Peter Marchand

Aside from the many energetic practices that can be used to bring balance, five yogic paths are there for the Ego. Each has their own typical traps. To keep it simple, we combine these with some good daily habits that prevent imbalance. With our main energetic practice and the seed-based practices we can move forward easily. Daily habits are mostly in tune with the rhythm of day and night and with the moon cycle. Eating, practice and also entertainment must be adapted to each other. Meditation is a main daily practice that brings more peace in our lives and may lead to the desired fundamental transformations needed within the subconscious aspects of our Ego. Last but not least, life should be enjoyed and togetherness brings union within duality in nonduality.  This is Part 8 of an 8 part series on Tantric Advaita. Supported by numerous backers on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, this video is part of a communication project on Tantric Advaita. It also includes the book 'Tantric Advaita - Energizing Nonduality' - - find all details here : https://www.tantricadvaita.org/book_tantric_advaita.html.

00:00:00   8.1. Traps on the Paths 

00:23:07   8.2. Keep It Simple 

00:26:04   8.3. Good Habits 

00:48:03   8.4. Meditation 

01:07:13   8.5. Enjoy Life

Having discovered the beauty of Self-awareness, nonduality or Advaita becomes a way of pure being. Yet, life tends to produce its various emotions, which easily remove that blissful feeling of the Self. We can actually never lose the Self, as it is ever in our presence. However, when that particular feeling or energy of the Self is lost, pure beingness itself is perceived to be lost.  Tantric Advaita is the ancient knowledge on the nondual energy of the Self. It teaches us how to maintain full awareness of the Self, while simultaneously bringing our feeling closer to the bliss of the Self, energizing our nonduality practice. As we focus our awareness on itself, we harmonize our energy.

The Ego is the true hero of Yoga and most essentially resides within our soul. The soul is the subtle energy body that moves from one body to the next in the process of reincarnation. Understanding the largely subconscious complexity of our Ego attachments, we may understand the need for many lives to bring about the final goal of enlightenment. The ancient seven steps towards enlightenment teach us how through the effort of practice we can quite rapidly attain the state where we have already fully experienced the Self and easily can tap into its blissful nature. Thus we become masters of our own happiness, able to fulfill our remaining desires without creating disharmony. After also paying off our remaining karmic debts, we can finally merge with cosmic consciousness. We need patience however and must lose our sense of urgency in order to really calm down. There is lot to do for our multidimensional beingness to dissolve.  

This is Part 7 of an 8 part series on Tantric Advaita. Supported by numerous backers on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, this video is part of a communication project on Tantric Advaita. It also includes the book 'Tantric Advaita - Energizing Nonduality' - find all details here : https://www.tantricadvaita.org/book_tantric_advaita.html.

00:00:00   7.1. The Path 

00:05:36   7.2. Our Soul 

00:14:39   7.3. Seven Steps towards Enlightenment 

00:25:27   7.4. Many Lives 

00:31:24   7.5. Spiritual Dimensions 

00:42:18   7.6. The Path of Ritual

Having discovered the beauty of Self-awareness, nonduality or Advaita becomes a way of pure being. Yet, life tends to produce its various emotions, which easily remove that blissful feeling of the Self. We can actually never lose the Self, as it is ever in our presence. However, when that particular feeling or energy of the Self is lost, pure beingness itself is perceived to be lost.  

Tantric Advaita is the ancient knowledge on the nondual energy of the Self. It teaches us how to maintain full awareness of the Self, while simultaneously bringing our feeling closer to the bliss of the Self, energizing our nonduality practice. As we focus our awareness on itself, we harmonize our energy.

The power of Time is the power of change, which is the power of the life force (Prana). It emerges from the bliss (Ananda) of the Self. It manifests in so many forms which to some degree we can either stop from changing or balance to reach a more neutral form. Breath retention (Kumbhaka) is a major practice used to slow down or stop mind and calm down our entire system. It is in the Prana that we feel our emotions, which are present as 9 different emotional essences (Rasas). There is a need to balance the movement of Prana within the body, which can produce blockages and the  pollution of the life force. We need to be aware of how our body stores Prana as Ojas and then liberates it through the intermediate of Tejas. To understand how Prana vibrates in 3 different ways (Gunas) is essential to properly manage our energy and do not let it come to an often disagreeable state (Tamas). To understand the primary polarity of Solar and Lunar Prana leads to another major yogic practice of alternate nostril breathing (Nadi Shodana). This finally leads to the working with the famous Kundalini energy, making it rise through the Chakras as our spiritual growth evolves.  

