← Challenges
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Overcoming Disappointment
Overcoming disappointment - An Upadesha given by Bodhinatha at Kadavul temple on June 17 2011 Discouragement, depression and despair are obstacles to all human endeavours. The goal of a seeker ...
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Willpower and Concentration (An upadesha by Bodhinatha)
An Upadesha given by Bodhinatha on March 14 2011 Bodhinatha explains the relationship between our inner and outer life. Continuity of efforts made in both our inner and outer life ...
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The World is an Ashram
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami gives a presentation on a topic entitled "The World is an Ashram" which featured in the Apr/May/Jun 2006 Hinduism Today edition. Our Gurus proclaim that from a Hindu perspective the world ...
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May 2016 Pubdesk Video
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami reads his editorial from the July/August/September 2016 edition of Hinduism Today magazine. "It is easy to talk high philosophy in Hinduism, 'man is God,' 'we are divine,' it is easy to say profound things...however to put these principles into practice to the extent that we really are a more spiritual person, that is the challenge. And that, is what we will explore here." Bodhinatha considers 5 ways the attitude of a dancer is similar to an individual ...
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About Siva and You: an Upadesha by Bodhinatha
Parasiva, Parashakti and you as the Self: Realize that! An Upadesha given at Kadavul temple on July 24, 2011. Bodhinatha explains that we are all immortal souls living in earthly ...
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Persistence and Push (Planning, part III)
An upadesha by Bodhinatha: May 19, 2011 Bodhinatha explains how to perfect an enterprise or task with deliberate thoughtfulness. It entails having a clear purpose,wise plan, persistence and giving the ...
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Five Suggestions to SBNRs - Publisher's Desk
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami reads his editorial from the January/February/March 2018 edition of Hinduism Today magazine: "The challenge for the SBNR is to make significant spiritual progress without traditional guidelines. The key is to craft your own systematic approach based on a proven spiritual path. And remember, enjoy the journey!" ...
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The Magic of the High EE
Sometimes we don't hear the high "ee" sound. Gurudeva says it is only there when the subconscious mind is free of problems, conflict and unresolved issues. We know they are ...
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Mistakes are not problems
Cybertalk: Gurudeva said, "Problems are not problems. A problem is a repetition of the past that needs to be adjusted." It means that when we make a mistake, we think that we shouldn't have done what we did; it would be better if it didn't happen. ...
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Becoming Centered
We welcome Swami Pragyanand from New Delhi, India. Merging with Siva talks about being thrown off center. Being off center is not a negative thing. It is a spiritual opportunity ...
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What Is Our Code of Conduct? Yamas
"Siva's devotees...move the forces of the world and are not moved or affected by them." We meet and interact with all kinds of people. If we're not following all the yamas it gets difficult to hold spirituality and to meditate. Actions which deviate from ...
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Do I Now Have Two Gurus?
A question came in by e-mail"Do I have two gurus now? Are both you and Gurudeva my guru?" Each guru works inwardly from the inner worlds with his initiated successor, ...
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Controlling Anger part 3
In part three of his talk on anger, Bodhinatha begins by referring to the Tirukural and its chapter called "Avoidance of Anger," which is right before the chapter on ahimsa, the cardinal ...
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Karma Management Day 3, Part 2
2002 Kauai Innersearch Day 3, Part 2 Bodhinatha introduces two new concepts about karma, more about astrology and the concept of karmas being active or inactive. ...
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Karma Management Day 3, Part 3
2002 Kauai Innersearch Day 3, Part 3 Bodhinatha unveils the 5th principle of Karma Management, "create no new negative karmas." This involves making a promise to ourselves, a vrata of a sort. To fulfill ...
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Don't Get Stuck in the Mud
One reaction many face in life is the feeling of being unworthy and wanting to give up in our spiritual efforts. This feeling of despair can make a person feel ...
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Affirmation Part 1-- Rebuilding Self-Confidence
Rebuilding Self-Confidence through Affirmation, Part 1 of 3. For a gathering recently we were explaining the Hindu spiritual path without any Sanskrit words. It is "becoming a better person, improving our behavior and learning from our mistakes." After we heal from ...
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Yama 5 - Kshama, Patience
Yama number 5 - kshama, patience. The youth group in Malaysia is focusing on the yamas and niyamas as the basics for successful temple worship. There are many opportunities to ...
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Yama 6 - Dhriti, Steadfastness
Yama number 6 - dhriti, steadfastness. Willpower has to be used to be steadfast. Overcoming fear, and perseverance, are steadfastness. Gurudeva said, "consistency is the key to the conquest of karma." Dhriti is also important to progressing on ...
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Yama 7 - Daya, Compassion
Yama number 7 - daya, compassion. Compassion is conquering cruelty. It is the outgrowth of love. Bodhinatha explains he difference beween ahimsa and daya. Part of compassion is the desire ...
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Are Souls And World Essentially Good?
The world does contain suffering; it's this way for a reason. If the world was perfect why would we want to transcend it? We're not all in the same place ...
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Breath is a Key to Meditation
Realize the bi-directional inter-relatedness of the mind and the breathing. Practice! Regulate your breathing, it stills down the mind in a very natural way. Still down the mind, it regulates ...
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The Summit of All Religions; Regular Meditation
Religion has a oneness in mysticism but has major differences in terms of beliefs and practices. Unrelenting effort, working on the outside with our faults and weaknesses, allows us to ...
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Contentment - Santosha, Cultivating Joy and Serenity in Life
Santosha, the second niyama. Find joy in the morning. In the physical world no thing is perfect as it is subject to creation, preservation and dissolution. Perfection is in the ...
