Shafts of Light from Meister Eckhart
IN LATE THIRTEENTH century Europe there emerged a spiritual teacher whose ideas and practice closely resemble those of the nondual teachings. His name was Eckhart von Hochheim, and he was born in Thuringia around 1260. When aged about fifteen, Eckhart joined the religious order of the Dominicans. He studied at Cologne and later Paris, a…
Read MoreWhat is the Spirit?
By Hari Prasad Shastri WHAT IS THE SPIRIT—that in us which transcends the limitations of body and mind? We are conscious of our body, we are conscious of the thinking, feeling and willing mechanism in us. The question is asked: what is the spirit? Many people, including Plato, have made an error confounding the spirit…
Read MorePoem: I Will Wait
I will wait till the birds sing And tender leaves adorn the branches; Till the sun’s rays adorn the top of the pines| And roses crown the bushes; Till the tits swing on the cherry blossoms And the grass is dotted with pearl-like daisies. I will wait till nature smiles And the moonlight falls on…
Read MoreContentment
An address given by the Warden of Shanti Sadan In the Vedanta classic, the Yoga Vasishtha, we read: The Spring is full of charm and so are the gardens of Paradise, but all these joys are found in contentment, which is capable of yielding all delight. One of the great qualities of mind of those…
Read MoreOn the Advaita of Shri Shankara
Based on an extract from an essay by Hari Prasad Shastri entitled ‘An Outline of the Advaita of Shri Shankara Acharya’ Limitations are a darkness and obstruct the vision of Truth. They make Reality appear what it is not; where there is bliss they paint a picture of distress, pain, sorrow and disappointment. Our mind…
Read MoreSelf-Knowledge Journal – Spring 2019
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Read MoreSee Me Everywhere: Bhagavad Gita Chapter Seven
On the Bhagavad Gita Chapter Seven WE ALL WANT to be happy. What then is happiness? There is no simple answer, but for many happiness is at least in large part a state of mind in which we are aware of a deep, underlying unity and connectedness in all things, and of our place in…
Read MoreMeditation Practice: Every Mind is Lit
A recent session led by the Warden at Shanti Sadan MEDITATION is a practice that is progressive. If we persevere, our meditation will help us to find peace and relaxation independent of outer circumstances. Our practice session will become a welcome and necessary part of our daily activities. But with meditation there are further progressive…
Read MoreJoy Follows Dharma
By Hari Prasad Shastri There is a saying: ‘If you want to succeed in life, do not be too good.’ Alexander, Napoleon, Caesar, Charles V, Queen Elizabeth I and Isabella of Spain, were people of great worldly eminence, and yet can we regard them as being unequivocally good? Were they not opportunists who believed in…
Read MoreFrom Harmony to Illumination
Rise in tranquillity Walk in peace Stay in harmony from Echoes of Japan by Hari Prasad Shastri THERE IS a deeper realm of harmony and peace hidden within our own being. If we want ultimate fulfilment then we need to experience this realm directly—to be one with it—and this realisation is possible. Actually it is…
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