← Grihastha Dharma

video
Advancing Through Life's Four Stages

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami gives a presentation entitled "Advancing Through Life's Four Stages" which featured in the Jan/Feb/Mar 2013 Hinduism Today edition. In this presentation Bodhinatha explains how life is measured in four progressive stages, ...
video
Making Dharma Your Own - Publisher's Desk

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami reads his editorial from the October/November/December 2016 edition of Hinduism Today magazine. "Dharma is a complex and comprehensive term with many meanings, including religion, divine law, law of being, way of righteousness, ethics, duty, responsibility, virtue, justice, goodness and truth." Bodhinatha refers to Auvaiyar's Atti Chudhi verses - first verse focusing on the desire ...
video
Making Dharma Your Own

Bodhinatha's presentation is based on the Oct/Nov/Dec 2016 Hinduism Today edition and is entitled "Making Dharma Your Own". Dharma is a complex and comprehensive term for religion, ethics, duty, virtue and is ...
audio
What Is Dharma?

Dharma is religious patterns which when followed promote the wellbeing of the individual, the family and society. Patterns so that the soul matures and gets closer to God, closer to ...
text
Comment Elever les Enfants Avec Amour

Traduction: Jean S. Sahai, Guadeloupe ...
video
Advancing Through Life's Four Stages

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami reads his editorial from the Jan/Feb/Mar 2013 edition of Hinduism Today magazine. In this edition, Bodhinatha outlines the nature and purpose of each of the four stages ...
video
Six Levels of Practice

Bodhinatha's presentation is drawn from Gurudeva's teachings on daily practice and is entitled "Six Levels of Practice". In this presentation, Bodhinatha explores each of the six practices, namely (1) Making Dharma Your ...
audio
Parents are the First Guru

Parents are the first gurus. This will be my message to parents in Mauritius, Malaysia and Singapore when I visit them this September. Everything starts in the home. To change ...
audio
Karma is not destiny

If the manifestation of karma is inevitable, why do parents need to discipline their children at all? If something is in the child's karma and it's going to manifest inevitably, ...
audio
Martin Luther King Day and Hinduism on Tolerance

Parents need to teach tolerance. There are many practical ways to systematically do this from the pamphlet from the Southern Poverty Law Center http://www.splcenter.org/ such as avoiding stereotypes and valuing ...
audio
Ahimsa in Speech (Part 2)

Ahimsa is a central principle in Hinduism. Let us take a look at the words we use in joking and teasing. These words are hurting. How do we know? Gurudeva ...
audio
What Are the Two Paths?

Bodhinatha addresses the misconception that householders should be detached from their family and professional life. Using the Tirukural as a reference he highlights that detachment for the householder means to ...
audio
The Self is like Waking Up

The Realization of Parasiva is like waking up from a dream during which you were dreaming that you weren't the Self. But you were all along. Claim it. Tamil word ...
audio
Parental Closeness

Parents are your first guru. Parental closeness, meaning children's closeness with their parents, needs to be developed through hugging and verbalizing "I love you." Distance develops from a threatening atmosphere where the ...
audio
Creating a Family Plan Part 1

Nartana ritau, the season from mid-April to mid-August, is the season for planning. Gurudeva put emphasis on the three seasons, as he liked variety, and Bodhinatha tells us all about ...
audio
Creating a Family Plan Part 2

How do we develop goals as part of our plans? Bodhinatha answers this question in part two of his talk on planning. He gives many sample goals and hopes that ...
audio
Controlling Anger part 1

In part one of a talk on anger, Bodhinatha speaks of the various levels of difficulty people have with this instinctive state of consciousness. Gurudeva gave some very useful suggestions ...
audio
Controlling Anger part 2

In part two of his talk on anger, Bodhinatha refers back to a trip Gurudeva made to Malaysia in June 2000. Before Gurudeva left he was thinking positively about the ...
audio
Controlling Anger part 3

In part three of his talk on anger, Bodhinatha begins by referring to the Tirukural and its chapter called "Avoidance of Anger," which is right before the chapter on ahimsa, the cardinal ...
text
Hindu Hospitality

Be one to whom the mother is a God. Be one to whom the father is a God. Be one to whom the teacher is a God. Be one to ...
audio
Karma Management Day 3, Part 3