This is Part 6 of an 8 part series on Tantric Advaita. Supported by numerous backers on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, this video is part of a communication project on Tantric Advaita. It also includes the book 'Tantric Advaita - Energizing Nonduality' - find all details here : https://www.tantricadvaita.org/book_tantric_advaita.html.

00:00:00   6.1. The Power of Change 

00:05:44   6.2. Breath Retention 

00:08:07   6.3. Emotions & the Life Force 

00:12:59   6.4. The Movement of Prana 

00:19:41   6.5. The Vibration of Prana 

00:36:30   6.6. The Storage of Prana 

00:42:43   6.7. The Polarity of Prana 

00:56:24   6.8. Kundalini & Spiritual Growth

Having discovered the beauty of Self-awareness, nonduality or Advaita becomes a way of pure being. Yet, life tends to produce its various emotions, which easily remove that blissful feeling of the Self. We can actually never lose the Self, as it is ever in our presence. However, when that particular feeling or energy of the Self is lost, pure beingness itself is perceived to be lost.  

Tantric Advaita is the ancient knowledge on the nondual energy of the Self. It teaches us how to maintain full awareness of the Self, while simultaneously bringing our feeling closer to the bliss of the Self, energizing our nonduality practice. As we focus our awareness on itself, we harmonize our energy.

The power of ethereal space relates to the five elements of which our body is made. These elements are generating our basic desires for security, pleasure, status, love and understanding. When we take good care for our body as a good mother would, the elements are balanced and our desires become more easy to manage. Likewise our emotions will be more harmonious. This rest upon a variety of practices relates to the Doshas in our food, working with the senses and physical exercises. Sharing becomes a natural attitude when our desires mature.  

This is Part 5 of an 8 part series on Tantric Advaita. Supported by numerous backers on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, this video is part of a communication project on Tantric Advaita. It also includes the book 'Tantric Advaita - Energizing Nonduality' - find all details here : https://www.tantricadvaita.org/book_tantric_advaita.html.

00:00:00   5.1. Balancing the Elements 

00:05:26   5.2. Our Principal Desires 

00:17:49   5.3. Elements & Senses 

00:33:15   5.4. The 3 Doshas 

00.54.27   5.5. Motherly Love

Having discovered the beauty of Self-awareness, nonduality or Advaita becomes a way of pure being. Yet, life tends to produce its various emotions, which easily remove that blissful feeling of the Self. We can actually never lose the Self, as it is ever in our presence. However, when that particular feeling or energy of the Self is lost, pure beingness itself is perceived to be lost.  

Tantric Advaita is the ancient knowledge on the nondual energy of the Self. It teaches us how to maintain full awareness of the Self, while simultaneously bringing our feeling closer to the bliss of the Self, energizing our nonduality practice. As we focus our awareness on itself, we harmonize our energy.

The Powers of Sound, Space and Time manifest from the Self to create the Universe, while also offering us so many practices to return to the feeling of the Self. The power of Sound thus manifests as the power of Aum and other seed sounds, the powers of mantra, beat, tone, music, thought and desire. The Power of Space is infused with the care and sharing in motherly love, including also the work of calming and withdrawing the senses, pacifying desires, as well as balancing our bodies through Asana and the understanding of Ayurveda. The power of Time lets us work with the life force or Prana, through breath and also food and exercise, balancing our emotions and raising our Kundalini energy. All these energetic practices of Yoga and Tantra are used within the 5 yogic paths of Bhakti, Jnana, Karma, Ashtanga and Tantra Yoga, which respectively work on how we feel, think, act, do nothing or do everything at once.

00:00:00   3.1. Complementarity of Practices 

00:10:11   3.2. Sound, Space & Time 

00:21:02   3.3. The Main Yogic Paths

This is Part 3 of an 8 part series on Tantric Advaita. Supported by numerous backers on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, this video is part of a communication project on Tantric Advaita. It also includes the book 'Tantric Advaita - Energizing Nonduality' - find all details here : https://www.tantricadvaita.org/book_tantric_advaita.html.

Having discovered the beauty of Self-awareness, nonduality or Advaita becomes a way of pure being. Yet, life tends to produce its various emotions, which easily remove that blissful feeling of the Self. We can actually never lose the Self, as it is ever in our presence. However, when that particular feeling or energy of the Self is lost, pure beingness itself is perceived to be lost.  

