The focus of all paths is slightly different. Gyaana Yoga is understanding “who we are”. We start with understanding what we want to do in life and how to do it. Then more importantly, we understand what the mind actually is and how it works. Pujya Gurudev, Swami Chinmayananda, defines the intricate and complex mind as a term that is easy to understand – a flow of thoughts. Just like the flow of water, the mind is not one, but continuous thoughts that can be gushing and active or peaceful and st...
Jul 29, 2020•9 min
We all have created for ourselves the ‘i” or the personality layer. Made of traits, belief systems and social conditions, it is a barrier separating my individual entity from the world. In oneness, it is not that “i”, the limited entity, becomes one, but these man-made defining boundaries are foregone so that the differences dissolve. What is revealed is the essence of life that I am, is everywhere and in all creation. We establish in simply being, and not in the processes of ego. There is just ...
Jul 22, 2020•8 min
Oneness is the essence, goal, and truth of spirituality. When we are one integrated whole, we interact with the world and our relationships with beauty of character, joy, and love. Conversely, conflicts within our personality and in the world around us bring confusion and frustrations. We can create a vision of oneness by seeing the connectivity of all creation and focusing on how similar we are to others.
Jul 15, 2020•9 min
The mind has many aspects. We have the essential functional aspect that is used to interact in the world. There is also the emotional aspect related to our strong desires, likes and dislikes. The mind’s effective functional part is often overridden by the emotional layer, which colors our thinking. The solution is not to just give up on emotions altogether, but to rise above the emotional thinking or recognize it for what it is. We should also discontinue the momentum of biased and non-beneficia...
Jul 08, 2020•11 min
The breath and the mind are two branches of the same tree. Pull one and the other is pulled with it. Since it is easier to regulate our breath than the mind, controlling it is a great temporary way to still our constantly fluttering mind. Once the controlled breathing stops, the mind resumes thinking different things. Despite being short, this pause is powerful as we regain our balance, objectivity, and clarity. Self-experiment and notice the effects within your own mind.
Jul 01, 2020•10 min
Yoga, meaning “to unite”, is the lesser known path to moksha and comprised of 8 steps. At every purposeful step, noble qualities are cultivated and the mind and personality are purified, aiding the seeker to evolve. But with the levels clearly outlined, it is easy to get attached to the singular joyful experience of progress and of merely moving up a level. So always check in with yourself – are you more concerned with perfecting the outside while neglecting the inside?
Jun 24, 2020•10 min
While Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga or Gyaana Yoga may seem different, when being sincerely followed, they all require purity of intentions, nobility in our heart and a desire to uplift ourselves. So all paths lead to the ultimate goal of our restless mind becoming silent. In the stillness of that purified mind, all divisions such as likes/dislikes or good/bad dissolve and we see divinity as one undivided Truth. So resolve to be more continuous and dedicated, knowing that the goal can definitely be re...
Jun 16, 2020•9 min
In Bhakti, we start by seeing ourselves as devotees who are separate from Paramatma, the Supreme Truth. We feel like small seekers constantly asking our grand creator for strength, knowledge, blessings or protection. But as we grow in spirituality, we see divinity’s reflection clearly within our hearts and comprehend that ‘i’ cannot be. There can ultimately only be one Truth of oneness. Once this is truly understood, our bhakti for the Lord is complete as our love, too, is vast, infinite and fre...
Jun 10, 2020•9 min
The purpose of Japa is to silence the mind so that love and worship flows beautifully and smoothly towards the Lord. Constant and unbroken, all thoughts stay focused on the mantra and committed to the higher as they long to reach divinity. Such effortless and intense thinking is the ideal we want to attain to escape the wandering, scattered and disruptive mind we do have. But in actuality, what are we sincerely dedicated and single-pointed towards? So what is it that we truly want?
Jun 03, 2020•13 min
Japa is the repetition of a mantra while constantly and continuously thinking of the higher. Various Japa practices exist to help us concentrate as our mind experiences different moods. Although subtler practices are more powerful, the essence of Japa is to offer our minds, hearts, and our whole personality to the Lord. We surrender the momentum of our egoistic thoughts to divinity, never making it about ‘me, myself and I’. If you haven’t yet, try the best purification method as you dwell in sil...