2002 Kauai Innersearch Day 3, Part 3 Bodhinatha unveils the 5th principle of Karma Management, "create no new negative karmas." This involves making a promise to ourselves, a vrata of a sort. To fulfill ...
audio
Bodhinatha's Travels to Mauritius part 1

Bodhinatha reports on his recent trip to Mauritius, Malaysia and Singapore. On the way to Mauritius he stopped in Malaysia and had an uplifting and well attended satsang with our ...
audio
Be Firm but Kind with Children

Cybertalk: Bodhinatha gives a wonderful upadesha based on the Living with Siva lesson of the day (178) called "Be Firm but Kind." This is one of the Positive Discipline principles. Children today must ...
audio
Bodhinatha's Travels to Mauritius part 3

Bodhinatha continues his narrative of his visit to Asia (part 4), ending in Malaysia and Singapore. There was a grand booksigning at the Kandaswami Temple, inspiring coordination with our youth ...
audio
Gurudeva's Mahavakya Part 2

Bodhiantha continues in Part 2 of his talk on the mahavakya, or great sayings, of our guru parampara. This part is on Gurudeva's mahavakya, split into five groups, with a ...
audio
Not Getting Angry

After a short review of his recent talk on the Hindu philosophical outlook on the nature of man, Bodhinatha begins with a "Dear Bodhinatha" e-mail written in by a devotee who ...
audio
The True Sources of Happiness

Bodhinatha describes how harmonious relationships are maintained in grihastha life, in which the natural state is to be surrounded by family and friends. These relationships are important and help us ...
audio
How Does Moksha Ritau Apply to Family Life?

Part 1 of 4 - Bodhinatha talks about the moksha ritau, the cool season and one-third of the year when we focus on the inside of ourselves and making improvements ...
audio
Uplifting Those Who Don't Want to Be Uplifted

Many of our members take care of elderly parents, which can be a stressful situation if the parent is in a negative state of mind and refuses to budge from ...
audio
Affirmation Part 3-- Family affirmation. Sharing Life Decisions with God, Gods and Guru

Affirmation Part 3 of 3. Gurudeva developed an affirmation for his married devotees and just finished editing it just a few weeks before his mahasamadhi. Bodhinatha shares this affirmation with ...
audio
Yama 8 - Arjava, Honesty

Yama number 8 - arjava, honesty. Part of the reason for these talks is that there is a high demand in Malaysia. We need to harness the tendency to be ...
audio
Yama 10 - Saucha, Purity

Yama number 10, saucha, purity. Purity includes clean clothing, good character, physical surroundings and no foul language. Physical purity is important, especially washing clothes regularly, or putting them in the ...
audio
Niyama 1 - Hri, Remorse and Modesty

Bodhinatha speaks on hri, the niyama of remorse, which is needed to resolve problems. Niyamas focus on helping us to express our divine qualities. Criminals will repeat crimes unless they ...
audio
Niyama 2 - Santosha, Contentment

Bodhinatha speaks on santosha, contentment. This niyama is about being content and happy on the inside of ourselves no matter what happens on the outside. Unfulfilled desires keep us from ...
audio
Niyama 3 - Dana, Giving

After a short introduction on the progress of our children's course, of efforts to get Gurudeva's teachings to a broader region through classes and camps in various countries, Bodhinatha speaks ...
audio
Yama 7 - Daya, Compassion

Yama number 7 - daya, compassion. Compassion is conquering cruelty. It is the outgrowth of love. Bodhinatha explains he difference beween ahimsa and daya. Part of compassion is the desire ...
audio
Niyama 5 - Ishvarapujana, Worship

Bodhinatha speaks on the niyama of Ishvarapujana, worship of the Gods. Cultivate devotion by having a home shrine so that God and the Gods live with you all day long. ...
audio
Improving Our Behavior with the Help of the Guru Part 7

Part 7 of 7 - Continuing Bodhinatha's first Guru Purnima class on the role of the guru and his task of helping us improve our behavior, Bodhinatha explains that part ...
audio
Yama 4 - Brahmacharya

