Runaanubanda is unique to the Vedic tradition because it considers connections with different beings across lifetimes. Runam/Rnam, debt is based on the principle of reciprocity – a mutual give and take. If I have taken more than I have given, I incur a debt and have to pay back to that person. If I have given more than I have taken, then that person has to pay back his/her debt to me. How does runaanubanda affect me and how can I be free from it? To read the podcast transcript/ article- https://...
May 02, 2023•19 min
When we enter a lit room, we see the many objects that are around. One thing that most of us miss is the 'light' in which one sees all the objects. The living teaching tradition of Advaita Vedanta is lit up by the the bhashyas, commentaries of Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya. We see the important features of the bhashya which make it the light that lights up our lives and in so doing, offer our respects to him, on his jayanti. We celebrate Adi Shankaracharya Jayanti on 25th April, 2023, more than 1...
Apr 25, 2023•19 min
When Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya chants words they become luminous jewels (ratnam). More so when the jewels are in praise of Bhagavan Ganesha and his powers. As Ganesha raises his palm to offer blessings, we understand and receive with open arms. To read the podcast transcript/ article- https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Do check out our April 2023 Aarsha Vidya Bharati newsletter - The blessing of darshana l Dhyaanam course l Adi Sankaracharya Jayanti celebration l SHINE teacher trainin...
Apr 18, 2023•15 min
Many spiritual-but-not-religious people say that they believe in 'laws of nature'. Then, who put the 'laws of nature' together? They will shrug and say, laws of nature were not made by any person or entity. This stubborn insistence of using the term ‘laws of nature’ is a remnant of the 17th century and emerged in opposition to the church. We understand its background and spare a thought for the intelligent being and material that pervades the 'laws of nature' - Bhagavan To read the podcast trans...
Apr 11, 2023•19 min
Hanuman Chalisa, sung by millions of Hindus worldwide is s super powerful stotra in praise of Hanuman - his glories, the ways in which he served Bhagavan Sri Rama and the blessings he gives the devotees. Authored by Goswami Tulsidas in the 16th century it is a part of the Ramacharitmanas in Avadhi language. The greatest devotee of Bhagavan Sri Rama, Hanuman blesses us with his bhakti and shakti. After you listen to this episode or next when you sing Hanuman Chalisa you will feel his presence (if...
Apr 04, 2023•24 min
Revealed by none other than Bhagavan Shiva to Rishi Buddhakaushika, Sriramaraksha stotram of 38 verses has blessed millions who chanted it. Even if you hear it once and understand the meaning, you feel Sri Rama's power and protection softly enveloping you and fortifying you. To read the podcast transcript/Vedanta article- https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ To listen to the entire stotram sung by Sonali Ambasankar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39oh6eFLFGc Dhyaanam - Meditation and the...
Mar 28, 2023•31 min
The tapestry of Hinduism is woven with many healing perspectives and methods that lead to wholeness. These have sustained and continue to bless an ancient, living civilisation. Some of these are - 1. Blessings through our prayers to devatas, 2. Ayurveda 3. Jyotisham To read the podcast transcript/Vedanta article- https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Dhyaanam - Meditation and the Meditator, An experiential new course on Meditation that will help you learn 6 types of meditations and most imp...
Mar 21, 2023•25 min
The problem with experiences is that they are fleeting no matter how exalted or mundane they are. Yet we can change a fleeting experience into lasting inner resources – our memories, our values and our learnings. We can mine an experience for its precious gems. How? To read the podcast transcript/Vedanta article- https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Dhyaanam - Meditation and the Meditator, An experiential new course on Meditation that will help you learn 6 types of meditations and most imp...
Mar 14, 2023•25 min
Since we cannot avoid karma, it is equally important to know what kind of karma is to be done and what is to be avoided. Bhagavan Krishna teaches us about the three fold karma and gently veers us to adopt sattvika karma also known as karma yoga. To read the podcast transcript/Vedanta article- https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our March 2023 Aarsha Vidya Bharati newsletter - Opening words l Rama Navami l Value of Values l Vedanta camp - Narrative of a first time attendee l and more! - ht...
Mar 07, 2023•21 min
We want to be happy. All the time. And yet, there is a gap in what we want and what we experience. Armed with the knowledge from the Bhagavad Gita of the three fold happiness, we can learn how to ride the wave of our pursuit of happiness. To read the podcast transcript/Vedanta article- https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our February 2023 Aarsha Vidya Bharati newsletter (Groups we belong to l Rishikesh Vedanta camp l Shivalingam l Body intelligence and much more ) https://mailchi.mp/9d330...
