About John
“It’s not possible to separate the Teacher from the Teachings in this instance, for John is simply the embodiment of these Teachings.”
John Weddepohl | Siddharthan सिद्धार्थन
Describing himself as a vagabond, rogue and rascal, born in Johannesburg South Africa, John has been blessed with teachers his whole life.
Meeting his teacher, a PhD in English in India in 2004, John stayed glued to his gurudev for seven years, as Swamiji initiated him in Atma Vidya, the timeless wisdom of the vedaupanishads.
Joining the modern revival of Self knowledge started by Adi Shankara 2500 years ago, mandated by his guru, to share the secret of secrets, John has been sharing atma vidya in English ever since.
About the teachings
Truth being eternal and universal means every human being is already free. Born freer than the freest, independent of race, creed, color, language, gender or religion, each human being carries life’s Grand Prize and secret solution with them. Born ignorant, before we can think of grabbing the truth, Truth has already grabbed us all. Already the ‘sons and daughters of immortality’, no person can escape. Pending discovery as each of us is creation’s greatest gift and universal secret. All looking for the solution to unhappiness, and wellbeing, we each carry the answer and solution to then mystery with us. A hole in education is all that prevents us seeing it. To solve the mystery all we need is someone to point it out. Having lived with nothing else 24/7, recognition is instantaneous. Blessed 24/7, already all the proof we need, introducing us to ourselves, the teacher explodes the Truth.
The teacher puts Forever in our pocket. Helping us recognise what is ever present, we never look back. Grasping the gift, pointing out the obvious, we stop stumbling around in the dark. Waiting for life’s grand prize and mystery to resolve our secret explodes. Pointing out our completeness, recognising the complete solution you bring with you, what once appeared only problems, we find only solutions. Instantly all darkness and conflict disappears. Feeling utterly foolish, that all the time you carry the total solution with you, you wonder why you could not see it before.
‘The theme of the Vedaupanishads has always been simple: To introduce us to the miracle of who we are. To carry the exquisite miracle and not know what we carry is a waste of time. Already universal, because we cannot see it for ourselves, we need someone who knows – knowing the methodology to introduce us.
There is no difference between someone who knows the truth and one who doesn’t. Both human beings, one just knows, and the other is yet to know.’
The teacher only acts as a mirror. Knowing truth like their own back yard, the teacher knowing how to use the age old methodology, wielding Truth like a laser, shows the ever fresh Self; sanathana, never unavailable and not present. Once the Truth of Self is seen It cannot be unseen. Never looking back, the teacher no longer needed, both roles of teacher and student drop out as all our problems drop away we are free to get on with our lives.
Self-knowledge completes the journey and puzzle of being human. Understanding the meaning of the word ‘I’, thriving we flourish in the meaning of completeness and oneness that is oneself. Fully alive to oneself, the seeker no more lost, stops looking and searching for the meaning where there isn’t any. The teacher of the vedaupanishads reveals us to be the meaning of meanings, pointing out our universal destiny, we recognise Truth as ourselves and ourselves as the TRUTH.
More about John
Deciding late in his life the little fame and fortune had to offer was not good enough, hoping to catch a rare glimpse of what sages and prophets call the Truth, John found that there is only Truth – he just hadn’t seen it yet! Never closer than oneself, once our eternal nature is pointed out, completeness is guaranteed and we cant help but thrive. Discovering Self-knowledge is the discovery of the timeless secret and gift of the universe.
In 1969 at nineteen, John took to yoga like a fish to water. Urged by his teachers, John opened a yoga school in downtown Johannesburg on the top floor of the city’s first flea market. Becoming popular the Market became a hotbed of anti-establishment radicalism and, under South Africa’s apartheid system, was forced to was shut down by the authorities. Finding himself out of a job, a talented musician from the age of seven, John found success as a singer-songwriter performing with South Africa’s popular bands. After recording a few local and international hits, John found his niche scoring music for film and television.
Awarded internationally for his work, despite enjoying the success, John felt something was missing. To fill the hole he started exploring Africa’s wildlife areas. Finding the flame of yoga could not be extinguished, in 2004, with the release of Nelson Mandela from prison, when India lifted its cultural boycott banning South Africans from visiting the country, John traveled to India as a western sadhu साधु.
Meeting his guru, John’s guru pointed out that the only thing missing in his life was himself! Explaining that already everything we look for is with us, hearing that happiness is not a destination but the secret of oneself, wanting to find out more, John withdrew into the seclusion of his guru’s ashram: ‘Self-Knowledge Village’. Immersing in his guru’s teachings in Tiruvanamali, hearing the ancient wisdom in the lineage of Adi Shankara daily, John got his education in Self-knowledge of the veda/upanishads. Finding the eternal we seek is never further than ourselves. Finding peace is not the ‘Long walk to Freedom’ he’d imagine but himself, ever gained, (we just have to recognise it), removing the elephant in the room John’s Guru removed his blind spot. No longer missing to himself, like the sun rising in his life, exploding in Self-knowledge destroyed all Johns doubts,.
Drawing water from many different ghats (springs and watering holes), from traditional healers (sangomas)in Africa, to living Guru’s on ashrams in Orissa, Nepal, Rishikesh, Bihar and Tamil Nadu, John’s teaching reflects these different lineages and streams of knowledge.
