Podcast details
The Threefold Path: Svādhyāya, Manan, and Abhyāsa
The process of inner refinement moves from study to self-realization. Svādhyāya is studying the scriptures and the chapter of one's own life. Manana is deep reflection, churning experiences to extract wisdom like butter from milk. Abhyāsa is the practice, a purifying fire that turns that butter into ghee. Three obstacles block self-knowledge: mala, the impurity of thoughts and actions; vikṣepa, the disturbances of life's waves; and āvaraṇa, the curtain of ignorance. Impurity is cleansed by positive deeds. Disturbances are stilled through meditation and steadfastness. The curtain is removed by holy company and study. When these are gone, you see what is within.
"Through the instrument of your vivekā (discernment), you churn all of it—and the butter, the cream, emerges."
"Meditation techniques are developed to see what is within you. And if you see God through meditation, it means God is within you, not outside."
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
