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Articles from santosh krinsky | Selfgrowth.com
- Understanding the Concept of Divine Grace - by Submitted on Apr 17, 2021 from santosh krinskyThe human mind likes to have a logical reason for events, and therefore we search for a causal relationship between an event and some precursor. We call this “cause and effect” or “causality” or “dependent origination” or “law of karma”, or “law of nature”. However we describe it, we are trying ...
Views: 539 - Death, the Conquest of Death, and the Supramental Transformation - by Submitted on Oct 11, 2021 from santosh krinskyIn his lectures on Raja Yoga, Swami Vivekananda points out clearly that chasing after powers or siddhis as they are called, is not the aim of the yoga and can be a distraction from the primary goal. They may come, but should not be sought after or made a primary determinant of the yogic process ...
Views: 538 - Developing Aspiration Without Admixture of Desire - by Submitted on May 04, 2021 from santosh krinskyThe Bhagavad Gita devotes considerable focus to the operation of the three gunas, qualities of the action of the nature, Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas. The Gita indicates that all actions are modified and controlled by the action of the gunas. This includes the practice of spiritual sadhana. Rajas ...
Views: 538 - Liberation Should Precede the Attainment of the Cosmic Consciousness - by Submitted on Aug 04, 2021 from santosh krinskyThe ego-personality actually can be a form of protection for the unprepared soul in the world, as it limits the range and power of action. If a person breaks out of the framework provided by the small ego-personality, and comes into contact with and active conscious interaction with the larger ...
Views: 538 - Fear Is Based in the Limitations of Ignorance and Unconsciousness - by Submitted on Jun 29, 2022 from santosh krinskyIn The Life Divine, Sri Aurobindo describes the sevenhold ignorance which limits the human being. We live in a world about which we know very little, and we lack a complete understanding of the significance of our lives, the meaning of existence, or the processes of Time. As a result, we act as ...
Views: 537 - Desires, Yoga and the Process of Overcoming the Promptings of the Lower Nature - by Submitted on Dec 26, 2021 from santosh krinskyChange implies giving up something that is currently active and replacing it with something new and different. A change of consciousness, a shift from the normal human egoistic standpoint to the divine standpoint, implies similarly that the normal human habits, traits, actions, drives and ...
Views: 535 - The Aspects of the Mind and Their Modes of Action - by Submitted on Mar 12, 2021 from santosh krinskyFor most people, everything that takes place in the mind is simply mental activity. Psychology as a science in the West has only, in recent years, begun to appreciate there are different types of intelligence that, presumably, arise from different sources. The discussion of “left brain” and ...
Views: 535 - The Need for a Direct Experience of the Reality of Existence - by Submitted on Feb 06, 2021 from santosh krinskyAt the end of all our speculation, logic, reasoning, and opinions, we find that we are plagued by uncertainty and doubt in our minds about the meaning of our existence, our purpose in the world and the reality of the universal creation. We can recognize that what we observe through our senses is ...
Views: 533 - The Spirit, the Soul and the Psychic Being - by Submitted on Mar 15, 2021 from santosh krinskyThere is considerable confusion about the various terms used to describe the spiritual quest and the reality of our individual existence. Sri Aurobindo distinguishes and defines the different aspects or elements and their role in spiritual practice. There is additional confusion around the term ...
Views: 533 - Disturbances Attributed to the Physical Mind - by Submitted on Apr 13, 2022 from santosh krinskyWhat is the physical mind? The element of mental activity that relates to the actual physical substance that conveys and responds to sense perceptions and the operations of the physical body is considered to be the ‘physical mind’. We normally believe that the operation of our mind is ...
Views: 531 - The One Thing That Should Never Be Done - by Submitted on Nov 08, 2021 from santosh krinskyAfter intensive mental awakening, vital experiences of spiritual significance, and the emotional uplift and fervour of devotion, there comes a period when the work shifts to the physical mind and framework, and change, that seemed to be so close and real, now seems to be illusory and just about ...
Views: 531 - Understanding the Need and Limitations for Rules and Guidelines in Social Interactions and Activity in the World - by Submitted on Jun 07, 2021 from santosh krinskyFinding and holding the right balance between the inner life and the outer action is one of the constant difficulties facing the seeker. In the ordinary human life, focus on the outer world and its demands takes precedence and there is little or no emphasis on an inner life. During this phase, ...
