James Swartz – Love, Ishvara and Informal Devotion to God – Talk 4

Posted on 25. February 2021 by nadarupa

By reading Vedanta texts it is easy to misinterpret them.
Ignorance and knowledge are mixed up. Teaching makes
difference between ignorance and knowledge clear. Live your
life based on knowledge not on emotions. Isvara and action.
What is real? You see reality on the basis of your experiences.
Reflecting media. Three gunas and the mind. 2. Informal
devotion. Personal deity, ishta devata. Religion. Influence and
judgements of the family. God is a helpful concept in the mind.
God doesn’t judge. Dead gurus don’t judge. Living gurus make
you grow. In informal devotion you bring God down to your
level. Vedanta lifts you up to Gods level. Karma Yoga as the
beginning stage.

More: Vedanta Seminars.

James Swartz – Vedanta, Love and God – Talk 3

Posted on 18. February 2021 by nadarupa

Existence is my nature. Love is my nature. Everything you do
is motivated by love. Stages of love (see chart in the video):
1. Love of objects. What do you love? Samsaris love objects.
Suffering comes because objects are not under their control.
God controls objects. Does the love of your life last forever? To
love god is the only option if you want to be free.
2. Love of god. Informal devotion.
3. Isvara. Who gave life to you? Gods laws in the creation.
Moral dimension. Isvara/God: creator, upholder or dharma,
giver of results. Gods grace. Law of pleasure and pain. Joy and
sorrow are connected. Is it wise to worship God? There is only
God. Dharma field is a field of laws. God is the rule giver and
the rules.

More: Vedanta Seminars.

Advice to Aspirant about God

Posted on 25. September 2014 by Sukadev

Swami Sivananda talks about God in this letter to an aspirant in 1955. Some parts of the recording are difficult to understand, but you can feel the love that Swami Sivananda had for each of his devotees.

For more lectures and kirtans in Swami Sivananda’s own voice, please visit www.swami-sivananda.de .

Historical recording of Swami Sivananda, 1887-1963, one of the greatest yoga masters of modern India. To find out more about Swami Sivananda: http://www.sivanandaonline.org, http://my.yoga-vidya.org . Copyright the Divine Life Society .

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Inner Transformation to See God Everywhere

Posted on 29. May 2014 by Sukadev

Yoga in its deepest sense means Union. Yoga is the inner transformation to see God everywhere. All yoga techniques, including meditation, Self inquiry, Self study, selfless service, help to bring about this inner transformation. These techniques bring about an evolution – and a purification. When your mind is purified, you see things as they are. Develop the longing for the truth. Renounce all illusions and all falsehood to realize the truth. Go beyond ego, beyond separation, beyond pain.

Recording of a live talk with Swami Atmaswarupananda in morning Satsang at Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh. http://www.sivanandaonline.org http://my.yoga-vidya.org

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Highest Wisdom and the Wise

Posted on 15. May 2014 by Sukadev

Wisdom includes knowledge and practical experience and goes beyond both. What is the highest wisdom? How can you reach the highest wisdom? How to become a wise person? What are the characteristics of a wise person? These are some of the themes that Swami Atmaswarupananda covers in this early morning talk at Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh. http://www.sivanandaonline.org http://my.yoga-vidya.org

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Yoga of Selfless Service

Posted on 8. May 2014 by Sukadev

In this very clear recording about Karma Yoga, the yoga of action or selfless service, Swami Sivananda tells us that Karma Yoga is selfless service to humanity. Your duty is to work but not to expect the fruits thereof. This is the central teaching of the Bhagavad Gita. God is the Inner Ruler. Learn more about Karma Yoga by listening to this recording about one of the classical yoga paths to moksha.

For more lectures and kirtans in Swami Sivananda’s own voice, please visit www.swami-sivananda.de .

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God Alone Is

Posted on 1. May 2014 by Sukadev

Swami Atmaswarupananda from Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh talks about the foundation of Swami Sivananda’s teachings: God alone is. Swami Sivananda taught differently to different disciples. Swami Sivananda’s disciples have different characters and follow different Sadhanas. But there is something in common: The deep conviction that God alone is. The heart of Gurudev’s teaching is the same everywhere: God alone is without a second.

More talks from Swami Atma at http://www.radiantatman.org/ .

For lectures and kirtans in Swami Sivananda’s own voice, please visit www.swami-sivananda.de . To find out more about Swami Sivananda: http://www.sivanandaonline.org, http://my.yoga-vidya.org . Copyright the Divine Life Society .

