Month: March 2020

Online Resources for the Covid-19 Time

Posted on by Divya - Administrator

With the social distancing now in place because of Covid-19, we would like to share some online resources. There may be more of which we are unaware. You can contact us by clicking on the AHYMSIN Office contact regarding sources not mentioned or updated information.

Announcement for Covid-19

Swami Ritavan Bharati, Spiritual Guide of AHYMSIN, has made an “Announcement for Covid-19” which includes a “Spiritual Action Plan for the Sangha.” Please read this by clicking on “Announcement for Covid-19.” Within this article, you will find links to the Saumyā-Tārā mantra and the Mrityunjaya mantra; the links will take you to articles about the mantras as well as to audio sound files.

Full Moon Meditation

You are invited to sit in meditation for an hour wherever you are. Total beginners and longtime practitioners, non-initiates and initiates are welcome. For more information, please click on Full Moon Meditation.

Self-Study Readings, Recordings and Videos of Swami Rama and Swami Veda Bharati

Swami Veda Bharati advised many who asked for guidance to use this list. Please click on Standard Reading List.

Two Minute Meditation

Swami Veda Bharati suggested going every 2-3 hours into a state of inner silence (meditative state) for just 2 minutes. Click here for more information.

Questions on Spiritual Practice

Questions on Spiritual Practice can be sent to the Adhyatma Samiti, or Spiritual Committee, by clicking here.

AHYMSIN Newsletter

You can subscribe to the AHYMSIN Newsletter by clicking here.

AHYMSIN YouTube Channel

The AHYMSIN YouTube Channel is https://www.youtube.com/user/ahymsin

Swami Veda Bharati on YouTube and in other Videos

Listings of some videos can be seen by clicking here.

Swami Rama’s Channel on YouTube

Please click here to see a listing.

Sadhana Mandir

New Online Learning option available –  a study guide to “Meditation and Its Practice” by Swami Rama: https://sadhanamandir.org/wordpress/online-learning/ 

Online Satsangs offered by Affiliate Center in Canada

Himalayan Yoga Meditation Center Calgary is offering online Satsangs with Pandit Dabral. The best listing of these is on their Facebook page. Their website also has a contact page. These classes are in English.

Online Classes and Resources by Affiliate Center in Germany

Online classes from Himalaya Institut Deutschland, an affiliate center. These classes are in German. https://www.himalaya-institut.de/

Online Classes offered in Greece

Himalayan Yoga Meditation of Hellas
www.himalayanyoga.gr  
Started on the 21 of March, through Skype.
Every Tuesday and Thursday from 20.00 to 21.30, Joints and Glands and Hatha Yoga,
Every Thursday from 21.30 to 22.30, Pranayama and Meditation
Every Saturday from 18:00 to 19.00, Children Stories from the East, narration and discussion
Every Saturday from 20.00 to 22.00, Parents, discussions about the present situation and preparation for seva (“hugging mothers” for orphan babies, and “food for everybody” project, in co-operation with the Municipality of Chalandri, Athens).
These classes are in Greek.

Online Classes offered by Affiliate Center in Hungary

Himalája i Jóga Tradícióis offering free online classes. Please click here for more information. These classes are in Hungarian. They also have a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/himalajaijoga/ 

Offerings by Centers in Italy

From Himalayan Yoga Institute Italia: “Every Wednesday in May • We meditate together in our own homes. From 21.00 to 21.30.” Please click here for more information. They also have a link on their website to “Articles and Readings” which are articles by Swami Rama and Swami Veda Bharati which have been translated into Italian.

From Spazio Shanti: “yoga and meditation lessons in which you can participate by connecting from a computer, tablet or mobile phone.” These classes are in Italian. Please see https://www.spazioshanti.org/

From Associazione Himalayan Center Padova: “We offer online yoga and meditation lessons and ayurveda workshops”. Please see in our Facebook page: Associazione Himalayan Center @himalayancenterpadova. For more information you can visite our website: https://himalayancenterpadova.it/

Classes and events offered by Affiliate Centers in the USA

These classes are in English.

The Meditation Center in Minneapolis is offering online sessions and are publicizing them in their newsletter. If you are not on their mailing list and would like to be, please go to their Contact Page. If you scroll down on the page, you will find “SIGN UP TO RECEIVE UPDATES ON CLASSES AND EVENTS!” and a space to enter your email address and then click subscribe. They also have a Facebook page. In addition, The Meditation Center has placed videos of some of their Zoom classes on Vimeo.

