Yogic Philosophy - Is Yoga Considered A Religion?

 

Some Christians and Jews in the West are worried about Yoga's status as an Eastern religion. 

They are concerned that by doing Yoga, they would be jeopardizing their religious beliefs. 

Is their apprehension justified?

Is Yoga considered a religion? 

The short answer to both concerns is that, rather than eroding their personal faith, Yoga has the potential to strengthen it. 

I'll provide a somewhat more extensive explanation after that. 

Let me start with Christian fundamentalism's extreme perspective, which considers Yoga as a harmful import from the East that should be avoided at all costs. 

• Yoga is sometimes mixed together with New Age doctrines, which are considered as a threat to Christianity. 

• True, yoga has always been linked to India's three major religious and cultural traditions: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. 

• As a result, numerous Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain principles are interwoven into Yoga's teachings. 

• The concepts of karma and rebirth, as well as the belief that there are numerous deities in addition to the one ultimate Reality, are the most conspicuous instances, which are typically a stumbling block for Westerners. 

• To begin with, there have been Yoga gurus who have denied the concepts of karma and reincarnation, and Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain deities may be contrasted to Christian and Jewish angels. 

You do not need to believe in karma or reincarnation to practice Yoga. 

• You don't have to believe in anything other than the potential of self-transformation, that you can transcend your existing worldview and experience, and, more importantly, that you can transcend your own egocentric way of being. 

• The premise that you have not yet reached your full potential as a human being is at the core of all types of Yoga. 

Yoga, in particular, aims to connect you to your spiritual core, your deepest essence, and that which or who you actually are. 

• The many schools of Yoga depict this nature in different ways. 

• You are free to let your unique experience and realization influence your thinking rather than being forced to believe in any of the established answers. 

• Yoga has been connected with different philosophical and religious systems throughout the millennia, none of which can be considered to describe Yoga itself. 

• Yoga, after all, is first and foremost a practical spiritual practice based on personal exploration and verification. 

• In other words, any theory or intellectual framework is seen as secondary to direct personal experience or spiritual enlightenment. 

As a result, Yoga may and has been practiced by individuals who hold a broad range of views and beliefs. 

• Some Yoga students believe in a personal God who created the cosmos, while others choose a metaphysics that views the world as illusory and the ultimate Reality as solitary and formless. 

• Others, such as Theravada Buddhism's yogins, refuse to speculate on metaphysical issues. 

• As a result, some Yoga practitioners are religious while others are not. 

• Yoga, on the other hand, is only a tool for delving into the depths of our human nature, for delving into the secrets of the body and mind.

An Exercise In Self-Introspection

1. Consider how you feel about Yoga's original objective of freedom. 

2. Consider if and to what extent you want to use Yoga to change yourself. 

• Make a note of everything you do to facilitate yogic/spiritual development in your situation. 

• Then write a list of everything you do that keeps you from making significant changes. 

3. As we progress along the yogic path, great masters' insights may be a significant source of inspiration for us. 

• Our shared inheritance is the Yoga tradition, a live record against which we may test and analyze our discoveries. 

• What aspects of Yoga have proven to be especially beneficial to you? 

4. "Freedom is not a method, but a manner of being in the world without being of it," a subtle issue is presented in this statement. 

• This means that human existence may be lived from the "perspective" of awareness, or, to put it another way, pure Awareness. 

• According to a variety of traditions, one may stay as the transcendental Witness, which is the Self (dtman). 

• As a result, the body/mind is no longer identified. 

• This alludes to the condition of jivan-mukti, or physical emancipation. 

5. Teachers build various frameworks and use philosophical language to transmit their ideas to a particular audience while expounding essential truths founded in personal awareness. 

• As you read through this Study Guide and The Yoga Tradition, keep in mind whether or not the teachings are context or culture-bound. 

• In each lecture we look at, try to perceive the dynamics of various parts of yoga practice, as well as the intricacies of spirituality involved. 

6. "All roads lead to the same objective," we frequently hear, but is freedom, the purpose of Yoga, the same in every case? 

• Or do Buddhist nirvana, Vedantic moksha, Patanjali's kaivalya, and the Bhagavad-brahma-nirvdna Gita's all refer to different realizations? 

• There is enough evidence to suggest that these names aren't just linguistic variances. 

• When one contrasts the notion of liberation in theistic schools to that of atheistic systems like Classical Samkhya, this reality becomes clear. 

