We all know something about the nature of the conscious mind. We think, feel and act and are conscious of our thoughts, feelings and actions. And whatever we think, feel and do, in other words all our experiences, they’re all stored in the subconscious mind.
We can remember certain things we did. Why are we able to remember? Because what we did remains embedded in the mind. Every thought, feeling, and action leaves an impression, or samskara, on the mind. Nothing is lost. The sum total of those impressions is what constitutes the character of an individual. In other words, we are the result of what we have thought, felt and done.
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On July 12th, about 100 people gathered at Yog Sadhan Ashram to celebrate Vyas Puja. For those unfamiliar with this special occasion, it is the day to celebrate one’s Guru. At the Ashram, we honored our Satguru Chaman Lal Kapur Ji, as well as Swami Mulkh Raj Ji (Guruji’s own Guru) and Prabhu Ram Lal Ji (Swamiji’s Guru).
In addition to reading from the scriptures, singing beautiful bhajans, demonstrating yoga asanas and cleansings and eating delicious sattvic food, Acharya Hersh Khetarpal delivered a sermon on the importance of a guru in one’s life. As always, her speech was illuminating as well as inspiring, and it covered the deep questions we all have about why it’s necessary to have a guru, what a guru provides in our life that cannot be found anywhere else, and what to look for in a guru. You can watch the 14 minute lecture as well as view pictures from the event below.
Prayer is talking directly to God. For great yogis who are in a perpetual state of prayer, God is more real than the external world. But to ordinary men, prayer relies on faith in God.
For this reason, it has been questioned whether there is a necessity for prayer. Some ask, “If there is no God, what good is prayer? Can it change the laws of karma?” It’s difficult to provide proof that is easily tangible and verifiable to our grosser minds.
In this lecture, Acharya Hersh Khetarpal makes several points that show the efficacy of prayer. She answers the crucial questions of why we pray and the various ways we pray. As with any yogic practice, one should also contemplate on their progress from time to time. For this reason, Acharyaji ends the lecture by providing simple yet powerful questions to help us assess whether or not we’re actually realizing the benefits of prayer.
Click on the play button to listen to the 23 minute lecture:
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The following article was originally delivered as a Satsang Sermon by Acharya Hersh Khetarpal on September 1, 2002.
One of the most stirring Yogic scriptures, the Kath Upanishad uses two marvelous words to help us see which course of action will lead to trouble in the long run and which will lead to detached, loving living. These words apply to every choice, in every circumstance, so they dispel the haze that often surrounds a difficult situation.
Whenever you have a choice, ask yourself this question: “Which is Preya and which is Shreya, the long term good?”
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Who are we really?
Are we the body given to us in this life? Or are we the state of mind or emotions we feel? Perhaps we are the family we belong to, house we own, or car we drive. In fact, we are none of these things.
In this lecture, Acharya Hersh Khetarpal begins by explaining what it really means that we are our aatma (soul) and that the real question is how can we learn to associate with our aatma and disassociate with our mind, body, ego, etc.
Acharya Ji’s lecture goes even further to explain karmic theory – how our aatma passes through multiple lives according to our previous and current actions, with the ultimate goal of ending the birth/death cycle and merging with the Supreme soul. The lecture also briefly describes the 4 yogic paths (bhakti yoga, jyana yoga, karma yoga and raja yoga) to the goal of moksha, or where the individual soul merges with the Supreme soul.
Click on the play button to listen to the 19 minute lecture:
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