Tag Archives: bhagavad-gita

Progress reports of Sri Aurobindo

Posted on December 17, 2011 by

These are a couple of progress reports that Sri Aurobindo had jotted down in his diary The Record of Yoga during his early years in Pondicherry. They indicate the ceaseless struggle and the consequent reversal of consciousness that he underwent in the quest for yogic perfection. Continue reading →

Posted in auro | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The message of the Gita

Posted on August 25, 2011 by

The Bhagavad Gita is an inspiring scripture which people rely on for guidance and cite in support of their arguments. Unfortunately, its aphoristic quality and the backdrop of the war through which its message has been expounded makes it amenable to divergent interpretations. Pacifists tend to be distressed by the justification of war while the hawkish delight in it. The Gita’s enunciation of multiple spiritual paths provides leeway for commentators to selectively highlight the sections they prefer and ignore the rest of the book. Ethicists, for instance, may assume that the Gita preaches the performance of duty above everything. In this article, we examine Sri Aurobindo’s perspective on the Gita. Continue reading →

Posted in Gita | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Obsessive-compulsive spirituality by Dr Ramesh Bijlani

Posted on December 28, 2010 by

Among the visitors to spiritual organizations like Sri Aurobindo Ashram are some dead serious, sincere and intense young people who claim to be on the spiritual path but seem to be on the verge of losing their mental balance, if they have not lost it already. The question naturally arises what makes something as laudable as the spiritual path a risky road to walk on. The risk lies in a faulty approach to spirituality. Young people who become miserable as a result of their engagement with spirituality invariably treat spirituality as yet another worldly achievement. They go about searching for techniques that would take them to the peak by the easiest, shortest and fastest route. They treat spirituality like mountaineering…. Continue reading →

Posted in jnana-yoga | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Developing one’s own spiritual atmosphere (Gita 3:17)

Posted on July 29, 2010 by

Those who live for Thee and in Thee may change their physical surroundings, their habits, climate, “milieu”, but everywhere they find the same atmosphere; they carry that atmosphere in themselves, in their thought constantly fixed on Thee. Everywhere they feel at home, for everywhere they are in Thy house. Continue reading →

Posted in Gita, Spiritual practice | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Equanimity as the foundation of Integral Yoga.

Posted on May 27, 2010 by

The ordinary life undulates between inspired action, drudgery, boredom and leisure. Our response to the events of the day is shaped by our memory of the past. Abuse, poverty, illness and betrayal leave their mark on our consciousness making us polarized, disheartened, bitter or hard-charging. To uplift the abased life, the first goal of the Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother is the practice and perfection of equanimity (Samata in the words of the Gita) in every aspect of life. Instead of renouncing everything and retiring to some cave/ashram/monastery to meditate, the secret is to live in society and absorb the impacts without inducing stress. To be equal in all circumstances is the first step in perfection because it disengages the Spirit (Purusha) from the material consciousness (Prakriti). It is from the poise of equanimity that we rise into true freedom. The rest of this article covers various aspects of equanimity. Continue reading →

Posted in Spiritual practice | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Transcending the work-leisure cycle

Posted on December 17, 2009 by

The desire to relax after a hard day’s work or a difficult week is a universal phenomenon observed in people everywhere. The human body has a finite capacity of concentration and needs to relieve the pressure which builds up after a significant amount of mental or physical effort. Unfortunately the methods of relaxation we choose tend to make the situation worse for we sink into a malaise which further depletes our energy. It is here that the psychological methods of Yoga need to be applied. Continue reading →

Posted in karma-yoga | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

States of self-realization defined in the Gita

Posted on November 18, 2009 by

This post is a collection of some interesting terms from the Bhagavad Gita that denote various states of self-realization, along with explanatory text from the works of Sri Aurobindo. The terms covered are Vyavasaya-yukta Buddhi, Atmarati, Brahmi-sthithi, Nimitta-Matra, Brahma-Nirvana, Samahita, Samyatendriyah, Samsiddhi, Samam Brahma, Udasinavat, Krsna-vit, Brahma-bhuya and Madbhava. Continue reading →

Posted in Gita | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Gita Chapter 18, Verse 60-61: The illusion of free-will

Posted on November 1, 2009 by

The Bhagavad Gita in Chapter 18, verses 60-61 states that all creatures are mounted on the machine of Nature and act accordingly. This post explicates the meaning of these two verses. Continue reading →

Posted in Gita, Karma | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Aspects of Karma-Yoga

Posted on October 31, 2009 by

Karma Yoga(Yoga of Works), as outlined in the Bhagavad Gita, involves doing work not for one’s ego but as an offering to the Divine. The principles of Karma Yoga can be easily applied in the tranquil atmosphere of some spiritual retreat where one is surrounded by like-minded people but it is much more difficult to practice in a professional or business environment of today’s capitalistic society. This post discusses some finer points of Karma Yoga based on the commentaries of Sri Aurobindo. Continue reading →

Posted in karma-yoga | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Illustrating Integral Psychology using the Gita

Posted on August 1, 2009 by

This post provides an illustration of Integral Psychology of Sri Aurobindo using the verses of the Bhagavad Gita ( Chapter 2, verses 62 and 63 )
Continue reading →

Posted in Gita, Psychology | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Man shall not live by bread alone

Posted on May 27, 2009 by

The words of Christ: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4) have deep meaning to those who practice Yoga. The “word of God” here indicates that … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, food | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Gita Chapter 6, Verse 5 – uplift the self by the self

Posted on March 23, 2009 by

Here is Sri Aurobindo on the Gita Chapter 6, Verse 5 uddhared atmanatmanam natmanam avasadayet atmaiva hy atmano bandhur atmaiva ripur atmanah

Posted in Gita | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Gita Chapter 4, Verse 18 – action and inaction

Posted on March 22, 2009 by

This post is about the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Verse 18. karmany akarma yah pasyed akarmani ca karma yah sa buddhiman manusyesu sa yuktah krtsna-karma-krut

Posted in Gita | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 69 – Inversion of day and night

Posted on March 22, 2009 by

The Bhagavad Gita in Chapter 2, Verse 69 describes an enigmatic reversal of day and night in the life of a Yogi. ya nisha sarva-bhutanam tasyam jagarti samyami yasyam jagrati bhutani sa nisa pasyato muneh That which is day to … Continue reading →

Posted in Gita | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Gita Chapter 7, Verse 16 – Four types of Divine seekers

Posted on March 22, 2009 by

The Bhagavad Gita in Chapter 7, Verse 16 defines the four types of people who seek the Divine. Continue reading →

Posted in Gita | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

The inverted Banyan tree

Posted on January 23, 2009 by

The ancient Hindu scriptures speak of the Universe as an inverted Banyan/Ashwattha tree with its roots in the Higher Worlds of Sat-Chit-Ananda (Existence-Consciousness-Bliss) and its branches in the many lower worlds that have been created. This is a comprehensive list of references to this tree in the ancient scriptures and the works of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. The world tree motif is present in many other religions and mythologies (See World-Tree) Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments