In an article written on Janmashtami, Swami Chinmayananda, symbolically explores the meaning of Sri Krishna Jayanti or Janmashtami or Gokulashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna. This supreme essence born as a mass of beauty, music and joy, dazzling in wisdom, noisy with laughter, ever a master of circumstances, a king of events, frisking about in life’s melancholy contentions, meeting challenges with daring and confidence, at once a hero and a child all rolled in one – this is the perfect God-man, the eternal child of Vrindavan. Krishna is Truth. He was born in the quite heart-caves of the Rishis. Those Rishis gradually transmitted their knowledge to their disciples. Thus Krishna was removed from the prison to Yasoda’s house – the disciple’s. There is no pain in this unique delivery. The Guru gives out the child without the agony of labor pains. While we are sleeping in fatigue and exhaustion, wearied in production and destruction, we know not, that there is ...

A collection of thoughts and quotes on Vijaya Dashami and Dasara by Swami Chinmayananda. Man’s real nature is Absolute Bliss and Knowledge. He tries to reach this state with the help of his mind and intellect. But the mind constantly gravitates to the sense objects for sensual pleasures from the external world. By such extroverted pursuits man gets involved more and more in the world of objects and accumulates desires which veil the divinity in him. Man is thus in a helpless condition consumed by numerous desires. The ancient masters knew that he has to turn his attention inwards to gain the state of Absolute Bliss and Knowledge which he foolishly seeks in the external world. With this view of mind, they introduced various rituals and festivals throughout the year to remind man of his supreme goal and ideal. And Dussehra and Vijayadashami are prominent among them. The great day of Dasara indicates, as the word suggests, Dasa-Papa-Hara or the end of the ten sins. The...

A collection of great life lessons - the timeless wisdom of - Swami Chinmayananda Daily prayer and meditation are all wonderful therapeutic agencies in building up peace and happiness within an individual. A mind held at concentration brings into view the deeper thoughts that were till then hidden from it due to its own fluctuations. The joyous expansion of mind experienced in prayer, and the hushed silence and restful inner dynamism experienced in meditation are the sculptors that fashion our character and conduct. Great ideas are conceived only by alert minds held steady in meditative pose, in unbroken concentration and dynamic vigil. We are bound by wrong thinking. Clinging to bondages hinder us from progressing. You are looking for water in the desert. Poor desert! It does not have water to give you. If it had, it would surely give. All it has is a mirage. It is not the desert’s fault. You are looking for water where it does not exist. You want happi...

The Shanti Mantra “Om Sahana Vavatu” is quite familiar to many people and is chanted at the beginning of study classes or any venture undertaken for learning. The mantra Om Sahana Vavatu. Sahanau bhunaktu. Saha veeryam karavaavahai Tejasvinaa vadhee tamastu maa vidvishavahai Om Shaanti Shaanti Shaantih Meaning Om, may He protect us both (teacher and the taught). May He look after us both to enjoy (the fruits of scriptural study). May we both exert together (to find the true meaning of the sacred text). May our studies be fruitful so that we acquire lustre. May we never quarrel with each other. Om Peace! Peace!! Peace!!! Word Meaning Om – Symbol of the Pure Brahman, Saha – together, Nau – us both, Avatu – may he protect, Bhunaktu – may He look after (the fruits of spiritual study), Viryam – put in effort with enthusiasm, Karvavahai – exert together (to find the true meaning of sacred texts), Tejasvi – Lustrous, Adhiram – study, A...

Swami Chinmayananda states that there are no shortcuts in spirituality.  These days, unfortunately, we find seekers who think nothing about calling over the phone to enquire from the teacher at the other end of the city about the goal of life, the path, means and so on. Such telephone tuition is not possible in spirituality. The seeker of spiritual life is asked to approach the master in an attitude of reverence and surrender. Then alone can the teacher acquaint the disciple with the knowledge of the Self. Self realization is not like going to a shopping center and collecting it in a shopping bag, throwing it in back seat and driving away. It is much deeper than that. Inspired flashes of wisdom are possible in rare moments of life such as during study, or when listening to a master. At such moment, an individual gets a glimmer of the higher possibility of the greater consciousness. To known in Vedanta means to realize the Self. It is not an intellectual grasp, nor is...