May 27, 2020•11 min
Though the rituals of puja serve their purpose to stay focused on the higher, the goal is to lift our mind from a particular murti or representation of God’s form and worship His manifestation in us and the world around us. It’s to recognize the harmony in creation and His form in all people and respect it. But why stop there? Give, serve, alleviate any suffering or need of society and the Earth with reverence, respect and love for the Lord so that your whole life becomes puja and worship....
May 20, 2020•11 min
Level 1 of devotion, Puja, can be long and complex but it rests on a science. The rituals first invite the all-pervading God into a singular form to which we give and surrender. Our minds divert from ‘me, myself and I’ and are engaged in steps akin to our routine so that in mundane moments too, they turn to the Lord outside and are uplifted. As our minds transform, we recognize the divinity’s essence within us. Attempt a puja wholeheartedly to see its beauty and power for yourself.
May 13, 2020•11 min
Love alone enhances love. In the path of bhakti, love is both the means and goal. Alternatively, Bhakti techniques can be categorized into 3 levels, based on the support being employed. Practicing Level 1 means relying on our body, speech and mind. Each personality aspect is then dropped to progress to the most subtle method. But one is not better than the other since at different moods and times, we need to act accordingly. Just pay attention to yourself and evolve in the essence of what needs ...
May 06, 2020•11 min
It’s not a problem if we have the solution. The solution to the endless ocean of finite actions is to dedicate our actions to the higher. Retain purity of mind when acting and change the intention so that we are not attached to ME, MY desires and MY likes and dislikes. Finite results will still occur but our thoughts behind the intention will also bear results. All that will be left is our best and conscious effort for a higher love or cause. Practice this and be free from attachment to actions ...
Apr 28, 2020•9 min
All of us have goals. Our finite bodies and minds have limited capacity and carry out impermanent actions to attain those goals. Consequently, the results are temporary, and a little too soon, the enjoyment is over. We then immediately look for the next result we want to obtain. This is the endless cycle of finite actions producing finite results, leading to a constant need of doing and wanting. But when will it be enough? Isn’t there anything more? Be aware of the trap, question and think deepe...
Apr 21, 2020•13 min
If our actions are not supreme, and their results are ordained by the higher principle governing all Laws of the Universe, then is it all simply destined? Are we all just the puppets to the puppeteer’s whims and fancies? No. Because we choose the actions we perform and how we perform them. Destiny then works as the Law of Action. But remember that our little actions are part of a bigger picture. So, keep pride at bay, and feel humility and divinity’s grace in the parts we do get to play and acco...
Apr 14, 2020•11 min
The one belief we all can agree on is that action leads to result. But the Law of the Universe is far more intricate than we think. Actions themselves are inert and don’t have supreme power. Our effort is required to put into motion the Law of Action but it is one small thing among all that at play, no matter the effectiveness, skill or efficiency of our action. So how much control do we really have? Never over the result, that’s for sure! So, detach from the results of your actions and feel the...
Apr 11, 2020•12 min
In the Shiva Purana, there comes a portion in which Lord Shiva had blessed some sincere and proficient, yet, temporarily distracted pandits with higher knowledge. What he taught is known as Upadesa Sara. In this life, because we have so many desires, talents and resources, we can pursue various paths. However, the text is the ultimate gift of guidance as we understand the main thing that we should be focusing our thinking and energy on, and the things distracting us from it.
Mar 31, 2020•11 min
What philosophy is the Vedas trying to teach? How should Hinduism be practiced? When will we get to hear the call of the Lord? When will our hearts be filled with so much devotion that true silence is experienced? Upadesa Sara, written by Ramana Maharshi, is a perfect and beautiful way to delve into such topics. In this first episode, snippets from Maharishi’s life teach us that the Lord is, in actuality, constantly reaching out to each one of us. The only difference is our ability to hear and f...
Mar 25, 2020•11 min
Bhaja Govindam's last verse instructs that if nothing else is possible, hold on to the Guru. The Guru is one who has already journeyed and is beaming with bliss. Despite our essence being truth, we see confusions, limitations and challenges. So when they come into our lives, the light within us is brought out. Also, the spiritual journey is pathless and open land with infinite possibilities. The Guru fulfils our need for inspiration and tailor-made guidance that keeps us going in our mission to ...
