Podcasts on Life: Recent Episodes
Hinduwebsite.com - Jayaram V
A brief commentary by Jayaram V on the First and Second Sutras of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras: Atha Yoga Anushashanam - Yoga Chirtta Vritti Nirodha
The explanation which I am presenting here is the most basic and fundamental to the Advaita philosophy. It strips of all embellishments and modern explanations and presents the idea in its purest form as envisaged by the early proponents of the philosophy, the true masters and sages who composed the Upanishads and transcribed the Vedas as they heard them in their deepest silence. Listen to this podcast to know what it is and why the world is not real but unreal or an illusion.
This is Jayaram from Hinduwebsite.com. Today, I am going to speak about the pursuit of pleasure and the problem of worry and anxiety and why selfishness is considered the root of all evil. This podcast is based upon the teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita. In fact, it is part of the commentary I have written for a verse in the sixteenth chapter of the Bhagavad-Gita.
Hinduism draws a clear distinction between good and evil. This essay describes the qualities of Asuras or evil or demonic people according to the Bhagavad-Gita.
Ancient Indians were pioneers in the study of human consciousness. As early as 1000 BCE, they developed several contemplative and mindfulness techniques to study consciousness and understand its powers and potentials to improve one’s life, knowledge and intelligence or manifest one’s desires or open communication channels with gods and supernatural beings or resolve human suffering. They tried to harness the power of the mind to manifest reality and fulfill their desire for peace and happiness. In this podcast, we present a comparative review of consciousness in Buddhism and Hinduism, and how they are similar and dissimilar and attuned to their respective beliefs and practices and the methods they use for self-purification and liberation.
In this podcast, I tried to present a broader definition of consciousness as a partly automated and partly self-learning knowledge or information system, considering its states, functions, potencies and abilities. I defined consciousness as a knowledge system with an inborn ability, awareness and intelligence to collect knowledge or information or data from different sources, store it, retrieve it and use it for specific ends or purposes. Those ends or purposes may be preexisting, self-willed, self-learned, self-realized or externally imposed from outside sources and conditions. Of them, survival or self-preservation seems to be the most important purpose. At the most basic level, I identified it as a self-guiding, self-aware, self-protecting, self-sustaining, self-improving, self-preserving and self-evolving information or knowledge system only, which is partly preprogrammed or automated and partly self-learning and self-evolving for further automation according to the information it receives and collects from various sources.
The Hindu caste system probably came into existence around 3500 years ago due to various factors. It brought together people from diverse backgrounds under a social contract to live together and ensure order and regularity of society and polity. Somehow the system was accepted as a workable solution to ensure peaceful coexistence of diverse groups to live together and share social and economic privileges as dictated by their faith. In the early days of its origin, castes ensured stability and continuity of large populations in a rapidly changing environment, at a time when small republics, rural and pastoral communities and provincial principalities (janapadas) were giving way to large empires, well organized administrative systems and powerful monarchies. However, on the flipside, the caste system legitimized and institutionalized widespread discrimination of certain groups and communities as an acceptable and justifiable practice. It was not without consequences. In this discussion we will focus upon a few aspects of Hindu caste system.
Is there a purpose or meaning to life? Why are we here? What are we supposed to do? What is the significance of life itself? Are we meant to pursue our own interests and ensure our survival and wellbeing or do we have to serve a greater purpose or a higher power? These are tough questions for which there is no definite answers.
Sannyasa is the most extreme solution to free yourself from the world and its influence. In many spiritual traditions of India, the acceptable and effective way to achieve the ultimate freedom is renunciation. In renunciation you become detached not only from the world but from everything including your own built-in identity and value system. You give up the world, all your accumulations, mental formations, identities and relationships, so that you become free, uninvolved, disentangled and unburdened.
In the practice of Dhyana or meditation, a yogi faces numerous obstacles mainly because of the unstable nature of his mind. This podcast explains the difficulties, or the obstacles people face in the practice of dhyana which prevents them from attaining Samadhi or mental absorption.
