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- How Do Spiritual Experiences Come About? - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2023 from santosh krinskyWhile we are allured by the idea of spiritual experiences, or, if one looks at the popular media, the idea of some kind of unusual powers that an individual can develop, obtain or possess, we actually have very little idea about what is really possible, and how it actually occurs. Popular ...
Views: 393 - Spiritual Realisations and Experiences - by Submitted on Mar 31, 2023 from santosh krinskySpiritual Realisations and Experiences Posted on April 1, 2023 There is an interesting tale in the Mahabharata when the preceptor Drona was teaching the sons of Dhristarashtra and Pandu, the royal princes of the kingdom, the lesson of the day, which was “not to become angry”. He asked each of ...
Views: 417 - How can one overcome sufferings and pains in his or her life? What should be done to get rid of them forever? - by Submitted on Mar 31, 2023 from Dada BhagwanWhile most people envy individuals with greater success, fulfilling friendships and a vast amount of money - no matter who you are looking at, they too are suffering. The richest and most successful people are also having to suffer. And the poorest and least conventionally successful individuals ...
Views: 214(1 vote) - Reconciling the Opposites - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2023 from santosh krinskyIf we recognize that the two extremes, matter and spirit, despite their apparent and irreconcilable opposition, both speak to some deep seated truth within the human sense, then we can begin to accept the idea that this is not a matter of one being “true” and the other being “false”, but rather, ...
Views: 437 - Applying the “Hundredth Monkey” Phenomenon - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2023 from santosh krinsky“The liberation of the individual soul is therefore the keynote of the definite divine action; it is the primary divine necessity and the pivot on which all else turns.” This is the first step but what must also be recognized is that as individuals here and there achieve new states of ...
Views: 394 - Endurance and Persistence Is Essential for the Change of Consciousness Aimed for in the Yogic Practice - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2023 from santosh krinskyMany people have the mistaken idea that taking up a spiritual practice is somehow due to weakness or inability to deal with the tough conditions of the outer world. They envision seekers retreating from the world and living in a monastey, cloister or ashram, being sheltered from the worst things ...
Views: 335 - The Advent of Inner Experiences and the Unpurified Vital Nature; or Be Careful What You Wish For, Because You May Get It! - by Submitted on Mar 29, 2023 from santosh krinskyThe ego-personality, particularly the vital ego, feeds upon feelings of being special, having new and exciting experiences that are not part of the ordinary external consciousness. Spiritual seekers are allured by tales of meeting spiritual beings on subtle planes, traveling without the physical ...
Views: 349 - Is it a sin to accidentally kill a bug? - by Submitted on Mar 29, 2023 from Dada BhagwanYes, to kill a bug even accidentally is indeed a sin. When asked, “How much liability is there in karmas created unintentionally?”, Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan, the Enlightened being, while explaining to that questioner, said: Dadashri: What would happen if your hand accidentally falls on a ...
Views: 275(1 vote) - The External Personality and the Psychic Being - by Submitted on Mar 28, 2023 from santosh krinskyFor most people, the external personality and being, the body and its needs and habits, the life-force and its desires and the mind and its particular predilections, represent “who they are”. Rarely, an individual reflects deeply on the question of ‘who am I’ and begins to understand that there ...
Views: 397 - Addressing Alternations in Spiritual Progress Over Time - by Submitted on Mar 27, 2023 from santosh krinskyWhen Milarepa approached Marpa, requesting liberation in one lifetime, he was haunted by the misdeeds he recognised in his own recent past and the harm he had caused many people. He had justified the harm based on the misdeeds of those individuals towards his family, but eventually he understood ...
Views: 402 - Wisdom of Sai Baba of Shirdi - by Submitted on Mar 27, 2023 from Scott & Stephen PetulloSai Baba of Shirdi (1838–October 15, 1918) was an Indian spiritual teacher who is considered to be a saint by Hindus and Muslims. He emphasized the importance of self-actualization, forgiveness, compassion, inner peace, and devotion to God. Below we list some words of wisdom from Sai Baba of ...
Views: 367 - The Day and Night of the Vedic Mystics - by Submitted on Mar 26, 2023 from santosh krinskyHowever much we try, we find that we cannot constantly and consistently hold onto any particular focus of concentration, emotional state, mood or feeling for an extended period of time. The constant action of the 3 Gunas cycles us through periods of light and darkness, action and inaction, ...
Views: 349 - Dealing with Periods of Dryness or Dullness in the Yogic Sadhana - by Submitted on Mar 25, 2023 from santosh krinskyIt is a frequent and universal experience that when an individual takes up the practice of yoga, there are periods of great enthusiasm, aspiration is active and progress is palpable. It is however virtually impossible to maintain the intensity of the sadhana all the time, so as the action of the ...
