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;

Lent

Hari OM

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

We have seen through Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday this week. Lent proper is underway. Want to know a little more?

Lotus Is...

Hari OM

'Freedays' are the 'gather our thoughts' days; Q&As; a general review of the week so far…

A vid-clip today with a lovely explanation of the example set by the lotus, one of the great symbols of Sanatana Dharma.

Preparation

Hari Om

Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation.

Today, we listen to Gurudev as he discusses the approach to meditation according to scripture.

Conversations 4

Hari OM

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

A short series of interviews which take in varying personal concepts regarding spiritual nourishment. This show is a community radio/television/ social media item which has very little info available beyond THIS. It's a small outfit and an attempt to gain permission for use here (via the website comms page) did not elicit a response. As there was no block on sharing, these vids will appear and full acknowledgement to Paul Salmon and his guests is given. 

Please listen with open heart and mind. Not everything needs to be agreed with to have value. The final of this mini-series, but the same guest as last week. This time with a greater emphasis on the nature of Love of that unconditional. universal kind.

Conversations 3

Hari OM

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

A short series of interviews which take in varying personal concepts regarding spiritual nourishment. This show is a community radio/television/ social media item which has very little info available beyond THIS. It's a small outfit and an attempt to gain permission for use here (via the website comms page) did not elicit a response. As there was no block on sharing, these vids will appear and full acknowledgement to Paul Salmon and his guests is given. 

Please listen with open heart and mind. Not everything needs to be agreed with to have value. This week and next week to conclude the series, one guest. Today we will hear him discuss his personal search and talk of the unity of spirit with reference to Love. 

Dedicated Space

Hari OM

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

A little clip placing purpose of a building in which to worship...

Conversations 2

Hari OM

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

A short series (apart from Nov 10th) of interviews which take in varying personal concepts regarding spiritual nourishment. This show is a community radio/television/ social media item which has very little info available beyond THIS. It's a small outfit and an attempt to gain permission for use here (via the website comms page) did not elicit a response. As there was no block on sharing, these vids will appear and full acknowledgement to Paul Salmon and his guests is given. 

Today's chat is a highly personal one, with which many here may resonate. There are moments of a black screen which are unexplained, but it does not affect the sound. There are so many paths to reach Spirit! Please listen with open heart and mind. Not everything needs to be agreed with to have value.

This is not a promotions blog, but Jeannie's beadwork is attractive and may be of interest to some - so, to visit her 'shop', CLICK HERE.

Conversations 1

Hari OM

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

A short series (apart from Nov 10th) of interviews which take in varying personal concepts regarding spiritual nourishment. This show is a community radio/television/ social media item which has very little info available beyond THIS. It's a small outfit and an attempt to gain permission for use here (via the website comms page) did not elicit a response. As there was no block on sharing, these vids will appear and full acknowledgement to Paul Salmon and his guests is given. 

Please listen with open heart and mind. Not everything needs to be agreed with to have value.

Seeing God

Hari OM

'Freedays' are the 'gather our thoughts' days; Q&As; a general review of the week so far…

This little vid clip of Swami Advayananda responding to a question about the phrase 'Hari Om' is succinct and engaging. Swami-ji was aachaarya for the 15th batch at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya and is the head of CIF - Chinmaya International Foundation.

Celebration

Hari Om

'Freedays' are the 'gather our thoughts' days; Q&As; a general review of the week so far…

Mastakabhishek of Sri Hanuman; this is a festival held only every three years and celebrates the installation of the large murti on the grounds of Chinmaya Mission Sidhabari, Himachal Pradesh. It is quite the event...

Acceptance

Hari Om

'Freedays' are the 'gather our thoughts' days; Q&As; a general review of the week so far…

More guidance from Swami Priyananda.

Love (with the capital 'ell')

Hari Om

'Freedays' are the 'gather our thoughts' days; Q&As; a general review of the week so far…

Words of wisdom from the Swamini in charge of Hong Kong Chinmaya Mission Centre...

Great Healing Prayer

Hari OM

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

This month the prayer of focus will be the Mahaa-MRtunjaya Mantra. Here is a delightful visual introduction to the prayer, and below it, the chanting. From next week, we will assess the text itself.

SAADHANA
Bookmark the chant; listen to it everyday. If not time for the full 108, remember to divide into either of 27 or 54 repetitions of the chant. Make not attempt at it yourself, unless already familiar. For now just let it reverberate within and around you; feel its energy, focus on the intent of healing, vitality, clarification.

