Self Improvement Site
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
Articles from santosh krinsky | Selfgrowth.com
- The Subtle Power of Atmosphere and Example in Spiritual Development - by Submitted on Dec 05, 2022 from santosh krinskyIt is a typical belief that through the use of logic, argument or some kind of pressure that is exerted, through perhaps an enforced dogma or belief system, that opinions and beliefs can be changed. It is true that the power of an idea may capture an individual’s focus and support. It is also ...
Views: 433 - The Time Needed for the Transition of the Ego-Consciousness to Become a Conscious Instrument of the Divine - by Submitted on Oct 18, 2023 from santosh krinskyWhen the seeker becomes aware of the need for consecration and the aspiration awakens within him, he can become very impatient with the obstacles put up by the ego as it works to maintain and enhance its position. After all, the ego has developed over long periods of time as a stage toward ...
Views: 433 - Comparing Current General State of Human Consciousness With More Evolved States, Part 2 Distractability Versus Concentratedness - by Submitted on Oct 29, 2022 from santosh krinskyWith even a very cursory examination of the thoughts and sensations that enter our awareness, it becomes quite clear that there is a constant flow of sensations, impressions, perceptions, feelings, emotions and thoughts that seem to bombard us all the time. Our attention flits from one thing to ...
Views: 432 - How to Distinguish The Divine Force from the Habitual Action of the Lower as well as from the Hostile Forces - by Submitted on Dec 09, 2021 from santosh krinskyTrying to change human nature, the basic physical-vital-mental makeup that we accept as the predominant mode of being in the world today, is hard. The actions and reactions of the body, the senses, the vital energy, the organ systems, the emotional system, the hormonal responses, and the mental ...
Views: 432 - Psychoanalysis and Yoga Don’t Mix - by Submitted on May 08, 2022 from santosh krinskyWithout the power to control and purify, an individual faces great risk in dredging up all kinds of subconscious energies, fears, experiences, dreams and desires. Psychoanalysis focuses on tapping into this subconscious level, but it does not start with any process to arm the individual with the ...
Views: 432 - Reconciling the Opposites - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2023 from santosh krinskyIf we recognize that the two extremes, matter and spirit, despite their apparent and irreconcilable opposition, both speak to some deep seated truth within the human sense, then we can begin to accept the idea that this is not a matter of one being “true” and the other being “false”, but rather, ...
Views: 432 - Spiritual Sadhana Varies by Individual Based on Temperament and Situation of the Sadhak - by Submitted on Feb 12, 2022 from santosh krinskyNot everyone can achieve spiritual progress using exactly the same methods or disciplines. The “one size fits all” approach tried by many religious or spiritual communities of the past only works if their members are all basically similar in temperament and their spiritual development. We have ...
Views: 432 - The Nature and Forms of Spiritual Experience - by Submitted on Jul 18, 2021 from santosh krinskyHow do we distinguish what is an actual spiritual experience? We have an inherent bias towards believing and accepting perceptions and reactions to outer stimuli, the objects of the senses, and the reactions that arise inwardly from those stimuli. When it comes to an inner feeling or experience, ...
Views: 432 - The Role and Nature of Avatars and Vibhutis - by Submitted on Mar 09, 2022 from santosh krinskyThe long, slow and steady evolutionary progression in the world occasionally reaches a point where a focused, concentrated action can move it along, prepare the advent of the next stage, and set some new directions in motion. These special efforts generally are associated with a specific person ...
Views: 432 - Dealing with Difficulties and Setbacks Along the Way - by Submitted on Jun 23, 2022 from santosh krinskyWe tend to judge things, events, opportunities, setbacks, obstacles and directions from the standpoint of our individual ego-personality. When we take up a spiritual path, we expect that our efforts, and our devotion to the guide or master in whom we rely, will smooth the path in front of us and ...
Views: 431 - Four Steps to Avoid Suffering - by Submitted on Jun 16, 2022 from santosh krinskyMany people suppose that it is impossible to avoid suffering, as it is an inherent aspect of life on earth. Their strategies for dealing with suffering may vary, but they all believe that suffering is inevitable. When we consider, therefore, the idea of avoiding suffering, we are either met ...
Views: 431 - Addressing and Overcoming Boredom - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2022 from santosh krinskyAs long as we remain bound to the ego-personality, we are caught in the play of the three gunas, or qualities of nature. Every individual is subject to all three, and their constant interchange. Thus, there will be times and circumstances where tamas, the quality of indolence and darkness comes ...
