The Lotus position (Sanskrit: Padmasanam -- "lotus posture") is a cross-legged sitting posture which originated in representations and meditative practices of Hinduism. It is an established part of the Hindu Yoga tradition, Zen and other meditative disciplines. The position is said to resemble a lotus, encourage "proper" breathing and foster physical stability. It is perhaps the marquee image of the Eastern religious figure. Famous depictions of the lotus-posture include Shiva, the meditating ascetic god of Hindui ...

Read more here: » Lotus position: Encyclopedia - Lotus position

Lotus Position: Padmasana, or Lotus Pose, named so because the position puts the souls of the feet up, reminiscent of a lotus flower. The prime position for meditation, it is the most renowned of all Hatha Yoga postures.

(See also: Lotus Position, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

lotus asana: The most famous of hatha yoga poses and the optimum position for meditation. It is known as the padmasana (lotus pose), as the legs are crossed, turning the soles of the feet up, which then resemble a lotus flower.

See: asana, hatha yoga.

(See also: Lotus asana, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Each Chakra has a particular number of petals with a Sanskrit alphabet on each petal. The vibration that is produced at each petal is represented by the corresponding Sanskrit letter. Every letter denotes the Mantra of Devi Kundalini. The letters exist in the petals in a latent form. These can be manifested and the vibrations of the Nadis felt during concentration.

Read more here: » Petals: Petals On Chakras

Religion is not meant to create conflict and division, but to promote dialogue and harmony. Buddha Purnima is an appropriate occasion to dwell a little on the Buddhist philosophy I follow, of Nichiren Daishonin, called the Soka Gakkai, which literally means "Value Creating Society".

Daisaku Ikeda, president of Soka Gakkai International, says: "The people and the society of our age might be compared to a ship in the middle of the ocean which has lost its compass. Without an accurate guide to lead them, they sail aimlessly along towards the future''.

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

The actual method of awakening the Kundalini Shakti and uniting Her with the Lord in the Sahasrara can only be learnt from a Guru. I give here a general outline of the Yogic practice that will enable the Sadhaka to realise the Chit.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Kundalini Awakening: Some Practical Hints on Kundalini Awakening

Simply put, happiness is satisfaction of mind. However, different individuals have different perceptions of how to achieve happiness. For some, happiness lies in wealth; for others, it is in rank and position; yet others find happiness in fame and name. Commonly, happiness is measured by achievement in terms of money, property, other material possessions, power, name, fame, education, lifestyle, position and social status.

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

The elephant captured in Chhattisgarh was a victim, not just of an over-eager, insensitive agency that was ironically set up for the specific purpose of protecting endangered pachyderms. The poor animal was first forced to leave the forests of neighbouring states frightened by miners and rendered homeless by human-induced forest degradation. And then, when it tried to survive, looking for food, it was chased, caught, and made to die a slow death. Whatever happened to our tradition of respecting all life forms?

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

Here is a kriya to reverse the ageing process.

The body is programmed for normal wear and tear. The pranic currents of paanch mahapranas within the body i.e Prana, Apana, Samana, Udaan and Vayan are programmed to flow in their respective directions and take the body to its logical end. Our ancient rishis discovered that reversing the process of pranic flows has the effect of reversing certain ageing processes, processes responsible for apparent decay of the body viz grey hair, sagging skin and loss of the youthful physical glow.

Reversing the pranic flow is called Viparitkarni - a technique prescribed by the ancients to reverse the ageing process.

Instructions and benefits for:

-       Viparitkarni Kriya

-       Chakra Sanchalan Kriya

-       Brahmacharya Kriya

(See also: Mudras and Health, Mudras, Mudras and Health, Mudra Instructions, Yoga)

Buddhism sees humans neither as a special creation of God, nor does it see them as having been given dominion over 'lesser' species. It says that like all sentient beings, humans also wander in the limited, conditioned realm of samsara, the cycle of rebirths.

It believes that man influences the environment not only through his actions but also through the moral and immoral qualities of his actions - karmic effects catch up with people via their environment.

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

This FAQ gives an overview of those kundalini yoga practices which require conscious effort. Part I of III.

In Part II: 1) What are the techniques to unite prana and apana?, 2) What are the techniques to unite rajas and retas?, 3) Are those really the only techniques to awaken kundalini?, 4) Are these forceful methods of awakening kundalini dangerous? What about Gopi Krishna's books?

Read more here: » Kundalini Yoga: Kundalini Yoga FAQ (part II of III) -

Krishna Janmashtami

THIS IS THE birthday of Lord Krishna, the eighth Divine Incarnation. It falls on the 8th day of the dark half of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September). This is one of the greatest of all Hindu festivals. Lord Krishna was born at midnight. A twenty-four hour fast is observed on this day, which is broken at midnight.

From Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Krishna Janmashtami: Hindu festivals - Krishna Janmashtami

Kriya Yoga An Enlightening Experience

It all began when a friend of mine gave me a copy of Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda. I read the entire book from cover to cover the first night. I was so fascinated by Yogananda's description of Miracles and higher states of consciousness he experienced in India and in the United States after he traveled over here that I couldn't put the book down. The next week I left for California with my last paycheck in my pocket. I drove all the way to Yogananda's Hermitage/Retreat in Encinitas, California. I was a printing press operator at the time and it just so happened they needed a printer at SRF. What luck! It all seemed predestined.

Read more here: » Kriya Yoga: Kriya Yoga An Enlightening Experience

As a common precursor, when you sit down to practice exercises in concentration and contemplation, precede your sessions with a prayer to God or Guru, and invoke their presence and Grace.

Smile and fill your heart with a recollection of joy and happiness that you may have experienced in the past. Feel God's light suffusing and relaxing the entire body, and gently, rhythmically, slow down the process of breathing. It always helps to keep your eyes shut and focused on the area of the third eye. Closing the eyes ensures stillness of the mind. The attention should always be turned inward, that is, we should try and lose awareness of our bodies and feel the consciousness being sucked into the vacuum-like depths of the eternity.

(See also: Meditation  and Concentration, Meditation, Meditation for Beginners, Meditation Techniques)

Your meditation seat should be comfortable. A cushion of cotton or some other natural fibre facilitates the natural flow of circulation. Some serious practitioners place a deer skin, tiger skin, or even a woollen blanket over the cushion. This protects the body from the downward pull of certain earth currents and helps raise the life current (prana) to the point between the eyebrows.

Sit facing north or east. The magnetic currents flowing in from these directions assist in concentration.

(See also: Meditation Techniques, Meditation, Meditation for Beginners, Meditation Techniques)

Four Asanas are prescribed for the purpose of Japa and meditation. They are Padmasana, Siddhasana, Svastikasana and Sukhasana. You must be able to sit in any one of these four Asanas at a stretch for full three hours without shaking the body. Then only you will get Asana-Jaya, mastery over the Asana.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Asanas: Most important Yoga Positions - Yoga Asanas

Hinduism Lexicon on A

From aadheenam to axis.

Read more here: » Hinduism: Hinduism Lexicon on A

There are several ways for humans to sit. Sitting - Floor sitting positions. Sitting - Tailor Indian style Crisscross applesauce. To sit in the Tailor style: sit on floor any way bend one knee so that heel moves toward buttocks. bend other knee in same fashion, but place leg over other bent leg. Sitting - Lotus position. To sit in the lotus position: Start in the Tailor style described above

Sri Aurobindo (Bangla: শ্রী অরবিন্দ) (August 15, 1872–December 5, 1950) was an Indian nationalist, scholar, poet, Hindu mystic, evolutionary philosopher, yogi and guru. His followers further believe that he was an avatar, an incarnation of the supreme being. Sri Aurobindo spent his life—through his vast writings and through his own development—working for the freedom of India, the path to the further evolution of life on earth, and to bring down what he called the Supramental Truth Consciousness Forc ...

Including:

• Sri Aurobindo - Early experiences
• Sri Aurobindo - Final conversion
• Sri Aurobindo - Philosophical and spiritual writings
• Sri Aurobindo - The Mother
• Sri Aurobindo - Contribution to Hindu philosophy
• Sri Aurobindo - Aurobindo's evolutionary philosophy
• Sri Aurobindo - Involution
• Sri Aurobindo - Evolution
• Sri Aurobindo - Other points
• Sri Aurobindo - Aurobindo's integral yoga
• Sri Aurobindo - Divine Life on Earth
• Sri Aurobindo - Aurobindo's influence
• Sri Aurobindo - Quotation
• Sri Aurobindo - Partial bibliography
• Sri Aurobindo - Related links

Read more here: » Sri Aurobindo: Encyclopedia - Sri Aurobindo

Jyotisha (jyotiṣa, in Hindi Jyotish) is the Hindu system of astrology, one of the six disciplines of Vedanga. The Sanskrit word derives from jyótis which means "light, brightness", but in the plural also "the heavenly bodies, planets and stars". Jyotisha t ...

Including:

• Jyotisha - Foundations
• Jyotisha - Hindu and Western astrologies
• Jyotisha - Fundamentals of Jyotisha
• Jyotisha - Partial Bibliography
• Jyotisha - See Also

Read more here: » Jyotisha: Encyclopedia - Jyotisha