For the Love of Yoga with Nish the Fish

Latest Episodes:

The 9 Types of Tantrik Awakening Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

What is it that turns someone away from the shallow, fleeting pleasures of the world and towards genuine spiritual life? Obviously, it is grace. Abinava Gupta, in his masterwork, Tantraloka takes up the very nuanced work of articulating the science of Grace: how did this Grace come about and who is "worthy" of receiving it? Are there practices you can do to invite this grace? And where does this grace come from and why? All these questions are taken up and brilliantly answered in Chapter 13 of Abinava's Tantraloka and in this lecture we sketch out his reasoning so that we can truly understand the Tantrik doctrine of Shaktipata (Descent of Power/Grace/Sudden Awakening). From our discussion of Shaktipata, we learn the 9 different "grades" of awakening which sheds light on Chapter 2 of the Tantraloka, on Anupaya (The Wayless Way) which consequently contextualizes the Anava Upaya we get in Chapter 5 and onwards.
If any of the above discussions on the practice and theory of Tantra are exciting to you, you should know that we do a weekly live class every on zoom every Thursday at 7:30pm PST on the Vijnana-Bhairava Tantra, the central practice manual of non-dual Tantra. In these classes, we discuss together some of the subtlest nuances of our Tradition. All are welcome. You can sign up for these classes by clicking on my name and reserving your spot in the Yoga World Heart website here: https://yogaworldheart.com/schedule

You can of course access all the previously recorded classes in our lecture library here: www.patreon.com/yogawithnish or pick up this introductory program: https://nishthefish.gumroad.com/l/journeyintotantra
(PS: Right now, I’m working on a shorter introductory Tantra program that is not as in-depth, thorough and long as the one linked above. Kind of like a crash course on Tantra. By Mother’s grace, I expect to have that one out by our next newsletter!)

Hit Me Up x

Support the show

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST
Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815
For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnish
To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

The Way of Shakti | The Zen Koans of Tantra Jun 23, 2022

Show notes

Who or what is Kali? In what form does Shakti create this Universe? And how can I (a) interact with that and (b) BECOME that?
In perhaps one of our deepest discussions yet, we explore the ultimate nature of Reality: the mantric body of Shiva, i.e Shakti. Everything that you see around you is a mantra, a subtly vibrating phoneme that gives rise to thought structures in the mind which in turn produce language structures in speech which ultimate filters down into your subjective and intersubjective realities as you perceive it and negotiate it against others. Does that sound philosophical and obtuse? Necessarily it must! Because today we are discussing the subtlest and highest of Tantrik philosophies. In this lesson, we unveil the "Way of Shakti", a particularly subtle and exciting approach to spiritual practice. We contemplate verses 99 and 102 of the Vijnana-Bhairava Tantra.
May your contemplations of these two verses flower into the full bloom of Enlightenment, the attainment of your own innate Shiva-nature of Pure Consciousness.
Jai Maa Kaali!
OM Namah Shivay!

Hit Me Up x

Support the show

How To Meditate Like Lord Shiva Jun 11, 2022

Show notes

In 10th CE Kashmir, there were a slew of Tantrik masters who wrote brilliant commentaries on principal texts in Tantra and in so doing developed a wholly unique, thrilling and sophisticated approach to spirituality. These masters wrote within the tradition of Shaivism, the spiritual philosophy centered around Shiva as the principal divinity. Naturally then, their approach came to be called "Kashmir Shaivism." While this is a broad and far reaching school with many technicalities and subtleties, I wanted to share with you one particularly striking feature of Kashmiri Shaivite meditation, namely, the Shambava Upaya (Way of Shiva) approach that attempts to seize every day moments of ordinary cognition as profound opportunities to recognise the deepest Truth of your own being. If you properly master this technique, the idea is that in each and every moment of your embodied existence, you will constantly be reawakened to the ever-fresh joy of rediscovering your essence nature as Lord Shiva himself.
If you'd like to come and have your question answered, LIVE lectures happen every Monday at 7pm PST on Zoom. It is open to the public. Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815
For more videos, guided meditations and instruction, access to our lecture library, and to support this work, visit me at:
https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnish
To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Hit Me Up x

Support the show

Buddhism and Hinduism (Q&A) | Buddha Purnima May 19, 2022

Show notes

In this Buddha Purnima special, we celebrate the birth, death and enlightenment of one of the world's greatest spiritual teachers, Gautama the Buddha by having a Q&A discussion on various themes in Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and spiritual life in general.
00:01:16 Is Buddha's Enlightenment and Sri Ramakrishna's Enlightenment the same?
00:07:46 Nagarjuna's "Nirvana = Samsara"
00:12:15 The Buddha as an Avatar of Vishnu?
00:21:45 How is Advaita Vedanta different from Soliplism/Subjective Idealism?
00:34:51 Westopher's Firm Footing
00:50:30 Why Is There Suffering In The World?
01:09:25 Dzogchen and Tantrik Buddhism with Orion
01:45:50 What Is Bhuta Shuddhi, The Essence of Tantrik Puja? + Kundalini
01:56:03 How Stay Motivated On The Path
02:03:29 "Let He Who Hath Ears Hear" (The Importance of Reviewing)
If you'd like to come and have your question answered, LIVE lectures happen every Monday at 7pm PST on Zoom. It is open to the public. Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815
For more videos, guided meditations and instruction, access to our lecture library, and to support this work, visit me at:
https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnish
To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM
OM Tat Sat

Hit Me Up x

Support the show

Sri Ramakrishna's Mission | Celebrating 125 Years! May 03, 2022

Show notes

On May 1st this year, the Ramakrishna Mission turns 125 since Swami Vivekananda established it in 1897, in Balaram Bose's house in Calcutta.
As an offering to my Guru, I say a few words about the central theme of this mission that to me represents the Highest Ideal of Spiritual Life: service to our brothers and sisters, not out of the delusion that we can "help" them or that they are in need of "our help", but out of the recognition of the innate divinity of the soul. As such, our service to others is really nothing but worship of the Divine as She appears to us in this or that person. Really, this is conversation about turning every moment of your life into spiritual practice.
May this words serve you.
Jai Shri Ramakrishna!
Jai Maa Kaali!

Hit Me Up x

Support the show

The Bhagavad Gita Rock Opera + Q&A | Lissa Coffey May 03, 2022

Show notes

When you surrender your life to the Divine Inspiration arising from deep within you, then, you no longer live your life. Your life lives you.
In this sangha Q&A discussion, we interview celebrity author and sister-disciple, Lissa Coffey (Parama) to talk about:
Why don't we do the things we know we want to do? What is holding us back? And what will happen when we surrender our life to our inspiration, that is, to our Svadharma, our Personal Mission?
In this moving discussion, we hear about Lissa Coffey's new project, the Bhagavad Gita Rock Opera, and how following her inspiration has created positive changes in her life and spiritual practice. Her testimony proves to us that if we surrender to the Divine, we will always be provided for and that our lives will be filled with genuine joy and ease-fulness. Then, we answer some questions on how to find motivation for spiritual practice, reincarnation, the obstacles to spiritual practice and many other important themes in spiritual life.
For more videos, guided meditations and instruction, access to our lecture library, and to support this work, visit me at:
https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnish
LIVE lectures happen every Monday at 7pm PST on Zoom. It is open to the public. Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815
To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Hit Me Up x

Support the show

What Is Freedom? Apr 19, 2022

Show notes

When people talk about freedom, they usually speak about the freedom to be a slave to their own impulses. The million year tyrant of our biology has kept us entangled in its own survival and reproduction motives, using us as pawns in a much larger game that we cannot win. Every now and then we wake up to this reality and ask if there are other motives by which we might live our lives, motives more meaningful and fulfilling than simply the dressed-up drives of sex and survival?
00:00:00 What is the Purpose of Life?
00:04:12 The Test of Truth (Don't Believe A Word I Say!)
00:06:15 What Do People Commonly Want Out of Practicing Yoga?
00:12:15 What Does A Mature Spiritual Desire Look Like?
00:15:05 What does "Dukkha" (Suffering) really mean?
00:17:59 The Danger of Immature Spiritual Practice (The Dragon of Biology)
00:28:40 Why Don't Pleasures Satisfy Us? (The Bondage of Kama, Artha and Dharma)
00:42:41 The Freedom Paradox: Common Conceptions of Freedom and Why They Don't Work vs The Spiritual Ideal of Freedom from Lust and Greed
00:59:12 The Peace that Passeth All Understanding (Ananda)
01:11:11 Freedom in Kant, the Christian Mystics and the Tarot
01:18:12 How To Achieve Freedom?
01:22:11 The Central Thrust of Indian Philosophy (Polytheism to Monotheism to Monism)
01:35:22 An Argument to Show You Your Freedom (You are God!)
01:46:34 If I Am God, Why Do I Incarnate and Forget?
01:53:34 Stanzas on Freedom (Nirvana Shatakam)
For more videos, guided meditations and instruction, access to our lecture library, and to support this work, visit me at:
https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnish
LIVE lectures happen every Monday at 7pm PST on Zoom. It is open to the public. Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815