Views: 430 - The Inconscient and the Need for Its Transformation - by Submitted on Nov 20, 2021 from santosh krinskyWhen we look around at the world today, as well as at the thoughts, feelings and moods of people, both ourselves, and others, we find that Sri Aurobindo has perfectly described the situation. He defines this as the underlying Inconscient ‘bed-rock’ of being. The basic material resistance that is ...
Views: 430 - The Power of Detachment to Effect Transformational Change in the Nature - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2021 from santosh krinskyThere is a vast difference between a mental acknowledgement of a concept or idea, and the actual realisation that underlies that concept. It is not an infrequent occurrence for a spiritual aspirant to hold a mental belief that is, nevertheless, not a full realisation. Spiritual realisation is ...
Views: 430 - Understanding the Moods of the Vital Consciousness - by Submitted on Oct 25, 2021 from santosh krinskyWhen we are busy fulfilling our desires or ambitions, we notice that the vital energy is generally plentiful and positive, we forget about fatigue and want to carry on with exuberance. This is the normal status of the vital energy carrying out its habitual functions in human life and society. ...
Views: 430 - The Power of Peace - by Submitted on Sep 27, 2022 from santosh krinskyAs human beings, we are enamored of dynamic power. We want “action” and the powers of the body, the life energy and the mind are prized when they can accomplish visible results. We have proverbs such as “might makes right” which make it seem like strength in action is the most positive ...
Views: 429 - Development of the Witness Consciousness Separate from the Analytical Mind Is Needed to Truly Understand the Springs of Action in Mind, Life and Body - by Submitted on May 07, 2022 from santosh krinskyThe ability to perceive, understand and modify the actions of the body, life and mind requires the development of a new standpoint outside of the body-life-mind complex. For this reason, the attempt to undertake this process with the analytical power of the mind is bound to fail. Not only can ...
Views: 428 - The Guru and the Disciple in the Integral Yoga - by Submitted on Mar 12, 2022 from santosh krinskyIf one looks at traditional paths of yogic practice in India, or similar practices around the world, regardless of the religious or spiritual background, one finds that the relationship between Guru and disciple is of supreme importance and consideration, and there is a specific lineage that ...
Views: 428 - Comparing Current General State of Human Consciousness With More Evolved States, Part 3 Dispersed Versus Gathered Consciousness - by Submitted on Oct 30, 2022 from santosh krinskyDistraction is actually a symptom of another characteristic, that of “dispersion” of the consciousness. If we take the time to observe our own sense of awareness we find that it seems to be primarily on the surface of our being, receiving sense perceptions, reacting to people, things, events and ...
Views: 427 - Contacting and Connecting With the Universal Vital Force, Part II - by Submitted on May 24, 2022 from santosh krinskyWhen we fixate on the fulfillment of the body-life-mind complex in our external being, the exclusive concentration involved helps us to temporarily lose sight of the larger Oneness of which all are a part. We then put ourselves in opposition to other aspects of the one Reality and treat each ...
Views: 427 - Depression and the Influence of the Gunas in Spiritual Development - by Submitted on Nov 28, 2021 from santosh krinskyThere is a strong inclination for those spiritual practitioners who particularly follow a way of devotion, regardless of religious tradition around the world, to cry out for the presence of the Divine and to lament any feeling of separation. Depending on the play of the Gunas, this can take ...
Views: 427 - The Characteristics of the Physical Nature and the Way Toward Transformation - by Submitted on Nov 08, 2021 from santosh krinskyAt some point everyone experiences periods where the physical body and its corresponding physical mind seem dull, tired, lacking in enthusiasm, and interested only in sleeping, eating and the most basic things that occupy our physical life on earth. During these periods there is an absence of ...
Views: 427 - The Subconscient Basis of Our Individual Being, Part 3 - by Submitted on Sep 02, 2022 from santosh krinskyThere are realms that operate under different rules, or laws, than what we have come to expect here. Our earthly life is a complex amalgam of physical, vital, mental and psychic consciousness, and this mixture implies that none of these are able to express themselves in the purest sense of their ...
Views: 427 - Transformation of the Vital Nature of Man: Background and Introduction - by Submitted on Oct 21, 2021 from santosh krinskyA primary characteristic of human life on earth at this time is the power of the vital force in shaping not just our day-to-day responses to life situations, but to also impact our mental processes, such that for most people, the mind is under the control of the vital and its desires and ...
Views: 427 - A Simple Method to Achieve Peace and Silence in the Mind - by Submitted on Feb 11, 2023 from santosh krinskyThere are a number of proven methods for achieving peace and silence in the mind. Some are more arduous than others. The more one works at it, the more inward pressure one asserts to try to achieve this status, the greater the intrusions that force themselves on the mind. This is the result of a ...
