Yoga’s Ultimate State

Yoga Samadhi

The sage Patanjali did not waste much time in defining yoga. In the second stanza of the “Yoga Sutras” he said, “Yoga is the complete cessation of the modifications of the mind”.

And what happens when the mind becomes still? This is answered in the next stanza: “Consciousness then resides with the Self”.

The ultimate aim of yoga is to achieve the state where all thoughts have ceased. This state is known as Samadhi. The first Samadhi that a Yogi achieves is known as “Savikalapa Samadhi”.

In Savikalapa Samadhi thoughts have ceased but there is an awareness of one’s separate identity. The ego still exists along with the mind even in this state of complete calm. The person is not “realized” and remains trapped in the mind. The meditator remains at the “doorstep of God” while not quite opening the door.

“Vasana” is an yogic term for our attachments and desires. Vasanas are caused by the ego and are our source of bondage and separation from the Self. In Savikalapa Samadhi Vasanas still exist. And when the yogi comes out of this Samadhi she is like any other normal human. Effort is needed to get into this Samadhi and remain in it.

James Lynn was a disciple of Yogananda and he meditated everyday for at least three hours based on the instructions given by Yogananda. He was a busy millionaire businessman but he still made time for his meditation and because of his diligent effort he achieved Savikalapa Samadhi in just a few years.
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Thrown Into Expansive Feeling Of Freedom!

Jim Carrey relates here an amazing experience he had while meditating. All he can say now is, “The feeling is amazing!”

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Pain Reliever

Pain Reliever

A man went to the dental surgeon to have a tooth pulled. The dentist pulled out a freezing needle to numb the area.

“No way! No needles! I hate needles,” the patient shouted.

The dentist started to hook up the laughing gas and the man again objected.

“I can’t do the gas thing!” the man protested. “The thought of having a gas mask on is suffocating to me!”

The dentist then asked if the man had any objection to taking a pill.

“No,” the patient said. “I am fine with pills.”

The dentist said, “Here is a Viagra tablet.”

The patient replied: “Wow! I didn’t know Viagra works as a pain pill!”

“It doesn’t,” said the dentist, “but it will give you something to hold onto when I pull out your tooth.”

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Do Animals Exhibit Moral Behavior?

Much to the amazement of philosophers and the like, animals do exhibit moral behavior as this video clearly demonstrates. Moral behavior is definitely not something exclusive to humans, and this video seems to suggest that morality does not arise from Religion, but it may be the other way round- religion may be built on top of existing moral structures. This is an interesting talk that is worth pondering and thinking over.

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Prescription Drug Abuse: One Woman’s Story

Patricia Rosen

Patricia Rosen

Our children are dying. Lives are left shattered and doctors continue to write prescriptions for drugs like Oxycontin, which is the same as heroin.

Deaths from prescription drug overdose have been called the “ silent epidemic” for years. Now with one American dying every 17 minutes from an accidental prescription overdose, it is being described as “the biggest man-made epidemic” in the United States. More people are dying from drug overdoses than from any other cause of injury death, including traffic accidents, falls or guns.

Did you know that the manufacture of Oxycontin (Purdue Pharma) generated $3.1 BILLION in revenue in 2010? Yes, BILLION. Scary isn’t it?

My son Steven was one of these statistics. He grew up in a loving home with two brothers, parents that loved him and more love than anyone could ask for. He was well behaved and extremely respectful.

He was the “go to” person that all his friends liked to confide in and ask for advice. He played little league, soccer, went to overnight camp, travel camp, had cars and went to the college of his choice. He excelled in school and graduated with honors with a degree in Psychology.

He was getting ready to begin his Masters Program and started working part time for a state funded program ironically assessing people with addiction problems, when his life changed-FOREVER
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