Category Archives: Prana Yoga Shastra

082 – Discover the mind

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Both Swami Sivananda and Swami Satyanananda were clear that if you want peace of mind, balance and want to follow the spiritual path, you have to tame your mind. Swamiji said that if you have a quarrel with your partner or family, you may sleep in a separate room but your mind cannot be put in another room. It will sleep with you, it will play with your thoughts, give you dreams and wake you up the next morning not rested but more upset. So how does one quieten this mind. Swamiji has laid emphasis on the mind. Swami Sivananda has emphasised on developing positive qualities of the mind and eradicating the negative and restrictive qualities of the mind. Continue reading →

081 – Burn Out

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Burn out is a word used by all of us. Many of us have been burnt out. It is a very frightening word as burnt down means destroyed, wrecked. It is used much more now than in the 20th century. Have we paused to consider why this is happening to us, and why we are not able to prevent it? Is it not our thoughts which have occupied the centre stage of our mind? Our fears, anxieties, frustrations, and miseries have become the actors. They are getting better and better and are ready for an Oscar. The question is what can we do? How should we recognize them and be rid of them? Continue reading →

080 – Work

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How do we view work? I remember as a child when I was asked to do work, I felt that I was being treated like a slave. I read a lot and I could never stop reading once I started. So for me when I was told to clean my room, iron my uniform, I felt that I was being exploited like the slaves of Sparta. My father said that it was important for us to learn how to work as one never knew where life would take us. Continue reading →

079 – I am a very sensitive person

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I have heard so many people say that they are very sensitive, emotional and are hurt easily. The conversation is about them and not anyone else. I remember when we had a break in in our house. My friends and acquaintances came to console me. It was horrible as our children were only four years old and it was a sense of violation. The thieves had spent several hours sorting out what they wanted. Our dog, cat and us, slept through it. Next morning we found our back door open and everything strewn. Continue reading →

078 – Two Shlokas

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“Under the shade of the Banyan tree, the old guru and the young disciple are seated. The Guru is not saying anything, but the questions and doubts of the disciple are getting cleared one by one.” Swami Satyananda said that when he sat with Swami Sivanananda this happened to him. The questions ceased and the intellect eased. A man who is really great does not know he is great. He is humble because he is practicing or acting with humility. Continue reading →

077 – What is the sadhana of Ajapa Japa

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The basis of Ajapa Japa is the repetition of the mantra So Ham with Ujjayi pranayama in the sushumna passage. This process incorporates ujjayi (psychic breath), mantra (psychic sound), sushumna nadi and psychic awareness. It is the best and easiest practice to awaken Prana. The practice of Ajapa Japa is essential for developing the psychic passage, psychic breath and psychic sound, which are the important keys to Prana awakening and wellbeing. Continue reading →

076 – Ajapa Japa

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Ajapa Japa is chanting from the heart. It is the spontaneous repetition of the Mantra Soham for developing awareness of the psychic breath in the psychic passages of the body. The meaning of psychic is spiritual in the Yogic sense and Ajapa Japa sadhana enables the flow of prana. Continue reading →

074 – Silence

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Silence exists within oneself. We can be in a forest and have a clamour of thoughts within us. The first ashram of the Bihar School of Yoga was near a railway track in Munger. The track has goods trains running on it, and they had steam engines. It was noisy and every hour the quiet would be pierced with a shrieking engine whistle. Continue reading →

073 – Real Wealth

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“He enjoys peace, who is endowed with samata (affinity), who is free from raag-dvesh (likes and dislikes), and harsh-sokaj (exhilaration and depression). Samata is supreme wealth. Man tries to amass wealth but vairagya (detachment) is the supreme wealth which blows out all other wealth. All our wealth is straw for a man of Vairagya.” – Swami Sivanananda.

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072 – Guilt

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We all suffer from guilt. It is part of our personality. If we were free of guilt we would not be motivated to accomplish anything. We survive through guilt and evolve through it. However there is a stage in life when one can be free of guilt, and there will not be any hindrance to one’s mental and emotional growth. Continue reading →

070 – If you are weak willed, what should you do

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In my life of teaching Yoga, I have come across many people who are weak willed. It is written and said that we must have a strong will. It is easier said than done. We have a restless mind. We are distracted and therefore lose our focus. I found that a daily lesson was very beneficial. Continue reading →