Value: Krishnaversation - December 2025

Second Week: Path of Devotion

Devotion is not a path with roads leading to Bhagavan; rather, it is a path that Bhagavan builds to reach your heart. Did Mother Sita build the bridge, or did Sri Rama? It was her total dedication to Bhagavan that allowed Sri Rama to find His way to her. The same is true for Ahalya and Shabari.

Religious ceremonies, festivals, and rituals cannot be considered acts of devotion on their own unless they are performed with complete surrender and love for Bhagavan. These practices have been passed down through generations to help us cultivate steadfast devotion to Bhagavan.

Bhagavan will be your friend if you have none as your enemy

While addressing Arjuna's question about the nature of devotion, Bhagavan Krishna offered a simple piece of advice: "Eschew animosity to become my devotee."
 
Many of our negative feelings stem from preconceived notions related to caste, color, community, religious faith, and social status. We often categorize the world into three groups: those we dislike, those we like, and the rest we don't care about.
 
I once heard a touching story about a young boy who wanted to see God and kept asking his mother about it, though she couldn't provide a satisfactory answer. One day, on his way home from school, he sat on a park bench to eat his lunch. Beside him sat an elderly man. The young boy smiled and shared his food with the man, and though they did not talk, they shared a warm connection.
 
When the boy returned home, he cheerfully told his mother, "Today I saw God sitting next to me, and I shared my food with him. He looked old!" Meanwhile, the elderly gentleman happily spoke to his daughter, saying, "Today, I had lunch with God. I never thought He could be so young!"

When your mind is with Bhagavan, rest will happen

Bhagavan is on Everest! Yes, He is ever-rest. He doesn't feel any anxiety about the future because He knows what lies ahead. If you watch a movie for the second time, you won't experience the same anxiety about the plot twists and turns that you felt the first time. Similarly, Bhagavan is aware of everyone's past, present, and future. He smiles when we express our worries and agitations.
 
Bhagavan Krishna assures us: "Keep your mind on Me, and you will remain forever restful." A true devotee experiences the same peace that Bhagavan has when he completely trusts Him, surrendering his mind entirely to Bhagavan's will.

All in One is knowledge, One in all is devotion

A deep study of Vedanta enhances our understanding of Oneness, recognizing that the entire universe, encompassing all things and beings, is part of a singular substratum known as Brahman. Realizing this Oneness is the key to fostering peace among communities from various cultures, religions, and regions.

Devotion, on the other hand, cultivates our ability to perceive the One divine presence in everyone. While our senses may focus on the myriad names, forms, shapes, and colors in the world, our developed minds can transcend these differences and recognize the One presence that exists in us all. When we acknowledge that the same One is present within us and in others, we naturally develop a love for all.

It is akin to seeing yourself in multiple mirrors; you remain the same in all reflections. Don’t you love each one of them?

 

Value: Krishnaversation - December 2025

First Week: Path of Action

We conclude this final month of our year-long discussions on spiritual values with the most significant highlights from the conversation between Bhagavan Krishna and Arjuna. The term used by a well-known Vedanta Acharya, Madhusudana Saraswati, for this conversation is samvada, which means "intelligent communication" and not merely a list of instructions from one to another. It does not refer to commandments or rules.

Arjuna was the best warrior of his time, a renowned archer and accomplished leader. For someone like him, who is already an efficient warrior, Bhagavan Krishna's conversation begins with the theme of "efficiency in action." The reason for this focus is that, at the outset of the war, Arjuna was confused about the purpose of the conflict. Krishna provides numerous insights to help him gain clarity.

We see a few of them below:

Detach, and the world cannot touch you

Presently, we all act according to our direct or indirect attachments. A working person engages in daily duties mostly out of attachment to family members or for profit and prosperity, a king does so for 'his' kingdom, and so on. The possible failures and other uncertainties from the world cause fear, anxiety, stress, etc., which would make one inefficient while working, as in the case of Arjuna. 

Bhagavan Krishna's advice is: Do not stop doing what you need to do, but do your best, without attachment to action or the results. Then the world will not touch you; you will remain like the lotus on the water. 

