Foreword
I gave you meditation, you give me contemplation These words of H.H. Swami Veda Bhärati have stayed with me after my first and last meeting with him. These words are truly "Gems of Wisdom" to guide me through my path of Yoga. H.H. Swami Veda Bharati was the master of Masters. I feel honoured and privileged to have met such a master in this lifetime. My meeting with Swami Veda was in many ways a unique experience. When I first met him, he communicated with me in Arabic and I was completely surprised to hear Arabic from an Indian Yogi. He asked me to sit for five minutes meditation with him. I sat with him and didn't realize that the guided meditation actually lasted for 45 minutes. Just after the meditation, he softly told me "You are my daughter". Hearing such sweet words transformed my innermost self and I was born again that day. The divine presence of Swamiji has moved something in me, in a way which is hard to express in words, but if I could, it would be like sleeping in heaven and waking up into my new self. I feel that I am still living with his protective presence around me and with me! I hope I am able to serve him and pass on his Gems of Wisdom to my students and fellow sādhakas. This is where I begin my contemplation! Although Swamiji is not with us physically, his words and wisdom presented in this volume will be a guiding force for many seekers on the path of Yoga and Meditation. The articles chosen for this volume are a few of his Gems of Wisdom, for many a source of inspiration in almost all aspects of one's practice, which he had so kindly offered to the world.
About The Book
GEMS OF ANCIENT WISDOM: ESSAYS ON SPIRITUAL LIFE Swāmī Veda Bharati (1933-2015), beloved by thousands of spiritual seekers and many others around the world, defies any attempts at an introduction. A spiritual giant, a peacemaker, a poet, a writer, a Sanskrit scholar, an author and a teacher - these are only a few of the innumerable, often unfathomable, facets to this softly spoken, towering persona. Swāmī Veda touched the lives of many. His captivating aura effortlessly drew countless numbers of those on the spiritual path who yearned for knowledge, who sought answers and comfort. Many simply wished to be in his luminous presence. The reverberating gentle tones, his radiant smile and subtle humour embraced all without distinction. "Let every person feel loved" was the message that was consistently demonstrated. Swāmī Veda was an embodiment of perfect knowledge and perfect wisdom expressed in the form of purest love. The Gems of Ancient Wisdom series is a reflection of this love expressed in simple words that manifest deep wisdom.
About The Author
Mahamandaleswara Śrī Swami Veda Bharati (1933- July 14, 2015), was a rare Sanskrit scholar of our time, unsurpassed in his profound depth of knowledge, philosophy and practice of Meditation. He was born in a Sanskrit-speaking family and raised in the centuries old Vedic tradition. He taught the Patañjali's Yoga-sūtras for the first time at the early age of 9 and the Vedas from age 11. Having never attended any school, he received his M.A. from the University of London and a D.Litt. from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. From 1952-1967, he spread the Yogic and Vedic teachings in many parts of the world, including Africa and the West Indies. In 1969, he received the highest initiations into the mysteries of Meditation from his Guru Swami Rama of the Himalayas who linked him to the sacred lineage of the Himalayan Yogis. Thereafter he established and guided Meditation groups and centers in all parts of the world. He had access to 17 languages and taught Meditation in all of the major languages of the world and to followers of all religions. In continuation with the oral tradition of the living lineage of the Himalayan Sages, Swami Veda taught: yoga samādhi | Yoga = samādhi | Yoga [is] samādhi. He proposed that the entire yoga science must be studied and practiced on the basis of this definition of yoga. All other definitions are subservient to it. He revealed the authentic teachings of Classical Yoga through his 1500 page commentaries on the (first two chapters) Yoga-Sutras. This commentary has been hailed among scholars and practitioners both as the most authentic and authoritative. He has recorded more than 3,500 hours of courses on all aspects of meditation, its texts, and philosophical systems apart from teaching the ancient texts like the Vedas, Upanisads, and the Bhagavad Gita in an experiential context for meditation. Following on the footsteps of his Guru, he maintained a keen interest in the scientific studies of yoga mediation and subjected himself to a number of researches in the field of Neurophysiology of the Meditative states. Swami Veda Bharati emphasized the universality of yoga as a science, which transcends chronological time, geographical boundaries, religious discrimination, and manmade sectarianism. Although he always liked to keep a low profile, he was well known for his teaching in different communities and cultures all over the world and for his expertise in instructing students in accordance with their own religion-philosophical background. During his lifetime, he participated in numerous interfaith dialogues, activities, and conferences with an aim of improving understanding among various religions. He found the experience of meditation to be the common ground among all religions. Prepared on the occasion of the United Nations 2000 World Peace Summit of Leaders in Religion and Spirituality, his short work, "Unifying Streams in Religions," provides a fresh perspective for bringing the different faiths closer together. In 2002, he founded Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama in Rishikesh, which houses the headquarters of the Association of Himalayan Yoga Meditation Societies International (AHYMSIN) and serves as the centre for his global network among nearly 100 groups in 26 different countries; spreading the teachings of the Himalayan Tradition. We can best repay his extra-ordinary efforts by availing ourselves of the fruits of his experiential teachings to further our own yogic practice for our own enlightenment and the welfare of all.
Hindu (1762)
Philosophers (2328)
Aesthetics (318)
Comparative (68)
Dictionary (12)
Ethics (44)
Language (349)
Logic (80)
Mimamsa (58)
Nyaya (134)
Psychology (503)
Samkhya (60)
Shaivism (66)
Shankaracharya (232)
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