Mar 19, 2020•10 min
To be able to distinguish between eternal and ephemeral is what is required in the seat of meditation. Viveka is used to find what's the difference between the changing and unchanging. We need to hold on to what's unchanging through the process of meditation. Another tool of meditation is jappa that helps with the process of thinking about the higher. All the steps in Bhaja Govindam has been training us to have the stamina, purity, and capacity to close our world, withdraw from the world, and th...
Mar 12, 2020•9 min
The way we live our life determines what kind of meditation we have, and the meditation we have determines what kind of life we live. There is a very strong link between our breath and state of mind. Lust, fear, excitement all cause us to breathe very fast. Pranayama helps us slow down our breath which immediately silences the mind. It doesn't last, it's just step one. It's the perfect tool to induce knowledge. We can turn the mind inwards immediately.
Mar 08, 2020•10 min
Money is very important and valuable. But our relationship with money can get very unhealthy. It's the one thing has the capability to get in between friendships, family, romance and every relationship. We oddly need a little of it to know that it doesn't matter as much. But when we have more than that, we may forget. We like it because it's so immediate. Money serves the purpose of instant gratification very well. It can buy privileges and comfort. Because it's so immediate, we get tricked by i...
Feb 28, 2020•10 min
Bhaja Govindam constantly reminds us how strong a hold our desires are. Desires are extremely hard to give up. We think we're enjoying our indulgences, but it actually ends up hurting us. Especially if we don't have discipline. The fine balance is very hard to maintain as well. It's like flipping a coin where one side is enjoyment and the other is suffering. We're actually holding on to suffering.
Feb 17, 2020•10 min
Swamini Supriyananda talks about the importance of charity. Charity is a beautiful way to open the heart. Money is very temporary. There's nothing that we have that we can claim is truly ours other than our mind. We're just trustees for everything else. It's our responsibility that we should give to others. It's a privilege given to us to share.
Feb 05, 2020•9 min
Today’s session concludes the meditation challenge. Throughout this series, we have explored and indulged into the various meanings of this mantra: we have understood the practical meaning –which we can apply to our daily life, but we have further delved into the deeper, more reflective meanings that are needed in order for us to develop and grow spiritually in our meditation. Today, we focus on the mantra as a whole: where all these different roots lead us to one final destination of abiding in...
Jan 21, 2020•11 min
Day 20 delves on a deeper level of understanding – one where we connect to the most sacred part of our being, and find divinity within us. Fundamentally, we all seek happiness in everything we do. This happiness we seek is one which never fades – it is everlasting. We have seen, that which never ends is Truth, the happiness we seek is the same as truth. Today’s meditation places emphasise on being led to this happiness. Chanting this mantra acts as a reminder that we are blissful human beings, a...
Jan 20, 2020•10 min
As we draw to a close on exploring this mantra, we truly glimpse the deepest secret it reveals, and the immense power this mantra values. “Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya” - leads us to light. To meditate on this is to see the source of all light. The light that illumines every other thing. The light of consciousness which shines within our own minds. Prepare yourself to delve on this highest meaning and meditate on consciousness. Lift your mind and rest in the awareness. may we abide in the light of con...
Jan 20, 2020•10 min
The truth is that which always was, which is now and which will always be. From the line “Asto Ma Sagmaya”, we learn that truth and existence go hand in hand, as that which never changes is existence. Things come and go but existence stays. Whilst we notice the things that are existing, we tend to fail to notice the existence that allows it to be there. From the changing, lead us to the changeless. From objects lead us to existence. To meditate on this mantra means to look for that which never c...
Jan 19, 2020•10 min
Today, we re-explore the meaning of “from death to immortality”. We existed before this body, and therefore, we will exist even after the body doesn’t. The scriptures repeatedly inform us that we are born into a body, but we don’t belong to it – for we are not bodies with a soul, we are souls with a body. In the seat of meditation, we silence our minds and detach from our mortal bodies to recognize ourselves as immortal souls. Find your immortal soul with the meditation session today. Links: You...
Jan 17, 2020•11 min
