Let us address the Asuras existing in the world. I am using the word Asuras because it is used for a class of demons and antagonists. They waged wars against the Devas, who represented forces of light and positivity. The common phrase is the elephant in the room, but the elephant is a good animal with buddhi (wisdom), affection and loyalty. Continue reading
Yesterday was our 53rd wedding anniversary and last night I said to my husband, how wonderful it would be if our feral cat family visited us tomorrow. I also added that it would be the best present. Well, this morning I heard a loud Miaow outside my bedroom window. It was 6am, I stepped into the balcony and lo behold they were waiting for me. Continue reading
Om Shanti Om is an ancient Vedic mantra. Om is the sound of the universe, the primordial sound. As one chants this mantra one is spreading peace for all human kinds, living and nonliving in the entire universe. My grand-daughter asked me, what she could do about the Indo-Pak conflict. I thought about it and my response was that chanting Om Shanti Om, on her mala would be her contribution. Continue reading
Swami Sivananda describes love as Sara Vastu (true substance) in this world.
It is eternal, infinite and undecaying. Feel that all beings are images of God. Feel that your body is a moving temple of God. Whatever activity you are performing, it is an offering. Become a witness and you will enjoy the highest peace and bliss.
Loka Samasthah Sukhino Bhavantu—may all beings everywhere be happy, healthy and free. It is an invocation for personal and collective peace. Continue reading
For return of peace and harmony.
We celebrate Ram Navami after Spring Navratri. Chaitra (Spring) Navratri Pooja grants satisfaction and a joyous life. All the Shakti’s are honored and prayed to. By such prayers one recognizes the Shakti within oneself. One prays for forgiveness for all of one’s sins. Continue reading
It is believed that during Navratri, the Goddess principle is very active. Chanting ‘Sri Durga Deviyai Namaha’ during this period will grant immense spiritual benefit. Continue reading
And the Grinch stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons… tags… boxes and bags… Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps means a little bit more. – Dr Seuss
Mother Earth, hear your child. Be a bond between the Worlds of Earth and Spirit.
Let the winds echo the Knowledge of Grandfathers.
Who await, unseen, yet visible if I only turn my eyes to their World.
Happiness depends on unhappiness. Bliss is transcendence: one move beyond the duality of being happy and unhappy. One watches both; happiness comes, one does not become identified with it. One does not say, I am happy. Peace, it is wonderful. One watches a white cloud passing. And the one watches a black cloud passing. You are the witness, the watcher.
Where the mind is without fear
And the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is lead forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my
Father let my country awake. – Rabindranath Tagore
This poem was written by Rabindranath Tagore during India’s pre-independence days. The poet is writing that a country should have people living without fear and with dignity. Continue reading
Spinal passage rotation with kundalini visualization and Soham.
Be relaxed mentally and physically. Practice deep rhythmic breathing. Become aware of the spinal passage and take the ingoing breath from ajna chakra at the top of the spinal passage down to mooladhara chakra at the base. As the breath moves down the spinal passage, try to feel it piercing each chakra in turn, but do not try to name them or stop at any one. Continue reading
Purifying the pranas leads to the blessings of the nine incarnations of the Goddess. How does this happen? When one unblocks one’s prana the elements, nadis, chakras are cleared. Five keys are used, and these are the psychic breath, psychic sound, psychic center, psychic nadis and psychic symbol. Listed below are the nine forms and their influence on the chakras. 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
Parmahamsa Satyananda said,
Man is born with his breath and with his subtle prana, which is the essence of breath, he departs. Breath is man’s soul companion.
Daily practice of Prana Vayu Mudra pranayama will keep you well in the winter season. Prana Vayu mudra pranayama concentrates on the flow of prana in the area above the diaphragm and the throat. In prana Vayu mudra, the mantra used is Om Pranaya Swaha. Continue reading