Steven Orenstein is an Organic Intelligence Coach, meditation guide, yoga instructor, sound healer, and musician based in the serene forests of New Jersey. With a lifelong passion for inner awareness that began at age ten, Steven blends Eastern traditions with modern healing through his weekly classes at Dhyana Yoga Arts in Chester and private sessions in Organic Intelligence, meditation, and sound healing. A documentary filmmaker and musician, his journey has taken him from India’s ashrams to graduate-level training with Organic Intelligence founder Steve Hoskinson. His work invites others into a deeper, more natural rhythm of healing and presence.
Steven says that Organic Intelligence is grounded in chaos theory, polyvagal theory, and Ericksonian hypnosis. It is a practice that emerged from a need to go beyond traditional methods that often fell short. Rather than fixating on problems or the past, OI emphasizes restoring flow in the nervous system—allowing individuals to reconnect with a sense of wholeness and the divine. It aligns with Steven’s guru’s - Neem Karoli Baba’s teaching: healing comes not from chasing issues, but from being present, compassionate, and connected.
How did your connection with Neem Karoli Baba begin?
This is actually my second trip to India. I first heard about Neem Karoli Baba through Ram Dass, like many Westerners do. Ram Dass was a perfect entry point for someone like me—he’s a Jewish guy from the East Coast, like me, who got into spirituality. He was speaking my language from the start.
But then, as I started hearing more stories about Maharaj-ji, I realized that’s where all this energy was really coming from. Slowly, my focus shifted toward Neem Karoli Baba. At first, it was frustrating—there wasn’t much information available about him. He didn’t write a biography. There’s no straightforward access point. His story and teachings kind of unfold as you allow him in. It’s a funny process.
With someone like Ramana Maharshi, his teachings are direct—you get a picture of who he is quickly. With Maharaj-ji, it’s more gradual. The connection deepens over time, and with that, more information begins to come. It’s like what Bob Dylan said—if you love an artist, look at their influences. If you follow Ram Dass, you reach Neem Karoli Baba. But when you reach Maharaj-ji, there’s no trail beyond him—you go straight to Ram and Hanuman. So you stay there and explore.
Eventually, in Costa Rica, I started thinking about him more and more. He’d just come into my mind. Sometimes I’d look at the moon and see his face. A connection was forming.
What was it like visiting the places where Maharaj-ji lived?
I visited Kainchi Dham in 2022. It had been on my list for a while. Funny enough, someone on the plane told me, “You have to go to Kainchi Dham.” Then in Varanasi, I kept seeing his photo in a café I’d visit daily.
I didn’t really talk to anyone about it at first. I was making videos on my practice—which helps people regulate their nervous system and open up spiritually—but Maharaj-ji was at the back of my mind. For months, I hesitated to post anything about him. I felt it would be out of place. But eventually, I made one post, and someone in India reposted it—it got a ton of attention. I thought, “Oh no, my little secret is out!”
That guy and I became friends. He came from a family of Maharaj-ji devotees and lived in Lucknow. When I arrived in India, we met and visited several sacred sites together—including Maharaj-ji’s birthplace and Kainchi Dham. It became a kind of pilgrimage.
Being in those places… it’s profound. On one hand, you’re physically touching something sacred. His ashram becomes his body after his passing. On the other hand, the connection I felt with him was just as strong when I was back home. Maybe the ashram helps plug in more easily, but if he’s everything, then he’s everywhere. He doesn’t "live" in the ashram. There is no "he"—it’s all one.
How important has Ram Dass been to your journey?
Very important—he was the messenger. He opened doors for me. Ram Dass was chosen for a reason—he had a huge intellect and could deliver profound teachings in a way that was fun, light, and accessible. No heavy Vedanta classes, just jokes and love.
He invited people in with candy. I think of him as someone who said, “Come, let’s check this out. Let’s get free together.” On my flight, I found myself telling a fellow traveller to visit the ashram—and in that moment, I felt like I was playing the role of Ram Dass for someone else.
How does one know what to do on the spiritual path? What are your thoughts on psychedelics versus your somatic practice in the spiritual space?
