Tag Archives: tantra

Pancha-mahabhutas: the five subtle constituents of matter

Posted on May 19, 2011 by

If everything is consciousness (Brahman), then how does this conscious energy put on the appearance of material solidity. Why does the table appear solid? In order to bridge the gulf between consciousness and apparently durable matter, ancient Indian sages postulated (or “divined”) that all physical things are constituted of five subtle elements called Pancha-Mahabhutas – earth, fire, water, air, ether. The descriptions of these five constituents are quite similar across Sankhya, Tantra and Buddhist philosophy and even Greek Stoic texts. In this article, we compare various expositions of these elements. Continue reading →

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The spiritual aptitude (adhikara) needed for Yoga

Posted on June 25, 2010 by

As with every undertaking in life, so also in the practice of Yoga, some aptitude or competency is required. Some people take to meditation like fish to water, while others labor all their life to unveil the light which lies latent within. Aptitude can be developed through right living and right thinking and is carried over into future incarnations, guiding us into contact with saints and Yogis who can lead us to enlightenment. The Guru adapts his teaching based on the aptitude of the disciple since all are not capable of assimilating and realizing the Truth in identical manner. This is also the reason why different kinds of meditation techniques have developed over time. These are some selections on this subject from various sages. Continue reading →

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PanchaTattva Dharana : contemplation on the five elements

Posted on March 23, 2010 by

This post supplements a previous post Videha Dharana : fixing the mind outside the body, which discussed a method called Videha Dharana as per Sri Anirvan. The method is drawn from the Upanishads and can also be called PanchaTattva Dharana or contemplation on the five (pancha) elements (tattva) – namely earth, water, air, fire, ether. There is a similar technique in the Tantra texts called Bhuta-Shuddhi which is also outlined here. Continue reading →

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The purpose of idolatry and its limitations

Posted on January 15, 2010 by

We are all idol-worshippers. We worship actors, sportsmen, thinkers and – when we are feeling proud – even ourselves! Our subconscious desire is to mold ourselves in the image of our idols. The Hindu practice of idolatry re-directs this urge to spiritual goals by clothing the Divine in various forms. The modern rational mind forgets the original psychological motive behind image worship and dismisses it all as an abomination; it throws the baby out with the bathwater. On the other hand, there are the believers who narrowly fix themselves in adoration of their chosen image forgetting that this is only a preparatory step in the spiritual path. This post explores the various pros and cons of idolatry(aka image worship). Continue reading →

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Links between Vedas, Upanishads, Tantra and Puranas

Posted on September 26, 2009 by

Sri Aurobindo and his disciples uncovered connections between the Vedas and the later scriptures such as Upanishads, Puranas and the Tantra by tracing the evolution of concepts, use of common verses and the underlying symbolism between these scriptures. This is a synopsis of their discoveries collated from a variety of sources. Continue reading →

Posted in Upanishads, Vedas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Vedic Vak: illustration of Para Vak

Posted on August 19, 2009 by

All great spiritual masters give instruction in silence. This silence is not absence of speech but a force-field emitted the Master which bathes the disciple and dissolves his/her questions. This eternal silence which vibrates from the Master is an example of the Para Vak discussed in the previous post Vedic Vak: four levels of sound. Continue reading →

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Man the microcosm, Universe the macrocosm

Posted on August 18, 2009 by

Ancient Indian philosophy says that man is the microcosm of the Universe. The Greeks also believed in the same(see wikipedia). The major points in favour of this correspondence are: Continue reading →

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Vedic Vak: four levels of sound

Posted on July 9, 2009 by

This is a simplified explanation of the Vedic theory of Sound (Vak) using some examples as well as the words of the Mother of the Aurobindo Ashram. Continue reading →

Posted in Vedas | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments