Lies and lies. There are so many kinds and it is again for us to judge whether we lie.
A white lie is a harmless, minor untruth told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings. These lies are usually considered innocent because their intent is not to be hurtful. Continue reading
Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. – Buddha
If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything. – Mark Twain
Panchmukhi Gayatri is depicted with five faces, each symbolizing a dimension of divine consciousness, the five elements, the five pranas, and the Gayatri mantra’s spiritual layers. The faces are in five different colors. The Gayatri Dhyana Shloka describes the colors as Pearl (white), Coral (red or orange), Gold (yellow or golden), Blue (sapphire), Dhavala (white, luminous). Continue reading
Do we take criticism personally? If we remain neutral then we can understand criticism. Continue reading
Dear ones, how do you feel when you praise someone? How do you feel when you criticize someone? Examine both feelings.
Indulging in self-praise is a trait many of us have. Be open and generous with your compliments and you will feel yourself transformed. Continue reading
According to Swami Satyananda the easiest path to divinity is to think about others. To think about others is to think about God; to serve another is to worship God. Have at least some corners in one’s heart for the suffering and sadness of others. If one helps one’s fellow beings even a little, then God will shower his grace on one. Continue reading
Vandana is worship through prayer and prostration. This form of Upasana includes: humble prostration, touching the earth with the eight limbs of the body (Ashthang Namaskara), bowing down with faith and reverence before a form of God, bowing to beings as forms of the one God and getting absorbed in the divine love of the lord. Continue reading
The whole world is a manifestation of Shakti. The countless universe are only dust from the Divine Mother’s holy feet. Her glory is effable. Her splendor is indescribable. Her greatness is unfathomable. She showers her grace on sincere devotees. She leads the individual soul from chakra to chakra, from plane to plane, to union with Shiva in sahasrara. – Swami Sivananda
Dear ones, pray for the grace of the Divine Mother.
The cosmic Shakti manifests in the human body as Kundalini and Prana. Kundalini is the static support for the moving pranic forces. Kundalini is the primordial energy that lies in mooladhara chakra in a dormant, potential state. Continue reading
Swami Sivananda taught Swami Satyananda that one must identify with the mind of a thief, a liar and one who spoke ill of him. One must put oneself in their position and then one will understand them better. Continue reading
And why should I have a daily sadhana?
What is the meaning of sadhana? Sadhana originates from the root sadh meaning to accomplish, to attain, or going straight to a goal. It acts as a spiritual practice and is a tool for personal transformation, allowing the sadhaka to work on themselves to achieve their life purpose. Continue reading
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti is a powerful Vedic mantra or sacred sound with healing vibrations that call for cosmic peace. It is chanted aloud at the start of a meditation to relax and still the mind and body. It is chanted aloud as a peace invocation after all Hindu prayers. It is also used like a greeting or parting salutation. Continue reading
If I have harmed anyone in any way either knowingly or unknowingly through my own confusions I ask their forgiveness.
If anyone has harmed me in any way either knowingly or unknowingly through their own confusion I forgive them.
And if there is a situation, I am not yet ready to forgive, I forgive myself for that. For all the ways that I harm myself, negate doubt, belittle myself, judge or be unkind to myself through my own connections.
I forgive myself.
‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers—
That perches in the soul—
And sings the tune without the words—
And never stops—at all—
And sweetest–in the Gale—is heard
And sore must be the storm—
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm—
I’ve heard it in the chilliest land—
And on the strangest Sea—
Yet—never–in Extremity,
It asked a crumb–of me. – Emily Dickinson
Worshippers of the Devi or shakti are called Shaktas. The Agama (received knowledge) literature details the Upasana for Shaktas, the concept behind Shaktism which play an important role in Tantrik worship. Continue reading