Moving Along...

Hari OM

Dear Readers,

After so long and one of the strangest years any of us could possibly imagine, it is time to get up and going again. In attempting to rework this blog, it was found that the dormancy has resulted in some of the functionality dropping away - not least the comments box. The decision has been made, therefore, to move on to "Chapter Two" of this roaming. (Click the widget on the sidebar to go look.)

Over there you will find that it will not be so much about teaching, per se, as exploration and attempts to set - or illustrate - by example. In some respects, it will become an online version of a saadhana journal and will be rather more from Yamini-amma's personal perspective.

This blog will remain for as long as it is deemed useful as a resource. Any queries received via email contact will be responded to. This is not goodbye - merely farewell and I do hope that all who 'joined' here will be willing to come across and accompany me onward in the next chapter of this Vedantic adventure!

Hiatus

Hari OM

It is not without some regret that posting here has fallen by the wayside. It is simply that matters in daily life have taken precedence, as they must at different periods in our process.

An elderly parent in need of full cares, one's own advancing years taking something of a toll, and a few other commitments, have all conspired to keep Yamini-amma from this part of her saadhana and - by inference - her attention to you. The readers are few, but dedicated, and for that, much gratitude.

The blog will remain standing as it is for now, while consideration is given as to whether to pick it up and continue or to transform it in some fashion.

Meanwhile, if you are a long-term reader, do not hesitate to revisit all the texts and discourses, for they can never be read enough. If you are newly arrived and wondering... do use the link to the very first post in the header-blurb and bookmark as you work through. Do not be tempted to skip. No bridge which ever lasted was built with missing links!

The contacts page will remain active and all queries will be responded to.

May 2020 be spiritually satisfying to all as well is full of joy, health and Love.

Guided Meditation 7

Hari Om

Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation

Meditation has 'caught on'; many people in many places will talk of their practising 'meditation'. That is, overall, a very positive thing. However, for the spiritual seeker, it is essential to be focused and have a deep and full understanding of what dhyaanam truly is. From that, the practice of nididdhyaasana can arise. The first is what we regularly know - the 'act' of meditation. The second is the regular, intense, devoted practice.

Over the next few weeks, you will be given a link to a presentation given by Swami Advayananda in 2018. These are for the serious, those who truly wish to further their saadhana of dhyaanam and move it into nididdhyaasana.

Click the image to go to this week's session. There may be a temptation to move on to the next and subsequent sessions, but please resist this urge. Rather, each day, repeat the session of the week and listen intently - notice if you discover points that you missed at first or other listenings. Also, note what corrections you are making to improve your own practice - best seen from repeating the same thing over and over! Repetition IS practise.

SESSION SEVEN; 

Guided Meditation 6

Hari Om

Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation

Meditation has 'caught on'; many people in many places will talk of their practising 'meditation'. That is, overall, a very positive thing. However, for the spiritual seeker, it is essential to be focused and have a deep and full understanding of what dhyaanam truly is. From that, the practice of nididdhyaasana can arise. The first is what we regularly know - the 'act' of meditation. The second is the regular, intense, devoted practice.

Over the next few weeks, you will be given a link to a presentation given by Swami Advayananda in 2018. These are for the serious, those who truly wish to further their saadhana of dhyaanam and move it into nididdhyaasana.

Click the image to go to this week's session. There may be a temptation to move on to the next and subsequent sessions, but please resist this urge. Rather, each day, repeat the session of the week and listen intently - notice if you discover points that you missed at first or other listenings. Also, note what corrections you are making to improve your own practice - best seen from repeating the same thing over and over! Repetition IS practise.

SESSION SIX;

Guided Meditation 5

Hari Om

Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation

Meditation has 'caught on'; many people in many places will talk of their practising 'meditation'. That is, overall, a very positive thing. However, for the spiritual seeker, it is essential to be focused and have a deep and full understanding of what dhyaanam truly is. From that, the practice of nididdhyaasana can arise. The first is what we regularly know - the 'act' of meditation. The second is the regular, intense, devoted practice.

Over the next few weeks, you will be given a link to a presentation given by Swami Advayananda in 2018. These are for the serious, those who truly wish to further their saadhana of dhyaanam and move it into nididdhyaasana.

Click the image to go to this week's session. There may be a temptation to move on to the next and subsequent sessions, but please resist this urge. Rather, each day, repeat the session of the week and listen intently - notice if you discover points that you missed at first or other listenings. Also, note what corrections you are making to improve your own practice - best seen from repeating the same thing over and over! Repetition IS practise.