One who chases his own shadow can never rest

The entity that drives you to act day after day is a phantom that resembles you. It remains discontent and unhappy, regardless of how much you provide for its demands. Even in a state of detachment, it will continue to seek results!

Bhagavan Krishna explains that God does not create any actors, actions, or attachments to results. These arise solely from 'habit.' You have developed a habit of chasing after the shadow that continuously eludes you, causing your mind to pursue various things and beings. Only by turning your attention to the ever-present Self can you discover true and eternal rest.

Selfless action is where there is less 'self' and more action

A person who has discovered inner peace acts out of compassion for others. Their actions are driven by choice rather than compulsion from within or outside influences. As a result, their actions are free from personal gratification, demands, desires, or ambitions.

 

Bhagavan Krishna emphasizes that such a person serves as an example for others to follow. They may appear to work tirelessly with ambition, but only those who observe their calm demeanor amidst a busy schedule will truly understand the depth of their connection to the restful Self.

 

Value: Meditation - November 2025

Fourth Week: Meditation & Life

An elderly, devout, wise person said the following inspiring words: 'One who knows the Self does not desire, he who knows you doesn't get angry, and one who knows both doesn't suffer.' As long as we ignore the Self, we do not think of these three as choices: desire, anger and suffering. 

Maintaining serenity

Is pursuing a desire a choice? Is there an alternative to desire? Are you prepared to let go of that desire if you achieve what you seek from it before you begin? If you reflect on this correctly, you will. The practice of meditation aims to attain a peace that is far greater than any happiness derived from achievement.

That man attains peace who, abandoning all desires, moves about without longing, without the sense of ‘l-ness’ and ‘my-ness.' (BG 2.71)

Bhagavan Krishna promises infinite peace through regular practice of meditation with assertion and negation, which we discussed earlier. How? Because this culminates in abidance in the Self, in which the individual's dominant ego, that which seeks happiness through desire, reduces itself to a single thought of 'I am the Self'  

Deal with the unpredictable

While you pursue peace, it’s important to acknowledge the challenges that life brings. The journey is filled with unpredictable twists and turns, resulting in both positive and negative experiences. Should you shut your eyes and remain passive, or should you engage and risk losing your peace?

Wise individuals advise us to engage peacefully in every situation. This means avoiding the creation of new crises and not allowing our egos to drive selfish decisions. Consider how you can effectively participate in resolving crises by setting aside your ego, rather than perpetuating problems by clinging to it.

Regular meditation is key to reducing the ego. While constant reflection, known as atma vichara, can help convince your intellect, true freedom comes only when you reside in the Self, merging all thoughts into the vast ocean of the all-pervading Self.

 

Value: Meditation - November 2025

Third Week: Focus in Meditation

We all know how to focus. For instance, when reading a book, our attention is on the words, their meanings, and our understanding of the subject. When driving a car, we focus on the road and the traffic around us. Is the focus the same in meditation?

In meditation, focus is essential, but it should not be directed toward anything familiar to the mind. The goal is to reach the deeper layers of the mind—its underlying essence, where thought flows originate. This is akin to observing the riverbed through the flowing water.

External support

Traditionally, the worship known as upasana of your favorite deity should conclude with meditation. After invoking the presence of Bhagavan in an idol, you should focus exclusively on Him. The external form serves as a support to remove your attention from all other thoughts and to maintain your concentration on the divinity that the deity represents.

Gently chanting the name of Bhagavan, in a way that you can hear it while gazing at the form, will help calm your mind. This is neither the loud chanting of Vedic mantras and stotrams nor the repetition of names with a japa mala. It is simply a soft whisper to help you maintain mental stillness.

After a few weeks of practice, you will be able to visualize the form of Bhagavan in your mind with your eyes closed, while continuing to whisper the name or chant silently within your mind.

Internal support

The inner stillness that is gained from the above practice should be followed by abidance in the higher Self and not just remain as emptiness. For this, you can choose verses from the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita or other texts to meditate on. Essentially, these are used to assert the nature of the Self and negate the false notions of oneself, popularly known as anvaya and vyatireka, respectively.