Feb 28, 2023•23 min
Unless we understand how anger is born we cannot control it nor master it. All our attempts lead to suppression or explosions. Once we understand the brilliant framework of the Bhagavad Gita and apply it to our lives, then the intensity of level of our anger reduces, our viveka increases contributing to self-mastery. To read the podcast transcript/Vedanta article- https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our February 2023 Aarsha Vidya Bharati newsletter (Groups we belong to l Rishikesh Vedanta...
Feb 21, 2023•26 min
We wrongly believe that 1) If I don’t feel love, there is no love in my life. 2) To love is simple, but to find the right person to love or to be loved by, is difficult and 3) We think our problem with love is how to be loved and how to be lovable. We correct these assumptions in the light of a growing bhakti for Ishvara. The practice of loving and discovering love as the fabric of life is enabled by Bhakti. We look at 10 differences between ego based love and a devotee's love so that our hearts...
Feb 14, 2023•18 min
Generally, our identities are related to the tasks we perform and the experiences we have. However there is a unique identity that of a Karma Yogi which is not a special type of karma. Instead it encompasses all other identities and has many benefits. What are these? To read the podcast transcript which is as good as a Vedanta article- https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our February 2023 Aarsha Vidya Bharati newsletter (Groups we belong to l Rishikesh Vedanta camp l Shivalingam l Body in...
Feb 06, 2023•21 min
Recently, I was doing some reading for a talk to be given about Sri Ramana Maharishi, an enlightened Advaita Vedanta master. His talks and some conversations with different devotees were documented. Some glimpses follow. To read the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our January 2023 Aarsha Vidya Bharati newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/8fa7761180d2/aarsha-vidya-bharati-jan2023 Our monthly newsletter will bring to you more happiness, more wisdom and more freedom. To s...
Jan 31, 2023•20 min
Across all our relationships (romantic, parental, professional, political, economic) we depend on each other. For support, resources, information, collaboration towards our goals and much more. What do our relationships depend on? We undertake the enquiry in the light of Madhu Vidya, a beautiful section of the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad and are stunned at what is revealed. To read the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our January 2023 Aarsha Vidya Bharati newsletter - ...
Jan 24, 2023•20 min
..is the most common question in Vedanta. The reply lies into questioning the identity of the questioner, who is none other than our dear old experiencer. For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our January 2023 Aarsha Vidya Bharati newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/8fa7761180d2/aarsha-vidya-bharati-jan2023 Our monthly newsletter will bring to you more happiness, more wisdom and more freedom. To subscribe to Aarsha Vidya Bharati - https://mailchi.mp/cea95b9ad987/aar...
Jan 17, 2023•14 min
Emotional and Physical pain is an inevitable part of living. The more we resist, the more it persists (in the form of dvesha) and further aversion to pain. 5 teachings for how we deal with pain, from the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita and our very own lives. Last call to join Svadharma - Discovering and living our life purpose is a course from January 15th - March 2023 at Hindu University of America. Details - https://www.hua.edu/product/svadharma-discovering-and-living-our-life-purpose/ For the po...
Jan 10, 2023•17 min
Across different situations, how do we know what is appropriate to do in a given situation? How much is too much and how much is too little? What is the golden mean in Kaushalam that seems elusive? As we modify our karma into karma yoga we discover the many considerations that shape Kaushalam. Delighted to announce two new courses - Bhakti-The Heart of Wisdom. Course from 10th January to May 2023. Every Tuesday at 6.30 pm IST. Details - https://discoveratma.com/bhakti-the-heart-of-wisdom/ Svadha...
Jan 03, 2023•20 min
Dear Future Self, A happy you in the new year makes a happy new year. You and I have an awareness of our strengths and the areas of struggle. I am here to support you and flow into you. My attempt is not to convince you of anything that you don’t know but to just remind you of a few things. A reminder can be accumulated wisdom, an affirmation or even a discovery of what has always been there. These are .... And nine reminders follow ... ---------- Delighted to announce two new courses - Bhakti-T...
Dec 27, 2022•16 min
10 teachings to learn, savour and assimilate. Svadharma - Discovering and living our life purpose is a course from January - March 2023 at Hindu University of America. Details - https://www.hua.edu/product/svadharma-discovering-and-living-our-life-purpose/ For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our December 2022 newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/07477521fa66/aarsha-vidya-bharati-dec2022 Our monthly newsletter will bring to you more happiness, more wisdom and more f...