Swami Chinmayananda Quotes On Anger Anger comes to us when our desires or expectations are disturbed, defeated. Anger is nothing but desire of attachments, expectations or hope is obstructed. Again when you meet such occasion, at least after the wave of anger has subsided, reconsider the entire situation and try to mentally live and relive a hundred times the same situation—all the time see that you keep yourself smiling. After all, another has an equal right to be bad, mischievous, foul-mouthed, dirty, undisciplined as you have right to be good, cheerful, clean and even peaceful. "Give the devil its due", accept this as a policy - anger will not rise. Also flood the mind with unreserved love for all—always: you will have no occasion to be angry. Swami Chinmayananda, a revered spiritual teacher in the tradition of Advaita Vedanta, spoke extensively on anger and its roots in human desires and attachments. His quotes on anger, such as the ones you've provided, de...

Here are four important steps to grow and be happy by Swami Chinmayananda. Introspect, Detect, Negate, Substitute, Grow and Be Happy Start today. The tomorrow you are waiting for may never come!! INTROSPECT. Seek to discover weakness, faults and animalisms in each day's total transactions: this is called DETECTION. The moment you have detected the weakness and are really ashamed of them, that very moment those wrong traits die! This is called NEGATION. As soon as a weakness is apprehended and detected, substitute its opposite virtue in your personality. Look out, thereafter, for this play during each day's dealings and it will be found to grow and drive soon into a natural character in you. This is called SUBSTITUTION. INTROSPECT daily, DETECT diligently, NEGATE ruthlessly, SUBSTITUTE wisely, GROW steadily, and BE HAPPY, FREE and IMMORTAL - be a GOD-MAN.

Spiritual Guidance From Swami Chinmayananda based on Hindu religion texts. Swami Chinmayananda on the meaning of Namah It is an ancient tradition that stemmed forth from the Vedic period that gave us the word ‘Namah’. In the passage of time, it came to be interpreted as prostrations or salutations, Namaskar. In its virginal meaning, it was a term that came in vogue by the spoliation (lopa) of a term that is repeated very often in the Vedic rituals, as the pundits chant the mantras and offer the oblations to the sacred fire: ‘Agne Idam Na Mama’ “O Lord Fire! (This what I am offering is not mine’). This term ‘Na Mama’ (not mine) expresses the mental attitude of the devotees; everything belongs to Thee O Lord – I am only offering to Thee what is already owned by You. This spirit of total dedication, complete surrender, and supreme selflessness is that which is expressed by the term ‘Na Mama.’ This ‘Na Mama’ became ‘Nama.’ When this term came to be oft repeated b...

Swami Chinmayananda talks about the secret of success based on the Bhagavad Gita. A verse from the Bhagavad Gita discloses the secret by which success can be assured for spiritual seekers. ‘To those who worship ME alone, thinking of me alone, thinking of no other, ever self-controlled, I secure that which is not already possessed (yoga) by them, preserve for them what they already possess (kshema)’ (IX:22). If we consider this as a tip for the people who are sweating and toiling in the world, the verse yields a code of instructions by which they can assure for themselves complete success in their life. If a person is capable of maintaining self-willed thought (sankalpa) consistently and with singleness of purpose, he is sure to succeed in any undertaking. But unfortunately, the ordinary person is not capable of channelizing his thoughts. Therefore, his goal seems to be ever receding. Since his goal seems to be ever changing, his determination to achieve a parti...

Quotes and Teachings of Swami Chinmayananda (8 May 1916 – 3 August 1993) from various sources including books, talks, newspaper and magazine articles. This is a collection of thoughts and sayings collected over a period of more than 10 years. After carefully analyzing our weaknesses, the masters in the religious fields advise us to grow in strength and gain mastery over situations in life by living in harmony with them. The life of harmony can be lived by rising above our limited egocentric view of things and happenings, and expanding our mind to accommodate a constant awareness of the totality of the world, the entirety of mankind and the vastness and wholeness of the universal problems. When this total and consummate perception is developed and maintained, man’s individual problems sink into insignificance and absurdity. When man views his problems from a purely egocentric and individual angle without this vision of totality, problems assume exaggerated and enormous prop...