From the Himalayan Yoga Meditation Center in Illinois: “WE ARE WORKING TO OFFER OUR YOGA, MEDITATION CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS VIA REMOTE CONNECTION OPTIONS. As we add classes that you can attend remotely, those classes will indicate the method of connection in their description” For more information, please visit their website: https://hymcillinois.com/

From Himalayan Yoga & Meditation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin: We are offering some Zoom classes. For more informaton, please visit their website https://himalayanyogamilwaukee.org/ 

Online Classes in Japan

For information about online classes in Japan: ahymsin.jp@gmail.com Website: https://sites.google.com/site/ahymsinjapan/home

Himalayan Yoga Meditation Society Hong Kong

The Himalayan Yoga Meditation Society Hong Kong has some videos on their YouTube channel featuring Swami Veda Bharati.

Himalayan Yoga Meditation Society Ludhiana (India)

Himalayan Yoga Meditation Society Ludhiana (India) has a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LudhianaYoga/ 

AHYMSIN Korea

Under the guidance of Hansaji (Helen Choe), AHYMSIN Korea also shares teachings of the tradition through web community (http://cafe.daum.net/TTPinKorea ). Most Materials are written form, which are translated into Korean. There is also the Facebook page for AHYMSIN, Korea.

Offerings in Republic of China (Taiwan)

AHYMSIN Taiwan has some videos with Swami Veda Bharati on their YouTube channel. They also offer online classes, which are announced on their 2 Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/ahymsin.taiwan/ and https://www.facebook.com/groups/AHYMSIN.TAIWAN/ 

Himalayan Insky Yoga offers online and in person classes. Please see the website http://inskyyoga.blogspot.tw/ and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/inskyoga 

AHYMSIN Thailand

ahymsinthailand has a number of vidoes on their YouTube channel.

Ahymsinthailand Himalayanyoga has a number of videos on their Facebook page. These videos include videos with Swami Veda Bharati, Swami Ritavan Bharati, Stephen Parker (Stoma), Ashutosh Sharma, Shi Hong, John Sellinger, Swami Nityamuktananda.

Yogadocent

Yogadocent has 3 videos on their YouTube channel – 1 each with Swami Ritavan Bharati, Stephen Parker (Stoma), and Ashutosh Sharma.

Digital Pilgrim

John Sellinger, a former Gurukulam student and international teacher, has established Digital Pilgrim which features videos and audios in our tradition. There is a website, a Facebook page, and a YouTube Channel.

 

Prayers and Succour for Current Global Uncertainties

Posted on by Divya - Administrator

My very dear souls

My prostrations to the Divine Master.

Some of us are witnessing for the first time in this lifetime what a pandemic is and what is currently being spread by the Corona virus.

A century ago, in 1918, the world experienced the Spanish influenza (H1N1) pandemic where it was estimated that 25% to 30% of the world population became infected with this virus. Then years later, we heard of the H2N2 Asian flu, the H3N2 Hong Kong flu and more recently, the H1N1 swine flu ten years ago. Sometime about 50 years ago we were told of the HIV virus which continues to exist.

What does this mean for all of us? And for those of us in the Himalayan Tradition?

There have been many advisories issued by the countries affected by this contagion. These advisories and notifications carry practically the same messages about social distancing, no handshakes, self-quarantine, observing cleanliness like washing the hands thoroughly with antiseptics or detergents, wearing a mask, not touching our faces etc.

We are experiencing for first time ‘lockdowns’ and ‘price gouging’, ‘panic buying’, trajectories in the corona virus curves, and ‘tissue and toilet paper crisis’; and we are hearing of many other new alien terminologies.

Voluntary or self-isolation or self-quarantine is probably the only action very familiar to many of us in the Tradition in pursuit of sadhana and tapasya.

The practices advocated and advised by the governments and various immigration and health authorities are there to be followed and these are extremely important in any environment including the ashram.

As ordinary mortals, we must observe and take the necessary precautions strictly to look after ourselves. More so, as a consideration and compassion for the other souls that love and live within our environment.

Our Master Swami Rama educates us that ‘our body is a temple and it’s our duty to worship the Divinity that resides within’. Hence, it’s our sacred duty to protect our body through our efforts and Their Grace from any illness and mishaps.