Tantric Advaita is the ancient knowledge on the nondual energy of the Self. It teaches us how to maintain full awareness of the Self, while simultaneously bringing our feeling closer to the bliss of the Self, energizing our nonduality practice. As we focus our awareness on itself, we harmonize our energy.

The Power of Sound may help us to find our inner silence, especially if our emotions are somewhat troubled and making it hard. We are sound frequencies ourselves and by producing sound, we can change our emotional frequency. The science of Sanskrit holds incredible understanding on how sounds affect us. The seed sounds, chakra sounds and mantras brought forward by the yogic tradition offer us many ways to work with our energy and this especially to resolve any subconscious blockages. Sounds also have meaning, so the power of sound also includes the power of thought, where we repeat useful thoughts while subduing less useful thoughts.   

This is Part 4 of an 8 part series on Tantric Advaita. Supported by numerous backers on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, this video is part of a communication project on Tantric Advaita. It also includes the book 'Tantric Advaita - Energizing Nonduality' - find all details here : https://www.tantricadvaita.org/book_tantric_advaita.html.

00:00:00   4.1. Sound & Silence 

00:06:27   4.2. Sanskrit Science of Sound 

00:27:26   4.3. Using the Power of Sound 

00:26:56   4.4. The Power of Thought

Having discovered the beauty of Self-awareness, nonduality or Advaita becomes a way of pure being. Yet, life tends to produce its various emotions, which easily remove that blissful feeling of the Self. We can actually never lose the Self, as it is ever in our presence. However, when that particular feeling or energy of the Self is lost, pure beingness itself is perceived to be lost.  

Tantric Advaita is the ancient knowledge on the nondual energy of the Self. It teaches us how to maintain full awareness of the Self, while simultaneously bringing our feeling closer to the bliss of the Self, energizing our nonduality practice. As we focus our awareness on itself, we harmonize our energy.

The most essential understanding in Tantric Advaita concerns the seeds or potentials that are hidden within the Self, from which the entire universe manifests. They are based on the ancient trinity of Sat-Chit-Ananda, from which the powers of Time, Space and Sound emerged. These seeds also offer us the principal energetic methods to regenerate the feeling of nonduality. They provide us with a unique insight into the origin of all Yogic and Tantric practice, at all times allowing us to retrace our way back to the Self.  

This is Part 2 of an 8 part series on Tantric Advaita. Supported by numerous backers on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, this video is part of a communication project on Tantric Advaita. It also includes the book 'Tantric Advaita - Energizing Nonduality' - find all details here : https://www.tantricadvaita.org/book_tantric_advaita.html.

00:00:00   2.1. The Manifested Universe 

00:06:10   2.2. The Seeds within the Self 

00:13:05   2.3. Seed-Based Practices 

00:16:09   2.4. The Manifested Seeds 

00:30:35   2.5. Generating Nondual Energy

Having discovered the beauty of Self-awareness, nonduality or Advaita becomes a way of pure being. Yet, life tends to produce its various emotions, which easily remove that blissful feeling of the Self. We can actually never lose the Self, as it is ever in our presence. However, when that particular feeling or energy of the Self is lost, pure beingness itself is perceived to be lost.  

Tantric Advaita is the ancient knowledge on the nondual energy of the Self. It teaches us how to maintain full awareness of the Self, while simultaneously bringing our feeling closer to the bliss of the Self, energizing our nonduality practice. As we focus our awareness on itself, we harmonize our energy.

You are that blissful Self-awareness beyond duality. You really ‘get that’, yet it is hard to keep feeling it. Tantric Advaita may be just what you need.   

This is Part 1 of an 8 part series on Tantric Advaita. Supported by numerous backers on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, this video is part of a communication project on Tantric Advaita. It also includes the book 'Tantric Advaita - Energizing Nonduality' - - find all details here : https://www.tantricadvaita.org/book_tantric_advaita.html.

Having discovered the beauty of Self-awareness, nonduality or Advaita becomes a way of pure being. Yet, life tends to produce its various emotions, which easily remove that blissful feeling of the Self. We can actually never lose the Self, as it is ever in our presence. However, when that particular feeling or energy of the Self is lost, pure beingness itself is perceived to be lost.  

Tantric Advaita is the ancient knowledge on the nondual energy of the Self. It teaches us how to maintain full awareness of the Self, while simultaneously bringing our feeling closer to the bliss of the Self, energizing our nonduality practice. As we focus our awareness on itself, we harmonize our energy.