Views: 353 - The Yogic Practitioner and the External World - by Submitted on Mar 24, 2023 from santosh krinskyWe generally live under an illusion of separateness from other beings and the rest of the world. We believe our individual personality, individual body, life, mind are independent from everyone and everything else. This fixed idea, however, is part of the confusion we experience that misleads us ...
Views: 362 - Light and Shadow - by Submitted on Mar 23, 2023 from santosh krinskyYin and Yang, dualities that are inextricably intertwined with one another, that continue to play into one another and which contain an element of the opposite quality within themselves. We live in a world characterized by duality and when we examine closely we find that we cannot have light ...
Views: 373 - The Greatest Difficulties Signal the Greatest Strength for the Yogic Practitioner - by Submitted on Mar 22, 2023 from santosh krinskyWhen an individual is called to the yoga of transformation, he comes with all of his strengths, weaknesses, developed and latent capacities, and habitual ways of dealing with things, as well as his familial, social, economic and educational background. These frame the starting point for the ...
Views: 336 - The Play of the Gunas and the Difficulty of Effecting True Change in Human Nature - by Submitted on Mar 20, 2023 from santosh krinskyWe do not generally recognise that it is virtually impossible to hold one thought, one idea, one form of concentration, one energetic status for long periods of time. As time goes on, the balance of the Gunas changes and we lose the intensity, shift our focus to something else, and we find that ...
Views: 321 - The Intense Opposition of Basic Human Nature to Any Attempt to Change or Grow into a New Status and the Need to Persevere - by Submitted on Mar 19, 2023 from santosh krinskyUntil an individual takes up the issue of inner growth and development, whether this is for spiritual progress, mental development, emotional growth, vital discipline or some kind of physical control, he tends to take very little notice of any inner conflict or struggle. He just acts ‘naturally’ ...
Views: 326 - Risks and Difficulties Attendant on the Practice of a Yoga of Transformation - by Submitted on Mar 17, 2023 from santosh krinskyPeople tend to underestimate the risks and difficulties attendant on the practice of yoga, with a focus on the growth of consciousness and transformation of human nature. Once the seeker begins to try to make changes in long-standing habits of action and reaction, mental predilictions, vital ...
Views: 341 - Understanding Difficulties and Obstacles That Arise During the Yogic Process - by Submitted on Mar 16, 2023 from santosh krinskySri Aurobindo is able to illustrate the different ways that seekers wind up facing and dealing with difficulties or obstacles that arise during the yogic process. This is not a “one size fits all” process due to the differing backgrounds, starting points, capacities and social environment ...
Views: 347 - he Three Gunas, Their Role in the Difficulties and Obstacles in the Yogic Development, and the Certainty of Success When the Divine Call is Present - by Submitted on Mar 15, 2023 from santosh krinskyThe importance of the rule of the 3 Gunas, the qualities of Nature, cannot be over-emphasized. Each of these qualities has both its positive aspects and its downsides, and they are functional in all life. They are continually in fluctuation and intermix with one another to create the events and ...
Views: 336 - Doesnt it mean selfishness for a soul who gives birth to kids and left them suddenly at a young age and live happily in the soul world? - by Submitted on Mar 15, 2023 from Dada BhagwanQuite often, this happens due to one’s improper understanding of spirituality (the Soul world)! Otherwise, when in the Soul’s world, one does not have to leave anybody, here there’s natural love for everybody! when in the Soul’s world, one does not have to renounce his responsibilities, one ...
Views: 234(1 vote) - The Formation of Human Nature and the Character of the Individual and the Basis of the Resistance to Change - by Submitted on Mar 14, 2023 from santosh krinskyA yogic practice focus on transformation of human nature must necessarily address issues differently than one that has ‘liberation’ as its sole goal. This brings in the need for an understanding of the human instrument, the various elements of the being, the development of those elements through ...
Views: 332 - Difficulties, Obstacles and the Spiritual Path - by Submitted on Mar 13, 2023 from santosh krinskyEvery individual faces difficulties during his lifetime. They may be difficulties imposed due to external circumstances attendant on one’s birth, cultural or societal position, opportunities, or economic prospects. They may be difficulties that arise due to climate or natural disasters. They may ...
Views: 363 - How can we use our mind to still the thoughts that create suffering? - by Submitted on Mar 13, 2023 from Dada BhagwanDo you want to know the biggest science of all? Mind is where thoughts arise. Mind is nothing but one giving thoughts, thoughts and thoughts; it’s a collection of thoughts only. And we, out of ignorance, say, “I am thinking”. This is where the problem begins… And it perpetuates when we go on to ...