Of course, the Tradition will provide the extra shield through the vibrations of our mantras. Our Himalayan Tradition – the Bharati Lineage exemplifies Divine Knowledge and Love. We must all earn this privilege explicitly through our actions.

In the case of this corona virus pandemic which is inclined to be a long haul, we must observe and practice strictly the basic tenets and principles of preventive hygiene. These practices are nothing short of us being selfless. Selfless means by being totally caring for the others around us. Spacing ourselves adequately in the meditation hall and avoiding crowds especially in the food hall. Taking our food in our own rooms is an option. Not hugging but observing mental salutations and many other ways of showing that we care for our brothers and sisters.

Selfishness is when our manas prompts us that we are immune to these diseases. Some may feel that they have attained higher spiritual boundaries, but there are many who are within the circle who are aspirants in this spiritual path.

As long as we are in an environment where there are other souls around us, we must ensure that we observe the basics of preventive hygiene. There are no two ways about this.

Let us all in our own uniqueness pray for the welfare of mankind wherever they may be; for those medical and healthcare personnel and the support staff; for those who are in the essential services who are maintaining law and order, those in the water and food industry; the sewage industry, the cleaners, and for all those who are on call and in sacrifice, in various capacities of the different occupations.

And let us all extend our prayers to those who are at risk to this disease and let us also pray for those who are already exposed to this suffering and its affliction.

May all our prayers be heard by the Almighty Universal Divine Mother and may these prayers be permitted by Her to resonate wherever there is a need to help anyone and everyone.

May our Tradition give us the strength to collectively and as individuals bear the suffering of mankind and to provide succour to those who need this love in these tumultuous times.

May the prayers of the Most Holy sages and seers of the past present and future in the highest peaks of the Himalayas continue to vibrate into every microcosm of the earth and help ease our sufferings in this era of Kali Yuga.

May our prayers be to thank these Most Venerable Enlightened Beings wholeheartedly for Their prayers which has been helping this earth and all that live in Her ever since.

And may we all pray that the pandemic is not protracted and that the aftereffects of the pandemic including the world economy is not severely damaged especially so that the poor and the destitute have enough sustenance and shelter.

May each of us as representative souls of the Tradition do our part to alleviate the current crisis through our prayers and actions.

May the Master and the Lineage protect each one that requires deliverance.

Aum Guruve Namaha

Aum Shanti Shanti Shanti

In Service of Gurudev

Mohan Swami

Editor’s Note:

Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Mohan Swami, a disciple of Swami Rama, is the President of both AHYMSIN and Dhyana Mandiram Trust (DMT).

What is the ego and how can I get rid of it?

Posted on by Mandala

Question

My question is – Under the theory of karma, we understand that ego (ahamkara) is the root cause of the sense of doership, which in turn envelopes one in the karmic whirlpool. However, what is this ego? Where does it come from? How is it generated? What is its source? What is the process? And finally, how does one get rid of this ego?

Answers

Lalita Arya (Ammaji), Stephen Parker (Stoma), and Carolyn Hume have answered this question.

Lalita Arya (Ammaji)

“ego” is originally from the Latin meaning “I” translated into English…that I that sees, feels, smells, etc.

Without that “I” there is no “doer” as the questioner asks.

From where does it generate? When one takes birth, the “I” appears as identifying with that self. It has to have a reference, so I, the doer.

What is its source? The questioner answers this “in the karmic whirlpool”.

How does one get rid of this ego? One does not so long as one is I… It is the I that asks the question, so that proves there is no getting rid of, in the ordinary sense of the word. BUT…

Let me divert into a story. There used to be a renunciate (or maybe still is) who never used the identity “I”, he always referred to himself as “this self”…I thought when I heard him speak, Wow, what a clever way to get out of that who am “I” syndrome.

In our tradition, we have been introduced to the greatest of all practices for any human being and that is Meditation…we start with being encouraged to practice daily, faithfully, without expectations just following that eternal sound that our mantra introduces us to.  Eventually when the mind is really clear that same “ego – I” becomes absorbed in the greater consciousness. I love this quote that Lord Rama advises the sage Gautama to forgive – Let go of the knots of your mind until aham (ego) gives way to “atma”…(from SITA by D. Pattnaik).

Leave all the analysis aside as it involves the ego and just let go…eventually one day that “I” will disappear and when you open your eyes after that special session you will see the world as an extension not of I but of atma.

May that Moment be ever yours

Stephen Parker (Stoma)

I love Ammaji’s answer.

