Mantra in the Method of Discernment

By Kaivalyam

Some of us are breaking the ice literally these days, so I thought why not do it figuratively on this blog?

We are aware of the usage and utility of “mantra” (sacred formula or phrase) in spirituality. Technically mantra means “manaḥ trāyate iti” (“that which frees the mind”). Therefore, although mantra is usually associated with a deity in the path of devotion, the common phrases used in the path of discernment: “I am not the body/mind” or in positive sense, “I am the Existence, Consciousness, Bliss, Absolute,” etc., could also be called mantra.

While the repetition of mantra definitely has its utility , it is so abstract that it doesn’t sink in that deeply in our mind in the initial the stages of its usage. Also, some of these mantras have been overused to appear as cliché with no special impact on the one who practices it. So while the repetition of mantra, along with corresponding feelings to generate devotion to the deity or dispassion for the objects of this world, should be done, one could also look for a more detailed simple mantra that would have a direct impact on one’s mind.

One year completion: Report

By Moderator

Happy New Year!

It was about one year ago we began this blog and since then there has been some significant interest and contribution from many people. A report on how this blog was received by all is being given here. This is being done mainly to disseminate the fact that your articles and comments are being widely read.

The total number of visits in 2013 was 7705 (excluding the visits by moderator). Sometimes these visits are by internet bots and even if we consider a conservative estimate of 50% as spurious visits, over 3600 visits in a year of its inception is still a pleasant surprise (i.e. an average of 10 per day).

The Universal Archetypes Applied to Religion

by Charles Feldman (Prana)

Political tendencies may support liberty (the libertarians), equality (the communists) and solidarity (the reactionaries). Most religions contain all three of these archetypal values. 

The Dharmic religions seek the ultimate liberty in freedom from the finite, or living with God eternally, while the Semitic religions preach free will to accept or reject God's scripture, which leads to the freedom of eternal heaven if accepted. The Buddha preached liberty when he said we should each be lamps unto ourselves.

Spiritual Self-Mutilation

by a Friend of Truth

Spiritual progress is said to go along with renunciation, but what reward can we expect from that? What is renunciation and what are the things we should renounce? What does it mean to “renounce the world”? What is so bad about the “world,” which is, after all, God’s own creation?

In everyday life, we can observe that all success requires renunciation: We have to give up pleasurable things we could enjoy now so that we can get something even more pleasurable later. For example, investing money instead of spending it is a form of renunciation. Some people push this principle to an extreme and never come to enjoy their wealth, simply because they had been reinvesting their profit again and again throughout their entire life.

“Spiritual renunciation” is the logical conclusion drawn from this observation. Instead of looking at what feels good now, we try to widen our horizon and ask what will be good later, when I am no more.  In other words, what will be good for others? What is good from God’s perspective of eternity? In contrast  to a greedy miser, however, we try to get a higher form of happiness, we do not want to get just more money, but a pleasure greater than the one money can give: Instead of reinvesting his first billion into some new enterprise, the successful business man might support a charitable organisation.

What is the Meaning of Life? A Simple Answer to a Tricky Question

By Amarram

To be sure, greater people than me have given excellent answers to this question. On wikipedia you'll find a long article on that subject. On top of that, you can get a more or less elaborate answer from virtually anyone you ask. In the end, all of us have to find our own answer in the course of our life...

Spiritual Rewards in Everyday Life

By a Friend of Truth

The ultimate reward every spiritual seeker is pining for is the vision of God, the company of his Chosen Ideal. However, we all make the experience that God is apparently not very generous in this respect – how can we then keep our spirits up?

The worst solution to this problem is the easiest, and perhaps the most common one: Instead of trying harder to reach Him/Her, to correct our course of action, to understand His way of looking at things better and to do what pleases Him rather than us, we paradoxically do the exact opposite and use spiritual titbits to make us believe that we are already having some sort of God vision and are very close to Him.

My Father's Arduous Task

by The Father's Child

I was struck with remorse to look within myself. So much dirt of anger, jealousy and hatred; a strong feeling of greediness for all that's good in the world to be mine. And what's worse, to know that all my ill-feelings arise for objects of the world that isn't permanent. Why, I do listen to Swami's lectures, and am not quite sure where all of that goes in me. May be there's really no point for me to sit and listen and read the various scriptures. What's the feasibility of me developing a love for God in this birth? Despite knowing me for all my worth, my Father says, "Believe that you WILL reach God in this very birth"! He doesn't speak a lie, but here, is he talking sense?

Just as I was spiraling down into the abyss of no-hope, a flickering spark arose in the same dirty mind - how am I able to see the dirt that's covering ME now, whereas I've had many moments in life to contemplate when I sat and fooled myself? How did I not see these flaws, or well, the true colors of my mind, earlier?