RAJA YOGA – CONTROL OF THE MIND   Raja yoga deals exclusively with the mind.  It is the science of applied psychology.  Its main task is to obtain perfect control of the mind, to remove all mental obstructions, leaving a sound mind. Raja yoga aims at strengthening the will power, as the power of concentration, without which no…

KARMA YOGA - THE PATH OF ACTION Karma yoga is work with non-attachment to the result of that work.   One works as a free agent, free from gain or loss, success or failure. Only where there is no desire for personal gain does work become spiritual. “To the work alone you have the right, never to its…

JNANA YOGA – THE PATH OF KNOWLEDGE Jnana yoga is the path of knowledge and wisdom.  It teaches that there is one reality behind the multiplicity of phenomenal existence. It is based on the monistic principles of the Vedanta. All existence, including man and God are but different aspects of one Absolute Being, one universal reality.  All…

BHAKTI YOGA - GREAT DEVOTEES NARADA Divine Sage Narada is the mental son of the creator Lord Brahma.  Narada has unparalleled devotion to Lord Vishnu and is His foremost devotee.  He is believed to be the highest example of Bhakti and the greatest exponent of Bhakti Yoga. His love of God is so pure and intense that…

BHAKTI YOGA - THE NINEFOLD PATH OF DEVOTION As explained by Lord Rama to his devotee, Shabari Lord Rama defines the path of Bhakti as nine fold.  It follows gradually, step by step as the devotee’s worship and devotion grow deeper. Natures differ.  The modes and methods are as manifold.  One may choose one or several…

BHAKTI YOGA - SPIRITUAL ATTITUDES Bhakti yoga is the path of devotion through which genuine communion of the soul with the supreme absolute is accomplished.  It shows how ordinary human feelings when directed to the divine can become the means of attaining the highest: spiritual union with the Lord. Bhakti in its wider sense is worship of…

BHAKTI YOGA - THE PATH OF DEVOTION Bhakti yoga is one among the several spiritual paths expounded in Hindu philosophy for realisation of God.  It is the yoga of devotion. ‘Bhakti’ is of Sanskrit origin, meaning devotion to a chosen ideal or personal God, ‘Ishtadeva’.  Every individual, according to his nature, chooses his ideal.  The formless Absolute…

THE GURUMANTRA – BLESSING FOR ETERNITY Spiritual awakening by oneself is very difficult, nearly impossible.  Help of a realized guru is needed to enlighten the path of the seeker.  It is not given to everyone to charter one’s course all alone.  They are the blessed few, the elect that can attain to salvation on their own. A…

 THE GURU Human birth is the first of the three great boons of life: only the human can aspire to moksha, salvation.   The second is the company of an illumined teacher: a realised guru alone is able to arouse one’s dormant kundalini and pave the way to liberation, ‘Moksha’.  The third boon, love and yearning for…

THE LAW OF KARMA AND THE DOCTRINE OF REINCARNATION We are born to undo our past bad actions and purify ourselves. Only by doing good will our negative tendencies decrease. We should understand that our present life has been traced as a result of past karmas; that we are having this earthly body to undo bad karmas…

THE MORAL VALUES The great blunder of all ethical systems is to impose restraint without instruction.  All such systems instruct one ‘not to steal’, ‘not to tell a lie’, ‘not to hurt others’ without teaching how it could be achieved. Why does man display such unethical behaviour? Why is it not possible for all men to be…

PREPARATIONS FOR MEDITATION For success in meditation, specific preparations are imperative. The earlier stages in most yoga disciplines are meant to quieten the mind in preparation for meditation leading ultimately to awakening of the kundalini. To get control over body and mind requires physical help. When the body is sufficiently disciplined, control of the mind will…