Am I A Simple Simon?–A Spiritual Self-Diagnosis
The Simple Simon Test There is a great deal of wisdom in what we consider children’s rhymes and fairy stories. Many of them contain profound wisdom, especially the stories that often have practical esoteric teaching. Although a worthy teacher rejects no one and freely shares … Continue reading
Consciousness and Energy: A Reader’s Inquiry
Q: Gorakhnath describes God as a Oneness of Shiva and His Shakti. Do you agree with this Philosophy of a Father-Mother God?
Yes and No. For us in this relative existence, there appears to be a duality of Consciousness/Energy. But that is a misperception. There is only Consciousness.
What is Sin? – A Yoga Perspective
The Sanskrit word for sin is papam, which means harmful negativity. In the New Testament the word translated “sin” is amartano, which simply means to miss the mark, or to fall short of the ideal.
Thieves and Robbers: False Indicators of Realization and Authority
The different experiences that can be mistaken for spiritual progress and even enlightenment can arise from all five of our bodies (koshas). And in each case they are the result of distortion and malfunction in those bodies produced by false yoga practices that delude the aspiring yogi.
In the Beginning and Before: the Inner Meaning of The Gospels
Today we are beginning a new series of occasional blog posts: selections from Abbot George’s Commentary on the Four Gospels, which he is currently working on. We begin with his introduction.
Karma or Jnana: What Is the Path to Liberation?
The basis of our wandering in samsara and undergoing continual birth and death is not karma–that is a side effect–but our state of consciousness which is ignorance: avidya.
Podcast: The Esoteric Side of Good and Bad Association
In today’s podcast, Abbot George discusses the inner mechanism of how the senses affect us, and how external connections influence our inner make-up, for good or ill. He begins by talking about the positive effect of darshan and satsanga, recounting his own experiences with holy people.
Creating Your Happiness | Practical Wisdom from Paramhansa Yogananda
Remember that along with the art of money-making it is well to learn the art of money-saving, for a large income is of no lasting good to you if it creates only habits of luxury and no reserve fund.
Twelve Key Concepts in Yoga
A clear understanding of the important concepts regarding yoga meditation is important to all yoga practitioners. The Sanskrit language is rich in concise terminology about the philosophy and psychology of yoga, and the Atma Jyoti Website has compiled a useful collection of these terms in “A Brief Sanskrit Glossary.”