The ego is the “I-maker,” our self-identifying function. It is part of what creates our individual mind. If you don’t have an ego, you can’t have a body. So it isn’t a question of getting rid of ego, but how to live in the right relationship with it. Sometimes it gets the idea that it is the CEO of the mind (ātman) rather than the general manager. So living skillfully means living with an ego that can surrender at the right moment.
By cultivating mindful awareness, starting with breath awareness, you gradually loosen ego’ grip on the illusory ownership of actions and their results.

Carolyn Hume

Interesting answers from Ammaji and Stoma that are also practical.

Swami Rama has written, “The universe is the outcome of the two principles of one Absolute without a second: Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (primordial matter). From Prakriti and Purusha all the animate and inanimate forms of the world are born, maintained, and destroyed. Nothing can exist without the Lord’s Prakriti.  All the manifestations of the universe are diverse forms of Prakriti.”

Sankhya is one of the six systems of Indian philosophy. It is thought that to understand the Yoga Sutras, one must first understand Sankhya philosophy. In this philosophy, Purusha is eternal, and Prakriti is co-eternal.

The Vedanta school of philosophy accepts consciousness as real with all else being maya or illusion, sometimes called apparent reality. It is consciousness from which matter manifests. Everything is the play or sport of Brahman. “…the philosophy of Advaita, which holds that there is one and only one absolute Reality without a second and that all that we see, the entire universe, is but a manifestation of the one Truth.” – Swami Rama

In Sri Vidya, there is a similarity of ideas with the terms of Shiva and Shakti. “According to the science of tantra, the human being is a miniature universe. All that exists in the cosmos exists within individuals, and the same principles that apply to the universe apply to the individual. In this ancient philosophy, the entire universe is a manifestation of pure consciousness. And yet, consciousness seems to be divided into two aspects—one that is unchanging and unidentified with the manifest world, called shiva, and another aspect of consciousness, shakti, which is the subtlest of the created things. Shakti means power or potential. This aspect of consciousness is creative, dynamic, and energetic, and it brings forth the entire manifest world from itself. However, only part of the energy of shakti is involved in the creation of the manifest world, while the other, greater part, remains dormant. Thus both in the universe and in the individual, energy exists in two forms—dynamic and latent.” – Swami Rama

Ahamkara along with Buddhi, Chitta, and Manas are functions of the mind.

Interestingly ahamkara is made of two parts: Aham = I and Kara is within the verb “to do.” So one can perhaps say the idea of “I do,” or of doer-ship.

Swami Rama has said, “It is necessary to have a comprehensive knowledge of the mind and its modifications, for it is the mind that stands between man and the Ultimate Reality….The origin of the mind is atma-shakti, the capacity of the Self… In the philosophy of raja yoga and Sankhya philosophy, mahat denotes the cosmic or universal mind, the first principle manifested out of the unmanifested one, Brahman. Just as a wheel rests on its spokes, and the spokes rest on an axle, so does our mind rest on the cosmic mind, and the cosmic mind rests on Brahman…. From mahat comes ahankara, or ego…”

One looks at the first 3 lines of the Yoga Sutras:

Now, at this auspicious moment of transition begins the instruction in the discipline following the past tradition.

Yoga is the control of the modifications of the mindfield.

Then (upon the dissolution of the vrttis) the seer now rests in his own true nature.

So the practices and teachings of yoga are tools to bring about the idea in the 3 lines above.

Swami Rama has written “You only attain joy when you forget ahamkara. But how is that possible for you to live without a sense of I-ness? That’s not possible so it is better to ‘polish’ your ahamkara. Just as you polish your shoes and use them every day until eventually they are worn out, so should you polish your ahamkara – your ego.”

Actually, you can read for yourself the philosophies found in Sankhya, Vedanta, the Yoga Sutras, and other texts and perhaps gain an intellectual understanding of what you think they are saying and decide what you think is plausible.

If you so choose, you can engage in the practices and follow the teachings of yoga and see where they lead you. “Valid knowledge comes from direct experience alone.” – Swami Rama. This can be a long process because of the layer upon layer of covering to which one holds; polishing will reveal more and more subtle layers as one goes on. And this is also a process of expansion, of letting go, of feeling more and more the flow of love, which eventually cannot be contained.

Talking of samadhi, Swami Rama says, “In this state the senses, mind and intellect cease functioning. Just as a river merges into the ocean, the individual soul merges into the Supreme Soul, and all limitations dissolve.”