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Challenges Bring Progress
Living through major challenges, gaining better self control, moving in the right direction, trying for improvement not perfection, we progress spiritually. Learn to be peaceful in the midst of intense ...
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Influences in the Conscious Mind
On the spiritual path be careful to not let the worldly approach of others influence us. Take time each day for spiritual practice; turn off the externalizing and limiting conscious ...
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Meditation Empowers the Mind with Restraint and Intuition
Superconsciousness is always there within us. A simple key to contacting it is relaxation. Step back, become internalized. Meditation requires retraining the way we think. The mind is used to ...
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Staying in Tune with Superconsciousness
By having a strong habit of a daily religious practice we don't lose contact with with superconscious by the demands of the external. Saying and believing, "I'm all right right now," influences the flow ...
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The Practice of Contentment
Reflect on happiness, joy and sorrow. Even when having what we want, suffering is built in. Sometimes we condition our happiness. During morning sadhana claim and move awareness into the ...
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Hatha Yoga, Relaxation, Letting Go
Set aside personality. Focus on being a spiritual individual. Hatha yoga helps release stress and tension. Use subsuperconscious, not reason, analysis and intellect for understanding in an intuitive way. Let ...
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Raise Kundalini Gradually; Strive Continuously
Awakening the kundalini prematurely can have negative consequences. A slow gradual process is favored. Persevere, be consistent, particularly when facing challenging personal situations. If we let down in our sadhana ...
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Gurudeva's Spiritual Toolbox
The source of this Educational Insight is Gurudeva's Toolbox for a Spiritual Life, created by the monks of Kauai Aadheenam as the 2005 Mahasamadhi souvenir honoring his legacy of teachings. ...
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Closing Off the Lower Chakras
There is a continuity between the dominant states of consciousness you are in at the time of death and what you experience after death. The goal is to aim for ...
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All Religions Not the Same; Right Beliefs; Accepting
"Truth is one, paths are many." Some religions feel that it's their duty to try and convert, that theirs is the only true path. For someone starting on the path they need to discard the ...
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Overcoming Disappointments in Life and on the Spiritual Path
Disappointment is a natural human emotion which can be overcome if we don't personalize it. Without challenges we do not make spiritual progress. Expect obstacles commensurate with the difficulty of ...
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Patanjali's Yoga Sutras - False Knowledge
Bodhinatha comments on Patanjali Yoga Sutras, Verses 1.5 through 1.12. The restraint of the mental activities of correct knowledge, erroneous knowledge, fantasy, sleep and memory is achieved through practice and ...
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All Knowing is Within You: Inner States, Outer States
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami reads this chapter from his book Merging with Siva ...
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The Purpose of Life: Find the Core Of Your Being
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami reads this chapter from his book Merging with Siva ...
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The Conscious Mind: The Donkey And the Carrot
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami reads this chapter from his book Merging with Siva ...
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Discouragement on the Path
Today Gurudeva talks about discouragement on the path, how to recognize it, why it happens and how not to succumb to the feelings of giving up, of things being too ...
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The Spiritual Life Described
Today Gurudeva talks about the obstacles on the spiritual path, how you need determination to overcome those obstacles. He explains obstacles as masses of prana, or energy, set in motion ...
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Understanding Karma
Mitigate karma by living a religious life, being disciplined, following dharma, being of service, accepting responsibility. We create the future by how we act in the present, wisely, through introspection, ...
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How to Make Up Your Mind
Today Gurudeva answers the question, "How do I make up my mind?" He explains the best place to go for advice, and what to do when you are "in doubt." ...
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Powers of the Spine: The Spine's Central Energy
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami reads this chapter from his book Merging with Siva ...
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The River of Life
Master Course Recording. Chapter 4. Light of spine like Christmas tree. Kundalini shakti. Life as a sacred river. Lean on own spine. Move and detach awareness. Areas of mind. Become ...
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Physical Pain
A cyber cadet from Malaysia wants to know how we can remember that we are a spiritual being when we are going through a period of physical pain. Gurudeva says ...
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The Flower Penance
A handsome young man sent Gurudeva a question along with a few digital photos of himself. He asks Gurudeva how to deal with the "big bad world out here" and the people who seem ...
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Dealing with Noise Pollution
An e-devotee asks what we can do about combatting noise pollution, which seems to be low on the "pollution agendas" of the world. Gurudeva advises to be proactive, and he also ...
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Accepting and Facing Challenges
Having a sense of who we are, fulfilling the dharma of that person, we're motivated to do certain things in the world. Those change lifetime to lifetime. Find inspiration in ...
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Life's Experiences Accelerate Our Evolution
Most of us need interaction with other people to challenge us, to make spiritual progress. The more we focus on personalities and differences the harder it is to get along ...
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Mom, Dad, I'm an Atheist
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami's Publisher's Desk editorial from Hinduism Today magazine's January/February/March, 2020 Issue. "Hinduism has never opposed the idea of disbelief, but its profound understandings of God make atheism more difficult" ...
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Refining Our Experiences
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami gives his weekly talk in Kadavul Temple at Kauai Aadheenam. Here Satguru reads from lesson 299 and 300 of Sivaya Subramuniyaswami's book Merging with Siva, discussing the ...
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Facing Challenges With Affirmations
Affirmation is an excellent way of calming the mind and avoiding states of mind such as worry and fear, creating our future. Decide not to let the mind control us, ...
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The Third Dimension and the Shum Perspective, Part 1
The third dimension, that most people live in most of the time is the rapidly changing world of thoughts and feelings, emotions and intellectual theory. The meditator watches his actions ...