The Real Inner Temple

Devotees at Vedanta Society Temple Steps - Santa Barbara, CA

The Message of Sri Ramakrishna

Lecture by Swami Veetamohananda 

It is good and very grand to conquer external nature, but grander still to conquer the internal nature of man. It is grand and good to know the laws that govern the stars and planets; it is infinitely grander and better to know the laws that govern the passions, the feelings, the will, of mankind. This conquering of the inner man, understanding the secrets of the subtle workings that are within the human mind, and knowing its wonderful secrets, belong entirely to religion.  

-- Swami Vivekananda   (The Necessity of Religion - Jnana Yoga 1902 edition)

We should never for­get that our real objective is to enshrine the Lord in the heart of every man in the world, for the real tem­ple of the Lord is the human heart. There within the heart of every man the ground has to be con­se­crated, for it has been defiled by the pro­fan­ity of worldly desires and plea­sures. There on that con­se­crated ground let the tem­ple of Divine Com­mu­nion be raised and the over­flow­ing bliss of the Supreme Good reign. Infi­nite Bliss from within, that is the idea. Let the devo­tee be flooded over by this Bliss from within. Preach­ing is real only when this Bliss pro­vides for its own preach­ing. One devo­tee over­flow­ing from within with this Divine Bliss is worth a mil­lion dol­lars of pro­pa­gan­dist devices. One real tem­ple raised in the human heart is worth dozens of tem­ples built out­side. Remem­ber that our objective is really to raise the tem­ple from within. I pray that our Lord may shower His bless­ings upon you more and more, as He is doing, till your life becomes per­vaded through and through by a blessed­ness which is His love, which is He Him­self. May you be sub­merged in the real­ity of His Pres­ence. With lov­ing bless­ings to all,

Yours in the Lord,
Swami Pre­m­ananda

1861-1918

Living Inwardly 

Article by Swami Shraddhananda

Read the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna Online

Meditation

Om Shivaya Song

In meditation we start learning to practice focus and sit quietly before God in love. Focusing the mind on any supreme aspect of God is true meditation. The consistent practice of meditation removes stress, anxiety and fear by eliminating the causes of our sufferings. Through meditation man becomes one with God (Brahman). Personalities are transformed and one develops physical and mental strength.

“Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just 
leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.” 

- Swami Vivekananda

Meditation Technique:

– Sit in a comfortable cross legged position. You may also sit on a chair or lean against a wall for this meditation.

– Elongate your spine upwards, lengthen your neck and subtly bring your chin back and in, like a soldier at attention. This will align the spine with the back of your head.

– Take 5 deep, slow breaths though the nose. Keeping the head straight this will oxygenate your blood and relax you. Try to remain as still as possible.

– Rest your hands in any comfortable position or mudra, you can place them on your knees.
Close your eyes and try to go deeply into yourself while holding this mudra. Do not strain.

– Now inhale deeply and begin to chant in a soft, slow, steady voice the manta OM (pronounced AUM). One chant of OM (AUM) Mantra should last for the entire exhalation. Its a long “Oh”, followed by a semi long “Mmmm” during each exhalation. Once all the air has been expelled, inhale fully again and begin to chant the mantra once more.

– Visualize the OM sound coming from a point in the middle of your heart and emanating throughout your entire body. Feel OM as the Infinite Pure Consciousness. It is this primordial sound vibration that expresses itself everywhere both in the microcosm and the macrocosm.

– Try to feel that every cell and molecule in your body is like a rising sun full of infinite energy, beauty, purity and bliss Absolute. Feel that every cell of your body is shining like the luminous golden rays of the sun. With your inner vision visualize the rising sun in Infinite blue space. You are that Supreme Auspiciousness.

– Feel that you breathe out only Pure Love and good thoughts. Spread this positive vibration of thought in all directions to the far corners of the universe to all beings. You may repeat OM, your personal mantra or any prayer to retain this Infinite harmony in your being. Pure Love is Pure Consciousness. Shivoham!

Lecture on Meditation by Swami Veetamohananda

Lecture on Deepening Our Meditation by Swami Mahayogananda

Guided Meditation by Swami Yogatmananda