India Reflections

Knowledge in the real sense

Tedd Surman, Yoga & Ayurveda teacher and therapist in Maui, Hawaii

Reading books, hearing lectures, borrowing others' opinions, [a man] limits himself in quoting them. He repeats them like a parrot and does not make them as his own. Such knowledge we term as oral knowledge. But the knowledge of that person who understands the purpose of knowledge and makes it his own by experiencing,...

The Finest ~ what we must strive for

Daily reflection from Viji Vasu, Yoga Raksanam in Chennei, India

Proper light is needed to make pearls. What we must strive for in order to secure absolute freedom from bondage is to become the lightest and the finest, closely corresponding with the godly attributes and securing complete similarity with Him.

Taken from the book "Complete Works of Ram Chandra,...

Freedom of the soul

Viji Vasu ~ Bhaghavad Gita teacher at Yoga Raksanam, Chennai, India

We must remember that the only freedom is the freedom of the soul, which has been, and should be now, and must be in the future. That freedom has to be earned, because in some way, that soul has become unfortunately imprisoned in this body of flesh and blood.

Taken from the book "HeartSpeak 2009 (1st edn., 2010)", Chapter...

Wonder is not admiration

Tedd Surman Yoga Awareness Maui, Hawaii

When you see a thing for the first time it is not admiration, it is wonder. How could such a beautiful thing exist? Now wonder never creates impressions, but when I project myself into it and admire it and desire it, then the impressions begin.

Taken from the book "Yatra, Vol. 1", Chapter "Germany", pg. 240, by Revered Chariji

Greatness ~ we blow our own trumpet

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If we consider ourselves great, we put up a wall to that greatness where we have to arrive. We create a bondage, so to say, that becomes an obstruction on the path. What's the harm? When we assume greatness, we start considering others as low (insignificant). Now that path which we have to trudge also gets closed, and we are wholly lost, to all intents and purposes. We blow our own trumpet...

Mind ~ the only instrument

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The mind is our enemy, but the mind is also the only instrument through which we can gain this victory and make sure that human birth makes use of this very valuable opportunity on earth to achieve the goal of human birth, which is to gain liberation from it.

Taken from the book "HeartSpeak 2004, Vol. 2", Chapter "The Internal Victory", pg. 111, by Revered Chariji

Service is easier than loving

Prayer position during Yoga class in Haiku, Maui

Service is easier than loving. Loving is a very difficult thing; service is very easy. Put your heart and serve somebody; you automatically get his love and his obligation to you, and he has to give you whatever he has to give you. But we should never serve with the idea of getting something.

Taken from the book "Heart to Heart, Vol....

Sacrifice means not that you gave

Viji Vasu giving Bhagadvat Gita lecture at Yoga Raksanam in Chennai, India

Sacrifice means not that you gave money to the church, or did some poor feeding or helped some student through class in his education. That is not sacrifice. Sacrifice, in my understanding, means never thinking of yourself. Unless you can stop thinking of yourself in any situation, at any time, anywhere, there is no sacrifice.

Taken...

Surrender to your own higher Self

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When you are disciplined by yourself, you are surrendering to yourself. It is, as I explained, you don't surrender to somebody else. It is surrendering to your own higher Self. When I make a plan, I discipline my mind so that it is not free in the common sense that it can do what it likes. Surrender is the proper utilization of your capacity.

Taken from the book...

Happiness ~ those who know need not search

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Happiness is not anywhere outside. It is in our fixing the attention, in the steadiness of disposition, and in the withdrawal of our mind. Those who know this secret need not search for happiness outside.

Taken from the book "Truth Eternal (5th edn., 2010)", Chapter "Knowledge, Upasana, Happiness", pg. 90, by Lalaji Maharaj