Patañjali is the compiler of the Yoga Sutras, an important collection of aphorisms on Yoga practice. From the tenth century CE onwards, the legend grew that the same Patañjali was also the author of the Mahābhāṣya, a commentary on... Read More
Patanjali’s definition of yoga
There are many translations and commentaries on the Yoga Sutras. The character of each can perhaps be seen by the translation of the one sentence that gets repeated and quoted each time anybody talks about the book: Patanjali’s definition of... Read More
Best Yoga Sutra Translations
The foundational text of the yoga philosophy is the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali. It’s part of the Mauryan sutra corpus, that is: the earliest part of the text was composed somewhere between 321B and 185BC. The Yoga Sutras are a very short text of... Read More
The Vedas – ancient sacred literature from India
The oldest literature in the world… Well, not quite. The Vedas are however some of the oldest texts to have survived as living literature till our time. In India these texts have the status of the Bible – though there is more of them, and... Read More
What is an Ashram? Spiritual Retreat Centres!
What is an ashram? Why go on a spiritual retreat? This article explains the way of life on an ashram and has links to ashrams and pictures of ashrams in India and outside it. An ashram is a place of spiritual retreat. Usually there are permanent... Read More
Upanishads quotes, sayings and concepts
The philosophical basis of Hinduism and Advaita: What are the Upanishads? After the Vedas the Upanishads are the most revered texts in Hinduism. The Upanishads are texts which contain the basis of the later philosophy of the Hindus. Vedanta especially... Read More
Hindu Religious Books for Children
The Guru Shishya Tradition in Hinduism for Kids The Guru Shishya Parampara/Tradition is a very important part of the Hindu culture and religion. The oral transmission of sacred knowledge, from the teacher to the student, continues till today. There... Read More
Best Sri Aurobindo Books
Integral Yoga: Sri Aurobindo’s Teaching & Method of Practice My Review This is a fascinating book. I’m constantly finding things that are different or the same as Blavatsky’s theosophy. Her teachings are my spiritual home base,... Read More
What inspired me to want to go to India
India is, to me, one of the most fascinating countries in the world. The variety of peoples there, the variety of religions and philosophical perspectives, the continuity of it’s culture that spans at least 2000 years… and not least the... Read More
Auroville, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu
One of the options for my trip was starting at the Theosophical compound in Adyar, Madras. However, I have good reason to think I’m not welcome there. Instead a theosophical friend suggested they might be able to get me a volunteer position in... Read More