Ode to my Guru

Swami Satyananda Saraswati, my Guru and founder of the Bihar School of Yoga, spent twelve years in Swami Sivananda’s ashram. In that period, he found that many persons wrote to Swami Sivananda, asking for help and treatment for their health problems. He would suggest that they practice Yoga. Continue reading

Courtesy, civility, kindness

Life is not so short, but that there is always time enough for courtesy. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Civility costs nothing and buys everything. – Montagu

A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve. – Joseph Joubert

A tree is known by its fruit, a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship and he who plants kindness gathers love. – Saint Basil

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Rage and Tranquility

Rage is an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something. Tranquility is a state of freedom from storm or disturbance. How does one keep a balance? There is only one way, which is being aware of one’s breath. What does this do for one? Does it banish one’s rage, one’s turmoil in one’s mind? It does. Continue reading

A Valentine for Mother Earth

Reflected Awareness Sadhana

We are what our thoughts have made us; so, take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far. – Swami Vivekananda

It is Valentines’ Day and there are so many expectations about it. The excitement for young persons is about how many valentines and gifts one will get. As we get older, we still have an element of wishful thinking, maybe one’s ego comes into play. Continue reading

The Yogic path to freedom

How do we define freedom? It is a word used by all of us.

Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. – Martin Luther King Jr.

Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better. – Albert Camus

He who is brave is free? – Seneca

Freedom is not the absence of commitments, but the ability to choose and commit myself to – what is best for me. – Paul Coelho

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The true meaning of visualization

What is the meaning of visualization? The gross meaning is to anticipate, envision or create. There is a spiritual meaning of visualization and that is the practice we are seeking. How can we develop visualization? It is a question asked so many times of Gurus. Yet it is a word used so frequently by us in our daily life. In the context of Yoga sadhana, Swamiji answered this question. Continue reading