7 Ways to Purify the Mind, Part 1
Sutras 33 through 35 of Book One of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Sutra 1:33. The mind becomes clarified by cultivating attitudes of friendliness [maitri], compassion [karuna], gladness [mudita] and indifference [upekshanam] respectively towards happiness [sukha], misery [dukha], virtue [punya] and vice [apunya]. Maitri is friendliness; … Continue reading
Om, the God-Word
Sutras 27 through 30 of Book One of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 27. His designator [vachaka] is ‘Om’ [Pranava]. Usually, vachaka means that which is denoted by speech, in this case meaning that Ishwara is designated by the Pranava–by the sacred syllable OM. But … Continue reading
4 Questions on Meditation
Q: Where is the atma (soul) located in our body? The atma is everywhere in the body and beyond as the basis of the aura. Therefore there is no need to put the attention on any particular point when we meditate. The heart and the third … Continue reading
Samadhi by “Giving the Life to God”: Ishwara Pranidhana
Sutra 23 of Book One of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 23. Or by total giving of the life to God. This could legitimately be rendered: “Or by total merging of the life with/into God.” This is NOT a mere: “Here, O Lord, take my life; I … Continue reading
Who Is Nearest to Samadhi?
Sutras 21 & 22 of Book One of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 21. It [samadhi] is nearest to those whose desire [for samadhi] is intensely strong. Vyasa simply says: “They soon attain samadhi and the fruit of samadhi.” Two interesting words are used here: samvega and … Continue reading
Signs of an Awakened Kundalini
Q: Can you please tell me about signs of awaking of Kundalini? How is a sadhaka supposed to detect it? Here are the words of Sri Ramakrishna on the subject: “The mind of a worldly man generally moves among the three lower centres: those at … Continue reading