Can one be free from sorrow and inadequacy and live a life of fullness? Yes. Just like our Rishis did. How? Because you can see what they saw! You are the limitless having a limited human experience. Join me to learn this ancient flowing wisdom by which you will live a life of purpose, connection and see your oneness with all. I am Swamini B (Brahmaprajnananda) Ph. D, a happy teacher of Vedanta, writer and a Hindu monk. Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@arshavidyananda Instagram - https://w ...
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Conversations with spiritually awakening people.
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707. Swamini Brahmaprajnananda Saraswati
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Swamini Brahmaprajnananda Saraswati Ph. D has dedicated her life to serving the Vedic tradition by teaching Advaita Vedanta. A Hindu monk who currently lives in Mumbai (India) she is a teacher, podcaster, writer, creator who points to the suffix -er in all the roles as the abiding Atma in all beings.She offers regular Vedanta courses (online), Veda…
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Our journey of accepting people is incomplete if it leaves the most important person out – oneself. What do you long to hear? What can you say to yourself? An open letter. The podcast transcript - https://arshavidyananda.in/283-forgiving-oneself-an-open-letter/ Our monthly newsletter - Aarsha Vidya Bharati - Jun 2024| Dharmam Śaraṇam Gacchāmi| Tīrt…
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Since we have a gap in the schedule I thought I'd put up a recent video of Yvonne Kason of Spiritual Awakenings International (SAI) interviewing me. SAI is a non-profit worldwide network of individuals and groups who are interested in collaborating to raise awareness, network, and share personal experience relating to diverse types of Spiritually T…
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#282 Simple everyday prayers and practices to divinise your life
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We wrongly think that the big ‘aha’ moments of epiphanies while meditating or during a retreat make us see that life is sacred. Actually, the simple prayers and practices that, we do every day help us appreciate that all of life is sacred. Spread throughout the day, all of these 10-12 shlokas and practices will take less than ten minutes and on top…
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#281 Are rituals necessary for our spiritual growth?
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First, we become aware of how we depend on everyday non-religious rituals to provide structure, comfort, and meaning to our lives. Second, we understand why we developed a distaste for religious rituals and Third, we appreciate some of the rituals in Hinduism that help us to discover the inherent sacredness of our lives. The podcast transcript - ht…
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#280 Why YOU are greater than all your achievements.
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In the endless striving to attain wealth, power and scale the height of pleasure, is there anything that, we tend to overlook? How does the Bhagavad Gita and the Vedic tradition look upon a truly accomplished being? We find out. The podcast transcript - https://arshavidyananda.in/why-you-are-greater-than-all-your-achievements/ Our latest newsletter…
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#279 Powerful blessings and protection of Lakshmi Narasimha (Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalambam Stotram)
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Is there a stotram (devotional set of verses) composed by Adi Shankaracharya that laments one's helpless condition, seeks divine protection, surrenders to Bhagavan, lays out the stumbling blocks in one's spiritual journey and invokes the urgency of enquiry into samsaara - all at once! It is Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalamba Stotram! Just as Prahlad…
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After a 14-year Meditation Journey, Philip experientially realized the nature of the True Self which referred to itself as Infinite Silence.In his former life, Philip was a Chartered Civil Engineer and Operating Group Director of a large business. In 2000 in response to dreaming about work on a skiing holiday Philip began Meditation. Ultimately, th…
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#278 Narasimha 's justice and Prahlada's devotion (a legend of divine protection)
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When there seems no way out of suffering, Bhagavan always appears in the most mysterious of forms to bless his devotees. We see this in the events leading to Hiranyakashipu who determined to kill his son Prahlada, challenges the very existence of God and the 4th manifestation of Vishnu appears as Bhagavan Narasimha. And how! To read the podcast tra…
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#277 Ten key contributions of Adi Shankaracharya to Sanatana Dharma/Hinduism
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That moment when we saw all that is here is one, The harmony that we have built in our relationships with Karma Yoga, The care and connection we feel, because of Vedanta. All of the above is thanks to someone you have n't met in person but who has helped you know and enjoy yourself and the world - Jagadguru Adi Shankacaracharya. What are his 10 key…
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#276 Who shapes your Life journey? You or others?
