Swami Veda Bharati distils Vedic wisdom to impart lessons in living

Uncover timeless Vedic wisdom for daily living! Dive into these insightful teachings gleaned from Swami Veda’s books.

Who is Swami Veda Bharati?

Swami Veda Bharati (1933-2015) was a spiritual luminary, serving as the founder and Spiritual Guide of several esteemed organizations. He established the worldwide Association of Himalayan Yoga Meditation Societies International (AHYMSIN) and the Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama in Rishikesh, India. He also played a pivotal role as the Spiritual Guide of Sadhana Mandir, his master’s ashram in Rishikesh, and of the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust near Dehradun, India.

Born into a Sanskrit-speaking family, Swami Veda Bharati was nurtured in the rich traditions of Indian scriptures. As a child prodigy, his deep connection with Vedic wisdom and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras was evident, captivating audiences with his depth of knowledge and intuitive insights. Despite his intuitive learning style, he went on to earn the highest academic degrees, including an MA from London and a D.Lit. from Holland. Moreover, he was a prolific author with numerous published books.

With a pre-sanyas name of Dr. Usharbudh Arya, he embarked on a transformative journey of meditation and yoga under the guidance of his master, the renowned yogi Swami Rama of the Himalayas. As Swami Veda Bharati, his vast experience and scholarly expertise enabled him to lecture on a wide range of topics, delivering profound teachings in 17 languages. His ability to lead meditation sessions and guide individuals to a state of calmness and meditative stillness is revered by his students worldwide. Many people benefit from his audio recordings with his Vedic wisdom and the centers he established globally.

Swami Veda Bharati embodied a harmonious fusion of tradition and innovation by blending ancient wisdom with modern insights. He was an inspired and compassionate teacher, gifted poet, and international lecturer. His presence exuded peace, divine love, and joy, impacting all those he encountered. Recognized for his contributions, the monk orders of India honored him with the title of Mahamandaleswara, placing him among the esteemed ranks of spiritual leaders in the country.

Swami Veda Bharati authored a multitude of books and gave countless lectures in his lifetime, which are currently being transcribed into printed works. These books encapsulate Vedic wisdom and the eternal essence of his invaluable teachings. Here are some insightful excerpts from Swami Veda Bharati’s treasured books.

1. Cultivating a Saumya Personality

To embody a saumya (gentle) personality, we need to start working consciously and conscientiously on purifying the mind and emotions. We need to learn to choose the purer emotions.
We are speaking of emotions in their two stages: 1. The feeling within us, as an internal state; and 2. The expression of that feeling, evoking a certain response as a communication.

If we watch over the internal states, we can train or re-retrain them. It must be remembered that our emotional choices are acquired ones; they are habits that we have formed. In the same situation, we have multiple choices for the emotion that may be generated within us. A brave man sees a tiger in the wild and is inspired to hunt. A coward seeks to run away. A yogi stays neutral or filled with non-violent fearless amicable thoughts towards a fellow living being. There is a famous verse in Sanskrit:
A beautiful woman,
In the eyes of a tiger just some flesh to eat,
In the eyes of a city predator, an object of unbridled desire,
In the eyes of a yogi, a body of flesh enlivened by atman- the spiritual self.
From the book, Mind: The Playgrounds Of God

2. Spiritual progress indicators

As one rises above one’s psychological conditioning by applying one’s spiritual insight, the spiritual insight grows and the same things that used to get you angry, or defensive, or self-protective, those very situations will trigger a very different, and a very positive response from you.
You see the person coming and your first reaction to the angry person is, “I wonder what the best way is to soothe him?” You look at the person, and now that your mind is a sattvic mind, it can see through the person. You may not understand the details that led to the angry condition of his mind, but you would know how to soothe him, and he will go away smiling. And, you have one more notch in your series of conquests of the universe.

-From the book, Signs of Spiritual Progress

3. Let the mind observe the mind

There is one secret for deeping meditation and at the same time learning to do the long mantra. Observe the mind. Let the mind observe the mind. If one is meditating with a mantra, then observe the presence of the mantra. The part of the mind that is being employed to experience the thought-wave at present is a small fragment of the mind. The rest of the mind wanders off.

That remainder of the mind should be employed in observing, and gradually, the doer and the observer will merge. Those initiated into a particular technique will find a certain vibration in it and learn to merge their consciousness. Sit in grace and surrender. Not by your effort alone will you reach total pacification and enlightenment.

Your effort only purifies the vessel. Surrender your body, prana, and mind so that the Guru spirit may enter and the Guru mind may touch your mind, making your mind one of its meditation seats where it may meditate.

-From the book, Night Birds

4. Lead the life of a flower

A flower does not use its own fragrance for itself. Have you ever seen a flower smelling itself, and saying, “My, what perfume!” Or sitting down and checking on its self-worth, going through a process of self-evaluation? Simply by being itself it gives so much happiness.

Skillful communication

Before someone raises an objection to you, raise that objection yourself. Articulate it. This is the best way to vanquish opposition. If the person in opposition is going to criticize you, take the words out of his mouth, and he has got nothing left to say against you. You can say, “You might say such and such. It’s true to a certain extent, but then beyond that there is something else.” The wind goes out of his opposition.

In this way, your communication becomes skillful. Whenever another party may have anything to say against you, if you are sensitive or an empathizer, you will see where that person is operating from. True humility is the best self-defence. Move with the force, not against it. Eventually, you will discover that no power in the world can resist the strength that comes from positive thought, positive words, and positive actions, the three combined.

-From the book, Path to Successful Relationships

Swami Veda’s books are like keys unlocking the doors to inner peace, Vedic wisdom, and a universal understanding that transcends boundaries, resonating deeply with seekers worldwide.

“Maintain the rule of silence about your spiritual experiences, and they will intensify.”

• From the book, Sayings

https://www.ahymsin.org