The seventeenth-century instructor Shrinivasa Dasa, for example, offers the following extremely important statements in his Yatindra-Mata-Dipikd (8. 1 6): 

There are two types of liberation seekers: 

1. those who seek kaivalya 
2. and those who want moksha. 

The awareness of one's inner Self as separate from Nature is referred to as kaivalya, and it is reached via the Yoga of knowledge. 

This realization... is without the Lord's realization. 

In contrast to kaivalya, moksha is claimed to be attained via passionate devotion to God (bhakti) or unconditional self-offering (prapatti). 

• A close examination of the scriptures of various religions reveals even more distinctions in the notions of liberation. 

• As a result, it seems that certain historians of religion's assertion of the transcendental unity of all faiths is a theological oversimplification. 

• At the same time, these disparate ideas of emancipation do have a common denominator, namely the realization of a degree of existence that transcends the usual space-time continuum. 

• However, we must not lose sight of the equally important differences. 

According to the facts, there are genuine distinctions in the condition of liberty, as seen by members of various schools. 

Sages and philosophers may choose to dispute whether these subtleties represent degrees of realization fullness. 

• What are your own views and sentiments on this crucial theological point? 

• Do you think there's just one ultimate Reality? 

• If that's the case, do all sages comprehend the transcendental Singularity in the same manner, and are all discrepancies in their explanations only language differences? 

• Or do you believe that all such theories are pointless and unworkable?

You may also want to read more about Gnani Yoga here.

You may also want to read more about Kundalini Yoga here.

You may also want to read more about Yoga here.

You may also want to read more about Yoga Asanas and Exercises here.

You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.

Be sure to check out my writings on religion here.

The Human Condition And The Human Predicament

How can those of us who contribute to the destruction of creation come to terms with humanity's predicament? 

We need to address it by harnessing greed for the greater good. 

I see us free, therefore, to return to some of the most sure and certain principles of religion and traditional virtue —

• Avarice is a vice.
• The extraction of usury is a misdemeanor, and the love of money is abhorrent.
• Those who walk most faithfully in the path are those who are most true to themselves. 

We'll choose the good above the useful once again. 

We will honor those who can teach us how to virtuously and well pick the hour and the day, the pleasant individuals who are capable of enjoying direct pleasure in things, the lilies of the field who neither toil nor spin. 

However, use caution! I warned you, all of this isn't yet the right moment. 

• We must lie to ourselves and everyone else for at least another hundred years that fair is foul and foul is fair, since foul is useful and fair is not. 

• For a little while longer, avarice, usury, and prudence must be our gods. For only they can lead us out of the tunnel of economic necessity into daylight. And perhaps never. 

Market arrangements not only minimize the need for coercion as a means of social organization, they also reduce the need for compassion, patriotism, brotherly love, and cultural solidarity as motivating forces behind social improvement. 

“Behold the lilies of the field,” Jesus is said to have said (Matthew :), but this is not the same as “Look at those lilies!” “Behold” is a delicate term that implies that things have their own wonderful authenticity and integrity. 

• To behold is to stand among things with a respect for life that does not wear an arrogant cap as it walks through the realm of the non-self. 

• That's correct, a rhetorical acknowledgment of a basic ecological concept of man, whose father is God but whose brother is the whole of Creation. 

We need to call into question the idea that man is the center of the universe is so apart from the rest of God's creation that he may treat it with Olympian arrogance, as if it had no inherent selfhood. 

The newest expression of humanity's dilemma is the arrogation of the biospheric economy by a monetary system founded on self-interest. 

Religion as an evolving primitive proto-science can become more whole, relevant and worthy only with an increase in Truth born in Knowledge and the Human Understanding of it. 

• Religions combat self-interested arrogance by fostering awe for life in all of its wonderful beauty and integrity. 

• Religions may also help people deal with their problems. 

• There are religious answers to the issue of society going down a road we don't want to go down—one that leads to the destruction of creation and the environment. 

• These answers have the potential to mend the rifts that exist between science, ethics, and practice. 

To lead human civilization along the road of personal and biospheric purity. 

• Scientists who are bold enough to describe things as they are; 

• Journalists, writers, editors, and publishers who are bold enough to describe the human predicament as it is revealed in the present; 

• Ethicists who are forthright enough to engage in pursuit of what ought to be; 

• Builders, engineers, economists, designers, planners, and managers who are disciplined enough to confine their work within the limits of what ought to be the natural reality we strive for in creation.

