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5460 results found
Friendship
True friendship is a spiritual union beyond emotion or self-interest.In Sanskrit, dosti means two truthful beings supporting each other on the path of reality. It is not defined by physical relations but by a harmony of heart and mind, like the two wings of a … read more »
Pitras - Our Ancestors
The Pitraloka is where ancestors reside until receiving a signal to proceed to their next life.Some depart quickly, while others wait a very long time, alongside those who have committed suicide. It is the prime duty of children to perform all required religious ceremonies to free their parents from this realm. … read more »
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Tattva of action (from Upanishads)
The essence of right action lies in understanding duty and performing it without ego.Many err by either renouncing duties without wisdom or acting with pride and attachment. Such misguided action or inaction binds one further to karma. Therefore, know your dharma precisely. Protect your duty, and it will protect … read more »
Become a part of the ashram
The āshram is the right place for spiritual practice, where every action is intensified a thousandfold, for good or ill.Being there means integrating fully into its life, not just meditating. A saint once prayed to be reborn even as a dog at an āshram's door to receive blessings. The mother of the sage Nārada, after … read more »
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Merger (from Upanishads)
The wandering consciousness seeks its eternal seat.The inner will often changes its focus, mistaking various masters or gods for the ultimate truth. This wandering wastes countless lifetimes. The true marriage is a merging into divine light where no separation remains. True friendship … read more »
I greet God in you
For one who has realized God, their gaze becomes like God's, seeing the divine essence in all beings.A realized being sees God everywhere, perceiving only the one essence of Paramātmā in every creature. Their vision is divine kindness and mercy. Such a perspective is rare. In the current age, this divine vision resides … read more »
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God is Everywhere (from Upanishads)
The divine is already present, yet we search externally with our faculties.We plead for a presence that is already seated beside us, like calling a guest who is already in the home. We possess the divine within but believe we do not, while believing we have problems … read more »
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Naham Karata - God is the Doer (from Upanishads)
The world exists within the presence of the omnipresent Almighty.Nothing belongs to you; it is given for your use, not abuse. The creator, protector, and liberator is one. Do not think you are the doer, for all happens only through His power. Life itself is … read more »
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Be always alert (from Upanishads)
Awakening means moving beyond passive ritual to conscious, alert duty.A master's questions and assignments always have a purpose, requiring you to discern the essence behind the words. A story illustrates this: a master, testing his devoted disciple, falsely claimed to need a new heart. The … read more »
Living from Guruvakya
The community sustains itself through daily engagement with spiritual teachings despite limited direct contact.A group in a distant country actively practices, gathering in temples and collaborating during visits. They rely on recorded guidance throughout the year, meeting their teacher only briefly annually. This infrequency is noted as a challenge, … read more »
You can't take everything with you (from Upanishads)
You are a guest in a world belonging to God.Nothing you use or enjoy is yours permanently; it is all given temporarily by God. Believing possessions are yours causes suffering through fear of loss, anger, and jealousy. The correct understanding is that everything belongs to … read more »
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Purnamada (from Upanishads)
The Upanishads are the essence of Vedic wisdom, taught by sages to disciples who sit near.They contain foundational teachings on the self, the universe, and the divine. Among them, the Īśāvāsya Upanishad's famous Śānti Mantra, Pūrṇamadaḥ, encapsulates this entire ocean of knowledge. This single mantra is said to have an effect … read more »
Protect life
Life is life, and suffering is universal.A mother's cry is the same, whether human or animal. Imagine your newborn taken away, knowing it will be killed. Consider the terror of being led to slaughter, your stomach cut open. Animals feel this fear … read more »
What do you take with you?
