Dear ones, I am in the beautiful country, Sri Lanka away from the cold in Delhi. Sri Lanka is a green and beautiful island. The people are friendly and gentle. Our plan had been to have our cat neutered and she would be okay by the time we returned. She went very happily as she trusts me completely. Continue reading
How can one become free of this cyclical process of existence? It is an eternal question and Gurus give different interpretations. Continue reading
Arjuna asked Sri Krishna a question, which we all ask. He said to Sri Krishna,
I can understand that effort and faith go hand in hand, so faith alone cannot provide the means of achieving the final goal; there has to be an effort, there has to be discipline. You mentioned that other aspects of life are governed by the three gunas. What are those aspects? Continue reading
A newborn baby boy was abandoned near a toilet in Nabadwip (Bengal). The baby was wrapped like an eskimo and left in a basket. There are wild dogs everywhere over there and a ring of neighborhood dogs circled the baby until it was dawn. A resident of this town picked up the baby and then the dogs left. Continue reading
Law of Divine compensation is described as the spiritual principle of reaping what you sow or divine recompense. The core principle is spiritual reciprocity: the basic idea is that actions, whether positive or negative have consequences that return to the doer, not merely as a direct transaction but part of a universal balance maintained by a higher power. 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
The last message of Sri Krishna. Uddhava Gita. Chapter IV
Thus, I have learnt these things from all these teachers. Now listen O King, to what I have learnt from my own body, as I relate it to you. – 24
Are we ready to accept Ahimsa as a way of life?
Are we already trying to practice Ahimsa?
Are we ready to ask ourselves how truthful am I?
Do we try to be compassionate or are we always in a compassionate mode?
Remember that Ahimsa also means non-injury in mind, word and action. Are we doing that or trying to do it?
Do we respect all life?
Do we acknowledge the Divine presence in sentient beings?
Are we true Yogis in thought and mind? Continue reading
According to the sages, there is a very clear concept that the world is a play of the three gunas. The three gunas are Tamas, Rajas and Sattwa. Life is a combination of three gunas. The three gunas are continuously interacting although only one is overriding the other two. When sattva prevails, then rajas and tamas are suppressed. Continue reading
Naraka/Bhoot Chaturdashi are celebrated for the end of darkness. They are to be observed tomorrow on October 20th. Both Naraka Chaturdashi and Bhoot Chaturdashi are a time to reflect and to be cleansed of negativity and renewal of energy. Narak means hell and Narakasura was called the Asura (monster) from Hell. Bhoot means ghost and in Bhoot Chaturdashi we become mindful and realize that we are not alone. Continue reading
The lotus is used as a symbol to represent the chakras. The lotus bud symbolizes the spiritual energy, which is within all of us. The opening of the lotus represents the unfolding of our consciousness. Continue reading
Jnana comes in many ways. Jnana for the Buddha came through the contemplation of sufferings of others. In the case of Sankara, the great saint it came with the longing to understand. For others it comes through the art, or sacred songs or chants. It can come through the sound of the silence within. Continue reading
Paryushan Mahaparv (Jain festival of spirituality) is from August 20–27. Paryushan means to dwell within oneself and to be close to the soul. This time is spent in dedicating one’s body and mind to spiritual sadhanas. Paryushan Mahaparv is a festival for all humanity. 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
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