Podcasts about vivekananda

Because it was the close of the eclipse portal with the lunar eclipse on śrāvana pūrnimā (pisces full moon) tonight, we were all in a reflective and contemplative mood and so in this talk, we discuss some of the tensions, paradoxes and contradictions inherent in the transmission of Tantra throughout the ages with the early sadhus in the Vedic era to the Śaiva Siddhantins to Ramakrishna to Vivekananda and to us in the modern context, before plunging into some practices from the Kāmakalā-Vilāsa & the japa krama from our vāmācāra paddhathi. Here is a playlist of all our lectures on Tantra over the years. Hit Me Up xSupport the showLectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

In the fourth episode of Sadhguru 360 on Guru Purnima, in the month of Ashadha, Sadhguru speaks about the role of a Guru in a seeker's life, how a Guru's grace hastens a seeker's growth, and why Guru Purnima is considered the most significant time for inner transformation. Tracing the origins of Guru Purnima to Adiyogi becoming the Adiguru over 15,000 years ago, Sadhguru explores the true significance of grace, receptivity, devotion, and sadhana in one's spiritual pursuit. Through powerful stories of the Saptarishis, Vivekananda, Vishwamitra, and a Guru who was stung by a scorpion, Sadhguru reveals how a Guru functions not as a philosopher or source of solace, but as a doorway to higher dimensions of life and ultimate liberation. Conscious Planet: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.consciousplanet.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sadhguru App (Download): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onelink.to/sadhguru__app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Official Sadhguru Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://isha.sadhguru.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sadhguru Exclusive: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/sadhguru-exclusive⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Inner Engineering Link: isha.co/ieo-podcast Yogi, mystic and visionary, Sadhguru is a spiritual master with a difference. An arresting blend of profundity and pragmatism, his life and work serves as a reminder that yoga is a contemporary science, vitally relevant to our times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the fourth episode of Sadhguru 360 on Guru Purnima, in the month of Ashadha, Sadhguru speaks about the role of a Guru in a seeker's life, how a Guru's grace hastens a seeker's growth, and why Guru Purnima is considered the most significant time for inner transformation. Tracing the origins of Guru Purnima to Adiyogi becoming the Adiguru over 15,000 years ago, Sadhguru explores the true significance of grace, receptivity, devotion, and sadhana in one's spiritual pursuit. Through powerful stories of the Saptarishis, Vivekananda, Vishwamitra, and a Guru who was stung by a scorpion, Sadhguru reveals how a Guru functions not as a philosopher or source of solace, but as a doorway to higher dimensions of life and ultimate liberation. Conscious Planet: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.consciousplanet.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sadhguru App (Download): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onelink.to/sadhguru__app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Official Sadhguru Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://isha.sadhguru.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sadhguru Exclusive: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/sadhguru-exclusive⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Inner Engineering Link: isha.co/ieo-podcast Yogi, mystic and visionary, Sadhguru is a spiritual master with a difference. An arresting blend of profundity and pragmatism, his life and work serves as a reminder that yoga is a contemporary science, vitally relevant to our times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Citações e trechos do texto “Message to the Youth”, de Swami Vivekananda.Nascido como Narendranath Datta, Swami Vivekananda (1863 - 1902) foi um monge hindu, filósofo e um dos mais célebres líderes espirituais da Índia.Vivekananda, que significa: “A bem-aventurança do discernimento da sabedoria”, foi principal discípulo de Sri Ramakrishna e um dos pioneiros na divulgação da filosofia indiana no Ocidente.Em 1893, ficou mundialmente conhecido por representar o hinduísmo no Parlamento Mundial das Religiões, em Chicago, onde sua eloquência e visão universal impressionaram o público, tornando-o um embaixador espiritual da Índia no Ocidente.Seus ensinamentos foram baseados principalmente nos ensinamentos espirituais de Ramakrishna, como a harmonia entre religiões, a universalidade da espiritualidade e a realização do potencial humano através de Deus. Ele propagava a filosofia do Vedanta e do Yoga, enfatizando a prática espiritual como um meio de empoderamento pessoal e social. Sua mensagem destacava a unidade de todos os seres, o serviço altruísta e a autoexploração como caminhos para a verdade. Ele defendia a importância de equilibrar o trabalho, a meditação e o serviço como pilares de uma vida plena.

