This world is full of miseries and sufferings. If you want to get rid of the pains and afflictions of this Samsara, you must practice meditation. Meditation is the pathway to Divinity.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Meditation: Benefits of Meditation

About the mind and how the mind can be controlled.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Mind Control: Mind, Its Mysteries and Control

A full introduction to the practise of meditation.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Meditation: Practice of Meditation

Yoga has eight steps for self-realization. Of these two are most important. These need to be mastered before heading towards the other six because without these the asanas will end up being just mere exercises to keep the body fit.

 The first two steps are called Yam and Niyam . These need to be followed internally for preparing oneself for the higher consciousness.

Read more here: » Yam and Niyam: Yoga For Self-Realisation

Practice Of Yoga Asanas

1. The practice of Yoga Asanas helps to prevent disease and maintain a high standard of health, vigour and vitality. It cures many diseases.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga Asanas: Practice Of Yoga Asanas and Health

Meditation is the flow of continuous thought on one thing or God or Atman. Meditation is the keeping up of one idea of God alone always like the continuous flow of oil (Taila-dharavat). Yogins call this 'Dhyana.' Jnanins term this 'Nididhyasana.' Bhaktas style this 'Bhajan.' Concentration is fixing the mind on a point or object, either internal (in the body) or external (on any outside object or image).

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Meditation: What Is Meditation

Feng Shui and Stair Cases

First, we must understand what a staircase is before we can know how it affects us. Staircases are made up of many steps, each protruding out as a potential source of danger. When we are not careful, it is easy to stumble or hurt ourselves on the steps. Staircases are also vertical shafts that penetrate through each floor, making a "hole" in the building, especially in high rises. In feng shui, staircases are known as a source of sha chi or potentially harmful or degenerating energy. Therefore, in order to understand what effect it has on us, we must know the residents' birth elements and where the staircase is located. Different people and different stair locations have different effects.

Read more here: » Feng Shui: Feng Shui and Stair Cases

The sage Patanjali postulated an eight-fold system of spiritual yogic practice for achieving the divine goal. It comprises:

Yam - Controls, Niyam - Rules and regulations, Asan - Bodily Postures, Pranaayam - Breath Control Exercises, Pratyahaar - Sense control, Dharana - Concentration, Dhyaana - Meditation, Samadhi - Mergence

Read more here: » Patanjali Yoga: Patanjali System Of Yoga

Rituals in Buddhism: Buddhist Funeral Rites

Theravadins Buddhist follow the Indian custom of burning the body at death. The BuddhaÕs body was cremated and this set the example for many Buddhists, even in the West. When someone is dying in a Burmese home, monks come to comfort them. They chant verses to them, such as:

Read more here: » Rituals in Buddhism: Buddhist Funeral Rites

Brahmacharya is very very essential Even in dreams you must be free from lustful thoughts. It requires long practice and careful watch over the mind and Indriyas. Foolish people hastily jump up to the higher courses in Yoga in vain without having this important item which is very useful for spiritual Sadhana.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga: Hints On Yoga

Meditation Experiences by Sarasvati Buhrman PhD - Part II

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 Experiences: Meditation Experiences According to the Ashtanga Yoga Tradition with Commentary on Patanjali's Yoga Sutra - Part II

Pranayama is defined as breath control, but actually, Prana is energy, the type of energy that is received from Kether or from the spiritual world. It is sometimes defined as a white light that emanates from on high or that is surrounding us at all times. Call it what you like, it is possible to energize our electrochemical bodies by controlled breathing, and the Pranayama methods are highly effective in attaining specific energy states.

Read more here: » Pranayama: Pranayama Techniques

Every year on Makara Sankaranthi , a unique phenomenon takes place at Sabarimala, the popular pilgrim centre on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. A light of extraordinary brightness appears on the horizon in the north-eastern side of an adjacent mountain top called Kantamala. The beacon, called Makara Jyoti , lasts 15 to 20 minutes and marks the climax of the 41 days of the Sabarimala pilgrimage.

This 'light' miracle, in fact, follows yet another unexplained annual event. The ornaments of Lord Ayyappa, presiding deity of Sabarimala, are kept in the custody of the erstwhile Prince of Pandalam in his palace, 90 km from the temple. These are taken to the temple every year in a three-day-long procession. As the procession approaches the temple, an eagle is seen hovering over it, guiding it towards the sanctum sanctorum. Once the ornaments reach the temple, the eagle mysteriously disappears.

(See also: Makara Jyoti , 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: » Makara Jyoti: Unique Makara Jyoti In Sabarimala Hills  

Some characteristic Symptoms of Awakened Kundalini

Some characteristic symptoms of the awakened kundalini are here given below from Mahayoga Vij‹na, a treatise on the subject in Hindi by Shri Yog‹nandji Mah‹r‹ja, the authorÕs revered guru. They are illustrative and by no means exhaustive:-

Read more here: » Kundalini Awakening: Some characteristic Symptoms of Awakened Kundalini

The following steps will help you make the shift from ineffective good intentions to being a powerful catalyst for positive change. With this approach you are very likely to see results, which is important because when we see that we've had an impact, we have more faith in our spiritual power. With faith, our power increases and our Area of Power expands.

Read more here: » Personal Growth: Discovering Your Area of Power

Read more here: » Lucid Dreaming: Lucid Dreaming Exercises and Tips - A Guide to Lucid Dreaming

Carl-Johan Calleman, one of the leading authorities on the Mayan Calendar, presents a radical theory about the coming Venus Transit. Does the Venus Transit of 2004 relate to the Return of the Energy of Christ and of Quetzalcoatl? Quetzalcoatl is the serpent God of Ancient Mexico referred to by the Mayans as Kukulcan or Gugumatz and this article also explain the connection between the Energies of Christ and Quetzalcoatl.

Read more here: » Venus Transit & Quetzalcoatl: The Venus Transit and The Return of the Energy of Christ and of Quetzalcoatl

The Astrology of Intimacy

Love and relationships are high on the list of concerns for most human beings. There are some solitary souls who are quite content to live without a primary partner, but most of us choose to pursue intimate relationships for many different reasons. A loving partner helps keep away the cold, not only by warming the bed, but by supporting your dreams and listening to your fears. Close companionship is the way of the world for the majority, but modern society has made it an extremely complex process.

Read more here: » Astrology: The Astrology of Intimacy

This is the keynote talk presented by Martyn Carruthers, at the University Forum on Human Consciousness, Hull UK June 1997. This article provide an in-depths perspective on Decision-Making.

Read more here: » Human Consciousness and Decision-Making

Matsyasana

Sit on the blanket and form the foot-lock as in Padmasana. Then lie flat on the back. Stretch the head back so that the top of your head rests on the ground firmly on one side and the buttocks on the other, thus making a bridge or an arch of the trunk.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Matsyasana: Different Yoga Asanas - Matsyasana

Padmasana

You must be able to sit in an Asana quite steady at a stretch for full three hours. Then only you will get mastery over the Asana (Asana Jaya). Without securing a steady Asana you cannot get on well in meditation.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Padmasana: Different Yoga Asanas -