Sacred Texts

When our lives revolve completely around sensual gratification, trouble and suffering arise. This story from the Srimad Bhagavatam tells us the untrained mind and senses can never be satisfied, and reveals the nature of true contentment.

“The brilliance of a thousand suns” describes the cosmic form of the Divine revealed in the Bhagavad Gita. Learn why this vision was given as a gift of love to a sincere devotee, and what profound truth the vision reveals.

The timeless teachings of the Upanishads guide us to the highest wisdom—the knowledge of our true identity. Swami Rama explains how coming to know ourselves as the Self of all, or Brahman, frees us from self-created misery and infuses our heart with love for all.

Attempting to practice yoga without knowing the Yoga Sutra is like trying to run a country without knowing its constitution. Learn why this timeless text—a manual for experiencing our inner divinity—lies at the heart of yoga.

Yearning to attain the goal of life, a young seeker pursues knowledge that only the Lord of Death can give him. This story unfolds in the Katha Upanishad, the most profound articulation of life’s purpose and how to achieve it by unveiling the mystery of death. Ishan Tigunait explains why the knowledge and practices contained in this treasured text are as important and vibrant today as they were thousands of years ago.

The wisdom of the Mandukya Upanishad lies at the heart of every yogi’s journey. Condensed into just 12 mantras, this wisdom allows us to unveil the mystery of the four states of consciousness, including the pinnacle—turiya. Ishan Tigunait explains how to approach this sacred text so as to unlock our extraordinary inner potential.

When we learn to cultivate love for the Divine, we find ourselves gradually lifted out of pain and sorrow. This is the path of bhakti yoga, love and devotion—a path that, ultimately, transforms human hearts. But how do we cultivate spiritual love? What can a mortal give the Divine, and what gift do we receive in return?

Tripura Rahasya, a dialogue between the sages Dattatreya and Parashurama, is one of the most significant and helpful scriptures in the tradition of tantra yoga. After telling the story of Parashurama and how he received the knowledge of the Tripura Rahasya from the sage Dattreya, Swami Rama explains the qualities needed by a student for initiation into shakti sadhana, and offers a systematic method of meditation to develop shraddha, faith.

The tantric scripture Tripura Rahasya teaches the stages of enlightenment in a systematic way, so that an aspirant can attain the highest state of consciousness. Its beauty lies in the fact that it expounds the lofty knowledge of inner truth while systematically offering practical instructions on shakti sadhana. Swami Rama explains the three main schools of shakti sadhana—kaula, mishra, and samaya—and how they awaken the dormant fire within, leading to higher awareness.

Acting selflessly, without attachment to the outcome, ultimately frees us from the wheel of karma. “Action is yours, but not the fruits of action,” states Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. This is the path of karma yoga. Rolf Sovik explains how this path—one of four described in the Gita—helps us act with an inner sense of purpose, making life’s actions more meaningful and transformative.

How can we enter the life hereafter fearlessly and joyfully? Yogis call this state of mind moksha (freedom) and others call it heaven. Pandit Rajmani Tigunait explains how gaining knowledge of the reality beyond this physical world frees us from fear and doubt. Learn how prana is key to both birth and death, and how practicing the science of sacred fire, agni vidya, can help us understand all the dimensions of life and be free.

Like the warrior-prince Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita, we may yearn to withdraw from action when life gets difficult. But as the Gita clearly states, we are compelled to perform actions by the three forces of nature. What are these forces? How do they influence us? And how can understanding them help us fashion a smoother ride for ourselves on the wheel of karma?