వైద్యుడిగా ప్రాణాలు కాపాడుతున్నారు…రచయితగా మనసులను తాకుతున్నారు…విదేశాల్లో ఉంటూ కూడా తెలుగు భాషకు జీవితాన్నే అంకితం చేశారు… డా. వివేకానంద మూర్తి గారు!పశ్చిమ గోదావరి జిల్లా నుంచి యునైటెడ్ కింగ్‌డమ్ వరకు సాగిన ఆయన ప్రయాణం ఎంతో స్ఫూర్తిదాయకం. వైద్యుడిగా విజయవంతమైన కెరీర్‌ను నిర్మించుకుంటూనే, రచయితగా, నటుడిగా, మిమిక్రీ కళాకారుడిగా, సాంస్కృతిక కార్యకర్తగా అనేక రంగాల్లో తనదైన ముద్ర వేశారు.యూకేలో స్థిరపడిన తర్వాత కూడా తెలుగు భాష, సాహిత్యం, సంస్కృతికి దూరం కాకుండా అక్కడి తెలుగు సమాజంలో సాహిత్య, సాంస్కృతిక కార్యక్రమాలకు ప్రాణం పోశారు.రచయితగా ఆయన ప్రయాణం ఎలా మొదలైంది? డాక్టర్‌గా ఉంటూనే సాహిత్యం, నటన రంగాల్లో ఎలా ముందుకు వెళ్తున్నారు? ప్రముఖ రచయితలతో వారికి ఉన్న అనుభవాలేమిటి? యూకేలో ఉంటూ తెలుగు కోసం ఆయన చేసిన సేవలేమిటి?ఇలాంటి ఎన్నో ఆసక్తికర విషయాలను ఈ వారం "మన రచయితలు" పాడ్కాస్ట్ లో స్వయంగా డా. వివేకానంద మూర్తి గారు మనతో పంచుకున్నారు...తప్పకుండా వినండి...మిస్ అవ్వకండి!As a doctor, he saves lives.As a writer, he touches hearts.Even while living abroad, he has dedicated his life to the promotion of the Telugu language and culture Dr. Vivekananda Murthy.His journey from West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh to the United Kingdom is truly inspiring. While building a successful career as a medical professional, he has also made a remarkable mark as a writer, actor, mimicry artist, and cultural ambassador.Even after settling in the UK, he has remained deeply connected to Telugu language, literature, and culture, playing a vital role in organizing and promoting literary and cultural activities within the Telugu community there.How did his journey as a writer begin? How does he balance his medical profession with his passion for literature and acting? What memorable experiences has he had with renowned writers? And what contributions has he made toward preserving and promoting Telugu language and culture in the UK?Dr. Vivekananda Murthy shares these fascinating insights and many more in this week's episode of the Mana Rachayithalu podcast.Guest: Dr. Vivekananda MurthyHost: Renu Sree#TALRadioTelugu #ManaRachayithalu #DrKVivekanandaMoorthy #TeluguLiterature #PravasaTelugu #UKTelugu #TeluguWriter #TeluguCulture #MimicryArtist #TeluguLanguage #ManaRachayithaluPodcast #TALRadio

"Charaiveti, charaiveti" — keep walking — may be the oldest motivational line in the world, and it is almost universally misattributed to the Upanishads. It comes from the Aitareya Brāhmaṇa, in the story of prince Rohita: Indra tells him the fortune of the one who sits, sits, and the fortune of the one who walks, walks. And the part almost nobody quotes maps the four yugas onto the human body — sleeping is Kali, waking is Dvāpara, standing is Tretā, and walking is Kṛta, the golden age. Part 2 of the Arise · Walk · Arrive series.A note for the careful listener: the yuga lines are the hymn's own poetic imagery — a metaphor about human effort, not a cosmological claim. Vivekananda's "Arise, awake" is a separate verse, from the Kaṭha Upaniṣad — that's Part 1: https://youtube.com/shorts/TCa9ZzeO7Ew?feature=shareWatch the full series on YouTube: youtube.com/@ProfPankajJain

Earlier this year, on Vivekananda Jayanti, I gave a talk on the early days of the Vedanta movement in America, when a few enthusiastic Americans in New York in 1895 gathered in a one bedroom apartment to hear this strange man from India with strange and exciting new ideas talk for hours on end. This is an especially exciting story if you are participating in yoga in any capacity and even more exciting and inspiring if you are, or are aspiring to be, a teacher of yoga, vedanta, tantra or any other Eastern spiritual tradition that emerged in America since then. Mainly though, this talk shows us that times now are not that different from how they were then. This talk is meant to, in looking back, inspire us to look forward and pick up where Swami Vivekananda left. Let's get to it then... Hit Me Up xSupport the showLectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