Traditional without being traditionalist students love his quick wit, wisdom, sense of humor and down to earth practical approach.
Meeting and marrying Rachel Zinman, John and Rachel spend their time teaching इष्टम् ISHTAM at festivals teacher trainings and workshops around the world. Sharing their love of music John and Rachel also sing devotional Kirtan wherever possible.
Spending their time abroad, John and Rachel’s dream is to develop ‘Sundaram Ashram’ a centre for higher learning and living.
John and Rachel currently live between Byron Bay, NSW. Australia and home in South Africa.
one word unlocks our secret
Carrying creations secret, and life’s biggest mystery and grand prize with you, to resolve your mystery, and collect the grand prize you just need someone to point it out. Long before you go searching for the truth, Truth has already found and reached you. Already ourselves, the Sun of the Self never sets. Just covered by a cloud of ignorance, to remove the cloud, all we have to do is show up, and make ourselves available. Having lived with it our whole lives and bringing nothing but the truth with us we cant hide or miss it. Ignorance of one word separates us from what is eternal. ‘I’ already eternal holds all our secrets. ‘I’ not only reveals the Truth, ‘I’ is the Truth. Wielding the word ‘I’ like a laser the teacher who knows how, explodes the mystery. For truth to be revealed, just one thought needs to be resolved. Obliterating the darkness, recognising Self removes the blackness. Once pointed out the vacuum of ignorance like a black hole the size of the universe instantly disappears. No longer bound, having always lived in the shadow of Truth recognising the limitless Self removes all fear, uncertainty and doubt. Like the sun rising in the morning destroys all darkness, Self-knowledge removes the darkness of ignorance instantaneously. Once recognised, revelling in the light of the Self that is brighter than a thousand suns, the Truth that was always shining becomes apparent. Recognising what has always been, complete in the knowledge, finding out the eternal destination and outcome is oneself, the weight of endless pain and suffering the size of the universe lifts instantly off your shoulders.
I the eternal time traveller
The veda upanishads declare long before you look for the eternal, or search for everlasting happiness, it has already found all of us. Without you, not only Truth, has no meaning, nothing has meaning…
What was once kept a secret, is no longer exclusive.
It is said there is nothing new under the sun. When it comes to the human being, as the seer of time, Self outshines and outlives everything.Described by Sri Krishna in the Bhagava…
Why is what I teach called इष्टम् ISHTAM
Combining the teachings of Vedanta/Upanishads and ASTA YOGA of Rishi Agustya John calls what he teaches इष्टम् ISHTAM‘Arriving in India, thirsty for knowledge, I fina…
From Our Students
“I don’t believe there is anything I could do on this planet more valuable than gaining this teaching. What an extraordinary blessing and privilege to have the deepest and most ancient revelatory wisdom not only available but given by a living teacher in a timeless lineage of living teachers. This knowledge can only be given by one who has already realised the truth of themselves. John’s realisation, his complete humility, his love and his deep, deep knowledge are a delight and a living access to Self-Knowledge. – Dale Rhodes
“Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity! If everyone listened & participated in these teachings the world would become a better place for all of us to live in. ‘They’ say the best way to heal the planet is to heal ourselves and these teachings provide that level of insight & opportunity for anyone willing to take the leap. “ Thank you John
“I loved the simplicity of the teachings. The step by step approach over seven weeks gave me ample time to digest the content of each session. It deepened my understanding of the nature of happiness, the nature of my thoughts and ideas/beliefs, as well as the nature of consciousness. Practically speaking, it helped me get better at slowing myself down when I catch my mind racing away. I highly recommend this to anyone who’s even remotely curious about Self Knowledge.”
John Weddepohl taught philosophy on my Yoga Teacher Training course in Goa. The students loved him and I’m impressed by his kindness and humility. He teaches in a way that dusts off the old manuscripts and brings the Gita to life off the page. As a lecturer, he brilliantly takes difficult concepts like Advaita Vedanta and renders them simple and comprehensible. He is a brilliant teacher of Self Knowledge and shares his knowledge in a way that inspires others. John’s Kirtan performances are filled with beauty and bhakti. He teaches with humour and compassion – a truly great soul.
Brunch at Brenners with Rachel & John was great. And most of all John’s lecture at AIRYOGA was very very inspiring – after class I tried to push every thought away and just be me – it was most relaxing (even in a terrible traffic jam I was smiling) and to be not caught up in a thought:) Thank you so much John. Can’t wait to have you back at AIRYOGA next year!
We had the good fortune of experiencing John’s wonderful energy and colourful teaching style during a YTT 200 course. His shining baby blue eyes and radiant smile tell the tale of his joyous approach to teaching…and life. John has the ability to speak about the burning questions to life with a childlike wonder and fascination. By breaking down complicated philosophical teachings through the use of real world examples and stories, the lessons became easier to grasp. The stories also provided as much entertainment as learning value…we will never see ice-cream the same again! Our only complaint was not having more time to sit and learn from such a generous soul. We thoroughly enjoyed every moment with John and will take advantage of any opportunity to study with him in the future!