Views: 531 - Discrimination to Recognise the Distinction of Different Forces and the Various Parts of the Being is Necessary for the Spiritual Seeker - by Submitted on May 31, 2023 from santosh krinskyThe Buddhist tradition describes Manjushri as a Bodhisattva who, with his flaming sword of discrimination, cuts through illusion and falsehood to disclose the truth of existence. The power of discrimination between different powers, forces, impressions, suggestions, and their source and intent ...
Views: 530 - Solving the Existential Crisis of Humanity Through the Evolution of Consciousness with Practical Applications - by Submitted on Aug 09, 2022 from santosh krinskySantosh Krinsky gave this talk to outline both the existential crisis we are facing in the world today, tying together numerous different symptoms into a view of the larger issues we are facing, as well as the causative factors and the direction for solving this crisis through the development of ...
Views: 530 - The Creative Power of the Silent Mind - by Submitted on May 16, 2021 from santosh krinskyFor most people there is never a moment of silence in the mind. A constant churning of thoughts, ideas, desires, plans, wishes, concerns, feelings, emotions, perceptions, and needs keeps mental activity of one sort or another always going. We seem to actually fear the silence, so if the inner ...
Views: 530 - Aspiration, Spiritual Experience, and the Response of the Divine Force - by Submitted on May 03, 2021 from santosh krinskyIn his book The Mother, Sri Aurobindo concisely outlines the processes and steps of the integral yoga. The progress is based on a two-fold collaboration between the individual Soul and the divine Force, brought about through a tuning process for the human individual through what is called ...
Views: 529 - Preparing the Being for the Spiritual Quest - by Submitted on Aug 12, 2021 from santosh krinskyThe vital nature of the human being craves the type of excitement that comes with extraordinary experiences. True spiritual progress, however, requires that a balance be maintained between what the human instrument can hold effectively, and how much Force is brought to bear from the higher ...
Views: 529 - Anxiety and Fear - by Submitted on Apr 16, 2022 from santosh krinskyAnxiety and fear are constant companions in life for animals, as well as for human beings. Becoming food for a predator is an existential fear that stalks the animal kingdom, but it is not just this fear that human beings engage in. There is fear of failure, fear of being humiliated, fear of ...
Views: 528 - The Age-Old Testimony of Spiritual Experience - by Submitted on Apr 04, 2021 from santosh krinskyWhen a tornado or a hurricane wreaks destruction in its path, we are overcome with the intensity and the pain caused by that storm. We frequently try to read into this event some personal retribution upon ourselves for some failing according to our moral code or ethical rules. We tend to look at ...
Views: 528 - The Realisations of the Self and the Psychic Being - by Submitted on Mar 17, 2021 from santosh krinskyPeople follow different spiritual paths and practices and tend to identify with their own path and the spiritual experiences and realisations that come with it. In some cases, they believe that the experience they have is the preeminent or real experience while others are less authentic. In ...
Views: 528 - The Role of Devotion and Love in the Integral Yoga - by Submitted on Feb 18, 2021 from santosh krinskyEvery part of the being must be engaged if the integral yoga is to progress. The physical body, the vital being, the emotional being, and the mind all have their role. What is a chore for the physical being, and a dry intellectual endeavour for the mind, becomes a source of joy and dedication ...
Views: 528 - Distinguishing the Psychic Transformation from the Spiritual Transformation - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2021 from santosh krinskySpiritual experience and progress can be confusing. In many cases the seeker is misled or misunderstands what is actually taking place, and the significance of it. Spiritual paths generally recommend the seeker find an experienced guide, or Guru, among other reasons, to help mitigate confusion ...
Views: 527 - Lights and Sounds Can Indicate Opening to Inner or Subtler Planes of Existence - by Submitted on Aug 21, 2021 from santosh krinskyEverything that exists in the universe has an energy signature or frequency which is manifested by light, colour and sound, whether perceived by our limited sense capabilities or outside their range. As the seeker begins to shift awareness inwards, he is no longer totally reliant on the external ...
Views: 527 - The Nature of the Sexual Impulse - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2022 from santosh krinskyThe sexual impulse and energy is one of the basic primary drives in Nature and is widespread in the animal kingdom, although there are instances of asexual reproduction. The drive is so powerful that it can drive beings to extreme lengths, even killing off rivals, or fighting to maintain ...
Views: 527 - Evolution of Consciousness, Rebirth and Overcoming Suffering - by Submitted on Mar 02, 2022 from santosh krinskyThere are many ideas about rebirth, how it works, and the relationship of suffering to an individual’s life and, through operation of karma, potential future lifetimes. Much of this is based on an underlying implicit assumption that the self-awareness that an individual holds in this lifetime ...
