Wake Up!
The founder of Shanti Sadan, Hari Prasad Shastri, recalls an incident during his time in China (1919-1929) Once while living in one of the cities of China, I had a room on the first floor of a house, the ground floor of which was used as a bar, frequented by sailors and others drawn from…
Read MoreHow to Enjoy the Spring Flowers
Colours and forms, bursting out in such luxuriance, in an atmosphere of creativeness, accompanied by the songs of our winged cousins, engage our attention and call forth reflections. Mere superficial observation of this great feast of beauty is a passing joy. The botanist enjoys the springtime spectacle on a higher level. Subscribe or enrol for…
Read MoreAids to Realisation
1 Knowing the mind to be an object, and your Self to be its subject, fill the mind with forgiveness. Forgive all those whom you think have not treated you justly. Meditate on forgiveness. Imagine the word ‘forgiveness’ to be written on your heart. Dwell on it. 2 Treat compassion in the same way. Alternate…
Read MoreMeditation Practice
A session led by the Warden of Shanti Sadan Subscribe or enrol for free guest access to read all of this article and Self-Knowledge online. Already subscribed or enrolled? Log in:
Read MoreThe Infinite Power of Love
An address given by the Warden of Shanti Sadan Let us begin with some lines from the Christian classic, The Imitation of Christ, on the glory of the love supreme: Love is an excellent thing, a great and complete good. It makes every difficulty easy, and bears all wrongs with equanimity. For it bears a…
Read MoreThe Way of Peace and Understanding
In me there is a light which lights the whole world. It is radiating now, peace and understanding. A text for meditation The mind is always with us, so it makes sense to nurture it in peace and wisdom. This requires effort, but the alternative is to be saddled with an instrument of dubious stability,…
Read MoreThe View from Nowhere
The ‘View from Nowhere’ is one way of defining the special knowledge that we seek through meditation and other practices. Normally, we experience everything through our senses and minds, and no matter how highly we develop them, or enhance their capacities with technical instruments, the mind and senses inevitably present us with a partial picture…
Read MoreWalk Through the Garden Free
To the one who has understood the spiritual truth, the world is neither a bed of thorns nor a field of fire, nor something entirely unreal like a dream city. To the wise, sansara—the field of changing existence—is to his Atman (Self) what the rays are to the diamond. The Absolute is revealed through sansara.…
Read MoreAwakening to the Supreme Truth
Let us explore some ideas about the great principle called ‘Truth’ as it is understood in the non-dual teachings. Our purpose is not just theoretical. It is highly practical. For if we can grasp the meaning of Truth in this context and take up the inner practices that are recommended, our mind will be led…
Read MoreThe Saving Clause
In the religion of Islam, there is an expression commonly used. It is ‘inshallah’ or ‘In shā’ Allāh’, meaning ‘God willing’ or ‘If Allah wills’. The context is usually some statement about the future, for example, if we say to our friend: ‘See you tomorrow’, his or her first words in response might well be…
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