Swami Sivananda and Swami Satyananda extolled the worship of the divine and perceiving the divine in all creatures. Swami Sivananda would see God in every one who was suffering, and it was his Aradhana which enabled him to help all these persons. Continue reading
The Goddess has been worshipped in the vedic and tantric traditions in numerous forms. Thousands of goddesses exist in India, all manifestations and symbols of one energy and power. As Durga, she is the remover of obstacles, as Kali, the destroyer of time and annihilator of the ego. As Lakshmi, she is the granter of wisdom and knowledge. As Saraswati, she is the granter of wisdom and knowledge. As Tara, she is the guiding light. As Jagdamba, she is the mother of the universe. Continue reading
In Kaliyuga, we tend to be abrasive and abusive about life. We condemn and criticize. We think that we are self -sufficient.
I have been contemplating on the subject of man / woman attachments. A male form is incomplete without the existence of a female form. God cannot be incomplete. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva have female counterparts: Sarasvati and Brahma, Vishnu and Lakshmi and Shiva and Shakti. Together these three couples embody the understanding of the ultimate divine. Brahma creates, Vishnu sustains and Shiva destroys. Sarasvati, Lakshmi and Shakti embody knowledge, wealth and power. Continue reading
Shiva is considered the Absolute Lord and his power is represented by Shakti, Durga, Kali and Mother. Durga is identified as the energy aspect of Shiva. Without Durga, Shiva has no expression and without Shiva, Durga has no existence. Shiva is the soul of Durga. Durga and Shiva are identical. Continue reading
When you are far away from your home and you are on your own, you may feel alone and homesick. I remember when I came to Yoga Vidya for the first time, I was enchanted as it was like being in a wonderfully quiet and beautiful place. I had come alone and I was going to teach a new subject, Prana Healing. I was nervous though I had been teaching for many years and had worked in challenging situations. Continue reading
We are celebrating Valentine’s all over the world. How many valentines has s/he got and how many have I got. Have I sent one to my beloved or the current beloved? What gifts have I received and what gifts have I sent. I hope I have not forgotten and so on our thoughts are playing in our heads. Continue reading
There are two kinds of love according to Sufi Scriptures. One is material love or earthly love and the other is love for the divine. And this divine love is nearer to you than your breath. For a person who loves God, he is nearer to him than his own mind and soul. Your love for God is what gives you strength and courage to face the difficulties and distress in your life. Continue reading
My Guru, Swami Satyanananda Saraswati said “God has created you, so that you may find him within your heart, deep within yourself, beyond the body consciousness, beyond the mental consciousness, beyond the intellectual consciousness. Beyond all forms of consciousness of which you become conscious, there is a consciousness called Brahman… hidden in you.” Continue reading
I have always read about maternal love, not so much is mentioned about the paternal love. Many fairy tales have an evil father. After the death of the mother the step mother is unkind to the children and the father does not interfere. In our spiritual literature we have numerous instances of fathers who abandon their wives, in order to have a male child. Growing up my judgement was coloured by these stories. Continue reading
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.
More on: Vedanta.
Learn more about: Yoga Vidya.
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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.
More on: Vedanta.
Learn more about: Yoga Vidya.
You can sign up for: our online seminars.
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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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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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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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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 .
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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