Dear ones, I have written on this subject before and it means feeling the pain and distress of others. According to my Guru, the sum and substance of spiritual life and the best teaching of Vedanta is Atmabhava.
Do we empathize with others as if it is our own pain and distress? If we did, would we be having such acts of destruction and terrorism on our planet? We would not be attacking and destroying each other. Continue reading
You find this in the Rig Veda, the oldest known Vedic Sanskrit text, about water, one of the very important elements.
Apah Suktam
Aapo Hi Sthaa Mayo
Bhuvasthaa. – Mandala 10, Sukta 9
The universe is composed of five tattvas (elements): Prithvi (earth), Jala (water), Agni (fire), Vayu (air) and Aakash (ether). We are also composed of these five elements. However, what is happening is that there is corruption which is entering humanity. Continue reading
The universe is composed of five elements and so is our self. The five elements are ether, air, fire, water and earth. Why is there so much unhappiness in the cosmos?
Our first element is earth, and it is what composes us. Earth is our grounding and it is accompanied by the mooladhara chakra. The mooladhara chakra is the first chakra which is awakened in the fetus. It has a direct connection to the mother. After twelve weeks, it becomes independent of its mother’s prana. It is written in the ancient books that an expectant mother should be always happy and given whatever she asks for. Nobody should harm or distress her. Continue reading
Do I have to wake up? It is so cold or it is so hot? My coffee is not strong enough? My green tea is not green enough? My clothes are a mess? I have to walk my dog? I have not completed my tasks? The list is unending.
There is a Burmese proverb, “The monkey never complains that he has no comb”. Continue reading
The universe originated from the Tattwas (elements) Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. And we are created from the elements. The elements within us influence our auditory, tactile, visual, gustatory, and olfactory senses. When we take to the practice of Yoga, we are looking at how to remain okay. Literally most of us who start our practice have this as our objective. Continue reading
Dattatreya is the God who is an incarnation of the Divine Trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. In the Bhagwata Purana he stated that he had 24 Gurus. His first Guru was his Atman alone, but he had learnt wisdom from 24 elements and creations of God. Continue reading
The meaning of Ishta Devata is the personal deity with whom a devotee feels the greatest affinity. According to Swami Sivanananda, our worship of a God is defined by the element which is predominant in us. Our body and mind are composed of five elements. These are earth, water, fire, air and ether. Our elements have to be in harmony for us to tread on the path of self-realization. What ensures that our elements are in balance is the flow of prana. Continue reading