“…the stage of Nirvikalpa Samadhi in which the seeker becomes one with the One, Here is to be found the union of Atman with Brahman. This stage transcends the stage of intense love and longing for the ideal. For now the seeker merges into his ideal, and no sense of duality remains. Only one who is well established in the stage of nirvikalpa samadhi is an illumined yogi, and only such a yogi can truly guide other aspirants. Such a yogi is beyond the bondage of space, time and causation, and he is ever free, for it is possible for him to remain dissolved in Brahman and yet return to normal consciousness.” – Swami Rama

Such a one is called a jivanmukta.

Since you have written about karma, I suggest you read Freedom from the Bondage of Karma by Swami Rama, The Royal Path by Swami Rama, chapter 13 in Perennial Psychology of the Bhagavad Gita by Swami Rama (actually the whole book is a good read), The Art of Joyful Living by Swami Rama, as well as other writings.

Editor’s Note

If you have any questions about your spiritual practice, you may write to the AHYMSIN Spiritual Committee at adhyatmasamiti@gmail.com.

Eternal Dedication to Swami Veda Bharatiji

Posted on by Mandala

My yoga teacher Chandnaji introduced me to Swami Veda Bharati in March 2008, since he felt I was so curious about meditation and probably needed it at that point of time.

On our way to Rishikesh I had picked up my book Walking with a Himalayan Master by Justin O’Brien which I had bought some time back, but never read. Well, on this trip the book became very engrossing and fascinating to me. Before this day, my ‘religion’ only stemmed from my parents and society, but even then I had a questioning mind; who knows if there really is a God, can you ever ‘find’ Him? Is there a logic to Karma theory? How valid are mantras in Sanskrit? Etc.

That day is entrenched in my mind.  Arriving at Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama perhaps around 11 am, my first impression was: Serenity, and that it looked organized and above all clean and calm. We had a simple lunch (sitting traditionally on the floor) and then we waited, seemed like a long time, till maybe 4 pm when we could finally meet Swamiji. We were tired and my thoughts were, is really worth coming all the way?

We had a very brief meeting with Swamiji. After preliminary greetings I asked him, I am confused, what does meditation do, and that it is difficult to practice in a regular disciplined way. I don’t really remember his reply, but he said let us do a 2 minute meditation. The 2 minutes seemed to last a long time. I sat in Vajra Asana and closed my eyes and that changed my world. My highest experience was that I felt this specific and intense heat in my body clearly from Ajnana chakra to the nabhi chakra area. And I could FEEL my heart fluttering as though it had wings. What an elated experience that was, I can never forget. And I thought to myself what is happening to me, why am I reacting like this, why am I so excited. Forget this, and be yourself again! Finally the 2 minutes were over and opened my eyes, thanked Swamiji, nothing more was said. We went our way, but my life has changed. Although SVB-ji always said experiences are not important, what matters is how deep you go, this is a unique experience I could never forget.

It was my eye opener, and my thoughts and values of the Universe changed. My mind opened to the immense field of spirituality and the truth within. Truly, I understood the meaning of ‘Guru’,

Dignity to Every Moment of Life

Posted on by Mandala

My dear Brothers and Sisters,

In this special time of transformation and spiritual growth I want to send you my love out of my total isolation in Ahrensburg, Germany. Allow me to send you some thoughts out of my silence:

In deep meditation I heard one of the most beautiful definitions of Yoga: YOGA MEANS TO GIVE DIGNITY TO EVERY MOMENT OF LIFE.

Now is the time and opportunity to practice it without disturbances from outside activities. Samkhya Philosophy is teaching that the only faculty which can lead us to freedom is the discriminative faculty of our mind.

Who develops that wisdom of discrimination develops an inner strength which shows itself in dignity. A human being without dignity is weak and shaken by fear. Who lives with dignity is protected, calm and his behavior shows a humble attitude. Clarity of mind and sober-mindedness give you the strength to stand up with dignity when you have fallen down. Only in true dignity you can realize who you really are and you can become free from the suggestions of the outside world. Standing in dignity sharpens your discriminative faculty and makes you able to turn around the wheel of the manifested nature while you stay totally calm in metaphysical immovability.