In this episode of That's So Hindu, Mat McDermott talks with Professor Jeffrey D Long (Elizabethtown College) about the deep roots and growing presence of Hinduism in the United States. We explore the history from the colonial period to modern American spirituality, and how Western leaders and intellectuals have been influenced by Hindu thought for the past 250 years In this episode:The early awareness of Indian influence in America dating back to the 1600sThe role of founding fathers like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson in engaging with Indian texts and ideasAmerican perceptions of Hindu concepts, including reincarnation and caste, in the 18th and 19th centuriesThe transcendentalist movement, Emerson and Thoreau's fascination with Hindu philosophy, and its influence on American cultureThe emergence of Hindu organizations and the impact of Swami Vivekananda's arrival in the USThe relationship between Western philosophical traditions and Hindu thought, highlighting influences from Greece to AmericaThe evolution of Hindu-American identity and the modern resurgence of Hindu pride and pride in its philosophical heritageTimestamps: 00:24 - Jeffrey Long's bio and his book “Hinduism in America” 01:05 - Personal connection to Hindu practices and history in America 01:41 - Early Indian influence in colonial America 02:09 - American figures and their interest in Hindu texts 03:05 - The growth of Hindu temples across the U.S. 04:01 - The convergence of Hindu migrant communities and American-born Hindus 05:14 - The rise of non-Indian Hindus in America 07:19 - Historical references to Hindus in the 1600s 08:05 - Indian sailors and early Asian presence in America 10:24 - Founding fathers' fascination with Hindu philosophy 11:47 - Deism, Jefferson's Bible, and early American religious diversification 13:10 - Influence of Benjamin Franklin and Quaker spirituality 14:04 - George Washington and early American religious tolerance 15:01 - Reflections on religious pluralism in the founding era 16:43 - Indian influence and references in early American literature 17:19 - Public perception and common knowledge of Hinduism in early America 18:05 - Education and awareness of Hindu beliefs among common people 19:57 - Stereotypes and misconceptions of Hinduism in the 19th century 20:49 - Mythologies around Jesus' travels in India 21:16 - Broad understanding and stereotypes of Hindu beliefs 22:50 - Challenges and pushback against religious pluralism 24:15 - Influence of Transcendentalism on American thought 25:39 - Emerson's interest in Hindu texts and nature spirituality 29:57 - The Theosophical Society and wave of Indian nationalism 32:20 - Vivekananda's groundbreaking impact at the World Parliament of Religions 39:12 - The first influential Indian teachers in America before Vivekananda 44:39 - Western expectations of Swami Vivekananda's appearance and presentation 48:52 - The role of Vivekananda in inspiring Indian independence and pride 50:48 - The potential for a renewed dialogue between Eastern and Western philosophies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of That's So Hindu, Mat McDermott talks with Professor Jeffrey D Long (Elizabethtown College) about the deep roots and growing presence of Hinduism in the United States. We explore the history from the colonial period to modern American spirituality, and how Western leaders and intellectuals have been influenced by Hindu thought for the past 250 years In this episode:The early awareness of Indian influence in America dating back to the 1600sThe role of founding fathers like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson in engaging with Indian texts and ideasAmerican perceptions of Hindu concepts, including reincarnation and caste, in the 18th and 19th centuriesThe transcendentalist movement, Emerson and Thoreau's fascination with Hindu philosophy, and its influence on American cultureThe emergence of Hindu organizations and the impact of Swami Vivekananda's arrival in the USThe relationship between Western philosophical traditions and Hindu thought, highlighting influences from Greece to AmericaThe evolution of Hindu-American identity and the modern resurgence of Hindu pride and pride in its philosophical heritageTimestamps: 00:24 - Jeffrey Long's bio and his book “Hinduism in America” 01:05 - Personal connection to Hindu practices and history in America 01:41 - Early Indian influence in colonial America 02:09 - American figures and their interest in Hindu texts 03:05 - The growth of Hindu temples across the U.S. 04:01 - The convergence of Hindu migrant communities and American-born Hindus 05:14 - The rise of non-Indian Hindus in America 07:19 - Historical references to Hindus in the 1600s 08:05 - Indian sailors and early Asian presence in America 10:24 - Founding fathers' fascination with Hindu philosophy 11:47 - Deism, Jefferson's Bible, and early American religious diversification 13:10 - Influence of Benjamin Franklin and Quaker spirituality 14:04 - George Washington and early American religious tolerance 15:01 - Reflections on religious pluralism in the founding era 16:43 - Indian influence and references in early American literature 17:19 - Public perception and common knowledge of Hinduism in early America 18:05 - Education and awareness of Hindu beliefs among common people 19:57 - Stereotypes and misconceptions of Hinduism in the 19th century 20:49 - Mythologies around Jesus' travels in India 21:16 - Broad understanding and stereotypes of Hindu beliefs 22:50 - Challenges and pushback against religious pluralism 24:15 - Influence of Transcendentalism on American thought 25:39 - Emerson's interest in Hindu texts and nature spirituality 29:57 - The Theosophical Society and wave of Indian nationalism 32:20 - Vivekananda's groundbreaking impact at the World Parliament of Religions 39:12 - The first influential Indian teachers in America before Vivekananda 44:39 - Western expectations of Swami Vivekananda's appearance and presentation 48:52 - The role of Vivekananda in inspiring Indian independence and pride 50:48 - The potential for a renewed dialogue between Eastern and Western philosophies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge)