In response to the cosmic demand made to us, 

• By the way things are, 

• By the nature of nature, 

• And by God, a self governing omnipresent intelligence, who orders creation and holds all things together with integrity, religion in its entirety. 

When existence is known rather than merely perceived as the binding together of science, ethics, and praxis, can thus nurture the passion both to live right and to spread right living in response to the cosmic demand made to us by the way things are. 

Only when Religion and Science meet nearer their true entirety can we nurture the passion necessary to resolve the Human Predicament in this reality we inhabit.

You may also want to read more about Spirituality here.

Be sure to check out my writings on Religion here.

Sweet Shop Of The Spirit

 

The ability to inquire as to why? may be a beautiful feeling of liberation. 

It's like to letting a tiny child wild at a candy store, but there are clear consequences. 

Overindulgence at the sweet counter may make us feel really unwell, and being spoiled for spiritual options can have its own set of risks. 

The query "why?" may not yield the results you desire, so where do you go from there? 

You can be perplexed by competing moral or ethical norms. 

For example, numerous celebrities who profess to follow Buddhism are homosexuals; the Dalai Lama has said explicitly that homosexuality is incompatible with Buddhist practice. 

Many of these issues arise from the hundreds of mind, body, and spirit books now on the market that are solely focused on spiritual approaches. 

The seeker approaches the instructor with a working grasp of the language but little understanding of the truth of the faith they claim to be studying. 

Many people approach with a checklist that informs them how much dedication they can get away with. 

This is one of the reasons why many neo-pagan faiths appeal to spiritual nomads: there seems to be few regulations in the public realm to clog up the process. 

When people are not taught what they want to hear, or when reality does not match the newest New Age book, they will seek for something more approachable. 

For example, you may buy a dozen books about tantric sex with the most vivid graphics, but few (if any) would explain why comprehending what is perhaps India's oldest religion is so important. 

Neopaganism is more closely related to Christianity and the 1960s flower child movement than it is to the indigenous traditions from which it claims descent. 

Mel, an esoteric guru, says, "People will always tell you what they anticipate from a spiritual path." 

After reading a few books and deciding this is what they want, many are taken aback when they discover entrance isn't handed to them on a silver platter. 

Before becoming a chief in most real esoteric systems, you must study for three to seven years. 

After all, you wouldn't expect to convert to the Jewish faith without much study, so why do people believe that any other road or tradition will be any easier?'

You may also want to read more about Spirituality here.

Be sure to check out my writings on Religion here.

The Holistic Truth

Everyone notable is espousing the merits of a newly chosen holistic approach to life, health, and beauty that promotes inner and outward harmony. 

Most, one assumes, are simply hopping on the PR bandwagon in order to appear more fascinating, "spiritual," and wealthy! 

As previously said, nothing prevents anybody from incorporating the insights or practices of other traditions as long as they are done in a way that does not diminish the spiritual worth or compromise religious/spiritual purity. 

However, whenever substantial expenses are associated with spiritual activity, we must maintain a significant degree of skepticism. Is it possible for such actions to make individuals more spiritual?

In a nutshell, the answer is no. 

To begin, we must recognize that studying these techniques is not immoral, but that they are just self-centered physical exercises. 

They aren't spiritual or religious in any way. Most are offshoots of many Eastern forms of mysticism, and if they lead to a healthier, calmer outlook, they should not be dismissed. 

However, no matter how many Qabalah parties we attend, we will not be able to develop the spiritual half of our nature unless we engage in long-term mental training and discipline. 

We know how to do a simple chakra exercise, meditation, aromatherapy, and relaxation methods, but they are just a small portion of the discipline necessary to discover our spiritual nature. 

We could even realize that we have a special skill for one of them, which motivates us to help others, but without the private, inner discipline and dedication, we shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking it's part of our spiritual search. 

Be truthful to yourself and write down your responses in your journal: 

What do you hope to get out of any changes? 

What do you believe the outcome of your adventure will be? 

Why do you feel compelled to make a change? 

When did you make the decision to change things? 

What strategy will you use to complete your mission? 

Our holistic approach to assisting you on your path ensures that you do not seek to construct a spiritual illusion on shaky ground. 

You'll be wallpapering over the cracks until you know why you need to look into different options in the first place. 