Through this practice, you begin to affirm and abide in the eternal presence, and simultaneously recognize the false nature of the ego and discard what you have been living and identifying with for many lifetimes. 

A verse from Mundakopanishad:

यत्तद्-अद्रेश्यम्-अग्राह्यम्-अगोत्रम्-अवर्णम् -अचक्षुश्रोत्रं तद्-अपाणिपादम् |

नित्यं विभुं सर्वगतं सुसूक्ष्मं तद्-अव्ययं यद्-भुतयोनिं परिपश्यन्ति धीराः || १.१.६

The men of wisdom know the Self to be everywhere, which cannot be perceived by the senses, cannot be grasped, having no roots and qualities, having no eyes, ears, hands or feet (these are negations - that which you are not), which is eternal, omnipresent, all-pervasive, supremely subtle, imperishable and the womb of all beings (these are assertions - that which you are)

A verse from the Bhagavad Gita:

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचित् नायं भूत्वा-अभविता वा न भूयः |

अजो नित्यः शाश्वतः-अयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे || २.२०

This Self is never born or dies. (negation) Having come into existence, again it never ceases to be.  It is unborn, eternal, undecaying, ancient. It is not killed when the body is killed (assertions)

Value: Meditation - November 2025

Second Week: Meditative mind

A mind prepared for meditation should have limited or no worries. This doesn’t mean it is free from the complexities of worldly life, but rather that it is eager to explore the depths of inner silence, thereby spending less time in brooding. It is willing to let go of all mundane concerns to attain the inner tranquility and stillness that are natural to the Self, the divine presence within.

Eliminate mental hang-ups

The past is gone, and the future is yet to come. Neither has any reality in the present moment. However, accepting this truth can be challenging for us. If you are eager to practice meditation, you should set aside both the past and the future without hesitation. Just as you distance yourself from the world when you go to sleep, do the same here.

 

When you wake up from a deep sleep, what do you feel accomplished? Nothing, except for a good rest for your body and mind. Meditation is similar; there is no external achievement you will feel after practicing it. Like sleep, it requires minimal effort, exertion, and free of anxiety.

 

Just like the body and mind need rest in sleep, the soul also needs rest. It has been on a journey for a long time, gathering both pleasant and unpleasant experiences through various bodies and lifetimes. It finds rest in meditation, where all attachments to past experiences are set aside. After an exhausting road trip, when you arrive home and look at your travel map, you may be surprised by how far and wide you have traveled. In the same way, you will gain awareness of your soul's journey upon awakening from deep meditation. Thereafter, the mental preoccupations with life's trivialities will no longer occupy your mind.

Golden rule - Silence

Guruji Swami Tejomayanandaji once shared a story: There was a devotee who went to the temple every day to pray. One day, he realized, “Each day I talk to God through my prayers, but I never listen to Him. Today, I will try to hear what He has to say.” So, he decided to remain silent. However, his mind kept chattering. He thought, “I still cannot hear Him; perhaps I need to quiet my mind.” When he finally succeeded in calming his thoughts, he entered a state of deep meditation. After this experience, he no longer visited the temple. When asked why, he replied, “I have found the Lord within me. Whether I worship Him internally or externally makes no difference.” This is the highest form of devotion, where one reaches the depths of meditation through sincere practice. Silence can be understood in two ways: when you do not speak, that is silence; when there are no thoughts, that is stillness. Outer silence has two aspects: the first is your choice to remain silent, and the second is observing the silence that already exists when there is no sound. Both forms are beneficial for meditation. This is why Bhagavan Krishna advised Arjuna to choose a place of solitude for meditation or to meditate at a time when the world has not yet awakened. Schedule time each day to practice silence. Commit to this practice diligently for a few weeks until it feels natural. Gradually work on silencing your thoughts during this time as well. Observe your thoughts without engaging with them.

 

Value: Meditation - November 2025

First Week: Prepare to Meditate

The secret of success in meditation lies in the secret of living a successful life, a way of pure existence. The more one lives by the right values, the more one shall succeed in meditation.