Views: 526 - The Divine Grace and Spiritual Realisation - by Submitted on Apr 20, 2021 from santosh krinskyThe pivotal role and importance of Divine Grace in the spiritual realisation comes about because all humanity is essentially locked into the framework of our normal mental-vital standpoint and thus, cannot truly transform the consciousness without something intervening from outside this ...
Views: 526 - Cosmic Truth and Cosmic Ignorance: the Unity and the Multiplicity - by Submitted on Aug 09, 2021 from santosh krinskyThe Isha Upanishad describes the dual aspects of Reality, the Ignorance and the Knowledge: “Into a blind darkness they enter who follow after the Ignorance, they as if into a greater darkness who devote themselves to the Knowledge alone. Other, verily it is said, is that which comes by the ...
Views: 525 - The Vital Reaction of Jealousy - by Submitted on Jul 14, 2022 from santosh krinskyIn Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice the vital reaction of jealousy is explored in considerable depth. The title character Othello is married to a young woman with whom he is passionately in love, in the normal sense of the word. Iago, who wants to bring down Othello, ...
Views: 525 - Three Differences Between Integral Yoga and Traditional Spiritual Paths - by Submitted on Feb 21, 2021 from santosh krinskyPeople frequently wonder how the integral yoga may differ from the traditional paths of yogic practice. The aim of the integral yoga is to transform consciousness here on earth; it is not fixated solely on individual liberation, although individual realisation is a necessary step on the path, ...
Views: 525 - A Balanced Approach to Dealing with Illness and the Health of the Body for the Yogic Practitioner - by Submitted on Jan 31, 2022 from santosh krinskyThe traditional Western approach to health and well-being sees the human body as under attack and health is a matter for defense and counter-attack against the causes of illness in the form of bacteria and viruses. In cases where the process of illness or deterioration of the capacities of the ...
Views: 523 - How to Deal With Anger and Other Strong Vital Reactions - by Submitted on Jul 04, 2022 from santosh krinskyThere is an idea, prevalent in some aspects of Western psychology, both mainstream and ‘pop’ psychology, that it is unhealthy to internalize and hold in strong reactions or emotions such as anger. They counsel letting it out and thereby saving oneself from the psychological and physical effects ...
Views: 523 - The Cure for Inner Loneliness - by Submitted on Feb 28, 2022 from santosh krinskyHuman beings are social animals, and they crave contact and relationship with others. Modern society has broken or weakened many of the links that formerly brought people together, including the nuclear and extended family, and tight-knit communities where people socialized and interacted with ...
Views: 523 - Art as a Dedicated Expression of the Divine - by Submitted on Mar 22, 2022 from santosh krinskyThe object of creative expression through art is of primary importance to the spiritual seeker. As long as art is used as a way to enhance the vital ego, achieve recognition, fame, wealth, it has little, if any, value for spiritual practice. These objectives, in and of themselves, are part of ...
Views: 522 - Characteristics of Human Love, Psychic Love and Spiritual Love - by Submitted on Jul 08, 2021 from santosh krinskyIf we examine the nature of love as we see it in human society, there is a considerable amount of expectation, as well as ‘bargaining’, in our expressions of love. We tend to expect that the object of our love will reciprocate and return a measure of love, or some other concrete manifestation of ...
Views: 522 - The Nature of Karma Yoga - by Submitted on Feb 26, 2023 from santosh krinskyIt is a common conception, and a tempting one, to expect that by taking up a certain type of charitable work, or even service to support a particular religion or spiritual path, one is practicing a form of karma yoga. All of these things may have enormous benefit in the outer world, and may ...
Views: 522 - The Supreme Consciousness and the Creative Force of Manifestation - by Submitted on Feb 13, 2021 from santosh krinskyIndian spirituality and philosophy has recognized two primary aspects to existence, the Supreme Consciousness that creates, informs, constitutes and contains all that exists, and the Creative Force that actually manifests the universal creation. The Gita describes the Supreme Consciousness as ...
Views: 522 - The Influence of the Circumconscient Environmental Consciousness - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2021 from santosh krinskyThe paradigm that has ruled Western psychology has focused on treating the individual as a discrete entity, separate and apart from everyone else, and independent of his environment. Pressure may be exerted by societal influences, economic influences or family relationships and expectations, but ...
