The Latin root of Ether is aether, which means, “the upper, pure, bright air.” Ether was described as a substance that was said to fill all space and make up all bodies. Ether is the fifth and highest element after air, fire, water and earth. It is believed to be the substance composing all heavenly bodies. Continue reading
The word samskara comes from the Sanskrit sam (complete or joined together) and kara (action, cause or doing). Samskaras are embedded in the Chitta, known as the subconscious mind. There it continues to be a subliminal action and become a samskara. Samskaras are the subtle impressions of our past actions. Actions which we perform with full awareness are the ones that make the greatest impressions on our mind. Continue reading
A true story. A farmer saw a tiger in the forest. He watched the tiger and then went and pulled his tail. The tiger turned around and struck the man, who was mortally wounded. The victim was taken to the hospital where he died. It really happened in India. Now why would he pull the tiger’s tail. It is a case of where fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Continue reading
The more I live, the more I become convinced everyday that every human being is divine. In no man or woman however vile, does that divinity die… You must know what you are, what your real nature is. You must become conscious of that infinite nature within. Then your divine bondage will burst. – Swami Vivekananda
The main idea in Tantra is having faith in oneself, which according to Tantra is equivalent to having faith in God because neither Tantra nor Vedanta views God as something different from the person. Therefore, if we leave aside the idea of God sitting somewhere up in heaven while we are down here faith in God simply means having faith in ourselves, in what we do and express and achieve to the best of our ability—slowly and slowly developing the creative aspect of our personality. – Swami Satyananda Saraswati
Taittiriya Upanishad: All bodies are composed of food. Food is the most important of all things; therefore, it is the best medicine for all the body ailments. Those who look upon food as the lord’s gift, shall never lack life’s physical comforts. The physical sheath is made up of food, within it is contained the vital sheath, which has the same form, with prana as head, space as heart and earth as a foundation. Continue reading
Quotes about God.
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. – Hebrew 4:13
What is power and its role? Would we say that a new born baby is powerless? Is that true? A baby when it cries its needs are attended to immediately. It is like a tyrant. Its face becomes red and one is frantic to meet its demands. Parents are awake and can only sleep when the infant is asleep. Actually, one never thinks of an infant as being powerful but in this case, this little mite is the one who has the potential power. Continue reading
Behold the dark clouds melt away,
That gathered thick at night and hung
So, like a gloomy pall above the earth!
Before thy magic touch, the world
Awakes. The birds in chorus sing.
The flowers raise their star-like crowns-
Dew set and wave thee welcome fair.
The lakes are opening wide in love
Their hundred thousand lotus eyes
To welcome thee, with all their depth.
All hail to thee, thou Lord of Light!
A welcome new to thee today.
O sun! today thou sheddest
LIBERTY! Continue reading
“When serenity and equilibrium prevail,
Not only ideas but dreams come true
And sleep is converted into samadhi.
Generally, the mind is dull and dissipated,
Sometimes it goes in for higher things
But then returns to its lower field.” – Swami Satyananda Saraswati.1960.
How do we become serene? Continue reading
“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
Is it possible to face fears fearlessly or do we have to face fear fearfully? I personally think both are complicated. When one sees an accident, one is deeply disturbed. Is one disturbed for the victim or is one thinking it could have happened to me? Continue reading
What is real worship? Reverence and adoration for a deity.
According to the Bible, worship is the giving of our entire self, our thoughts and our emotions to God’s use. All of life is an act of submission, an act of worship. Continue reading
Many say that our guru is within us. It is true but we need a switch to activate us, and this switch has to be switched on. According to Swami Niranjanananda, we have a bulb within us, which has wires. What is required is that there has to be a connection. There has to be no short circuits or carbon so that the electricity can flow. Continue reading
Many of us are searching for a Guru and the search is like looking for the most bahumulya vyakti (priceless person). It is not possible for us to find a Guru, s/he appears before us, when the time is right. There are many kinds of Guru, Gyana Guru, Yogic Guru, Tantric Guru, Brahmanishtha (one who lives in the light of the teaching, of one ness) Guru, Chela Guru. The title given before guru describes the method that a Guru utilizes to transmit his/her energy. Continue reading
Who are Jesus, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Yogananda, Shankaracharya, Rama, Krishna and Paramahamsa? Sukadev explains that these are all great spiritual teachers, who have done a lot to spread spiritual knowledge.
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