Bodhinatha spoke on the yama of brahmacharya, purity and chastity, today. He described it as the harnessing of the instincts, including sexual desire, stressing the value of remaining celibate until ...
audio
The Two Paths of Hinduism

Blue in the outer aura. Pure devotion does not contain the grey of fear. See dharma properly: duty and obligation first, then meditation. The family path we can't renounce. The ...
audio
Harnessing Reaction; Live in the Box of Dharma

Responding and handling karma when feeling mistreated. The goal: insight into our self, get into a more refined cycle of life. Harness instinctive and intellectual reaction and forgive, karma's totally ...
audio
Challenges Bring Progress

Living through major challenges, gaining better self control, moving in the right direction, trying for improvement not perfection, we progress spiritually. Learn to be peaceful in the midst of intense ...
audio
What Is the Ideal Home?

"Harmony is a fragile vibration which the family protects." Gurudeva expressed how deeply integral the Tirukural was to his teachings. It is not enough to take care of immediate family members, you need to reach out to others. ...
audio
How Do We Receive Guests?

Treat the guest as God; the guest's heart is more sensitive than the most sensitive flower. If we generously give to others, we will attract more wealth in this and ...
audio
Visiting the Temple Purifies the Mind, Grants Humility

Religion needs to be of the present. Mankind is evolving spiritually; mass consciousness is rising. When we go to the temple, in the right spirit, contributing devotion and prana, being ...
audio
Rising in High Love

Gurudeva talks about voice and prana, tuning into the akasha and relates this to the CD's being made for Merging with Siva. Cold and warm teachings are defined as is ...
audio
Karma, No Escape

The first part of the talk provides an overview of the four schools or "kulams" of the Ashram as it serves young men of the Church community who come to ...
audio
Human Conduct Within the Home

Human conduct within the home, the extended family is today's topic. How do we work out our karma and work out our faults? Gurudeva says it is through relating with ...
audio
Human Conduct Within the Home

Human conduct within the home, the extended family is today's topic. How do we work out our karma and work out our faults? Gurudeva says it is through relating with ...
audio
Fulfill Dharma to Attain Realization

Bodhinatha comments on excerpts from the book "Self and Samadhi." Worship of Lord Ganesha helps us get settled in our dharma. Challenge ourselves through our duties. Interests and desires change from life ...
audio
Color's Magic: Blessings and Their Opposite

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami reads this chapter from his book Merging with Siva ...
audio
Men and Women Are Not the Same: The Ideals of Family Life

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami reads this chapter from his book Merging with Siva ...
audio
Men and Women Are Not the Same: Mutual Appreciation

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami reads this chapter from his book Merging with Siva ...
audio
Karma Created by Good Conduct

Today Gurudeva answers a question about love, and warns to avoid animal magnatism, that good astrological compatibility is necessary to create a lasting relationship in which the couple help each ...
audio
Bodhinatha discusses the manipura and anahata chakras, Siva's omniscience and the yoga pada

A class given by Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami during the 2014 Mauritius Innersearch. He discusses the manipura and anahata chakras, Siva's omniscience and the yoga pada. ...
audio
The Two Paths

Master Course Recording. Chapter 11. Odic and actinic forces. Move awareness into simshumbisi, sushumna. Difference and similarities between man and woman. Ida and pingala. Sannyasin ideals. Attitude toward family life. ...
audio
Love (Part 5)

Gurudeva tells us to. Keep the wife and children happy. The family begins to flourish in love. Love says I'm sorry. Love says thank you. Love is also generosity. Whoever ...
audio
Stop War in the Home, Muruga Watches, Skanda Shasti

Lord Muruga is watching closely worldwide. He sees children beaten down so they have no self will, no identity. Inspired by Lord Muruga, Gurudeva tells us how husbands should be ...
audio
Psychic Intrusion, Looking after Parents

A cyberspace devotee asks how he can remove a deep seeded psychic intrusion in his subconscious mind. Gurudeva explains that in Merging with Siva the Vasana Daha Tantra is explained ...
audio
Abusive Husband

A cyberspace devotee asks if a husband is abusive should a wife sit back and do nothing or should she let her voice be heard. Gurudeva says this problem is ...
audio
Who's Poorer? (House, Home, Hotel)

