Mantra, Grace and other matters

The first in a series taken from Swami Nishchalananda’s visit to India
from December 2002 to January 2003

The sessions from Satyananda Tapovanam are quite informal, but always contain pearls of wisdom from Swamiji’s extensive knowledge of Yoga, Tantra, Advaita. These particular pearls are all prompted by questions, often from Westerners who had gone to India with Swamiji. You may have been there!

A question about Mantra leads to an analysis of the different kinds:

Mantra without meaning,
Mantra with meaning,
Mantra requiring reflection.

All have their place, as Swamiji explains in the recording.

The issue of Grace and Effort becomes a fascinating exploration of the fact that we have to make effort to progress on a spiritual path, but where does insight really come from?

Yoga starts when we become open to insight, inner inspiration, Grace. Our wish for enlightenment or spiritual experience is by nature ego driven, yet a life driven by egotistical desires is the very thing that blocks our spiritual development.
The flow of Grace does not come from Time, it comes from the Timeless.

A final question prompts a discussion on the value of intellectual learning, and the point that there is no end to the accumulation of learning and information.

But what is ‘Gyana’, knowledge from beyond the mind?

Please enjoy this first 20 minute compilation from the series.