The idea that you are the universe, not the mind and body or the ego complex, is what we consider oneness or nondualism or Advaita. It is what we mean by kaivalya or aloneness. A kevalin sees himself only amidst the dualities of life. He sees the world or the universe or the entire objective reality as an extension or projection of his consciousness. It is where you see nartaka atma, the Self acting as the master of the dance and the world dancing according to his will. You see the whole word as your state (rango’ antaratma).
One of the purposes of any yoga is to suppress the modifications of the mind, so that a yogi can experience peace and abide in his true nature or essential nature (svarupa avastha). Now, you may wonder what essential nature means and how anyone can abide in it. Words can be confusing, especially when their meaning can be interpreted differently by different people. We are not going to discuss here metaphysical or abstract notions of essential nature of your true self. We are going to speak about it purely from a practical perspective in a way which makes sense and which you can identify in yourself.
If I tell you that so and so is the true purpose of yoga, or give you a specific answer, then I am minimizing the importance of yoga itself or limiting its scope and purpose. With that answer I may also be deciding or dictating what is important for you or others, whereas that decision should entirely be yours only according to your essential nature and spiritual or material needs. Everyone’s circumstance is different. Hence, there is no single or universal solution for anything unless we want to ignore the details or specific circumstances.
Spiritual practice can potentially become a source of delusion, if you are not careful about your motivation or sincere in your practice...Half-hearted spiritual practice will give you the illusion of being involved and self-important but lead you nowhere. You will be just moving in circles without reaching your goal.
Maha Shivaratri is a well known Hindu festival. Millions of devotees worship Shiva on this auspicious day. After fasting for the day until midnight and worshipping him variously, they also keep a night vigil. There is a hidden spiritual significance of the festival, which is not known to many. It is explained briefly by Jayaram in this short podcast.
Both Hinduism and Buddhism originated in India. With a long shared-history of at least 2500 years, they have many similarities and differences. Both are also complex. In this we focus upon a few important differences between them. Buddhism is an organized religion with a well-formed Sangha or the brotherhood of monks. Hinduism is not that well organized. It is a collection of numerous traditions that originated in India in the past 5000 years. Sometimes, for historical reasons, Buddhism is also included in it, and Buddha is considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Buddhism does not believe in a Supreme eternal, indestructible, independent, subjective reality. Hinduism does. That supreme reality is known as Brahman. Buddhism does not believe in an eternal, individual self. It believes that all this is not-self or objective reality only which is devoid of a permanent self, and which is impermanent and filled with afflictions, sorrow and suffering. Hinduism believes in both Self and not-self realities. In Hinduism Dharma means the set of religious, spiritual, moral and obligatory duties which are entrusted or delegated to humans by God for the order and regularity of the worlds. In Buddhism, the basic teachings of the Buddha constitute Dharma. According to Hinduism, God (Brahman or Isvara) is the source of all. He is the creator, preserver and destroyer. Buddhism is silent about God and his role in creation and the cause of creation itself. Buddhism does not recognize transcendental reality. Its sole focus is upon cultivating the right view, right discernment and insight into experiential, perceptible and cognizable reality and consciousness. Hindu spiritual practices aim to transcend the objective realm and experience oneness with the transcendental Self. In Buddhism nirvana represents the final extinguishment of rebirth, suffering, becoming and being. Those who attain it cease to exist as individual entities. In Hinduism, Moksha represents final liberation from the cycle of births and deaths and entering, an all knowing, infinite, self-existent state where each soul is internally and inseparable united with the source of all. Hinduism and Buddhism also have many similarities. If you set aside these fundamental differences, both Hindus and Buddhists can benefit greatly from the vast treasure of spiritual knowledge contained in each. It is especially true with regard to meditative and contemplative practices, ethical conduct, renunciatory practices, purification of the mind and body, entering tranquil state of the mind, dealing with pain and suffering, cultivating discernment, etc.
An insight into the nature of Dukkha or suffering from the Buddhist perspective, which is helpful to cope with suffering with equanimity and detachment.
