Tag Archives: ego

“Through him, She…”

I am finally reading the “Gospel of Ramakrishna” which I picked up over the summer. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was a Sanatana Dharmist in the truest sense I can think of. He tested every path for himself: From Daulism to Advaita, … Continue reading

Posted in Abrahamic faiths, American Hindus, avatars, Avatars of Vishnu, bhakti, Bible, biography, book review, books, Brahman, Buddhism, Christ, Christianity, Comparitive Religion, consciousness, dharma, Dharma religions, Dharmic Faiths, Divine Mother, dualism, duality, Durga, Eastern Philosophy, ego, faith, God, guru, Hanuman, Hindu Sects, Hinduism, inner peace, inspiration, Islam, Jainism, Jesus, Kali, Krishna, Krishna Consciousness, Lord Hanuman, Lord Rama, myth, mythology, non-dualism, philosophy, pluralism, polytheism, Ramakrishna, religion, Sanatana Dharma, Self-Realization Fellowship, Shakti, Sikhism, spirituality, Vaishnavism, Vaisnavism, Vedanta, Vishnu, Vivekananda, yogis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Misnomered

You may have read a few posts back I wrote about not using the nom de plume “Aranyakananda” anymore. In response to that post I received a comment from a friend who pointed out that people who change their name … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dhritashthira

by Aranyakananda Events have been unfolding in the lives of people around me. Events that have been doing so for longer than I am comfortable admitting. Because I could have probably done something about it over the years had I … Continue reading

Posted in Bhagavad-Gita, dharma, Dharma religions, Eastern Philosophy, family, Gita, Hindu mythology, Hinduism, inspiration, Mahabharata, philosophy, Sanatana Dharma, self help | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Vicious Circle of Feelings and Perceptions and Feelings

by Aranyakananda I was given the book “Buddhism Without Beliefs” by a friend recently. It is one of those books I had seen many times in Barnes & Noble and considered buying and even flipped through because it is not … Continue reading

Posted in Buddhism without Beliefs, delusion, ego, emotion, feelings, meditation, perception, the self | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

On Being Enlightened vs. Being Self-Realized

by Aranyakananda I was asked the other day if there is a difference between being “enlightened” and being “Self-realized”/”Self-actualized” whichever you prefer. And if so, is it wrong to say “I am enlightened.” Let me deal with the second question … Continue reading

Posted in afterlife, American Hindus, Apocalypse, Aum, avatars, Avatars of Shiva, Avatars of Vishnu, Brahman, Creation, detachment, dharma, Dharma religions, Dharmic Faiths, Divine Consciousness, dualism, duality, Eastern Philosophy, ego, existentialism, faith, Forms of Shiva, God, Heaven, Hindu Sects, Hinduism, inspiration, Kali, kali yuga, Kalki Avatar, Krishna, Krishna Consciousness, life, meaning of life, moksha, myth, Narayana, non-dualism, opinion, philosophy, reincarnation, religion, Sanatana Dharma, self-realization, Shaivism, Shiva, spirituality, transmigration, Trimurti, Vaishnavism, Vedanta, Vishnu, Western Hinduism, yugas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Superficial Sword-Waving, As It Were

by Aranyakananda Y’ever find yourself arguing the most trivial points imaginable? Like why anyone could possibly like country music? Or how anyone could possibly drink Dr. Pepper? Well I, unfortunately have found myself on that end of these very same … Continue reading

Posted in dualism, duality, Eastern Philosophy, editorial, ego, History, Israel, neurology, non-dualism, opinion, peace movements, philosophy, pluralism, politics, religion, social commentary, Western Hinduism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Use Your Outside Voice.”

by Aranyakananda When it comes down to it, all we really have to rely on is that inner voice that guides us through many a trial. I believe that the inner voice is the voice of the Jnana yogi, but … Continue reading

Posted in American Hindus, auto-biography, autobiography, bhakti, Brahman, current events, dharma, Divine Consciousness, dualism, duality, Eastern Philosophy, ego, guru, inspiration, jnana yoga, karma yoga, life, Maya, meditation, non-dualism, opinion, panentheism, pantheism, philosophy, Sanatana Dharma, self-realization, social commentary, spirituality, Western Hinduism, White Hindus, yoga | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The “I” and the “Me”

by Aranyakananda Every so often just a sliver of a memory pops into my head and if I think about it long enough it brings something back that is of value. Yesterday I remembered that when I was early in … Continue reading

Posted in American Hindus, auto-biography, autobiography, bhakti, Brahman, creativity, current events, devotional music, dharma, Dharma religions, Dharmic Faiths, Divine Consciousness, dualism, duality, Eastern Philosophy, ego, existentialism, George Harrison, Hinduism, inspiration, jnana yoga, life, lyrics, mantras, Maya, meaning of life, meditation, music, non-dualism, panentheism, pantheism, philosophy, pluralism, poetry, Psychology, religion, science, self help, self-realization, spirituality, Western Hinduism, White Hindus, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bloody Know-It-Alls

by Aranyakananda Over the course of the last 15 years or more, a trend has developed in my life. I seem to come in close contact, often in close friendships with people who – I don’t know how else to … Continue reading

Posted in American Hindus, auto-biography, autobiography, current events, dharma, Dharma religions, Dharmic Faiths, disabilities, Eastern Philosophy, editorial, ego, gratitude, guru, Gurupurnima, Hindu Festivals, Hinduism, inspiration, life, marriage, Maya, meaning of life, opinion, paralysis, philosophy, religion, Sanatana Dharma, self help, self-realization, Spina bifida, spirituality, Uncategorized, Vivekananda, Western Hinduism, wheelchair, White Hindus | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beyond the Blog: “The Doer” (God or Ego?)

by Aranyakananda I have recently been trying to think of something to write for my local Temple’s newsletter. It is usually full of items of interest to the local Indian community, or Indian History, analysis of Hindu mythology or scripture. … Continue reading

Posted in American Hindus, avatars, Bhagavad-Gita, blogging, Brahman, Creation, creativity, current events, dharma, Dharmic Faiths, dualism, duality, Eastern Philosophy, ego, Gita, God, Hinduism, India, Indian culture, inspiration, jnana yoga, karma, Mahabharata, Maya, meaning of life, meditation, myth, neurology, New Age, New Thought, non-dualism, opinion, philosophy, pluralism, religion, Sanatana Dharma, self-realization, spirituality, transmigration, Upanishads, Vaishnavism, Vedanta, Vishnu, Western Hinduism, White Hindus, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments