'The Essence of Spirituality'

Hindu leader coming to Dallas to talk about 'The Essence of Spirituality'
10:38 AM CDT on Saturday, July 26, 2008
By SAM HODGES / The Dallas Morning News

Swami Mukundananda gave a series of talks at the DFW Hindu Temple in 2001, and attendance grew from 200 to 700 through the week. He'll be back there from Aug. 3 to 10, lecturing (in English) on "The Essence of Spirituality," and leading classes in yoga and meditation.

After earning degrees in engineering and business from colleges in India, he turned to the spiritual life, becoming a student of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, according to his press materials. Swami Mukundananda has been lecturing around the world for almost two decades, and his current tour includes Lisbon, Portugal; Chicago; and Sunnyvale, Calif. He spoke by phone with Staff Writer Sam Hodges.

What's your impression of the level of interest in the United States in Hindu philosophy and practices, such as yoga and meditation?
Indians living in the U.S.A. are realizing the efficacy of yogic technique for maintaining health at the physical, mental and spiritual levels. I see tremendous interest.

There are many yoga classes offered across the U.S. now. Do you think there's an authentic way and inauthentic way to practice yoga?
The yoga schools around the world are utilizing the authentic physical techniques. However, the mind issues are not being tackled. This word "yoga" comes from the Sanskrit word "yog," which means union – the union of the individual soul with the supreme soul. This union is through the mind. When we elevate our mind consciousness to the divine, we achieve that state of yog or yoga. This point is not being emphasized in 99 percent of yoga schools.

One of your listed topics is "Why be spiritual in the age of science?" What is your short answer?
Science has helped us in harnessing the tremendous forces of nature. However, it has no tools to harness our internal nature, the basic problems of the human mind: lust, anger, envy, greed, illusion. ... Spirituality is for enhancing the mind and intellect, and manifesting the inherent divinity within us.

What is the biggest misconception about Hindu philosophy?
People often ask why there are so many gods in Hinduism. The Vedas [sacred texts] state again and again that there is only one Supreme Creator. However, since that supreme being is all powerful and in possession of infinite energies, he's not restricted to one form. So in Hinduism are many forms of the one supreme God.

What's the most practical advice you can give on stress management?
The real cause for stress is the unlimited desire within us, desire for material advancement. With true knowledge we can understand that the happiness we are searching for is not just in the external objects. It is within us. When we learn to put in our best effort without being attached to the results, stress immediately vanishes.

Will your lectures benefit people outside the Hindu tradition?
I will not be presenting this knowledge as something sectarian. Instead, I will be presenting it as a very logical framework. From whatever background one comes, if they are willing to listen with an open mind, I'm sure they will find it appealing and stimulating.

Any specific memories of the last lectures you gave in Dallas?
People responded very well. The Indian community attending consisted of highly educated people – scientists, engineers, MBAs. They have a natural belief in God, yet they have so many questions. Being an engineer myself, I know how people with a scientific background think. I was able to explain things in a manner that was convincing.

Janmasatmi

Swami Mukundananda Delivers Lectures on 'the Spiritual Art of Managing Your Mind' in Sunnyvale, CA

Learn practical tools of Mind Management to harness the Treasure Within by de-stressing, stabilizing the purifying the mind and intelligence, through the Lecture Series delivered by Swami Mukundananda, who, apart from being a renowned saint, is also an IIT & IIM Alumnus.

The Discourses will be divided into 7 episodes of 120 minutes each, delving into minutiae such as Nature of the Mind, Characteristics of Human Intelligence and Ego, Nature of Material pleasure and Spiritual Bliss, instinctive limitations of mind and practicable solutions to overcome them, Soul Science, the Supersoul connection, karma and its effect on the thoughts/desires of mind, ways to purify the mind and its instincts.

Thus, Swamiji will elucidate on means to Manage the Mind and Spiritual art of harnessing the Treasure within.

• Venue: Sunnyvale Hindu Temple, 420 Persian Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94089.

• Contacts: (408) 207 2012 and (408) 431 9507.

• E-mail: secretary@jkyog.org

• Official Web-page: http://jkyog.org/events_sunnyvale2.html

In the present times of increasingly busy life-styles, prioritization of commitments and mind management has become imperative to lead to a satisfactory sleep at the end of the day. Albert Einstein, a famous scientist of the previous century has quite rightly quoted that ‘while the modern science has succeeded in ‘de-naturing’ the atom, it has failed to denature the evil within men's hearts. Here is where the Spiritual Science offers much needed solace.

Today, while the scientists have successfully managed to tame means to manipulate the relative environs to cater to physical comforts and sensory pleasure, it is shocking to notice that every step of such advancement only increases the widening-schism between soul and its real need, satisfaction.

Swami Mukundananda is a saint, who has opted out a covetable material life to embrace spirituality, transcending the flickering material pursuits. After passing out from two of world’s top ranked education institution viz., IIT and IIM in his early twenties, Swami Mukundananda worked with a top Indian Software Co. for a short period, but answering to the Spiritual Call, Swamiji left the material pursuit and started traveling within India in search of a Genuine Guru. Someone, who could help him find the answers to the mysteries of mind, soul and purpose of existence. After an intense search of around 6-7 years, Swami Mukundananda, finally reached to the One, Jagadguruttam Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, under Whose divine guidance, Swamiji underwent a rigorous study of the Divine Vedic Encyclopaedia. He submissively inquired into the minutiae of the purpose of existence, nature of mind, soul science and means to attain eternal Bliss, free from any fault or limit.

On successfully completing the Vedic Compendium, Swamiji was ordered by his Guru to broadcast the science across the globe. Swami Mukundananda, thus has been broadcasting the Message of Mahaprabhu across the six continents since more than past twenty five years.

Sanatan Vedic Dharm has, in Her recent history of Five-thousand years, has seen Five Divine Personalities, who have been recognized as their Official Preachers. Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, is the Fifth Such Divine Personality, who has been recognized as the Universal Preacher of the Sanatan Vedic Dharm.

Swami Mukundananda, an alumnus of arguably two of world's top colleges, synthesizes the Management expertise with the Divine Knowledge on the Science of the Soul that he has received from the Lotus Feet of his beloved Spiritual Master, Jagadguruttam Shree Kripaluji Maharaj.

The Lectures Series are sponsored & organized by Jagadguru Kripalu Yog, a non-profit and spiritual organization, incorporated for Spiritually-elevating the souls of the world.