Everything originates from sound, and all matter contains sound.Practicing universal mantras unites individual consciousness with cosmic consciousness. Solitude is essential for spiritual practice, allowing time for mantra, meditation, and reflection. Utilize such periods to remember the divine, as a life without this remembrance passes … read more »
Asanas as meditation
The morning practice harmonizes body, mind, and soul through a specific sequence.The program begins at 4:30 a.m. with prayer, followed by āsanas, prāṇāyāma, and meditation. Practicing āsanas is itself a form of meditation, a cosmic dance that purifies. Beginning early is proper to counteract tamo guṇa, the … read more »
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Meditation, part 1 (introduction)
Meditation prioritizes comfort over rigid posture, as liberation arises from knowledge and devotion, not physical positions.A still body supports a calm mind, like a stable glass allowing liquid to settle. Close the eyes to focus inward. Chanting Oṁ engages the primordial sound of creation, existence, and dissolution. The vibration originates at … read more »
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Meditation, part 2 (meditation)
Withdraw from the external world to cultivate inner relaxation and awareness.Release the day's efforts and enter a state of comfort and safety. Observe your surroundings and then bring attention inward to the physical body. Systematically relax each part from the toes to the head, achieving a … read more »
4 pillars of human society
Fulfill four pillars for a successful human life: Dharma, Artha, Kāma, and Mokṣa.Dharma is duty and principle; protect your dharma and it protects you. Every entity has a dharma, like fire to give heat and eyes to see. Uphold familial duties reciprocally. Artha is material wealth for a … read more »
The Path of Self-Inquiry Meditation
Self-Inquiry Meditation is a systematic technique to gain harmony and understand oneself.The world is restless and stressful, creating fear for many. This meditation's first level helps maintain a life without fear in the outer world. The second addresses fear within one's own home or personal space. The … read more »
High standard of life and DHARMA
All beings seek happiness, a quality of joy found even in the smallest creatures.This universal desire is expressed in the wish: may all be happy, or sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ. True happiness, sukha, is a state of complete well-being, free from disturbance. To cultivate this, one must nurture the tree … read more »
About human fear
The world's state is both troubled and hopeful.Fear pervades human life, arising from illness, conflict, and insecurity. This fear damages the psyche, and all troubles are created by humans themselves. Pollution threatens the planet, and the human mind is also polluted. Ancient teachings … read more »
Soul, ego, qualities
The soul is a manifested mixture of the divine Ātmā and the non-divine anātmā, created from the ego.Ego is the essential principle of individuality; without it, existence ceases. It becomes dangerous only when selfish and dominating. Our personal qualities, which constitute the soul, define us as holy, criminal, or human. These qualities are … read more »
Spirituality
Spirituality is the state of pure consciousness, not the practices used to reach it.Praying, fasting, meditating, or eating vegetarian food are not spirituality itself; they are merely techniques. These methods are tools for purification. Their purpose is to cleanse the mind and consciousness of impurities. Through compassion, forgiveness, kindness, … read more »
The Yogi, the Hunter, and the Deer
The story of the yogi and the hunter illustrates the challenge of discerning truth in a moral dilemma.A hunter, pursuing a deer, asks a meditating yogi for the animal's direction. Telling the truth aids a killing; lying violates a lifelong principle. The yogi faces an immediate test where any action seems sinful. In … read more »
Revenge
Revenge is a consuming fire, but forgiveness is the path to freedom.The epic Mahābhārata illustrates this through complex tales like that of Bhīṣma. He inadvertently wronged a princess, Ambā, by abducting her for a marriage that was refused. She vowed revenge across lifetimes, ultimately causing his death. … read more »
Meditation for World Peace
Meditation is a universal tool for peace, not reserved for ascetics.Through meditation, spiritual figures attained energy and became unifying forces, preaching universal love and harmony. Worldly people, observing this, sought the same power but found their minds cluttered with daily stresses—family, work, financial, and health problems—unlike … read more »
Mind - Sun and Moon
The moon, sun, and central channel represent the mind, intellect, and consciousness.The moon symbolizes the changing mind and flowing emotions, like water. The sun symbolizes steady intellect, decisive action, and the clarity of fire. The central channel, suṣumnā, is where pure consciousness flows as the soul's light. … read more »
Wishing on the new moon
The new moon is a holy day, a time to connect with divine light.Upon first sighting it, greet it with folded hands. After looking at the moon, you may repeat a wish; it will be fulfilled. Then, look at your palms and send this light into your hands. Your … read more »
World peace is in your hands
World peace is in your hands, yet there is no peace.This is illustrated by a story of a disciple who sought to trap his master. The disciple, filled with doubt and jealousy, caught a bird. He asked the master to identify what was hidden in his … read more »
Cosmic family
Our family is Yoga in Daily Life, a global spiritual family united by practice and devotion.These days together are a divine blessing. We are one family, helping each other. This family has many rooms and branches across the world. It does not matter if you are here or in another country. … read more »