All of the questions we've asked and the answers you've given should have provided a clear picture of the underlying issues that are causing your discontent with your current situation. It's time to start distinguishing between spiritual hunger and religious commitment.

You may also want to read more about Spirituality here.

Be sure to check out my writings on Religion here.

The Goats From The Sheep? Mammal...

Although spiritual counseling or teaching from a friendly priest or mentor may be extremely valuable, it is an unavoidable truth that all faiths have bad priests. 

If you and your priest are at odds because you or a member of your family have broken the rules, you must honestly assess whether the fault lies with the priest or with yourself. 

It doesn't make him a terrible or terrible priest just because he won't give in to your begs or pleadings. If, on the other hand, he dismisses your request without explanation or discussion, you are free to take your ‘custom' elsewhere. 

After all, the clergy is just human, and the ego may inflate a person's feeling of self-importance to absurd levels. 

A local wedding was on the verge of being canceled when the female vicar objected to the bride's desire that the words "to obey" remain in the wedding ritual. 

After several weeks of heated fighting, the vicar eventually conceded defeat and went about his business. Bullying and blackmail are frequently associated with the fabric. 

In other words, refusing to accept theology without explanation is considered a sin, and the sinner faces expulsion from the church. 

The worst documented incidents frequently stem from monotheistic fundamentalists who oppose any sort of democracy, religious tolerance, free speech, or separation of church and state. 

Fundamentalism, on the other hand, is not limited to the ‘big three' (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam); it may even be found in the more passive Eastern faiths of Buddhism and Hinduism. 

Members of the group are barred from mixing with ‘outsiders,' whom they see as inferior and/or dirty. In this case, anyone seeking to quit the group will be more afraid of the priesthood than of God's wrath.

You may also want to read more about Spirituality here.

Be sure to check out my writings on Religion here.

The Soul's Mirror

A priest serves as a communal conscience. 

If one is required. They remind us that if our contracts with our deities are to be honored and preserved, we have specific duties as individuals and as a collective of whatever size. 

Should we wander too far from recognizing that our souls are assessed by our finest achievements rather than the depths to which we may go in our specific tradition? 

A priest might remind us that it is the purpose for an action – not the deed itself – that our souls are evaluated against. 

A "good" action, for example, might be carried out for the wrong motives - selfishness, manipulation, and so on. 

A priest or priestess is essentially a servant of the god to whom they are sworn. This implies that what is communicated to members of that faith or tradition may not always be popular — we all resent constraints, especially if they serve as a reminder that we are not up to par. 

We should try to listen to the message rather than shooting the messenger merely because we don't agree with what they're saying. 

If we are unwilling to listen to a religious priest, it may be a good idea to consider why we are shutting our ears and thoughts to them; perhaps our own hubris tells us that we know more about our lives than they do. 

However, like a mirror, they may be able to see something that we cannot. We don't smash a mirror just because it reveals our grey hairs! We either learn to live with them, color them, or remove them - in other words, we deal with the problem, good or bad. 

The priesthood is also the servant of people for whom they assume responsibility - whether it be a parish, a coven, a grove, or a hearth. 

They are, however, simply servants of that organization as long as it keeps its end of the contract with the deity it purports to worship. 

This isn't something that can be negotiated. 

Why should the priest reject their God's desires in order to pander to the contract defaulter if the god has indicated a preference for a specific form of behavior and that wish is continuously and purposefully ignored? 

So, what is the priesthood's function? 

In short, a priest serves as a mirror to the soul, as a facilitator and conductor of particular rites of passage, and as a piton in climbing, ensuring that any fall is limited to the distance between the piton and the ground. arating as a rib prod to remind us to speak out and ask for an explanation, or a tap on the skull to remind us to think for ourselves. 

While we are concerned with physical and material issues, as a mentor and (in the Celtic language, anam chara), a soul-friend. Or, to put it another way, a help-meet. We all need a sounding board now and then, but none more so than when we're going through a spiritual crisis. 

Is there somebody you can talk to about spiritual matters? 

Is it tough for you to talk about your spirituality? 

Do you feel vulnerable and alone due to a lack of personal support? 

Doubts and periodic lapses of faith are more widespread than the priests would like to acknowledge, as we've already covered. 

For fear of the doubts spreading to the rest of the flock, the wandering lamb is frequently sent out, and the 'doubting Thomas' is made to feel as if they've performed some terrible act of faith. 

