Who am I
Success in life begins with knowing, "Who am I? What is the purpose of my life?" Knowledge of the self exists; but sincere seekers are rare. More rare are the great teachers of such wisdom. Since time immemorial, wise men have described our wonderful nature: spiritual, primeval, ever-existing, undying, unchangeable, imperishable. This selection of the writings of Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa (Chris Butler) shares that timeless wisdom — inspiring, challenging , practical.
Seeking a Guru by Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda
The process of finding a guru is not a trial-and-error process. It is a safe undertaking clearly delineated in the authoritative scriptures and writings of saintly persons. If one is sincere, the Supreme Authority Himself guides the seeker in the form of scripture and the Lord in the heart. Thus a person is able to advance in his spiritual development and move closer to the goal of self-realization. This article edited from lectures given by Jagad Guru speaks to this most important and relevant topic.
How To Discover Your Life’s Purpose
Everyone wants to move ahead in life. We all try so hard to progress towards our goals, to feel achievement and experience self worth. We also desire the acceptance, love and appreciation of those around us. We spend our lives working towards these goals, not wanting to waste a minute our precious lives. But the teachings of yoga question: what are the goals we should be progressing towards? Is the accumulation of goodies and the respect of others really what I need to live a purposeful life? What is my life's purpose and how do I achieve it?
The Need for Guru
In the ancient Vedic literature known as the Srimad Bhagavatam, there is a very enlightening instruction given by the great sage Prabuddha to King Nimi. The sage Prabuddha states:
My dear King, please know for certain that in the material world there is no happiness. It is simply a mistake to think that there is happiness here, because this material world is full of nothing but miserable conditions.
Srimad Bhagavatam 11.3.21