Arnaud Desjardins

Arnaud Desjardins’ was a documentary film producer and director for French television during the 1960s and early 1970s. At one point in his career, he began writing and directing films which include some of the most important and revered Indian, Tibetan, Japanese, and Sufi sages of the era, including Anandamayi Ma, Papa Ramdas, Deshimaru, Kalu Rinpoche, and The 16th Karmapa. These early films were instrumental in making French audiences aware of the spiritual traditions of the East, as well as preserving a record of some of the greatest saints of the generation.

From his close and prolonged personal encounters with these masters, Arnaud developed a rare and honed ability to recognize and make use of genuine spiritual teaching. Through his sincere, vigilant practice and the guidance of his guru, Swami Prajnanpad of Bengal, India, he became one of the most beloved and highly regarded spiritual teachers in all of Europe.


Swami Prajnanpad, Arnaud's Master		Arnaud Desjardins

Swami Prajnanpad was a traditional Hindu monk who lived on a tiny ashram outside of Calcutta. He was virtually unknown outside of his small circle of students. Prior to this while teaching science at the University level, Swamiji discovered and studied the work of Sigmund Freud. He later incorporated critical elements of early psychoanalysis into the traditional spiritual path of non-dualism that he offered.

Over a period of nine years Arnaud absorbed the precise and potent Advaita Vedanta teachings of Swami Prajnanpad. For the past thirty years Arnaud has guided his body of students, which has grown to be about 2,000 in number, as well as inspiring other teachers and students from many other paths and disciplines.

Now in his 80s, Arnaud maintains an active travel and teaching schedule. A group of his senior students maintain his ashrams and others formally work closely under his guidance to make the teachings of Swami Prajnanpad available.

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