Journal Posts
posted: 6/11/12
In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna imparts that all of nature is composed of three forces—Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, collectively known as the Gunas. Continually in flux and intermingling, these three forces manifest in the material world as conditions present everywhere, existing in varying degrees of concentration and combination.
Depending on their singular or intermingled strength, they determine the nature, actions, and behavior in the material realm. They create delusion, desires, and attachment.
Sattva manifests itself as purity, calmness, light, health, illumination, and truth. When...
posted: 6/11/12
From the Preface
His Holiness Sri Yogi Dharma Mittra is a precious gem and a jewel among the highest and most exalted Yogis of time immemorial. For decades, seekers who wish to awaken to the Supreme Self through the Holy science of Yoga have turned to Dharma. In Sri Dharma, all aspirants find a remarkable simplicity and complete humility—a true friend to all and the most shining example of living Yoga.
His deep understanding of the essential nature of discipleship to his own great Guru (Swami Kailashananda) provided the foundation for all of us who would later find our Guru in Dharma. His...
posted: 6/11/12
Asteya may be achieved through simple living. Steya (stealing) is the result of the inability to control desires for sense-pleasures. Desire is the root-cause for all stealing. When the mind and senses seek enjoyment, thoughts of theft arise as a means of obtaining and satisfying those desires. Desires lend an imaginary attractiveness to the object sought, slaying discrimination, and soon destroy the Yogi’s ethical foundation.
Stealing can occur on many levels. You may steal knowledge, without asking permission to use someone else’s ideas or forms of expression. Overeating or waste is...
posted: 6/11/12
Aparigraha is the non acceptance of that which is not required for the maintenance of the body, and items that are considered luxurious and oftentimes binding due to the strings attached by he giver. The Sadhaka must be simple. Do not keep things that you do not need, and never take from life more than is needed for simple living. Lose any desire to have what belongs to others. Be always content and satisfied with whatever you have. Have Supreme faith in God.
Greed is born from desires from the past and is one of the three gateways to suffering, to the ruin of the self. Unnecessary...
posted: 6/11/12
Brahmacharya is not merely the life of celibacy and spiritual study, but the purification of all the senses. The practice of brahmacharya is the vow of abstinence for all sense objects, in particular mentally. Overeating, oversleeping, overtalking and dwelling on, or longing for sense objects are all breaks in brahmacharya. Purity and freedom from lust in thought, word and deed is an essential part of the vow, however. It is freedom from sexual thoughts and sexual urges.
One of the purposes of brahmacharya is saving or conserving energy. The loss of sexual fluids and prana leads to death and...
posted: 6/11/12
Kirtan is the practice of devotional chanting, the coming together to sing God’s glories and elevate one’s consciousness from the mundane to the Divine. The uplifting vibrations created by singing the names of the Lord purifies the mind and stirs the heart.
Kirtan gives strength and awakens nobility. It harmonizes the nerves and eradicates doubt. By reflection and worship of God, love, serenity and compassion are greatly increased, promoting a positive and pleasant temperament. The cosmic harmony and divine intoxication the Sadhaka acquires through Kirtan removes the erroneous ideas of birth...
posted: 6/11/12
Presented by Chandra Om to her Guru, Dharma Mittra, at the Guru Purnima Celebration, 2007
Discipleship of an enlightened sage is an amazing journey. Dharma Mittra is such a being.
Over the years of being with Dharma, I have seen many disciples come and go, but in the true sense of sanyas, Dharma always remains... there for anyone who wants to listen and learn. His love and compassion flood the disciple’s heart, eroding and eradicating the ego. With single-minded devotion and dedication you can achieve your goal and attain Self-realization very quickly—in one way—total dedication to the...
posted: 6/11/12
Of all the qualities to be cultivated by the Yogi, there is none higher than Satya. Satya is complete truthfulness, in which thought, word and act should agree. Satya does not twist or modify in any way.
God is truth. Truth alone prevails. Whatever you have heard or seen, it must be spoken of as it is. By living truthfully, the mind is purified and the Divine light dawns. A Sadhaka is of noble countenance—nobility is truth.
Talkative people are often exaggerating. A Yogi should say exactly what they see and represent exactly the truth. But, if someone is going to get hurt, ahimsa takes the...
posted: 6/11/12
Saucha is perfect purity in body, thought and action—internal and external cleanliness. Internally, saucha allows the mind and body to be free of all impurities so that they may reflect the highest spiritual truth.
In the yoga system, the only real dirt is avidya, ignorance of the true Self. Deeper levels of saucha are in the mind, emotions and even deeper in the intellect. The Yogi works to remove negative emotions and thoughts, all of which are due to ignorance that is exposed with a clear intellect. The mind, little by little, must be freed from feelings of lust, envy, pride, fear,...
posted: 6/11/12
Santosha is the result of complete faith and trust in God. A Yogi is always content. Through contentment one enters into deep meditation. Do not seek your happiness in the external, ephemeral world. External circumstances are ever changing and can never bring lasting happiness.
Contentment dawns as a result of knowledge of the laws of karma. Everything is as it should be. The Yogi is a lover of God, and never disturbed, bothered or concerned with activities in the material world. Allow the Lord to be the guide, not the ego. Renounce all desires, wanting nothing but the love of God. See the...
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