Have you heard this, dear ones? The six-legged bee is an individual who develops the six virtues which enable one to attain liberation. The six-legged bee is mentioned in the meditation verse before one study the Gita. It is referred to a noble seeker, who is equipped with six spiritual values. Continue reading
Jnana comes in many ways. Jnana for the Buddha came through the contemplation of sufferings of others. In the case of Sankara, the great saint it came with the longing to understand. For others it comes through the art, or sacred songs or chants. It can come through the sound of the silence within. Continue reading
Yielding completely to God is called Atma nivedan. One’s faith should be so deep in God, that one submerges oneself fully in Him. In the Ramacharitamanas, it says “By the systematic practice of Navadha bhakti, one can reach a point of total self-surrender.” Continue reading
Inexplicable is the knowledge born of realization.
Can a dumb person explain the taste of sugar?
Realization seals the lips of a devotee.
As only the dumb understand the gestures of the dumb
So, the bliss of realization can only be understood
By one who achieves the self-same knowledge. Continue reading
Compassion is the basis of Bhakti in Hinduism. The Sanskrit name for it is Daya and Karuna. It is also one of the three virtues along with charity and self-control. Vedas and other sacred texts composed before 1500 BC speak about compassion. Spirituality refers to Ahimsa which is a Sanskrit word meaning refraining from harmful activities. And it is the central concept of compassion. Continue reading
Extracted from the Uddhava Gita.
The Uddhava Gita is also known as the Hamsa Gita. It is a discourse delivered by Sri Krishna to his devotee, Uddhava. It is considered a sequel to the Bhagwad Gita. It offers a detailed explanation on detachment and devotion. It takes place before Krishna departs from the material world. Uddhava was a scholar, disciple and a cousin of Krishna. He wanted to follow Krishna as he could not contemplate his existence without him. Continue reading
Veda means revealed knowledge. It is derived from the ancient Sanskrit root Vid which means ‘to know.’ In the Vedic tradition, knowledge is not only intellectual; it also comes in the form of experience. Therefore, we always refer to knowledge as being of two types–either direct or indirect. Continue reading
Shraddha or faith is the Bhahmastra of spirituality. The Brahmastra is a supernatural weapon and is considered the most destructive weapon described in Hinduism. It is faith (shraddha) which is our armour and it is considered the ultimate power of spiritual life. Continue reading
Shravana: listening to the stories of the lord.
Kirtan: singing about the qualities of the lord.
Smaranam: remembering the name of the lord.
Padaseva: cultivating a feeling of universal oneness.
Archana: surrendering all one’s deeds to the lord through worship, ritual and reverence.
Vandana: the humbling of one’s ego, the bowing of one’s head.
Dasya: serving, seva.
Sakhya: having the attitude of a friend.
Atmanivedana: surrendering oneself totally.
Srimad Bhagwatam
Let us examine these methods of Bhakti Sadhana. Continue reading
In the Bhagwad Gita, Sri Krishna says (12:2—2):
Meditate on me, do japa of my name; to focus your mind single pointedly on me is Bhakti.
Bhakti Sadhana in the Srimad Bhagavatam has been explained very simply. There are three things which one must heed. They are Darshan or inner vision, Shravana or hearing, and inner Chintan or contemplation. Through Darshan, Shravan, and Chintan the mind becomes one with the lord. The example given is it does not matter what the shape of a vessel is. It can be misshapen. When one pours liquid into it, it takes the shape of the vessel. The liquid will retain the shape of the vessel as long as it remains in it. Similarly, when one hears the name of the lord, when one contemplates on the qualities of the lord and when one brings to mind the form of the lord, the mind takes on the aspect of the lord. – Swami Niranjanananda.
Love is the most important emotion, and we cannot survive without it. In Hindu philosophy, we have a description of it and also different kinds of love are connected to many stories. The five stages of love are Kama (Sexual desire), Shringar (Romance), Maitri (maternal love, compassion), Bhakti (Cultivate love for God), Atma Prema (Self-love). Continue reading
The Maha Mantra is Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare. The meaning of this sacred, powerful mantra is that it enables one to attain deliverance. Continue reading
Divine grace is the ultimate answer to all our problems. You feel the presence of your friends, children, pain, worries and problems all the time, but one does not know how to feel the presence of God. Continue reading
Why did Ramakrishna worship Kali? Ramakrishna had the divine vision of Kali and he was always in communication with her. One does not know whether Kali chose him to express her divinity through him or he chose Kali.
Who is Kali? Is she the Shakti of Shiva? Continue reading