A lesson learnt from a Guru.
How do we express our humility? Are we ashamed to be humble, modest and meek? The word humiliation is used often and when one examines the meaning it appears that it has been a blow to our pride. We are mortified, we suffer ignominy and shame. Continue reading
In all faiths numbers play a role. 108, 13, 3, 613, 786, 5, 888, 666 are spiritual numbers.
In my seminars, my students always ask, why is 108 important? In Hinduism 108 is a holy number. An individual breathes 21,600 times in 24 hours. When divided by two, it becomes 10,800 resembling 2 horizons – the north and south poles, emphasizing 108 as basic. The sky is divided into 27 nakshatras, each having four sectors of 30, i.e. 27×4=108. The moon crosses one nakshatra in 54 hours, which if divided into day and night gives 54×2=108. Continue reading
All these following quotes evoke the sky. When we see the sky, we become aware of the space, which is all encompassing. Continue reading
Goddess Baglamukhi is the eighth Dasa (ten) Mahavidya (Goddesses of Wisdom). Her name means one who has control of the tongue and of the mind. She provides control over one’s emotions and misbehavior (anger, jealousy, etc.). Continue reading
Why chant three times? We chant because we are seeking peace in our body, mind and spirit. It also makes our past, present and future tranquil. We chant Aum at the beginning of our sadhana, at the end and then Shanti. Continue reading
What and why is Aum added before every mantra?
Aum is the basis of all sounds and is considered the universal symbol for God. Aum of the Vedas became the sacred Hum of the Tibetans. Amen is repeated by the Moslems and Amen by the Egyptians, Greeks, Jews and Christians. Amen in Hebrew means sure and faithful. It is the all-pervading sound which emanates from the invisible Cosmic vibrations. It is the voice of creation and testifies the divine presence in every atom. One can hear the sound of Aum in the Anahata chakra through meditation. Therefore, it is chanted at the end and beginning of a sadhana. Continue reading
Which arise in the mind during puja and meditation.
A saying of the Paramhamsa Swami Satyananda Saraswati.
Explanation by the Master
All of us when we meditate find that we encounter our latent fears. What are these fears? They range from passion, lust, anger, desire, envy and of course unexplained fear. One feels completely blocked as they are churning in the mind. It is a self-defeating battle to suppress them and they keep regenerating and multiplying. Fear is an essential part of Puja with bhava, it pussyfoots in and in dhyana also it comes in. Continue reading
Hinduism is the world’s oldest faith in the world. Hindus believe in the doctrines of samsara (the continues cycle of life, death and reincarnation) and karma (the universal law of cause and effect). In Hinduism, the soul or Atman is the crux of it. Continue reading
What is a mental selfie? A mental selfie is as you wish to see yourself. A beautiful self. What is a beautiful self? A beautiful self is when your face is lit up with love and kindness. How is that to happen? My dear ones, you will have to read a little more to understand. Continue reading
In ancient times words and music were used to attain an altered state of mind. Music was an aid to develop the mind, spirit, emotions and sensitivity. In this modern age, different forms of music have developed. Until recent times music was used to tranquilize the agitations of the mind. – Swami Niranjananda Saraswati.
In the beginning was Brahman with whom was the Word. And the Word is Brahman. Vedas.
In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. – New Testament, The Gospel of St. John.
Hinduism and Christianity agree that in the beginning was the Word. There are many sounds: the sounds of the Cosmos, Primal Vibration, the Logos, the Music of the Spheres, the Word, the Tone and many more. All of these are included in the Sanskrit term Aum. Continue reading
Each mantra has its own fragrance. Those who chant AUM have known a certain fragrance. Similarly, each mantra has its own light. The light in a temple is not decided by external light but by inner light. Many of us sit drenched in brilliant lights and heavy fragrances and imagine that we are meditating. Continue reading
“Make Aum your name. Aum is Atman, the soul, Aum is the Brahman (ultimate reality). Aum is absolute existence, knowledge, and bliss. Aum is your centre, your silence, your refuge and shelter Aum is your heart (hridaya). Do Aum japa, feel Aum, live in Aum. Aum is everywhere, in everything, hum Aum, live in truth, feel Aum everywhere in the ether, flowers, trees, stones, inanimate and animate objects. Rejoice in the light of truth, knowledge and bliss. There is a vast ocean of bliss and knowledge at the back of the mind. Drive the mind into that source.” Swami Sivananda Saraswati.
Aum reminds us of our identity with the supreme soul. Aum blows out our false ego. Continue reading
Today I saw a beautiful cartoon. It shows Garfield, the fat orange cat lying on his back saying that he had given stress a day of rest. It made me laugh and appreciate the truth. We all are continuously entangled with anxiety and stress. It is unceasing. Continue reading
Our oldest response has remained unchanged. Fight, flight, and freeze. We cannot survive without it. Yet we can change our pattern of behavior and attempt to calm our restless mind. Continue reading
This sadhana to bring you closer to the Supreme Goddess.
What is pratyahara? It is described as withdrawal of one’s senses. The maximum dissipation happens when one is involved with everything that is happening around one. One’s eyes are gazing at some object or happening, the ears are listening, there may be a smell, a sense of lingering taste and lastly the sense of touch. Continue reading