The LivingWise Project

The Gita spends a considerable amount of time – the entire first chapter – ‘setting the scene’. Notably, this is in contrast to other important scriptures of similar gravitas like the Brahma Sutras or the Yoga Sutras which begin with rather abrupt statements announcing that the topic of the text will now be discussed; or the Upanishads which again, don’t consider it important to describe context or background. This in itself (even if it were not reinforced through the images of the battle scene printed on almost all book covers of the Gita we see in circulation today) indicates the importance of the context i.e. the scene of the battle. And immediately, as the outer battle scene is being described by Arjuna, the mirroring of the inner battle within him is highlighted. In my view, the Gita deliberately takes pains to draw attention to the example and metaphor of battle, to later, show the opposite of it or the transcendence of it and expatiate on the attainment of absolute peace.

Sanatana Dharma means the eternal law which is the basis of Existence itself. It is not something conjured up by the mind of a human being, but is the way that the cosmos functions. To be in tune with that movement and functioning is to follow Sanatana Dharma. To achieve this, myriads of methods and paths arose in Bharat and still exist today, reflecting the fact that each individual is unique, the way he seeks is unique and the way he perceives what he finds is also unique.

Some interesting data by the Global Footprint Network regarding the ecological footprint of countries in terms of ‘number of Earths shows that India is the only country within the G20 economies that is making do with the planet as it stands; the rest are all living as though we have the resources of more than one planet Earth available! The Earth can support natural human growth and progression but not psychologically dysfunctional consumption. The focus of sustainability should be an alignment of human lifestyles towards harmony with our environment - this is the essence of Dharma.

On the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Trittiya, I'm delighted to present a children's animation video that I had the pleasure of creating with Irene Nany...

    The mind sees only parts and never the whole.     Both Shankaracharya and Ramanujacharya's Jayantis are celebrated on the same day (6...

The true nature of mind is infinite.Truly, mind does not have any identity.When we hold personal views and stories,these cannot but bring sufferingbecause we are...

From time to time, I receive requests from people to help them overcome anxiety or teach them meditation or yoga.So while my usual inclination is...

"I come to you as a child to his mother.I come as an orphan to you, moist with love.I come without refuge to you, giver...

A single understanding: “I am the One Awareness,” consumes all suffering in the fire of an instant. Be happy.Ashtavakra Gita   Kindness goes where logic...

Yoga is about attaining to absolute Balance, piercing Clarity and an inexhaustible Exuberance.With this, you are immensely fit for life.Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev Namaste Dear Readers,Hope all are...

Sharing a beautiful poem by non-duality teacher Rupert Spira called 'I Am'. The poem

I recently spent some time in the holy town of Rishikesh. What a blessing to be in Ma Ganga's presence and feel her intimate connection with humanity. (...) In this audio/visual offering, you can sit back, relax and bathe in Ganga's pure waters without leaving your home. Your own meditation on Ganga's ghats...

How to crawl out of the pit of depression using yoga and meditation as tools? These age-old practices help us to harness our mind and body energies for genuine well-being and happiness writes guest contributor Emily Lopes.

Sirsasana (or headstand) is regarded as the King of Asanas in yoga. If one goes deeper into the asana one realises that it teaches us more than the ability to hold the body upside down - it teaches us about overcoming our fears and limitations.

Here's some reasons why you'd be better off replacing your gym work-out with a yoga class. This list of reasons excludes the simple fact that yoga has been recommended by wise sages and yogis for thousands of years, which in itself is a pretty hefty endorsement!

Suffering from stress, tension and anxiety? Try these three pranayamas (breathing techniques) to restore calmness and peace of mind.

Writer and mystic Mollie Player gives us a deep insight into her meditation practice starting from what she thinks is the best thing about meditation to her specific personal practice.

Beginner at meditation and not sure if you're going in the right direction? Rahul Sharma shares some advice regarding common questions and expectations about meditation.