Now is the best time to begin
We must learn to find spiritual nourishment amidst life's constant noise.A rider and his thirsty horse find a well requiring a noisy generator. The frightened horse refuses to drink. The farmer states the horse must learn to drink with the noise or remain thirsty. This illustrates … read more »
The Divine Glimpse: God Sees the Heart
God sees the quality of the heart in the moment of prayer.Divine response is not based on status or lengthy prayer but on the immediate quality of love within. God recognizes the devotion but also perceives any underlying selfishness, doubt, or impurity. Therefore, the prayer must be … read more »
Commitment
The spiritual path requires enduring the master's rigorous discipline to be transformed.Disciples possess different qualities, but must commit to one path without constant change. A strict master's harsh grace is necessary. The disciple is like hot iron in a forge; the master's teachings are the hammer, and … read more »
Serve and create a positive mind
Renunciation is the path to freedom and happiness.To be free, you must relinquish what you clutch. Holding onto attachments, like clutching a cobra, binds both you and the object. Negative emotions like jealousy stem from such attachments. We often find we cannot simply … read more »
Forgiveness and humility
A story illustrates the difference between physical action and mental attachment.Two traveling priests were taught to avoid worldly attachments. On their journey back to their master, they encountered a girl needing to cross a wide river. One priest carried her across on his back to help … read more »
Stick to your principles
Remain steadfast in your principles.Many advised changing dress for acceptance in the West or in communist countries, but the commitment to one's uniform, like a soldier's, must not waver. Temptations to change will arise over years, disappointing followers. Inward certainty … read more »
Three things are important
Whether the world will be in peace or in pieces is in your hands.These activities begin with the individual. We must cultivate tolerance, respect, and understanding. We must respect all religions, cultures, and nations. We must protect the environment and all creatures. We should do as much as we … read more »
Search within
The Self searches for the Self within, not in the external world.We lose our true nature inside ourselves, in the darkness of ignorance, yet we often search for it outside where there seems to be more light. This is as illogical as searching for a lost needle … read more »
What is in your heart
The disciple misapplied the teaching to see God in all.He heard that God is in every heart and took it literally. When a mad elephant charged, villagers fled and warned him to escape. But the disciple, thinking he must see God in the elephant, walked … read more »
Guru seva
Guru-sevā is constant, selfless service to the spiritual master.It is a complete offering of one's time and energy without expectation of rest or personal gain. The service described began before dawn and continued throughout the entire day and night. It included bringing water, cleaning, … read more »
Glory of Gurudev's feet
This bhajan is a direct address to the mind, both the speaker's and every listener's.It speaks to the internal conflicts of doubt and suffering common to all. Many listeners may not comprehend, agree with, or may even argue against these words, while others simply enjoy the feeling. The core instruction … read more »
Harmony & understanding
Before acting or speaking, know what you are doing.Our harmful thoughts poison our positive transformation. We are convinced we are right, but we do not know the full reality. Who are we to judge? It is better to remain humble, peaceful, and calm. Support … read more »
Rishi consciousness
In this age, the path to protection is to withdraw and limit your needs.This inward focus is the true protection for all. Your daily practice and study contain the necessary wisdom. Understanding this teaching from the heart is essential; only with understanding can you act. I am testing your … read more »
Human Dharma
Know thyself by first knowing your human duties and qualities, not just your immortal soul.Understanding your own human values is essential before you can properly understand or fight for human rights; without this self-knowledge, you risk abusing those rights. The key human quality is buddhi—the limitless intellect that allows us … read more »
Significance of Mahaprabhuji's bhajans
The most valuable teaching is found in Mahāprabhujī's bhajanas.This is the ultimate instruction. It is the supreme guidance. Seek it there. It holds the highest wisdom. This is the definitive path. All essential truth resides within it. There is no greater source. Embrace this … read more »
Meditation of the Holy Ones
Meditation is a divine practice that awakens spiritual consciousness.It is often associated with religious individuals who seek connection with God and life's ultimate purpose. A meditator's consciousness becomes pure, filled with mercy, compassion, and love. All beings have a place on this planet, yet … read more »
Wings of Vairagya and Bhakti
Vairāgya, the tendency to renounce, is a lifelong work.It is like a powerful love that compels action regardless of obstacles, a love directed toward God. If you deeply long for something, you find a way, just as a determined person will overcome transport failures … read more »
Globalisation
Globalization creates international cities, but the true heart of a nation is found in its remote countryside.Major cities, filled with diverse and sometimes threatened populations, can be sites of tension. In contrast, rural areas often preserve a natural trust and harmony, as seen in communities where doors are left unlocked. This pattern … read more »