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Obedience is Better than Reverence

Posted on 3. April 2014 by Sukadev

Reverence to God, to the Scriptures, to the the tradition, and to God is good. It also helps for experiencing pleasure, to have a good feeling, a feeling of protection and of being blessed. But the main purpose of a Guru is to help to overcome the ego of the disciple. The disciple must understand this – and agree to it. Only then a Guru-disciple-relationship is possible. Devotion to Guru and God is important – but to put the spiritual teachings into practice is most important. Allow God and Guru to work through your body and mind – allow God and Guru to mould you.

This is the essence of this talk by Swami Atmaswarupananda at Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh February 2014. http://www.sivanandaonline.org, http://www.yoga-vidya.org

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Brahman Alone Is

Posted on 20. March 2014 by Sukadev

The highest truth says: Brahman alone is – without a second. There is nothing but Brahman. Swami Atmaswarupananda talks about this Eternal and simple Truth. You might look for bliss, for peace, for knowledge. You are this bliss, this peace, this knowledge. You are this One without a second. Understand this philosophy. Practice Sadhana. Experience bliss and happiness. Then experience one-ness in meditation. But go beyond experience. Realize: You are this happiness, this bliss. Reduce your ego a little bit everyday. Slowly you will realize the Highest.

Live recording of an early morning talk at Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh. http://www.sivanandaonline.org http://my.yoga-vidya.org

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Practical Spiritual Instructions

Posted on 6. February 2014 by Sukadev

You are divine. Realize your divine nature. Every difficulty is an opportunity for you to develop your will and power of endurance. Grow strong, conquer difficulties one by one. Swami Sivananda gives us these important instructions and many more in this inspirational lecture.

For more lectures and kirtans in Swami Sivananda’s own voice, please visit www.swami-sivananda.de .

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Essence of the Yoga Vasishta

Posted on 5. December 2013 by Sukadev

O Children of Immortality! Vicharana, or right inquiry into the nature of Brahman, and contentment are two qualities necessary for vedantic inquiry. On the path, all doubts will vanish. The slayer of the Atman is the mind. Excellent lecture on the nature of the mind.

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Shantih Mantras and Kathopanishad

Posted on 26. September 2013 by Sukadev

This lecture by Swami Sivananda begins by chanting some of the Shantih mantras, followed by a discussion of the nature of the Self. The Knowledge of the Atman, or supreme Self, is subtle and cannot be realized by our own doing. He discusses many topics such as: the individual soul is identical with Brahman, the importance of a guru, the sreya marga and preya marga, avidya, and more.

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Kenopanishad

Posted on 19. September 2013 by Sukadev

Swami Sivananda talks about the Kena Upanishad, also called the Kenopanishad, in which is revealed the Truth of Brahman and how it relates to man. Everything is possible by the power of Brahman. Brahman shines by his own light, and everything shines as a reflection of this. Therefore, we should meditate on Brahman until we Know Brahman as pure Self consciousness, not as an object.

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Spiritual Decisions

Posted on 7. August 2011 by Sukadev

How can you make decisions, from a spiritual point of view? Leela Mata, Yoga Master from Pennsylvania of Indian Origins, speaks about: What is a spiritual decision? How do you decide? What does God have to do with it?

This is part of an interview with Sukadev and Leela Mata in Yoga Vidya Ashram Germany

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Essence of Bhakti Sutras of Narada

Posted on 10. May 2011 by Sukadev

Short Podcast on Narada’s Bhakti Sutra. This classiscal text is of of the important texts on devotion, Bhakti . The essence is: All Lasting Joy comes from God. Awaken the inner love by devotion and knowledge by experiencing God. The study of the Bhakti Sutra helps to reach it. This Yoga Podcast is part of an interview of Sukadev with Leela Mata. Leela Mata gives Seminars on the Yoga Sutra at Yoga Vidya Germany.

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Yoga Vedanta Tantra

Blog and Podcast about Yoga, Vedanta, Tantra, Ayurveda and Meditation

Tag Archives: god

James Swartz – Love, Ishvara and Informal Devotion to God – Talk 4

James Swartz – Vedanta, Love and God – Talk 3

Advice to Aspirant about God

Inner Transformation to See God Everywhere

Highest Wisdom and the Wise

Yoga of Selfless Service

God Alone Is

Obedience is Better than Reverence

Brahman Alone Is

Practical Spiritual Instructions

Essence of the Yoga Vasishta

Shantih Mantras and Kathopanishad

Kenopanishad

Spiritual Decisions

Essence of Bhakti Sutras of Narada