00:00:00   1.1. What is Tantric Advaita ? 

00:06:19   1.2. What is the Self ? 

00:11:40   1.3. The Sheaths of Consciousness 

00:23:20   1.4. Consciousness & Energy

The most essential understanding in Tantric Advaita concerns the seeds or potentials that are hidden within the Self, from which the entire universe manifests. They are based on the ancient trinity of Sat-Chit-Ananda, from which the powers of Time, Space and Sound emerged. These seeds also offer us the principal energetic methods to regenerate the feeling of nonduality. They provide us with a unique insight into the origin of all Yogic and Tantric practice, at all times allowing us to retrace our way back to the Self.

The lady asking me this question meant that while she has not much to complain about her boyfriend in general, in bed he is responding in a rather primitive fashion. When some sexual interaction starts, he is very rapidly aroused and finishes quickly, leaving her quite unsatisfied. Hence, the reference to a 'Neanderthal in bed'. 

To my experience, many couples have these kinds of issues when it comes to sex and many women especially complain that men are bad at sex. This basically happens because of a lack of understanding regarding the sexual biological differences between men and women in general (the exceptions making the rule). Men are programmed to spread their seed as fast as possible and thus they are very rapidly aroused and have an urged to finish off quickly. Women are programmed however to be usually aroused more slowly, so that they only engage in sex when the circumstances are secure enough for child bearing and raising a child. Thus men need to control their urges and give their partner the time to get into it. The men who can do this will then also experience that their own sexual enjoyment and orgasm is strongly enhanced. Women also need to understand men somewhat better and accept that hours of foreplay is so much going against men's biological programming that it may feel like torture. 

From Vedic science we can also learn that when sex is happening primarily from the love in the Heart Chakra instead of only from the sexual fantasies of the second Chakra, both men and women will experience much more enjoyment, even if this attitude comes more easily to women.  

Ancestor rituals are very easy and useful to do. In modern culture this has been mostly lost, while in ancient cultures it was always a main aspect of the spiritual practices of a community. The best time is on the morning of a new moon, when the gate is wide open and the ancestors are also in the most calm mood. It only needs to take 5 minutes in which we greet the ancestors, wish them well, offer them some gifts and may also ask for support. The gifts should contain the five elements : flowers and fruits for Earth, some fresh water for the Water element, a candle or oil lamp for Fire, incense or essential oil for Air and our voice for Space. Some gifts may be more personal within a family or for a particular departed person. So we put these gifts on a plate, which after say 24 hours is returned to nature, not thrown in a dustbin. 

Solar and lunar energies are an essential duality in Tantric science. The solar energy which is more rational and action-oriented tends to be more dominant in males. The lunar energy which is more emotional and feeling-oriented is generally more dominant in females. Some women are more solar than some men and vice versa, so everyone is free to be however they want. The true balance that we seek in yoga is between the solar and the lunar, as we are half male and half female anyhow. The complementarity of both ways of being or arguments one might say, is the truth. Alternate nostril breathing and many meditation practices related to establishing this balance.   

Marijuana is known to be used quite a lot by many Sadhus in India, so one might wonder if there is a spiritual use of it. The answer is that there are some interesting spiritual opportunities in using Marijuana, but there is definitely no need for it. It all depends who is using Marijuana or other Cannabis products, with what intent and how.   

Many householder yogis will eat or drink Cannabis products rather than smoking Marijuana, which is obviously better for health. Addiction to Cannabis is fortunately limited to some mental/emotional/social dependency and does not include a strong addiction on the level of the body as it is found in many other drugs including alcohol.   

Over 100 active compounds are found in Marijuana, of which THC and CBD are the most important. THC gives the creative high associated with Marijuana, while CBD gives a kind of relaxation. Marijuana connects to  receptors for the neurotransmitter Anandamide. Since in yoga the bliss of Ananda is the primary goal, this also means that all other aspects of yoga can produce similar effects as Cannabis and we have to be careful that in chosing one, we do not drop the others.  

According to yogic science, Marijuana stimulates whatever lunar energy is already present, while it will also subdue the solar energy. In this way it may both stimulate artistic creativity, spiritual insight as well as paranoia. Less solar energy means less Ego, which means that while Marijuana smokers are relatively harmless, they may also tend to be lazy and without concentration or purpose.   

