Atha Yoga Anushashanam - Yoga Chirtta Vritti Nirodha - A Commentary
Podcasts on Life
A brief commentary by Jayaram V on the First and Second Sutras of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras: Atha Yoga Anushashanam - Yoga Chirtta Vritti Nirodha
info_outline
Why the World is Unreal or an Illusion? An Advaita Concept
Podcasts on Life
The explanation which I am presenting here is the most basic and fundamental to the Advaita philosophy. It strips of all embellishments and modern explanations and presents the idea in its purest form as envisaged by the early proponents of the philosophy, the true masters and sages who composed the Upanishads and transcribed the Vedas as they heard them in their deepest silence. Listen to this podcast to know what it is and why the world is not real but unreal or an illusion.
info_outline
The Pursuit of Pleasure
Podcasts on Life
This is Jayaram from Hinduwebsite.com. Today, I am going to speak about the pursuit of pleasure and the problem of worry and anxiety and why selfishness is considered the root of all evil. This podcast is based upon the teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita. In fact, it is part of the commentary I have written for a verse in the sixteenth chapter of the Bhagavad-Gita.
info_outline
Evil Nature According to the Bhagavadgita
Podcasts on Life
Hinduism draws a clear distinction between good and evil. This essay describes the qualities of Asuras or evil or demonic people according to the Bhagavad-Gita.
info_outline
A Comparative Study of Consciousness in Buddhism and Hinduism
Podcasts on Life
Ancient Indians were pioneers in the study of human consciousness. As early as 1000 BCE, they developed several contemplative and mindfulness techniques to study consciousness and understand its powers and potentials to improve one’s life, knowledge and intelligence or manifest one’s desires or open communication channels with gods and supernatural beings or resolve human suffering. They tried to harness the power of the mind to manifest reality and fulfill their desire for peace and happiness. In this podcast, we present a comparative review of consciousness in Buddhism and Hinduism, and...
info_outline
A Working Definition of Consciousness
Podcasts on Life
In this podcast, I tried to present a broader definition of consciousness as a partly automated and partly self-learning knowledge or information system, considering its states, functions, potencies and abilities. I defined consciousness as a knowledge system with an inborn ability, awareness and intelligence to collect knowledge or information or data from different sources, store it, retrieve it and use it for specific ends or purposes. Those ends or purposes may be preexisting, self-willed, self-learned, self-realized or externally imposed from outside sources and conditions. Of them,...
info_outline
Justification For Hindu Caste-System
Podcasts on Life
The Hindu caste system probably came into existence around 3500 years ago due to various factors. It brought together people from diverse backgrounds under a social contract to live together and ensure order and regularity of society and polity. Somehow the system was accepted as a workable solution to ensure peaceful coexistence of diverse groups to live together and share social and economic privileges as dictated by their faith. In the early days of its origin, castes ensured stability and continuity of large populations in a rapidly changing environment, at a time when small republics,...
info_outline
The Meaning and Purpose of Life
Podcasts on Life
Is there a purpose or meaning to life? Why are we here? What are we supposed to do? What is the significance of life itself? Are we meant to pursue our own interests and ensure our survival and wellbeing or do we have to serve a greater purpose or a higher power? These are tough questions for which there is no definite answers.
info_outline
What is the True Purpose of Sannyasa or Renunciation?
Podcasts on Life
Sannyasa is the most extreme solution to free yourself from the world and its influence. In many spiritual traditions of India, the acceptable and effective way to achieve the ultimate freedom is renunciation. In renunciation you become detached not only from the world but from everything including your own built-in identity and value system. You give up the world, all your accumulations, mental formations, identities and relationships, so that you become free, uninvolved, disentangled and unburdened.
info_outline
Obstacles In the Practice of Dhyana and Samadhi
Podcasts on Life
In the practice of Dhyana or meditation, a yogi faces numerous obstacles mainly because of the unstable nature of his mind. This podcast explains the difficulties, or the obstacles people face in the practice of dhyana which prevents them from attaining Samadhi or mental absorption.
info_outlineBoth Hinduism and Buddhism originated in India. With a long shared-history of at least 2500 years, they have many similarities and differences. Both are also complex. In this we focus upon a few important differences between them.
- Buddhism is an organized religion with a well-formed Sangha or the brotherhood of monks. Hinduism is not that well organized. It is a collection of numerous traditions that originated in India in the past 5000 years. Sometimes, for historical reasons, Buddhism is also included in it, and Buddha is considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
- Buddhism does not believe in a Supreme eternal, indestructible, independent, subjective reality. Hinduism does. That supreme reality is known as Brahman.
- Buddhism does not believe in an eternal, individual self. It believes that all this is not-self or objective reality only which is devoid of a permanent self, and which is impermanent and filled with afflictions, sorrow and suffering. Hinduism believes in both Self and not-self realities.
- In Hinduism Dharma means the set of religious, spiritual, moral and obligatory duties which are entrusted or delegated to humans by God for the order and regularity of the worlds. In Buddhism, the basic teachings of the Buddha constitute Dharma.
- According to Hinduism, God (Brahman or Isvara) is the source of all. He is the creator, preserver and destroyer. Buddhism is silent about God and his role in creation and the cause of creation itself.
- Buddhism does not recognize transcendental reality. Its sole focus is upon cultivating the right view, right discernment and insight into experiential, perceptible and cognizable reality and consciousness. Hindu spiritual practices aim to transcend the objective realm and experience oneness with the transcendental Self.
- In Buddhism nirvana represents the final extinguishment of rebirth, suffering, becoming and being. Those who attain it cease to exist as individual entities.
- In Hinduism, Moksha represents final liberation from the cycle of births and deaths and entering, an all knowing, infinite, self-existent state where each soul is internally and inseparable united with the source of all.
- Hinduism and Buddhism also have many similarities. If you set aside these fundamental differences, both Hindus and Buddhists can benefit greatly from the vast treasure of spiritual knowledge contained in each.
- It is especially true with regard to meditative and contemplative practices, ethical conduct, renunciatory practices, purification of the mind and body, entering tranquil state of the mind, dealing with pain and suffering, cultivating discernment, etc.