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Garden of spirituality
The mind is a garden you cultivate, yet a monkey within can destroy it.Through discipline, you create an inner garden of beautiful thoughts and feelings like love and wisdom. You are the gardener of this space. Conversely, some let their inner world become ruined and thorny. Devotees toil to … read more »
On Authentic Yoga and Spiritual Realization
Authentic yoga is a science of body, mind, and soul for realizing oneness with God, not a commercial wellness activity.Many modern practices use the name 'yoga' but lack authenticity, originating from commentaries rather than ancient wisdom. The true author of yoga is Lord Śiva, and its essence is found in authentic scriptures like the Mahāśiva … read more »
How to recognise yoga exercise?
Authentic yoga is found in ancient, vetted scriptures, not modern commercial adaptations.Yoga has become a commercial venture with many invented practices like laughing yoga, which are not in the śāstras. While personal practice is healthy and better than nothing, one should not be fanatical. To continue genuine … read more »
Public lecture in Blansko(CZ)
Bharatanatyam is a spiritual dance for self-realization.Its precise steps and Karnāṭaka music accompany sacred texts from Indian sages. The performance purifies the atmosphere and blesses all present. The dance titled Ānanda Nāṭamāḍuvar Tilayi depicts Śiva's cosmic dance of endless joy. Worshipping Śiva, … read more »
Harmony is within us
Health is the foundation of happiness, not external status.A healthy person is the happiest, regardless of circumstance. The most unhappy may be the richest or a beggar. Harmony is internal, not found in tablets. It comes from mutual understanding, kindness, and positive thinking. These … read more »
The Three Bodies and the Path of the Yogi
The three bodies—physical, subtle, and causal—contain our existence.Master the physical body without torturing it; some sustain themselves on specific roots and flowers for contentment. The yogi's sacred fireplace, or dhūni, offers protection and healing ash. A steady body in meditation allows the breath … read more »
Accept your mistakes
Our ailment is seeing mistakes in others, not accepting our own.We fight and blame, like spouses over a lost key. Not accepting mistakes creates guilt, which breeds fear. Fear creates anger as protection, and anger creates discrepancy. Accepting mistakes frees one from guilt. Purifying the entire … read more »
Patanjali Yoga Sutras from Strilky summer seminar (18/27)
The forest is a place of blessing for spiritual practice.This preserved woodland offers healing through its air and untouched nature. Many gather here from around the world for retreat, walking, yoga, and prānāyāma. True holiday is found in such peaceful solitude, not in noisy modern … read more »
Patanjali Yoga Sutras from Strilky summer seminar (17/27)
Webcast of afternoon satsang from summer seminar in Strilky Ashram (CZ) on August 15th 2009.
Gurudev fulfills every wish
The Guru's grace makes the impossible possible.Physical gathering is preferable, but mental unity through devotion also connects us. The Guru's will transcends ordinary limitations, as seen when weather defies forecasts. The Guru principle is not a person but a divine, conscious reality … read more »
The Divine Day of Incarnation
Today is the day of divine incarnation, celebrating Lord Kṛṣṇa's birth.Before creation, there is only the light of consciousness, Jyoti Svarūpa, which is Śiva. From this unified consciousness, the three guṇas manifest as Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśa. A divine manifestation appears without parents, while an incarnation, … read more »
Janmasthami
The celestial celebration marks divine incarnation.Observing the sky reveals falling stars and lightnings as signs of a great incarnation's arrival. Incarnation differs from manifestation. Manifestation is the initial emergence from cosmic consciousness as pure light, without mother or father, like Sadāśiva. … read more »
The Path of Vairāgya and Citta Vṛtti Nirodha
The path of yoga requires mastering the mind by overcoming attachment, which is the root of bondage.The restless mind, governed by the senses, is agitated by mamatā, or attachment. This attachment gives rise to the dual forces of rāga and dveṣa—attraction and aversion—which disturb our peace. We are like a hunted animal, … read more »
Don't run away
Vairāgya is not running away from life's duties and challenges.Systematic development of vairāgya is required, but it is not escapism. The true hero never flees. Some seek sannyāsa to escape personal troubles like a difficult marriage or unemployment, but they quickly learn ashram life demands … read more »
The Householder's Path: Dharma, Family, and Spiritual Practice
The householder's spiritual path is fulfilled through duty, family, and inner discipline.Running from family life is not the answer. Your primary dharma is to educate your children well; failing this means failing your spiritual path. This duty requires self-mastery, as children reflect your inner state. Modern society … read more »
The Fragility of Vairāgya and the Necessity of Steady Practice
