"The park bench was deserted

as I sat down to read,

Beneath the long, straggly branches

of an old willow tree."

"Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown,

For the world was intent

on dragging me down."

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

Read more here: » Love and Happiness: This Was The Most Beautiful Flower

Dream Dictionary Index with links to 10.000 dream interpretations from many different sources.

Please note that all words in grey are hyperlinked to an archive with articles related to that word, including dream interpretations.

For more dream interpretation, see: Meaning of Dreams or Dream Dictionary

For articles about dreams, see: Dreams

Read more here: » Dream Interpretation Index: Dream Interpretation Index including links to 10.000 dream interpretations

Breathing: God Is In The Gap Between Breaths

God is in the breath inside the breath, said Kabir. He showed that anyone can become illumined from within. Osho once explained a sutra from Kabir's song: "Student, tell me what is God?" he asks. He provides the answer: "He is the breath inside the breath."

God is your subjectivity; He is your innerness. Buddha made it a great technique for meditation, watching the breath, because through watching it you will come to know the breath inside the breath. 'Breath' means life. In Sanskrit it is pran or life. In Hebrew,

Read more here: » Breathing: God Is In The Gap Between Breaths

Dhauti, Basti, Neti, Nauli, Tratak and Kapalabhati. These are known as Shat-Karma or the six purificatory exercises in Hatha Yoga.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Shat-Karma: Shat-Karma or the six purificatory exercises in Hatha Yoga.

Vipassana Meditation: The practice of the sound current in Vipassana meditation, also known as the divine sound, is a foundational practice of linking directly with the soul and I AM Presence. It comes from the Himalayan masters of ancient India, and is a foundation for the practice of nada yoga, sahaj yoga, Babaji’s kriya yoga, as well as Sikh practices like shabda yoga.

Read more here: » Vipassana Meditation: The Sound Current and Vipassana Meditation

‘Trataka’ is steady gazing at a particular point or object without winking. Though this is one of the six purificatory exercises, it is mainly intended for developing concentration and mental focusing. It is very useful for the students of Hatha Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Raja Yoga.

Excerpt from the book Kundalini Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Trataka: Trataka and Kundalini Yoga

Lambika Yoga

Practice of Khechari Mudra is Lambika Yoga. The technique of the Mudra is explained below. He who practises this Mudra will have neither hunger nor thirst. He can walk in the sky. This Yoga is beset with difficulties.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Lambika Yoga: Practice of Khechari Mudra - Lambika Yoga

There are seven planes. They are Bhuloka (earth plane), Bhuvarloka (Antariksha or the astral plane), Svargaloka (heaven or the mental plane), Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka and Satyaloka (Brahmaloka or the world of Brahma, the Creator).

This is an excerpt from the book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Lokas Or Planes: The Seven Planes

One should become perfectly desireless and should be full of Vairagya before attempting to awaken Kundalini. It can be awakened only when a man rises above Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada and other impurities. Kundalini can be awakened through rising above desires of the senses. The Yogi, who has got a pure heart and a mind free from passions and desires will be benefited by awakening Kundalini. If a man with a lot of impurities in the mind awakens the Sakti by sheer force through Asanas, Pranayamas and Mudras, he will break his legs and stumble down.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga Sadhana: Yoga Sadhanas for Kundalini Awakening

Breath, sound and meditation are the main resources of kundalini yoga. For example, a school of Kundalini yoga is probably best recognised for its frequent use of 'Breath of Fire' and the mantra 'Sat Nam'. Breath of Fire is a breathing exercise where you inhale and exhale rapidly through the nose without pausing, and pump the navel point while using the abdomen as a bellows. Sat Nam means 'truth is my identity' and, as a chant, is used to stop mind chatter by creating a rhythm that produces higher consciousness.

Read more here: » Yoga: Kundalini Yoga - Techniques and Pitfalls

Balancing and Charging the Chakras

The energy of your body will not be balanced and free flowing if you do not have good emotional balance, good physical health, and good relationships with your surroundings and yourself.

Almost no one is ever perfectly balanced. If you could do this, you would be able to rise from the dead, have a body transformed into a cosmic molecular structure and commune with the gods as an equal.