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Jeeva, a 45-year-old, believes that many key people are to be blamed for his life turning out the way it did. He goes tocourt, hurling accusations at his parents, friends, partner, CEO of his company, and social media. The judge listens to all the witnesses and contributorsto Jeeva's life and pronounces the verdict while giving many life lessons. T…
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#275 Hanumat Pancharatnam - its powerful blessings and meaning
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Composed by Jagadguru Adi Shankararachya, Hanumat Pancharatnam is a stotram of five gems in praise of Hanuman, the greatest bhakta/devotee of Bhagavan Rama. Hanuman has become the beloved of all due to his unparalleled courage, power and devotion. When one prays to him, he is very quick to respond, especially as he still roams the earth as one of t…
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From a childhood in a strict, religious Mennonite community, to leading a healing movement during his youth, to experiencing financial hardship and living in drug-filled slums, to becoming an advisor to heads of Fortune 500s and billionaires, to eventually working with one of the world’s most renowned private islands, Josh’s journey has been, unusu…
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Dr. Anna Yusim is an internationally recognized, award-winning, Board-Certified, Stanford, and Yale-educated Mind Body Spirit Concierge Psychiatrist & Executive Coach with a Private Practice in New York, California, Connecticut, and Florida. She is the best-selling author of Fulfilled: How the Science of Spirituality Can Help You Live a Happier, Mo…
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#274 Sri Rama Bhujanga Prayata Stotram - its powerful blessing and meaning
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Composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya which makes it all the more special and powerful, Sri Rama Bhujanga PrayataStotram is a set of 26 devotional verses dedicated to Bhagavan Sri Rama. The Stotram beautifully unfolds the unchanging nature of Sri Rama that is Brahman, the limitless being, Sri Rama as Bhagavan and Sri Rama as a relational, deeply loved…
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#273 Why role models are important for our spiritual growth
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Much before we discover Bhagavan through the manystories, prayers and stotrams embedded in the way of life, or even our gurus, we find and look up to our role models. We are constantly influenced by those we admire, aspire to be like, or seek guidance from, whether we are consciously aware of it or not. And so, when our role models are chosen consc…
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Constance Casey, MDiv, is an author and teacher providing spiritual guidance for those interested in living a gentle and peaceful life.Constance offers guidance for those entering deeper practice into the nature of reality and adjusting to a shift in consciousness. Her awakening occurred in 2008. She has been practicing in the contemplative arts fo…
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#272 How to stop reacting and start responding?
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Very often we tend to react mechanically and then lament - Why did I say or do the wrong thing? Why did I not do/say the right thing? Here are some points to consider based on the Bhagavad Gita so that we start responding thereby increasing our mastery in life. The podcast transcript - https://arshavidyananda.in/272-how-to-stop-reacting-and-start-r…
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#271 Wisdom teachings by Prahlada, a child-devotee of Narayana (Bhagavatam)
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Prahlada was the son of an asura Hiranyakashipu and due to a set of unique circumstances found himself to be devoted deeply to Bhagavan Narayana. His bhakti, devotion was so steadfast that all attempts to dissuade him including attempts to kill him did not work. What wisdom did he share with his own father and his friends? We look into it, through …
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Neil Theise is a professor of pathology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Through his scientific research, he has been a pioneer of adult stem cell plasticity and the anatomy of the human interstitium. Dr. Theise’s studies in complexity theory have led to interdisciplinary collaborations in fields such as integrative medicine, consciousness s…
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#270 Which is the best yajna or sadhana in the Gita (Part 2 of 2)
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In part 1 we heard about some of the different sadhanas/religious disciplines mentioned in the Gita. Bhagavan helps us see what these can achieve and what they cannot and explains why jnana yajna is the best yajna or sadhana. This is part two of a two part series on sadhanas/yajnas. Podcast transcript - https://arshavidyananda.in/270-which-is-the-b…
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#269 Which is the best yajna or sadhana in the Gita? Part 1 of 2
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Although many claims about the efficacy of different sadhanas/religious disciplines are made, the Bhagavad Gita surprises us by telling us the best yajna. In the fourth chapter, Bhagavan reveals other sadhanas/yajnas and helps us see what they can achieve and what they cannot. This is part one of a two part series on sadhanas. Podcast transcript - …
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Kimberley Theresa Lafferty is a seasoned teacher-practitioner specializing in constructive adult developmental psychology and Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. She completed over 12 years of intensive Indo Tibetan study including the required retreats. She leads both open and advanced adult educational cohorts aligning developmental psychology and Buddhist th…
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#268 Shiva Panchakshara Stotram - its meaning and blessing
