Yoga Wisdom with Acharya das

SHOW LESS This was a series of three talks given at a one-day retreat in Adelaide.     The 1st talk examines the need to gain much more control of our lives.  People do not recognize how much of their mind-content is not truly our own.  We examine the ways in which everyone is subjected to so much external influence, most of which does not help move me towards a condition...

This was a series of three talks given at a one-day retreat in Adelaide.     The 1st talk examines the need to gain much more control of our lives.  People do not recognize how much of their mind-content is not truly our own.  We examine the ways in which everyone is subjected to so much external influence, most of which does not help move me towards a condition of peacefu...

This was a series of three talks given at a one-day retreat in Adelaide.     The 1st talk examines the need to gain much more control of our lives.  People do not recognize how much of their mind-content is not truly our own.  We examine the ways in which everyone is subjected to so much external influence, most of which does not help move me towards a condition of peacefu...

This is the 3rd in a three-part series on anger and forgiveness.  The great mystic, yogi, and warrior general, Bhisma, 5,000yrs ago declared that the first amongst 9 preliminary qualities that qualified one as a civilized person, was to not become angry.  His prescription for becoming free from anger, is that one should learn how to forgive.  This is an ancient spiritual truth discu...

This is the 2nd in a three-part series on anger and forgiveness.  Anger, as an all-consuming negative emotion, even if only momentarily manifest, where it becomes possible to create havoc, do irreparable harm, or say something you will regret the rest of your whole life, is born out of self-centeredness.     In an angry state of mind, we are blind to all spiritual thought and a...

This is the 1st in a three-part series on anger and forgiveness.  In the ancient Vedic scriptures and yogic texts, anger was categorized as one of the three gates to hell. The more we experience anger, either as a perpetrator or victim of anger, the more hellish our life becomes.     Anger is all too often used as a tool to ‘get what we want’ or to vent frustration.  But i...

It is not enough to describe the living being within the body as simply being a ‘spirit’ – or as is stated in the Vedas ahaṁ brahmāsmi (I am spirit). We are also a person or puruṣa (purusha) in Sanskrit.  A dead body is not a person – it is just a body or covering which the ‘person’ has left behind.  The departure of the person from the body is what is called death. ‘You’ don’t die, but...

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘freedom’?   Many people think of it as being free to act as you please, no inhibitions, nothing holding you up or getting in your way.    The dictionary generally gives two main definitions of freedom. One is the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved. The second is the power or the right to act, speak or think as one wants without hin...

It’s rather astonishing how most of us go about our lives accepting something which is completely untrue, as being a rock-solid foundation of our life. We build a whole “life” around this falsehood and become quite startled when this is pointed out.   Once we recognize this situation, we will understand that the truth about who we really are is the key to unlocking a whole new “life”, and the...

The potency of transcendental sound vibration lies in its’ being non-different from the Original Cause or Supreme Soul, also referred to in Sanskrit as Bhagavan.    In this world, our experience is that the name of a material object is different from the object itself. The word “mango” is made of syllables which when vibrated or spoken, refer to the fruit - mango. The syllables of this w...

I was asked to speak on this unusual topic at the ASMY Center in Brisbane on 19th Oct 2018.   The Vedas are a repository of vast information about the different aspects of the Highest Truth or God.  Since ancient times, countless great yogis have had personal realizations of these different features of the Absolute Truth and were, therefore, able to make authoritative commentaries on bot...

We often fail to recognize the impact that the decisions we make and actions we take, have on our lives and our happiness.   Wherever we are at this point in our life, and the experience we are having, are a direct result of our choices and actions.  The truth is that we have a profound influence on our own happiness. Learning to make good decisions and choices will lead to happines...

It’s very simple really – the purpose of yoga is to adopt a regular practice of meditation. And the purpose of meditation is happiness. But what does that mean?

Real inner peace is a rare and valuable commodity. Why?  Are we looking for it in the wrong way?  The Bhagavad-gita 2.66 states: नास्ति बुद्धिरयुक्तस्य ना चायुकस्य भावना  न चाभावयतः सन्तिरसन्तस्य कुतः सुखम्  ६६   "One who is not connected with the Supreme can have neither transcendental intelligence nor a steady mind, without which there is no possibility of peace. And how...

The ideal of perfect love is something everyone hopes for, but is it even possible?  The answer is yes.  But not within a temporary and imperfect world.  This desire is rooted in our eternal and spiritual nature and can only be experienced in that which is eternal, spiritual, and perfect.   Within this world, we enter into relationships with others, and we often hope that they...

Mantra - its importance and how one receives mantra.  Kirtan and the life-changes it can bring.

It is very unfortunate that many people cannot clearly see the distinction between love and lust and often mistake lust for love. This always results in unhappiness and pain. Love on the other hand, never goes there. Lust is all about selfish interest.  Lust is about taking (‘what am I getting out of this?’) and love is about sharing and giving.  Lust is a material condition, and love in...

After last weeks talk we received a number of questions all with the same theme - ‘Is it ok to have a loving relationship with someone other than the Supreme Soul?’ ie: ‘Does having a loving relationship with the Supreme Soul mean I can’t love anyone else?’

What the heck does looking for love have to do with yoga, meditation and mantras you may ask?    Well, everything.  The ultimate stage of enlightenment is inseparable from and involves an immersion of the soul in the purest and most complete experience of spiritual love.

Another way of looking at loneliness - through the lens of ancient wisdom.   Loneliness is not the absence of friends, family, an occupation, or having ‘fun’ events to occupy our time. We can be in the middle of all these and still feel profoundly lonely.  This loneliness actually has a spiritual cause. Our separation from our eternal friend.    Yoga speaks to the re-establishm...

Many people think of enlightenment, or a perfect union with God, as something unattainable for an ‘ordinary’ person, something that only rare, ‘special’, and highly qualified people experience.   This is not true.  There are two approaches to the spiritual journey. The ascending process, which depends on an individual’s qualification and worthiness. This is a difficult path which is foun...

When I realize my spiritual identity – who I really am – then my view of the world, the way I see others, and my own identity and purpose – all change.   True happiness, fulfillment and the awakening of spiritual love can now be experienced.   “The individual soul, or atma, can be compared to a diamond whose value is not appreciated because it’s covered over. A beautiful diamond may...

Today was the spring solstice. Since ancient times this signified the beginning of a period of renewal, growth, and change. Is there any spiritual counterpart or significance to this event?

I was asked to speak on this rather unusual (outside the general roster of yoga-related subjects) topic.  There is an unfortunate tendency for us to adopt spiritual practices or take up a religious path adhering to the ‘external’ forms, customs and practices without really embarking upon an inward journey.  The offering of allegiance or a declaration of faith should not be equated with a...

Having a purpose in life is key to finding some form of happiness.   As human beings, we might ask whether we share a great and common purpose?  What is the purpose of human life?    The Vedas tell us the true and eternal purpose of human life is self-realization - to come to know who I am.  And then to act on that realization.