There is no path. There’s nowhere to go. That’s the funny thing.
For many people, psychedelics were a good starting point. They woke people up, including Ram Dass. But they can become a trap. In India, people say, “Go slowly, slowly.” Too much too fast creates attachment—and that creates a karmic problem. You glimpse something you're not ready for, and then you're stuck wanting to return to that place.
The somatic practice I teach does something similar—it helps expand awareness. But it’s not like a rocket ship that blasts off and crashes. It’s slow, steady growth. You stay grounded, and the expansion becomes permanent.
Does your somatic practice support spiritual growth? Or is it just biological?
Oh, it’s definitely spiritual. But I believe the biological level is spiritual.
What’s beautiful is that it doesn’t allow you to bypass problems. It’s not like, “I’m anxious, so I’ll just chant the Hanuman Chalisa and ignore it.” That might help temporarily, but many of our patterns are deeply ingrained. The ego blocks us from real change.
In somatic practice, there are no gurus—just guides. They help reveal the blind spots we can’t see ourselves. The idea that someone can go off to the Himalayas and come back enlightened is romantic, but rarely effective. You need people around you to reflect things back. Sometimes there's a wide-open road right next to us—but the mind is stuck digging into the problem.
Where does your somatic practice come from?
It’s based on chaos theory, polyvagal theory, and Ericksonian hypnosis. My teacher, Steve Hoskinson, is a PhD who’s been teaching somatics for over 30 years. He found that conventional somatic methods weren’t always working and tweaked the system.
The core idea, which aligns beautifully with Neem Karoli Baba’s teachings, is this: we don’t need to hunt down our issues. When our nervous system is in flow, we’re in flow with the divine. Only then can we truly act with compassion and detachment. Psychotherapy helps some people, but many get stuck in circles, trying to "figure it out." Instead, we should focus on feeling whole and connected—not fixing the past.
What do you think Maharaj-ji would say about the commercialization of teachings today?
I think he already knew. His teachings are timeless. He’d probably say the same thing he always did: “You’re getting attached.” Whether it’s to a car or a product or even an image—it’s about letting go. Love everyone. Give. Don’t just take.
Are there many Neem Karoli Baba followers in the U.S.?
Not many in my immediate circle, especially in New Jersey. But it’s interesting—once I started talking about him, people started sharing their own stories. A friend of mine, an acupuncturist, once told me she had a dream about Maharaj-ji 30 years ago that changed her life. Another time, she met Ram Dass and placed her hand on his chest, touching his core.
These moments come out of the woodwork. Maybe that’s part of why I was called to India—to help bring these threads together.
Does Maharaj-ji show up during moments of crisis?
Yes. It’s comforting to know someone is there, no matter what. As you go deeper into devotion, these questions—“Why did this happen?” or “Why me?”—start to fade. You surrender. You accept the mystery. And then the real opening begins.
Any memories that stand out from this trip?
Right now I’m at Amritapuri, with Amma (Ma Amritanandamayi).. She says she and Maharaj-ji are one—and honestly, I believe her. I’ve looked at old photos of Maharaj-ji surrounded by people in bliss, and with Amma, I feel that same wave of unconditional love. She makes it personal—you can imagine what it might have been like to sit with Maharaj-ji.
She even played my new harmonium while I stood there, holding it with the monks. She laughed and played. It was a transcendental moment. Truly unforgettable.
Maharaj to me is grandfather, masculine energy – Shiva, Hanuman. And Amma is Durga, the female aspect and it is nice to have that balance.
In Delhi, I saw a little murti—a clay Hanuman idol that Maharaj-ji had made himself. I looked at it and thought, “He’s an artist. He’s a sculptor. He’s like Picasso.”
You’re a musician too—how has that been part of your journey?
I’ve been a musician my whole life. I play a lot of instruments, but lately, it’s been the harmonium. In Kali Yuga, kirtan is probably the easiest path. Most people can’t sit for hours and meditate—but they can chant.
And as for food? Right now, I’m loving the tomato dosa. It’s like an Indian version of pizza—just perfect.
