The theme of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is clearly set forth right at the beginning of the text; it is jñāna, knowledge. True, everything is given a devotional touch. But what Śrīmad Bhāgavatam proposes to bring about is spiritual wisdom and wisdom alone.
Read MoreWhere will the mind rest? The mind has to rest on itself! Now, this restfulness of the mind on its own essence, is called meditative absorption.
Read MoreSo, sannyaasaashrama is a phase of life which one can take up, if necessary, early from Brahmacharya itself, and pursue the ideal of supreme spiritual Wisdom, which alone results in ego-effacement or ‘Sannyaasa’.
Read MoreI don’t know why when some defects or insufficiencies are pointed out, people improve, if at all, cryingly. Can they not improve smilingly? After all, when some defects have come to light should you not be happy and try to set them right?
Read MoreThe supreme refuge is in surrender. If the mind can develop this sense of reliance and resignation on the Supreme, then that Supreme comes to redress, protect and support.
Read MoreThe Self is devoid of time, space and causality. To realize that Self, where is the question of fixing a time limit? As long as...
Read MoreYou have to provide nutrients to the mind and intelligence. When you provide the mental, intelligential and spiritual nutrients, the mind has to assimilate them. This process of assimilation depends on your sincerity, your interest and your dedication.
Read MoreThe saadhana can be two-fold. One is closing the door, sitting alone in a room and trying to dissolve the thoughts and emotions in the mind. The second part of the saadhana is, when such a state occurs, you have to comprehend it wisely.
Read MoreThe mind has to become pure. A number of qualities are to be imbued into it. This pursuit of purity, goodness and virtues, which directly bring peace to the mind – no matter whether the mind is active or inactive – is the ultimate quest of all religions, philosophy, spirituality and yoga.
Read MoreGod loves those who have noble qualities in them and the devotee, who, with utmost Shraddha, attention, imbibes all the lakshanas (characteristics) becomes dearest to Him.
Read MoreWe must be able to talk about this to others and also to our own children boldly and openly. This Atma-bala is necessary and through bhakti, and also through saadhana, you should develop it.
Read MoreYou may dislike and disapprove of bad. But you cannot dislike and disapprove of people, even if they have dislikeable qualities.
Read MoreThe truth being about our own Self, a mere theoretical knowledge either from the scriptures or from lectures will not be sufficient. We must discover the truth of our identity ourselves. We must live the truth.
Read MoreThe best way to live in this world happily is to appreciate and congratulate any one with superior qualities, without envy.
Read MoreAs soon as I started studying Physics, I fell in love with it. Study of Physics has always given rise to impersonality and humility in my mind. I would not like to study a science subject that could not be related to deeper harmony and the concept of unity in diversity. So, studying Physics was verily a spiritual sādhanā for me.
Read MoreBy spiritual practice, you must be able to absorb and assimilate any input from the world, and at the same time, generate timely response to deal with whatever difficult situations and impacts you face.
Read MoreSet up your home in such a style and sublimity that the thoughts and reflections on the Lord within the body will be encouraged, deepened and perpetuated.
Read MoreAcceptance of the world is acceptance of plurality. Acceptance of plurality means being influenced by it. And to be influenced by dvandvas (pairs of opposites) means to be afflicted by desires, ego and possessiveness. These notes alone and nothing but these very notes of your own mind are the source of your afflictions. Their disappearance contributes to spirituality. When these notes begin to fall one by one, the worldliness dissolves and godliness shines forth.
Read MoreWhat is the correct sādhanā? How long should it continue? What is the actual goal? When will I achieve it? Poojya Swamiji, graciously, addresses the seekers, throwing light on these matters.
Read MoreA devotee may initially seek God – a glimpse or vision of the God of his imagination. But as he progresses on the path of devotion, the focus shifts from God to his own personality.
Read MoreThe God who is seated in your heart and in your devotion, will burn off all curses and all evil influences — this kind of faith you should have. Either you will have a faith or you will have an understanding. Proceed in this manner; do not miss your focus.
Read MoreYou may wonder how this śraddhā or subtle refinements are going to help you in God-realization. In the pursuit of God-realization, your focus should always be on your mind. It is your mind that has to be purified.
Read MoreWhat is spiritual vision in the end? To love and live in this world, FINDING IT GOD, the most beautiful. In this beauty, ugliness will dance, cruelty will sing, compassion and grace will play their notes too. But indifference must reign.
Read MoreIt is wrong to think that we cannot work without desires. Desire need not be a motivating force at all if one learns to live naturally. Does the earth need any desire to go around the sun? Do the trees grow and blossom motivated by any desire? In fact, desires hinder our natural efficiency and perfection.
Read MoreIt is one thing to say that ‘may the mind delight in the Lord’s Lotus-feet’, and it is altogether different to make the mind actually delight in the Lotus-feet.
Read MoreWhile interactional sadhana strengthens, deepens and enhances your individual pursuit, both these are verily enriched and empowered by taking up collective sadhana. Only when there is a collective programme, all of you will come together and join.
