In a world where spiritual guidance is often sought but rarely found, Stuart Perrin stands as a beacon of wisdom and experience. From his early days studying Kundalini Yoga with the revered master Rudi to becoming a teacher in his own right, Stuart’s journey has been one of profound transformation and enlightenment. Through his teachings, writings, and retreats, he shares the keys to unlocking inner peace and harnessing the power of the universe. Learn more in this exclusive MysticMag interview below.
Can you please introduce yourself to our readers and share a few details about your spiritual journey?
My name is Stuart Perrin, and my spiritual journey is a long story. I began my studies in New York City, at an early age, with a great master named Rudi (Swami Rudrananda) who taught me a remarkable form of Kundalini Yoga. He trained me in deep meditation practice and made me a teacher in his tradition. Prior to meeting Rudi. I had spent nine difficult years looking for someone who could open a door to a spiritual life, and who would help me overcome deep-seated internal confusion and find inner peace. I traveled half around the world looking for this person, and, of course, found him in my hometown. I’ve been teaching Rudra meditation for 40 to 50 years now with students around the world.
Rudra meditation practice isn’t a religion or a cult. It’s a craft one learns that uses mind, breath, will, and need to develop a strong chakra system and one’s connection with Higher Energy in the Universe. For those unfamiliar with chakras, they are energy centers within the human body, located in the forehead, throat, heart, navel, sexual area, base of the spine, and crown of the head. They serve as a direct link between individuals and Higher Energy in the Universe. Early on, in my studies with Rudi, he spoke about spiritual starvation and how it contributed to conflict and tension in the world. People lacked training and couldn’t transform their tension into positive energy. This resonated with me. I’d been searching for someone to teach me how to transform my deep-seated tension into a spiritual life.
Every human being’s life connects the objective world with Higher Energy in the Universe (spirit). Without a strong internal system to handle these powerful energies, people become overwhelmed and lead erratic and crazy lives. Life itself is a strong and overwhelming force that each human being must deal with, and spirit is infinite energy that’s beyond all human comprehension. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna manifests the light of a thousand suns that appear in the sky and reveals the immense power of spirit.
Kundalini is a powerful energy force that exists in every human being. When activated, it offers a direct path to spiritual enlightenment. It is also an incredibly potent force. Without a strong chakra system, without the development of the Hara (chakra below the navel) at the core of one’s being, without strong rootedness and foundation, the energies of the objective world, spirit, and Kundalini can overwhelm the inner life of a human being. There are eight billion people in the world and each of them sees their own unique reality that’s all too often driven by ego, opinion, and internal conflict. It creates an environment akin to an asylum. Every human being tries to fit every other human being into their own reality instead of cultivating the strength to allow people to be uniquely themselves. I tell my students that I’m not a guru. I tell them that life itself is the true guru. The meditation I teach helps them to develop an internal system that enables them to listen to life and learn from its teachings. They become grounded, their minds and emotions become quiet, their hearts open, they master the internal use of sexual energy, and they can transform negative energy into a positive life. The meditation I teach helps practitioners develop strong chakra systems and have their own unique dialogue with spirit.
You are also an author. What books have you written and what are they about?
I’ve authored numerous books, including “Navigating the River of Time,” (translated into Portuguese), “A Lotus Flower in Muddy Waters,” “Moving On: Finding Happiness in a Changed World,” (a 200-page book of original aphorisms), “The Mystical Ferryboat and Other Stories” (an anthology), “Little Sisters,” “Leah: A Story of Meditation and Healing,” “Light in Jerusalem,” (translated into Hebrew), and “From Darkness to Light,” a collection of 160 letters that were written by myself and an inmate in prison. All of these books are all available on Amazon.
“Navigating the River of Time” is a memoir of my journey as a young man and how I sought my spiritual teacher amidst diverse experiences in New York, Paris, North Africa, and other places. It combines memoir with wisdom and illustrates that if this young man could overcome his challenges, anyone can if they work on themselves. It’s an inspirational book meant for people who are interested in spiritual practice. For example, I correspond with a person in prison. He found “Navigating the River of Time” in the prison library and told me it changed his life. His girlfriend got in touch with me and asked if he could write me a letter, and we now correspond with each other. It’s amazing how this man has changed in a short time.
