Kundalini Yoga

Thus far our soul psychotherapy has drawn from universal spiritual principles of gratitude, forgiveness, poignant impermanence, and the like, while remaining largely within the precincts of conventional developmental theory. In this chapter I broaden our scope more toward the body by delving into the farther reaches of human development as is becoming known in the West under the heading of kundalini yoga.

Read more here: » Kundalini Yoga: Kundalini Yoga and the Far Reaches of Human Development

Ten celebrated formulae of Vedanta.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Vedantic Wisdom: Vedic Philosophy - Celebrated Vedantic Wisdom Quotes

Zen Buddhism: Zen Buddhist Dictionary

A dictionary of Zen Buddhism terms. Please note that all words in grey like " Buddhism " are links to an archive with related articles.

For more dictionary entries, see » Text Dictionary

Buddhism: Buddhist Scriptures

The Buddhist canon of scripture is known in Sanskrit as the Tripitaka and in Pali as the Tipitaka. These terms literally mean "three baskets" and refers to the three main divisions of the canon, which are:

1.    The Vinaya Piaaka, containing disciplinary rules for the Sangha of Buddhist monks and nuns, as well as a range of other texts which explain why and how rules were instituted, supporting material, and doctrinal clarification.

2.    The Sutta Pitaka (Pali; Sanskrit: Sutra Pitaka), containing discourses of the Buddha.

3.    The Abhidhamma or commentary Pitaka, containing a philosophical systematization of the Buddha's teaching, including a detailed analysis of Buddhist psychology.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Buddhist Scriptures

Indigo children are supposedly a set of children having certain special psychological and spiritual attributes. The indigo child concept was first popularized by the book, The Indigo Children, written by the husband and wife team of Lee Carroll and Jan Tober1, with the contributions of medical doctors, psychologists, and parents whose essays are included in the text. The adjective "indigo" is used because it is claimed these children appear with an indigo-hued aura.

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

Read more here: » Indigo Children: Indigo children in Wikipedia  

The Vedangas: There are six Angas or explanatory limbs, to the Vedas: the Siksha and Vyakarana of Panini, the Chhandas of Pingalacharya, the Nirukta of Yaska, the Jyotisha of Garga, and the Kalpas (Srauta, Grihya, Dharma and Sulba) belonging to the authorship of various Rishis.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Vedangas: The Vedangas in the Hindu Scriptures

The Four Vedas and Their Sub Divisions : The Veda is divided into four great books: the Rig-Veda, the Yajur-Veda, the Sama-Veda and the Atharva-Veda. The Yajur-Veda is again divided into two parts, the Sukla and the Krishna. The Krishna or the Taittiriya is the older book and the Sukla or the Vajasaneya is a later revelation to sage Yajnavalkya from the resplendent Sun-God.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Four Vedas: The Four Vedas in the Hindu Scriptures

Gathas are the divine songs composed by prophet Zarathushtra, more than 3,000 years ago. Gathic verses reflect the communion which the Prophet received from Ahura Mazda, the Supreme Being. The Gathic verses are collected in 17 chapters, each called a Haiti, incorporated into a ritual text, the Yasna.

Ahura Mazda as the sole creator and protector of the universe. The Avestan Ahura means 'lord of life', and Mazda means 'all knowing, omniscient'. The Zoroastrian religion is based on the immutable and eternal law of Asha which signifies truth, order, discipline and progress.

Read more here: » Law of Asha: Zarathushtra and the Law of Asha

Buddhism: Origins of Buddhism

Legend has it that the Buddha to be, Siddhartha Gautama, was born around the 6th century BCE. His birthplace is said to be Lumbini in the kingdom of Magadha, in what is now Nepal. His father was a king, and Siddhartha lived in luxury, being spared all hardship.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Origins of Buddhism

The Brahmanas and the Aranyakas: There are two Brahmanas to the Rig-VedaÑthe Aitareya and the Sankhayana. - The Rig-Veda, - says Max Muller, - is the most ancient book of the world. The sacred hymns of the Brahmanas stand unparalleled in the literature of the whole world; and their preservation might well be called miraculous. -

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Brahmanas and Aranyakas: The Brahmanas and the Aranyakas in the Hindu Scriptures

Psychic:

As used in this text, a word referring to rare or seldom-used powers of the (usually) human mind, which are capable of causing effects that appear to contradict the mainstream worldview of western science and philosophy.

(See also: Psychic , Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

For more dictionary entries, see » Text Dictionary

Vedas:

An ancient sanskrit text. The entire body of ancient, sacred revelations of truth. Chief amongst which are the Rigveda, Saamaveda, Yajurveda and the Athharvanaveda. The basis for the Hindu religion, as well as ayurvedic medicine, health etc...

(See also: Vedas , Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Text Dictionary

Karma Yoga Lesson XI

The dullness in Karma Yogi's life; The power of cumulation; Dryness; The Air trial, without programme; Reversion; The task one of changing the center; The need for watchfulness.

Read more here: » Karma Yoga: Karma Yoga - Lesson XI (of XI )

Jaina Kalpasutra - A Visual Treat

The Kalpasutra is held in great honour especially by the Svetambara sect of Jainism. A work in Prakrit, its composition is originally attributed to the celebrated author Bhadrabahu (BC 433 to 357).

The Kalpasutra shows the early stage of the development of Jainism, the succession of pontiffs and the rules for Jaina monks during the four months of monsoon or chaturmasa when the monks are not on the move. The text records the five auspicious events - the descent from heaven, birth, initiation, obtaining of omniscience, and death - and many legends of the last three Pathfinders or Tirthankaras: Aristanemi, Parsvanatha, and Mahavira, and those of Rishabhanatha, the first of the 24 Tirthankaras. The arrangement of Bhadrabahu's book moves back in time.

Read more here: » Jaina Kalpasutra: Jaina Kalpasutra - A Visual Treat

Idol worship, caste and ascetic austerity had no place in Nanak's religion. He believed in one God, Ek Omkar ; singing His praises was the best way of devotion. He advocated listening to kirtan or hymn singing and set his compositions to music in suitable ragas or melodies.

Nanak was 27 when he went out to spread the Name of God expounding the message of 'true path'. With Mardana as companion, he travelled throughout the country, going as far as Tibet in the north and Sri Lanka in the south. He even visited Mecca. Wherever he went, his hymn-singing drew large crowds. Mardana would faithfully reproduce notes on the rabab as Nanak sang his way to the hearts of the listeners.

(See also: Nanak , 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: » Nanak: Nanak's Musical Path to Ananda  

Feng Shui teaches us how to create harmony and balance around us. Literally translated from Chinese, Feng Shui means wind and water. Put simply, Feng Shui is the art and science of capturing chi with water and moving it with wind.

Feng Shui has been around since the Bronze Age. Its first mention in text is reported to be 220 B.C. It is, however, relatively new to non-Chinese speaking Americans. So let us explore what Feng Shui is exactly.

Read more here: » Feng Shui: Introduction To Feng Shui

The Bhagavad-Gita: The most important part of the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad-Gita. It is a marvellous dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna on the battle-field, before the commencement of the great war. Bhagavan Sri Krishna became the charioteer of Arjuna. Sri Krishna explained the essentials of Hindu religion to Arjuna. Just as the Upanishads contain the cream of the Vedas, so does the Gita contain the cream of the Upanishads.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Bhagavad-Gita: The Bhagavad-Gita in the Hindu Scriptures

Traditionally, going on a tirtha or pilgrimage is believed to present an ideal occasion for soul-searching. The more arduous the journey, the greater the opportunity to reflect. A yatra is a good time - when the temporal and the timeless meet - to try and expand our understanding of our own selves and the Absolute. This is the spirit of the annual pilgrimage to the hallowed cave-shrine of Amarnath.

(See also: Amarnath , 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: » Amarnath: Beyond the Last Blue Mountain  

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

Gem Therapy for the Modern Age

The history of gemstone therapy dates back for thousands of years. It is known that the ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Judaic cultures utilized gems for both healing and general enhancement of life, but it was the ancient Vedic culture of India that gave us the greatest inheritance of this knowledge. The metaphysical properties and how persons can increase their own well-being on the physical, emotional, and even spiritual planes through the proper use of gemstones is a science delineated in the Vedic scriptures to a far greater degree than the texts of any other ancient culture.

Read more here: » Gemstones Crystals: Gem Therapy for the Modern Age

channeling (mediumship): transmission of information or energy from a nonphysical source through humans. These persons - called channels, channelers, or mediums - are sometimes in an apparent trance during the communication.

Sources include angels, discarnate former humans, extraterrestrials, and other levels of consciousness.

(See also: Channelling - Mediumship , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

For more dictionary entries, see » Text Dictionary

Art is a collaboration between God and man, raising him to the exclusive band of creators and taking him deeply within and around his handiwork. It is a unique result of a unique temperament with its beauty derived from mutable disconcern of his environment. Leela Ganapathy, retired Professor of Arts, share her vivid knowledge about the Indian Arts and Dance are recognised as a bridge between the divine and our day to day life and our society.

Read more here: » Spiritual Dance: Dance in Spiritual Indian Art