The Range of the Mind
A sage was told by his students that they wanted ‘to be true to themselves’. He replied: ‘Yes, indeed be true to yourself, but be careful to note what the Self and not what the mind regards as true. The mind is not the Self.’ Subscribe or enrol for free guest access to read all…
Read MoreThe Essential Non-Duality
How are we to understand the essential non-duality? The best way of approach is with a serene mind. A serene mind is one that is willing to give some attention to the deeper philosophical questions about life. By philosophical questions is meant those questions which seek to achieve a detached overview of life as a…
Read MoreThe Path Where None Can Fail
On this path to Self-knowledge, no sincere effort is ever wasted, nor will the practice cause harm. Even a little practice frees one from great fear. Bhagavad Gita, 2:40 One of the searching questions we can be asked is: Do you think your life, so far, has been a success or a failure? Yet the…
Read MoreBooks and Covers
When, as children, we first hear the proverb, ‘You can’t judge a book by looking at its cover’, we would probably take it as purely concerned with books—warning us, for example, not to make a hasty purchase, but to test the book’s value by looking inside. Only later, when we have heard the proverb used…
Read MoreThe Full Life
Consciousness, which is our true Self, animates the mind, which begins its life by manifesting itself in modes. The mental modes, or the faculties of knowledge, are the understanding, reason and the power of judgement. Reason probes into the world and tries to understand what is beyond it—the ultimate cause of all the effects. The…
Read MoreWake 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…
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