Hi, folks. It’s been a minute but I’m here.

In this beautiful conversation, Prof. Anantanand Rambachan reflects on a Hindu vision of a life worth living: responsibility, joy, divine love, and delighting in one another’s flourishing without possessiveness. Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMdi...

Everything Is Embraced: A Hindu Vision of a Life Worth Living (Full Conversation)

"Whatever exists in this universe is embraced in the divine, is enfolded in the divine. Delight! in everything and in everyone without possessiveness. In other words, we should not be envious of…

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“Close the window that hurts you, no matter how beautiful the view is.” -Rumi

I made it ten months without stickers on my new car.

“Keep the company of those who are in love with the divine.” -Kabir

"Cosmic humor, especially about your own predicament, is an important part of your journey." - Ram Dass

“If you cling to the world then your death ain’t far.” -Trevor Hall

I am not this body, thoughts or name.

"Suffering comes to awaken you, not to punish you. When its lesson is learned, suffering disappears." - Anandamayi Ma

"Treat pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat alike.” -Sri Krishna

In Chinese, the symbol for “crisis” is made up of the symbols for danger and opportunity. Every crisis offers us each. It’s up to us to use it wisely or not.

When a life crisis stuck recently I initially fell apart. I was angry and felt like all my years of practice were for naught. Only then did it occur to me that maybe God knew I’d have this to face one day and had I not practiced all these years I wouldn’t have made it through it now.

I’ve learned, for me, that both duality and non-duality have their place. When I am strongest, duality is easier to see. When I am at my weakest and when focus and inner strength ebb seeing through the lens of duality can provide strength.

Some of you know that my last month was an extremely devastating time for me. Some of you reached out or offered encouragement. Thank you all. I’m back. I’m emerging from a big trauma. My practice saved me as did some good friends. Not over yet but now I know I’ll make it. Thanks, all.

“The restless mind cannot see truth, just as shaking water cannot reflect the moon.” -Ashtavakra

“You are not the traveler approaching God. You are the boundless awareness in which the idea of distance appears.” -Ashtavakra

"The one who seeks truth without fear becomes wiser than death itself." — Katha Upanishad

“Mind can be a prison or mind can be a palace.” -MC Yogi.

"Your nature is joy. If joy seems absent, it is because attention is turned outward instead of inward." - Anandamayi Ma

"Shiva energy is fierce, clean and unstoppable; people don't like it because it destroys the illusions they want to keep." - Vishrant

The connection between human experience and the characteristics of the Hindu deities astounds me. Even if you don’t believe in them as actual entities you can find one or more in every experience you have. I have seen Kali, Shiva and Sri Krishna so clearly in these worst of my days. I’m blessed.

"Learn to manage alone, not out of loneliness, but out of self-reliance. In solitude, you'll discover the strength that has always resided within." -Rumi

“Stay as Zero. This simple instruction can only be grasped inside the heart. When you grasp this pointer in your heart, this is the highest I can share with you.” -Mooji

May these times of suffering ultimately bring relief from suffering. “It turns out that what brings you down becomes grist for the mill. Why would you go somewhere else to get it? You have a full pot of it right in front of you." -Ram Dass

In Hinduism, Mother Kali is seen as a fierce but loving deity. She is rarely gentle. She will burn away the places where you cling so that you may truly be free. She’s tough but only wants our best. Just like the best Mother.

“There is no emotion that you cannot be rid of, because emotions are simply thoughts,and thoughts are just like the wind moving through the empty sky. There is nothing to them.” ~ The Heart of Compassion Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche The river this morning with a little fog lingering.

I was just thinking how I wish I’d learned to walk more gently a long time ago. Some days, I’m a bull in an emotional china shop. “If you realize how fragile your life is and how at any moment it could be turned upside down, you will walk very gently on this planet.” -Sadhguru

"Even in the world, the yogi who faithfully discharges his responsibilities, without personal motive or attachment, treads the sure path of enlightenment." -Mahavatar Kriya Babaji