The Shivalingam is a symbol of the supreme consciousness in the creative form. The term lingam represents the state of existence that is invisible and unseen. It is used as a representation of Shiva. It is abstract and its ultimate reality is incomprehensible to anyone, even a saint. So how does one comprehend the ultimate reality. It is only possible to comprehend it as the Shiva Lingam. Continue reading
We do not exist independently….
Whenever I walk, sit, eat or practice calligraphy,
I do so with the awareness,
That all my ancestors are within me at that moment.
I am their continuation.
Whatever I am doing,
the energy of mindfulness
enables me to do it as ‘us,’
‘Through interbeing, not as me.’
Ancestors and me – Thich Nhat Hanh Continue reading
Pain is very necessary.
School yourself in sorrow.
Develop yourself in agony.
Be on the anvil all the time
And let the iron blows
Forge your personality. – Swami Satyananda Saraswati
Whatever is happening is also for good.
Whatever will happen, shall also be good.
What have you lost that you cry for?
What did you bring that you have lost?
What did you create that was destroyed?
What you have taken, has been from here.
What you gave has been given here.
What belongs to you today,
Belonged to someone yesterday.
And will be someone else’s tomorrow. – Bhagavad Gita
All is thy will.
Thy will be done
Whether you raise me
To the height of spiritual glory
Or you throw me down
Into the abyss of hell,
I accept it.
Readily, happily, with pleasure
Because that is thy will
I am the chariot,
You are the charioteer.
I am the horse,
You are the master.
Keep me as you like.
Use me, misuse me or abuse me
I have nothing to defend.
Poem written by a great bhakta. Continue reading
Spiritual progress is only possible with purification of one’s heart. How does one purify one’s heart? Our spirit, Atman is pure and remains pure. No evil can contaminate it. Continue reading
A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
It is such an apt saying. We tend to shut ourselves in and become oblivious of the music, poetry and art. We are self-involved and are like the businessman in “The Little Prince,” who spent all his time counting the stars continuously.
Let me refresh your memory. The little prince arrived at the fourth planet. It belonged to a businessman. He did not even raise his head at the prince’s arrival. The prince greeted him and told him that his cigarette had gone out. The businessman ignored him and kept adding the numbers. He replied that he did not have time to light his cigarette again. Then he let out a deep breath and said that it makes five-hundred and one million, six hundred and twenty-two-thousand, seven hundred-thirty-one.
The prince asked, five hundred million what? The man said, “You are still there, I can’t stop, I have so much to do and I am concerned with matters of consequences.”
The prince was persistent and he had never let go of a question, so he asked,” Five hundred and one million of what?” The business man lifted his head up and said, “I have been disturbed only three times in the 54 years of my life, living on this planet. The first time a silly goose fell and made an infernal noise. The second time I had an attack of rheumatism as I do not get enough exercise. I have no free time. As I was saying five-hundred-and one million—.” The prince asked,” Millions of what?”
The businessman realized that he would not be left in peace, if he did not answer. He replied, “Millions of those little objects, which one sometimes sees in the sky.” The prince was not one to let go, he questioned, “Flies?” The businessman said, “Oh no. Little glittering objects.” “Bees?” the curious prince said. The businessman replied, “Oh no. Little golden objects that make lazy men dream. I am not lazy and I have no time as I am dealing with matters of consequence.”
The prince exclaimed,” You mean the stars?” He answered,” Yes, the stars.” The prince could not be quiet and he said,” What will you do with the numbers?” The businessman said,” I own the stars and it is making me rich.” The prince said “The stars belong to nobody.”
The businessman elaborated and said that if one found a diamond, it would belong to the finder. The prince was not satisfied with his answer and said that he could not put the stars in the bank. The businessman said that he could write the number of the stars on a piece of paper and lock it in a drawer. It was of great consequence to him.
The prince said that he had owned a rose he watered it daily and he owned three volcanoes, which he cleaned every week.
The businessman was silenced.
What do we learn, my dear ones? Caring and sharing are important. Giving is essential as only then we learn about kindness and generosity. We should explore with our senses, listening, reading and appreciating. When we do this, we become more aware of the beauty created around us, which enables our senses to appreciate and absorb it. The businessman was only thinking about possession and was oblivious of the allure of the glimmering stars.
Perceptive philosophers like Goethe and sensitive writers like Antoine de Saint-Exupery create awareness sensitivity within us.
Aim Hrim Klim
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
It was unspoken. We knew that God would bless us. Since most of us asked for help to get us out of trouble. It depended on whom one asked. Favorites were Ganesha, Hanuman, Durga, and Saraswati. There were certain simple rituals practiced at home. They were not in your face but they were there. The lamp, and the incense made one aware of the light and the fragrance. And if on the way to school one passed a shrine, one closed one’s eyes for a moment. Continue reading
Dear ones, my eldest granddaughter is writing a story about a boy living in a Hindu family. She is half German and she has been coming to Yoga Vidya since she was two. Her two younger brothers have also been coming. Well, she rang me up and asked me what being a Hindu meant. She associated it with being religious. Continue reading
My dear ones, I have discovered the beauty in the poetry of Rabindra Nath Tagore. The little book is called ‘Fireflies’.
While God waits for His temple to be built of love
Men bring stones.
Who is Medha? She is the Vedic goddess presiding over the power of memory and understanding.
How does memory influence us? I read that one should build on the old memories and then one forgets the unpleasant memories. It is possible if it relates to war or other disasters. How can one reduce a traumatic event and build on it? Dear ones, it is possible to accept a traumatic event and not allow it to interfere with the process of daily events. However, one has to work on it, and sometimes it can be life-long. Continue reading
We are all seekers of bliss. We imagine that bliss is when we our dreams are fulfilled. What are our dreams? Let us list them. Where do I start? Each one of us has our own bliss priority. I can generalize, dear ones but please do not be cross with me. Continue reading
What is the definition of sadhana? Sadhana means a dedicated practice. It originates from the Sanskrit word, sadhana (dedication) to an aim, from sadh bring about. It refers to a daily spiritual practice. Technically it represents a disciplined surrendering of the ego, in which the practitioner uses tools such as asana, pranayama, meditation and chanting on a daily basis. Continue reading