The spiritual path requires steady practice to overcome fragile detachment.Our vairāgya, or dispassion, is easily broken by temptations, attachments, or disappointments. Like a rope gently cutting stone through constant motion, only long-term, determined practice can wear down our ignorance, ego, and negative tendencies. We are … read more »
Temptation
The path begins with mastering thoughts and cultivating vairāgya, a detachment easily misled by temptation.One vairāgya arises from hearing sacred revelations of reality's beauty and miraculous powers, inspiring a desire to achieve such states, like levitation. Between 1970 and 1980, a commercial course promised flying yogis for a high fee, … read more »
The Seer, the Sight, and the Seen: On Practice, Detachment, and Self-Knowledge
The path to self-realization requires practice and detachment.The seer, the sight, and the seen are distinct. In higher consciousness, the knower, knowledge, and the known become one. The self is the goal, but theory alone cannot bring realization; practice is essential. The self … read more »
Dhyana Mulam Guru Mutri
Meditation requires steadiness, aim, and grace.Yoga techniques like prāṇāyāma and chakra śodhana purify the mind, but physical discomfort from inadequate preparation creates mental agitation, preventing true meditation. The body is like a stable glass of water; when the body moves, the … read more »
Mastering the Mind: On Vṛttis and Spiritual Discipline
The core issue is mastering the mind by understanding and controlling mental modifications, or vṛttis, which are the key to spiritual progress.Discipline is essential. Vṛttis arise from sensory input and can be afflicted (kliṣṭa) or non-afflicted (akliṣṭa). What we see, hear, and smell creates thoughts that either support or hinder our practice. A pleasant sight or smell … read more »
Klishta and Aklishta Vritti
The three perceptual senses of sight, sound, and smell intensely influence the mind's vṛttis, which are either painful (kliṣṭa) or non-painful (akliṣṭa).A pleasing sight, like a beautiful bush, creates harmonious thoughts that seem supportive. A disturbing sight, like a tiger, creates immediate fear that disbalances you. Pleasant sounds make you happy, while disruptive noises disturb your peace. … read more »
A Gathering of Hearts: Disciples Share Their Journeys
The spiritual path is a gradual process of mastering the body and mind to achieve steadiness.Disciples share how decades of practice under a master's guidance provide strength, overcome illness, and transform qualities. The practice of mantra creates a direct, strengthening connection. The goal is to withdraw the senses from external disturbances, … read more »
Withdraw your Senses
External sounds and events do not inherently disturb; disturbance arises from personal liking and disliking.Withdraw the senses and merge with the inner sound to find peace. Mental modifications are in constant flux, making it difficult to remain fixed in a state of higher knowledge. Even with dedicated practice, underlying fears … read more »
The Essence of Mantra and Discipline
The essence of spiritual practice lies in authentic mantra and disciplined resolve.Mantra initiation must come from an authentic spiritual lineage thousands of years old, not from a self-made master. All are instruments; to declare oneself the master is to be lost. Do not imitate the external form … read more »
Follow the Guruvakya
The essence of spiritual discipleship is to follow the teacher's instruction, not to imitate their personal habits.I observed my disciples growing beards, assuming they should mimic my appearance. I clarified they should not adopt such external forms unless they wished to. A disciple expressed relief, having mistakenly believed imitation was required. My … read more »
The Essence of Rakṣā Bandhan
Rakṣā Bandhan addresses the universal human need for security and harmony.It originated from a time of distrust, particularly to protect women. Initially, humans lived in a peaceful state known as Rāmrājya, where borders did not exist and people lived as one family. Greed eventually arose, leading … read more »
Happy Raksha Bandhan
Rakṣābandhan is a ceremony for protection and security, especially for women.It originated from a need for safety in times of human distrust. Initially, there was an era of Rāmrājya, a harmonious kingdom without borders where people lived freely and happily. Greed later arose, leading to the … read more »
The Human Dharma and the Spiritual Path
The human duty is to use our intellect for discernment and to protect all life.We are blessed to be born human, possessing intellect for judgment and duty. This human dharma is a responsibility to love and protect all creatures, not discriminate. Our first fortune is this human birth. The second … read more »
Rich and Poor
True richness is found in our human birth, not in external wealth.We are blessed to be born with a healthy human body, possessing hands, legs, eyes, and intellect. This is our fundamental wealth. Being rich or poor is a state of mind. A person with billions may … read more »
Patanjali Yoga Sutras from Strilky summer seminar (6/27)
Webcast of afternoon satsang from summer seminar in Strilky Ashram (CZ) on August 4th 2009.
