893 – Every day is a new day

Should we not remember our loved ones? How is it possible that we do not think of the people we care for? Do they slip out of our mind and we need the advertising and marketing companies to remind us that we love our parents, our children and mother nature? What about all the gifts that are shown on the internet, newspapers and billboards? And the happy look on the face of the loved ones, when they receive a gift. Continue reading

828 – Practice Titiksha

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

771 – Love, hope and joy are the true gifts for Christmas

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

703 – What is better, laughter or prayers?

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

Continue reading

604 – Look for bliss within

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

592 – Words with D and E

The effect of words beginning with D and E on us, is extraordinary. I will discuss D words first and then E words.

D words

Despair, desperation, depression, despondency, disgrace, distress, dumps, disconsolation, dispirited, devilish, dolefulness distraught, dismay, discouragement, demoralization, defeatism, disheartenment, dejection. Continue reading

507 – The release of prana in powerful words

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

493 – The fruits of our deeds

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

451 – Bliss and love

 

“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