Who learns to give dignity to life’s every moment is humble and at the same time very strong. That person can bring the fire of purification to the earth. Dignity is fire. It can burn and can purify. It is the shining expression of wisdom. With dignity every imaginative thought can become reality and every word spoken out of dignity represents truth. Dignity is able to show the power of the Celestial World. When you let go of passion and negative emotions you can live in dignity; then you live simple, and you are simple, not thinking that you are better than anybody else.

So, in these times of great insecurities and change, to practice dignity in every life’s moment is a great opportunity for a spiritual practice.

I am so grateful for the wisdom Guruji has taught us that I want to share with you my last dramatic experience. A student of 78 years, who visited all my seminars for more than 30 years and has practiced the life with dignity every day, sang the Isavasiopanishad by heart every day and was only happy and full of love and shared her love with every person in sorrow and pain tirelessly, left this world because she had lung cancer. Bhagabandev and I visited her twice in hospital. She was shining, said that she is happy and full of love. With that attitude she left her body like an angel. It showed me the strength and beauty of Guruji’s teachings.

I send you all my deepest love and respect, and I am contacting you daily in my meditation

Your brother, Wolfgang

Editor’s Note:

As well as being the Spiritual Director of Himalaya Institut Deutschland, Wolfgang Bischoff, a disciple of Swami Rama, is a mantra initiator and is a member of the AHYMSIN Adhyatma Samiti, or Spiritual Committee.

Announcement for Covid-19

Posted on by Divya - Administrator

…Tāre tut tāre ture svāhā:

With this prayer for you and your loved ones in all parts of the world, together let us cultivate serenity. In these times of adversity, the teachings of the Tradition continue by way of the power of your ascetic endeavor (tapas). Let us loosen the knots of the heart to remain full of hope (smriti). Come to the awareness of this moment and remain the observer. Come in-touch with the power that emanates when you have gathered all forces and rest in stillness. Where fears and worries appear, let-go and let the spiritual forces rise-up in your mind.

The quest remains, the teachings continue, the blessings flow, all from that spiritual core of our being. Let this opportunity be a willful event for purification. That is the ideal of titiksha–forbearance. This is our lesson, and this is our test.

As you experience hardships and challenges, remain aware of your spiritual strength, through your disciplines of ahimsa, satya, santosha. Let your mind smile.

Cultivate this awareness drop by drop, moment to moment. Recognize this source within, and thereby, recognize these natural forces of patience, forbearance, tolerance. Such sentiments arise from your purified and pacified mindfield showing their fruits in goodness, satiety, kindness and compassion. Let it be a process of a different kind of awareness and a renewing quality of our selves.

Let us have a moment of silence, offering our prayers and our japa for the well-being of all.

Om, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.

SRB
Rishikesh, India

Spiritual Action Plan for the Sangha:

Together, on behalf of the Lineage, let us dedicate our prayers, japa and actions for the well-being and benefit of humanity. Please continue with your daily meditations offering the fruits of your yoga with the sentiment of “namah”, not mine but Thine. In addition to your mantra japa, and your Saumyā-Tārā verse and mantra purascharana, may I request that you use your time wisely for your inner life and your spiritual renewal and rejuvenation. The following are suggestions for our global Sangha members:

1. Daily meditation (same time and place)
2. Offering the fruits of your japa and meditation
3. Along with your personal mantra, and the Saumyā-Tārā mantra japa dedicated to the Sangha, you can add the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra for the well-being, healing and liberation of all.
4. Begin the habit keeping some minutes of centering awareness and japa at your Full Moon Meditation Time on a DAILY basis. You can use a minute to mentally recite 3 Saumyā-Tārā mantras and 3 Mrityunjaya mantras; or 15 minutes to recite 21 times these mantras, and again offering the intention for the well-being of all plus any other intentions.
5. Maintain your observation of the Full Moon Meditation Time each month in your home or wherever.
6. Also practice Svadhyaya, a deeper contemplation of your spiritual aims and goals.
7. May the fruits of love, kindness and compassion be your solace.

These and others may continue to be shared by spiritual guides for the community.

With blessings and gratitude,

Swami Ritavan

Ahimsa

Posted on by Mandala

Love bears all things and endures all things.

Nowhere will you find a true definition of love except in yoga science. In yoga science ahimsa means love. “A” means “no,” himsa means “killing, hurting, harming or injuring with mind, action and speech.” If you follow these rules you will be practicing love.

