Why Is It Difficult to Know Who I Am? What Are the Obstacles In My Way? What stands in my way is the hypnosis...
Satsang is a compound Sanskrit word that means “keeping the company of the Self.” The Self, Awareness, is the true nature of everyone and one keeps company with it by continually meditating on it in many ways. One of the most effective methods involves discussing non-dual teachings with someone whose knowledge of his or her identity as Awareness is doubt-free, to get clarity with reference to Self inquiry. The satsangs posted here are answers to the questions of many people around the world who are interested in enlightenment and committed to Vedanta as their preferred means of Self knowledge.
Now that Vedanta is well known in Western spiritual circles, it has become commonplace for unqualified “teachers” to identify with it. A qualified teacher is called a mahatma, someone immersed in the Vedic tradition who has been taught the methodology by someone who has been properly taught in an unbroken chain of teachers, through Shankaracharya, back to the Upanishads, the source texts themselves. My teacher, Swami Chinmaya, seen here with his teacher, Swami Tapovan Maharaj, satisfies this qualification. I have not strayed from the tradition since my introduction to it in 1968 and teach traditional Vedanta, although not in the traditional monastic format.
Chinmaya Teaching in a Traditional Setting
The Seer and The Seen Question: Is not the Self the only witness ? The Seer and the Seen are also called the witness...
Knowing that we are the unlimited nondual Self and not the limited person we thought we were should be enough to produce permanent satisfaction....
Why do I need God-knowledge? It alleviates ignorance—the cause of suffering—and it insures us against it. It promotes healthy habits such as gratitude and...
Fetfree: You actually can experience non-existence. And you did. If you ever blacked out for hours but it was a blink for you, closing...
After our last series of exchanges, I took karma yoga to heart, making a conscious effort every day. It’s like trying to drive a...
German: Thank you, dearest Sundari for affirmation and further deepening. I find it so interesting at the moment our discussion on God, love of...
UPDATE Fire near Trout Lake! It happens regularly. July and August is fire season around the world. Only covid shut us down so far...
Q: Part of me is concerned if I continue to seek out whatever nonduality is, that I’ll withdraw and my relationship with my partner...
Objector: I respectfully disagree. If life is a zero sum game then there is no true creativity, no true novelty. No where to go...
When you say THERE IS SUFFERING, you make it real. Stop giving it a name and just be with it. James: I haven’t had...
Inquirer: I know the physical world doesn’t stand by itself. I understand it just fine. I know there is no we in terms of...
German: Thank you so much for further deepening and clarification!What a beautiful satsang! “Without a personal relationship with God, which should be your primary...
All the problems we have in life, if we do not have Self-knowledge, stem from the belief that our identity is dependent on our...
Dopededicated to my best friend Johnny Bondage You will havesurvived againalive and kickingto the end when a couplet bysay AlexanderPope makes a snake aropeyou...