Thoughts vs. Meditation

For beginers in meditation, the incessant onslaught of thoughts is a big de-motivator. I have personally encountered this and struggled for a long time. Meditation sessions become wrestling sessions with the chattering mind.
If the purpose of meditation is to experience a state of being where the mind is quiet (no thoughts)- then one has to start with understanding mind and how we think.

Unconditional Love

What is unconditional love? Is it ok to unconditionally love cheating husbands, fraud CEOs, thieves, terrorists, murderer….Hitler. Isn’t unconditional love same as encouraging bad behavior?

To explain let us begin with love. Love is feeling of oneness...

Contentment

I read the following on Ram Dass discussion forum:
"Maharaji (Neem Karoli Baba) would sometimes wax eloquent while talking about contentment in life - real contentment comes only when there is no desire, no hankering in your mind for anything. How can you say that you have got everything and do not want anything more when you are holding an empty vessel in your hand? "

I got restless when I read it. Maharaji, who is the epitome of love, certainly got this one wrong.

Relationship with Guru

In a public forum, someone recently asked the question around Nithyananda - a spiritual Guru with following world over - who was shown in a video in foreplay with a devote. Many people felt deeply let down by the revealations.
Q: Assuming the videos are real, is this evidence enough to say he is total fraud? If he claimed to be a celibate and turned out not, does it invalidate all his spirituality and teaching?

The core teaching is universal. Nobody has copyright on it… One may choose to wash the feet of a clay “brand ambassador” or burn their ashram… but THE NATURE OF REALITY is what it is. Sri Aurbindo says “ A guru can take you as far as you are ready to go”. I was always intrigued by the statement. How can the “abilities of a Guru” – not be an important part of the equation?

I am That...

I am That ... So Ham... I am pure awareness.. We all have heard these expressions in spiritual discourse. What do they mean?

Are you feeling the heat?

Are you feeling the heat? Are you feeling that mini-crisis are erupting in your life in all aspects – health, money, work, relationships? Are you feeling that what previously used to be a bother now seems unbearable – and is demanding your attention? Are you feeling that all dirt you have pushed under the carpet for months or years of your life is oozing out?

Welcome to the New Age !!!

Understanding Consciousness

All spiritual seekers have heard of the word consciousness being thrown around by Gurus. Read Deepak Chopra's knoll on consciousness. Even worse, check this Wikipedia entry. Let me know if you understand anything !!

Personally, I have always had trouble understanding consciousness.