“We can live freely within the essence of nature
Or stay in the confines of individual consciousness.
Our mind is modified by right and wrong knowledge,
Fancy, sleep, and memory.
Neither right nor wrong knowledge brings wisdom.
Fancy is not based on reality.
Sleep fails to release awareness.
Memory clings, giving no freedom.
Some of these things are painful,
Some are not painful
But burn them all together and find peace.” Swami Satyananda Saraswati
We read about seers and saints slipping into samadhi. There is a story about a Zen nun, who was returning with a pot of water on her head. The pot slipped from her head and with that accident she attained samadhi. Continue reading
There are two wars we all have to fight. One war is waged on the battlefield and the second war is within us. The first war is waged against external enemies and the second war is waged against our thoughts. Yoga enables us to fight the war within. Continue reading
The cotton tree yields cotton. This cotton is transformed into thread and then again into a piece of cloth. Then one dyes the cloth, cuts it and stitches it into a shirt, dress or coat. The substance is still cotton, but it has undergone various stages of transformation. Continue reading
’No’ is a two-letter word and yet it is a powerful word. ‘No’ can be looked at in many ways. Let us start with how does one feel when one says ‘No’? Is it a good feeling or a bad feeling? How would you view it? Continue reading
Maya is the greatest artist and juggler. She casts a spell on us and makes the impermanent permanent, the impure pure and pain becomes pleasure. We imagine that we will always have desires, passion and will always be in love. The whole world is a net of maya to ensnare us. Continue reading
Following the spiritual life in today’s society of consumerism and materialism without creating discord and imbalance in our daily life is not an easy goal. The principles of Vedanta are too complex for us. We require some sadhana which is easy to understand and accept. Tantra is the middle way, and its master principle is: Continue reading
Let it fill with divine energy and boundless love. How do we do this? By helping others is the quickest method. Love is the healer and true love is if we can love someone even if they are critical of us. Continue reading
Do I tell myself everyday these things? I have to take care of my family. I have to go to work. I have to keep my boss pleased. I do not have time for my practice. I am overwhelmed by my life. I am even dreaming about the stress I have. Why do I let these thoughts crowd in my mind, they are kidding me. Continue reading
We look after ourselves. We take it very seriously. From childhood we are taught to be clean. We are given instructions. Brush your teeth, wash your face, feet, hands, and clip your nails. When you bathed you were reminded by your parents to wash behind the ears, soap your neck, scrub your knees and the soles of your feet. It is embedded in our memory and we repeat it to our kids. The list is endless. Continue reading
I am always overawed when I read what Swamiji has said. There is new inspiration every time and I learn something amulya (priceless). It is contemporary even after five decades. Continue reading
Who is a friend? A friend is a person who is there for us. A friend never lets us down. Our friend always tells us the truth and looks out for us.
There are so many proverbs about friends. A friend in need is a friend indeed. A friend’s eye is a good mirror. False friends are worse than open enemies. Friends are thieves of time. Friendship is love with understanding. Continue reading
Did Shiva know that Shakti had created a beautiful boy to be her protector? Shakti was very upset as she had nobody to take care of her. Whomsoever, she created, Shiva took them away and they became Shiva’s followers. Does this not happen in many marriages and Shakti and Shiva are the ultimate power couple. Continue reading
Our individual consciousness is known as awareness. It is immortal and it is mixed with sense, body and mind awareness. This awareness is the form of ‘I am’. With this comes awareness of my body, my senses, my mind, and my identity. We learn how to purify our awareness in the sadhana of Yoga. Continue reading
