Belief, belonging and behavior form a triangle which shapes us. Our beliefs guide our mind. Our need for belonging connects us to others. Our behavior shows us our true values.
Beliefs are what we believe in as truth and they tell us when we are right or wrong. Our beliefs are like a map of our life. Continue reading
Dear ones, I am reading the Ananda Ramayana, which has been written in the 15th century. It is based on Valmiki’s Ramayana and it has many stories which are not in Valmiki’s Ramayana. In the Ananda Ramayana, Rama after his victory over Ravana, Rama on his return went on pilgrimages to all the sacred spots and rivers. He asked for forgiveness for killing Ravana. Continue reading
The Ramayana is looked upon as a spiritual epic. The story is about the triumph of good over evil. Reading the Ramayana blesses one with harmony and equanimity. In order to understand the context of the Ramayana, one should perform the Ramayana Dhyana. Continue reading
Krishna said to Arjuna:
Karma is your nature. You cannot avoid karma; it is something you are bound to do, something that is an integral part of you. Life without karma is no life and karma without life is no karma. The relationship between life and karma is the same as that between you and the air you breathe. Can you stop breathing the air around you? If you did what would happen? You would die. There is a similar association between the boon of life and karma. Karma is an integral part of you; it is an inherent ability in life which expresses itself naturally. Wisdom or jnana is something for which you have to train your mind. You train your intellect to increase its ability to receive, hold, realize, experience and experiment with different forms of karma.
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