Stress in its various kinds Ñ physical stress, emotional stress and intellectual stress, is a disease of modern times. It afflicts people regardless of their station in life. Stress is present in the lives of the rich and poor, literate and illiterate, men and women. Stress is, however, more evident and is probably more widespread in technologically advanced countries, and is common among highly qualified professionals. The answer to stress can be found in the very letters of the word, Ôstress«.

Read more here: » Stress: Redesign Your Life, Get Rid Of Stress

Our ancient rishis identified among men and women two contrasting attitudes towards life. While some of us worry, ever anxious about security in life, some others repose their faith in Providence, and so rest assured.

The rishis named these two attitudes as the markat-kishore-nyaya - law of the baby-monkey, and marjaala-kishore-nyaya - law of the kitten.

(See also: Faith , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Faith: Are You a Monkey Or a Kitten? - about faith  

Many people study religious scriptures profusely - which is a good thing. But they feel that the 'scriptural word' is enough. That is a mistake. A scripture is like a map. And a map is not the territory.

What may appear as a beautiful mountainous range on paper could well turn out to be a treacherous obstacle in real life. Similarly, a river painted in brilliant hues of blue on a map, might be infested with snakes and crocodiles in reality.

(See also: Life and Death, Life and Beyond, Death and Dying, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Life and Death: How to Identify a Modern Saint

The different yoga schools simply adhere to different applications of inner discipline, all of which ultimately lead to the liberation of the soul and to a unique understanding of the Divine Unity. The schools are merely named according to the yogi's objective of self-transformation and the instrument chosen for such anticipated change. The yoga schools are: Ashtanga Yoga, Purna Yoga, Integral Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Mantra Yoga,and Tantra Yoga.

Read more here: » Yoga Schools: The different Schools of Yoga

Chakras: Ajna Chakra (Agnya)

Ajna, "the third eye," is where, as the Bible notes, "thine eyes become single," where there is no longer a difference between male and female, and where "the peace that passeth all understanding" dwells

Read more here: » Chakras: Ajna Chakra (Agnya)

The ras leela - the frenzied and uninhibited dance of the gopi s with Krishna - never becomes an orgy. Why? The obvious answer would be that Krishna is divinity; he is immaculate. But the reasons are more philosophical than theological.

The dance symbolises the soul's unceasing struggle to break clear of the constraints of the body, to make contact with the supra-reality it sees out there. This intensely private struggle is an abstraction, but so compulsively felt by the soul straining within the body as to become an obsession. The indulgence of any obsession is a behind-the-scene, secret activity, for it has undertones of guilt.

(See also: Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Love and Happiness: Krishna's Ras Leela is Not an Orgy

Main article: Storming of the Bastille. The confrontation between the commoners and the ancien régime ultimately led to the people of Paris storming the Bastille on July 14, 1789, following several days of disturbances. At this point, the jail was nearly empty, with only seven inmates: four counterfeiters, two madmen, and a young aristocrat who had displeased his father. The regular garrison consisted of about 80 invalides (veteran soldiers no longer capable of service in the field) under Governor Bernard-René d ...

See also:

Bastille, Bastille - Early history, Bastille - Storming, Bastille - Historical assessment, Bastille - Famous prisoners, Bastille - Demolition, Bastille - The area today

Read more here: » Bastille: Encyclopedia II - Bastille - Storming

Suryayog is a dynamic spiritual yoga which brings us in tune with nature and the inner self. We are drawn towards eternal light, from saguna swaroop to nirguna swaroop - from the human to the Supreme.

Suryayog is a meaningful way of life taught by Himalayan Masters and practised by yogis who survive without food and sustenance for days. They draw power from Surya or the Sun, whose vibrant energy transforms and changes the bio-electric powers in all beings, fusing body, prana, mind and soul into a divine experience of cosmic consciousness.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Suryayog: Surya, The Healer And Energiser

Many questions arise concerning the role of suffering. These questions include: How is there suffering in a world created by a good God who cares for and loves His creation? For the Christian the quintessential question is why does God’s plan include the suffering and death of His own Son? Paul sees the death of Christ not only as a propitiatory or vicarious sacrifice, but as a colossal cosmic occurrence.

(See also: Suffering , God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Suffering: Redemptive Power of Suffering  

The nature of the mind is to accumulate. A gross mind wants to accumulate things; an evolved mind wants to accumulate knowledge. When emotion becomes dominant, it wants to accumulate people.

The mind’s basic nature is to accumulate. The mind is a gatherer - always wanting to gather something. The mind of a person on the spiritual path starts accumulating 'spiritual’ wisdom. Maybe it starts gathering the guru’s words but until one goes beyond the need to accumulate - whether it is food, things, people, knowledge or wisdom - it does not matter what you accumulate.

(See also: The Mind , God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » The Mind: Stopping The Mind’s Chatter  

Sage Narada had the knack of bringing about social change and spiritual growth wherever he went. Adored and respected by Lord Krishna, Narada employed different ways to bring people nearer to God. He convinced the dacoit Ratnakar to chant "Mara, Mara" - the reverse of "Rama, Rama" - helping him evolve enough to get transformed into a sage (Valmiki).