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In composing this stotram of five verses Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya relates the five syllables - na-ma-shi-va-ya , to Bhagavan Shiva’s glories and his unchanging nature. He initiates us into chanting the mantra and also evokes a sweet surrender in us. The podcast transcript - https://arshavidyananda.in/268-shiva-panchakshara-stotram-its-meaning-a…
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#267 Shiva maanasa puja - a loving mental puja offering
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Composed by Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya, this set of five verses highlights the power of offering puja with just your mind. This is not a substitute for a regular puja rather an addition to make one's bhakti and absorption deeper. First, we hear the story of the origins of the Hridyaleeshwarar temple in Chennai and its connection with a sadhu'…
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After receiving his doctorate in the sensory neurosciences from The Ohio State University, Bob Davis, Ph.D., served as a professor for the State University of New York for over thirty years, where he conducted research in the behavioral and neurosensory sciences, taught, and held many high-level administrative roles. He published his research in ov…
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#266 I am the witness-consciousness of the 3 states of experience
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We love and thrive on our experiences and crave for more. Vedanta helps us question if experience is indeed our reality. Through an enquiry into the three states of experience - waking, dream and deep sleep, we discover the unchanging I that is present in all experiences but untouched by all experiences. Sounds like a contradiction? It is the un-ne…
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#265 Sharada (Saraswati) stotram - its meaning and powerful blessing
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The vision of Vedanta is that you are Brahman, the limitless being. It is not possible to see this wisdom without the grace of Brahman himself or herself as Bhagavati. It is not possible to see this wisdom without seeing the world as a manifestation of Brahman. And so we worship the wisdom and intelligence permeating the world as Devi Sharada or Sa…
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699. Brad Laughlin & Anna Breytenbach
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Brad Laughlin is the author of Living with Enlightenment—A Journey of Love, which is about his 25-year life-partnership with Leslie Temple-Thurston, a teacher of enlightenment, and the profound spiritual transformation he experienced. With Leslie, he is co-author of two books, The Marriage of Spirit—Enlightened Living in Today’s World and Returning…
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#264 The What, Why and How of a Tirthayatra (Hindu pilgrimage)?
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Every year, practising Hindus undertake a pilgrimage to sacred sites, temples, rivers, mountains, lakes and places considered energetically more potent with the presence ofdevatas and Rishis and hence their blessings. A tirthayatra (pilgrimage) is different from a vacation in which we expect and seek comfort and convenience. What are the reasons we…
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#262 The Transformative power of the sacred word 'Rama'
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The word 'Rama' was there long before Bhagavan Rama appeared on this earth as an Avataara. How did even the name, nama inspire and transform Rishi Valmiki, Swami Samarth Ramadas and other saints? The podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/262-the-transformative-power-of-the-sacred-word-rama/ Our monthly newsletter - Aarsha Vidya Bharati - Ja…
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#263 What motivates and sustains motivation in our pursuits?
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All of us struggle with sustaining our motivation levels in eatinghealthy, exercising regularly, meditating daily, contacting friends, learning a skill, doing japa or regularly attending Vedanta class. What are the internal and or external factors that motivate us? How can we do what really matters to us? Dharmo rakshati rakshitah. Dharma protects …
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Swami Medhananda is a monk of the Ramakrishna Order and an academic philosopher, currently serving as Senior Research Fellow in Philosophy at the Vedanta Society of Southern California in Hollywood. He is also the Hindu Chaplain at both UCLA and the University of Southern California. He is Section Editor for the International Journal of Hindu Studi…
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#261 The Meaning of Sri Ramachandra Krpalu (Invitation to Sri Rama)
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As we approach the re-opening of the grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, inviting Bhagavan Sri Rama to always be with us, we also invite Sri Rama into our hearts. It was written by Goswami Tulsidas ji sometime in the 16th century as a part of Vinay Patrika. We listen to this beautiful bhajan sung by our beloved Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati ji and dwell…
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David Doyle lives on the water in the island city of Alameda in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, their teenage son, and Merlin, a rambunctious Rat Terrier. At an early age he set upon a spiritual path and soon put down the books and turned inward. David’s path has been by most standards a very traditional inner practice, starting with Hath…
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#260 The powerful blessing and meaning of Aditya Hridayam
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When Sri Rama was exhausted and worried on the battlefield just before his encounter with Ravana, Rishi Agastya appears and teaches him this powerful and sacred worship to Aditya, the presiding deity of the Sun. And the rest as they say is history or Itihaasa. We too can gain victory in our pursuits by learning and chanting this brilliant Aditya Hr…
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#259 How to resolve our inner conflicts – a friendly teaching from the Bhagavad Gita.