Dec 20, 2022•20 min
Atma, the limitless being has no key performance areas and hence does not need an annual review. But the jiva can benefit from an annual review of life in the light of Vedanta. How? Svadharma - Discovering and living our life purpose is a course from January - March 2023 at Hindu University of America. Details - https://www.hua.edu/product/svadharma-discovering-and-living-our-life-purpose/ For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our December 2022 newsletter - http...
Dec 13, 2022•14 min
The answer to the question may not be who you think it is! For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our December 2022 newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/07477521fa66/aarsha-vidya-bharati-dec2022 Our monthly newsletter will bring to you more happiness, more wisdom and more freedom. To subscribe to Aarsha Vidya Bharati - https://mailchi.mp/cea95b9ad987/aarsha-vidya-bharati Vedanta - the river of wisdom is a weekly podcast by Swamini B (Brahmaprajnananda), a Vedanta teac...
Dec 06, 2022•17 min
Which chapter are you in? Happy to invite all for our annual global Vedic Wisdom festival 2022 online. Details and registration - https://www.vedicwisdomfestival.in/ For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our November 2022 newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/cd44a6ffa396/aarsha-vidya-bharati-nov2022 Our monthly newsletter will bring to you more happiness, more wisdom and more freedom. To subscribe to Aarsha Vidya Bharati - https://mailchi.mp/cea95b9ad987/aarsha-vidya...
Nov 29, 2022•8 min
All of Vedanta can be understood by this short statement - Tat tvam asi. That (Ishvara) you are How is this possible? Listen in. Happy to invite all for our annual global Vedic Wisdom festival 2022 online. Details and registration - https://www.vedicwisdomfestival.in/ For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our November 2022 newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/cd44a6ffa396/aarsha-vidya-bharati-nov2022 Our monthly newsletter will bring to you more happiness, more wisdo...
Nov 22, 2022•20 min
Through the winding roads of life, the heart longs for sacredness, imbued with the divine. And then, the heart embraces the sacred with Vedanta. Happy to invite all for our annual global Vedic Wisdom festival 2022 online. Details and registration - https://www.vedicwisdomfestival.in/ For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our November 2022 newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/cd44a6ffa396/aarsha-vidya-bharati-nov2022 Our monthly newsletter will bring to you more happi...
Nov 15, 2022•20 min
We travel. We learn. We grow. We come home to ourselves. For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our November 2022 newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/cd44a6ffa396/aarsha-vidya-bharati-nov2022 Our monthly newsletter will bring to you more happiness, more wisdom and more freedom. To subscribe to Aarsha Vidya Bharati - https://mailchi.mp/cea95b9ad987/aarsha-vidya-bharati Vedanta - the river of wisdom is a weekly podcast by Swamini B (Brahmaprajnananda), a Vedanta teache...
Nov 08, 2022•21 min
Our need to control, master situations and ourselves leads to feeling like we can control life. That very orientation of trying to control does not work in the moksha pursuit? What does letting go in the moksha pursuit involve? For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our monthly newsletter will bring to you more happiness, more wisdom and more freedom. To subscribe to Aarsha Vidya Bharati - https://mailchi.mp/cea95b9ad987/aarsha-vidya-bharati Vedanta - the river o...
Nov 01, 2022•19 min
During Deepavali we worship Devi Mahalakshmi as well as Devi Kali in some other parts of the country. But somehow a lot of us are wary of Devi Kali. When one of us encounters Devi Kali, a dialogue that alters the ahankara follows. For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our monthly newsletter will bring to you more happiness, more wisdom and more freedom. To subscribe to Aarsha Vidya Bharati - https://mailchi.mp/cea95b9ad987/aarsha-vidya-bharati Our October 2022 n...
Oct 25, 2022•15 min
An important question. Much of Vedanta rests on answering this question. For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our monthly newsletter will bring to you more happiness, more wisdom and more freedom. To subscribe to Aarsha Vidya Bharati - https://mailchi.mp/cea95b9ad987/aarsha-vidya-bharati Our October 2022 newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/3ba2203ddf70/aarsha-vidya-bharati-oct2022 Vedanta - the river of wisdom is a weekly podcast by Swamini B (Brahmaprajnananda), a...
Oct 18, 2022•13 min
Based on my experience of living in Arsha Vidya Gurukulam at the feet of my beloved teacher, Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswatiji, I point out the value of living and studying Vedanta in a gurukulam. It is quite different from studying Vedanta in public a couple of times a week. To know more about and get involved with our gurukulam project close to Mumbai, please check out - https://vedicwisdom.in/gurukulam-project/ We would love to hear from you - gurukulam@vedicwisdom.i n For the podcast transcr...
Oct 11, 2022•30 min