An Effective Strategy to Improve Your Chances of Achieving Success in Whatever You Do. You cannot be certain of anything. Life is uncertain. None can predict future. You do not know how your actions will shape up or how they end up. In such circumstances, what is the best course left for you? Find out in this audio presentation by Jayaram V
How to use the law of attraction without blindly relying upon the mind's supposed magical ability to precipitate reality.
In this discussion, we identify ten basic assumptions that critically hamper our ability to perform well, reach goals or achieve success.
When we speak of abundance, the first thing that comes into our minds is money. For many, that is all abundance means. However, abundance means more than having money. If you ask those who have plenty of money, they will more likely tell you a similar story. For them, money or material wealth is just one aspect of abundance. Abundance is more like a circle with many segments or divisions. It is not having just one thing but having many things that complement life and make it complete, peaceful, harmonious and worth living. Hinduwebsite Audio Presentation
This audio presentation is about practicing self-love and self-acceptance to overcome negativity and critical attitude towards oneself to experience peace and harmony. Self-acceptance does not mean complacency or passivity. It only means that you refuse to be undermined by your own negative, critical and self-destructive behavior. You will continue to improve yourself, knowing well that there is always scope for improvement and progress in life. Exploring possibilities and opportunities with positive attitude, you become the architect of your life and destiny. If you do it and accept yourself wholly, you will enjoy the journey as well as the destination. You deserve good life and inner harmony, and for that you must be in harmony with yourself.
This podcast is about cultivating self-awareness in spiritual practice by paying attention to one’s thoughts and feelings to know truths about oneself, without cognitive distortions and self-deception. The practice of truthfulness in relation to oneself leads to better self-awareness and discernment.
India is the only country where its ancient culture and native faiths survived centuries of foreign oppression, colonialism, imperialism, the Industrial revolution, two World Wars, scientific rationalism, and an organized onslaught by well-funded foreign institutions to undermine and degrade them. India is also the only country that gave birth to at least four major world religions and innumerable religious and spiritual movements.
A few thoughts on how Brahman (God) should be worshipped or approached, and whether he has a specific name and form. Occasionally you come across people who dispute the notion that God is impersonal and formless. According to them God cannot be impersonal or formless. For them, God is personal and possesses specific, recognizable form, which is permanent and universal. Should we agree with this view?
In this presentation Jayaram V speaks about cognitive errors and biases which interfere with our thinking and decision making and how to overcome them to improve our thinking and perception and learn to think with clarity and understanding.
The Bhagavadgita contains many lessons. The one presented in this podcast is very important. It is indeed the heart of Bhagavadgita wisdom. Those who understand it do not judge people by their actions but look to the motive and use their discernment to know whether those actions are justified or not. Find out what the lesson is.
Thousands of years ago, the Jain monks proposed an Atomic theory of their own, which may better be described as the quantum theory. They believed that the matter was made of minute particles called atoms or Paramanu. Numerous atoms of opposite nature joined together to form matter of various kinds. When souls came into contact with them, they became impure and bound.
This is a small talk on the meaning and significance of Jhanas in Buddhist spiritual practice. Jhana is the Pali equivalent of the Sanskri word, Dhyana, which means meditation. In Buddhism, Jhana refers to both meditation and the state of meditative absorption. The Buddha prescribed it as a transformative and purification practice, in which the mind progresses through several stages of cleansing and modification until it settles in one pointed mental absorption. Four such Jhanas were identified by the Buddha, each having its own distinguishing features.
In this audio, Jayaram V speaks about the types, qualities and essential aspects of souls according to Jainism and why Jains avoid eating meat and meat products.
In this presentation Jayaram V talks about three important misconceptions regarding Jainism, one of the oldest and continuing religions of the world.
What leads to success? How can you ensure that your efforts are progressing in the right direction? The author suggests three important factors and a simple and straightforward approach to achieve success in any field or project.
