By Rudra Shivananda A few days ago, my aged and ailing father contracted pneumonia and has since been hospitalized in the intensive care unit of the local hospital since he was not responding to the normal anti-biotic treatment. The doctors are holding out little hope for his recovery. I am, of course, always hopeful and
By Rudra Shivananda Christmas is a time for celebration and also a time to commemorate the birth of a great spiritual Master and World Teacher – the Lord Jesus. Although from a purely historical perspective, December 25th is most probably not the date of Jesus’s birth, it is one of the best day of the
By Rudra Shivananda According to Patanjali, when yoga is achieved with the state of no-mind, then one rests in one’s essential state, one’s true nature. However, what is that essential state? There is great difficulty in understanding something that cannot be described in our limited mental state but only realized in the yogic consciousness. From
by Rudra Shivananda We all like to watch movies or read a book about the heroic figure that battles against all odds and wins through by defeating formidable enemies. This can be the lone cowboy battling foes amidst the lonesome prairie or the space cadet fighting pirates in the starry void. It can be a
Rudra Shivananda In order to achieve success in concentration and subsequently to enter into meditative states, it is essential to be able to sit still without any movement for certain periods of time. This is due to the fact that when the body moves, the mind moves and concentration is broken. It is therefore important
Rudra Shivananda It is tempting especially in times of great upheavals, natural disasters or even personal challenges to try to think about them instead of persevering in one’s own spiritual practice. There is a sense of guilt among some spiritual seekers to sit and meditate while there is turmoil about them. This is a fallacious
By Rudra Shivananda It is required of the yogic classics to point out the goal of the spiritual discipline, explain the method of practice and the observable result. These three parts usually take up most of the text. The same three parts are given completely in just one famous verse of the Ishavasya Upanishad which
By Rudra Shivananda As we approach the prime decision point on November 6th in a major political process to elect a new president, it helpful to re-examine the impact of fear on our minds. Politicians are adept in pressing the fear button and clouding the judgement of the voters. The truth and our good sense
By Rudra Shivananda A theme that was consistently emphasized in the teachings of Yogavatar Lahiri Mahasaya, the polestar of Kriya Yoga, is that of the spiritual eye. He called it the Kutastha. It is equivalent to the third-eye center or Ajna chakra which is located in the third ventricle of the brain in the middle
By Rudra Shivananda One of the most hidden treasures of yogic knowledge is that of Soma or Amrita – the nectar of immortality and bliss. There are lots of misinformation and confusion on this subject and unfortunately very little in the way of clarity because of the sacredness of the knowledge. It is sacred