INO Glossary: Svecchachara

Svecchachara is the Sanskrit equivalent of the phrase “Do as thou wilt.”

In the first volume of the Twilight Yoga – Ecstasy, Equipoise, and Eternity, Shri Gurudev Mahendranath wrote,

“Sveccha means one’s own wish or free will. Svecchachara means a way of life where one acts as one wishes and does what is right in one’s own eyes. Doing one’s own Will. The concluding Sanskrit expression in the Avadhuta Upanishad is “Svecchachara Paro.”

The term “Paro” means a mysterious or secret pattern to that action done by one’s own Will. In other words, we do our Will but with discretion, not making it too obvious, nor to harm or hurt other people. Yet this is also a typical Nathism; a complete reversal of Vedic morals and philosophy.

Svecchachara is one of the four keywords of the Natha Tradition, the other three being Sama, Samarasa and Sahaja.

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