For a limited time, we are granting viewers of Swamiji.tv on-demand streaming access to the Swamiji.tv archive. All videos are copyrighted by the International Sri Deep Madhavananda Ashram Fellowship. We invite you to support our social projects with a donation. With your support, the Fellowship carries out numerous social projects in India. To continue these activities, every donation is deeply appreciated. Please support us here: https://swamiji.tv/support
The River of Love and Consciousness
The purpose of human life is to merge with the divine.We are blessed to be in this river of divine love and consciousness, which flows to the ocean of immortality. Every consciousness entering this river will merge into cosmic consciousness. Human life is given to know … read more »
Dharsan of the saint living in you
Anuṣṭhāna is a sādhanā that purifies you and grants darśan of your true Self.The tongue is called the "cow," a milky cow that gives the nectar of health and speech. To "hold the tongue" means to repeat mantra and guide it to the palate's cave where ambrosia drips. Your … read more »
Don't throw away the diamond!
A cowherd follows a mysterious cow into a cave, seeking its owner and a reward.In darkness, fear leads him to pray sincerely. He meets a radiant master who acknowledges his service but offers only a handful of barley, not money. Guided out, the cowherd discards the barley in anger. Only … read more »
You can reach enlightenment also here in Vep
Our time here is precious and powerful.You have 48 hours remaining. Use them fully for practice; do not give up. From this concentrated effort, you will generate the energy needed to sustain you. Do not view this place as merely restrictive or … read more »
The fortunate ones who found the path of Sanathana Dharma
Sanātana Dharma is the eternal path, a highway without obstruction.We are fortunate to have found it under the shelter of our lineage. The essential discovery is the object of our meditation. The Guru is the central figure. A master is like a lit candle and … read more »
King Janaka's dream
A king's dream reveals the nature of reality.He dreams of losing his kingdom, fleeing to a forest, and becoming a starving beggar. After being attacked, he awakens in his palace, confused about what is real. He seeks a guru to answer this, but … read more »
This life is like a dream
Life is like a dream, with no difference between a dream and this life.A yogi asked Śiva to know His māyā. Śiva instructed him to go to a lake. Upon submerging, the yogi's consciousness shifted. He experienced death and then lived a divine life in the astral world. He … read more »
Perfect holydays at the Gurukul -- Vep is a Gurukul at this time
The necessity of dedicated practice and sacred solitude for spiritual progress.Modern life, with its duties and distractions, often prevents discipline. The ancient advice is to periodically retreat into solitude, akin to a sacred holiday. Yet, modern holidays have become spectacles, losing their purpose. True retreat is … read more »
Yoga is more than asana and pranayama
Yoga is the divine protocol sustaining creation, not merely physical postures.Ancient seers discovered a system to preserve body, mind, and soul. This is the principle maintaining balance in all life. At creation, a divine parliament established a sustainable order. The central dilemma was maintaining this world. … read more »
Yoga is harmony. Holy Guruji: One in all and all in one
Yoga is the universal principle of balance and union.It is the ancient equilibrium maintaining all visible and invisible elements in the cosmos. This same principle balances the five elements composing the body and all internal systems of mind and emotion. Where balance exists, harmony … read more »
Ayurveda should not be commercialized
Ayurveda and yoga have been degraded by widespread commercialization without real knowledge.True study requires five to eight years of serious commitment. Ayurveda is an ancient, spiritual science where a Vaidya must understand psychology and even communicate with herbs, preparing medicine with prayer. Do not study with a … read more »
Oh brothers and sisters, wake up!
Awaken, for the train of life is departing and will not return.Past time and past days are gone forever. Life requires balance, like a bird with two wings, found in truthful companionship. Human nature is restless, seeking constant change in friendships as in food. From birth we … read more »
Without practice the theory is zero
The human body is a sacred instrument for liberation, yet we mistake our identity for it.Theoretical knowledge is worthless without practice, as we advise others wisely but become helpless in our own suffering. In the astral state, one perceives all but can act on nothing without the physical form. A soul … read more »
The play of the consciousness
Consciousness is the transparent foundation of spiritual development.Its purity determines spiritual progress. Spirituality is defined by purity across all levels of being. Consciousness becomes polluted by negative thoughts, ego, jealousy, greed, hatred, and the consumption of intoxicants or meat, which act like a … read more »
Recognise holiness in others
Equal vision sees all beings as the light of God, which is one's own Self.Sam dṛṣṭi is to look upon everything with the same eyes, for all beings exist in one's own state. A true sādhaka never praises oneself. Sādhanā is constant practice and prayer for purification. Never think one … read more »
To forgive means also to forget
The wheel of existence encompasses 8.4 million life-forms. The human is one among them. The ultimate reality is one, yet perceived duality in race, religion, or nation creates a path of suffering and conflict. Beyond the wheel of rebirth is the … read more »
Spirituality is awakening in the whole world
Spiritual consciousness is awakening globally, particularly among new leaders in both religious and political spheres.This represents a significant shift in focus and priorities. However, this movement must be grounded in a profound inner experience. The ultimate requirement for genuine leadership is not merely thought but direct spiritual realization. The foundational … read more »
Anusthan practice made V
This sanctuary offers perfect peace and spiritual nourishment, free from all material and technological pollution.Modern holidays often become mental torture with constant noise, but here balance is maintained through daily spiritual practice. The environment itself is nourishment for the mind and heart. True heart nourishment comes from a heart-to-heart connection, … read more »
Get rid of the tamas guna
Overcoming tamas guṇa requires specific practices and dietary discipline.The sole method to eliminate tamas is through prāṇāyāma, śa kha prakṣālana, Haṭha Yoga kriyās, and eating sparingly. Consuming some ghee and sugar can be beneficial if properly digested through corresponding physical effort; for example, performing … read more »
It is not easy to eat less
A yogi increases energy and longevity by reducing ordinary food intake.Consuming less cooked, energy-dense food directly reduces the physical body's burden. This practice saves substantial resources over time, translating saved nourishment into extended vitality. Food enslaves through taste and becomes a source of self-harm. Therefore, moderate … read more »
We are eating for living and not living for eating
Exercise and fasting are essential for maintaining energy and clarity in spiritual practice.Reduce your diet gradually while incorporating physical exercises and prāṇāyāma to preserve muscle strength and prevent weakness. These practices enhance your energy, decision-making, and vision. Hinduism observes numerous fasting days dedicated to various deities and lunar … read more »
What the holy saints are telling us is the longer, but safe way
The safe path shown by the saints liberates one from danger and the cycle of birth and death.Many past lives were lost in ignorance, without understanding life's purpose. Without the Guru, one cannot grasp the secret meaning of existence. All creation has meaning; failing to understand it is our error. Through the Guru, … read more »
What is the importance of fasting
Fasting gradually reduces tamas guṇa, allowing the body to regenerate.Decrease your diet slowly, like reducing one spoon of rice daily from 100. In two months, you eat 40 spoons, a 60% reduction from the original. This steady decrease prevents sudden weakness. Fasting increases immunity, enabling … read more »
Accept yourself
Accept your natural self; it is inherently beautiful.A long nose is positive, like Gaṇeśa's. Do not use excessive makeup; let your skin regenerate. Use only necessary amounts. Unkempt beards are unnatural and unclean; keep your given hair washed and neat. Do not color … read more »
No one can change destiny but the Guru (from Ramayan)
The karmic record of destiny is unalterable.According to Vedānta, the record of one's life is written at birth by Vidhatā, the scribe of destiny. No one can delete this writing. A story illustrates this: the powerful Rāvaṇa confronted Vidhatā as she came … read more »
Is the mantra secret?
The mantra is personal, but sharing it is not a mistake.Your practice is intimate, and the mantra is not meant for telling. However, if another person learns it, it does not matter and is no problem. If that person then chooses to practice with it, that … read more »
Who controls the mind is a king
You are the king of your senses, not their slave.Control the ten senses, especially passion and taste. Use them for need, not greed. The technique is through mauna, a scientific understanding targeting mind and intellect. Know the limit of intellect and the supremacy of practice … read more »
Function of the mind
The mind is a mighty elephant requiring a goad for mastery.The mind is formed from ambitions, willpower, and ego; without these components, thought does not arise. Its true nature is elusive, like a hidden elephant described only through partial, sensory experiences. Intellectual theories cannot reveal it; … read more »
Aba Hama bhajan
Singing bhajan brings the direct experience of bliss and the cessation of mental activity.The happiness of divine unity is placed within the bhajan's form for any singer to experience. Observe your thoughts and feel the heart as waves of bliss circulate between it and the crown chakra. Reality, like … read more »
Bhajan... and kirtan
The nature of bhajan is a personal devotional expression distinct from kīrtan.Bhajans are poems born from direct experience, containing teachings, explanations, and a dialogue of questions and answers to provide clarity and motivation. While both are paths of bhakti, bhajan encompasses more narrative and instructional content than … read more »
To give eating is a good karma
True giving is recognizing the divine source of all.Nothing is ours; everything belongs to God. Giving to others is returning what is His, losing nothing. This act of seeing God in all creatures, like feeding the hungry, is profound karma. Domestic duty, such as … read more »
Purpose of the mauna...