Views: 288(1 vote) - The Divine Grace By Any Other Name… - by Submitted on Mar 12, 2023 from santosh krinskyIt is human nature to want to categorize and pigeon-hole what happens and make developments fit into definitions of our choosing. This same thing occurs when we look at openings of the spiritual nature and the development of or transformation of consciousness. Not only do we want to define and ...
Views: 313 - The Individual Seeker and the Best Path Forward in the Practice of the Yoga - by Submitted on Mar 11, 2023 from santosh krinskyAs each individual tries to understand his life and purpose, he begins a process of observation, review, and experimentation. At this stage, many seekers have little clue about the path that is best suited for them, and they may try out different approaches. Once a path has been identified, they ...
Views: 345 - Understanding the Path of Devotion, Bhakti Yoga - by Submitted on Mar 10, 2023 from santosh krinskyDevotion is not something measured externally by how an individual sings, dances, prays or manifests various signs such as ‘speaking in tongues’, although any one of these activities may indeed be expressions of a deep inner devotion. The measure of devotion is one that reflects the internal ...
Views: 359 - External Worship and the Practice of Bhakti Yoga - by Submitted on Mar 09, 2023 from santosh krinskyMany people are abandoning formalized religions while saying that the external rituals are simply missing any inner spirit or force, that they are simply empty and do not get to the heart of the matter. There is a keen insight here that is useful for those who wish to practice the yoga of ...
Views: 349 - The Nature of Bhakti - by Submitted on Mar 08, 2023 from santosh krinskyThe heart of devotion opens spontaneously with a deep sense of reverence, aspiration and love. It is based on soul-contact with the Divine. External signs of worship, prayers, songs, rituals, repeating words of devotion are not indicators of the soul status necessarily and they cannot replace ...
Views: 362 - The Impersonal and the Personal Divine - by Submitted on Mar 07, 2023 from santosh krinskyIt seems that people fall into two camps. Either they believe in a personal form of divinity, God, or savior, or they don’t. For those that do not believe in a personal form of the Divine, there is a belief in some impersonal machinery of unknown origin or purpose. These two however need not be ...
Views: 391 - Work, Devotion, Meditation and the Practice of the Integral Yoga - by Submitted on Mar 06, 2023 from santosh krinskyWhatever the predominant aspect of the individual nature, the spiritual aspiration seizes upon that as the leading power to carry the sadhana forward. Nevertheless, at some point, it is important to recognize both the value and the necessity of the other aspects for what is after all an integral ...
Views: 331 - How to Make Progress in the Practice of Karma Yoga - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2023 from santosh krinskyWe tend to be carried away by the external focus in the work we are doing, and thus, the presence of mind needed to remember and offer is set in the background of our awareness. If we reflect on the state of consciousness we experience when focused on some external work, we soon find that we can ...
Views: 332 - Two Methods for Practicing the Yoga of Works - by Submitted on Mar 04, 2023 from santosh krinskyThere is no clear line of demarcation between the 3 major paths of yoga that are based in the primary aspects of development, the yoga of knowledge, the yoga of devotion and the yoga of works. As they proceed down their somewhat different paths, they must necessarily gain aspects of and bring ...
Views: 402 - Overcoming Vital Reactions of Attraction and Repulsion in Action - by Submitted on Mar 03, 2023 from santosh krinskyThere are numerous activities we undertake in our lives that engage us with more, or less, interest. Some we treat as purely mechanical, some we detest but do them because we ‘have’ to. Some elicit very positive and focused interest from us and we tend to like those activities. Our vital nature ...
Views: 362 - Work That Aids the Aspiration and Work That Dulls the Aspiration of the Seeker - by Submitted on Mar 02, 2023 from santosh krinskyIt is a constant complaint that we have to take on boring, distasteful, mechanical or otherwise unpleasant jobs in order to survive. Then we create a bifurcation in our minds between “work time” and “personal time” or “sadhana” (if we happen to be practicing any form of yoga). We thus spend a ...
Views: 316 - The Essence of Karma Yoga — the Yoga of Works - by Submitted on Mar 01, 2023 from santosh krinskyHumanity has relied on social action, technology, and education as pillars of advancement and the development of humanity. Yet if we examine things closely we find that we are still driven primarily by the forces of ego and desire, even when they cloak themselves in a veneer of altruism or ...
Views: 341 - Can focusing on the positive really make us happier? - by Submitted on Feb 28, 2023 from Dada BhagwanYes, definitely! When you see a rose plant, doesn’t that make you feel happier? It does! And why is that? It is because we focus on the rose, and not the thorns attached to it. We focus on the positive, and therefore it makes us happier! If we complain about the thorns, who will be at loss? ...