Have you heard of the R.A.I.N. practice? Isabella Convertini describes this practice that is helpful in times when tumultuous emotions take over and it seems difficult to hold on to our inner peace. This practice is an easy way to navigate through the flood of emotions and stay centred.

A short and simple video explanation of the 4 paths of yoga (Karma, Jnana, Bhakti and Kriya) and how the 4 need to come together for a person to become meditative. Video by the Isha Foundation.

Subhash Kak traces the course of the Ganga - from its descent from heaven to the rituals and traditions still associated with it in India today.

Did you know that yoga can change your genes and make you happier? And that's not just for 'Hindus'. LWP Founder shares the latest scientific information and reflects on yoga and its connection with religion.

Yes MBAs and business leaders do meditate! Isabella Convertini, career coach, business strategy expert and mindfulness teacher at Google gives us an insight into what mindfulness is all about and her personal journey into it.

The spiritual traditions in Bharat include thousands of stories relating to events that happened over tens of thousands of years. However, these stories don’t intend to bind us or keep us stuck in history. They intend to show us how things happened (iti-h-aas), as is relevant for us presently. The beauty of Sanatana Dharma is that while the stories do relate to actual events, they also relate to subtle understandings and often metaphorically explain to us certain truths about our human condition and how to transcend ignorance.

The Gita spends a considerable amount of time – the entire first chapter – ‘setting the scene’. Notably, this is in contrast to other important scriptures of similar gravitas like the Brahma Sutras or the Yoga Sutras which begin with rather abrupt statements announcing that the topic of the text will now be discussed; or the Upanishads which again, don’t consider it important to describe context or background. This in itself (even if it were not reinforced through the images of the battle scene printed on almost all book covers of the Gita we see in circulation today) indicates the importance of the context i.e. the scene of the battle. And immediately, as the outer battle scene is being described by Arjuna, the mirroring of the inner battle within him is highlighted. In my view, the Gita deliberately takes pains to draw attention to the example and metaphor of battle, to later, show the opposite of it or the transcendence of it and expatiate on the attainment of absolute peace.

Sanatana Dharma means the eternal law which is the basis of Existence itself. It is not something conjured up by the mind of a human being, but is the way that the cosmos functions. To be in tune with that movement and functioning is to follow Sanatana Dharma. To achieve this, myriads of methods and paths arose in Bharat and still exist today, reflecting the fact that each individual is unique, the way he seeks is unique and the way he perceives what he finds is also unique.

Those who follow the path of bhakti to the Saguna form of Brahman i.e. Brahman with attributes, will say that there is some intrinsic desire in the human being to know and feel the Infinite here, on Earth. To know the Infinite in form and present to our human experience.

Some interesting data by the Global Footprint Network regarding the ecological footprint of countries in terms of ‘number of Earths shows that India is the only country within the G20 economies that is making do with the planet as it stands; the rest are all living as though we have the resources of more than one planet Earth available! The Earth can support natural human growth and progression but not psychologically dysfunctional consumption. The focus of sustainability should be an alignment of human lifestyles towards harmony with our environment - this is the essence of Dharma.

“Surely he was the greatest man who ever lived. He never drew a breath for himself. Above all, he never claimed worship. He said, “Buddha is not a man, but a state. I have found the door. Enter, all of you!” – Swami Vivekananda

It is an unfair exchange with God. Perhaps that’s why they say, God is not for trading with. Keep your transactions out of it. But what if you do end up in such an exchange? It is bound to be unfair. You give a little, He will give a lot. This is in gist, what Akshaya Trittiya is about.

To those who worship Him, the Lord may grant mukti sometimes, but rarely bhakti. – Srimad Bhagvatam

  The poet "from his early days, has been destined to set in motion supreme forces within his own heart, forces which others hold at...

It is said that the Lord uses such willing vessels to teach others through their example. In their non-resistance to insult and injury, they show His greatness. Their humility reflects the compassion of the Lord. Their gentle equanimity is a reflection of the Lord’s own smile. Their lack of ill-will is a glimpse of His Love.