- Swami Chinmayananda

The culmination of living right values is having a calm mind when you sit for meditation. A mind that has no regrets, repulsion or anxiety alone can easily settle down. Leave aside all your roles and responsibilities when you sit for meditation. It is an exclusive engagement of you with yourself.

Create the right atmosphere.

With the mind, we live every wakeful minute. With the same mind, we should sit for meditation as well. We cannot leave the mind aside. Therefore, do not suppress the thoughts that arise in your mind. Regularity is essential in any practice. Fix the time and place of mediation and try to maintain it every day.

Gurudev's advice: "Today, when you have ten minutes all to yourself, sit down and practice smiling in your mind. Watch what is happening. It does not matter if your eyes are open; simply watch the mind and make it smile. Drop all its worries for the time being. In a cheerful mind, there will be very few agitations. Each day, your mind will bring a different weapon, and from your armory, you must select the right weapon as an antidote. On certain days, for example, you will feel an attachment to the body. By relaxing the body to a large extent, your attachment to it will be temporarily released.

Relaxation before meditation is effected through a process called thought massage, by which the meditator, with closed eyes, sends his thoughts consciously down his body, mentally relaxing and massaging every muscle in every limb."

Choose the procedure

What to do:

• Keep your back straight with head, neck and trunk of the body aligned in one straight line
• Keep your eyes softly closed. If you wish to keep your eyes open, have your personal deity's form in front of you at the level of the eyes
• Meditation spot should be well ventilated with sufficient air flow
• Meditation seat should not be too hard or too soft to sit on
• Face the east or north direction
• After sitting in a comfortable posture, inhale and exhale slowly
• Stay as a witness to the mind and watch the parade of thoughts

What not to do:

• Do not lean on a wall or other support. If you are sitting on a chair, maintain an erect posture
• Do not consume any caffeinated drink before meditation
• Do not sit for meditation when you feel physically exhausted
• Do not have another person or pet in the same room who moves a lot or disturbs the atmosphere
• Do not face the south direction
• Do not have very strong light or incense burning in the room

Further steps will be discussed in the subsequent blogs...

 

Value: Bhakti - October 2025

Fifth Week: Bhakti is Mukti

No one will seek mukti, or liberation, if it does not represent independent and everlasting happiness. However, our pursuit of happiness often focuses solely on avoiding sorrow. At the bodily level, we seek happiness through comfort, convenience in daily life, sensory gratifications, and relief from illness. A mind that is free from sorrows and agitations is also considered a source of happiness. Achievements such as appreciation, authority, and fame are regarded as happiness when attained. Yet, is this kind of happiness truly mukti, or liberation?

Some people define liberation as the end of the cycle of birth and death. Others believe that reaching heaven, the abode of the highest happiness, signifies mukti; while devotees see it as being in the presence of God at His lotus feet.

Devotion without division is liberation while living

Liberation should be understood as something that is not determined by any place, time, objects, or circumstances. If it is determined by these factors, it will be temporary and no different from worldly pleasures and gains. If I like a particular place, say a serene spot in a garden facing the ocean, that happiness will be lost when it is occupied by someone else. If I like an object or a person, then space and time may not hamper that happiness, but it is limited by the person or the object.

Happiness is lost due to divisions. An Upanishad student inquired this from the Guru: 'The uncaused (eternal) happiness cannot be effect of the ephemeral actions. What is the source of that (eternal)?' (Mu 1.2.12). A devotee worships the Lord upon recognizing Him to be the uncaused happiness. Devotion leads such a devotee to continue live, enjoying this oneness with Him, losing all divisions. 

Living with unconditional love

If the liberation, or mukti, achieved by the saint is unconditional, the love he expresses in the world is also equally unconditional. For him, it is evident that the presence of the Self or pure consciousness is unconditional in all living beings; therefore, the love for that is also unconditional in the heart of the saint.

From his standpoint, every being is eligible to realize the divine presence of God, and the opportunity to do so should be extended to all. Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda, during his entire life as a missionary, embraced everyone as his disciples or devotees, only to compassionately guide them to reach unconditional happiness through unconditional love.