555 – Numbers, colors and bonds

Asia has customs which are special to the countries and the persons, who dwell there.

India

Ashthang Namaskara (I bow to the divinity in you) indicates a prostration in salutation or adoration, that involves touching the ground with eight principal parts of a person, which include knees, hands, feet, chest, eyes, head, words and mind. By performing it, one pays respect to the Gods, gurus and elders. It is also done to pay respect to Surya, the sun god. It is also regarded as a fundamental step towards one’s spiritual growth. Continue reading

550 – 11 advices how to live our lives

According to the Bhagavad Gita.

  1. Whatever you do in a daily life, do not bother about the results. Krishna says that we should focus on our karma (actions).
  2. Be objective in every action.
  3. Embrace love, compassion and faith in life.
  4. Have faith in yourself and take simple steps daily.
  5. Accept change, it is a part of life.
  6. Meditate for five minutes at least daily.
  7. Try to understand your food habits and change them if needed.
  8. Practice self-observation.
  9. Identify your fears, let them go and just focus on karma.
  10. Focus on the fact that we are equal.
  11. Connect with nature, people and the whole universe.

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538 – Rejuvenate yourselves during Chaitra Navratri

Chaitra Navratri is a popular festival. It falls in the month of March or April. The first day of the Hindu Lunar calendar is known as Chaitra and therefore this time is known as Chaitra Navratri.

The Goddess Durga and her different incarnations are adored during this festival for eight days. The birthday of Rama falls on the ninth day and this day is known as Ram Navami. It celebrates Rama’s birth, the avatar of Vishnu. Rama was born to King Dasharatha and his wife, Queen Kaushalya. This festival is a part of Chaitra Navratri. Continue reading

515 – Where have all the colors gone?

Colors were once a part of our life. One just had to look around and see brilliant colors. The world’s oldest color was bright pink. By crushing 1.1-billion-year-old rocks found beneath the Sahara Desert, it was discovered. In India it is known as Rani Pink, and in English as shocking pink. Continue reading

506 – Become a Valentinian

Today is Valentine’s Day and let us all try to become Valentinians. What should we experience to accomplish this?

Be connected with the yogic principles and Saint Valentine. Who was he? He was a compassionate and caring person, who looked after all of God’s creatures, from the lowest animal to mankind. He was a practitioner of atmabhava, lover of humanity and we celebrate his memory on this day. Continue reading

503 – Sarvatmabhava

Swami Satyananda Saraswati wrote:

The Vedas, Upanishads, rishis and munis have told us that atmabhava, sympathy and feeling oneness with others, identifying with their woes is Sarvatmabhava, all-encompassing affection for the creatures of the whole world.
God is here and now among human beings. Look for him where he is most needed, not in the temples where people are pouring their wealth on his idol. That God is very rich but the God living among the poor and the down trodden in the guise of a lame or blind person is needy. Go and look for him in destitution, hunger and poverty. Peace of mind is there in the temples but that is not the ultimate in life. You have to search for God. You have to find him in alleys, lanes and houses. This is the duty of saints, holy people as well as house holders. It is the duty of humanity.
Even though I practiced many hard and intense sadhanas I found that I was stationary. Only when a trace of atmabhava awakened within me that I started moving on the spiritual path.

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501 – Practice Atmabhava every day – Part 2

Yesterday I wrote about the daily practice of atmabhava and making it a part of our life. I also wrote about the different days of the week dedicated to the Gods. The point I am making is that we must be aware of God’s presence all the time. Many of us by fasting, only remember the specific God, because we desire something. The point here is fasting is good, it purifies one only if we have unconditional love for the divine. There is to be no expectations. The outcome is the divine is all knowing and without demanding, one’s wishes are fulfilled. Continue reading

500 – Practice Atmabhava every day – Part 1

The practice of Atmabhava (love for humanity) is like being aware of all the gods 24/7. We have seven days in the week and each day is allocated to a God.

Monday is dedicated to Shiva. Devotees fast for the whole day and can have one meal only. Fasting starts after sunrise. After rising from the bed, one should meditate on Shiva. Then have a bath and offer prayers to Shiva and Parvati. If fasting, wear white clothes. White flowers and white food are offered. Benefit is to receive Shiva’s blessings. Continue reading

478 – Happiness makes you your own person

Find your roots within yourself. If you belong to a crowd, there is no further growth. You are dependent on others for company and this gives you anxiety. You seek groups, organizations to give you an identity. It is described as social anxiety and it is discussed intensely. What one is forgetting is how is one connected to oneself. Continue reading

476 – Great gurus say: love, serve and give

It is a very powerful sentence. Love automatically refers to one being kind and generous to the loved one. Serve means that one is happy to serve a loved one. Lastly giving one’s loved one makes one happy. The answer here is that to love, serve and give completely to all.

Do everything in love. – Corinthian 16:14

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460 – What Christmas gift will you gift yourself?

There are so many proverbs and sayings and they all say the same thing. However, are we paying attention to the wisdom and the ultimate truth. We are too involved with ourselves and our thoughts. Our thoughts are governing us, and they do not allow us to look beyond our nose. Continue reading

459 – Celebrate your inner Christmas

Swami Satyananda Saraswati said in December 25,1983 during his stay in Australia:

“The divine baby is the Christ, who came onto this mortal plane of consciousness in order to save and to redeem us, and to destroy the tamasic and demonic forces in and around us.

When Christ came, he destroyed avidya (ignorance). He denounced the so-called institutionalized forces which were surviving and thriving in the name of religion. Is the situation any different today? Will he accept what is going in, in the name of religion?

I know one thing that is higher consciousness which is called Christ Consciousness, Buddha Consciousness, or Krishna Consciousness, is awakened in you at any time in your life, it is not going to bring disaster. It will be the beginning of knowledge, experience, bliss, and the feeling of unity with every living person. That is why Yoga is taught. Knowledge is not enough; you need the experience which is like a flash of lightning.

Understand, who is Christ? Which Christ do you know? Is he the Christ born of a worldly father? Is he the Christ, who is the indwelling entity in every heart? Is he the Christ who creates a vision of the whole universe within and without? Is he the Christ, who transcends everything? He is all four and he came down in a physical body. He was not a myth. He was a man in flesh and blood. He lives in our hearts.

Wherever you can awaken yourself, he is there in your heart.”

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443 – What are our treasures?

For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be. – Matthew 6:21.

Instead of valuing and building treasures on earth, Christ urged his followers to store up treasures in heaven. – Matthew 6:19-20.

The heart is considered to be the seat of life in the Bible. Hence it means mind, soul, spirit or one’s entire emotional nature and understanding. Continue reading

417 – Understanding Rama

Is it possible for us to emulate Rama? What is Ram Rajya? Can we make this earth, Ram Rajya, so we have love and peace prevailing? No wars and food for all.

Ram Raj is the kingdom of God. Equal rights to rich and poor. We have to look within ourselves. We have to address our faults and shut our eyes to the faults of our neighbors. Practice Atmabhava. Love for our fellow beings. Continue reading