In actuality, Thomas was the sole disciple who wanted proof rather than accepting Jesus' return on the basis of faith.

You may also want to read more about Spirituality here.

Be sure to check out my writings on Religion here.

Soul Studies And Guides

People have come to assume that the priesthood is nothing more than a self-proclaimed channel via which they are supposed to speak with deity through time. 

It's also true that several priests from numerous global faiths and traditions have advocated for this position. They've done very little to dispel myths and even less to inspire people to explore their spirituality inside the faith. 

At the absolute least, a ‘good' priest or priestess - one who is skilled in their duty – is a sheet of paper on which we sketch down how we wish to approach our deity. 

This isn't to say that the priesthood makes decisions for us or tells us what we can and can't do. Rather, they provide a mirror or sounding board for us to view our own mental processes and behavior via their talents and questions. We know what we're attempting to express as people, yet what we say may not be what others hear. 

A priest should be a "debating or study companion," or if you choose, a "co-counsellor." 

They and we are both studying and investigating the subject of'soul studies,' and though they may express their knowledge of the issue at that time (based on their own and second-hand knowledge of other people's experiences), it is not within their capacity to provide an answer. 

There isn't always a single, constant response to a question. 

We can only give each other "an" answer at most, which may be enough till we can go deeper into the spiritual worlds. A skilled priest will not avoid difficult questions with clichés like "It's God's will," "You don't need to question, just believe," or any of the other evasions. 

If they do, it shows that they are spiritually immature. 

A good priest will acknowledge to their own ignorance, doubts, and even loss of faith — as well as how they re-found it. 

Failures, not achievements, the tools we used to find our path, the mistakes we made, and what we gained from them are the most significant gifts we can give to each other.

You may also want to read more about Spirituality here.

Be sure to check out my writings on Religion here.

The Start Of Anything New

Do you recall how, as a youngster, you used to drive your parents crazy by constantly asking why? 

To adopt a Joblike mentality, we must quietly take all that life (or our gods) throws at us. 

Instead of asking God the "grail inquiry," 

"What does this mean?" 

Job sat mute and dumb, learning nothing until even Jehovah lost his cool and gave up. 

In Arthurian tales, the equivalent is apparent when the dumb knight fails to ask the why? inquiry. 

The actual meaning of sangraal, or the hunt for the grail, is the pursuit of knowledge. 

Those who embark on this trip are each searching for their own personal "holy grail," which will lead them to their spiritual destiny. 

Whatever road we take, we must have some type of guidance, which commonly comes in the shape of a priest/ess or guru on a spiritual level. 

Some people will believe they can handle it all on their own and that they don't need somebody to arbitrate between them and God. 

Of course, you don't need anyone – but how can anybody investigate a religious path or tradition if they aren't sure what it comprises or how long it will take? 

This is the kind of knowledge that cannot be discovered in books, particularly those that praise the benefits of dealing with angels and nature spirits. 

One student grew more irritated as he sensed a lack of tolerance for New Ageism, especially in the publishing industry. As he correctly pointed out, there is an exotic, watered-down, popularist version of every new "fad" that appears, bombarding the novice with a high proportion of shallow and erroneous information. 

Many of the books do include suggested reading lists and bibliographies that a serious reader may delve into further to have a better grasp of the subject, but in fact, few people care to do so. 

The result is that people with only a rudimentary grasp of esoteric tactics form groups, publish magazines, create books that are plagiarized from others on the shelves, and generally attract media attention. 

Because everyone was pursuing the same objective, our student believed that there should be a balance and harmony between traditionalists and New Agers. 

He can't wrap his brain around the idea that many traditionalists studied for at least seven years to achieve their positions, but many New Age adherents have simply read a professionally produced book. 

Consider how much time and effort you're willing to put into your quest: would you prefer to study entirely through books? 

Would you consider a priest's or a priestess' involvement to constitute interfering? Do you prefer one-on-one instruction? 

Since we grow familiar with the "jargon," sound book learning is always a good foundation on which to build, but it seldom substitutes for the genuine cut and thrust of an active spiritual journey.

In esoteric circles, there's an ancient proverb that says we'll find our next teacher when we're ready to absorb the wisdom they're prepared to give us. 

You may also want to read more about Spirituality here.

Be sure to check out my writings on Religion here.

Freedom Of Mind And Spirit.

An individual must strike a balance between ethics and morality. 

Morals are the expectations we have for each other as a social community. 

Ethics refers to what we tolerate in ourselves and/or each other as persons. 

There might be a significant difference in either way, since one person's ethics may be more strict than the morals of that community - or vice versa. 

Many faiths, both ancient and modern, have been used to control large groups of people, particularly when communication and access to outside influences are restricted. 

People in most societies are now considerably more willing (and legally competent) to change their religion, just like they would their car's transmission if it broke down. 

As a result, several religious organizations have had to reconsider how they communicate with and interact to their followers. 

They can no longer impose one set of ideas on a whole society without provoking negative reactions. 

If individuals cannot find the peace that their souls, minds, and bodies yearn for inside their own ‘family' religion, they will, no matter how painfully, abandon their faith and seek it elsewhere. 

People will seek for faiths, sects, and cults that pretend to accept them as they are now for that "feel good religiosity." 

They will frequently seek faiths that do not evaluate them as persons, but rather as humans with issues. 

The focus has shifted from: 

'I am a sinner seeking to achieve perfection' – implication: 'I'll never get there – it's impossible' 

to: 

'I am a perfect soul plagued by sin' – implication: 'I was there – I am now "fallen" – I can return'. 

Those who have been banned or banned from religious community will undoubtedly find this new method appealing. 

Those on a spiritual path should now be able to look at these difficulties through the lens of mental and spiritual liberation. 

Because we are no longer cognitively constrained by dogma, we can see that the priesthood does not need to offer a hotline to our chosen deity. 

Do you feel at odds with your own faith's teachings at this point in your spiritual journey? 

Interested in something less dogmatic and more personal?

That you'd want to learn more about inside your own religion? 

Exploring Spirituality isn't about switching to anything new. 

It's about reconnecting with the old whenever feasible and learning more about the mysterious forces that make you rethink whatever you think isn't meeting your spiritual needs. 

No one should judge you if you desire to pursue your faith on a deeper intellectual or spiritual level than the weekly service provides.

You may also want to read more about Spirituality here.

Be sure to check out my writings on Religion here.

Thoughts Within a Dream

 

The birthless and deathless Self (Atman) slept, and in his dream, he had a dream. What was the nature of this dream? 

The appearance of the world was a dream, and he imagined that he had become a person in this dream (Jiva). The Illusion just grew stronger after that. This worldly existence appears to be genuine, yet it is really a dream. 

God took on the role of a servant. The dream is to imagine all individuals as real, including mother, father, brother, and others, as well as the entire globe. 

This dream is enthralling all living things on the planet. 

It is extremely unusual and crucial for one of them to think very far ahead. It's an uncommon thing to have faith in a Saint. Such an aspirant is unselfish in his or her actions. 

An egotistical person would never throw a piece of bread to a dog. After doing a selfless altruistic act, the sensation of selflessness, or pure intellect, is common. 

Respect for the Saints is a wonderful thing. 

The fruit of our predecessors' blessings, the Saints who came before us, is magnificent. During this dream existence, discrimination (Viveka) between the Essence and the non-essential is uncommon. Wealth, like wine, is an intoxication. Because of the virtues of the previous incarnation, one is drawn to the Guru and is curious about him. 

This is a person who understands how to use prejudice to his or her advantage. Such a person approaches the Guru and considers what is necessary and what isn't, eventually realizing that "I Am Brahman." 

Only then can one comprehend that the world is an illusion and awaken from one's sleep. He realizes that the entire world is an illusion and that "The Supreme Self (Paramatman) is the sole Truth" after experiencing the pure Essence of the Teaching. 

Then, as "Truth, Consciousness, and Bliss (SatChitAnanda) Incarnate," one becomes One with Brahman. 

Who is this "I" who has gained experience when you understand the meaning and think about it and declare, "Now, I have the experience, and now, I am awake?" 

When you declare you've had an experience, the ego, or "I Am," comes into play (Aham). 

There is nothing that says "I" or "You." You claim to know, yet that is only vanity. In Illusion, it is delusion. For example, you may believe that "he" or "you" are the same old being known as Mr. Smith, yet "Mr. Smith" has now evolved into Brahman. 

Your delusion has not yet evaporated if you conclude that the previous Mr. Smith was simply an illusion and that "non-entity" has now become Reality. The Reality as it is is what is inherently your Being. 