Views: 426 - The Focus on Spiritual Development or Attachment to Family Life: the Choice for the Spiritual Aspirant - by Submitted on Feb 10, 2022 from santosh krinskyFrom childhood we are acculturated with the idea of family and family life as a primary function and goal of our existence. This becomes a habit in our vital being and in our minds. At some point, through some seminal experience or through a growing inner conviction, certain individuals become ...
Views: 426 - Comparison of the Highest Ideal of the Ordinary Human Life and the Divine Life of the Spiritual Aspirant - by Submitted on Aug 18, 2022 from santosh krinskyPeople in modern society are confused about the meaning, purpose, significance and value of their lives. The society sets goals for them that involve for the most part, material satisfactions through acquisition of wealth, family, and enjoyment, without any further insight provided as to why one ...
Views: 425 - Separate Consciousness in the Mind, the Vital Being and the Body - by Submitted on Apr 06, 2022 from santosh krinskyDuring the Olympic games in the summer of 2021, we were able to hear about the separate consciousness of the various parts of the being. One of the premier gymnasts in the world withdrew from events by saying that she had lost, at least temporarily, the body consciousness that basically oriented ...
Views: 425 - Overcoming Tamasic Depression in the Practice of Yoga - by Submitted on Nov 29, 2021 from santosh krinskyIt is inevitable that as long as the human standpoint remains active, there will be periods of doubt, depression, dissatisfaction, weakness, and self-doubt. The action of the Gunas ensures there will be such periods when the enthusiasm and focus, energy and optimism depart and darkness tries to ...
Views: 424 - The Experience of the New Higher and Wider Consciousness - by Submitted on Sep 22, 2021 from santosh krinskyThe experience and descent of a higher consciousness is not a matter of philosophical argument but one of psycho-physical effects seen and noted by the individual, as well as palpable impacts in the basis of knowledge, action and implementation in the outer world. The seeker actually can feel ...
Views: 424 - The Nature of the Mind Creates and Enhances Much Human Psychological Suffering - by Submitted on Apr 10, 2022 from santosh krinskyIt is often said that animals do not suffer in the same way that humans do. They experience pain and can suffer from it, but they seem to not be tortured by all of the mental suffering that we go through in our lives. The major differences are first, the ability of the mind to observe itself and ...
Views: 424 - The Need and Method for Observing One’s Thoughts - by Submitted on Jun 17, 2022 from santosh krinskyAvoidance of suffering may be considered as a ‘negative’ status. Achievement of happiness is the positive pole of this continuum. Both states are rooted in the mind and the standpoint that the individual takes. When the scriptures speak of “evil thoughts” or “purified thoughts” this is not ...
Views: 424 - The Transition to the Soul’s Guidance of Mind, Life and Body - by Submitted on Sep 09, 2021 from santosh krinskyWith the development of the mental being in evolution, we can observe the central leadership role that the mind plays in dealing with the vital and physical levels of our existence. The mental being, however, is limited by its strict framework and sequential process, and thus, is something like ...
Views: 424 - The Trouble Based on the Nature of the Vital That Needs to be Overcome - by Submitted on Jul 22, 2022 from santosh krinskyIt is a universal human experience that the vital force in the being is either extremely reactive to situations, particularly when it has a desire or craving to fulfill, or, if not given its desire, it can sulk or withdraw its energy and the being goes into a state of torpor or indolence, ...
Views: 424 - Violence and Spiritual Change - by Submitted on Jan 04, 2022 from santosh krinskyThrough ambition or impatience, the spiritual seeker may try to rush the spiritual progress, and in many cases, this is attempted through various forms of overt or sublimated violence. The overt forms include various extreme penances or even self-punishment, while the sublimated forms may ...
Views: 424 - Signs of Entering the Spiritual Path - by Submitted on Dec 10, 2022 from santosh krinskyMost children focus on their need for food, emotional comfort and play, which is a means of gaining knowledge and power of action for them. As they move into later stages of life, they can get fixated on attaining good grades in school, making friends, hobbies and sports. As they reach puberty, ...
Views: 423 - The Role, Nature and Action of the Physical Mind - by Submitted on Oct 19, 2021 from santosh krinskyIf we reflect on the amount of time and focus we give to organizing and living our external physical lives, dealing with food, shelter, clothing, comforts of various sorts, entertainment, travel, family and friends, it becomes clear that a considerable part, indeed the greatest part, of our time ...