Buddhism is an unconventional religion. Many people are not conversant with its true nature. In this audio presentation the author discusses whether Buddhism can truly be considered a spiritual religion or a materialistic one. The complete script of this podcast is available at this URL: http://www.hinduwebsite.com/buddhism/essays/buddhism-and-spirituality.asp
The Upanishads emphasize the importance of Self-transformation or Self-purification in spiritual practice for Moksha or liberation. In this audio presentation the author explains why it is important.
Emotions are useful to perceive reality and know what is going on in you and around you. If you want to know yourself, pay attention to your emotions and their causes. If you want to cultivate sameness or equanimity and learn to accept yourself unconditionally, emotions are the best place to begin with.
Attachments are a greater source of misery, stress and unhappiness. This podcast by Jayaram V is about cultivating detachment for greater freedom and happiness by understanding your attachments and motivation
On How To Respond to Criticism without being undermined by it. A critic’s criticism reveals more about him and his judgment rather than the object of his criticism. When people criticize others, it reveals more about them rather than the people they criticize.
Ganesha is one of the most popular gods of Hinduism. He is worshipped by millions of Hindus all over the world in temples and at homes, sometimes in public also. This audio by Jayaram V explains the hidden symbolism and significance of Ganesha in the human body and in creation as the son of Shiva and Parvathi.
In this audio presentation Jayaram V suggests the importance of learning important lessons of life from Nature through simple observation.
A spiritual talk by Jayaram V regarding the importance of living according to your essential nature and manifesting your dharma to live in harmony with yourself and experience peace and happiness.
Know why it is important not to suppress your emotions but know them and express them without feeling disturbed through of meditation, visualization and other practices. Please visit Hinduwebsite.com and check the featured article section to read the complete article.
It is the nature of the world to distract you, involve you and keep your mind drawn into the modifications of Nature. When you live in such a world, how can you keep your mind engaged in spiritual thoughts?
Spiritual life is difficult. Even if worldly life is full of suffering people still show great reluctance to lead a spiritual life. In this audio presentation, Jayaram V lists several suggestions to prepare mentally for the challenges and difficulties of spiritual life.
In this Audio Presentation, the author, Jayaram V, discusses why spiritual life is difficult and why many people resist the idea of practicing spirituality.
Is the world an illusion. An examination of the proposition of Advaita that the world is unreal and has no basis in eternity.
Why are Religions So Destructive? Why do they cause strife? And what can you do about it? This presentation is about religions that promote group identity and incite religious passions.
What is true renunciation? This audio by Jayaram V explains the true meaning of renunciation and how you can give it a thought with a shocking experiment.
This is a hymn addressed to goddess Uma, extolling her virtues as the lord of the universe, Bhavanee, Rudranee and the universal, auspicious goddess. It is mainly an aid to the lyrics and the English transliteration available at Hinduwebsite
It is better not to know everything about the world since there is much violence and cruelty there which can unsettle our minds. It is good for us that Nature has not made us omniscient. Otherwise we would not have had peace of mind.
This is Sri Ganesha Pratah Smaranam, A Morning Prayer to Ganesha. It is believed that whoever recites this prayer everyday morning obtains his wishes, peace, abundance of wealth and happiness.
The archetypal meaning, cultural significance and symbolism of the moon (Chandra) in Hinduism
This audio is about why it is difficult to explain or remember transcendental states experienced by yogis in deep meditation. In a world without duality there is neither the knower nor the known. There is a process of knowing that is not within the grasp of the mind and the senses since they do not participate in the transcendental states.
Sri Rama Rakshasthothram is a very powerful prayer used by devotees to seek the protection of Lord Rama, who is considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Those who chant it regularly or listent to it everyday are said to attain mental peace, prosperity and happiness. It is especially recommended for those who have difficulties in their lives or suffering physical or mental health problems, problems from enemies, restlessness, and relationship problems. This is is a complete recitation of Rama Rakshasthothram along with the introductory verse that explains its greatness.
These twenty four names are chanted during evening prayer (sandhya vandanam) by devout Hindus. The evening prayer is from the Yajurveda and believed to be very powerful. The prayer contains the 24 names of God and the practice of uttering them is known as Achamanam.
