Spirituality
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Vivekananda: How to Kill Laziness
Most of us struggle with laziness and procrastination. We are driven by feelings and emotions. We wait for the “right time” to act – waiting until we feel motivated. We read books and watch videos, get excited for an hour and then the spark fades. The cycle repeats. It’s in Your Head Psychologically, we resist… Continue reading
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Vedanta: Freedom from Suffering
In Vedanta, the root cause of all suffering is ignorance. This isn’t a lack of information; it’s not knowing our true nature. We suffer because we identify with a “false self” – the Ego. What is Ego Ego is simply a collection of labels you use to define yourself. It’s made of things like: The… Continue reading
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Vivekananda – Sahasrara Chakra
The Sahasrara, or the Thousand-Petaled Lotus, is the final destination of the human journey. Located at the crown of the head, it is not merely a chakra but the Summit of existence. Associated with pure white light, it represents the point where the “individual” current we have been tracking through the spine finally breaks free… Continue reading
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Vivekananda – Ajna Chakra or Third Eye
In the modern world, we are constantly bombarded with “distractions”. Our attention is fragmented, pulled in a thousand directions by notifications, anxieties and desires. Swami Vivekananda pointed to the Ajna Chakra – the “Third Eye” located between the eyebrows – as the ultimate solution to this mental chaos. To Vivekananda, the Ajna was not a… Continue reading
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Vivekananda – Vishuddha Chakra
If the Heart is where we feel truth, the Vishuddha Chakra – at the base of the throat – is where we find the courage to speak it. In the traditional yogic system, it is symbolized by a sixteen-petaled blue lotus and governed by the element of Ether (Space). But to Swami Vivekananda, this center… Continue reading
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Vivekananda on Anahata Chakra
The Anahata Chakra is located at the center of the chest. It is associated with the Air element and for good reason: air is everywhere, it’s invisible and it connects every living thing. While the lower chakras are about “me” – my food, my safety, my desires, my power – the Heart is the first… Continue reading
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Vivekananda – Manipura Chakra
In the modern world, we talk a lot about “productivity hacks” and “motivation”. But Swami Vivekananda looked at the human system through a much older, sharper lens. He pointed to the Manipura Chakra – the Solar Plexus – as the engine of the human machine. Located at the navel and fueled by the element of… Continue reading
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Vivekananda – Mastering the Svadhisthana Chakra
While the Muladhara is the “Earth” foundation of our existence, the Svadhisthana Chakra represents the “Water” element – the fluid, shifting world of our emotions, desires and creative impulses. Located in the sacral region, just above the base of the spine, this center is symbolized by an orange lotus and the seed mantra “VAM”. In… Continue reading
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Vivekananda – Mastering the Muladhara Chakra
The Muladhara Chakra, located at the base of the spine, is the bedrock of the human system. It represents the Earth element, the vibrant color red and vibrates to the seed mantra “LAM”. As our first energy center, it governs our sense of survival, physical health and grounding. When this center is balanced, the transformation… Continue reading
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Maha Shivratri – The Night to Go Beyond the Mind
For most, Maha Shivratri is a night of colorful processions, fasting and chanting. But for the seeker, and the yogi it is something far more profound. It is a rare moment when the universe conspires to help the human spirit transcend its limitations. 1. The Geometry of the Cosmos We often forget that we are… Continue reading