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In any given situation, atleast two forces seem to be opposed to each other. Discipline - Laziness, Composure-Stress, Optimism-Pessimism. Bhagavan Krishna says that to be a master we need to direct the dialogue and ally with Dharma. How? The podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/259-how-to-resolve-our-internal-conflicts-a-friendly-teaching-…
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#258 The play of the Atma and the intellect - teaching by Sri Dattatreya in Tripura Rahasya
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Shri Dattatreya is one of the most revered sages whoincarnated on earth. And he gave teachings which are in the form of Tripura Rahasya.In the Jnana Khanda which is a section on wisdom, the commentator narrates a story of the Jivatma, its sense of bondage and liberation. It is Sri Dattatreya Jayanti on 26th December 2023 and we hear his teaching to…
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After dying of a heart attack on the doorstep of a hospital in 2006 and being brought back to life, Mary knew it was time to write about her lifetime of astonishing mystical experiences which began with a visitation from the mystic Jesus in 1984 during a defining life crisis. It was then that Jesus spoke seven revelations: on forgiveness, judgment,…
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#257 Your tree of karma - how did it grow this year?
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This year was a happy year! We did a lot of karma.We upheld Dharma by practising universal values. Dharma made us happy. Do you know which values mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, you effortlessly embodied? The podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/257-your-tree-of-karma-how-did-it-grow-this-year/ Our December 2023 newsletter of Aarsha Vidya …
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#256 How to avoid spiritual bypassing of emotion in Vedanta?
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All of us have used Vedanta to avoid or bypass uncomfortable emotions or the challenges of daily living, at some time of the other. If allowed to continue, spiritual bypassing prevents us from enjoying the fruits of this knowledge. And so we look at ourselves clearly and gain the right perspective to our emotions in the light of Vedanta. The podcas…
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Scott Hiegel lives in La Quinta, CA and runs a business consulting and investment banking business called Solquest. He has a BBA from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from UCLA. He’s been a former CPA, CFA, Vice President of Corporate Finance, and entrepreneur.He enjoys writing and talking about his experiences with Kundalini, and his lifelon…
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#255 The one who looked for God (a story)
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Here is a lovely story from Sri Swami Rama Tirtha, a teacher of Vedanta who lived before Swami Vivekananda. Guess what the person finds when he looks for God? The podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/255-the-one-who-looked-for-god-story/ Our December 2023 newsletter of Aarsha Vidya Bharati - Looking back l Gita Jayanti l Vishnu Krpa l VWF …
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#254 The Powerful blessing and meaning of Kalabhairava Ashtakam
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Lord Shiva appears fierce and fearful especially to the ego who is challenged by fear and suffering. Then, how can we become fearless and gain punya for all our pursuits? Byrelating to the fierce form of Shiva, Kalabhairava. Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya composed Kalabhairava Ashtakam, a set of 8 powerful verses which if chanted at least on an Ashta…
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Dr. Yvonne Kason MD, MEd, CCFP, FCFP, is the President and Co-Founder of Spiritual Awakenings International and the Past-President of IANDS (2019-2020). Dr. Kason is the person who in 1994 first coined the phrase “Spiritually Transformative Experiences” or “STEs”. She is also the Group-Leader and Co-Founder of Toronto Awakenings Sharing Group.Dr. K…
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#253 Is Sannyasa necessary in the Vedanta pursuit?
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As a Vedanta student, everyone toys with the idea of sannyasa, either out of frustration or a fantasy. In the Advaita Vedanta tradition, we understand sannyasa both as a lifestyle and knowledge. Sannyasa as knowledge is non-negotiable but sannyasa as a life style is optional. What does this mean? How do I calibrate my life in the light of this unde…
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#252 40 Everyday moments of connectedness with our world
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We often feel disconnected and isolated. It seems like we are 'living our mind' and not living life. Yet we are connected all the time. Here are 40 everydaymoments of connectedness with our people and our world. What might you want to add to the list? The podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/252-40-everyday-moments-of-connectedness-with-ou…
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Professor Jem Bendell is a world-renowned scholar on the breakdown of modern societies due to environmental change. Downloaded over a million times, his Deep Adaptation paper is credited with inspiring the growth of the Extinction Rebellion movement in 2018, and created a global network of to reduce harm in the face of societal collapse. He complet…
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#251 The powerful blessing and meaning of Venkatesha Suprabhatam
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Sri Venkatesha Suprabhatam is a prayer to Lord Venkatesha (an avataara of Vishnu) to arise, protect and bless the world. We understand the meaning of the 29 verses which paint a vivid picture of the smallest beings like the bees to all the devatas welcoming the auspicious presence of Venkatesha at dawn. Many of us have grown up listening to the spi…
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#250 How and Why we postpone our happiness (and don't even know it)?
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'If only' and 'But' - two small words. We understand the big impact these words have on how we think, behave and delay our happiness. If we yearn for happiness, why would we postpone it. And yet we do! We recognise our eight patterns and break free from them. We can be happy. Here and Now. The podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/250-how-a…
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