Some melodies and solemn sounds of mixed emotions. Listen to it in quiet surroundings with your eyes closed, and mind and heart open. Composer: Jayaran V
Music with a cheerful note and positive vibrations for the beginning of a great day. Will be ideal for a ringtone. Composer: Jayaram V
You are a bubble in the ocean of existence. That bubble is your individuality. It creates the veil of separation between you and the rest of the world as subject and object. When you remove the veil and burst the bubble you become the One seer who sees all with a thousand eyes and with hands and feet everywhere.
A presentation on the importance and significance of Manusmriti or the Laws of Manu in the historical development of Hinduism and a critical overview of its contents and themes.
This is the audio version of a chapter from the Book, Essays on the Bhagavadgita by Jayaram V, titled The Meaning of Yoga in the Context of the Bhagavadgita. The author explains how the definition of yoga is different from the classical definition of yoga mentioned in the Yogasutras and why it is significant.
This composition is digitally created with melliflous sounds that march on with the invigorating energy like that of the early spring
Adversity can make or break your life. It all depends upon whether you take it as a personal challenge or take it personally as a sign of failure. In adversity you are bound to suffer from conflict, self-doubt, alienation, and even depression, as people abandon you or lose faith in you and your ability to solve your or their problems. Adversity may come into your life because of your actions, inactions, actions of others, or purely because of circumstances. In some religions it is considered a consequence of past karma. Adversity is the bitter fruit that everyone has to taste at sometime or the other.
This audio is about creating harmony in you by being yourself, by letting go and by knowin when to speak and when to withdraw.
Our values and morals are relative. They hold good only from a certain perspective. You cannot apply them universally to all situations. Sometimes you may think you are helping others, but you may be harming them. You do not know unless you consider all points of view and think carefully. The author suggests that sometimes our good actions may have uninteneded consequences and do harm rather good.
A brief presentation on the symbolism of Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu and the godess of wealth, health and fortune.
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act which was passed recently in Indiana and which other states are attempting to enact is bound to divide this country and create problems. The act is passed with short sighteed approach ignoring the consequences that may arise from it. Right now the focus is upon one section of society. But later it may lead to legal conflict between employees demanding their freedom and the owners of the establishments trying to protect their businesses. It may also be misused and may result in selective treatment of people and even their seggregation based on color or creed because some one may believe that all people are not created equal. The commentator examines these issues and wonders whether they law has foreseen these problems and made adequate provisions.
This presentation explores the meaning of Sanatana Dharma and in what context or for valid reasons Hinduism qualifies as Sanatana Dharma. This is part of an essay on the same subject available at Hinduwebsite.com
The purpose of any incarnation or emanation of God upon earth is to provide the people with an ideal which they can emulate and follow in their real lives. It is to remind them repeatedly that they are God in human form, and if they uphold the Self in them they will uphold the God in creation.
An audio Presentation by Jayaram V about tapping into the intelligence that is hidden and inherent within every object of creation and how it manifests itself in the beauty, diversity and symmetry of the universe.
Do you really choose to be happy? Have you ever made happiness a priority in your life? Have you ever tried to make yourself happy consciously? Many people think about being happy, but do not choose to be happy. Happiness is a choice. Your happiness depends upon how you interpret your daily experiences and what choices you make to keep yourself peaceful and happy.
An audio presentation by Jayaram V about finding happiness. There are many theories about how to achieve happiness. You will find many essays about happiness written by me earlier. Happiness is a state of mind, and like many states of mind you can determine your happiness quotient. You may not always succeed in your effort or sustain your happiness for long due to various reasons. However, none can tell that you cannot make yourself happy. The following are a few important methods to feel happy or change your mood..
Presentation about the practical implications of the practice of the Jain theory known as Anekantavada, the theory of standpoints, Nayavada and Syadavada, in the present day world and how you may use them to broaden your knowledge, vision and understanding.
Hinduism is going through a moral and spiritual crisis. Present day Hindus are forgetting their values and ideals. They should be concerned about the degradation that happened to Hinduism in the last hundred years.
