Ah, sweet Yoga. The word dances on the lips of the mind. Yoga. The wave that is one with the ocean of bliss. The union of the illusory "I" with the "I" of all, That was never divided in the first place. Ah, sweet Yoga. Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati http://www.SwamiJ.com

For more information about what Yoga has become in America, please see: http://www.swamij.com/traditional-yoga.htm

Proper diaphragmatic breathing is a central foundation practice for one who wishes to move on to advanced meditation, to experience the highest direct experiences of Yoga. One of the challenges to breathing diaphragmatically is in knowing exactly where the diaphragm is located, and how it works. When breathing diaphragmatically, the muscles of the abdomen, chest, and clavicles are not involved. They remain still, while the diaphragm gently contracts on inhalation, and releases on exhalation. Breath is an extremely useful part of the systematic process of Yoga meditation, which leads one beyond the breath to the finer, subtler practices and experiences. There is tremendous value in understanding the process of breathing, and in diligently, gently practicing diaphragmatic breathing.

Sanatana means “eternal,” never beginning nor ending. Dharma is from “dhri,” meaning to “hold together,” to “sustain.” Sanatana Dharma eternally holds All together. The universal flow of Dharma, regardless of what name you call it, whether Dharma or some other name, has eternally existed. It has been before any of the great teachers were born. It is not better than, or alternative to, but is inclusive of all. Dharma is that out of which our earth and humanity itself emerged. Dharma not only is, but always was, and always will be. To live in alignment with, and to know the true nature of that Sanatana Dharma is one of the ways of describing the higher goal of life.

Swami Rama has written on making your whole being an ear for Mantra. Observe your whole being listening to the Mantra. Do not merely repeat the Mantra because then the mind will repeat many other things. This is a key principle in advanced Yoga Meditation. Vedanta and Tantra.

Mantra practice is a central aspect of traditional Yoga Meditation, Vedanta, and Tantra. The video includes 13 practical tips on how to use a mantra or sacred word. These suggestions are general in nature and should apply to most any use of mantra. Included are suggestions related to repeating with feeling, remembering internally, allowing the mantra to repeat itself at its own speed, counting or not counting, the use of mala or counting beads, four levels of mantra, mantra as a name of god, the leading quality of mantra, speaking or listening to mantra, and dealing with thoughts and mantra.

The pinnacle of the wisdom of the ancient sages is contained in the terse twelve verses of the Mandukya Upanishad, which outlines the philosophy and practices of the OM mantra (written as either AUM or OM). The three stages plus the fourth of Om mantra are central to Yoga Meditation, Advaita Vedanta, and Samaya Sri Vidya Tantra.

Can a Christian Practice Yoga? It depends on the individual Christian and the extent of his or her deep longing for union or Yoga that may lie deeply in the mind and heart. If one practices physical posture without the higher goals, it can hardly be called Yoga. It may be physical fitness, but it is no more Yoga than drinking wine and eating bread alone are Christianity.

Tribute to Swami Rama of the Himalayas, one of the greatest teachers of Yoga, Vedanta, and Tantra in the twentieth century. Swami Rama was a master of the Himalayan tradition who taught throughout the world and founded the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust and Swami Rama University near Dehradun, India, as well as Sadhana Mandir Ashram in Rishikesh, India.

Have you ever seen the cartoon character Yogi Bear? Did you ever wonder how he got his name? Does it have anything to do with Yoga? Here is the answer!

The dates for the Brief Hindu Timeline are drawn from a significantly more extensive timeline assembled by Hinduism Today in 1994. It should be self evident that the choice of items on the timelines and the dates themselves may not align with the opinions of all people. This video is presented as general information, not as a scholarly stance. Dates preceded by "ca" are approximate. The notation "bce" means "before common era" in the year zero of the Western or Gregorian calendar. The notation "ce" means "common era" and is after the year zero.

Wisdom to live by and share with others: There is only one highest reality and many teachers. All humans and life arise from the same one source. All countries, religions and institutions arise from that. There are many books of wisdom from many ages. Thinking there is only one way comes from ignorance. Coercive conversion is violence against other peoples. The goal of life is found within, not in institutions. Wisdom, joy and freedom come from inner stillness. Love all, as we are all waves of the one ocean. Love all and exclude none. This simple wisdom is at the heart of yoga meditation, advaita vedanta, and tantra.

Prana flows in Ida and Pingala, the left and right energies. Prana is trained to flow in Sushumna, the central channel of subtle energy. Kundalini awakens at the first chakra, and rises to Sahasrara, the crown. The Self, the Atman or Brahman is realized; the union of Shiva and Shakti, the Absolute, one without a second.

Nondualism is central to Advaita Vedanta and Yoga Meditation. Seek to know that by which knowing, The nature of all things is known, Seek to love that by which loving, That love beyond all forms is known. That by which knowing, loving, holding Comes Absolute Joy, The One Joy that is unbounded, unconditioned, limitless.

Soham is a universal mantra of Yoga meditation, as it relates to the breath, and everybody breaths. SoHum is a Sanskrit word that means "I am that," or "I am that I am."

Maranatha is Aramaic for "Come Lord," and is a prayer or mantra of Christian tradition. Breathe with inhalation and exhalation of Ma-Ra-Na-Tha. The mantra can be very useful for those practicing Yoga meditation. By Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati, www.SwamiJ.com

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is one of the more potent of the ancient Sanskrit mantras. It is a call for enlightenment and is a practice of purifying the karmas of the soul at a deep level. It can also be quite beneficial for mental, emotional, and physical health. This video has forty audio recitations of the mantra, as well as explanations of its meaning. Mahamrityunjaya is a useful practice in Yoga Meditation, Vedanta, and Tantra.

Shiva and Shakti are one and the same. There is no place that He is not. There is no place that She is not. They are one and the same. She is in every thing. She is in every word. She is all there is. See Her in all things. Hear Her in all sounds. Know Her in all thoughts. Feel Her in all feelings. She is all there is. She is the one in the three worlds. Shiva and Shakti are one and the same. That is the secret.

In your meditation today, may your body be still and comfortable. May your head, neck and trunk be aligned. May your breath be smooth, slow, serene, and with no pauses. May the flow of thoughts in your mind not disturb you. May your meditation today bring you peace, happiness, and bliss.

Everybody wants happiness. However, we usually seek it in ways that are dependent on external stimulus, as if an outer cause leads to an inner effect of happiness. Surely this process of stimulus-response works to some degree; we have all experienced this in different ways, where getting what we want seems to make us feel good, and not getting what we want seems to make us feel bad. However, what if we knew how to be happy without any stimulus whatsoever? What if you could just rest in the deepest feeling of joy, regardless of the external circumstances?