Marijuana is best used after sunset and not during the day. It will reduce the financial worries in first Chakra, enhance pleasure in second Chakra, reduce the Ego centered mindset in third Chakra, produce more love and Bhakti in 4th Chakra and bring some understanding on the relativity of any intellectual truths in 5th Chakra. In 6th Chakra where the main desire is to meditate, it is only useful at an advanced state, as it will separate mind from the Self. As long however as one has not mastered full mental concentration, combining meditation with the use of Marijuana is a waste of time.  

A main subject also is the correct dosing of Marijuana, which is more difficult compared to alcohol for example. To get some spiritual benefits from using Marijuana, a mild use with low doses is advisable in most cases and definitely upon frequent use. 

The Leela game is also called Maha Lila or Gyan Chaupad, the game of self-knowledge. Leela is not just a great tool for learning all about life and your own path through the 72 squares of the game board and the many snakes and arrows that fill it. Especially the snakes and arrows will teach you what are the best ways for you to move up and which errors are the most likely to take you down. It also imparts some very deep spiritual messages and the more we play the Leela game, the more these will start influencing our lives. In this class we discuss these 5 main messages : 

1. Life is a game, stop being serious 

2. Desires naturally mature 

3. Higher and lower states of being are an illusion 

4. Behind the Microcosmos of our Chakras and spiritual evolution, there is the related Macrocosmos 

5. Like a hot air balloon, to move up we have to become more light

CONTENTS : 

00:00:00   Introduction 

00:04:11   1. The Game of Life 

00:10:06   2. The Evolution of Desire 

00:18:33   3. No Real High & Low 

00:26:21   4. Vedic Cosmology 

00:42:08   5. Like a Hot Air Balloon

If we have no teacher or the teacher is not available, we can still teach ourselves by being good students. Any outer teacher will only push us to the inner teacher, which is the Self. Teachings are anyhow but an introduction to a subject that we can only really master through our own experience and practice. If we see ourselves as a work in progress and do the work, then progress is assured. Once we have found a practice that really suits us, we focus entirely on mastering it. The intellectual game of understanding is then replaced by real spiritual progress, which happens in the subconscious. When we accept our basic ignorance, but love the teachings, we can receive insights also through spiritual connection. That way we become part of the eternal, universal and original path of Sanatan Dharma, in which the student/teacher leela is resolved.   

00:00:00   1. Why do we need a Teacher ? 

00:10:04   2. The Inner Teacher 

00:14:28   3. Teaching is Introduction 

00:21:05   4. Learning without a Teacher 

00:24:36   5. A Work in Progress 

00:33:57   6. Focus in Practice 

00:37:22   7. The Game of Understanding 

00:46:32   8. The Real Spiritual Growth 

00:50:58   9. Accepting Ignorance 

00:55:38   10. The Power of Spiritual Connection 

01:13:46   11. Sanatan Dharma 

01:16:14   12. Q&A

Nobody likes anger, but still we usually understand little about it, so ancient Vedic Rasa science can teach us a lot. Many feel powerless even to stop the feeling once it comes. And yet even just by understanding how the Rasa of anger depends on the fire element in the body, we can find many ways to cool down. Anger also relates to how we deal with other emotions and especially with our expectations. We can learn to defend ourselves more peacefully by being straightforward and without suppressing the anger, which is very unhealthy. Forgiveness requires a thorough contemplation on the reasons why people do wrong things. Through Anger Sadhana in yoga alternative anger management techniques are put forward that ultimately will lead us to let go of anger altogether. Rasa Sadhana is also possible with many of the other Rasas - see other classes.  

Chapters : 

00:00:00 Introduction 

00:04:53 Anger in the Body  

00:19:03 Aspects of Anger 

00:31:49 The Root of Anger 

00:42:31 How to Defend ?  

00:55:07 Anger Suppression 

00:57:40 How to Forgive ? 

01:12:52 Anger Sadhana

Samadhi is the state of really deep meditation, when we are entirely absorbed inside. In that state which is truly beyond words, we are no longer aware of sitting somewhere in meditation. Whatever happens there happens naturally, supported by the divine power of the Self. Such deep meditation brings about profound changes in our personality, where a shy person can entirely lose that shyness, etc... In Samadhi, the identification with the Ego is temporarily lost and as a result when we emerge from this deep meditative state the identification with the Self is greatly enhanced. Samadhi is not something that we can do however, it is something that happens. We only have to create the right conditions for it and allow it to happen.  