Views: 287(1 vote) - The Bhagavad Gita and the Path of Karma Yoga - by Submitted on Feb 27, 2023 from santosh krinskyWhen we delve into the yoga of works, the Bhagavad Gita immediately comes to mind as a primary text. The Gita explores the questions of what constitutes a yogic attitude in action and compares it to the normal standpoint about work. The major difference lies in the inner standpoint and attitude ...
Views: 371 - What are some good tips to balance your mind when you are angry and alone? - by Submitted on Feb 25, 2023 from Dada BhagwanWhen You Are Angry and Alone, Try To Balance Your Mind through Right Understanding For instance, think through the following examples: If a car comes at you from the wrong side of the road, would you get angry and collide with the car and smash it? No. Why? You understand that, ‘I may die.’ ...
Views: 259(1 vote) - How much do our negative or positive thoughts affect our real life? - by Submitted on Feb 23, 2023 from Dada BhagwanOur thoughts shape who we are and how we interact with the world around us. Therefore it becomes important to have a positive outlook in our daily life. We always hear people saying, “Be positive.” It is because studies have shown that having positive emotions, one can improve their health; ...
Views: 271(1 vote) - What impact does donating to others have on our ego? - by Submitted on Feb 21, 2023 from Dada BhagwanParam Pujya Dada Bhagwan, the Enlightened being, explains what exactly is ego: “If you were to ask a social worker, “Who are you?” he would say, “I am a social worker.” That is precisely what he would say, isn’t it? Or would he say something else? So to say, “I am a social worker” is ...
Views: 290(1 vote) - Do you believe that your soul has lived before and knows what to do in this lifetime? - by Submitted on Feb 18, 2023 from Dada BhagwanYes certainly! However, the Soul is beyond birth and death. The Soul was, is, and shall always be, because Soul is an eternal element. And what lives and dies is the body. Every living being has a Soul therein and every Soul is similar in nature. But the Soul is completely separate from the ...
Views: 287(1 vote) - Where can one human being find real happiness in this world of society? - by Submitted on Feb 16, 2023 from Dada BhagwanEvery society in the world undergoes changes. These changes are influenced by the environment, technology, climate, people, interaction, the way we live, and many more factors. And amidst so many changes taking place all around, to find real happiness that remains constant is impossible! ...
Views: 275(1 vote) - Stages and Forms of Meditation and Contemplation (Dhyana) - by Submitted on Feb 15, 2023 from santosh krinskyThere is considerable confusion about what exactly meditation is. This is compounded by the fact that there are numerous different techniques that are taught as meditation, ranging from practices that are called ‘mindfulness’ to those that include detailed visualisations Sri Aurobindo provides ...
Views: 371 - Does asking for forgiveness exonerate you from bad karma? - by Submitted on Feb 14, 2023 from Dada BhagwanCertainly yes! but provided it is done with true repentance in our heart and a firm resolve to not do that again. If one wishes to be absolved from bad karma, then ‘Pratikraman’ is the assured path for that Pratikraman means: To confess before God that ‘I have made this mistake’, With ...
Views: 298(1 vote) - Religious, Mechanical and Psychological Methods of Inner Development - by Submitted on Feb 13, 2023 from santosh krinskyWhen an individual awakens to the inner need for significance and meaning in life, he generally takes up one or more methods to try to understand the purpose of his life. Religious worship and belief systems tend to be quite external in their nature, trying to find a relationship between the ...
Views: 354 - What Technique or Practice Is Prescribed in the Integral Yoga? - by Submitted on Feb 12, 2023 from santosh krinskyit is a frequent inquiry: ‘Tell us what technique we should use to reach the spiritual goal?” Many ask what specific technique Sri Aurobindo or the Mother recommends for everyone to follow. They point out that other paths of spirituality offer specific actions one must undertake to succeed. ...
Views: 366 - Developing and Integrating Calm and Peace in the Being - by Submitted on Feb 05, 2023 from santosh krinskyIf we remain constantly in active motion and react to all the sense impressions and pressures that impinge upon us from the outer world, it is difficult to achieve a status of calm or peace. One of the values of sitting regularly for a time of quiet reflection, meditation or concentration is ...
Views: 395 - Purification of the Nature: Negative and Positive Approaches - by Submitted on Feb 04, 2023 from santosh krinskyOrdinarily, when we reflect on addressing impurities in the nature, whether in the mind, the emotions, the vital nature or the physical body, we tend to fixate upon the weakness or limitation we have identified and work to directly control, change or suppress it. This is what may be termed a ...
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