A cyber-devotee writes to Gurudeva about his concerns over the poor. It troubles him to see them on the streets and read of their struggles. But Gurudeva has yet another ...
audio
Sin and Guilt, Part 1

Do you need to hear this? Does the mere mention of the word "guilt" make you cringe just a little? Then you better listen....Gurudeva begins his new talk on this ...
audio
Don't Tell Syndrome

Keeping secrets in the family. Gurudeva shows how The "Don't tell Mom. Don't tell Dad" syndrome will eventually tear a family apart. Gurudeva also states again what makes a home a home, different from a ...
audio
Divorce, Part 1

One of our TAKA readers asked Gurudeva about the implications and consequences of divorce. In answer, Gurudeva gave a talk this morning which will appear here over the next few ...
audio
Divorce, Part 2

Gurudeva continues with part two of his talk on Divorce. He explains the depth of the wounds inflicted upon children of divorce and how the break up effects their emotional ...
audio
Divorce, Part 3

Hear now the conclusion of Gurudeva's talk on Divorce. This talk was given on Sun 1 in answer to a question from a TAKA visitor who needed some guidance on ...
audio
Purifying a home, Anger is inexcusable, Is Self-realiztion for humans only?

Cybertalk: A cybercadet asks today how one can purify a home. Gurudeva says it would be customary to invite a priest of the family's religion to come and bless and ...
audio
Gossiping, Easiest way to enlightenment

A cybercadet from Texas asks about backbitting and gossip and wonders what to do when at family events that is all that takes place. Gurudeva gives his permission to her ...
audio
Professional Home, Part 1

Have you ever thought of your Home as a Business? Gurudeva explains that perhaps you should. For you home can prosper and expand, or it can go out of business, ...
audio
Professional Home, Part 2 (with Tamil)

This is the second part of gurudeva's talk on Home as a Business? Your home can prosper and expand, or it can go out of business, even become bankrupt. The ...
audio
Is The Divorce of a marriage like the bankruptcy of a business? Part 1

Another e-devotee's question is answered today"In the analogy of marriage as a business, would it be correct to say Divorce is when the family goes Bankrupt?" Gurudeva responds in detail, ...
audio
Is the Divorce of a marriage like the bankruptcy of a business? Part 2

Today Gurudeva concludes his answer to the question"Is the Divorce of a Marriage like the Bankruptcy of a Business?" He explains that in both cases, everyone is the loser. Tamil ...
audio
Where do we Let Off Steam? Part 1, Tamil Translation

Gurudeva responds to another question, this one came up after Gurudeva explained the principle of running the home like a business. If we can't let off steam at work, and ...
audio
Where do We Let Off Steam? Part 2, Tamil Translation

Gurudeva concludes his response to the question, "Where do we let off steam?" Today he talks about the karma created when said "steam" is indiscriminately released in the home and office. Tamil Translation ...
audio
Observances of Birth, pt.1 (with Tamil)

Today Gurudeva responds to a question about the Hindu Observances of Birth, such as not going to the temple or worshiping in the home shrine. Isn't birth supposed to be ...
audio
Observances of Birth, part 2 (with Tamil)

Today Gurudeva responds to a question about the Hindu Observances of Birth, such as not going to the temple or worshiping in the home shrine. Isn't birth supposed to be ...
audio
Your Claim to Fame

Rosita at home.com wrote in wondering about the verses in the Tirukural which laud the life which is famous and condemns the life which is not. Why is it so ...
audio
Separation in an Abusive Marriage, part 1

Gurudeva addresses a difficult and tragic topic today in response to an e-devotee's question"Is divorce not an option even in an abusive relationship?" Gurudeva discusses the nature of such relationships, ...
audio
Separation in an Abusive Marriage, part 2

Gurudeva addresses a difficult and tragic topic today in response to an e-devotee's question"Is divorce not an option even in an abusive relationship?" Gurudeva discusses the nature of such relationships, ...
audio
Where to place the home altar, Should we meditate everyday?

