India is a civilisation of many images a culture of many visual feasts a tradition where th visible and the palpable are as important as the oral and the occurrent, where our highest truths are embodied in our kathas and gathas our songs and stories, where our temples are not only places of worship but equally a gallery of beautiful forms and figures where myth is as important as doctrine, where ancient memories are full of cherished narratives where mythic beings are real in many different ways and we enrich our lives by festivals which celebrate events from the lives of our mythic gods and goddesses and where knowledge is gained as much from itinerant performers as it is from learned discourses and where when the wind blows thorugh the Pipal tree is as if we hear the hymns of the Vedas.
Indian philosophy reflects some of the earliest thought-traditions in human history. The Indian thinkers of old aimed their pragmatic philosophies at not just the satisfaction of intellectual curiosity or pursuit of theoretical truths but actually the assimilation of intellectually discerned and established truths into one's own personality for a life of freedom and enlightenment. This is true of modern Indian philosophers, like Sri Aurobindo and Dr. Radhakrishnan, as well. Fundamentals of Indian Philosophy reflects the vastness and richness of this philosophic tradition in a comprehensive yet compact presentation that lays bare the essentials of Indian philosophy. Professor Puligandla takes special care to emphasize the methods, temper and goals of Indian philosophy even while delving into the specificities. All the major schools of the philosophic tradition are objectively and thoroughly analyzed.
Paramahamsa Hariharananda's discourse regarding the scientifically proven benefits of Kriya Yoga makes this book a rare treasure for any sincere seeker. The world-renowned realized master describes the stages of spiritual transformation in detail, including many experiences that sadhaks, even those in family life, may encounter while practising. At the same time, he uses his unique scientific approach to explain how physical and mental functions also improve.
Practicing Human Values In Our Daily Lives Implies Organizing One'S Life In Such A Way That All Our Thoughts, Words And Actions May Result In Harmony With Our Set Of Interpersonal Relationships. It Entails Principles, Morality And Ethical Assets. A Thought Is Like The Seed We Plant, The Sprout Is The Result Of Our Work And The Tree Or The Fruit Is The Final Manifestation, So Every Human Life May Become A Reflection Of The Divine. The Choice Is Totally Ours. Life Values Are The Main Arteries To Reach The Goal Of Life. After A Sincere Evaluation Of One'S Life, Establishing One'S Own Philosophy, Each One Of Us Is To Truly Accept One'S Own Responsibilities. To Practice Human Values Is To Accept Full Responsibility For One'S Own Life. This Gives Us The Power To Move Forward, Grow And Become Truly Independent And Free.
Abandoned to desolation and inquietude of mind, smitten by fleeting senses and restlessness, and author of the Vedas, Puranas, and scriptures on mysteries and secrets of creation, knowledge of the Supreme Self, divine love, devotion, and yoga, Maharshi Vyasadeva was in earnest quest for peace, bliss, and joy. His divinely ordained rendezvous with Devarshi Narada set the backdrop for the revelation of Srimad Bhagavatam in a hundred verses to soothe his wincing heart. His born sannyasi son Sri Shukadeva retold Srimad Bhagavatam, as learned from his father, to the righteous and spiritual king Parikshita in Dvapara Yuga on the banks of the holy river, Ganges, who was cursed to death by the bite of the serpent king Takshyaka. Srimad Bhagavatam, in all its grandeur and splendour, is an ever-glowning ornate jewel in the crown of the unfailingly finality of wisdom and an epitome of the integration of karma, jnana, and bhakti in Indian spiritual tradition.
“Brahmacharya is the basis for morality. It is the basis for eternal life. It is a spring flower that exhales immortality from its petals.” –Swami Sivananda Brahmacharya is conservation and mastery of all the energy systems and powers of our being. Sexuality is usually considered the main focus of brahmacharya because it has such a powerful grip and influence on the human being. It is considered that if sex is mastered, all the senses will be mastered as well. The conservation and application of energy is the main determinant of success or failure in spiritual endeavor. Diffusion and dissipation of energy always weakens us. Hence brahmacharya is a vital element of Yoga, without which we cannot successfully pursue the greater life of Higher Consciousness. In this volume, Swami Nirmalananda has collected valuable writings from a number of authorities on the various beneficial aspects of self-control related to sexuality: Swami Sivananda and Swami Chidananda of Rishikesh, Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, Paramhansa Yogananda, Gandhi, Swami Jagadishwarananda, Dr. Edwin Flatto, Dr. Raymond Bernard, as well as his own articles on the subject. This unique collection of articles provides important information and perspectives on how brahmacharya contributes to the well-being of all levels of our lives – physical, psychological, and social/moral – and as an indispensable foundation for progress on the liberating path of Yoga. And most importantly, the aspirant will discover practical recommendations for achieving success in brahmacharya. “Far from denying self-expression, [brahmacharya] is giving full expression to yourself because you are no longer identified with the lesser aspect of your total personality. You are identified with the higher aspect. It is a sort of a liberation and evolution to a higher level.” Swami Chidananda, Divine Life Society