Even in its most modest form, there is no "I" there. "I" is not gone as long as there is even the tiniest sense of needing to safeguard one's body. 

There should be a genuine sense, a real experience, that the entire cosmos is contained inside you. 

"All is He, and I Am He," this is the realization. 

The silk worm constructs its own home, a cocoon, in which it dies. 

You're tying yourself up in the same way. You think of yourself as a physical body. 

This is a form of enslavement in and of itself. Like a silk worm's cocoon, you've transformed yourself. The cocoon is soaked in lukewarm water, the worm is killed, and the silk is extracted. 

You are inherently Brahman if you hold on to the sensation that the entire cosmos, including the Wind and Space it is enclosed in, is your body. There is only one Brahman, and he is the only one. Brahman is someone who understands that there is nothing other. 

The one who has fully discovered Brahman is the one whose desire for sense objects has vanished, whose concept of "I" as separate from everything else has vanished, and whose pride has vanished.

You may also want to read more about Spirituality and Healing here.

Be sure to check out my writings on Religion here.

Siddhis - Spiritual Powers Inherent in the Self

The Eight Greater Spiritual Powers or Siddhis are naturally found in the Self (Atman). 

The fundamental essence of the Self stays veiled as long as an individual (Jiva) is ruled by Illusion (Maya). When spiritual qualities are undervalued, Siddhis become his servants naturally (when one is desireless). 

The Self's eight-fold nature is fundamentally the power's eight-fold nature. 

Pearls are given to those who do not demand them, while those who want things do not receive even the most basic necessities. All eight powers are given to the person who has lost all wishes. 

My Nature is identical to the eight powers. 

These abilities are given to everybody linked.

Desire, rage, greed, pride, envy, and hate are the six energy or passions. 

The human body is designed to experience hunger and thirst. To stay alive, you must consume food and water. The mind's ailments are happiness and sadness. 

If you receive what you desire, you are happy; if you do not, you are sad. 

What the mind perceives as positive is positive, and what it perceives as negative is negative. 

"I" is a notion that has neither a physical place nor a physical shape. 

The notion of "I am Shiva. I am Shiva" (Shivoham) is beneficial. 

There are six Siddhis, or powers, that are particular to the body:

1. The first power is the ability to be unaware of hunger or thirst. 
2. Knowing the meaning of Vedanta necessitates true clairaudience, or the ability to hear distant noises, which is the second power. 
3. The third power is clairvoyance. 
4. The fourth power is mental dominance. 
5. The fifth power is the ability to travel anyplace. 
6. The sixth power is the ability to take on any physical shape. 
7. The seventh power is the ability to inhabit other people's bodies. It is the same ability to be able to leave one's body or to die according to one's wish. 
8. The eighth power is the ability to perceive Gods. 
9. The ninth power is to be successful according to one's wishes, while the tenth power is to have everyone accept your directions. 

All of these abilities are linked to the mind. 

A total of five lesser abilities exist. 

1. The first step is to understand the past and future. 
2. The second is to be unaffected by wind and rain. 
3. The third power is to know what another person is thinking. 
4. The fourth power is the ability to halt wind and fire, 
5. While the fifth power is the ability to constantly triumph over others or not be vanquished.

You may also want to read more about Spirituality and Healing here.

Be sure to check out my writings on Religion here.

Renunciation and Desire

 

Is it better to give up one's family or not? 

Even though you go through the motions of daily living, the sum total of your existence is the same. 

What is the use of wearing garlands and applying sandalwood paste (performing spiritual rites) if you are not aware within? 

There must be an internal belief that the world is a deception. 

What good is it to become a renunciate (Sanyasi) if that goal isn't met? 

What is wrong with you if you are completely aware that this illusory reality is untrue and you function in it with detachment? 

That is the most wonderful thing. You can be anywhere, at any moment, and still be unaffected by the outside world. 

Is it true that you can only be a sage if you stay hidden in a chamber or in the woods, and if you leave, you can't be a sage? 

No, this isn't correct. You must be removed from yourself on the inside. Even for those who are willing to do so, illusion is a possibility. 

The five components must be treated with extreme caution, since they will entangle you. 

Do not believe the five elements are harmless. 

They will give you the impression of kindness, but don't be fooled by their appearance and place your faith in them. It's important to remember that they're merely pretending to be docile. 

Even though the field inhabited by the five components and the panorama given by them seem appealing, do not put your faith in it. 