Another book I’ve written is called “The Mystical Fairy Boat and Other Stories.” It is an anthology of short novels that delve into various mystical themes. “The Mystical Ferry Boat,” tells a story of a surreal journey aboard a ferry that circles New York City and contains seven chambers. In each of them Peter, the main character, is given spiritual teachings. Another compelling tale in the book is “Rudi,” and probably the best story I’ve ever written. It is named after my spiritual teacher who tragically passed away in an airplane crash. I was with him when the plane hit a mountain in upstate New York. This story chronicles the profound bond between a student and his teacher and highlights the uncertainty of life and the importance of embracing its lessons. Lastly, “The Dancing Man,” the third story in the book, metaphorically explores the presence of Shiva in the South Bronx through the symbolism of a dancing man.
I’ve also written a novel entitled “Madness Falling from the Sky.” Its backdrop is New York City, Paris, Greece, and North Africa during the 1960s. It’s a narrative about young individuals navigating the complexities of life and coming of age.
Presently, I’m working on a book entitled “Tantra,” which explores the subtleties of tantric meditation and features transformative art from different cultures that include Renaissance Europe, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Islamic, and Kabbalistic art. It draws from my experience in the art business for over 30 years. I specialized in Asian art and the book, “Tantra,” gives the reader a comprehensive understanding of tantric practices.
What are your retreats like?
My retreats attract people from all over the world, but I have somewhat limited them now because of my current living situation. I used to host them in larger houses, but now I conduct them in my two-bedroom apartment and can accommodate between 12 to 18 people. They focus on the Rudra meditation I teach, the transmission of Shakti energy, and hands-on healing. Additionally, I offer question-and-answer sessions to support individuals in their spiritual practice. Each day includes three classes, spanning over two and a half days. They are very intense, powerful, and highly transformative. Participants often undergo significant change, and by the end of the weekend, they have discovered a different way of looking at themselves. These weekends occur every two months, but attendance is limited to individuals who practice the meditation technique that I teach. They must develop a chakra that enables them to stay centered and absorb the intensity of Shakti transmitted in each of the weekend’s classes.
The only requirement I have is that people must study with me or one of my teachers before attending a weekend retreat. I often receive calls from individuals eager to join the retreats, but I insist they attend my classes for at least three months before participating. At the onset of COVID, all my classes have shifted to Zoom, attracting students from around the globe. While I initially hesitated about teaching online, the classes have proven to be incredibly powerful. They foster personal growth and transformation for attendees worldwide.
What is your favorite part of your spiritual practice?
Giving it away. Throughout my lifetime, I’ve gathered an abundance of knowledge about spiritual practice. My job is to give it away to anyone who’s willing to work hard enough on themselves to receive it. My teacher Rudi said to me, “Don’t build shrines to me. When I leave, don’t mourn me, don’t lament that I’m gone. Just learn what I teach and pass it on to people in your life.” That’s the most extraordinary thing that I can do. Give away everything I’ve learned to people who truly want a spiritual life.
Is there anything else that you’d like to add that we haven’t covered?
What I would like to specifically highlight is that every single human being is connected to spirit, but people accept illusion as a substitute for deep inner work. If they build a chakra system, they will be able to awaken the Kundalini and its sacred path to enlightenment. The meditation takes nothing away from what we do in daily life. We all have families, jobs, and social responsibilities. Rent or mortgages must be paid, and grocers care little or nothing about one’s spiritual practice. They must be paid for the food we eat. Most people do all these things with a closed heart as if they’re forced to do them by this thing called “life.” The purpose of my practice is to help people realize that whatever they do in life is sacred.
It’s a means of learning about oneself. We’re given X number of years to live and learn how to build a connection with Higher Energy in the Universe. If those years are wasted complaining about injustice, being angry at other people, feeling guilty or that one is a victim, if revenge is a must and forgiveness totally forgotten, if love is buried beneath a veneer of unhappiness, then the external world reflects our inner condition. Happy people are enlightened people, but to find a truly happy person, it would be easier to find the holy grail. People who live with open hearts and unconditional love, people who share love with other human beings, and who have compassion and kindness have found a path that leads to spiritual enlightenment.
To learn more about Stuart’s work, you can visit stuartperrin.com