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge)

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge)

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Six kinds of turning away; Benefits in developing intuitive wisdom.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Six kinds of turning away; Benefits in developing intuitive wisdom.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Six kinds of turning away; Benefits in developing intuitive wisdom.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Discerning formations as void; key features of the knowledge of equanimity toward formations.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Discerning formations as void; key features of the knowledge of equanimity toward formations.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Discerning formations as void; key features of the knowledge of equanimity toward formations.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Equanimity stops the cycle of reactivity; it does not get entangled in formations; it abandons fear and delight.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Equanimity stops the cycle of reactivity; it does not get entangled in formations; it abandons fear and delight.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Equanimity stops the cycle of reactivity; it does not get entangled in formations; it abandons fear and delight.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Wisdom is having the characteristic of penetrating the individual essences is of one kind; as mundane and supramundane, it is of two kinds, etc. The breaking up of formations.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Wisdom is having the characteristic of penetrating the individual essences is of one kind; as mundane and supramundane, it is of two kinds, etc. The breaking up of formations.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Wisdom is having the characteristic of penetrating the individual essences is of one kind; as mundane and supramundane, it is of two kinds, etc. The breaking up of formations.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Repeated comprehension of materiality; * Enlightenment factors promote the growth of wisdom; * Liberations and hindrances; * Seeing the breaking up of formations develops wisdom.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Repeated comprehension of materiality; * Enlightenment factors promote the growth of wisdom; * Liberations and hindrances; * Seeing the breaking up of formations develops wisdom.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Repeated comprehension of materiality; * Enlightenment factors promote the growth of wisdom; * Liberations and hindrances; * Seeing the breaking up of formations develops wisdom.

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Much appreciation to Sayadaw U Vivekananda that offered a short teaching on the last morning of the Two-week retreat at IMS.

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Much appreciation to Sayadaw U Vivekananda that offered a short teaching on the last morning of the Two-week retreat at IMS.

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Much appreciation to Sayadaw U Vivekananda that offered a short teaching on the last morning of the Two-week retreat at IMS.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) General and specific aspects of the unfolding of wisdom.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) General and specific aspects of the unfolding of wisdom.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) General and specific aspects of the unfolding of wisdom.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) The field of mental defilements resembles a weed-infested piece of land, and the field of wisdom is likened to a beautiful garden.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) The field of mental defilements resembles a weed-infested piece of land, and the field of wisdom is likened to a beautiful garden.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) The field of mental defilements resembles a weed-infested piece of land, and the field of wisdom is likened to a beautiful garden.