If you initiate the practice of ahimsa at home, the family can be a training center for learning to love others. But if you fail to love your family, you will also fail in other relationships. Husband and wife and other family members should never hurt each other. If married persons were to truly practice ahimsa, they would never quarrel. There should be an understanding in relationships that no matter what happens you will not become violent. You cannot hurt someone and at the same time say I love you.

Love is more powerful than animosity.

When animosity controls your mind, it leads your mind toward negativity. It is the defense mechanism that creates many of the problems in communication. If you are afraid of me and I am afraid of you, there can be no communication between us. Then we both become defensive and we fight. This is what happens between two nations, and that is why the whole world is fighting. You have forgotten that we are all human beings and there is only one source that is supplying the life force to everyone, no matter which community, religion or culture one comes from. We are all the children of one eternity, therefore you have no right to hate or harm anyone. It is not okay to love some people and hate others. If you could learn to love your enemies, they would no longer be enemies to you. Your love should travel toward expansion, not contraction. Mao Tse Dung asked, “If hundreds of varieties of flowers can grow in one garden, why can’t we all flourish together in one universe?”

The practical approach to ahimsa is to practice non-violence in speech, action and thought. Gandhi, the father of the Indian nation, was completely nonviolent. He was able to get freedom from alien rule through nonviolence, without the use of guns. He exhibited the power of love to the whole of the nation and to the whole world. Somebody asked him if he believed in God, and if so what type of god did he believe in. He replied, “I believe God is truth. And to know the truth there should be truth in mind, action and speech.”

Violence in speech or in action is almost always preceded by violent thoughts, which have serious repercussions on the mind and body. When you hurt someone or you think about somebody negatively, not only are you wasting time and energy, you are hurting yourself. When you hate others, it is you who suffers, not the rest of the world. All negativity can be washed away and the mind can be purified if you learn to forgive others. You also have many weaknesses and perhaps you are projecting those weaknesses onto others.

I do not understand the law that prompts mortal beings to injure each other. From where does this violence arise? What is that power that instigates people to annihilate each other’s existence? I return back to my silence without any reply and with a simple conclusion that human beings have not yet really found out the art of living harmoniously. The evil that forces one to commit heinous crimes is because of himsa, the absence of love, consideration, kindness and awareness that we all belong to One. By killing others we are cutting the roots of the same tree whose limbs we are. This modern world is creating hell for everyone. You cannot say God is responsible for that.

Thought power is very important. Negative thoughts, emotions and violent behavior come when your reason is not functioning. Never allow your reason to retire or waste your energy on violence and negativity. Violence and anger diminish the power of love and gentleness. It is important to make effort to redirect negativity toward positive thinking. Patanjali, the codifier of yoga science, says constant contemplation on the opposite is the way to get freedom from hatred and violence. For example, if somebody hates you or if you have negative feelings toward someone, try to think of that person in a loving way.

Editor’s Note

Reprinted from The Ancient Traveler: Writings on Love, by Swami Rama

Living Beauty

Posted on by Mandala

What beauty and grandeur a flower bestows! The naïve take this lightly and are not sensitive enough to perceive the depth of the colors of the delicate petals.

For a short while the flower blooms, and then the petals drop to the dust without receiving any admiration or touch of love. Do you know, they cry for want of love, and that is why they are shy and drop their blossoms unnoticed in quiet lonely nights.

A flower is a living beauty that blooms only once and vanishes forever. It whispers vainly – for the deaf ears of the cruel human being have no power to listen to that pain. The flower waits to offer its petals to her Beloved before the dust assimilates her beauty and blends it into its grey ugly color.

Who has such an intense feeling of sensitivity to communicate with the blessed flower, which knows mothering but gives unconditionally and without reservation?

One day a priest gripped the stem of a flower, wanting to have it for his altar. While carrying that flower, he stumbled and the flower said, “O priest, are you injured?” Hearing the whispering voice of the flower, the priest wept. He felt as though he had twisted the neck of his own infant and was going to offer it to the dumb, lifeless image that was installed on the altar. Whenever one approaches the altar, the image never speaks or moves. What good is this worship for the tender infant of nature is snatched from its mother and offered to an inert, dumb god? Afflicted by the crying voice of the flower, the priest abandoned worship and from that day lived in solitude, contemplating the formless and limitless Infinity.

Human beings have strange and inauspicious methods of worship that have no purity, sincerity, or validity.

Editor’s Note

This is an excerpt from Love Whispers by Swami Rama, 1986 hardback edition, page 49.

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