Tejomoyee Ma narrates a charming story from ancient India about a devout man who held a grand worship ceremony in his house, but then as the reception was winding down, a drunk person barged in and trashed the whole place. The man went into terrible grief, complaining how God could let this happen. Then the Lord appeared and chastised the man: "You have enjoyed so much peace, love and devotion throughout the day, but for just five minutes at the end you could not tolerate this one drunk man? I put up with him day in and day out!" The moral of the story is acceptance. We need to learn to accept all things that come our away. We apply the labels of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ to things and events purely based on our egoic desires. That which fulfills our desires - we label as “good”, and that which is contrary to them or is hurtful - we label as “bad”.  But situations vary, and what one person deems as "good" may appear as "bad" to another. It is subjective, based on...

Swami Probbudhanda explains that Oneness is what allows us to love one another because we see ourselves in all and all in ourselves. The One who resides within is the same. Swamiji also cites Sri Sri Bhagavan: that the problem in the world today is not nuclear bombs, aids or cancer but a deficit of love in people’s hearts. This video was recorded on Swami's visit to Brazil in August 2018. Biography of Swami Probuddhananda

Swami Prahladananda explains that the great spiritual masters like Sri Sri Bhagavan do not insist on any particular spiritual path for their students. They fuse all the paths together - be it the path of devotion (bhakti yoga), the path of action (karma yoga), the path of knowledge (jnana yoga), or the path of yoga and meditation (raja yoga). The great masters try to bring their students to the light in a way that is best suited for the students. In IVS, Bhagavan teaches meditation, selfless service, discrimination, and devotion. An aspirant will find everything they need. Even musician devotees get to use their musical talents as a spiritual sadhana. The great thing about realization, Swami Prahladananda explains, is that when an aspirant attains it, no matter what path they originally took to get there, they will automatically come to know about all the other paths. They will get the knowledge about all of them. It all comes together at the end. Biography of Swami Prahladananda...

Swami Sankarananda says that God is inexpressible and indescribable. “He is the expression of infinite love.” We all have love in us, of one sort or another. But it is not the same as divine love. How to recognize divine love? It can be felt when we cry for God, it can be felt when our mind is being transformed by the power of God. Transformation of the mind is the most important but hardest task. Because we cannot control our own thoughts, we cannot transform them ourselves. But Bhagavan has that power which can exert influence over our mind, our thoughts and our tendencies. Merely by His words, wish, or touch, the meanest of the mean can become a wise and holy person. The divinity is already within us, we are all potentially divine. But Bhagavan can ignite that divinity within us, and begin the process of transformation. This video was recorded during swami’s visit to devotees in Barcelona, Spain in 2012. Biography of Swami Sankarananda

What is spirituality?  It is a technique, an attitude with which to look at the world. In general life , people take the world to be real, then drawing on their intellect and past experiences, project onto others labels of ‘good’ and ‘bad.’ How we think of others, that sends them the message (e.g. through our posture, facial expressions, tone of voice), and automatically, the other person reacts to that assuming that very role. Thus, confirming our original belief, no matter how erroneous it was! But in spirituality, we teach that persons are neither good nor bad. Everybody has done some good and some bad deeds in their lives, but it is not who they are.  Hence it is better to project good qualities onto others instead. What will happen, most of the time, is that, in response, the other person will automatically reflect the same good quality back at you. Think of smiling sincerely at a person passing your way, they automatically smile back, and soften their guar...

The chanting of the Guru Vandana mantra at a public event presented by International Vedanta Society in the Kolkata city center. This video was recorded in May of 2018. Guru Vandana is recorded in the Guru Gita (the Song of Guru), that is a part of the Skanda Purana (a sacred text from the Shaivite  tradition). Guru Gita is a treatise on finding one's true Guru and then surrendering to him with the totality of one's being. At IVS, devotees sing this chant several times per day, and concentrate on our guru Bhagavan.

A rare footage of Sri Sri Bhagavan inspiring a devotee to attain the state where they no longer feel separate from Him. This is not an intellectual exercise, Bhagavan says but a heart experience. Know the guru to be all, as God, and know that you are one with Him. Otherwise you will continue to feel disturbance of separation.

Sri Sri Bhagavan narrates the early part of the Buddha's spiritual life, who upon coming out of His sheltered palace, for the first time saw the worldly realities of old age, illness and death. What made the Buddha different was that He wanted to find a way to overcome these sorrows, to put an end to them. Bhagavan explains that "Buddha" or "Bodha" means total knowledge. Bhagavan draws a comparison to our contemporary life, including His own, pointing out that these struggles are very much present in our lives today as well. We should become aware of them, and their inevitability; try not to shun them, but face them .

Swamiji discusses the most important holiday of Guru Purnima.  Whereever you find yourself in the world, you can celebrate it alone, in private.   On this day, the disciple meditates on their relationship with his/her guru. Guru is everything - my mother, my father, sister, brother, friend, the guru everything to me! We dedicate this day to this relationship. This holiday stems back to the day of birth of Sage Vyasa. He was the sage who put in writing all the Vedas. Note: t he day is celebrated on the full moon day (Purnima) in the Hindu month of Ashadha (June–July). In 2018 it falls on July 27th. Biography of Swami Nirgunananda

Tejomoyee Ma narrates the history and meaning of the Guru Purnima celebration in India, which dates back to the birth of Sage Vyasa (the writer of the Vedas). Tejo Ma says that the guru plays the most important role in the aspirant's spiritual life. The guru is the one who imparts knowledge on you and helps you realize your true identity, as the Self. Biography of Tejomoyee Ma

Tejomoyee Ma says that spiritual practice is like preparing to take an umbrella with you ahead of an impending rain. We must invest in it even when our days are fine and it is not yet raining. Why? Because the fine feeling will not last, and turbulent time  are  certain to come.  Having made the proper investment, spirituality will pay off at a future time when we need it most. Because invariably life always takes its turn. We must think of God or Guru always.  Sri Sri Bhagavan always encourages us to do so. We must develop an unconditional love for God, because in this world all love is otherwise conditional.  Biography of Tejomoyee Ma

Swami Prahladananda explains the sweet path of devotion ( bhakti yoga) for the realization of God. It is a flexible path because the devotee may love and worship God in any way of their choosing. It is therefore considered a much easier path than, say Raja Yoga, which is stricter and more methodical. Swamiji discusses the four main stages of Bhakti Yoga, namely Bhakta , Bhav , Mahabhav  and Prem : 1. In the stage of Bhakta (a devotee) - the person gives God a certain role, like that of a friend, a father, a mother, a child, or a beloved, and assumes a corresponding role of a devotee themselves. Thus practicing, the devotee gains pure love for God. Like Sri Ramakrishna used to practice for years taking care of a Ramlal figurine (Lord Rama as a child): feeding, bathing and putting him to sleep. 2. Proceeding thus, the devotee enters the stage of Bhava , where they develop single-minded devotion for their God ideal ( Ishta ). The love becomes so intense and the mind so one...