Can you memorize entire books by using your concentration alone? Some people claim such retention is possible, and often point to figures like Swami Vivekananda. Frankly, I’m skeptical. Not because Vivekananda wasn’t smart, influential and an author of interesting works. No, I’m skeptical and concerned because such claims are unlikely to be true. And not only has no solid evidence been presented, but when myths about people who aren’t here to be tested, stories about them tend to grow larger with each retelling. Plus, there is so much value to be had from real techniques that actually work. True, there’s a bit of effort involved in learning and using mnemonic devices properly. For some people, lots of effort. But you can still get there with proper training, steps you might never find if you’re lost in mythology and chasing after outcomes that were never true. That’s why I want to respond in depth to this question from a reader of this website and fan of the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass: I like your MMM System, and I am learning and following it bit by bit. But I have one doubt. In India the Swami Vivekananda and other people read a book page by page without using any mnemonics techniques, and are still able to recall all of the concepts and vocabulary words. Simply they say, and only by using concentration. Which memory technique is this? Is this better than mnemonics or journey system? How do I develop this type of memory? Thank you for your reply. Quick answer: Concentration certainly can assist memory when reading. But reliable recall and verbatim memorization from books requires robust memory techniques for encoding and ample review. I’ve done quite a bit of verbatim memorization and will share my process at the end of this post. For now, let’s look deeper at the question of whether or not concentration will help with book memorization. Can Concentration Alone Help You Memorize An Entire Book? Assuming Vivekananda did this or anyone exists who has memorized any substantial amount of information through concentration alone, then I guess that’s the word you would use to describe this memory technique: “Concentration.” Guess what? Concentration does work to help you form memories. It’s also a great way to connect new information to older information that you’ve already learned. But you have to concentrate on the right things, such as using a mnemonic linking method to connect the information in your mind. As far as I’m aware, there’s only ever been one documented case of what people sometimes call “photo reading.” But it’s an episode from the history of memory science that should make us all skeptical. I cover it in my full breakdown of why photographic memory doesn’t exist. Long story short, such claims involve people who are probably not being honest. Why Extraordinary Claims About Memory Need Scientific Testing Let me ask you this: Do you really think such extraordinary claims about people reading one page or more of a book and repeating it perfectly would stand up to scrutiny through scientific testing? Even if something like flashbulb memory were involved while reading (which is unlikely), the claims of being able to recall entire books remain dubious. Part of the argument about concentration assisting memory does make sense, however. Merely concentrating on a book does indeed help me personally learn and remember the material from it. But how exactly this increase would lead to memorization of the exact content without some kind of elaborative encoding in the mix is a mystery to me. How I Use Memory Techniques While Studying Law Frankly, I’ve dealt with lack of concentration often in my life. I’m dealing with it now as I go through law school and apply memory techniques to help me get through it. I reported this new study project recently in my law memorization announcement. In order to reliably memorize the tons of material I’m currently facing, I’m once again using the textbook memorization system that helped me so much while getting my PhD in Humanities at York University many years ago. You can learn all about the process in this detailed video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIQRiqQFKQY Here’s the full written version of the video above on How to Memorize a Textbook if you prefer reading. Quite frankly, there are so many advantages to this textbook method that I would sooner have people who are serious about learning take a few extra steps rather than experimenting with the claims of dead Swamis and their fans. In the case of Vivekananda, he was called a srutidhara. This is a Sanskrit term used to describe an eidetic person. This condition is sometimes confused with, but is absolutely not the same as photographic memory. Not only that, but eidetic memory has to do with visual memory, not the semantic memory involved in words on pages. According to my research, eidetic memory has only been scientifically demonstrated as valid for a couple of minutes. And as the original study by Ralph Haber discusses, it’s a kind of recall practically unheard of in adults. The Closest Case Still Involves Memory Techniques If there is one interesting case, you’ll find it in the story of Solomon Shereshevsky. But even then, there’s evidence that the potent memory skills of this figure involved the use of mnemonics. In any case, I suspect that many people can recite the gist of what they read on a page for a couple of minutes after placing a book aside. It’s long-term retention that matters. And this means that even if you could work on developing an eidetic memory to visually recall a page, it’s unlikely to help with developing the strong memory skills that help you retain information for the long haul. What Did Vivekananda Say About His Own Memory? Of course, Vivekananda did not use either the term photographic memory or eidetic memory. A large part of how his memory was described comes from the diary of a disciple named Shri Sharat Chandra Chakravarty. This disciple records the following statement from Vivekananda after being asked to explain how he quoted a variety of points from various texts: Simply by the observance of strict Brahmacharya (continence) all learning can be mastered in a very short time. Now, the fact that this quote comes from a diary doesn’t make it false. But the text