How to control the Citta Vritti (meditation with pranayam)
A guided meditation on breath awareness and the selective observation of thought.Sit straight with hands on knees, eyes closed. Inhale and exhale through the left nostril, observing the abdominal breath. Be a witness to the mind's modifications. Collect all thoughts and select only the important ones. Reject … read more »
The Path of Vairāgya: From Attachment to Universal Love
The yogic path examines consciousness from stone to cosmos, revealing life and energy in all existence.Ancient seers researched astrology, palmistry, and the interconnected life of 8.4 million creatures. They understood that violence in any form returns as karmic punishment, making non-violence—universal love—the central path. Attachment, or rāga, is the root of … read more »
Convert your attachment into Love
The path is defined by attachment (Rāga) or detachment (Vairāgya).Vairāgya, or non-attachment, is essential for spiritual progress and cannot be realized without sacred company (satsa g). Attachment is the root of selfishness and all suffering, creating duality where universal love should reside. A story illustrates … read more »
The Precious Human Life: Awakening from the Prison of Attachment
The human life is a precious chance to awaken from the prison of attachment and realize the Self.Our consciousness is a jungle of restless thoughts, which Patañjali teaches to calm. Attachment to "my" things, people, and ideas creates a terrible inner prison, while detachment brings freedom. We must respect all life, including trees, … read more »
Laziness
The human life is uniquely precious, and laziness is the thief that steals it.This opportunity for God-realization is rare, while worldly relationships are common across countless lives. The soul has slept through many existences, wasting the invaluable time given in human form. Time is life itself, more precious than … read more »
Control your Thoughts
Mastering thought is essential for spiritual practice.If you cannot control your thoughts, you cannot meditate. You sit in meditation, but your thoughts run elsewhere, like to your garden or home. Your physical body is in one place, but your feelings are with … read more »
Surrender
Complete surrender makes you an instrument for the divine master to act through.True spiritual life begins with total surrender of self-will, intellect, and possessions. When this happens, the divine master takes over and you become merely the instrument. You must let this inner master speak. Feeling this presence … read more »
The Pollution of Perception and the Path to Mastery
The pollution of perception obstructs mastery.Negative speech enters the ears, creating tension and restless thoughts that cloud consciousness. Slander spreads rapidly, unlike nourishing wisdom. All sensory input generates mental modifications. Sound and sight are primary causes of these disturbances. The sense … read more »
The Grace of Gray Hair and the Discipline of Yoga
The goal of yoga is the merging of individual consciousness into cosmic consciousness, ending suffering through unity and discipline.Gray hair signifies the wisdom earned from life's tests, a natural beauty superior to artificiality. True culture, now often lost, is found in living principles, not museums. Yoga is the disciplined path to this realization, requiring … read more »
Ahimsa and Discipline
The natural discipline of ahiṃsā reveals our separation from creation.Ancient sages lived in harmony, where animals felt no fear, drawn by the absence of aggression. Humans now radiate negative energy, making other creatures flee; we are not trustworthy. Ahiṃsā is the highest principle: non-violence. Anger, … read more »
A Month of Yoga and the Yogasūtra
This month's focus is the Yogasūtra and the path of yoga.Yoga is the universal principle uniting consciousness and creation, originating from the sound Aum. The ultimate goal is for individual consciousness to merge with the cosmic source. Many sages and incarnations have conveyed this truth through … read more »
Path of the Soul
The destination is one, and all paths ultimately lead to that single truth.Different masters created various techniques and paths according to different intellects, but all knowledge originates from one source. Great saints discovered the nature of the body, mind, and the soul's journey beyond death. They traced the … read more »
Practicing pranayama, Jaipur, India, (2/2)
Prāṇāyāma is a subtle and powerful practice for human well-being.Humans lead unbalanced lives, creating mental pollution and stress, unlike other creatures who live in harmony with nature. For this reason, the great sages researched life through tapasyā. Their findings in the Vedas declare that the … read more »
Practicing pranayama, Jaipur, India, (1/2)
Yoga is the science of uniting individual consciousness with cosmic consciousness.This union is achieved through the eight limbs of Aṣṭā ga Yoga. The first two limbs, Yama and Niyama, establish ethical discipline and self-purification. Āsana provides a stable posture. Prāṇāyāma, the control of breath, is central … read more »
Celebration of Swamijis birthday
Human life is attained after countless births for three goals: attaining soul knowledge, performing good deeds, and devoting oneself to the Lord.A true life is lived for the welfare of others, dedicating every moment to these aims. The celebration of a birthday is a sacred Yajña, a wish for a long and healthy life dedicated to service. … read more »
Watering the Garden of bhaktas
"On the 9th and 10th July 2009, Swamiji made a short tour to visit our ashrams in Nipal and Bola Guda.In the villages, towns and cities on the way He was eagerly awaited by his bhaktas"
Shiva is universal
The human body and all life are profoundly influenced by the seasons and the earth's radiance.The greatest threat today is climate change, caused by human greed. This mental pollution creates physical pollution, leading to drought and suffering. If we had followed the prayers and instructions of ancient sages, this situation would … read more »
Gurupurnima satsang
Satsang recorded on the occasion of Gurupurnima Jadan Ashram, Rajasthan, India.
Evening satsang from Jadan Ashram (1/2)
Evening satsang Om Vishwa Deep Gurukul Swami Maheshwarananda Ashram,Jadan, India recorded on 6th of July 2009.
Summer seminar June, 2009 in Strilky (CZ) (9/9)
Katha Pranam is a dynamic yogic practice influencing the entire being.This exercise complex trains the cardiovascular system and induces sweating. It moves all muscles, joints, and the spinal column, strengthening it. The practice influences inner organs, blood circulation, the hormonal system, and the subtle energy centers. … read more »