Views: 521 - Distinguishing Concentration and Meditation from One Another - by Submitted on Feb 20, 2023 from santosh krinskyIf we observe the mental status that takes place at times when we focus on achieving some objective or other, taking a test, working on a project, running a race, playing music, or creating some work of art, for example, we see that the attention is focused intensely on the task at hand, and ...
Views: 520 - Sleep, Rest and Consciousness - by Submitted on Jan 21, 2022 from santosh krinskyWestern scientists describe the various stages of sleep. Yet they are looking at sleep from outside and do not know how to correlate the stages with the movement of consciousness during sleep. They recite facts based on observation and brain wave activity and pronounce that one is experiencing ...
Views: 520 - Speaking About One’s Spiritual Experiences - by Submitted on Feb 21, 2022 from santosh krinskyAn individual has a peak spiritual experience, or something unusual takes place in his inner life about which he has no prior knowledge or understanding. This creates an impulse to speak of the experience to other people. There can be a number of motivations for talking about an inner experience ...
Views: 520 - The Guru: the Guide for the Spiritual Practice and Realisation - by Submitted on Mar 11, 2022 from santosh krinskyThere is one subject that leads to tremendous confusion on the part of a spiritual seeker, particularly in the modern world where there is such an emphasis on individuality, and mental development and a strong emphasis on independence and self-reliance. That is the topic of the “guru”. The term ...
Views: 520 - A Recommended Method of Transition from Ego-Standpoint to Divine Standpoint - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2021 from santosh krinskyRejection of the calls and demands of the ego personality under the impulsion of the rajasic vital desires, can be considered the “negative” side or pole of the yogic practice. It is important, but there is another “positive” side or pole of the effort which involves re-tuning the being toward ...
Views: 519 - The Development of the Human Being and the Transcendence of the Human Being: Personal Growth and Inner Growth Defined - by Submitted on Nov 04, 2022 from santosh krinskyPersonal growth and inner growth, the enhancement of the human being and its capabilities and the transcendence of the human being to develop a being awake and active with a new level of consciousness, are not in conflict with one another. The human being must develop to a certain degree to ...
Views: 519 - The Forms of Divine Love - by Submitted on Jun 29, 2021 from santosh krinskyThere are two primary manifestations of Divine Love experienced and reported by seekers and devotees around the world, irrespective of particular religious or philosophical backgrounds. The first is a focus on the personal manifestation of the Divine, which brings the seeker to an extremely ...
Views: 519 - The Power of Imagination in Shaping Life - by Submitted on Aug 13, 2022 from santosh krinskyWhile many people discount the value of imagination, pigeon-holing it into the realm of the creative arts, without much impact on their lives, an ever-expanding number of people are realizing the tremendous power that imagination holds in shaping one’s life and future. Pre-eminent geniuses such ...
Views: 519 - Three Necessary Conditions to Receive and Act Under the Impulsion of the Divine Force - by Submitted on May 31, 2021 from santosh krinskyAs long as we identify with the individual ego-personality, we remain bound to the limits of the body-life-mind complex. The action of the Divine Force under such conditions is necessarily diffused and diluted. The energy is mixed with the much more fragmentary and limited goals and objectives ...
Views: 519 - Understanding and Avoiding the Lures and Dangers of the Vital Worlds - by Submitted on Aug 28, 2021 from santosh krinskyThe importance of preparation of the nature for the spiritual quest, the development of a solid and unshakable aspiration and devotion, and growth of both an understanding and the ability to distinguish what one is seeing and experiencing, cannot be overstated. As the seeker moves into the inner ...
Views: 519 - Controlling the Ego in Ordinary Life and in Yoga - by Submitted on Jun 06, 2021 from santosh krinskyIn the normal life of an individual in society, the ego is important, although it’s actions must be managed to permit people to find ways to work together and achieve results. Wherever we turn, we can see the benefits of keeping the ego in check and subordinating the individual’s role within a ...
Views: 518 - Distinguishing Between the Qualities of Quiet, Calm, Peace and Silence in the Integral Yoga - by Submitted on May 13, 2021 from santosh krinskyNear the top of the “wish list” for most spiritual aspirants is achieving “peace”. This is generally understood however in a very personal sense to alleviate the turmoil, dissention and conflict that invariably arises in our normal circumstances living in the world. It is rarely appreciated ...
Views: 517 - Objective and Subjective Knowledge - by Submitted on Aug 13, 2021 from santosh krinskyWe see something with our eyes or hear something with our ears and we believe that we know that it is an external reality, which we all perceive and can agree upon. We put in a separate category those things that we perceive through forms of knowing that do not depend on sense perception, and ...
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