Devotion in the Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita, Chapter 9 verse 26 OM Patram Pushpam Phalam Toyam Yo Me BhaktyÄ Prayacchati Tad Aham Bhaktyupahrtam AĆnÄmi PrayatÄtmanah He who offers to Me with devotion a leaf, a… Read more
The Mandukya UpanishadThe Mandukya Upanishad is the shortest Upanishad consisting of just 12 verses. This Upanishad is associated with the Atharva Veda and is also considered fifth among the canon of the… Read more
The Beautiful World of SanskritWhen you study Sanskrit, you engage two subjects at the same time: The scholarly and the mystical. In my classes, I often share that Sanskrit is a meeting place of… Read more
On The Subject of Baba Bhagavan DasBaba Bhagavan Das was the Sad Guru of my teacher, Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati. When I travelled with my guru in the 1980âs and 90âs, whenever he spoke of his own… Read more
THE MYSTERY OF DURGA MATA & THE SACRED LINK BETWEEN GURU & SHISHYAWhen I first met Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati, I remember being amazed at how beautiful his teachings were. At the time, I couldnât believe anyone had a clue the way he… Read more
How to Work with KarmaContrary to popular understanding, karma is not a cosmic retribution scale. Karma is not you messed up and now (whatever bad there is) is cominâ for you. Karma is a… Read more
The Importance of SatyaThe Sanskrit word for truth is Satya. In our current climate, individually, politically, socially and spiritually, it feels more than ever that satya is to be studied. But how do we do… Read more
The Gift of the Kena UpanishadThe Kena Upanishad is called a mukhya, which means a Principle Upanishad. It centralizes around the first word in its title, âKena,â which, in Sanskrit, means âBy Whom?â The focus… Read more
Three Kinds of Yogic Vision in the UpanishadsThe Upanishads form some of the oldest Yogic teachings. Within their verses and stories, the reader will discover the vision of the Rishis. It is this vision, a kind of… Read more
Five Key Sanskrit Terms Used in the AtmabodhaLuminous Soul Definitions 1. ÄtmÄ ÄtmÄ the Self, the Absolute Reality. Manoramaâs Commentary: Atma is your highest Self. In the Atmabodha text, Shankaracharya lays out non-dualistic, Advaita Vedanta philosophy for… Read more
Is Sanskrit the Oldest Language in the World?The often mis-quoted idea in Yoga is that Sanskrit is the oldest language in the world. When I ask students, âWhat is their understanding of Sanskrit?â Someone will often say… Read more
How to Approach SanskritIt sounds like a funny question, but itâs been on my mind lately. How should one approach Sanskrit? Below Iâve listed Sanskrit Studies Methodâs Five Key Principles For Approaching Sanskrit well…. Read more
The Upanishads: Oral & Written TraditionThe word Upanishad means to sit in proximity to. Upanishad is a Sanskrit word that derives from the elements upa + ni + sad. Upa + ni = proximity or… Read more
A Story and a Simple Goddess PujaThe Durga Devi Puja was my teacher, Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati’s, favorite festival. He often ate very light during the festival and would remain absorbed in deep contemplation. Each morning he,… Read more
Discovering The Infinite BrahmanTwo months after I met my guru, Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati, I heard the Ätmabodha by ShankarÄcarya. I was in a car, with one of my teacher’s oldest students, George B…. Read more
Shanta Claus & 5 Sanskrit Gift Ideas for Yogis-in-TrainingIâll never forget the time I taught a visiting Sanskrit scholar from India about Christmas. He visited for a month, which happened to be December. Since the festivities were beginning,… Read more
How to Relate with a Crazy ParentWhat is a healthy parent? I define it as a protective force, a guide, a support, a place of profound unconditional love and nurturance. Not all people have experienced this… Read more
The Unifying Nature of SanskritThere is a term that gets used when you learn Sanskrit it is called âThe Sanskrit Tradition.â When I first heard it, it caught me and I thought âHmmm âThe… Read more
Kalidasa, Luminous PoetâKalidasa is the Shakespeare of Sanskrit poetry.â This is the quote often repeated about the great kavi, Kalidasa. He is the author of numerous Sanskrit works including two epic poems:… Read more
Mantra Meal 101Chant Mantras Over Your Meal & The Elegant Art of Vegetable Picking I knew nothing about cooking. I grew up in the 1970âs where the main dishes in our house… Read more