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
5460 results found
Think!
The greatest obstacle to realizing our true nature is ignorance, which can only be removed by devotion and love.We ask about life's meaning and purpose, questioning our origin and destination. The fundamental inquiry is whether God exists. The truth is there is no difference between God and us. Our ignorance of this unity is … read more »
One question
The devotee's question about Rāma arises from deep love, not ignorance.A knower asks to know more, for each hearing strengthens the heart. Hearing divine glory dispels great ignorance, which is like a formidable demon. Rāma's glory is the nourishing moonlight, and the devotee is the bird … read more »
The benefit is in the values
The benefit is in the value you assign.A case of glasses sells for 5,000 crowns. If its price rises to 50,000, your gain is 45,000, though the object is unchanged. If the price falls to 100, your loss is 4,900, though the object … read more »
We are repeating some mistakes
We forget our past lives and mistakes, repeating errors and ignoring our inner Self for material pursuits.Our negative actions burden the Earth, causing reactions like environmental harm and unrest. Pre-industrial life was simpler and healthier, but now endless desires drive pollution and unhappiness in an imperfect man-made world. "Every action has a … read more »
The Choice is in Your Hands
Your life's direction and spiritual outcome are determined solely by your own decisions and actions.Enlightenment, liberation, and your state of being are your personal responsibility. Others can only offer support; the ultimate choice and required effort are yours. While advice from figures like a master or parents is valuable, you … read more »
Maha Kumbh Mela 5
The Kumbh Mela is a spiritual festival for all humanity, transcending culture and religion.The core purpose is to realize the Guru Tattva—the principle of the master. If you attend yet fail to understand this essence, your fundamental nature remains unchanged, like a crow that stays black despite washing. This … read more »
Maha Kumbh Mela 4
The challenge of preserving spiritual purity after a profound pilgrimage.Those who return from a great pilgrimage are imbued with a divine aura, their very skin and dress considered holy. This state is a direct result of the sacred environment and collective consciousness. However, this elevated … read more »
Maha Kumbh Mela 3
The Kumbh Mela's holy bath purifies all beings, seen and unseen.Divine souls and deities bathe there in astral forms alongside physical pilgrims. Bathing during this specific astrological alignment washes away one's sins. The teacher performed the bath with the wish that its fruits reach all devotees … read more »
Maha Kumbh Mela 2
The Kumbh Mela reveals the power of devotion over physical conditions.Millions gather, not for comfort but for a sacred bath. Their longing and faith transform the experience. They do not judge the river's condition; where love exists, no impurity is perceived. True devotion purifies perception. Without … read more »
Maha Kumbh Mela 1
We gather to reflect on the journey of life, marked by constant activity in body, mind, and circumstance.By grace, we continue without stopping, understanding that difficulties arise to awaken us and renew our path. A recent period was highlighted by a spiritual gathering but shadowed by a tragedy where many suffered greatly. We, … read more »
Maha Kumbh Mela 6
The blessing of the Kumbh Mela is a direct infusion of divine wisdom into your consciousness.You have received this blessing from the holy gathering and the spiritual guide. I congratulate all who attended, for your awareness is now filled with the nectar of spiritual understanding. This filling is a transformative event. … read more »
The discipline
Discipline requires wisdom, not rigid force.We know discipline is vital, yet we also fail. It demands energy. For example, if you are exhausted from a late night or a child's needs, sleep may be better than forcing a yoga practice. Practicing … read more »
The techniques
The essence of practice is the heart's intention, not technical precision.The specific method for using prayer beads is unimportant. What matters is remembering the divine with a relaxed and sincere heart, whether consciously or unconsciously. This remembrance, like any action, has an inherent effect. True liberation … read more »
The judgment
Do not judge others hastily, for you do not see their hidden struggles.A beautiful, polished stone was once raw, having rolled for miles, hitting other stones and enduring slaps from the river to become smooth. Its current beauty is the result of that long, suffering journey. If you … read more »
Spiritual partners
Finding a spiritual partner is both a possibility and a challenge.Many spiritual people are present, yet they often go unrecognized. You can find a spiritual partner directly, or you can transform a non-spiritual one through your holy company, like the paras stone turns iron to gold. … read more »
About family life
The joy of family life brings inherent responsibilities and potential sorrows.Parents often worry about their child's health, education, career, and marriage from the moment of birth. In modern times, children's perceived excessive freedom can cause familial suffering. For spiritual practitioners, forcing celibacy against one's nature creates … read more »
Fear of death
Death is the ultimate truth, and the Self is immortal.You must practice continuously to remove the fear of death. The whole life is a preparation for the last minute. Death is a separation from all material things you love, which is why a yogī says, … read more »
