The Power of Sankalpa (Intention) to Overcome Adversity, and Near Death

We have spent the past few months supporting students to create a powerful Sankalpa (a resolve) and to identify their heart's desire through our Find Life Purpose Online Course.

The Sanskrit word sankalpa means "a resolve or intention formed in the heart."

We're heartened to know that it has empowered many of our students to make meaningful changes in their lives, some small, some large—all significant.

The ability to make a powerful Sankalpa - one that empowers us to manifest intention - is challenging to achieve because the mind is innately unstable and full of doubts and conflicting desires. To counteract these conflicts and doubts, students of our course are given various tools and exercises to examine each desire. Using Yogic Knowledge, Meditation Practices, and Integration Exercises, students test their desires and intentions through different perspectives or lenses.

For example, how each desire fits into a particular stage of life and how to cognize the different desires that arise from each of the seven chakras. This results in an ability to form a holistic relationship with desires.

Sometimes it takes a negative experience to stir up a powerful Sankalpa. In this way, adversity can be a blessing because it thrusts us into reconnecting with our will to survive, overcome the odds, heal, or repair. One aim of the course is to support you to keep on track with your life purpose while facing tough experiences. The course will help you muster internal resources to rise to the challenges of adversity rather than collapsing under their weight.

Case Study: How our student overcame a near-death experience and taught her doctors about the power of Sankalpa

The story by Sanyasi Yogamitra epitomizes what we can do, even when faced with life-threatening illness, in what appears to be insurmountable odds.

Apparently, I had died. The doctors told me, “You went to the other side, you were gone, but then you came back”.

Hello, my name is Yogamitra. I am a yoga teacher from Athens, Greece. I want to share with you a fantastic experience that happened to me when I suddenly became severely ill with meningitis and almost died. My story shows how yogic tools such as breath and the Sankalpa work powerfully to help us heal from illness, often in ways that are far beyond our understanding. The breath and Sankalpa are especially beneficial if they are combined with Yoga Nidra, which is a powerful relaxation and healing meditation.

Stricken with meningitis

I had finished teaching a yoga class and was driving home when I started to sneeze continuously for about twenty minutes or so. When I arrived home, I was not hungry and had a terrible headache. I told my daughter I was not feeling very well and would rest and go to bed early.

That night, the headache became much worse even though I took painkillers. It was so bad that I could not sleep. The last thing I remember was attempting to get to the bathroom to vomit at 8 am. That's all I recall before waking up four and half days later at 3 am in the intensive care unit of a hospital with my mother and my daughter staring down at me in tears.

Coming back to life after dying in hospital

I regained consciousness and was shocked to find that a tube had been placed down my throat to support my breathing mechanically, and other wires were supporting my heartbeat. I had lost all sense of place and time. Everything felt like it was at a distance, and I was disoriented. The ceiling was moving to the floor. The windows were shifting around the room. It seemed the only thing I had was my breath. That was the first tool I instinctively started to use to try to regain some balance.

I had been ill with meningitis, inflammation of the coverings of the brain. Apparently, I had died. The doctors told me, “You went to the other side; you were gone, but then you came back.”

I was kept in the hospital for three weeks. I used my mantra whenever I felt pain and Yoga Nidra to rest because I could not sleep. I was allowed to go home, but the doctors told me that I had a long way to go before I would fully recover. My nervous system was still in a mess. My memory and concentration were so damaged that I couldn’t remember everyday words, like “salt,” nor the faces of my friends, and I could not follow stories in movies or news items.

Engaging willpower (Sankalpa Shakti)

Do not wait for an emergency or illness to start. Start working on yourself now. Start when things are rather easy!

So then, I started to use my ultimate yogic tool. I am ever so grateful to both Swami Shankardev and Jayne Stevenson for making this meditation on Sankalpa; Illuminating Your Heart’s Desire.

Since I could not practice yoga postures nor sit cross-legged for meditation, I developed the habit of listening to these meditations throughout the day as I lay on my back in bed.

Listening to this was the only way I could sleep at night. In the beginning, my mind drifted apart, but slowly, I was able to concentrate for longer periods of time.

I began to plant my Sankalpa, “I AM BECOMING STRONGER AND HEALTHIER.” The Sankalpa, along with the other techniques, helped to bring me back closer to my strengths and abilities. Every day, I felt myself getting stronger and healthier.

Miraculous improvement

After ten days at home, I had an appointment to visit the hospital. The doctors were in tears after seeing how rapid my healing was. Once again, they explained what had happened to me. “You left us for a time; then you came back.”

I told them of my daily meditation process and showed them my progress. The doctors were so impressed with the effects that they asked me to start teaching them the techniques. Since this is a unique set of techniques belonging to the authors Jayne Stevenson and Dr Swami Shankardev, I sought their permission and soon started teaching the doctors.

9 months later

Although I am now 99.9% recovered, I still frequently use the techniques from Illuminating Your Heart’s Desire. It guides me through a process that helps me live my life more consciously united with my higher Self and less entangled in my lower self. Of course, I still have lots of ongoing unresolved issues, so I use these guided meditation techniques to help me recognize them as they come to the surface.

I continue to discover all kinds of aspects of myself and can observe them from the tranquil state that these techniques cultivate instantly. I regard these techniques, and the incredible in-depth practices of the Find Life Purpose Course as a great gift to us all and that is why I am sharing this true story with you.

Do not wait for an emergency or illness to start. Start working on yourself now. Start when things are rather easy!

Sannyasi Yogamitra, Greece

Develop a powerful Sankalpa (Intention) with Big Shakti Courses & Meditations

Developing a powerful Sankalpa is a journey of self-discovery and alignment with your higher purpose. By reflecting on your true desires, using yogic practices, examining your intentions through different lenses, and consistently affirming and aligning your actions with your Sankalpa, you can manifest your deepest aspirations and live a more meaningful and fulfilled life.

If you are ready to create a powerful Sankalpa and transform your life, consider enrolling in our Find Life Purpose Online Course. This comprehensive program provides the tools, meditations, and support you need to align with your heart's desire and achieve your life goals. Start your journey today and discover the power of Sankalpa with Big Shakti.

1. Illuminating Your Heart's Desire Meditations
2. Find Life Purpose Online Course
   Self-paced study: 9 Lessons, Theory, 10 Meditation Techniques, 9 Integration Exercises, Teacher Support and CPD points.