The Vedas teach about swadharma. How can I learn more about this concept? Any texts in particular? Any videos maybe? Thank you for your help. Karine

Jai Maa Sadasyas,

This Saturday, January 25th is the next Kula Meet where we have the opportunity to spend community time with Acharya Shunya and each other.

The timing is 8am PT. You can check your local time zone here.

For the Zoom link and session details, here is the event page.

Looking forward to this special time to be in the presence of the community and our teacher.

I was just reading Shweta's blog post on some key ideas from Bhagavad Gita. It is full of beautiful reminders. I especially liked the part on seva. Shweta says; "We are not here to live our selfish purpose as much as we think we are. We are here to live God’s

purpose through our instrument. Imagine a car that thinks its purpose is to drive to the nearest parking lot. But the driver intends for the car to drive it all the way to Italy or even make it fly to the moon. We are very much stuck in the role of the car."

I think this car analogy is quite insightful and this reminded me of a lecture I listened to some time ago from a Buddhist monk. He said, imagine yourself being in the backseat of a car trying to go to the airport. If you do not…

“Let my teachings assure you, there is nothing but love”

This is my favorite quote by our dear Acharya that I use every single day, in the early stages of my meditation.  This morning I thought it might be such a beautiful offering, to each other and to our beloved teacher, if we are comfortable, to share our favorite quotes of our teacher that we hold with us and draw on to bring us back or to bring us closer to Self.  It would be so heartwarming to hear everyone’s gems, especially today because it’s bitterly cold here in Toronto (I’m sure my neighbour Suchira would agree!).

May these bring light and warmth to whoever needs it today!

Jai Maa

Jai Maa,

Today, we are meeting for the first of two Tuesday sessions where we will feel the inner rhythm and open our hearts to the 'Om Jai Jagadeeshwara Hare' bhajan.

Joining us is Swara, who will be sharing her musical gifts and leading us to connect with our voices to the Divine.

Here are the details to join:

https://www.acharyashunya.com/event-details-registration/learn-to-chant-lineage-mantras-and-bhajan-2025-01-21-18-00

Jai Maa,

Today we will review Verse 5 of Adi Shankaracharya's Nirvana Shatkam. It's the second to last verse, and it asks us to examine how we allow the life circumstances, characteristics, and relationships we have in the world to define us.

We will also keep some time at the end of the session for you to share how the journey of neti-neti (discerning what you are Not to reveal the Self within) has been for you.

New to this series? Feel free to join today's session to experience a peek into this potent Advaita Vedanta text.

Session details and Zoom link are here:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88170368392?pwd=KAbYB2IhqBTOIyExq5kM1pY77wo2VJ.1   

Jai Maa,

Acharya Shunya's wisdom community has space for everyone at any stage of their journey.

Some will come to be uplifted by a few words to take them onward on their path. Others will stay, create a spiritual home for themselves, and establish roots.

That is the freedom and flexibility offered by an open-air, free-will community learning model. You can choose how you engage.

For those of you who are curious about going deeper into your personal journey, Acharya Shunya has added a new section to the Member Portal. In the Path of Discipleship area, she gives explanations and contemplations that are relevant to certain students who feel inspired. You may wish to explore these pages in an unhurried way.

In Service with Gratitude,

Jai Maa,

Last week, we reverberated with three lineage mantras.

The recording of that session is available on YouTube in the Vedic Sadhana Teachings playlist.

If you would like to look at the slides for the text of the verses, there is a PDF included here in this post for your easy reference.

Feel free to share if there is a certain word from these mantras that is particularly resonant for you, or if you have been spending some time exploring them.

In Service, Sadhvi Ishani

I'm introducing myself here, I recently started the Sovereign Self course after taking part in The Embrace of Saraswati last summer. I'm filled with much gratitude to be here and have already experienced deep and surprising shifts in my experience of living.

After viewing the lesson in which Shunya Ji outlines the 9 dimensions of the Self, I stood up and felt like I might faint. As as I leaned over my desk to catch my breath it felt as though something old had suddenly been expunged out of me, like it fell out of my spirit. When I stood up straight I felt different than I had before. Much lighter and more here.

A day or two later, I was on a phone call with my mother, with whom I have had a painful relationship. A few minutes into the call I realized that I had an option about…