Readings from the Dhammapada, 1st Chapter, Translation by Max Muller, Read by Jayaram V
An excerpt from the book the Gospel of the Buddha by Paul Carus. You may find the entire text at Hinduwebsite.com in the Sacred Scriptures Archives
Who am I? I am Jayaram. The IAM part is constant in all while the Jayaram part remain different and separate. It is the latter part which creates the diversity.
Why morality selfdom wins in our strugggle for survival. Nature does not seem to care much about what you consider morality or immorality. It aims to make you fit for survival, and arm you with skills and abilities to deal with the challenges you face in your life.
True inner silence, complete control over the movements of your mind and body, comes after a long effort. It requires years of yoga practice and persistence. However, as a beginning step, you can practice silence in limited ways and reinvigorate yourself.
About the ritual and spiritual significance of the Vedas in Hinduism and why they are held with such great importance in Hinduism
Death is a phase in the life of a being, a door to another existence. It is a pause in the long journey of the soul upon earth. In death is hidden the process of renewal, a new becoming, a new opportunity for the soul to begin anew, atone for the past, and make peace with it.
Kaivalya means the state of aloneness, as opposed to the state of duality and attachment. It is not to be confused with the state of loneliness or living in seclusion.
What is true surrender? It is not just prostrating yourself in front of an image of God when you visit a temple or perform a ritual at home. That act of prostrating in front of God's breathing image is just a physical form of surrender, an expression of e
There are two basic approaches to life. Both are well known and historically important. Since the earliest times, people have tested both and left behind a great repository of knowledge about their value and importance in securing our lives and minimizing our suffering. Both approaches are meant to shield us from the worries and anxieties of life created by the impermanence and uncertainty, and ensure our happiness, peace and Wellbeing. However, they adapt different methods and techniques to achieve this supreme goal.
An audio presentation of the article titled, "Don't look for happiness at the end of the journey" by Jayaram V available at Hinduwebsite.com
This is the audio version of a chapter entitled "Brahman in Vedic Tradition," from the book Brahman by Jayaram V published by Pure Life Vision LLC.
Most of the time in your life, you have the choice either to let negativity rule your life or you take control of it and allow positive thinking to prevail. You always have this choice in performing actions, making decision, choosing relationships, selecting attitudes, adapting to the environment, assessing or evaluating situations, weighing problems and anticipating outcomes. When you make the right choice using your discretion, you will have an opportunity to trust your instincts, take responsibility and feel good about yourself. In any given situation there are always some positive and negatives, opportunities and threats, where you can use your knowledge, skills, abilities and judgment to bring out the best in you and manifest the best you can. Where the outcomes are not predictable or disappointing, you may use them as learning opportunities. If you cultivate a growth oriented mindset, that see possibilities and opportunities for self-growth, you have greater chances of feeling positive about your actions and their outcomes.
Simple experiences can change your life and give you a new direction which you never thought before. People are motivated by many things in their lives. Some people are inspired by a scripture, a particular teaching, a guru, a book, a movie, a conversation they had with their friend, a relation or even a stranger, an incident they witnessed, a dream they had, a memory that surfaced in their consciousness or an experience they felt in meditation. You might have had those experiences yourself or heard about them from others. Knowing them one fact becomes certain. While you may not be able to explain it, you feel connected to some events and people. You are drawn to certain ideas and beliefs and when you see or meet someone you experience an inner elation that you cannot easily shake off.
Discern the silence hidden in the noise of life. You can awaken to the silence right now. All that you have to do is to sit quietly and discern the silence hidden behind all the noise that reaches your ears. We generally do not notice this silence. But to the discerning person this silence can be an ocean of peace. He can swim in that ocean and feel relaxed and energized whenever he wants. We are immersed in this oceans and hence, this silence of the universe never deserts us.
This audio presentation is about the importance of having goals, goal setting and how you may use clear and well defined goals to achieve success and happiness in life.
