Raja Yoga argues that the material world is a manifestation of the thoughts and ideas that exist in our minds. The underlying reality is always the driving force behind physical reality, and thus our inner thoughts and emotions are the source of the external world. In a similar manner, the observable actions and phenomena in the external world are the tangible expression of the underlying, subtler forces at play within the internal…

Yoga is a holistic practice that incorporates physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation to promote mental and physical well-being. Studies have shown that yoga is beneficial in cases such as anxiety, depression, low back pain and sleep disorders during pregnancy, and that it positively affects mother-baby bonding, birth and postpartum period. Nevertheless, there are a limited number…

Man has always aspired to have a perfect memory. Some people are born with a perfect memory, but not everyone is so lucky! The important question is that if it is possible to improve our memory. In addition to this, the following question also comes to mind: Is it necessary to have a very strong memory when we have computers with high capacity, calculators and many other technological devices at our disposal? In times when we didn’t…

Karma Yoga is the process of becoming conscious and sensitive to the energies we set in motion through selfless surrender, empathy and personal responsibility in the process of seeking and promoting well-being. The paths of Yoga lead us, through different but complementary paths, to a state of physical health, mental peace and spiritual harmony. One of the options to enjoy the benefits of this practice and this lifestyle is Karma…

Zen Buddhism is a unique mix of philosophies and idiosyncrasies from three different cultures. It is a typically Japanese way of life, and yet reflects the mysticism of India, naturalness and spontaneity of Taoism and the deep pragmatism of the Confucianist mind. However, despite its special character, Zen Buddhism is purely Buddhist in its essence because its objective is nothing different that of Buddha: Achieving enlightenment,…

Understanding the true nature of meditation can take many years of practice and study. Meditation can no more be taught than sleeping can be taught. You can have a wonderful air-conditioned room, a large, comfortable mattress and an absolutely peaceful atmosphere, but, in spite of this, you may not fall into sleep even though you need to. There is no technique for sleeping, it just happens. In the same way, meditation happens by …

In English, the term meditation comes from the Latin word “meditatio”, which means “to ponder” or “to reflect”. In the state of meditation, the mind is fully awake and clear, but at the same time calm and relaxed. In early historical traditions, mantras or chants were often the objects of meditation. Over the millennia, very different forms of meditation have developed – from breathing…

Asana (yoga posture) practice is a process of being present in the moment with a permanent sense of freedom and wholeness that gives us the experience of being fully alive, energized and blissful. As a practice of self-transformation, yoga asanas give us a set of tools to untie those knots that bind us and create patterns of resistance and stagnation deep within us. Joel Kramer states that this ingenious practice consists of learning…

The etymology of the word mantra comes from Sanskrit, an Indo-European language of the Hindu and Buddhist religious texts, the translation of which is variable. The word is composed of the term “man” which means thinking and “tra”, which can be translated as a suffix designating an instrument or as the term meaning “protecting”. Mantra therefore means “instrument of thought”.…