Sayings of Saints Universal (Four)
A further selection from the Sant Vānī, compiled by Hanuman Prasad Poddar and translated by Hari Prasad Shastri One who wants to be freed from the mundane entanglements, from the sufferings caused by birth and death, should subdue the mind, prevent it from wandering here and there, and employ it in contemplation of the maker…
Read MoreLines of Light—The Poetry of Zen
This article explores some of the teachings of Zen, through examining a few short examples of the poetry of Zen, or poems inspired by the Zen spirit. Zen is a development of Buddhism that flourished in China from about the seventh century CE and later spread to Japan where it has become a potent influence…
Read MoreVerses from the Kena Upanishad
An extract from Verses from the Upanishads, translated by Hari Prasad Shastri with his commentary. By whose will and direction does the mind move? Under whose orders does the vital force (prana) move? Whose will is it that causes men to speak? Whose light directs the eye and the ear? 1:1 In this verse, the…
Read MoreTranscending the Pairs of Opposites
A discourse given at a recent meeting by the Warden of Shanti Sadan We often find that certain great qualities are spoken of in pairs. Thus we speak of truth and beauty, peace and goodwill, wisdom and compassion, and in the Chinese tradition, benevolence and righteousness. The Sanskrit word for a pair is ‘dvandva’, related…
Read MoreBhagavad Gita Chapter Five: Renunciation and Action
The Bhagavad Gita begins with the pupil in a crisis and declaring that he intends to withdraw from active life and become a spiritual recluse. Far from approving this idea, the teacher says that he should not try to avoid his duties in life and ought to fulfil them with care. The way to inner…
Read MoreTwo Parables of Rumi
The meanings of some of the parables one encounters in the writings of Jalaluddin Rumi are relatively straightforward; others may be obscure and challenging, susceptible to various interpretations, and requiring long reflection. Then the meaning will deepen as the comprehension of the enquirer grows through ongoing practice and experience. Here are two examples from Rumi’s…
Read MoreImproving our Memory
From a lecture given by Hari Prasad Shastri This is the hour of concentration on truth, of reviving the spirit in its innate nature and capacity, of filling the heart with peace, of finding satisfaction in the contemplation of the imperishable and immutable in the world. OM. This discourse is on memory and the laws…
Read MoreWhat Is the Good?
Philosophers may spend many words in discussing the question of what is the good, but the essence of the matter is simply stated. The good is what confers value on life, and it is the object of human aspiration. The good, real or imagined, is what inspires love in the heart of the individual and…
Read MoreSelf as Infinite Consciousness
An article on the understanding of Self as Infinite Consciousness, in the light of the non-dual teachings. Our life is full of purposes. When we rise each day, our aims, small or grand, routine or exceptional, stream into our mind, and our body moves to accomplish them. We can usually say what we are going…
Read MoreBeginning with a Smile
A smile is said to be the shortest distance between two people, and it is cheering to discover in the wisdom literature references to this silent, though profound, means of communication. A noteworthy example comes at the start of the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna, having learnt of the troubled state of mind of his disciple, Arjuna, proceeds…
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