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An Introduction to Meditation with Yogananda
Meditation is an ancient practice that offers a pathway to inner peace, self-discovery, and spiritual awakening. At its core, meditation is the art of turning awareness inward, quieting the restless waves of thought, and discovering the profound stillness that exists beneath the surface of our busy minds. The Nature of Meditation In his spiritual classic…
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The Architecture of Belief: Self-Talk, Thought, and the Religious Mind
Why We Believe Our Thoughts There’s a peculiar intimacy to our thoughts. They arrive in our native voice, unbidden yet familiar, carrying the weight of seeming truth simply because they occur inside us. This is perhaps the most underappreciated aspect of human consciousness: we extend extraordinary credibility to mental events merely because they happen in…
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The Secret Destiny of America: Vision of Unity
Manly P. Hall’s “The Secret Destiny of America” spoke of a vision larger than borders or flags—a destiny rooted in the idea that humanity could build a society on principles of wisdom, freedom, and enlightened governance. But the true secret destiny of any nation isn’t written in ancient mysteries or hidden symbols. It’s written in…
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The People and Temples of Damanhur in Italy
What Is Damanhur? Damanhur is a spiritual community and federation of intentional communities located in Valchiusella, a valley in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, approximately 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Turin. Founded in 1975 by Oberto Airaudi (1950-2013), who took the spiritual name Falco Tarassaco (meaning “Hawk Dandelion”), it has grown from a…
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The Science of Unity: Universal Principles in Religious Traditions
The very words we use to describe spiritual seeking reveal their common purpose and point toward a profound truth that transcends cultural boundaries. The Latin word “religio” – from which we derive “religion” – carries the profound meaning of “to bind again” or “to reunite” (re-ligare). This suggests that religion’s fundamental purpose is reconnection, bridging…
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The Cosmic Medicine: How Bliss Heals Us From Within
“The yogi who is happy within, who rejoices within, and who is illuminated within, becomes fully liberated in the Brahman and attains the supreme eternal bliss… The happiness which comes from long practice, which leads to the end of suffering, which at first is like poison, but at last like nectar – this kind of…
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The Lotus Sutra and the “Miracle of Instruction”
The Revolutionary Doctrine of Universal Buddha-Nature The Lotus Sutra, revered as the “king of sutras” in Mahayana Buddhism, contains some of the most profound and transformative teachings in the Buddhist canon. This sacred text reveals the Buddha’s ultimate dharma through a series of extraordinary revelations that fundamentally redefined Buddhist understanding of enlightenment, skillful means, and…
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Experiencing the Gita, India’s Bible, with Yogananda
“The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita” by Paramahansa Yogananda represents one of the most profound and accessible interpretations of India’s beloved scripture. Published posthumously as “God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita,” this monumental work transforms the ancient dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna into a living spiritual guide for modern seekers. Yogananda, the pioneering yogi…
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Odin’s Sacrifice on the Cosmic Tree and the Sacred Language of Creation
In the heart of Norse cosmology stands Yggdrasil, the World Ash—a cosmic axis connecting nine realms of existence. This is not mere mythology but an ancient symbolic system for understanding reality’s interconnected nature. Modern ecological science recognizes trees as network organisms, their mycorrhizal associations forming underground neural-like networks that share resources and information across forest…
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Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
In 2011, a relatively unknown Israeli historian published a book that would fundamentally alter how millions of people understand their place in the universe. Yuval Noah Harari’s “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” has since become a global phenomenon, translated into over 60 languages and selling more than 20 million copies worldwide. Far from being…
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Hemp: A Plant That Changed the World
In the misty dawn of agriculture around 8,000 BC in Yuan-Shan Taiwan/China, our ancestors discovered a plant unlike any other. Hemp became one of humanity’s first cultivated crops, beginning a relationship that would shape civilizations for millennia. “Long ago, when Grecian temples were new, hemp was already old in the service of mankind,” proclaimed the…
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The Eternal Dance: A Journey Through Psychedelic History
Ancient Whispers The old shaman sat by the fire, his weathered hands carefully sorting through a collection of dried plants. The young apprentice watched intently, knowing that tonight he would learn the most sacred of their traditions. “Our ancestors have known these plants for thousands upon thousands of years,” the shaman began, his voice like…
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How the Eleusinian Mysteries Shaped Western Civilization
The story of the Eleusinian Mysteries represents one of the most fascinating yet enigmatic chapters in the development of Western civilization. For nearly two millennia, this ancient Greek religious tradition profoundly influenced philosophy, spirituality, and culture through its secretive rituals and transformative experiences. Origins in Sacred Myth The Mysteries began around 1600 BCE at Eleusis,…
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Initiation: Love, Wisdom and Power
“Initiation” by Elizabeth Haich stands as one of the most remarkable spiritual memoirs of the 20th century, offering a profound exploration of consciousness that transcends the boundaries between ancient wisdom and modern understanding. The book operates on multiple levels simultaneously – as autobiography, spiritual teaching, and metaphysical investigation into the nature of existence itself. At…
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The Wisdom of Give and Take from Native People and Game Theory
Giving and receiving in balance creates wealth that lasts. This simple truth connects the oldest earth wisdom with today’s most advanced economic theories. Indigenous peoples worldwide lived this understanding for thousands of years. Now, mathematical models called game theory prove the same idea using numbers and equations. When people can interact many times, working together…
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“The Religions of Man” by Huston Smith: Pathways to an Integrated Life
Huston Smith’s seminal work “The Religions of Man” (later retitled “The World’s Religions”) stands as one of the most influential and accessible introductions to the major religious traditions of the world. Published in 1958, this groundbreaking text approaches each tradition with remarkable respect and scholarly insight, presenting not just the historical developments and theological doctrines,…
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Thich Nhat Hanh, “The Earth is in You”
“When we look at Mother Earth in the Buddhist way, you don’t see that the Earth is matter. You don’t discriminate against matter and mind. And that is the better way to touch the Earth. The Earth transcends matter and mind. And when you look deeply, you see Mother Earth is a real bodhisattva because…
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When Ecstasy Comes, All Desires Go: Swami Kriyananda
In his talk, Swami Kriyananda delves into the path to spiritual freedom, emphasizing the value of transcending worldly desires, cultivating inner attunement with a guru, and understanding the subtler dimensions of life as perceived by enlightened masters. He shares stories from his spiritual teacher, Paramhansa Yogananda, and insights from his own journey, highlighting the challenges…
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