SESSION FIVE;

Guided Meditation 4

Hari Om

Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation

Meditation has 'caught on'; many people in many places will talk of their practising 'meditation'. That is, overall, a very positive thing. However, for the spiritual seeker, it is essential to be focused and have a deep and full understanding of what dhyaanam truly is. From that, the practice of nididdhyaasana can arise. The first is what we regularly know - the 'act' of meditation. The second is the regular, intense, devoted practice.

Over the next few weeks, you will be given a link to a presentation given by Swami Advayananda in 2018. These are for the serious, those who truly wish to further their saadhana of dhyaanam and move it into nididdhyaasana.

Click the image to go to this week's session. There may be a temptation to move on to the next and subsequent sessions, but please resist this urge. Rather, each day, repeat the session of the week and listen intently - notice if you discover points that you missed at first or other listenings. Also, note what corrections you are making to improve your own practice - best seen from repeating the same thing over and over! Repetition IS practise.

SESSION FOUR;

Guided Meditation 3

Hari Om

Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation

Meditation has 'caught on'; many people in many places will talk of their practising 'meditation'. That is, overall, a very positive thing. However, for the spiritual seeker, it is essential to be focused and have a deep and full understanding of what dhyaanam truly is. From that, the practice of nididdhyaasana can arise. The first is what we regularly know - the 'act' of meditation. The second is the regular, intense, devoted practice.

Over the next few weeks, you will be given a link to a presentation given by Swami Advayananda in 2018. These are for the serious, those who truly wish to further their saadhana of dhyaanam and move it into nididdhyaasana.

Click the image to go to this week's session. There may be a temptation to move on to the next and subsequent sessions, but please resist this urge. Rather, each day, repeat the session of the week and listen intently - notice if you discover points that you missed at first or other listenings. Also, note what corrections you are making to improve your own practice - best seen from repeating the same thing over and over! Repetition IS practise.

SESSION THREE;

Guided Meditation 2

Hari Om

Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation

Meditation has 'caught on'; many people in many places will talk of their practising 'meditation'. That is, overall, a very positive thing. However, for the spiritual seeker, it is essential to be focused and have a deep and full understanding of what dhyaanam truly is. From that, the practice of nididdhyaasana can arise. The first is what we regularly know - the 'act' of meditation. The second is the regular, intense, devoted practice.

Over the next few weeks, you will be given a link to a presentation given by Swami Advayananda in 2018. These are for the serious, those who truly wish to further their saadhana of dhyaanam and move it into nididdhyaasana.

Click the image to go to this week's session. There may be a temptation to move on to the next and subsequent sessions, but please resist this urge. Rather, each day, repeat the session of the week and listen intently - notice if you discover points that you missed at first or other listenings. Also, note what corrections you are making to improve your own practice - best seen from repeating the same thing over and over! Repetition IS practise.

SESSION TWO;

Begin The Drop

Hari OM

Each 'Choose-day' we will investigate the process by which we can reassess our activity and interaction with the world of plurality.

Choice. The entirety of modern life, it seems, is based on the concept that more is better. That there is no life without there being a multiplicity of choices - in everything.

Very often, though, we find ourselves looking around and fidgeting because we cannot make up our minds. Simply put, there is just too much choice. Many factors will enter the equation, such as whether an item is fashionable, do others have it, will it fit with other parts of the home or situation to which we will add that item, can we afford it… it goes on and on.

With such a smorgasbord of choice in the material sense, we tend to get drowned in the mental side of our personalities. This also detracts from the spiritual. As a species, we are obsessed with possession and have almost entirely forgotten that none of it matters. Not in the Real sense, the True sense. Put succinctly, matter doesn't Matter! That which brings true contentment to us is a quiet mind, a settled heart and a degree of security. Very simple things and yet the current setup of society ensures that for a majority of the time, these things elude us.

We have to work for that which is worth having. We have to make the decision to turn away from physical choices and opt, instead, for the metaphysical. That is not to say we ignore the basic physical needs, but once these are met, let all the rest fall away.

Resolve today that in each day from now, when faced with frivolous choices (anything that is beyond immediate survival requirements), at least once turn away. Make the choice to not engage with the unnecessary. Begin the dropping of the excess of modern living and discover the freedom it brings.

One item at a time.

Guided Meditation 1

Hari Om

Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation

Meditation has 'caught on'; many people in many places will talk of their practising 'meditation'. That is, overall, a very positive thing. However, for the spiritual seeker, it is essential to be focused and have a deep and full understanding of what dhyaanam truly is. From that, the practice of nididdhyaasana can arise. The first is what we regularly know - the 'act' of meditation. The second is the regular, intense, devoted practice.