Human life
A human life is measured only by the time spent thinking of God with love and tolerance; time spent in negativity, ego, and hatred is lost.We are all running, but must ask: where are we going? Peace comes only from union with God within. Our current life is in our hands. Do not waste time on disturbances or unsolvable problems; they … read more »
I Will Be Thine Always
Everything happens for a reason; accept it with thankfulness.Surrender your life completely, for only with the divine can you find happiness, even through great suffering. We do not know when we will encounter spiritual light, so never close your heart's door. You may travel … read more »
Qualities
Yoga is the eternal cosmic principle, the governing energy of the universe.My aim is to awaken this consciousness within you. Your specific beliefs are not important; what matters is your inward awakening. We are sleeping and must awaken ourselves. One becomes holy, human, or a devil through … read more »
4 kinds of health
Yoga addresses four dimensions of health: physical, mental, social, and spiritual.Yogic practices are psychosomatic, affecting both body and mind. Physical health alone is insufficient without mental health, and vice versa. Social health is defined by avoiding harmful behaviors like crime or idleness; unhealthy social conduct leads … read more »
The Purpose and Practice of Life
The purpose of life is to be a protector and to realize God.Our duty is to protect all creation and to develop spiritually through love and respect. The greatest tragedy is to die without God, which meditation and yoga practice can prevent. A spiritual life means fulfilling your … read more »
Why yoga helps
Yoga is a holistic system for health, integrating movement with a mysterious, blessing-based efficacy.Modern research validates yoga as a primary therapy. Its special power lies not merely in physical movement but in the transmitted grace from its saintly founders. This blessing, akin to holy water in a church, is … read more »
The ocean of the wisdom
The wisdom of ancient sages offers profound insight into the mind and cosmos, accessible through disciplined study.Patañjali is a foundational figure in understanding psychology, focusing on mastering mental modifications. Greater than any single sage is the collective ocean of wisdom from the ṛṣis, whose work on consciousness and the universe is unparalleled. … read more »
Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodah
Thoughts are waves in the consciousness, entering through the five senses.Control the senses to control the thoughts. Do not see, hear, or speak negativity. Knowledge of truth can be indigestible, causing unhappiness and suffering. Therefore, memory of past lives and knowledge of the future are withheld, … read more »
Discipline
Discipline is the foundation for all attainment and realization.Discipline is absent where selfishness or uncontrolled desire begins. When discipline breaks, laziness appears. Laziness brings fear, and fear creates anger, aggression, and destructiveness. A person with discipline is never afraid. Everything you wish to attain—wealth, … read more »
The power of mantra
Mantra is a powerful healing energy and a form of prayer.Spiritual consciousness brings inspiration from God, and creation itself occurred through sound. Divine messages arrive through symbols or voice—an inner voice, a voice through another, or a sound from space. A yogi meditating expands consciousness to … read more »
The Union of Yoga
Yoga is the union of individual consciousness with cosmic consciousness, the aim of life.This unity means two must become one to walk the narrow street of love. We are often unaware of this divine presence. A story illustrates this: a man walking in a pleasant desert saw footprints and … read more »
Millennium World Peace Summit
The fundamental problem is ego, which prevents tolerance and peace for the sake of power and position.When individuals claim their religion is best, they operate from ignorance. Worldly summits on peace are often undermined by those same egotistical forces. True knowledge dispels this ignorance. A story illustrates this: a crow, sitting atop … read more »
Human qualities
Human life is a precious chance for spiritual realization, not to be wasted on mere animal pursuits.Life's temptations and phases pass swiftly like a river's high water, bound by time and karma. The greatest tragedy is to die without self-realization, as rebirth into human form is not guaranteed and depends on one's … read more »
_thumb.jpg?v=1770854680)
Rakshabandhan (15.8.2000)
Rakshābandhan is a festival for sisters and brothers.The coming full moon marks this day. A brother promises to protect his sister. Every man makes a vow to protect and respect the entire feminine world. For those with no sister, you can choose someone … read more »
_thumb.jpg?v=1770854680)
Rama and Shiva (from Ramayana)
Devotion must flow through the Guru to reach the divine.One who understands anything truly understands Śiva. Understanding Śiva is necessary to understand Rāma, and understanding Śiva is required to understand Viṣṇu. Thus, divine love moves through these forms, ultimately directed toward Śiva. Pure love for … read more »
_thumb.jpg?v=1770854680)
Sri Ganeshji (from Ramayana)
Gaṇeśa is the principle of beginnings and the governing power of all reality.The common belief is that Gaṇeśa is the son of Śiva and Pārvatī, but this presents a chronological contradiction if He existed before their union. The true meaning is found in the name: "Gaṇ" refers to … read more »
Guest
