Vedanta - The River of Wisdom

Setusāma is a mantra from the Sāma Veda which was Pujya Swami Dayananda ji's favourite mantra from that Veda. It speaks of 4 Setus - bunds that are meant to cross over by living four values and progress spiritually. That it has its own beautifuI melody is an added joy. Pranaams to Pujya Swamiji on his birth anniversary today and Happy Independence Day to India. To read the podcast transcript -...

The pronoun ‘I’ is referred to twice in the sentence. If ‘I’ am God and why should ‘I’ pray? Can I be both the person and God simultaneously? Yes and No. Find out how. For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/238-if-i-am-god-why-should-i-pray/ To enroll in our SHINE Teacher Training program - https://discoveratma.com/shine/shine-for-bharat75/ Our August issue - You were always free l...

This is a common question. It is like the pot who was aspiring to be clay saying that, ‘I know I am clay but how to apply this knowledge in my life.’ We need the viveka, to know what about Vedanta is to be understood and what has to be applied. Life becomes a joy! For podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/237-i-know-vedanta-but-how-to-apply-to-my-life/ To enroll in our SHINE Teacher Traini...

This question has two parts – First, did God create injustice and suffering. If yes, then how to accept it? Looks like Ishvara has crafted an awe-inspiring multi-dimensional, multi-world manifestation that we call life just like the video game developer has developed a video game. By looking at 5 similarities between Ishvara and the video game creator, we find clear answers to our question. The po...

The devotee wants bhakti, devotion and not mukti, freedom from a sense of bondage. An interesting dialogue ensues between her and Bhagavan Krishna. For podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/235-what-happens-when-the-devotee-prays-to-bhagavan-krishna-for-bhakti-and-he-appears/ Please check out our July 2023 Aarsha Vidya Bharati newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/49f324cb76c1/aarsha-vidya-bhara...

‘I get hurt easily because I am very sensitive. Wish I was not so sensitive. ‘ complain many people.  What is sensitivity? Can we do without it? Sensitivity is the ability to be keenly attuned to our surroundings, emotions, and the experiences of others. Sensitivity is actually a gift of this human condition from Bhagavan. What are those 7 ways in which it enriches our lives? Do read the podcast t...

What happened when a dialogue unfolded between Identity and Consciousness? New 3 month course starting 9th July 2023 - Self knowledge and the quest for happiness course - https://www.hua.edu/product/self-knowledge-and-the-quest-for-happiness/ Do read the podcast transcript/ article- https://discoveratma.com/233-dialogue-between-identity-and-consciousness/ Please check out our July 2023 Aarsha Vidy...

In the Vedic tradition, learning with a Guru is essential for wisdom and blessings to flow in our lives. What makes any Guru great is the Shaastra. There is no Guru without the Shaastra and the Shaastra cannot be learnt without a Guru. The select verses of what is known as the Guru Stotram, were selected by Pujya Swami Dayānanda Saraswatī. These verses are found in the Guru Gita, a text of 274 shl...

After showing his resplendent cosmic form Bhagavan Krishna tells Arjuna, ‘nimitta maatram bhava’ – just be an instrument or rather a channel for the cosmic plan to unfold. How do we see the meaning of this in our lives? If we are being the mere ahankara, attachment to a limited concept of self then what are its effects? In contrast, how and why should one be an instrument of the divine? Perhaps th...

Many of our conflicts in close relationships arise because we mistake understanding for agreement. 'If these people really understand us, they just have to agree with us', we think. However, since we are similar to each other as well as different from each other, we can learn to co-exist with warmth and respect We explore our natural need for agreement with the other as well as learn to in...

'Perfect' preens and struts on the catwalk of achievements with its self-importance. The dictionary meaning of the word ‘perfect’ is to have all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; If indeed we used the meaning of the word ‘perfect’ in the sense of what it really means, that is great. But often we use the word, ‘perfect’ in the sense of complete and absolute....

Today is Ganga dussehra (when Ganga descended on this earth to sustain, purify and bless all of humanity). Ganga is not an ordinary river. She is Devi. We understand her greatness through the vision of Adi Shankaracharya through his composition, Ganga Stotram. In 'seeing' what Adi Shankaracharya 'saw' and praised of Mother Ganga, we stand purified and blessed. The episode includes...