These are deceiving sights. Always keep in mind that they're like ghosts in different disguises. The ghosts are nonetheless ghosts, regardless of their disguise. 

Unlike the ghosts, you are not a phantom. Illusion (Maya) uses many techniques to try to make you forget your True Nature. 

You must maintain vigilance at all times. You may be comfortable, but you are intellectually disengaged. In one's thinking, words, and deeds, one should maintain a condition of "Desirelessness." As a Brahman, live in Brahman. 

"Sir, I have seen you once," a man once stated to a Sage who had discovered Brahman. "Says the Sage," "You wouldn't have been able to see me. I am not who you think I am. I am not who you think I am; I am totally different." 

What would you gain if you quit the material life and withdraw into seclusion? 

It is not necessary for you to do so. Simply alter your mindset or attitude. Don't lose sight of the fact that you are a Brahman. When administering a vaccination, it makes no difference if the patient is tiny or large, skinny or obese; everyone should be immunized. 

It makes no difference how a person looks. 

Both the king and the poor are equal in profound slumber. This is referred to as equanimity. Being in the world is excruciating. 

When you realize that the world is an illusion, you will find joy and fulfillment, even in the midst of its appearance. You've always been and continue to be the "Highest Joy." 

A person who nurtures desire is only a laborer who is continually acting as an employee. The owner is the one who has no desire. Desire does not become desireless unless it is scorned. The Sage Shuka went to the forest only for the aim of reaching Desirelessness, but King Janaka did so while governing over a kingdom. 

I dare claim that if you sincerely want to learn, you can do it wherever. There is a simple solution. It makes no difference where you are. You can have a spiritual life whether you're in a house or in the woods. 

You are not required to flee. Even though he was continuously hounded, the Sage Pralhad could be in the condition of Brahman. 

Take it for granted that if you declare you can't undertake spiritual practice (Sadhana) while living in a family, you're not truly engaged in authentic spiritual practice. 

Whoever who want to be spiritual will do so regardless of where he is.

You may also want to read more about Spirituality and Healing here.

Be sure to check out my writings on Religion here.

Consciousness defined by Speech, Mind, and Action

 

"My Devotee" is someone who recognizes Brahman via speech, thought, and physical body. It is important to follow through on one's promises. Instead than thinking of the body as a body, consider it to be Brahman. 

One feels unified with one's Essential Being by having the sensation that the "All-Pervading God" is within everything, thereby making the mind one with Brahman. 

After that, one automatically obtains all spiritual abilities (Siddhis). There are eighteen abilities in all. There are eight major Siddhis and ten minor Siddhis. 

Eight of them have anything to do with who you are. 

The power of "Entering into the Consciousness of All" is the most subtle. 

In reality, you are already in everyone's hearts. To be invisible means to be unseen within your own Being and to let go of all mental and physical impulses. "The entire Earth is mine," King Bharat declared, "but when I die, I shall belong to the Earth." 

This signifies that one is once again bound by attachments. As a result, it is preferable to give up everything right away. The character of the next birth is determined by the thing in front of the mind at the time of death. 

After death, the desire determines the next step. Do not get engaged in the world, even if you have noble intentions to help others, since you will fall into the trap as soon as you diverge from your own Being. 

Don't lose sight of your actual self. 

Why should you be afraid of your own body's death now, when it will undoubtedly fall one day? The true Saint is one who is free of the world's servitude. Recognize that everything in the world is finite. Allow it to die today rather than tomorrow! It does not appeal to me! Don't be concerned about the five-element world. Only by living in this manner will the eight Siddhis be satisfied with you. 

The nature of your Being's capabilities is eightfold. 

The eight powers are,

(1) the ability to shrink to the size of an atom, 

(2) the ability to grow enormously, 

(3) the ability to be extremely light in weight, 

(4) the ability to obtain whatever is desired, 

(5) the ability to control animate and inanimate objects, 

(6) the ability to wield tremendous strength, 

(7) the ability to enjoy any sense pleasure as desired, and 

(8) the ability to make anyone do as you wish. 

Your current situation is quite trivial. If you remain in harmony with your Being, however, you will get everything as soon as the mind's will emerges. 

"True Devotees" are those who do not depart from their Being. 

As a result, keep your mind, body, and speech in that state.

You may also want to read more about Spirituality and Healing here.

Be sure to check out my writings on Religion here.