Chapters : 

00:00:00 Introduction  

00:15:25 The Process  

00:32:26 How to Reach it 

00:53:28 Phases of Samadhi 

01:14:35 Effects of Samadhi 

01:27:26 Q&A

The 7 steps to enlightenment are known in Vedic culture as the Bhumikas and also Ramana Maharishi brought them to our attention as guidelines to the process of spiritual growth. That is important especially as each step has its own rules. For example, step 2 is called Vichara or self-study and it does require to read books, listen to lectures etc... until our intellectual level of understanding has reached a level where the questioning can stop and we can enter the stage of practice in step 3. In step 3 then temporary detachment from our desires is essential, while in step 4 we are again urged to fulfill our deepest desires in Dharma. May these 7 steps to heaven help you to understand where you are in this process and know what works for you to move forward.    

00:00:00 Introduction 

00:10:48 STEP 1 : SUBHECCHA - Desire for Liberation 

00:16:31 STEP 2 : VICHARA - Self-Study 

00:27:51 STEP 3 : TANU-MANASI - Controlling Mind 

00:37:24 STEP 4 : SATTVAPATTI - Ruling Happiness 

00:56:11 STEP 5 : ASAMSHAKTI - Non-Attachment 

00:59:32 STEP 6 : PADARTHA-BHAVANA : Non-Perception

 01:01:59 STEP 7 : TURYA - Enlightenment

Nobody wants to be depressed and yet depression ultimately is revealed as a choice that we can make if things go wrong. Ancient vedic science offers us a vast body of knowledge on this Vibhatsya Rasa, the essential emotional energy involved in depression, which can be translated as a feeling of disgust. How to get rid of depression first of all means to see the truth of the self-loathing and low self-esteem that it holds. It makes no sense, it has no purpose, it doesn't solve a thing, rather the opposite. To stop depression means to get rid of negative thinking, but in practice this his proven very difficult for many people. In case of severe depression, we have to get out of it step by step, building self-confidence through slowly increased discipline and purification of the body. It may require support from outside and probably quite some spiritual healing too. Often enough a person has been so much put down by others that it is hard to believe in oneself. And yet we are all same and everybody can say "depression never again", refusing this painful egotrap.  

Chapters : 

00:00:00 Introduction 

00:07:59 Vibhatsya Rasa 

00:21:27 Depression Origins 

00:30:06 How to get Out ? 

00:41:06 Disgust Sadhana 

00:43:59 Depression Culture 

00:47:57 Q&A on Depression

This class brings you the direct experience  of the truth of non-duality, which is the foundation of all yoga and spirituality. 'We are all one' is more easily said than truly understood or actually felt. The study of this truth is the main practice in Jnana Yoga, even if intellectual understanding is only at the start of it. Through a series of introspective questions called Vichara, based on the teachings of Shri Ramana Maharishi and Nisargadatta Maharaj, the class leads you to the core of Advaita Vedanta, the ancient Vedic understanding of absolute unity, also known as non-duality. From the Absolute Self, the witness consciousness, the pure awareness we are led to cosmic consciousness, within the ultimate duality of consciousness and energy. So that we can ultimately experience the absolute peace and bliss that is the core objective of yoga, not only in the dept of meditation, but also in the game of life called Leela. Which ultimately is a game of Love.  

00:00:00    Introduction 

00:08:47   1. Truth is Never Changing 

00:13:00   2. The Illusion of the Senses 

00:26:28   3. The Illusion of Words 

00:28:45   4. Subjective Truth 

00:32:56   5. The Illusion of Understanding 

00:41:01   6. The Illusion of Perception 

00:44:08   7. The Illusion of the Body 

00:50:17   8. The Illusion of Individuality 

00:58:59   9. The Witness Consciousness 

01:14:39   10. Truth, Being, Bliss 

01:18:44   11. Cosmic Consciousness 

01:29:26   12. Conscious Energy 

01:35:50   13. The Game of Life 

01:44:47   14. Pleasure & Pain 

01:55:52   15. Love

This ancient Leela boardgame teaches us about life, yoga and the chakras. As I was taught through this game by Harish Johari and played it daily for years afterwards, I learned so much. Most importantly, the snakes and arrows on the gameboard should be closely watched so that one can learn also what most often takes our energy down or pushes it upwards. This Gyan Chaupad or “gameboard of knowledge as it was originally called, holds layer upon layers of significance both for our mundane lives as for our yogic exercises. It represents the entire universe. The latest version of the Leela game (aka Lila) with comments by my teacher Harish Johari is called "The Yoga of Snakes and Arrows", published by Inner Traditions, Vermont.