There is something within us that whispers, ‘choose me’. It is the voice of Light that has the potential to burst into a rainbow of colours. As we come upon Holi, the festival of colours, we also usher in the first month of the Hindu new year, Chaitra. The eve of Holi, Holika Dahan, is marked by a large bonfire where we surrender the past within us to the Light, to make way for the new. This is always a conscious choice, just as weeds grow wantonly but a flower needs deliberate planting.

Whether we were born here or not, Bharat is an opportunity for all of humanity to witness through this civilization, how the ‘outer’ and ‘inner’ has the potential to beautifully integrate. Not because of concocted beliefs or some selfish desires of a group of exclusive people, but because of the universal movement of Life itself - through Sanatana Dharma. ...We stand at an auspicious juncture as we correct narratives and understandings and move from ‘mythology’ to history, ‘religion’ to dharma, lies to the uncovering of truth.

Rama as the Sun, ushers in the inner light of consciousness. In a country where Sanatana Dharma beautifully integrates the 'inner' and 'outer', the establishing of Rama's presence in Ayodhya after 500 long years of struggle, is hopefully a sign of a civilisational awakening and a cultural renaissance that is long overdue.

A beautiful rendition of the 16 names of Lord Vishnu, to be recited in the morning. The Stotra describes how Vishnu, the All Pervading One...

To arrange wordsIn some orderIs not the same thingAs the inner poiseThat's poetry.The truth of poetryIs the truthOf being.It's an experienceOf truth.No ornamentsSurviveA crucible.Fire revealsOnly...

On the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Trittiya, I'm delighted to present a children's animation video that I had the pleasure of creating with Irene Nany...

"You won't reach it without singing; if you don't sing, it's far. But when  you sing with deep feeling, God is right where you are!" - Kabir

He is unique among those rich in understanding, but by His Grace I placed Him in my understanding to hold Him there, But even that...

    The mind sees only parts and never the whole.     Both Shankaracharya and Ramanujacharya's Jayantis are celebrated on the same day (6...

    There is a glue of 'I, Me, Mine' which is like an energetic bond that makes us become identified (meaning become blinded to...

The one who graces with words that find harmony with the elements, with all of life singing sweet eternal melodies help bring that Sound to...

‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’, a Sanskrit phrase repeated in many ancient Indian texts, translates as “the Earth is one family”. This recognises not only the unity of mankind, but of all living systems on the Earth.

In the book I’m currently reading (these days for me reading means opening to random places as I feel inspired to!), Krishna: The Man and...

You are the ultimate Reality; have no doubt.The Self is not something known by the mind;The Self is the very one who knows!How, then, could...

"When one rises in awareness, one perceives that every atom, every particle is pervaded by Bhagavan in His formless state. However all this drama of...

A new poem reading from the book 'HeartWords: mystic poems' by Shruti Bakshi. The poem is a selection from the Krishna poems, titled Krishna-Priya, the...

The true nature of mind is infinite.Truly, mind does not have any identity.When we hold personal views and stories,these cannot but bring sufferingbecause we are...

Moving from tamasic nature to sattva means you are refining the physical body, the mental body, the emotional body and the energy body. If you...

A reading from the book 'HeartWords: mystic poems'

In equanimity, we are aligned with the Intelligence of the Creator.

The trouble with people who are your life Is that when they leave, they take your life with them…

The Master - a short poem Some say there is no Master in human form. To me, if there is a Master in human form,...

A video with some poems from my book 'HeartWords: mystic poems' by dear friend Lucia Lagana. A joy and blessing to share this! Lucia's YouTube...

  Yoga is, as I can readily believe, the perfect and appropriate method of fusing body and mind together so that they form a unity...

The best words and any art seem to come from a churning that left no tangible trace but still, a knowing is shared in invisible ways that something was lost…and maybe something found.