does not exactly say that Vivekananda recited anything verbatim. In fact, the diary recounts: Disciple: Whatever you may say, sir, the manifestation of such superhuman power cannot be the result of mere Brahmacharya, something else there must be. Swamiji did not say anything in reply. Then Swamiji began to explain lucidly to the disciple the arguments and conclusions about the difficult points in all philosophies. Notice that Vivekananda, referred to here as “Swamiji” declines to explain himself further, as if to let the disciple create an illusion in his own head. A More Likely Explanation As for recalling a few passages here and there, which is what the text says Vivekananda actually did, I regularly perform this skill myself and often cite the page numbers of various quotes during my live streams. Do I use “continence” to do it? Partly, yes, in the sense that brahmacharya means to control the senses and bring one’s conduct into accordance with basic ethics. But I also use a PAO System to help me recall page numbers. It’s based on an ancient memory technique called the katapayadi, which Vivekananda almost certainly knew. He also likely knew: Krama-pāṭha Jaṭā-pāṭha Ghana-pāṭha These techniques are similar to the Recall Rehearsal process I’ll talk about in a bit more detail below. They help install lots of information in long-term memory that can lead to extraordinary results. Above all, it’s important to understand how other people exaggerate things. But unlike Vivekananda, when one of my private coaching clients exclaimed that I had spoken in eight languages in just fifteen minutes, I corrected him immediately. I said, “I may well have quoted various lines in a handful of languages, and probably drew from four or five. But let’s not mistake knowing various quotes in various languages for speaking those languages.” In other words, I did not sit in silence to bask in his praise or allow myths to grow. I nipped the false impression in the bud. Probably due to one of my biggest influences when I was younger. Why We Must Debunk Extraordinary Claims About Memory James Randi was a magician and professional skeptic who spent decades challenging people to demonstrate and validate their claims to have super powers of concentration. He even offered a million-dollar prize if they could prove their claims true. That’s a lot of coin, so it’s hard to believe that more people didn’t rush to get tested. Their absence says everything, don’t you think? I’ve read that the Randi prize was eventually terminated following his death, but it’s still worth knowing about and considering for its decades-long promotion of critical thinking. If we don’t promote critical thought ourselves, we risk having more and more gullible people roaming the earth. And we wind up with people thinking that everything is about memory and not another very important ingredient. Recall Without Understanding Is Not Enough Being able to recall what you read is not just about retention. Parrots can retain and repeat, after all. The results most people want involve (and should involve) developing deep understandings of written material. And content in any medium, for that matter. This point is important because you want to turn raw information into knowledge that leads to wisdom. This was a point made by Thomas Aquinas that still holds true. But to weave data and information into wisdom is likely only possible if you stop chasing after useless fantasies and worrying about which memory method or style is better than the others. The only method that ultimately matters is the one that: You'll actually use Gets you results reliably But if concentration works on its own for some people without using any kind of mnemonic method, what can I say? Rock and roll. Good for them and hurray. Personally, I’ll stick with memory techniques that can be, have been and will continue to be tested by authentic memory champions and polymaths in the future. With their level of skill in mind, let me give you a brief overview of how I suggest you go about tackling books. A Practical Formula for Memorizing Key Content From Books The path I suggest you follow is simple. Build at least one Memory Palace based on a familiar location Encode information inside of it using strongly elaborated mnemonic images Practice with material you care about in addition to books, such as poems, speeches, names and anything else you want to remember Recall the information using Recall Rehearsal (the Magnetic Memory Method term for a simple spaced repetition procedure that harnesses the power of the primacy effect and recency effect using serial positioning) Work on improving your selective attention skills Keep studying accelerated learning techniques for life You might also find my walkthrough on memorizing Sanskrit phrases useful. Apart from the passages from Shakespeare I shared in my Anthony Hopkins case study, memorizing verbatim from ancient Sanskrit books comprise the longest passages I’ve committed to memory. I’ve worked up to over 2000 words. If you’d like similar results, the best place to start is with a proper understanding of Memory Palace development. That’s why I created this free memory improvement course: It walks you through the process step-by-step with tutorial videos and worksheets. That way, you can stop wondering about whether memory techniques will work for you and start proving it to yourself with information you actually want to remember. And real memory training will stop the temptations and seductions of myths. As interesting as these stories might be, if they can’t be reproduced, they don’t matter.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Virtue, concentration, meditation, desire (chanda), striving, faith, approaching a teacher, and more.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Virtue, concentration, meditation, desire (chanda), striving, faith, approaching a teacher, and more.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Virtue, concentration, meditation, desire (chanda), striving, faith, approaching a teacher, and more.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Various definitions of Intuitive Wisdom: controlling faculty of wisdom; wisdom as an enlightenment factor. Differences between perception (saññāṇa), consciousness (viññāṇa), and wisdom (paññā).