Read more here: » Chakra Balancing: Balancing and Charging the Chakras

In my own spiritual transition to the Awakened state, I suffered and endured many of these changes. Annarita has thoroughly documented many of the symptoms and changes inherent in both the Awakening and the transition into the Octarine stage of Indigo life. Your mileage may vary. And if you find yourself really feeling out of whack, go see your doctor. It is better that you find you're basically OK than to permit a possible major disease like diabetes or heart disease to develop under your nose. As always, common sense, good grounding and a good sense of humor are your best tools for coping. See you on the Other Side!

(See also: Indigo Children, What is Indigo Children, Parenting Indigo Children, Adult Indigo, Indigo Children Channeling)

Read more here: » Indigo Children: Symptoms Of Spiritual Awakening

A yogic dictionary including desriptions of Matsyasana, Paschimottanasana, Halasana, Sarvangasana, Oordhva-Padmasana, Sirshasana, Siddhasana and Padmasana.

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

Read more here: » Yogic Exercises: Asanas and Yogic Exercises

In Vaikuntha all persons dwell having the form of Vishnu and propitiate Him by means of Dharma which is not prompted by the desire of any fruit

This is an excerpt from the book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Lokas Or Planes: Vaikuntha Loka

To suit the different constitutions, temperament and purpose, in Pranayama there are many varieties of exercises, viz., deep breathing exercise, Sukha Purvaka (easy comfortable) Pranayama during walking, Pranayama during meditation, Rhythmical breathing, Suryabheda, Ujjayi, Sitkari, Sitali, Bhastrika, Bhramari, Murchha, Plavini, Kevala Kumbhaka, etc. Of all the above exercises only the last eight are described in the Hatha Yogic texts.

Excerpt from the book Kundalini Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Pranayama exercises: Pranayama Exercises for Awakening the Kundalini

Kriya Yoga: The Breath of God Is Our Breath of Life

Kriya Yoga gives extreme importance to the breath. It teaches that breath control is self control, breath mastery is self mastery, it is deathlessness. If you take a very short breath and seek God in the fontanel and the pituitary, you will attain calmness and God realization. The Bhagavad Gita, verse 5:27, mentions this short breath: "We are to fix our attention in the pituitary, take a very short breath and touch Him in the pituitary and in the fontanel." The breath must be so short that if you place your finger in front of your nose, the outgoing breath will not touch the finger.

Read more here: » Kriya Yoga: The Breath of God Is Our Breath of Life

The term Hinduism is most elastic. It includes a number of sects and cults, allied, but different in many important points. Hinduism has, within its fold, various schools of Vedanta; Vaishnavism, Saivism, Saktism, etc. It has various cults and creeds. It is more a League of Religions than a single religion with a definite creed.

A map over the different sects and cults in Hinduism.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Sects: Hinduism - A Fellowship Of Faiths And A Federation Of Philosophies - about Hindu Sects and Cults

Definition of The Cobra yoga position (Bhujangasana): Coiling your upper body up and back.

Read more here: » Yoga Positions: The Cobra - Yoga Position

The symptoms of infectious pneumonia are caused by the invasion of the lungs by microorganisms and by the immune system's response to the infection. Although over one hundred microorganisms can cause pneumonia, only a few of them are responsible for most cases. The most common causes of pneumonia are viruses and bacteria. Less common causes of infectious pneumonia include fungi and parasites. Pneumonia - Viruses. See also:

Pneumonia, Pneumonia - Symptoms, Pneumonia - Diagnosis, Pneumonia - Physical examination, Pneumonia - Chest X-rays sputum cultures and other tests, Pneumonia - Pathophysiology, Pneumonia - Viruses, Pneumonia - Bacteria, Pneumonia - Fungi, Pneumonia - Parasites, Pneumonia - Types of pneumonia, Pneumonia - Early classification schemes, Pneumonia - Combined clinical classification, Pneumonia - Other types of pneumonia, Pneumonia - Treatment, Pneumonia - Complications, Pneumonia - Respiratory and circulatory failure, Pneumonia - Pleural effusion empyema and abscess, Pneumonia - Prognosis and mortality, Pneumonia - Prevention, Pneumonia - Epidemiology, Pneumonia - History

Read more here: » Pneumonia: Encyclopedia II - Pneumonia - Pathophysiology

The Dolphin yoga position strengthens your upper body in preparation for the Headstand.

Read more here: » Yoga Positions: The Dolphin - Yoga Position

Neti: Nose cleansing

Rinsing your nose with salt water not only prevents colds, Neti also relaxes the entire nasal cavity and affects the surrounding areas: eyes, ears, throat and brain - thus influencing your mental state.

Read more here: » Neti: Nose cleansing