Over the next few weeks, you will be given a link to a presentation given by Swami Advayananda in 2018. These are for the serious, those who truly wish to further their saadhana of dhyaanam and move it into nididdhyaasana.

Click the image to go to this week's session. There may be a temptation to move on to the next and subsequent sessions, but please resist this urge. Rather, each day, repeat the session of the week and listen intently - notice if you discover points that you missed at first or other listenings. Also, note what corrections you are making to improve your own practice - best seen from repeating the same thing over and over! Repetition IS practise.

SESSION ONE;

Gana Bapa Moriya!

Hari OM

Sounds-day is for listening/viewing devotional items from and for all ages and traditions.

Tomorrow, great celebrations for Shri Ganesha will take place throughout the Hindu communities everywhere.

Hari Om

Apologies for the extended interruption; this is due to travel and restricted wifi access. Your forbearance is appreciated.

Inspiriquote 9

Hari Om

Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation

For the next few weeks, you will be presented with some inspirational quotes to encourage you in your meditational practice.

“Like silence after noise, or cool, clear water on a hot, stuffy day, Emptiness cleans out the messy mind and charges up the batteries of spiritual energy. Many people are afraid of Emptiness, however, because it reminds them of Loneliness.” 

― Benjamin Hoff

Janmashtami!!!

Hari OM

Sounds-day is for listening/viewing devotional items from and for all ages and traditions.

And proper birthday greetings now!

Look Up

Hari OM

'Freedays' are random...

Apologies for the lack of posts this week - am travelling and access a little difficult. Should be back with you in September. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Swami Chinmayananda (@swami_chinmayananda) on Jul 2, 2019 at 6:00pm PDT

Inspiriquote 8

Hari Om

Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation

For the next few weeks, you will be presented with some inspirational quotes to encourage you in your meditational practice.

“Keep your heart clear

And transparent,

And you will

Never be bound.

A single disturbed thought

Creates ten thousand distractions.” 

― Ryokan

Hare Hare!

Hari OM

Sounds-day is for listening/viewing devotional items from and for all ages and traditions.

Continuing joyous sounds for Shri Krishna.

Warning!

Hari OM

Story-day is for cultural exploration, puraanas and parables and finding out about leading lights in spiritual philosophy.

Wise words from Guru-ji again this week:

One big problem we face is…

ANGER.

At the very least provocation…

We fly off the handle…

The result…SORROW…DISCORD.

Anger is a state of the mind.

It expresses

as irritability…

as full-blown explosive dramatics.

To stay calm in every situation…

we need to examine the very

genesis of Anger.

Anger arises from attachment.

From attachments rise expectations

Non-fulfilment of desires causes disappointment

Failure to manage disappointment

The obstacle to our ambition

becomes a target for…. ANGER!

Relationships ⇒ Expectations ⇒ Insistence ⇒ ANGER!

To develop harmonious relationships

we need freedom from:

EXPECTATION…INSISTENCE

Expectation takes benign forms like:

Desire…Ambition

Insistence is fuelled by:

Ego…Obsessive control…

Resistance Both result in… ANGER!!

                                                                                          

BEWARE!

Temper is compulsive and fuelled by pride.

Pride prevents us from admitting mistakes.

We have a choice: keep ANGER or keep PEACE

No prizes for guessing…the choice is choice…less!

Anger has its consequences:

Agitation…Loss of peace…Failure of health…

Exhaustion…Ruination

The angry man thus dies continuously…

causing losses all around.

The lesson to learn is:

Don’t regret and repent…

Instead, practice restraint.

Stay AWARE, not ANGRY!!!

‘Temper takes you to trouble and pride keeps you there’.  

– Swami Chinmayananda

– – Swami Tejomayananda

Four Truths - Four

Hari OM

'Text-days' are for delving into the words and theory of Advaita Vedanta.

Nothing beats learning from a true Master. Today, the final link to talks by Swami Advayananda.   Please take the opportunity to listen attentively (shravanam).

Do not be tempted to race ahead and listen to all four. Instead, stick to the link given each week and then spend some time considering what it is you heard - and hopefully took notes for! - and work on some conclusions and deeper contemplation of the subject for yourself (mananam).

It is with the understanding and knowledge gained from proper shravanam and mananam alone that we can move forward into nididdhyaasanam - proper and thorough contemplation.

MAHAVAAKYAS PART FOUR.

Saadhana Spoken

Hari OM

Application - that is what 'Workings-days' are about!

Today, you are invited to listen to Gurudev's discourse on saadhana as stated by Shri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. Please CLICK HERE to watch and hear these words delivered.