Personal growth and inner conflict.

The seventh in the archive series of 2003 from the Satyananda Tapovanam Ashram in Bangalore, India. Conversation and discourse from Swami Nishchalananda. These sessions are edited to get the essence of Swamiji’s replies to questions, or impromptu discourses. .

‘A human being can transcend their own finiteness’

In the modern era do we deify ego? Then again, do we have to fulfil certain aspects of our personality before moving into ones Dharma, one’s inner path.

Moksha, liberation, is outside
the realm of the individual
personality therefore how could
an ego ‘become liberated’.

Further (responding to a question regarding how the individual can transcend the ego in ‘Moksha’, liberation) Swamiji goes on to say the personality, the ego, is a remarkable aspect of the manifest universe, of course. But Moksha is outside the realm of the individual personality therefore how could an ego ‘become liberated’. It may be that we have a destiny to fulfil through our personality, before the ‘bonds’ tying us to our attachments start to loosen; a wider vision evolves without ego involvement.

It may be that we have a destiny to fulfil through our personality, before the ‘bonds’ tying us to our attachments start to loosen; a wider vision evolves without ego involvement.

On the issue of re-incarnation, what is incarnated? Shankaracharya says that only the divine consciousness incarnates, as everything.

A question about conflict in one’s life; what to do about it? Swamiji points out that conflict is a continuing part of our life, the resolution of one often being the start of another inner conflict. But we have the opportunity to grow through conflict, indeed it may well be essential for growth. The Bhagavad Gita is set in the context of an external conflict, but also reflects the inner conflict(s) of Arjuna.

But as well as provoking feelings of conflict such as anger, jealousy etc that may arise from our conditioning, Yoga can also give us tools to deal with the conflict and move out of it.

The truth is not any one religion. Each religion is a path to truth.

Swami Nishchalananda

Another question raises the issue of fundamentalism in religions and how all religions have their share of fanatics. This fanaticism does not seem to fit in a world in which so many are trying to evolve their understanding of a fulfilled life. 

The truth is not any one religion, Swamiji asserts. Each religion is a path to truth.

Finally, the oft heard question, ‘does Yoga have anything to do with Hinduism’ gives rise to a strongly argued line from Swami Nishchalananda.

Please enjoy…..