In the realm of the mind, three afflictions reside, Kama, Krodha, Lobha – in darkness they hide, Born of desire, passion’s fiery embrace, They weave their illusions, a treacherous chase. Kama, the first, desires uncontrolled, A thirst for pleasures, a tale so old, Chained to cravings, seeking endless gain, Lost in the mirage, true peace
We’re starting a new year and a lot of people are making their new year resolutions such as losing weight, eating healthier or making more money. Others strive for better relationships, less stress or more happiness. Still others, resolve to increase their spiritual practice in whatever form it might be, in order to attain to
By Rudra Shivananda Kriya Yoga has been experienced by a variety of yogis to be a potent and rapid path towards Self-Realization. A key practice of this yoga gifted through the ages by Mahavatar Babaji is that of spinal breathing. Yoga can be considered to be a path of spiritual evolution – as an
by Rudra Shivananda Most spiritual practitioners soon discover that when they sit for meditation, their minds can go into overdrive and all sorts of thoughts – some ‘good’ and some ‘bad’ – make their appearance to disturb any sense of peace or tranquility. Even seasoned practitioners find themselves being distracted by negative thoughts after years
By Rudra Shivananda There are diverse reasons for seekers to pursue a spiritual path – some are striving for liberation from pain and suffering, others are seeking knowledge of their their true nature and reason for being, and yet others want freedom from death and to achieve immortality. Of course, it may be reasoned that
By Rudra Shivananda What are your hands doing when you are trying to meditate? When a seeker enters the stream and take a path of spiritual insight, he or she will pay a lot of attention to the sitting position and body posture. However, not much attention is paid initially to the position of the
By Rudra Shivananda A few days ago, we commemorated the life of a great leader for the freedom movement. Martin Luther King took up the mantle of Mahatma Gandhi and became a beacon of light not only for black Americans but for people all over the world. We need not discuss his heroic application of
By Rudra Shivananda Yoga is not a religion. It is an experiential movement towards higher states of consciousness. Yoga is more of a way of being and living than about beliefs or practices. Yoga is about personal experience and not about scriptures or the teachings of others. Yoga is not a philosophy. There are many
By Rudra Shivananda Every year, most of us experience a day of remembrance called the birthday. Yet, as we celebrate surviving another year of life, we wonder if there is any deeper significance beyond the cake, laughter and champagne. It is wonderful to be surrounded by those who care about you. When you are young,
By Rudra Shivananda I was meeting with a student and her family last night and she was very concerned that her peers at the local university were undermining her belief in rebirth and therefore she was doubting the whole necessity for spiritual practice. In her mind, the two seemed to be linked. First off, these