The purpose of an Ashram is not to stimulate you or to provide enjoyment for your senses - although you may enjoy the scenery and the people you meet. An ashram is a place to spend time and return home feeling refreshed. It was established to offer an oasis of peace to real spiritual aspirants who have realised that there is really somethin
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Whatever he (the Yogic practioner) see with his eyes, let him consider as Atman. Whatever he hears with his ears, let him consider as Atman. Whatever he smells with his nose, let him consider as Atman. Whatever he tastes with his tongue, let him consider as Atman. Whatever the Yogi touches with his skin, let him consi...der as Atman. ~Swami Sivananda on Yogatattva Upanishad.
Loving greetings on thisauspicious Midsummer weekend
I’ve just returned from a few daysin Dorset at the Midsummer Festival that was organised by the Independent Network.
I’d like to say a special “thanks” toBhavani, who drove me down and back. I always enjoy the drive to Dorset. Soon after leaving London, you come to the awe-inspiring Salisbury Plains. One can imagine why it was a holy place in ancient times. The view and feeling of spaciousness is still exciting today, especially when you come
("Upward" - detail from an old kindergarten painting)
The Idler was born of a combination of concepts discovered while exploring various domains of knowledge during the second half of the 1990s and the beginning of the 2000s.
« The idler who does not arise when it is time to arise, who is full of sloth though young and strong, who is lazy and weak in thought and mind, does not find the path to insight. » – The Dhammapada
I was developing an interest in Buddhism, and from the works of Jung, in the c
"What is really required of us in this yoga is that our thirst after the beautiful should be directed to God. What is the beauty in the human face, in the sky, in the stars, and in the moon? It is only the partial manifestation of the real, all-embracing Divine Beauty. 'He shining, everything shines. It is through His light that all things shine.' " Swami Vivekananda
Equanimity is equality or evenness of mind or temper. It is balanced mind in pleasure and pain, success and failure, honor and dishonor, censure and praise. Equanimity is composure of spirit, especially calmness and steadiness of mind, amidst trying circumstances... Samatvam or equanimity is Yoga. ~Swami Sivananda.
Positive overpowers the negative. A positive thought drives off a negative one. Courage drives off fear. Love destroys hatred. Unity annihilates separateness. Magnanimity destroys petty-mindedness (jealousy). Generosity drives away miserliness and greed. Keep yourself always positive. You will have wonderful meditation. ~Swami Sivananda
http://www.yogasanjivani.com/acupressure.html
Acupressure is an ancient Chinese healing method that involves applying pressure to certain meridian points on the body to relieve pain. The human body has fourteen "meridians" that carry energy throughout the body. These meridians start at the fingertips, connect to the brain, and then connect to the organ associated with the specific meridian.
Acupressure deals with all the aspects of a person as a whole: body, emotions, mind, and spirit as one, not
Yoga means the union of body and mind where body is the individual soul and mind is the Universal spirit. Yoga is the restraining of mind-stuff (chitta) from taking various forms (vritti).
Yoga is an ancient system of health and fitness which originated in India. Today yoga is accepted as a comprehensive exercise to promote control of the body and mind. Yoga has become accepted as one of the best ways to achieve health, fitness and balance.
Yoga is a hard word to define, because it cove
Yam and Niyam is a base foundation of Yoga . Maharshi Patanjalis Yoga is a Way to Attain the Spiritual Goal.It starts from Yam and Niyam. these two things purifies the inner and outerself of the men and makes him ready for spiritual journey. Shrutis and old scripturs also says a lot about Yam and Niyam,
Yam --- Ahinsa, Satya , Asteya , Brahmacharya, and Aparigrha.
Niyam ---Sauch, Santosh, Tap, Swaddhyay, Ishwar Pranidhan.
*A list of disqualifications for a person intends to be a Guru:
*(As per ancient guru sutras)
Himsa (injury) |
sinning |
bad reputation |
devious mind |
cruelty (Krura) |
selling gold |
thieving |
plagued with troubles and worries |
bad character |
adulterous |
foul language |
deformed |
sensuous |
deceiver |
adharma |
talkative |
greedy |
miserly |
liar |
hyperactive |
lacks reverence |
devoid of acaras |
many blemishes |
money-minded |
Consumption (TB) |
Skin disease |
diseased nails |
diseased teeth |
deafness |
cataract |
bald |
lame |
deformed |
extra body parts |
conjunctivitis |
halitosis |
large |
"The eternal, unbroken, natural state of abiding in the Self in Jnana. To abide in the Self you must love the Self. Since God is verily the Self, love of the Self is love of God; and that is Bhakti. Jnana and Bhakti are thus one and the same." Sri Ramana Maharshi.
OM
You may feel that you do not relate to the concept of "God" — or that you do not really know who or what God is — or even whether God really exists. You may (understandably) be loath to commit to doing th
