Devi was woman who reinvented herself numerous times over the course of her life, who was present at many of history’s most important moments and who studied with some of the spiritual world’s most important teachers.
It may be an unpopular opinion in some yoga circles, but even in reading ancient texts – perhaps especially in reading ancient texts – I come to the conclusion that change is the only truth that we can rely on.
If we fix our minds on one object, we will prevent the nine obstacles from arising, eliminate the four associated symptoms, and cultivate the habit of an even, calm steady state of mind.
In the metaphors of other cultures, light is at war with darkness, life with death, good with evil, and the positive with the negative, and thus an idealism to cultivate the former and be rid of the latter flourishes throughout much of the world.
Swami is a devotional leader at NYC’s Bhakti Center.
One of the most enjoyable elements of the Upanishads, and indeed of most religious texts of note, is its initial, seeming illogic. This is no accident.
Where do these thoughts come from? Patanjali says that the field of the mind produces distractions, called the citta vikshepa, which in turn create obstacles, called antarayas.
We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true.