Read MoreIf we look into the various phases of Poojya Swamiji’s life, then we understand that it is the constant working of one quality called sincerity that made him live each phase with full dedication and outlive it with ease to follow the call of the next.
Read MoreThe word ‘Gurutva’ means profundity, solemnity, dignity and loftiness. In spiritual life, it implies the ability to receive, retain, and give. As one progresses, he must ultimately resemble the sky and God!
Read MoreIf the earth is divine, then whatever has grown on the earth is also divine, including our own body. Instead of realizing this divinity which is already there in us and around us, we construct temples to install God there.
Read MoreExpectations must become extinct. Liberation is vāsanā-tānavam—extinction of desires. Desires will not fall the way you want, but will fall. Recognize the place for extinction of desires, and allow them to settle.
Read MoreSwami Nirviseshananda said: “I don’t know of a time when my mind was not given to seeking the Truth. In that quest I have found scientific pursuit and spiritual sadhana always in complementary role – each strengthening and refining the other. Both physics and spiritual seeking used to give me the sublimity of unification and expansion, the joy of arriving at greater and greater harmony underlying the world variety.
Read MoreFor gaining courage in increasing and resourceful measures, you have to look, however, to your own within. Break through the mortal sheaths of your body. Rise above the mind-sheath. Penetrate the intellectual one also.
Read MoreLet your focus be on these: Expansion of the mind; elevation of your attitude; and excellence in action. When all these three are blended together, it becomes a truly transformed personality – a new personality. This is the true purpose of religion and spirituality.
Read MoreThe real monuments of India’s ancient cultural heritage are the Vedas, Epics and other texts constituting the vast Sanskrit literature bequeathed to us through generations. It is because of the fact that these numerous scriptural compositions were composed in Sanskrit, the most scientific and refined language in the world, that we are still able to understand them with the same clarity and emphasis, as it was thousands of years ago.
Read MoreYou carry an infinitely potent mind. Never fail to recognize this great potency of the mind. We call it mind, but actually it is a projection or expression of the Self, the Supreme Reality, which has created and which is preserving this great endless Universe
Read MoreThe word ‘Hindu’ is formed by the first letter of Himalayas (Hi) and the second letter of Indu (ndu) sarovara (lake). On the north we are sheltered by the Himalayas. On the other three sides we are encircled by the sea. This wonderful place called Hindusthana, we hold, is built by God (deva-nirmitam desham).
Read MoreYou should develop an austere temper as a result of which, even under physical sickness – of course, you should give proper medical attention to it – your mind is not subdued by it. Let not any physical sickness paralyse or weaken your spiritual mind. If the body suffers from ill-health attend to the physical condition medically, but for most part rely on the virtue of your mind – its strength and inspiration.
Read MoreAny obstinate note is a killing factor! It takes away peace; it takes away the blessedness; it takes away health; it destroys inner wealth; it destroys the person.
Read MoreWhen we look at the human civilization in this comprehensive way, we understand how gratefulness as a quality will enrich human life in ample measure.
Read MoreThrough the Teacher’s responses to various situations, we get a touch of his vision – his love and his dispassion. In receiving his comments and accepting the corrections, our ego gets sublimated. In working with the co-disciples and accommodating others lovingly as the Guru does, our minds expand.
Read MoreMoksha is a clarity, a freedom that you need from whatever troubles you have now. If there is no trouble, you don’t need moksha.
Read MoreTo think that the practice of samādhi is the finale in spiritual life is wrong. The man of perfection is not one who is permanently immersed in samādhi. Even Samādhi is a state or avastha.
Read MoreWhatever you do, wherever you are, you can pursue constant introspectional sadhana of refinement and purification. In fact it should be so.
Read MoreFulfillment will be had when the mind is properly treated to become pure and the hindrances to fulfillment are removed. And, when the mind is properly developed to have fulfillment, will it need any of these external objects, situations or possessions?
Read MoreSuppose you have a little depression or disinterestedness today – what of that? Let it remain. Be at home even with that. Know that as it has come in so also will it pass off. If you keep this elevated attitude, soon you will find that the depressive moods will become less frequent.
Read MoreThe spiritual thinkers of India realized that the only way to sustain a civilization on the auspicious path, was to keep people anchored to their own inmost Self.
Read MoreVairāgya makes our mind free of possessiveness and selfishness. It liberates us from the fear of losing what we like and facing what we dislike, from preferential clinging and prejudicial intolerance.
Read MoreWe are born with an insufficiency or lack that makes us look for happiness. We are born with the delusion that something from the world will fulfil that lack, will make us happy.
Read MoreAll sorrow, confusion and difficulties about death will vanish when the mind and intelligence reflect upon the supreme Truth of immortality of the Soul
Read MoreMany of you get confused about what in us gets liberated. My reply is, whichever part in you now feels bound, will start feeling the absence of bondage.
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