Views: 423 - The Soul’s Faith Is a Precursor to Attainment of the Truth of Existence - by Submitted on Dec 14, 2022 from santosh krinskyFaith is generally put in opposition to Knowledge, underlying the long-term dispute in the West between ‘religion’ and ‘science’. This debate has religion requiring belief in the tenets of the religion based on pure faith, and denying the validity of a science-based knowledge approach that may ...
Views: 423 - Detachment from and Mastery of the Surface Nature - by Submitted on May 27, 2022 from santosh krinskyWhen we are first confronted with the concept of detachment from our external nature, we tend to approach it from a mental standpoint and thus, try to shut down our emotions and mental reactions with various types of response such as forms of stoicism, renunciation, or a show of non-caring, or ...
Views: 422 - Speak Truth, Not Falsehood - by Submitted on Feb 22, 2022 from santosh krinskyTruth. This term is subjected to considerable interpretation in today’s world. Some say that there is no such thing as ‘truth’ and that ‘truth is relative’. Some hold that what one person understands as ‘truth’, seen from a different perspective, is falsehood. Some indicate that ‘today’s truth ...
Views: 422 - The Two Most Important Actions for Practice of the Integral Yoga - by Submitted on Sep 18, 2021 from santosh krinskyThe integral Yoga does not depend, as many yogic paths do, on physical asanas or breathing techniques, nor on chanting of mantras, nor singing and dancing in ecstatic states of trance, nor deep philosophical inquiry or strict mental techniques. Nor does it depend on austerity or any kind of ...
Views: 422 - Understanding, Utilizing and Balancing One’s Vital Energy Reserves - by Submitted on May 19, 2022 from santosh krinskyWhen we consider the way we take in and expend energy in our lives, we start by looking at food as the source of energy. Food represents the conversion of solar energy into biological energy through the medium of photosynthesis and (for those who eat animal foods), the conversion of the plant ...
Views: 422 - Intuition - by Submitted on Jun 16, 2023 from santosh krinskyThe popular idea about intuition is tied to some kind of unexplainable process of "knowing" that people go through. If it is purely based in the type of extrapolation from past experience, or some sense that drives the decision without careful and logical analysis, it is still based in the ...
Views: 421 - Preparing the Body, Vital and Mind for Restful, Conscious Sleep - by Submitted on May 14, 2022 from santosh krinskyWe spend as much as one third of our lifetime asleep. Many questions arise when one reflects on this fact. What happens during sleep? Where does the consciousness go? What does it do? Can we become conscious, or at least more conscious, of that part of our lives? Are there ways to prepare for ...
Views: 421 - Major Subdivisions of the Primary Parts of the Being - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2022 from santosh krinskyThe more one examines the play of awareness and activity internally, the more one begins to recognise the subtle interactions that take place between the various parts of the being. There are not clear borderlines but rather influences and actions that are based primarily in one part of the ...
Views: 420 - Marriage and Spiritual Life in the Integral Yoga - by Submitted on Jan 13, 2022 from santosh krinskyIn many religious traditions it is customary to expect the dedicated aspirant to forego not only sexual relations, but also worldly entanglements. In the Catholic religious tradition, nuns are considered to be ‘brides of Christ’ and as such, do not enter into the state of marriage. In the Hindu ...
Views: 420 - The Nature and Role of the Ego - by Submitted on Dec 21, 2021 from santosh krinskyThe development of the ego-consciousness is part of the evolutionary cycle of increasing manifestation of conscious awareness in Nature. As consciousness develops it moves from a generalized sense of existence to a more specific recognition of one’s own life and awareness. In animals we see this ...
Views: 420 - The Needed Engagement That Enlivens the Outer Forms of Worship - by Submitted on Jul 13, 2021 from santosh krinskyThe inner life-force behind any action is more important than the outer form which it takes. Japa and Mantra can become habitual and repetitive, and if that happens, the outer shelf remains, but there is nothing alive within. Such japa sadhana has little value. The living energy needed is either ...
Views: 420 - The Role of Sex in the Integral Yoga - by Submitted on Jan 08, 2022 from santosh krinskyWhen Sri Aurobindo states “all life is yoga”, he is speaking generally about the long, slow ‘yoga of nature’ which is taking place in the universe, leading to ever-greater stages of consciousness manifesting and transforming, successively, the previously manifested planes of awareness. This ...
Views: 420 - Why Do Some People Believe the Practice of Yoga Causes Illness or Death? - by Submitted on Feb 02, 2022 from santosh krinskyPeople in the West who have been introduced to yoga, primarily Hatha Yoga, come to understand that there can be substantial health benefits to the practice of yoga. Meditation has also been shown to help reduce stress, aid in achieving rest and sleep, and thereby enhance health for the ...
Views: 420