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Various definitions of Intuitive Wisdom: controlling faculty of wisdom; wisdom as an enlightenment factor. Differences between perception (saññāṇa), consciousness (viññāṇa), and wisdom (paññā).

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Various definitions of Intuitive Wisdom: controlling faculty of wisdom; wisdom as an enlightenment factor. Differences between perception (saññāṇa), consciousness (viññāṇa), and wisdom (paññā).

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Keeping the mind in the present moment, observing what is conspicuous in an effective manner.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Keeping the mind in the present moment, observing what is conspicuous in an effective manner.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Keeping the mind in the present moment, observing what is conspicuous in an effective manner.

Send us Fan Mail Thousands of years ago, teachers like Swami Vivekananda and Paramahansa Yogananda spoke of the human mind as something boundless. Awareness, they said, was not fixed. Consciousness could expand. For most of history, that was treated as spiritual teaching, beautiful but unscientific. Today, there are researchers in laboratories asking what if the sages were pointing at something real, something we now finally have the tools to measure. Sana sits down with John Mee, founder and president of Cognigenics and one of the leading thinkers in the emerging field of genetic neuroengineering, to explore what happens when forty years of Vedic study and a lifetime in engineering meet at the same question. They discuss why higher brain activity may not mean higher consciousness, what his team's preclinical research has shown about the relationship between calmer neurons and clearer awareness, and why he believes the integration of ancient wisdom and modern science is creating something genuinely new. This is a thoughtful, exploratory conversation about the science of attention, the limits of materialist neuroscience, and the timeless human question of what the mind actually is. About the Guest: John Mee is a senior research and development executive, futurist, and the founder and president of Cognigenics, a biotech company developing RNA-based gene therapies targeting memory loss, cognitive decline, anxiety, and other neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric conditions. One of the architects of the Information Age, John previously directed R&D programs at Honeywell Information Systems, managing the engineering development of advanced large-scale computer systems. He holds multiple patents pending on genetic engineering methods for enhancing human cognition, and is a leading thinker in the emerging field of human genetic cognitive enhancement. His work integrates four decades of meditation practice and study of Vedic philosophy with cutting-edge molecular biology. His co-founder at Cognigenics, Dr. Dean Radin, serves as Chairman. Key Takeaways: The mind may not be as fixed as we have been led to believe. Vedanta's claim that awareness has no inherent ceiling is something modern neuroscience is beginning to investigate seriously. Higher brain activity does not always mean higher consciousness. John's research points to an inverse relationship: as superfluous neural activity quiets, conscious awareness appears to expand. Anxiety, distraction, and depression are correlated with overactive neurons in specific brain regions. Preclinical studies suggest that calming this hyperactivity may improve both attention and emotional regulation. What feels like a mental health crisis may also be, in part, a consciousness crisis. The disconnection from deeper layers of the mind is something ancient traditions named long before science could measure it. Genetic technology alone is not the answer. John emphasises that any cognitive intervention has to be wrapped in a holistic ecosystem of education, counselling, and support. The integration of ancient wisdom and modern science is not a fringe idea. It is changing how capital flows, how research is funded, and how seriously contemplative traditions are taken in mainstream institutions. Connect With the Guest: Cognitive College (free manuscript and resources): https://www.cognitivecollege.org Cognigenics (company website): https://www.cognigenics.io Cognigenics on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cognigenics/ Episode Chapters: [00:00] Cold Open — When Ancient Wisdom Meets the Laboratory [02:30] Welcome and Introducing John Mee [05:00] Why Sana and John Both Come From Engineering Backgrounds [07:00] The Vivekananda-to-Maharishi-to-the-Beatles Lineage [10:00] John's Forty Years of Meditation and What He Discovered in Higher States [12:30] What Vedanta Got Right About Pure Awareness [14:30] The Missing Ingredient: Why Pure Consciousness Has No Wavelength [17:00] The Inverse Relationship Between Brain Activity and Awareness [19:00] What Cognigenics Has Found in Preclinical Research [22:00] Anxiety, Depression, and Neuronal Hyperactivity [24:30] Why Genetic Technology Must Live Inside a Holistic Cognitive Ecosystem [27:00] How the Cultural Soil Has Shifted in the Last Fifty Years [30:00] Where to Find John's Work and the Free Manuscript [33:00] Closing Reflection — Your Mind Has More to Give   Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatch DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik Disclaimer: This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements. If you have concerns about any content, please contact us here. By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here. Healthy Mind By Avik™ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, and wellness advocate. With over 6500+ episodes and 200K+ global listeners, we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters. Subscribe and be part of this healing journey. Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™ | Email: https://www.podhub.club/contact | Website: https://www.podhub.club | Based in: India & USA Listen to all podcast shows: https://www.podhub.club/podcastnetwork | Be a guest: https://www.podhub.club/beaguest | Newsletter: https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/   #podmatch #healthymindbyavik #podhub.club #consciousness #vedanta #neuroscience #JohnMee #Cognigenics #meditation #cognitiveenhancement #ancientwisdom #modernscience #attention #mentalwellness #spiritualscience #Vivekananda #Yogananda #healthymindhealthylife             Support the show Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life?

