Yoga Wisdom with Acharya das

Latest talk from the weekly Mantra Night​ event put on by Meditation New Zealand​. Its a basic introduction to meditation and the use of sacred sounds or mantras.

Much of our unhappiness in our marriages or relationships come from being let down or disappointed. But this also comes about because of having unrealistic expectations of others. The expectation that I will find a perfect and complete love with another less than perfect human being, or that I can actually live "happily ever after" is not realistic and can even be harmful. Why do we burden others...

Latest talk from Mantra Night​ put on every Sunday by Meditation New Zealand​. This is about loneliness, why we experience it and what to do about it.

If we could "design" an ideal neighbor, work associate, and other members of society, we would want them to be caring, compassionate, accepting, kind, loving etc., etc.  These are manifestations of one's consciousness. We can't force people to become this way nor can we legislate someone's consciousness.  This requires an internal change, a revolution of the heart.  Yet society is a...

A psych professor from San Diego State University, who has published over 140 scientific papers, has done a lot of research and written about how Smartphone use has a radical impact on mental health and happiness of teens.  We discuss this from a spiritual perspective and look at a real solution to the underlying problem.  An article on this study is here -   https://www.theatlantic...

We live in a time where there seems to be an increasing intolerance towards people of a different political or social philosophy than my own. And based on my having an “enlightened” point of view and being ‘right’, I give myself permission to hate those whom I brand as haters. But aren’t I also doing the same thing that I am accusing others of doing? Hating is never enlightened, nor is drawing har...

The black hole of grief that is associated with death immediately disappears in the warm and hope-filled light of true understanding.  We have strayed from the ancient wisdom which used to guide all people’s lives. And so, death has become unnecessarily tragic for the person experiencing dying and those of us who are left behind to grieve. This anguish is greatly diminished with the wisdom of...

Last year the Global Research Society and the Institute for Social Research conducted surveys worldwide and found that 51% of the people believe in reincarnation, while 23 percent believe that we only will “cease to exist”. About a quarter (26 percent) said they do not know what will happen after death. While many people may "believe" in reincarnation it is often misunderstood. Here we deal with t...

We all long for lasting happiness, a never-ending love, a deathless life, and a perfect home sweet home. We are searching for a perfection which never ends. That is a reasonable desire because we are actually eternal spiritual beings. However, the world in which we live, the body we occupy, and the relationships we form, all have a beginning and so must therefore have an end. We are unfortunately...

Yoga speaks to the complex relationship between me (the eternal spiritual being residing within the body) and my mind. Alcohol and drugs increase the control the mind has over me and shackles me to material existence. To experience self-realization, God-realization, and to taste perfect happiness one needs to live a temperate life, a life of moderation and self-restraint. By surrendering to the co...

Answers to a number of questions submitted by the live and online audience.

The great transcendentalist Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura (1838-1914) describes Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as “The great Apostle of Love of God and the father of the congregational chanting (kirtan) of the holy name of the Lord”   Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in 1486 CE and remained on this earth for 48 years. He was a leading scholar and an extraordinary personality that had a profound effec...

Yoga practice means building a “personal practice” or performing sadhana (sadhana-bhakti). In all other yoga paths, sadhana is the means to an end, but on the path of Bhakti the means becomes the end.  As our natural spiritual love is awakened, our service to the Supreme Person becomes an experience of unlimited and ecstatic joy which continues eternally.    In this age / time the c...

There are varieties of flavors arising from different transcendental moods of love, and the exchanges of this love and devotion, between the soul and the Supreme Soul.  These flavors arise from the way in which the transcendentalist relates to God   CC Madhya 2.49   “Unalloyed love of Krishna is like an ocean of happiness. If someone gets one drop of it, the whole world can dro...

Is God knowable? Should He be feared? Or should He be loved? The Vedas speak of transcendental names, transcendental form, and the transcendental loving relationships engaged in by the Supreme Soul who is known as the “All Attractive” and the “Supremely Loveable”.     Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha (religiosity, economic activity, sensual happiness, and ultimately liberation) are consi...

In the West, most people’s exposure to a personal God is via Christianity. However much of what is taught within Christianity does not adequately explain the highest principle taught by Lord Jesus Christ. The discussion of this point will shed light on, and help us understand Bhakti, in the context of something familiar, and thereby shine light upon the doctrine of spiritual love taught and displa...

It is important to appreciate what “Bhakti” actually is, and is not.    Bhakti has been defined and explained by the greatest of spiritual authorities, Srila Vyasadeva, the empowered incarnation who compiled the entire Vedas over 5,000 years ago.    Bhakti is not some emotion emanating from the body nor a mental expression. It is a product of the highest spiritual realization....

Understanding Bhakti - Intro

KARMA YOGA - Part 4 Karma Yoga - Q & A

KARMA YOGA - Part 3 Path to Happiness

KARMA YOGA - Part 2 Is Karma Avoidable

KARMA YOGA - Part 1 Understanding Karma

A talk at the University of Hawaii in Oct 2016, about how success in the pursuit of happiness requires a total revolution of the heart - a complete spiritual transformation.

Consumerism is driven by an emptiness within, an emptiness which is not filled by the objects and experiences we consume.  This is because that emptiness is a spiritual emptiness which cannot be filled by anything material. if you wish to get in touch please contact me via www.acharyadas.com

A Spiritual Approach to Economic and Environmental Problems | Not a day passes without another news headline informing us of dire global environmental and economic crises. Our concern about climate change, deadly air pollution and rapid deforestation conflicts with the increasing demand for fuel, resources and space for farming and housing. Too often it seems that environmental and the economic is...