Prashnopanishad by Pippalda.
The process of Prana purification is likened to oblations to the Everlasting One. Prana healing happens at the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level.
Gargya the grandson of the sun god, Surya, asked Pippalda:
“What is the nature of sleep and dreams, why does one need sleep and why does one dream?” Continue reading
Swami Satyananda described sadness as a product of the mind, born from guilt, hurt and self-unacceptability, rather than an external event. He taught that emotions are a result of mental conditioning. Spiritual practices can help transcend suffering by shifting the mind’s attitude, gaining control over it and fostering inner acceptance. Continue reading
There are two descriptions of Aakash-Space. In the scriptures, space is known as Brahman, Kham Brahman is the statement of the Vedas, Kham means space and Brahman means the all-pervasive reality. Kham also means ether or the all-pervading, subtle element in which everything exists. Brahman is the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality of the universe in Hindu philosophy. Continue reading
And awaken your consciousness.
Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating. There is no such thing as bad weather, there are only different kinds of good weather. – John Ruskin
In the Bhagwad Gita, a new technique is mentioned, which is referred to by Lord Krishna from the beginning to the end. He calls it the mood of awareness, Drashta or Seer. It is not the doer, enjoyer or sufferer. Drashta is the one who is not subject to destiny. He is the one, who is always aware of what is taking place. The faculty of awareness is unmanifest in an ignorant person, but manifest in a person of wisdom. Continue reading
The wise one even though in the body, does not attach importance to it. Neither pleasure nor pain affect him. Whereas the person, who lives by obeying his senses is in a dream like state. Such a person lives in the body which is influenced by our karmas and are influenced by them.
The three gunas which compose us, do not affect a person who does not identify with them. However, the wise one who is free from attachments like sleeping, walking, eating, bathing, smelling and other sensory perceptions becomes a witness. Therefore, living in the midst of Prakriti one becomes unattached like the sky, sun and the wind. – Uddhava Gita: The Last Message of Sri Krishna. Chapter 6: Verses 8—12
How do we define ourselves? Are we spiritual? Are we religious? Spirituality is defined as one’s search for the sacred meaning of life. It means one is seeking to understand one’s inner being. Religious indicates to have a strong belief in religion. It also means being devout and pious.
Can we combine spiritual and religious? Continue reading
Man’s freedom is final and immediate if he so wills; it depends not on outer but on inner victories. – Paramhansa Vivekananda
Dear ones, do we wish to be free? How does one define freedom? I will give a few examples. You can make your own lists. Continue reading
From the thousand petalled lotus to the two petalled lotus, and from the two petalled lotus back to the thousand, from the thousand-petalled lotus to the entire body, the Goddess Consciousness travels through our entire range of experience.
From the thousand-petalled lotus to the two petalled lotus, from the two petalled lotus to the hidden lotus of the heart, for those whom the Queen of the Universe descends, for them is eternal adherence in their own nature.
Thus, turning from the body into the most inward state, or into the root center and abode of kundalini, those of steady wisdom gain the eternal adherence in their own nature. – Ganapati Muni, Uma Sahasranama, 38.3, 6,7.
Ganapati Muni (1878—1936) was the foremost disciple of Ramanna Maharishi. He was a great Tantric. Continue reading
Worship of the Shivalingam is a symbolic representation of Lord Shiva and is a central practice in Hinduism. It is believed to embody Shiva’s boundless cosmic energy and is revered as a source of divine wisdom and liberation. Continue reading
Equanimity is a state of non-attachment, where one observes experiences without getting carried away by them. In Shaiva Tantra equanimity is also a pathway to deeper spiritual realization. Equanimity is cultivated through practices like self-reflection and cultivating awareness of one’s thoughts and emotions.
Vijnana Bhairava gives two Dharanas. Continue reading
The Yogic scriptures describe the human being as being composed of four bodies. At the center is the Self. Moving from outer to inner or the gross to the subtle. They are the physical body, the subtle body, the causal body and the supra-causal body. The attributes are kriya to the physical action, Gnana or knowledge, Iccha or will and desire and the most subtle, the state of the Self. Continue reading
In Kashmir Shaivism, in the Shiva Sutras, Upaya refers to the different levels of spiritual sadhanas to approach the ultimate reality.
Upaya is a spiritual or yogic method or path by which the individual soul returns to pure consciousness. Upayas are methods of wholeness that depend on an individual’s perspective. Does he identify with the body, the mind, or the individuality? What illusion of himself does he hold? The specific Upaya is not important; it is the intentionality and the earnestness which is important. What is crucial, is the Sadhana must be performed in a passionate and sincere way. All the Upayas lead to the same goal, and finally methods of Samavesha (absorption in the Divine) in the Lord. Continue reading
Let us take Daya. Daya is not Kripa (pity) in Hinduism. One does not feel sorry for the sufferer, because that is blotted by condescension. Daya is compassion which means recognizing one’s own and another’s suffering, in order to alleviate that suffering. Daya is the basis for Ahimsa, a core virtue in the practice of Dharma. It means non-injury and is compassion in action. This action helps prevent suffering in all living things as well as helping beings overcome suffering and move closer to liberation. Continue reading
How do we link our spirit with the spirit of the Guru?
Spiritual union will never occur unless we have awakened our atman. It is very difficult to understand what atman is. It is called spirit or self by some. It is an awareness which knows no limitations. It has no barriers and is beyond the confines of time, space and matter. Physical awareness has many barriers. Mental awareness has fewer barriers, while emotional awareness has still less and is the most efficient. A mother can feel her little child and can commune with him/her at any moment. Spiritual or Atmic awareness surpasses even emotional awareness. Continue reading