Peace Supplications

Hari Om

Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation

For the month of September we are looking at music as a focus for meditation. In this clip, no words appear to distract, you can simply fix your eyes upon the OM and other images in its centre and allow the sounds to transport you. This is pure vedica and the chants are all peace prayers. Rather than meditation as such, make this time one of contemplation on the need for peace and Love to spread around your own environment and out into the greater world. Add you own prayers into the sounds created by the pundits here; you may have no clue of the meaning of the words they say, but the essence is one of offering, submission, dedication, devotion… and Love with the capital 'ell'… 

shantiH shantiH shantiH

Shiv Mantra

Hari Om

Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation

For your meditation focus today, a beautiful, languid rendition of the mantra Om NamaH Shivaya in honour of the Destroyer. Shiv-ji is sometimes misunderstood as being a 'negative' deity figure; but in truth, He represents the burning away of our sins and misdemeanours, of cleansing, of the destruction which must take place to reconstruct... of the lowering of our ego to permit the arrival of the divine. That is not a comfortable process but a necessary one if we are to achieve any level of genuine spirituality.

If you do not have time for the full stretch of this chant, then at the very least count to 27, or 54 and save the rest for a time when you can complete.

This is a pure mantra and powerful one for preparations in meditation. In His form as Sri Jagadeeshwara, Shiv-ji is the ultimate ascetic and meditator.

Expectation of the Student

Hari OM

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

Sandeepany Sadhanalaya is the ashram school which began Gurudev's great mission to ensure as many people as were capable could learn Advaita Vedanta to its fullest, in the shortest amount of time and to a level where they, in turn, were qualified to take that learning out into the wider world. Even if one never became a teacher at the end, one could not help but be deeply affected and find that life is better lived when vedanta is applied. There are a few, naturally, who don't "get it", but that's okay too. The day that the entire world is filled with people who see and experience the same thing, will be the day the world has served its purpose and will be absorbed back into the Great Unity. Until then, we must find it within ourselves to agree to disagree, (though, of course, there a those who disagree to a point that battles and wars arise - 'tis the way of things).

Last week, on Ganesh Chathurti, the seventeenth batch of students were inaugurated at Sandeepany, Mumbai. They were reminded about the Sanskrit perception about the seeker from a video clip of Gurudev. Here, for your own edification, are the words of the Master.

Review

Hari OM

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

The Upanishads are many, but of those many, there are key texts which form the very foundation of advaita vedanta. All the lesser known Upanishads are variations upon the so-called major teachings. Even between the ten or eleven 'senior' Upanishads, there is a common thread found. This is important as it demonstrates a consistency and cohesion to the overall teaching, whilst allowing for presentation in multiple contexts so that people of all abilities can grasp the essentials of the philosophy. There is something for everyone! What is more, if taught in a proper manner, it can also be found that there is a 'ladder', so that no matter how difficult a text is, if the steps have been taken correctly, no insurmountable difficulty will be faced.

Each of the prakarana granthas which have been presented here thus far follow a specific 'ladder' of learning, so that everyone can raise their understanding at their own pace.

Thus far there has been introduction to the BMI chart (use the labels listing in sidebar to access related items), there has been a discussion on saadhana and introspection to help self-assessment, there has been the occasional discussion about prayer, and we have read;

Saadhana panchakam (overview of the path of the serious seeker)

Tattva-bodaH (introduction to technical terminology)

Aatmabodha (introduction to the higher tenets of the philosophy)

On Wings & Wheels (introduction to deeper thinking about intention and purpose with reference to ethics)

That has been a well-filled three years … if it has made a difference in life. If it has been taken in and applied to life. If it has been seen to be a worthwhile modality of life.

We are reaching a point where much more serious study can be undertaken, where commitment needs to be shown. Yamini-amma is giving some deep thought as to how this next phase of learning might best be delivered. Until then, the texts of prayers will be explored. Today though, a video clip of a very short Upanishad, but one of the most profound, as it holds the entire concept of Vedanta in its few stanzas. This is an English rendition and, if you have read as is expected and inculcated as is hoped, then you will gain much just from the listening to this and will be able to 'fill in between the lines', as it were.

Do not be distracted by the pretty graphics - allow yourself a once-through watch, but note how the words can become lost due to the allure for the eye! Run it again with your eyes closed and listen closely. See if you note what was missed, and note what was heard and how it may differ now for the attention being paid to it. This is all part of learning, and of saadhana.

Find Your Keys

Hari Om

'Freedays' are the 'gather our thoughts' days; Q&As; a general review of the week so far…

Swamini Supriyananda again; these are recently added to the CM channel and are a great little delight!

The Measure

Hari OM

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

A simple message from Gurudev today;