Sharanam means refuge. This beautiful initiation mantra from the Pushtimarg tradition in India invites us to seek refuge, particularly when we are driven by strong emotions. Anger, hate and fear close us off to love and compassion. Seeking refuge means …
Guru is the remover of darkness: Gu means darkness, and Ru means remover. Darkness refers to what obscures the light of awareness. Guru is the enlightenment principle that aids one in the realization of the true Self, the whole Self, the holy Self. The …
A student recently wondered why in some Yoga traditions, such as the bhakti tradition, there is little or no emphasis on the practice of asana, yet in Jivamukti Yoga and most other contemporary Western Yoga disciplines, asana plays a major role. It is …
According to Hindu and yogic philosophy your first teacher and guru is your mother—the creation of your life is that guru. Each of us has a different relationship with our biological mother. We probably experienced conflicts, disagreements and misunder …
If we could perform just one action perfectly, we could know the perfection of everything. We could attain enlightenment. Yoga is the perfection of action. There is a traditional story told of an enthusiastic student of mysticism who was given the assi …
This sutra says that we actually create our own reality. That is how powerful we are! Embracing the wisdom of this sutra involves taking responsibility for our life and the world we live in. It is only then that we can begin to consciously co-create wi …
Science has recently caught up to what yogis of old had been aware of and passed down through the ages: that the world we see and experience is made of sound. That which is seen as fixed, such as matter, is really space with small units of energy vibra …
It is important to reflect on the good things we have experienced in our lives. That’s how goodness gets strengthened, by remembering it. Remembrance is very powerful. The past does not exist outside the present moment. When we remember something, we b …
(Humans) are transitional beings. (They) are not final. The step from (human to superhuman) is the next approaching achievement in the earth’s evolution. It is inevitable because it is at once the intention of the inner spirit and the logic of Nature’s …
This reference to a wild longhaired sage is thought to be the first ode to the yogi of Vedic times. This hermit is dirty and naked, flying through the sky, living in harmony with the natural world and completely outside of human culture. She is truly a …
Universal consciousness focused through Spirit can appear in our lives offering guidance and council. Guru is the Spirit Guide of the universe. This guide speaks to us through various forms and tongues. There are many Spirit Guides in your life now, an …
Upon dissolution of the body, the Self principle does not perish. The body is a manifestation of Self principle. The knowledge one has acquired and the character one has gained will accompany one into future lives. Higher future life depends on higher …