Meditations on Transcendence

 In the language of the Veda and Yoga, manas, buddhi, and dhī are three distinct but interrelated functions of inner cognition. Manas is the sensory mind, the coordinator of inputs. It gathers impressions, reacts, doubts, oscillates, compares. In modern neurological terms, it resembles the distributed sensory processing networks along with limbic reactivity, constantly evaluating stimuli and generating internal commentary. Buddhi is the discriminative faculty, from √budh “to awaken.” It decides, judges, concludes. Neurobiologically, this aligns most closely with higher cortical processing, especially the prefrontal cortex responsible for evaluation, inhibition, and executive decision-making. Dhī, however, is subtler. While often translated as intellect, it is better understood as illuminated cognition, inspired insight. It is not just deciding but perceiving truth directly. In the Gayatri Mantra, when we pray “dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt,” the request is not for more reasoning but for ...

  The Inner Journey: A Path through the Invisible To truly live is to spend time in the invisible — that silent realm behind the curtain of appearances, where the soul breathes freely. In this space, unseen by the eyes but deeply known by the heart, lies a world teeming with mystery and magic. It is where whispers of truth echo, waiting for the seeker who dares to pause and listen. Navigating the terrain of the infinite invisible is not unlike venturing through a forgotten forest or flying on a broomstick through uncharted skies. This is no ordinary path, but one carved by the spirit itself — subtle, vast, and shimmering with dimensions that stretch beyond mind and matter. Rumi reminds us that the path is made by walking it, and this walk requires more than feet — it demands faith, imagination, and longing. Meditation and mantra become your vehicle and steering wheel on this mysterious road. They are the ancient instruments of inner alchemy, quiet spells that open portals into d...

Tantra and Mantra: The Twin Pillars of Spirituality In the grand symphony of spiritual practice, tantra and mantra emerge as two indispensable melodies, harmonizing the inner and outer worlds. Tantra is the visible dance, the bodily ritual, the physical actions— पूजा (puja), अर्चा (archa), the deliberate movements that invoke the divine in the material realm. These rituals are not mere formalities but channels to access the विश्वात्मा (Viswatma) , the universal soul that animates all existence. Through the arcane practices of tantra, we establish a sacred connection between our finite selves and the infinite divine, grounding spiritual truths in the tangible world. Yet, tantra alone is not enough. Rituals without inner awareness are hollow vessels. As the भगवद्गीता (Bhagavad Gita) reminds us, "अध्यात्मज्ञाननित्यत्वं" —"Constant awareness of the spiritual essence is necessary." Tantra acts as a bridge, enabling the seeker to transcend the mundane and touch the ...