Tapasya and Yagna

 

Shiva meditated on Mount Kailash, which was barren, and he was covered in snow. Shiva became the supreme tapasvi as he had destroyed hunger. Prakriti took the form of Shakti and said to Shiva, “Hunger distinguishes creatures from being alive and dead. You are a corpse as you have no hunger. Vegetation happens when there is water and soil. An animal seeks food to satisfy his hunger.” Continue reading

557 – Meditation on Devi

In the mudra of granting what you desire.

The mantra for granting our heart’s desire is from Saundarya Lahiri – Verse 3.

Avidyaanaamantas-timira-mihirodveepa-nakaree
Jadaanaam Chaitanya tabaka-makaranda-sruti-jharee;
Daridraanam chintaa manigunanikaa janmajaladhau
Nimagagaanam damshtraa muraripu-varaahasya bhavati.

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Swami Vishnu Devananda chants “Shankara Stotram” (original voice)

Listen to Swami Vishnu Devanandas original voice!
He chants the Shankara Stotram and you can chant with him!

For more English yoga videos, music, blog posts, etc., please visit our English pages here.

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The Lion and the Sheep + Shankara and his Disciples – Lecture by Shekar Pandey

Prof. Dr. Chandrashekar („Shekhar“) Pandey – teaches at the Institut of Social Studies, Den Haag, Netherlands. He is a “seeker” and a teacher at the same time. In this video he talks among another story about Shankara.

Shankara is credited with unifying and establishing the main currents of thought in Hinduism.

His works in Sanskrit discuss the unity of the ātman and Nirguna Brahman “brahman without attributes”.

Shekar Pandey is also giving seminars in the Yoga Vidya ashrams. You can find them here.

There are many more English seminars offered by Yoga Vidya. You can find all of them with the link here. If you like Shankara and if you are a yoga teacher already the “Advanced Yoga Teachers’ Training Intensive F4 – Viveka Chudamani and Asana Intensive” is perfect for you!

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Lineage and Tradition of Yoga Vidya and Sukadev

Sukadev is talking about the lineage and tradition of Yoga Vidya and himself. Our lineage stars with Narayana and also contains Shankara. Shankara was an early 8th century Indian philosopher and theologian who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta.

If you are interested in visiting one of the four ashrams of Yoga Vidya to join one of the many english seminars, click here.

Sukadev Bretz is the founder of Haus Yoga Vidya and the Yoga Vidya organisation. From his adolescence he was fascinated by the possibilities of the mind, learned fast reading autodidactically and attended concentration and memory training courses.

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Talk on Vedanta

In this especially good audio recording, Swami Sivananda talks about Vedanta, the teachings which come from the Upanishads, literally “the end” of the Vedas. The Upanishads are revealed scriptures which tell us about the transcendental Self, or Brahma Vidya, the true nature of the Self. He also discusses the 3 main points of logic for advaita vedanta as explained by Sankaracharya, and much more.

Shankara Master of Yoga and Vedanta

Historical recording of Swami Sivananda, 1887-1963, one of the greatest yoga masters of modern India. To find out more about Swami Sivananda: http://www.sivanandaonline.org, http://my.yoga-vidya.org .

Copyright the Divine Life Society .

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How did you become a Swami? Swami Atma answers

Swami Atmaswaruparamananda explains the meaning of his long name. He talks about how he became a Swami, a Yoga monk. He speaks about his experiences as a monk. As he is a monk in the Sankaracharya order, he also talks about the Vedanta Philosophy. Swami Atma also talks about the challenges and joys of being a Swami living without the protection and restraints of an organisation.

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Who was Sankara? Chandra explains

Sankara is considered the most important of Jnana Yoga Masters and Vedanta Teachers. Until today he is held in highest esteem. Chandra Cohen speaks on the importance of the most important Indian Philosopher and Jnana Yoga Master, Sankara, also called Sankaracharya, sometimes spelled Shankara or Shankaracharya. Sankara lived around 800 C.E. Listen to this talk on life, meaning and teaching of this Advaita Vedanta Master. Chandra is teaching Vedanta Courses at Yoga Vidya Germany and in upstate New Yoga. Chandra is a disciple of Swami Vishnu-devananda, Swami Brahmananda and Swami Dayananda. This short podcast episode is taken from an interview at Yoga Vidya Ashram Germany.

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This world is a Dream

What is this world? Does this world exist? Who am I? Is there something like Consciousness? If so, what is Consiousness? What is the difference between the world experienced in waking consciousness and the dream world? Is there a difference? Chandra Cohen, teacher of Advaita Vedanta in the Sankara Tradition, gives answers to these questions. He helps you to become aware that everything is just Consciousness. Chandra is teaching Vedanta Courses at Yoga Vidya Germany and in New York State. He was trained by Swami Vishnu-devananda, Swami Brahmananda and Swami Dayananda.

This podcast is taken from an interview conducted by Sukadev from Yoga Vidya Germany with Chandra during a seminar on Aparoksha Anubhuti.

 

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Who am I? In the midst of 3 States of Consciousness and Turiya

Who am I? This is the most important and urgent question anyone can ask. Chandra gives answers to this question from the point of view of Advaita Vedanta in the Sankara tradition. Chandra uses the analogy of the 3 states of Consciousness, waking, dream and deeps sleep – and Turiya, the fourth one. This analogy, this analysis, plays an important role in several Upanishads, definitely in all Jnana Yoga teaching. Chandra is giving Vedanta Courses at Yoga Vidya Ashram Germany.

 

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What is Advaita Vedanta? Chandra explains

Advaita Vedanta is the Philosophy of Oneness. It is unconditional non-dualism. It is supposed to be the zenith of all philosophies. Chandra Cohen explains in this short podcast what Advaita is. He gives insights into why everything in this manifested universe is nothing but a manifestation of the One, the Brahman. This Vedanta Podcast is taken from an Interview conducted by Sukadev, founder of Yoga Vidya, and Chandra, during a Vedanta Seminar in Germany at Yoga Vidya Ashram Meinberg.

More talks on Yoga and Vedanta

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What is Vedanta? Chandra explains

Vedanta is considered the most important of the Philosopical Systems of India, both by Western scholars as well as in India itself. Vedanta is the foundation of Jnana Yoga, the Yoga of wisdom. In this short podcast, Chandra Cohen, disciple of Swami Vishnu-devananda, Swami Brahmananda and Swami Dayananda, describes the meaning of Vedanta. He mentions Sankara (probably 788-820 C.E.) as the most important Vedanta Philosopher. Chandra explains how Vedanta refers to the Vedas, the most ancient Indian scriptures. Chandra is teaching Vedanta Courses at Yoga Vidya Germany. This short talk is part of interview that Sukadev, founder of Yoga Vidya, conducted with Chandra.

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