One byproduct of service is personal satisfaction accompanied by increased happiness at having fulfilled part of your Vikarma—your life’s allotted task. Rather than bemoaning the state of the world or even of your neighborhood, why not direct your attention and energy to “making the world a better place” or “being the best you can be,” …
The fifth step on the Fivefold Path is Swadhyaya—self-study. Asking the question, “Who am I?” describes this step, albeit simplistically. If I have an arm amputated, I refer to “my arm.” Who is the “my?” My arm obviously exists independently of myself. Trying to discover who the “my” is, is Swadhyaya. Similarly, if we focus …
Attempting to comprehend the Law of Karma during trying times can be challenging, First of all, God’s time may indeed be different than humans’ time. Paybacks—good or bad— usually cannot be figured out—at least not definitively. One exception is the tenet that intense good karmic behaviour attracts Grace and, more often than not, the Grace …
OBSTACLES DON’T BLOCK THE PATH.THEY ARE THE PATH. (Zen proverb) Read More »
The gentle push to the mind that Agnihotra–the core of the Fivefold Path and of Homa Psychotherapy– provides, is a tool without which all matters become more difficult. There are no two ways about it. This is the experience of tens of thousands worldwide. To say it another way, with Agnihotra, things just become easier. …
Humans’ inhumanity to humans underlines the very high stakes on the table today. Climate Change, Covid and Coercion (in eastern Europe) might be considered the 4 Cs affecting our hearts and minds currently. The truth of ‘Atmosphere, Prana, Mind,’ seems indisputable—disturbed, polluted atmosphere disturbs Pranic flow and balance, and the resulting terrible affects and effects …
“Once you inculcate the attitude of TOTAL SURRENDER, no other special discipline is necessary as this attitude itself is the culmination of all religious practice.” –Shree Gajanan Maharaj; 1986 in Akkalkot, India. The word surrender is on the lips and minds of more of us, more often these days. This is especially true where I …
If, in fact, we are all created in the image of God, why should we not be able to see Him in love for our brothers and sisters? Babies…now how easy it is to see the face of God in them–even in young children in whom ego and fear and such have not yet surfaced. …
TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD. Read More »
“The only way out is in,” is a concept many of us have pondered for quite some time. Through meditation, writing and other pursuits of self-development (Swadhyaya), we try to access and listen to our inner voices. How does this coordinate with the concept of SURRENDER? The 3rd step of the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous—a component …
When asked about service to others, Ramana Maharshi—a famous advocate of Advaita (unity in multiplicity)—is purported to have said, “What others?”—which to me says there are no differences among people; we are the same. “We are one,” has been a battle cry of sorts. As a goal, it may be righteous. As a reality, it …
MORE ON MIND TRAINING: NEARLY EVERYTHING MAY BE PSYCHOSOMATIC A kind of mantra within a mantra is how we might think of ATMOSPHERE, PRANA, MIND. Of course, the two mantras that must be said once in order to perform Agnihotra properly are crucial or, shall we say, non-negotiable. When discussing the mind, it is helpful …
