You are Consciousness, as the Sanskrit texts clearly state. But what is Consciousness? Gurudevi explains the difference between conscious and Consciousness. Her description and personal stories give your mind the understanding of this important difference. More importantly, she leads you through...

Let’s look at the word aatmaaa, a very ancient term in Sanskrit, meaning Self, your own Divine Essence. I also use the word svaroopa, as in Svaroopa® Vidya Ashram and in Svaroopa® yoga. Today I’m focusing on aatmaa. We will walk through the layered meanings in the term. The earliest use is in th...

Let’s look at the word aatmaaa, a very ancient term in Sanskrit, meaning Self, your own Divine Essence. I also use the word svaroopa, as in Svaroopa® Vidya Ashram and in Svaroopa® yoga. Today I’m focusing on aatmaa. We will walk through the layered meanings in the term. The earliest use is in th...

When you are experiencing your Divine Essence, you experience bliss. It is the bliss of Consciousness, memorialized in the chant, “Chidananda rupah, Shivo'ham Shivo'ham.” This is the chorus to a poem written 1300 years ago by the sage Shankaracharya. It refutes the Buddhist teachings on emptines...

Your Divine Essence is a phrase that summarizes the key teaching of yoga. It is succinctly presented in this sutra: Your own Self is Consciousness-Itself. — Chaitanyam atma. (Shiva Sutras 1.1) A sutra is a short statement, often without a verb or proper sentence structure. This sutra, defining y...

Your Divine Essence is a phrase that summarizes the key teaching of yoga. It is succinctly presented in this sutra: Your own Self is Consciousness-Itself. — Chaitanyam atma. (Shiva Sutras 1.1) A sutra is a short statement, often without a verb or proper sentence structure. This sutra, defining y...

You are Consciousness. Your own Self is Consciousness-Itself. This is the highest teaching, the most exalted inner experience, the truth of your own existence. But what is Self? And what is Consciousness? Fortunately these terms are clearly defined in the Sanskrit texts of our tradition, Kashmi...

When things aren’t going your way, well, some of you might burst out with a four-letter word. But some of you go to a three letter exclamation – God! Oh God! When I hear this, I say, “Prayer is always a good option." Yes. It’s better than cursing, for sure. We call on God too seldom, usually on...

When things aren’t going your way, well, some of you might burst out with a four-letter word. But some of you go to a three letter exclamation – God! Oh God! When I hear this, I say, “Prayer is always a good option." Yes. It’s better than cursing, for sure. We call on God too seldom, usually on...

Using verses from an ancient text, Gurudevi compares Jesus to her Baba. A yogi’s perspective on great beings honors each within their own tradition. Their knowledge of the texts, devotion to God, their own continuing practice and more is detailed in the text. Yet yoga says you need a living maste...

It’s almost Christmas, a time of great joy and celebration. For most people, it’s the family gathering that makes it so wonderful. Yet the same family gathering can be frustrating, even disappointing. This “most wonderful time” is also the most stressful time of the year. The American Psychologic...

It’s almost Christmas, a time of great joy and celebration. For most people, it’s the family gathering that makes it so wonderful. Yet the same family gathering can be frustrating, even disappointing. This “most wonderful time” is also the most stressful time of the year. The American Psychologic...

Who is enshrined in the temple of your heart? I recommend you place an enlightened being there. That’s what my Guru did. That’s what I do. That’s what gives you the inner full-filling that supports your love for everyone else. As the saying goes, “Pick a path with heart.” – Gurudevi Nirmalananda ...

Yoga says that, when you cultivate love for God, your inner state improves. Your whole life improves. You are transformed and uplifted. I truly think the main problem that anyone has with their mind and heart is that they focus on unenlightened beings. When you focus on enlightened beings, your w...

Yoga says that, when you cultivate love for God, your inner state improves. Your whole life improves. You are transformed and uplifted. I truly think the main problem that anyone has with their mind and heart is that they focus on unenlightened beings. When you focus on enlightened beings, your w...

Without the Guru, it is difficult to contemplate the Self. It is like trying to see the whole ocean through the porthole of a ship. You may get glimpses but you cannot conceive of its totality. Your own Self is called the ocean of Consciousness. True meditation takes you deep within, deeper than ...

Becoming enlightened is a process. Diligence, perseverance, dedication, determination, resolve, purpose, tenacity – it takes all this to become enlightened. These qualities are a function of will, which is simply making a decision and following through on it. To get enlightened also takes devotio...

Becoming enlightened is a process. Diligence, perseverance, dedication, determination, resolve, purpose, tenacity – it takes all this to become enlightened. These qualities are a function of will, which is simply making a decision and following through on it. To get enlightened also takes devotio...

When you know the mystery hidden in words and thoughts, you merge into Consciousness. You still have a body and mind, but you know that they are forms of Consciousness. You are free from pride. This makes life so much easier, as you have nothing to defend, nothing you need to protect, no need to ...

When I talk about getting blasted, I am referring to Shaktipat. As a young adult, getting blasted had a different meaning. Bliss was still the goal, yes, but bliss is so much better when attained consciously rather than through alcohol or drugs. The Shiva Sutras describe that yogis don’t depend ...

When I talk about getting blasted, I am referring to Shaktipat. As a young adult, getting blasted had a different meaning. Bliss was still the goal, yes, but bliss is so much better when attained consciously rather than through alcohol or drugs. The Shiva Sutras describe that yogis don’t depend ...

Your body is your closest companion, one you depend on for your very life. Whomever else is close to you — they are close to your body, but your body is closer to you. At the time of his departure from the physical plane, a yogic saint thanked everyone around him, thanked his Guru and thanked his...

Your soul keeps moving through your feelings, through pain and pleasure, throughout its life. It’s not just your mind moving through feelings – it’s your soul. Throughout its whole life. How long is your soul’s life? Is it only the span of human years that this body can sustain? Or is your soul e...

Your soul keeps moving through your feelings, through pain and pleasure, throughout its life. It’s not just your mind moving through feelings – it’s your soul. Throughout its whole life. How long is your soul’s life? Is it only the span of human years that this body can sustain? Or is your soul e...