A cyberspace devotee asks where she in the home should she place the altar. Gurudeva says to place the altar in the top floor of the home and face east ...
audio
Everything she needs and everything she wants

A cyberspace devotee from Nepal wants Gurudeva to clarify that in order to release the shakti from the wife we need to give her all that she wants and all ...
audio
Karma Created by Good Conduct

Today Gurudeva answers a question about love, and warns to avoid animal magnatism, that good astrological compatibility is necessary to create a lasting relationship in which the couple help each ...
audio
Pictures of God; Adultery

Rajendra Giri from Colorado asks if it is alright to have pictures of Gods in different rooms in the house. Gurudeva says it is fine and that we must be ...
audio
Building the Home Vibration

An e-devotee asks Gurudeva about the Dharma that women should follow in terms of working or staying home. Gurudeva explains why the women's dharma is to build the vibration of ...
audio
Interreligious Marriage; Kundalini and the First Step

Today three questions span the subjects of marriage, yoga and the spiritual path. First Gurudeva advises an American e-devotee to join the Hindu religion of his wife-to-be so that he ...
audio
Arthur Pacheco interviews Gurudeva Part 10

Today's cybertalk is part ten of a radio interview with Gurudeva conducted by Arthur Pacheco. Arthur Pacheco conducts a weekly radio show in Honolulu, Hawaii and is also a trans-medium. ...
audio
Caring for Aged and Infirm Elders

Cyber-devotee, Shekar, asks about caring for elderly parents. Is a nursing home an option? Gurudeva advises Shekar to care for his parents at home, and in the case of someone ...
audio
No Divorce in Hinduism

Gurudeva begins today's talk by giving his shortest answer ever to Tiru, in Singapore, who asks how to teach meditation to a five-year-old child. Then Gurudeva continues with a longer ...
audio
One Religion in the Home

An e-devotee from Malaysia asks about marrying a man of another religion. If she does, what religion should she follow? Gurudeva says that tradition tells that she should follow the ...
audio
Grihasta Dharma

A devotee attending a homa during Guru Purnima celebrations asks Gurudeva about grihastha dharma. Gurudeva continues to emphasize that the responsibility for the family is with the husband, and that ...
audio
Peace in the Home

When Positive Discipline author, Jane Nelson, was visiting Kauai Aadheenam, Gurudeva was asked how a family can have peace in the home. Gurudeva's main point, which he stresses and expands ...
audio
Wedding Protocols Part 1

Cyberspace devotee Mahendran from Nepal wants to know why his divorced parents cannot attend his wedding. In the first part today Gurudeva says the reason that they would not attend ...
audio
Hindu New Year Part 2

In the second and last part of Gurudeva's New Year talk he urges temple trustees around the world to help eradicate backbiting and other low minded things from the community ...
audio
Marriage Compatibility

A cyberspace devotee inquires about the physical, mental and emotional compatibility in a marriage. Gurudeva says that the astrological compatibility of the couple tells us the physical and emotional compatibility ...
audio
Merging with Siva

A cyberspace devotee from Singapore wants to know how much he should merge with Siva if he is a householder. Gurudeva says if he gives his wife everything she wants ...
audio
Teaching Tolerance to Children

Terrorism has brought forth hatred on TV. We need to teach children tolerance, teach them to love and trust. The qualities we create in our children create the future we ...
audio
The Husband Is Responsible

A cyber-devotee (a woman) asks if it really is the total responsibility of the husband for the well being of the family and the household. Gurudeva affirms unequivocally, "Yes." ...
audio
Soul Mates and Marriage

Our European Pagan asks another question, this one about the Hindu view of soul mates and the purpose of marriage. Gurudeva briefly answers both. ...
video
How Do We Receive Guests?

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami reads from Lesson 52 of the Himalayan Academy publication Path To Siva, discussing how the Hindu home traditionally receives guests. ...
audio
The Experience in the Prana Body, Part 2

The Master Course is your key to entry during sleep into the astral school of Himalayan Academy, learning from gurus and guides in Saivite schools within the spiritual areas of ...
audio
Colors Magic: Methods for Self-Improvement

Through the grace of Lord Siva, during sadhana, colors in the inner aura lighten as they adjust to the rays of white light from deep within the spine. The inner ...
audio
Colors Magic: Charging Your Aura with Prana

Pray to our dear Lord Ganesha to help remove the obstacles of doubt and fear. Then, a little willpower, a strong intent or a mental command is sufficient to flood ...