Narada taught five-year-old Dhruv how to meditate. The result? The Lord manifested Himself before Dhruv. Narada'spointer that all eight children of Devaki could be a threat to King Kansa'slife led to Kansa being killed and liberated at the hands of God. Somehow, Narada brings all to God.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Peace of Mind: Divine Inspiration of Narada Bhakti Sutra

Do not think your mind is in control of you. YOU are in control of your mind! YOU use your mind. YOU can stop thinking those old thoughts!

The only thing you have any control on is your CURRENT Thought! The Universe is a vast reservoir of energy! You can get anything you want provided you 'know' and 'use' the right techniques.

To help you in your mission, here is a special compilation of very practical and powerful affirmations you can use in your everyday situations on a daily basis!

(See also: Life Transforming Affirmations , Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Life Transforming Affirmations: Practical and powerful affirmations

The Bhagavad Gita has been universally hailed by the learned as truly reflecting the essence of all the Vedas. Its depth, richness and rationality of philosophy have universal appeal.

It teaches man that the true goal of life is union with God or the Supreme Impersonal-Personal Brahman, and the principal means to attain it are the four paths of karma or work, jnana or knowledge, yoga or psychic control and bhakti or loving devotion.

(See also: Bhakti Yoga , God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Bhakti Yoga: Krishna's Choice - Bhakti Yoga  

One tends to remember God, when one thinks he needs the Almighty the most i.e. at a time of difficulty. Most of the problems and difficulties that come upon us are created by other fellow human beings; and we try to either conquer the difficulty or the individual who we believe has caused it.

Praying the right way helps us overcome this situation.

(See also: Metaphysics, Metaphysical Principles, Definition of Metaphysics, Metaphysical Techniques, Miracles, Creating Miracles Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, Peace of Mind, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Metaphysical Techniques: Communicating with Divinity

Soma and Ananda

The Vedic ritual reaches its climax in the Soma offering, in which specially prepared plant juices are offered into the sacred fire (Agni) as the drink of the Gods. But this ancient ritual reflects a deeper internal ritual or alchemy of awareness that is its real import. In exploring this process, we will discover many secrets of the practice of Yoga, including the path of Self-inquiry or Jnana Yoga.

Read more here: » Soma and Ananda: The Flow of Soma

Meditation Experiences by Sarasvati Buhrman PhD - Part I

Sometime after 350 B.C. a great yogi sage wrote the "Yoga Sutra". This brief translation should wet your appetite. This describes the transformation of mind that will unfold over a course of sadhana (spiritual practice), focusing on the relationship between the mind and the object of meditation.

Read more here: » Meditation: Meditation Experiences According to the Ashtanga Yoga Tradition with Commentary on Patanjali's Yoga Sutra

Kundalini Awakening

When Rob told me my Kundalini had been awakened, I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. The awakening of Kundalini is a spiritual awakening, a major step towards realization of the divine. It is, in fact, a great boon, a great blessing and a magical gift. According to Swami Prajananda,

"The main purpose of its awakening in a seeker is to enable him to attain Godhood" (Muktananda, Kundalini 9).

Read more here: » Kundalini Awakening: Kundalini Awakens

Compiled by the Sage Patanjali Maharishi in the Yoga Sutras, the Eight Limbs are a progressive series of steps or disciplines which purify the body and mind, ultimately leading the yogi to enlightenment.

This article details the eight limbs of the Raja Yoga system, one of the four main paths of Yoga.

Read more here: » Raja Yoga: The Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga

Lent, commencing is the 40-day period of preparation before Easter. For Christians worldwide, it is a time for repentance, fasting and almsgiving, all of which calls for a change of mind and heart.

Gerard Hughes says a change of mind and heart cannot in a sense be achieved by us alone, as all Christian renewal starts not from self-effort but by attentiveness to God, who alone is good. It is God who does the transforming. A real change of mind and heart means an inner surrendering of our mind and heart to God, so that whatever we do, we do in his Spirit.

(See also: Lent , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Lent: Time to Fast, Forgive and Give - about Lent  

Four Facts of Hinduism

About Karma, Reincarnation, Dharma and Worship.

Read more here: » Hindu Beliefs: Four Facts of Hinduism

Two images of Mary have dominated the Christian consciousness through the years. One is that of the Madonna, whom artists depict as holding a naked newborn, offering the world life.

The second popular image of Mary is that of the Pieta - the mother of the suffering servant, the sorrowful mother. Artists never tire of painting Mary standing in solitude at the foot of the cross, the woman whose heart was pierced with a sword.Theologian Richard Rohr writing on Mary says that we are mothered into life and mothered out of life.

(See also: Mary mother of Jesus, , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Mary mother of Jesus,: Madonna - A Life Of Supplication  

Once a messenger walking past a tree heard a voice say: "Will you accept seven jars full of gold?" The messenger looked around, but could see no one. The offer was too good to refuse, so he cried aloud: "Yes, I shall accept the seven jars." At once the voice replied: "Go home, I have carried the jars to your house."

(See also: Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Love and Happiness: Insatiable Appetite For The Seventh Jar