Chats
with
Swamiji
Chats with Swamiji explore different philosophical concepts and how they relate to modern day lifestyle. Dive into some shorter video discussions or readings by clicking on a topic below. If these conversations and teachings resonate with you we’d encourage you to check out Swamiji’s Online Programs.
KARMA SANYAS
Karma is an action that is governed by your motive and this is determined by your intellectual understanding and the qualities of your heart / mind known as gunas.
Four areas have been described in the Vedic Philosophy to do with Karma where people can be categorised into:
1. Vikarma, 2. Karma, 3. Karma Yoga, 4. Karma Sanyas
Hear more about this intricate science of Karma, and the details, differences, and what is most beneficial for spiritual progress in this modern, iron age of Kali Yuga. A very practical and thought provoking talk.
A chance to examine your own life, realise what we are doing with our life and our mind; where we are aiming and where we hope to move towards.
Wisdom Meditation- Sadhana
When we sit at our allotted time each day to do our meditation, our devotion, known as Sadhana; its important to establish why you are doing this meditation.
Before you start your meditation, your chanting, sit quietly in silence doing some Radhe breathing, breathing in to Ra and out to Dhe.
Remind your self your are the atma, the individual soul, that is a spark, a part, a sevant of the paramatma. And that this body is impermanent and will cease to exist one day. Think about this.
Wisdom Meditation- Intuition
INTUITION: the one intuition we can be sure of is the natural nature to be happy. Every individual has the same feeling, no matter the quality of your mind or the activity we do … it all distills down to one aim - to be happy.
Learn where this happiness actually is, and what the wise ones have to say about this in relation to material and spiritual intuition.
DONATION - the seva of giving and its consequence.
There are 3 ways to do SEVA, service to Hari Guru and all that is related within the spiritual area of Yogmaya.
Tan - Man - Dhan : Body - Mind - Wealth/Financial.
A big topic, and one that some people find challenging and can cause stress while on the path of Bhakti Yoga, the path of devotion and seva. Hear Swamiji bring clarity and practical advice to those who want to know more about the topic of donations / seva.
Short Wisdom + Kirtan- Aim of Human Life.
The Vedas explain to us that there are 8.4 million species in which the divine power, the soul resides life after life. Of these 8.4 million which includes the trees, the plants, flowers, the bird life, animal life, celestial, lower regions, etc; it is only the human form that has the ability to undergo karma (consequences) of the past, called destiny, but also to create our future. It is unique to this form.
We can create a future that can lead us to the material, or we can create a future that leads us to the divine, to yogmaya; which is the call of the soul to go in that direction.
We are all searching for love and happiness, and it only resides in Yogmaya, the divine realm.
KIRTAN Meditation
Kirtan chanting meditation : is considered by the great Sages of India to be the easiest and most enjoyable way of entering into a meditative state to awaken our Divine nature.
Using ancient Sanskrit chants Kirtan effortlessly calls upon sacred energies that serve to quiet the mind, remove obstacles and bring us back to the centre of our being.
Presented by Swami Govindananda and Bhakti, we hope you enjoy this authentic meditation of devotional chanting and music.
Wisdom Meditation- Awakening
Awaken to your true self.In the beginning we believe wholeheartedly that life is what we make it. We take the whole responsibility on our shoulders. As our life experience progresses, we start to realise we are just as infinitesimal presence of an infinite world. We become fearful, or we achieve that which we set out to achieve, only to realise that it is not enough…
Short Wisdom - Pride & the ability to judge.
Pride - We think it's just when we're puffed up, and we think we know things, etc. This is true, however, pride has many ripple effects, such as how we deal with each other in the world etc.
But in this talk, Swamiji talks on the aspects of pride in terms of our own beliefs, our place in this world, and our ability to judge ... to judge the Guru, the Saint.
Wisdom Meditation- Form of love
The soul of your soul…Their nature is infinite love, kindness, beauty.
Whenever and wherever you are feeling like the world is overwhelming you, lost in the emotions of daily living, of stress, of loneliness, and of distress; just take a moment to think ... the soul of my soul is Radha Krishna and they are infinite love. I am of that. I am the soul, and they are the soul of my soul.
Reading - Navigating the Ocean of Life.
