Anandway: Blog

Question: I find the past very painful.

Answer: The past should be viewed as destiny. If you think you had a choice in the past, the present will be spoiled because you regret the past. Continued regret about the past creates a lot of toxins in the body, the future is not bright.

Past is destiny, done. And future is your freedom.

In our teachings, we have karma and purushata - what you need to do. See the past as destiny, the future as free will, and live in the present moment. Or make the past as free will, the future as destiny, and crib in the present moment! (Audience laughs)

~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

~Swami Rama

When we saw we believe in God and yet live in a way as though He does not exist, as though He is not present, then this is the worst type of non theism.

~Swami Chidananda.

The Super consciousness is God, is beyond speech, beyond thought, beyond consciousness… There are three states brutality (Tamas), Humanity (Rajas), and divinity (Sattva). Those attaining the highest state simply are. Duty dies there; only love and as a magnet draw others to them. This is freedom. No more you do moral acts, but whatever you do is moral. The Brahmavit (knower of God) is higher than all gods. The angels came to worship Jesus when he had conquered delusion and he said ‘Get thee behind me Satan’ None can help a Brahmavit, the universe itself bows down before him. His every desire is fulfilled, his spirit purifies others; therefore worship the Brahmavit if you wish to attain the highest. When we have the three great ‘gifts of God’, a human body. intense desire to be free and help of a great soul to show us the way then liberation is certain for us. Mukti is ours.

~ Swami Vivekananda

Just a few moments every day reflect on your own life. What am I? Who am I? What do I want? Where do I want to go in my life? You may not get an answer for any of these questions but certainly the question itself is very valuable to you. Use them to sharpen your mind a little bit and connect with your spirit

~Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Kindle the power of resistance. Keep up the positive ideal of active service of humanity and pure love. Generate the positive Sattvic counter-currents of energy to combat the downward negative currents of Vasanas. Keep yourself always in a positive state.

Overcome negative thoughts by entertaining positive divine thoughts. Rise from impurity, impotence and faintness of heart. Be bold, be cheerful always. Cultivate Daivi Sampat such as mercy, peace, forgiveness, tolerance, etc. Destroy Asuric Sampat such as arrogance, egoism, pride, anger, lust, etc. You are bound to attain the highest bliss and knowledge.

~ Swami Sivananda

Today is festival of lights. Each one of you is light to yourself. But one light is not sufficient to dispel the darkness, you need to light many lights. Like firecrackers, burst your past, let go. Celebrate the life with wisdom. Without wisdom it is not true celebration at all. The wisdom is in knowing that the divinity is with me

~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar