 2009, exactly 40 years after Woodstock, Sridhar brought his lifelong dream to reality in Joshua Tree.
Bhakti Fest was created and people from all over the world came to sing kirtan, practice yoga, and share the joys of their soul together in one beautiful festival that embodied love, unity, and soul.
Since the beginning of Bhakti Fest, extraordinary people like Ram Dass, Krishna Das, Trevor Hall, Jai Uttal, top yoga teachers, kirtan performers, healers, and healthy restaurants from around the world came together to entertain, inspire and bless the beautiful, worldly crowd.
Tomorrow, Bhakti Fest kicks off for the start to it’s epic week-long experience.
Get your tickets here and make sure to come and get a big, soulful hug from me!
This episode we recorded is packed with incredible stories and timeless wisdom, so…
Tune in and enjoy the episode below!
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/281013661″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio and TuneIn.
Connect with Sridhar and Bhakti Fest:
Now I want to hear…
How will you bless the world?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
I’ve heard such good things about Bhakti Fest. I’ll have to go one of these times.
Such an Inspirational story! I really his take on consumerism and living a more simplistic life. There’s nothing outside of us that can fill the void inside of us, not a single product of the world. By the way, I love the segment where he invited you to the festival. Great interview and great guest as always. Kudos Adam!
Such an Inspirational story! I really love his take on consumerism and on living a more simplistic life. There’s nothing outside of us that can fill the void inside of us, not a single product of the world. By the way, I love the segment where he invited you to the festival. Great interview and great guest as always. Kudos Adam!
First time I’ve ever heard of Bhakti Fest. Wonderful story about Sridhar Silberfein and sounds like a great experience! Always happy to see people like this make the world a better place to live.