Podcast details
Manana, Svadhyaya and Abhyasa
A yogi's practice rests on three pillars: manana, svādhyāya, and abhyāsa. Manana is to think over your life, identifying problems and cultivating thoughts that bring happiness while releasing those that cause unhappiness. The greatest tragedy is to die without God-realization, as this human life is precious. Ku-saṅga, or bad association, blackmails the mind and destroys spiritual progress. Life passes like water dripping or sand flowing from your hand; time is fleeting. Utilize this one life to realize your aim, not to disturb yourself or others. Svādhyāya means studying holy books and, more importantly, reading the chapter of your own life. Look within your inner mirror; each individual is responsible for their own destiny. Ask not just "Who am I?" but "How am I?" and examine what is written in your inner chapters regarding your thoughts and actions. Abhyāsa is the practice: to accept, learn, know, forgive, and be kind through continual effort.
"Think over. Whatever people tell you, whatever you hear from others, think it over. What is reality?"
"Read the chapter of your life. How many chapters do you have? How many times have you closed one chapter, and how many have you begun?"
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.
The text contains hyperlinks in bold to three authoritative books on yoga, written by humans, to clarify the context of the lecture:
- Yoga in Daily Life - The System
Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda. Ibera Verlag, Vienna, 2000. ISBN 978-3-85052-000-3 - The Hidden Power in Humans - Chakras and Kundalini
Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda. Ibera Verlag, Vienna, 2004. ISBN 978-3-85052-197-0 - Lila Amrit - The Divine Life of Sri Mahaprabhuji
Paramhans Swami Madhavananda. Int. Sri Deep Madhavananda Ashram Fellowship, Vienna, 1998. ISBN 3-85052-104-4