Staying focused on the big picture allows us to handle whatever storm life throws our way.
The powerful ocean of life, which we must all navigate, is especially tough on those who do not understand its depth, breadth, or purpose. Such a life is easily troubled when events go contrary to expectations. Sometimes the sun shines, sometimes the sea is calm and life is beautiful. Sometimes, you know, it’s not.
Prem Ras Siddhant - The Philosophy of Divine Love
Prem Ras Siddhant - The Philosophy of Divine Love.
This extraordinary book brilliantly reconciles the teachings of Hinduism and India’s great Saints to give the only genuine answer. Though the knowledge contained in scriptures like the Vedas, Puranas and Upanishads is limitless, in this concise book, Jagadguruttam Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj reveals the essence in the simplest possible way, and in the most compelling manner. Authenticated by numerous scriptural and scientific references, Kripalu Ji Maharaj takes readers from the theoretical aspects of spirituality to the practical aspects of devotion and meditation and its application in daily life.
Roopdhyan - meditation through visualisation
Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj explained that in this age, sankirtan or chanting of the divine names, forms, qualities, pastimes, abodes and the Divine Saints is the only means of attaining realisation. It is then revealed that the most integral part of kirtan chanting meditation is rupadhyana, the loving remembrance of the Divine forms of love, sung with humility and selflessly for their pleasure.
A must read for those wanting to deepen their meditation, and to understand the tools necessary to progress on the path of Bhakti Yoga - the path of love and devotion to the Divine.
Charity /Giving Back - Covid Relief in India
As the COVID and humanitarian crisis escalates in India we feel more and more for the people suffering, and the need to help those that need our help. As a community - together we can help. All funds collected into Bhakti Meditation Centre will be deposited into JKP India, the affiliated charity organisation. This will help support the people of Uttar Pradesh, the poorest state of India. Take a moment to pause, breathe, and realise how fortunate we are here in other parts of the world that are relatively safe right now.
We appreciate your support and generosity 🙏 www.swamigovindananda.com/charity
Do I Need to Change Externally
People see me dressed like this - the grey beard, the long hair, the bright orange clothes - and they say, “Oh, if I come near you do I have to be like that?” My immediate response is, why would you? When I walk down the street people look and because of this, my sense of privacy has had to become internal. Why would you want to be in that situation? I am a Swami and I have been trained for many years by a legendary Master in India for the purpose of sharing with others. And this is how a Swami dresses traditionally.
Two Types of Knowledge
Swamiji explains that there are two areas of knowledge that we can potentially draw from to shape how our individual life plays out. One area is known as ‘apara dharma’ and the other as ‘para dharma’. Swamiji elaborates on why it is important to clearly know the distinction between the two because it is only through ‘para dharma’ that you can genuinely elevate your sense of peace, joy, and positivity.
Wisdom Infused Meditation
In this meditation session Swamiji begins by quoting from three of the worlds greatest teachers to draw your attention to the importance of the mind. While asking you to sit with eyes closed, shoulders relaxed, practicing steady rhythmical breathing, he guides you through spoken wisdom to go deeper into the nature of the mind, showing you how to bring out qualities that uplift and inspire you.
What’s the Use of Spirituality
Spirituality is immensely practical, it must be, otherwise it’s useless. If it is just some esoterically, theoretical thing that we keep up in the sky and never touch, then what’s the value to you? Understand that, just as you know the importance of daily feeding your body healthy food, you should place the same value in nurturing your spirituality energy, your power. Why? Because all of your anger, frustration, jealousy, anger, misery, self-loathing, depression - arise because you are a stranger to your own self.
Peace and Calm during Covid-19
I was taught personally by a great legendary Master, on how to genuinely self-improve. The knowledge he taught me is accessible to everyone including you. I invite you to join me so you can experience the inspiring wisdom that has come out of the East, and learn how to meditate. No matter the level of your experience, these sessions will help.
The Power of the Mind
The divine nature, the Paramatma lives within the heart of every individual soul, and therefore any thought that you as an individual has, the divine laws, the spiritual laws, gives you the exact, appropriate consequence to the way that you thought. So your fate, your destiny, your future, is determined by the way that you are thinking now, and how you are now is determined by how you have thought in the past.