Blissful Brain

The Blissful Brain is published by Gaia Thinking. For more information on how to order your copy, please click here.

Guardian G2: Mind over matter by Andy Darling

"Neuroscientist Shanida Nataraja has proven meditation does more than clear your head, it can put both halves of your brain to work, improving your concentration, memory, and decision-making...". To read more, please click here.

Upcoming talk: Yoga Ananda, Reigate, Surrey on Friday the 4th of June

Shanida Nataraja will be speaking at a seminar on The Blissful Brain on Friday, 04th June 2010 at 19:30 at Yoga Ananda Ltd. 46 Albert Road North, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 9EL. For more information, please click here.

Perennial Philosophy

In 1945, Aldous Huxley published a book entitled “The Perennial Philosophy” in which he proposed that common elements could be found in the traditions and lore of primitive cultures worldwide, as well as in all the major World religions. Whilst at their exterior, the World religions appear to differ considerably, each being associated with often wildly different dogma and rituals, at their core, their esoteric teachings have striking similarities. Huxley referred to this core of common teaching as the “Perennial Philosophy”. There are several main tenets of the Perennial Philosophy.

i. There is an Ultimate Reality that is both universally immanent in creation and transcendent to it. Therefore, the limited reality that wecan apprehend with the five physical senses is embedded within, and sustained by, a limitless Ultimate Reality.

ii. This Ultimate Reality cannot be reached or described using the rational mind. It is therefore inherently incomprehensible and paradoxical.

iii. There is something in the deeper eternal “Self” of a human being, distinct from the personal ego or “self”, which is similar to, or even identical to this Ultimate Reality.

iv. This Ultimate Reality is the ground of all being, through which we are all interconnected.

v. Through a spiritual and moral practice, often involving the purifying of emotions and desires (i.e. detachment) and introspection, the individual can become experientially aware of and achieve union with this transpersonal reality. vi. Once an individual has become aware of their connection with this Ultimate Reality, this awareness is accompanied by a growth in compassion and wisdom.

The identification of this core of common teachings within all the major World Religions reveals that the perceived differences between religions are only valid at a cultural level (i.e. with regard to dogma and ritual). Historically much conflict has arisen out of perceived differences in religious beliefs and practices or attempts to impose the beliefs of one Religion over another. The common spiritual teaching shared by all the major World Religions refutes the continued assertion that one belief system is more valid than another, and opens up a way of reconciling practitioners of different religions through the acknowledgement of common spiritual beliefs.

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