The purpose of Mauna is inner observation to contemplate life's purpose and obstacles.Patañjali describes two kinds of thoughts: kliṣṭa, the negative thoughts creating trouble, and akliṣṭa. Overcoming negative mental modifications is essential, for everything is created from the mind. Your personal reality becomes as you think. This thinking … read more »
Learn to control also your emotions
The awakened state requires vigilant self-management through the coordination of thought, emotion, and action.Many struggle to harmonize these elements, leading to inner discord. The purpose of dedicated spiritual practice is to learn this self-control and to recharge one's entire being. However, a common failure occurs when individuals quickly lapse … read more »
Take your life in your hand
The Bhagavad Gītā's eighteen chapters are the eighteen branches of yoga, each a complete teaching of information and self-management.Indian wisdom hides this treasure within poetic forms like the dohā, where the first part poses a question and the second provides the managing answer. A life spent only in intellectual questioning, writing, and talking is … read more »
Too much eating increases the tamas guna
A light stomach is essential for spiritual practice.Excessive eating creates heaviness and hinders meditation, breathwork, and postures. The camp lifestyle specifically requires this lightness. However, some individuals experience constant hunger regardless of consumption, which is noted as a positive trait. Two bodily principles … read more »
Everything is the play of energy
Emotion is the fundamental energy of existence, and the key is to direct it positively.All feelings—jealousy, anger, hate, sadness, happiness, love, contentment—are this same energy, defined by the filter you apply. Filtering emotion through compassion makes it divine; filtering it through anger corrupts even love, harming both others and yourself. … read more »
Role of intellect in Kali Yuga -- anything you begin, call Lord Ganesa for help
Complete self-realization is achieved through universal love, which is bhakti, the main path in Kali Yuga, an age based solely on the name of God.The current degraded state of society, environment, and culture results from an intellect dominated by greed and ego. If the intellect were instead filled with bhakti, renunciation, austerity, and dispassion, this condition would not exist. Therefore, … read more »
It is worth to teach yoga only purely
We must preserve authentic spirituality by drinking wisdom directly from its source.Yoga has become a global practice, but it has been distorted and commercialized into countless variations. The original, integral teaching is being broken apart, like an apple ground into chutney. Techniques are extracted and repackaged under … read more »
Welcome your destiny
Life is a school where we learn from troubles, welcoming destiny with inner grace.We must empty negativity, trusting that difficult events will one day bring joy. Each evening, offer all experiences to the divine, clearing the day's account to avoid overload. Unintended harms occur, like hitting an animal or … read more »
You can purify your mind with love, understanding, and humbleness
The most dangerous pollution is that of the human mind.Since we have lost our spiritual connection to nature, we abuse the outer world. This outer pollution begins within. Anger, jealousy, greed, and selfishness pollute the mind first. A jealous person is a machine of pollution; … read more »
Be merciful to yourself -- practice!
Practice is essential; intellectual knowledge alone is insufficient.Your life passes without remembering God, so remember now. Excessive reading provides only information, not realization. Practice is vital. A story illustrates this: two brothers became ascetics—one a devotional practitioner, the other an intellectual scholar. The … read more »
Gyana Yoga: simple life and high thinking
The practice of Śama and Dama is the foundation for controlling the mind and senses.Śama is the withdrawal of the senses from external objects, not through hatred or escape, but through careful avoidance, like skillfully passing another car. The world itself holds no inherent bondage; you must learn to refuse … read more »
Who is the true doer?
A story of how divine service humbles even the greatest devotee.Hanumān, after Lord Rāma's victory, sat thinking of his own indispensable deeds: finding Sītā, bringing the healing herb, saving Lakṣmaṇa. His ego swelled. Rāma, knowing his thoughts, decided to gently drown this pride. He called Hanumān … read more »
If you practice Yoga, you will be far away from Roga
Yoga is the practice that separates you from illness and negative states.Where there is bhoga, or sense enjoyment and desire, there is roga, or illness. Where there is raga, meaning quarreling, jealousy, dualities, aversion, and attachment, there is also roga. These three—bhoga, raga, and roga—always go together. … read more »
God is not your slave -- but if you call from the deep of your heart, God will come.
The Lord arrives precisely when His devotees are in greatest distress.Consider Kṛṣṇa's birth. His parents, Devakī and Vasudeva, were imprisoned by her brother, the demon Kaṁsa. Terrified by a prophecy, Kaṁsa killed each of their newborn children by dashing them against a wall. This was utter … read more »
Sattvic life is the first step towards self realization -- teaching of the Rishis
The purpose of human life is to realize the Self.All creation has meaning. Other beings fulfill their purpose through destiny alone, without choice. Humans also have destiny but possess intellect and choice, granting a greater obligation. Merely eating, sleeping, and procreating makes human life no … read more »
What the Awakening of the Kundalini Really Is
The true nature of Kuṇḍalinī awakening is not a problem.The feeling of having a problem is a wrong, fixed idea. A genuine awakening is a pleasant rise of consciousness and wisdom; you do not feel it as a problematic energy. Disturbances arise from incorrect practice, … read more »
_thumb.jpg?v=1770854731)
Two Types of Maya (Part Two)
Māyā manifests as siddhis, or miraculous powers, which are a great temptation for the practitioner.These powers become accessible and pleasant but are the best friends of the ego. Using them creates a pattern of distraction, causing a fall from the yoga path. Spiritual awakening is often accompanied by such miracles, … read more »
_thumb.jpg?v=1770854731)
Two Types of Maya (Part One)
The purpose of yoga is the development of consciousness and spiritual awakening, not for gaining powers.Health must be balanced, but consciousness is primary. Māyā, as illusion and delusion, presents constant temptation. It changes form to match personal weaknesses like money, taste, or passion. This tricky force ultimately abandons its victims, leaving … read more »
Niskam Karma leads to liberation
Karma Yoga consists of two paths: sākām karma and niṣkām karma.Sākām karma is selfish work performed with expectation for personal benefit. This action binds you under karmic law, requiring repayment in this life or through future births, creating a chain of bondage whether the karma is … read more »