Murali Venkatrao

Bad moods are self-perpetuating. The trick, Swami Kriyananda writes, is to refuse to accept negativity as your reality. Even when in throes of fear, anger, melancholy, or grief, insist on seeing yourself as something greater. There is a deep spiritual reason why one should try to do this. The Bhagavad Gita says that the real cause of all suffering is … Read More

The teachings of India affirm that our true potential is to be Divine. All saints testify unanimously to the Joy that is hidden behind the ups and downs of worldly life – if only we can “be still and know”. While the scriptures and saints say that we are the “children of the light”, the pull of delusion is very … Read More

Celebrating the Mahasamadhi (conscious exit from the body) of Paramhansa Yogananda and Sri Yukteshwar “What happens when we die?” is one of those “ultimate” questions that all religions and philosophies seek to answer. Answers range from you go to hell (or, on the off chance that you did everything right, to heaven), to you dissolve into nothingness. But Paramhansa Yogananda … Read More

Did God create the universe or become it (ft. Murali Venkatrao) Good morning, everyone. I have two pages of notes today because the topic is a pretty heady one. Did God create the universe or become it? I’ll speak a little bit about it because it’s a very interesting topic and it’s kind of fun to stay in the headspace … Read More

We acquire skillfulness in action through the use of prayers in divisive times, operating under the assumption that a soul is praying for another soul so that God can be in both of us. Today’s topic, as you saw, is prayer. Prayer is a power that, when used and deployed in the right way, can be immensely impactful. I want … Read More

Diwali, which literally means festival of light is among the most important and beloved spiritual celebrations in India. Celebrated on the darkest hour of the darkest night of Indian lunar calendar, devotees light hundreds of lamps and place them on every wall, windowsill, threshold and lintel. These little lights, it is believed, serve as beacons to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity. … Read More

Is Spirituality Practical? with Murali Venkatrao Good morning, everyone. So, today’s topic is practical spirituality. Is it possible to be practical in your spirituality? Should we even try or should we separate the two? There is a very good friend of mine who loves money. I got the reaction I expected, but let me refine his character a little bit. … Read More