-
In the world but not of the world
I must have probably written about this topic before but I came across 2 photos on the internet that made me want to write on this topic before. There are also people who keep asking me how can I be both fulfilling responsibilities expected of a normal human being (playing out my roles of being…
-
Bhakti Yoga
This is the third path to enlightenment, besides Gyana Yoga and Karma Yoga. This is the path via Bhakti, which means through prayers and devotion. Not ordinary prayers, not ordinary devotion. But complete surrender. Complete devotion. To the Self, to the Truth, to the Universe, to Krishna- whatever pleases you. Many people pray everyday, but…
-
The 3 Paths to Enlightenment
There are 3 paths to spiritual enlightenment- gyan yoga, karma yoga, and bhakti yoga. Gyan yoga is enlightenment through knowledge. Knowledge of what is real and what is not, what is true and what is untrue. It’s not as complicated because everything is unreal and untrue except awareness which you already are. But the trick…
-
Schrodinger’s Cat
In your spiritual path, you’ll reach a point where you realize that you are nothing more than a character on the stage. Many people believe that they “got it” when they reach this phase. They think they have understood. Their spiritual ego swells with pride. But that’s not it.
-
About the Movie “My Dinner with Andre”
Have you watched the movie “My Dinner with Andre”? I like the movie because it gives a good example of what epiphanies look like. Not enlightenment but the very first step of the journey. When Andre says “ Yeah, well, most…most people I met thought there was something wrong with me. They didn’t say that…
-
What you can learn from Buddhism?
A few bullet points here-
-
What did Buddha achieve?
Buddha achieved Enlightenment. But what did Buddha achieve from achieving Enlightenment? Buddha has answered this question himself. He declared, “Truly, I attained nothing from Enlightenment”. What does that mean?
-
What is Self?
Apart from thoughts, there’s no such thing as mind. Apart from thoughts, there’s no independent entity called the world. Of all thoughts that arise in the body, the I-thought is the first. The irony is that the person glimpsing this moment of higher consciousness, this Oneness, encounters the ultimate realization that there is nothing to…
-
Happiness, Sex, Health, and Death
We crave happiness because we think it is the ultimate goal of life. And we think happiness comes out of fulfilling our desires. But happiness is not the fulfillment of desire. Rather, it is the desirelessness that gives happiness. Some people pursue spiritual enlightenment for all the wrong reasons, and then pursue the path using…
-
KOANS
Koans are important expedient measures to encourage the prepared minds to suddenly see the truth by unseeing the false and realizing the futility of efforts. These koans were popularized in the Zen tradition of Buddhism- both Soto and Rinzai sects, but mostly in the Rinzai sect. These Koans are usually in the form of questions,…
-
In the World but not Of the World
Don’t be anything or anybody; just be The silliest thing about enlightenment is the amount of hard work it requires to be enlightened. People practice for several years and yet get only a glimpse of it. This is something that people can’t buy no matter how rich they are- so in that sense this is…
Bishal Gyawali 