Titiksha means patient endurance as a practical approach to ride out the storm of suffering. Swami Yogananda gives some advice on how to face life without becoming emotionally, and mentally disturbed.
He said one must remain balanced while watching how one’s body is affected. Continue reading
When I was One,
I had just begun.
When I was Two,
I was nearly new.
When I was Three,
I was hardly me.
When I was Four,
I was not much more.
When I was Five,
I was just Alive.
But now I am Six,
I’m as clever as clever,
So, I think I’ll be six now for ever and ever.
By A.A. Milne. Continue reading
Do we recall the gift God gave us in Jesus? What comes in our minds when we think of Christmas? We worry about our gifts exchange. We think that if our gift is not right, it will be misunderstood. Have we forgotten that we are loved, are never alone and can hope for the future? Continue reading
Laughter is far more sacred than prayer, because prayer can be done by anyone, it does not require much intelligence. Laughter requires intelligence, it requires presence of mind, a quickness of seeing into things. In deep laughter the ego disappears if the ego is there it will keep you serious. – Osho
Kabir said,
Look for bliss within, not elsewhere.
Kabir invented the word ‘Avadhoo’, which means infinite, vast, expansive, boundary-less, unfathomable as ether. Avadhoo is also his name for the guru, when we pray to him. Avdhoota means one who does not wear any garments but in reality, is an individual who has stripped her/him/self-off all the layers of her/his mind—layers of delusions, ignorance, attachment, aversion and therefore one emerges as her/his true self. Continue reading
The effect of words beginning with D and E on us, is extraordinary. I will discuss D words first and then E words.
Despair, desperation, depression, despondency, disgrace, distress, dumps, disconsolation, dispirited, devilish, dolefulness distraught, dismay, discouragement, demoralization, defeatism, disheartenment, dejection. Continue reading
What happens to us when we say potent words aloud?
Love, our face lights up. We have a warm feeling inside us.
Joy is an expression of delight and jubilation. We smile.
Friendship, when we have affection and respect for someone. We are included.
Compassion being sensitive to others.
Empathy when we relate to others’ problems.
Hate and anger are intense emotions. They result in an adrenalin rush. We frown, look cross and add lines to our face.
Fear triggers another release, when we say that we are afraid, it reduces our level of fear, or it can further exaggerate it. Continue reading
What are the fruits of our actions? They are called the fruits of the Holy Spirit. They are listed as charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them.
Let us examine each one of the fruits. Continue reading
As spoken of by a Guru.
In the world of sorrow,
pain and trouble,
desires go on erupting.
Bear with everything,
This world is a festival
That lasts for a very short time.
“Another name for God is bliss. No ego, no me, no you, no office. Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram.”
Life itself is a yogic sadhana.
Bliss is of two kinds; one is the bliss of worldly pleasures and the other is the bliss of Brahma, Brahmananda, which manifests and awakens from within, or of the self, atmananda. Worldly bliss is the result of external experiences and this bliss which is obtained from worldly objects is perishable and a womb of sorrow. Continue reading
Look around you, even on the darkest day, there will be some beauty which you have missed. Many of us walk about with blinkers, we neither feel the joy nor the poverty. Have you looked in a puddle and seen the rainbow. Below I am putting some pictures for you to see, my dear ones. Continue reading
Beauty and joy go hand in hand. Look around you. The birds are chirruping, there are flowers in the gardens, bees are humming and wasps are buzzing. What do you see? Continue reading
Easter Sunday is celebrated as a joyous holiday because it represents the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament and the revelation of God’s plan of salvation for mankind. Continue reading
How do we become capable of love? Osho explains it very beautifully. Love is spontaneous. It cannot be controlled. We cannot make love; we cannot do anything about it. And the more we do, the more we will miss it. We have to allow it to happen. We are not needed for it. We cannot absent ourselves and therefore, we have become incapable of love. Continue reading
Elephants are venerated and treated with respect. Feed an elephant a dozen bananas and you will be surprised how quickly she can eat them, twelve dozen bananas are a better bet. And I have done that. Continue reading