Liberation in a general sense means liberation from whatever that holds you back or keeps in check. There are many types of liberation. We speak here only two types of liberation, spiritual liberation and mental liberation. Mental liberation means freedom from the conditioning to which we are subject. It is liberation from the learning, beliefs, values, opinions, prejudices, judgments, worldviews, attitudes, standards, which we harbor in our minds because of our interaction with the external world.
The Rudra of the Rigveda is a militant god of storms and lightening and a "provider of medicines". Though he did not enjoy the same status as Indra, Rudra definitely enjoyed his own importance in the Vedic pantheon because of his tempestuous nature, his association with storms and storm gods called Maruts and his ability to bring medicines to the people to prolong their lives.This is a musical invocation to them. The music is composed digitally by Jayaram V
We generally think abundance in terms of having many luxuries and plenty of wealth. Abundance does not necessarily mean being rich or wealthy. It is one form of abundance only. Abundance applies to every aspect of life. It has both positive and negative aspects. Focus upon the positive types of abundance you have and make the best use of them.Make
In ideal situations, you should not take any criticism personally. At the best, a criticism is a message or a feedback about yourself or your actions. It is like a raw data coming from one of the instruments in the machinery of your life giving you vital information about some aspect of your life, actions or personality. Instead of accepting it as a piece of data, if you personalize it, you will lose objectivity and fail to make use of it effectively as an opportunity to improve yourself. We can use criticism to improve ourselves or depress ourselves. We have a choice here. We can perceive in it an opportunity for self-growth or a threat to lapse into self-pity and persecution complex. The best to deal with it is to accept it as a possible feedback and act upon it rationally and analytically. For that you have to recognize that your happiness comes not from the approval you gain from others but from being yourself and knowing yourself.
There are three selves in you and you are probably aware of them. First, there is the physical self consisting of your body and brain, or what you may call the physical mind. Next, there is the mental self, consisting of your mind, thoughts, perceptions, feelings, memory and subconscious. Then you have the observing self, different from both, which you may discern at times in your meditation. The best way to enter this state is by focusing your mind upon your breathing and slowly becoming mindful of what is happening in you and around you. Another approach is to practice the "Not This, Not This" method (neti neti) mentioned in the Upanishads and remind yourself that you are not your mind and body. If you persist in your practice, gradually the idea will take root in you and you will become detached, composed and collected in your daily life, relationships, thinking and actions. You will bridge the gap between the observer and the observed, and grasp the essence of things that is not perceptible to the ordinary senses.
Nowadays you can create little pieces of music by putting together a few voices and instruments on a time line and after a few trials and tests come out with a good beat. If you have a good feel for music, you can create your own compositions for fun or for use in your videos and websites. This one is an example. It does not speak much about my talent, but the possibilities you have nowadays in being creative. You may Listen to my podcasts on Srutam.com or at hinduwebsite.com http://www.hinduwebsite.com/audio/index.asp . Jayaram V
There are many religious people who are deeply irreligious when it comes to the practice of morality and virtue upheld by the religion. In fact, the world worst offenders of social and moral norms are religious people. Why this is so? These issues are examined in this audio presentation.
Know the power of healing compassion and how it can transform you and others. Compassion is the most sublime and powerful emotion. With compassion you not only heal others but also heal yourself.
in Hinduism violence (himsa) not only means injuring or hurting others through force but also causing disturbances within oneself or others through intentional physical and mental actions.
There are two fundamental factors that are key to success in whatever you do. Find out what they are in this audio presentation by author and writer Jayaram V
This Audio is part of a very long article on the psychology and philosophy of Happiness. This podcast presents the views of Greek philosophers such as Socrates and Aristotle on happiness.
Siva means the auspicious. That auspicious quality comes from his being present in the macrocosm as well as in the microcosm as the purifier, liberator and sustainer. By His mere presence, the world comes to life and so also the body.
This audio is based on the descriptions of sense organs in the Upanishads. The sense organs are considered the divinities living in the human body, which is similar to the body of the Cosmic Being and considered a microcosm (Viraj)