Author: Lavanya Waechter

Yoga – Union With Our True Nature

Yoga – Union With Our True Nature

Jun 24, 2018 | |

Yoga is union with our true nature. “Yoga is not twisting the body but straightening the mind!” This, our spiritual teachers (Acharya) have taught us. What is one basic difference between Amma and us, her children? Amma’s very nature is to love all beings without any expectation of being loved in return. We, on the other hand, think, “I want everyone to love me”. With this thought in mind, if I ask Amma “Amma, I want everyone to love me, please bless me!” Amma will reply “My son, there is only one way, you start loving others”. And we...

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Amma’s Candle

Amma’s Candle

Jun 10, 2018 | |

‘Amma’s candle’—this topic has been discussed by many of our Ashramites and devotees for the past three or four months. I have seen it on our websites and thought I would also write something about it. Amma was born on Karthika star day, and Karthika is connected with light—the Karthika Deepam [the festival of lights from the India state of Tamil Nadu]. In fact, the lives of all Avatars, Sadgurus and Mahatmas are like a candle. They spread the light of knowledge, peace and bliss around them and melt away. From one candle flame, thousands of other candles can...

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The World Belongs to the Compassionate

The World Belongs to the Compassionate

May 20, 2018 | , |

“Why do people come to Amma?” This question is often asked. All the people that come to Her have a common reason. My mind goes back to my school days when we were taught an incident which took place in Sri Buddha’s life. Buddha was in his teens. His name then was Siddhartha. He was strolling in the palace garden when suddenly a wounded crane fell down at his feet. As the very embodiment of kindness, Siddhartha picked up the crane, caressed it and started walking towards the palace to treat the wounded bird when he heard the voice...

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The “Slow Revolution Yoga” – Does It Have a Place In Our Fast-paced World?

The “Slow Revolution Yoga” – Does It Have a Place In Our Fast-paced World?

May 6, 2018 | , |

Does “Slow Revolution” Yoga have a place in our fast-paced world? In the Yoga world of vigorous asana classes, there has recently been a renewed interest in Slow Yoga. In Vinyasa, it is called “Slow Flow.” Rodney Yee (a well known yoga teacher) calls his class, “Slow Burn”. This is advertised as yoga for a “sculpted physique and greater mental focus”. This “Slow Flow” style is not so new and has been the traditional method of yoga asana practice for centuries. It was predominant before the vigorous yoga form initiated by Pattabhi Jois that has dominated Yoga in the...

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Shiva, Shakti and Me

Shiva, Shakti and Me

Apr 29, 2018 | |

A student’s experience of attending the Shiva Shakti Therapeutic Workshop at Amritapuri, India with Brahmacharini Shobana. The day after the Shiva-Shakti retreat ended, I was able to put my palms on the floor in forward bend for the first time in my life. You might think, oh, she’s probably young and fit, that’s not such a big deal. But no, I’m 61 and have been living with the limitation of illness (chronic fatigue syndrome) for many years. In fact, the last yoga class I took was for disabled people and those with special needs. I wasn’t sure it was...

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