It can all be confusing. What does the Shaastra reveal about Brahman, Ishvara and Devatas ? Knowing this can direct our worship and our enquiry as well. To read the podcast transcript/ article- https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Do check out our April 2023 Aarsha Vidya Bharati newsletter - The blessing of darshana l Dhyaanam course l Adi Sankaracharya Jayanti celebration l SHINE teacher tr...

To control/master the mind, we have to know what the mind's functions are and the ways of the mind. What is the imagery of the chariot from Kathopanishad which can guide us?. To read the podcast transcript/ article- https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Do check out our April 2023 Aarsha Vidya Bharati newsletter - The blessing of darshana l Dhyaanam course l Adi Sankaracharya Jayanti cele...

As long as we live, conflicts arising from differences in opinions, views and perspectives cannot be avoided. Then, how can we apply karma yoga in these challenging situations? We first identify whether our approach to resolving conflicts is aggressive, assertive, passive, passive-aggressive or collaborative and then work to apply the most appropriate approach. Our karma grows in kaushalam, compet...

Runaanubanda is unique to the Vedic tradition because it considers connections with different beings across lifetimes. Runam/Rnam, debt is based on the principle of reciprocity – a mutual give and take. If I have taken more than I have given, I incur a debt and have to pay back to that person. If I have given more than I have taken, then that person has to pay back his/her debt to me. How does run...

When we enter a lit room, we see the many objects that are around. One thing that most of us miss is the 'light' in which one sees all the objects. The living teaching tradition of Advaita Vedanta is lit up by the the bhashyas, commentaries of Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya. We see the important features of the bhashya which make it the light that lights up our lives and in so doing, offer o...

When Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya chants words they become luminous jewels (ratnam). More so when the jewels are in praise of Bhagavan Ganesha and his powers. As Ganesha raises his palm to offer blessings, we understand and receive with open arms. To read the podcast transcript/ article- https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Do check out our April 2023 Aarsha Vidya Bharati newsletter - The bl...

Many spiritual-but-not-religious people say that they believe in 'laws of nature'. Then, who put the 'laws of nature' together? They will shrug and say, laws of nature were not made by any person or entity. This stubborn insistence of using the term ‘laws of nature’ is a remnant of the 17th century and emerged in opposition to the church. We understand its background and spare a th...

Hanuman Chalisa, sung by millions of Hindus worldwide is s super powerful stotra in praise of Hanuman - his glories, the ways in which he served Bhagavan Sri Rama and the blessings he gives the devotees. Authored by Goswami Tulsidas in the 16th century it is a part of the Ramacharitmanas in Avadhi language. The greatest devotee of Bhagavan Sri Rama, Hanuman blesses us with his bhakti and shakti. A...

Revealed by none other than Bhagavan Shiva to Rishi Buddhakaushika, Sriramaraksha stotram of 38 verses has blessed millions who chanted it. Even if you hear it once and understand the meaning, you feel Sri Rama's power and protection softly enveloping you and fortifying you. To read the podcast transcript/Vedanta article- https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ To listen to the entire stotr...

The tapestry of Hinduism is woven with many healing perspectives and methods that lead to wholeness. These have sustained and continue to bless an ancient, living civilisation. Some of these are - 1. Blessings through our prayers to devatas, 2. Ayurveda 3. Jyotisham To read the podcast transcript/Vedanta article- https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Dhyaanam - Meditation and the Meditator, A...

The problem with experiences is that they are fleeting no matter how exalted or mundane they are. Yet we can change a fleeting experience into lasting inner resources – our memories, our values and our learnings. We can mine an experience for its precious gems. How? To read the podcast transcript/Vedanta article- https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Dhyaanam - Meditation and the Meditator, A...

Since we cannot avoid karma, it is equally important to know what kind of karma is to be done and what is to be avoided. Bhagavan Krishna teaches us about the three fold karma and gently veers us to adopt sattvika karma also known as karma  yoga.  To read the podcast transcript/Vedanta article- https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our March 2023 Aarsha Vidya Bharati newsletter - Op...

We want to be happy. All the time.  And yet, there is a gap in what we want and what we experience.  Armed with the knowledge from the Bhagavad Gita of the three fold happiness, we can learn how to ride the wave of our pursuit of happiness.  To read the podcast transcript/Vedanta article- https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/ Our February 2023 Aarsha Vidya Bharati newsletter (G...