What is Prana?
Prana can be defined as the life-infusing substratum of all reality. Prana is also the energy we feel within and around us. There is a…
Understanding the Shreyas and Preyas
A keenly developed sense of viveka allows a Yoga practitioner to discern between the preyas and shreyas. In Yogic philosophy, the preyas refer to actions and thoughts that are enticing and pleasurable in the short term, but are harmful in the long run. Shreyas, on the other hand, are actions and thoughts that are filled with nobility and divinity. Some of the virtues of the shreyas are compassion, love, sacrifice, and dharmic livelihood. Shreyas enhance spiritual growth.
Patanjali and Niyama in Yogic Philosophy
Contemporary Yogic philosophy is the more subtle and deeper contemplation of the integration of Yoga’s wisdom and practices into daily…
Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita
Some traditional Yoga teacher training courses have the Bhagavad Gita (Song of The Blessed Lord) as part of the program. This seems practical within Raja, Jnana, Bhakti, and Karma Yoga. However, the deeper aspects of this scripture may be lost on instructor candidates who pursue Yogic knowledge only for physical mastery. Therefore, today’s interns learning how to become a Hatha Yoga instructor may not be reading ancient texts to expand their knowledge.
Sant Kabir Das and the Bhakti Movement
Kabir was a great mystic-poet saint of India. He lived from 1140 to 1518 A.D. He spent much of his life enraptured by divine grace. Many…
Yoga and Positive Psychology
A positive psychology mentor (whether this person is a counselor, personal mentor or a Yoga teacher), will help to nurture the talents…
Insight Into The Upanishads
One integral symbol, the Upanishads, has roots in Indian culture as deep as the religion it is aligned with. But what are the Upanishads…
What Is the True Purpose of Yoga?
The purpose of Yoga is to allow us to know who exactly we are and to be able to experience the freedom to be that person. As I have heard…
Why Do People Practice Yoga?
If you are practicing Yoga on your own, you may wish to set aside a period of time after you have completed the active portion of your practice to rest in the spaciousness of your own being. Allowing you a dedicated period of time to meditate is one of the keys to establishing a regular meditation practice. If you meditate at approximately the same time everyday and in the same area of your home, the meditative energy will begin to build, and this energy will enable you to more easily dissolve into the light of Shiva residing in your own heart.
Prana Vidya – Energy Knowledge
There is no doubt that we have been making mistakes on the mental plane, that we have ignored the mind; and this is how we have become sick and unhappy. When we take to the path of Yoga, the most important thing for us is the spirit, then the mind, and then the body. In the materialistic philosophy, body is alpha and omega, but in Yogic philosophy, body is not the first and last. This physical body is not everything; it is just a small portion of our infinite existence. We have to maintain this body correctly, but not through medicines, tranquilizers, and nutritious food alone. We have to supplement right thinking, philosophy, principles, and beliefs. More than that, we have to develop the art of Dhyana Yoga, wherein the eyes are closed, but the mind is expanding and becoming more and more brilliant – more aware. Where this little world of name and form alone is not there – but where the infinite existence is before us in an ever expanding vision of universal life.