Because we gave this talk on May 4th, we start by exploring the relationships between Star Wars, Jospeh Campbell & Ramakrishna's Tāntrik philosophy. We then map this comparative mythology to the Tarot, to deities across the Indo-European world and also, interestingly, Marxism to see how this Ramakrishnan approach is the necessary response to a post-modern, post-truth increasingly relativist world in which many are lapsing into nihilism, atheism or conversely, religious fanaticism. Because May 1st is the day the Ramakrishna Math & Mission was founded, we spend some time reflecting on what institutionalization means for Swami Vivekananda's mission of making available to everyone esoteric spiritual knowledge which gains especial nuance and complexity when it comes to Tantra given its emphasis on secrecy, lineage, mantra-dīksha (initiation into the mantra) and the human gurus. A lot of this talk is my personal reflection on how our community fits into the very complex socio-political marketplace of ideas that is the modern internet-age. In a somewhat candid fashion, I reflect on my place in the Ramakrishna lineage and how I'm navigating the complexity of teaching this stuff in the face of some backlash and misunderstanding while trying to stay true to my understanding of what Vivekananda & Ramakrishna were all about.May this be an offering to all rebels, in the Star Wars universe and beyond!Support the showLectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Isn't interesting that around the same time that the narrative of the quintessential serpentine representation of the divine, dark feminine, chaos embodied, Tiamat's evisceration by Marduk, the male storm God par excellence gained mythological dominance, Hammurabi hammers the "law" into his stone, thus enshrining the role of the conscious, analytic, externally-oriented & physicalist mind as more important or "holier" than the feminine, subconscious, interiorized, symbolic & archetypical mind? Isn't also interesting that after this mythological narrative gained dominance, and after this major historical event, the religious traditions of the late neolithic era and up the present day have been shifting further and further away from Goddess worship (i.e an immanence-oriented, world embracing, embodied approach to religion) in favor of the more transcendentalist, world hating, body-denying, struggle-oriented "father sky" idea? In this talk, after we explore some ideas about Sanskrit as a gendered language and the widespread implications of that, and after we make a few claims about shifting our discussions on gender to a more interiorized, psychological place, and certainly after some long digressions on feminist theories of the 19th century (Virginia Woolf, Vivekananda etc.), we turn to one of the most important things we could ever discuss as a śākta (I.e, goddess oriented) community: what is a woman? And more importantly: in what sense is God a woman?Really, this lecture is just three hours of us unpacking the rishikā, Ariana Grande's mahavākya: God Is A Woman.Support the showLectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

If you’ve walked through Westlake Park recently, perhaps you’ve noticed the new statue of Swami Vivekananda, a philosopher and Hindu monk. Vivekananda is credited with introducing yoga and the Vedanta philosophy to a global audience. That statue is a gift to the city from the government of India. People from India represent more than 10 percent of Washington’s foreign-born residents. As of 2024, nearly 95,000 King County residents were born there. The statue is part of a broader cultural diplomacy initiative, according to the consulate general in Seattle. The diplomatic outpost opened two years ago, and India's consul general in Seattle joined Soundside to talk about the relationship between the Pacific Northwest and India. Guest Consul General Prakash GuptaRelated Links America's First Guru - PBS Trump’s Changes Lock Some Employers Out of H-1B Visa Program & As H-1B Visa Program Changes, Skilled Foreign Workers Consider Leaving U.S. - The New York Times Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.