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
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 Each human being has an inner Light, but most people do not make contact with their Divinity, even once in their life-time. The physical sun that we observe every-day is very far from our planet. It appears as a small disc, but we know from our science classes, that it is really
By Rudra Shivananda There is one advice that I give to all sincere seekers irrespective of their path or progress and that is to persevere and never give up. The spiritual path is long and arduous and has many pitfalls and obstacles. We are often befuddled by our delusions and fall prey to illusions, thinking
By Rudra Shivananda As we learn of the passing of a true hero, that of Neil Armstrong who took a small step on the Moon and expanded the boundaries of humanity, I’m reminded of the significance of the moon as a powerful symbol in the yogic tradition. Just as the effect of Armstrong’s feat will
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 In a previous post, I explained about the structural barriers that prevent the spiritual seeker from engaging in an effective mantra practice. There was a request to give some examples of the foundation mantras that are needed to transform a busy or lethargic mind into a calm state. Below, I’ve given
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
By Rudra Shivananda Every four years, a large part of the world takes time out of their busy lives to cheer on the athletes that have made it into the Olympic Games. Four years ago, we watched the spectacle of the opening ceremony in Beijing, China and it was indeed awe-inspiring. The beauty and scale