The art of hospitality is defined by generous, proactive service, not hesitant questioning.Tradition dictates immediately offering a guest a drink, then food, without asking if they are hungry. Polite guests will decline even if starving. Therefore, say "Please come and eat," not "Are you hungry?" While serving, never … read more »
_thumb.jpg?v=1770854679)
Shakti and Shiva (from RAMAYANA)
The Eternal Śakti is the primordial, immortal power, the inseparable half of Śiva.She is Anādi-Śakti, without beginning or end. The body is symbolically divided: the left side is feminine Śakti, the right is masculine Śiva. She is Ardhā ginī, the half-part. This is not physical but the fundamental … read more »
Unity of nature and consciousness
The cosmic wedding symbolizes the perfect union of nature and consciousness.This union brings balance and joy to all creatures across the earth. It is not a personal event but a planetary celebration. Every being, from rabbits to rivers, is invited to partake in this happiness. The … read more »
Santosha
Our life is unsettled, a wandering search.True peace, santoṣa, arises from inner settlement, not external pursuits. We exist in pravṛtti, a state of endless doing and fragmentation, divided by relationships and roles into countless pieces. Life's pressures and disappointments wound us, hammering … read more »
Cleannes
Prosperity is not just money; it is cleanliness, which is Lakṣmī.Lakṣmī goes only where there is purification: clean dress, room, body, and clean thoughts. Your luck disappears if you are not clean. The caste system was originally a division within one's own body, where the feet … read more »
_thumb.jpg?v=1770854679)
Request of Devas (from Ramayana)
The gods request Śiva's marriage to Pārvatī.Viṣṇu, Brahmā, and all the devas approach the meditating Śiva. They greet and praise him. Śiva, happy, welcomes them and asks their purpose. Brahmā explains they come with a great request for his help. Śiva gives … read more »
_thumb.jpg?v=1770854679)
Inner qualities (from Ramayana)
The battle against the inner demon of ego is fought within your own mind.A powerful demon named Tāraka, representing ego and jealousy, conquers the world and enslaves the gods, who are your own good qualities. You plead with your mind to abandon these negative traits, but your efforts fail. … read more »
_thumb.jpg?v=1770854679)
Vishnu and Shiva (from Ramayana)
A divine encounter requires full attention, for its moment is fleeting and its nourishment eternal.Rāma appears to Śiva to describe Pārvatī's divine qualities, carefully preparing his mind. We must seize such moments completely, as you never know if destiny will allow another meeting, like a leaf separated from its branch. … read more »
_thumb.jpg?v=1770854678)
Sadhana and Tapasya (from Ramayana)
The call to spiritual practice is the authority to endure and overcome all obstacles.Sādhanā is the giver of happiness and the remover of troubles, which is why all saints and yogis practice. Obstacles are natural on the path; one must master physical and mental difficulties and not give up … read more »
Coconut
A greedy man's vow to Śiva reveals how bargaining and delay create unnecessary peril.He vows a coconut offering if his wish is granted. When successful, he seeks the cheapest coconut, repeatedly delaying his purchase while praying for economic collapse to lower prices. After twenty-five days, a merchant finally reveals … read more »
_thumb.jpg?v=1770854678)
Satiji (from Ramayana)
The narrative examines a spiritual conflict arising from attachment and disrespect.A devotee wishes to attend a festival at her father's house, but her lord advises against going without an invitation, sensing deliberate disrespect. The principle is that one may visit a parent's home uninvited, but not … read more »
_thumb.jpg?v=1770854678)
About Satsang (from Ramayana)
The glory of satsa ga is its power to transform and elevate.In good company, ordinary wood becomes like sandalwood, and street water becomes holy by joining the Ga gā. When water mixes with milk, the water's value rises to match the milk's price. Similarly, whoever joins satsa … read more »
_thumb.jpg?v=1770854678)
Inner Dialogue (from Ramayana)
The inner dialogue is the source of clarity and action.You ask a question inwardly and receive an answer, gaining clarity. With inner clarity, you do not suffer; you know what to do. Everything begins with inner decisions. First, decide inside while controlling the senses and … read more »
_thumb.jpg?v=1770854678)
God's play - Lila (from Ramayana)
The divine play is profound and often misunderstood by those bound by attachment and ignorance.Human perception is limited, seeing only present suffering without understanding its past causes from previous lives. Questions about why the innocent suffer arise from a selfish perspective that fails to comprehend karma and destiny, which are … read more »
_thumb.jpg?v=1770854678)
Haribhakti (from Ramayana)
The technique of devotion is paramount, for without knowing how, you realize nothing.Many perform spiritual practices but are not successful, lacking the precise method. You must ask the experts and follow their instructions. Millions try their best yet do not succeed. You are here to learn how to … read more »
Sri Yagyavalkya Muni and Sri Bharadvaj Muni (from Ramayana)
The sage's inquiry about Rāma is met with a knowing smile, for the question comes from one already devoted.When you love, you seek endless descriptions of the beloved; each telling strengthens the heart. So it is with hearing of God. The glory of Rāma dispels the great darkness of ignorance like moonlight. The devotee … read more »