Bhakti Yoga
Explore Latest Posts
Explore Videos
Gurus and Spiritual Experiences
A questioner asks: Swamiji, what about Gurus like Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa? We read that he touched his disciple Swami Vivekananda and Vivekananda had a spiritual experience. Was Vivekananda just opening up something from within himself or did Sri Ramakrishna...
A Brief History of Sri Guru Gita
Sri Guru Gita is a compilation of verses dedicated to the veneration of the Guru—both one’s embodied Guru, as well as the Guru-tattva or Guru Principle. Many devotees repeat the entire Gita daily, though some repeat it yearly during the annual Guru Poornima (July full...
Seeking Something like Faith
The howl of a nor’easter blew against my house and rattled the windows. A rifle-like crack, roaring whoosh, and an earth-shaking thud shocked me fully awake. I assumed another tree had fallen. Finally, night gave way to grey dawn and I huddled around my coffee mug in...
Miracles Can Happen
Sometimes miracles happen through someone, even without their knowledge. There have been many who, like Jesus, performed miracles. And they didn’t claim that they were doing everything, but that it was the God’s will. That shows that there was no ego involved....
Undo Your Limitations
A student once told me how he was having beautiful experiences in meditation but was distressed because his experience of his daily life wasn’t beautiful or good. I asked this student to explain what his meditation experience was like. His reply was, “Well, I...
The Highest Love, The Highest Realization
What is love? Unfortunately, the word “love” is very much misused. When we see our own Self in others and wish that they would experience the very same happiness, the same joy that we have toward ourselves, then you are experiencing true love. This kind of love is not...
“Sri Guru Gita” : A Musical Experience
In this music video, Sanjay Mahajan (accompanied by Rupali and Saveri) chant selected verses with a backdrop of footage filmed in India and Satchidananda Ashram, along with photos of Satgurus, sages and saints of India. This video is part of the CD/DVD set "Sri Guru...
“Sri Guru Gita:” Song of Love
This 8th century CE text describes a conversation between the Lord Siva and his wife, the Goddess Parvati, in which she asks him to teach her about the Guru and liberation. Siva answers her by describing the Guru principle, the proper ways of paying homage to the...
Guru Tattva: The Guru Principle
Through venerating our Guru, our lineage and traditions, we are connecting with the principle of Guru-tattva. This is summarized in Śrīgurustotram: akhaṇḍamaṇḍalākāraṁ vyāptaṁ yena carācaram tatpadaṁ darśitaṁ yena tasmai śrīgurave namaḥ Salutations to that Guru, who...
Setting Aside Selfishness
My spiritual master, Swami Sivananda used to say, “The sannyas (swami/renunciate) ego is the worst kind of ego. You have renounced everything, but you have not renounced the egoism of renunciation itself.” That’s what you see when someone demands: “Do you know who I...