Hit Me Up x

Support the show

What Is Evil? Apr 04, 2022

Show notes

Theodicy or "The Problem of Evil" is as follows: if God is omnipotent (all-powerful) AND omnibenevolent (all good), why is there suffering/evil in the world?
Either this means God is not powerful enough to stop evil even if She wanted to OR it means God could stop it but won't and as such is not all "good" by human standards.
Today, we explore some ideas from Advaita Vedanta (Hindu Non-Duality) to offer a fresh perspectives on the Problem of Evil. Advaita argues that there is no such thing as "evil" in the world. What appears to be "evil" is simply a contracted state of love. How can this be?
Let's find out together!
For more videos, guided meditations and instruction, access to our lecture library, and to support this work, visit me at:
https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnish
00:00:00 Introduction: What Is Truth?
00:08:05 What is "Evil"?
00:14:00 Does the appearance of Evil imply the existence of Evil?
00:16:00 "Sociopath"/"Psychopath"/"Narcissist": Do These Words Mean Anything?
00:18:00 The Approach of Scientific Materialism to Evil and It's Drawbacks
00:22:00 Can We Study Evil "Objectively"? (A Methodological Point)
00:26:00 What Is Advaita Vedanta's view of Science?
00:29:00 Can Science help us face the "evil: in the world? (Hedonism and Humanism)
00:32:50 What is "God" according to Dualistic Religions?
00:36:00 If God is all-good and all-powerful, why is there Evil?
00:41:47 Why does God value "Free Will?" (The Story of the Fall)
00:46:19 Zoroastrianism and The Origins of Dualistic Religion
00:50:26 If there is Good, there has to be Evil, right? Here's the Problem!
00:55:55 Kali Worship: A New Way of Looking at God
01:00:45 How To Look Evil in the Eye With Love?/How To Overcome Guilt
01:03:50 Samkhya, Advaita and Buddhism: A Mature Approach to "Getting On With It"
01:08:19 The Story of Milarepa: A Tantrik Approach of Evil and Guilt
01:18:43 The Advaitic Approach to Evil (The Main Course for Tonight!!!)
01:29:50 The Ultimate Ethical Project of Spirituality: Cultivating Selfless-ness/ Pacifism?
01:32:00 Give Your Enemies a Sandwich! (The Wisdom of Bootsy Collins)
01:37:40 Kant on Evil: Can Anybody Will Evil in-and-of-itself?
01:44:17 The Bhagavad Gita on Evil
01:54:16 Closing Prayer

Hit Me Up x

Support the show

Sri Ramakrishna, Modern Day Avatar Mar 07, 2022

Show notes

For more videos, guided meditations and instruction, access to our lecture library, and to support this work, visit me at:
https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnish
LIVE lectures happen every Monday at 7pm PST on Zoom. It is open to the public. Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815
To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM
What is for a human to literally be God? It seems counter-intuitive!
One can of course study the life of the great Avataras like Buddha, Jesus and Ramakrishna and see a remarkable similarity. All the stories are almost replayed, almost word for word. But even then the mind has room to say "well, they are just stories, maybe they were intentionally crafted to mirror Avatars of the past to gain credibility. I mean after all, wouldn't everyone like to claim their Guru as the Avatara of the Age?"
The mind is powerless to comprehend. But for some reason, this heart feels what it feels!
Now the interesting thing is that when young Narendranath (later Swami Vivekananda) met Ramakrishna, he didn't care at all whether he was an Avatara or not. He had heard such implications but it was enough for young Naren that before him was a genuinely spiritual man with a deep love for God and a powerful penchant for teaching spirituality. He was ready to learn from such a man once he felt the depth of feeling and wisdom housed in that slender frame. Ramakrishna was a Guru for Vivekananda at first. But then, as time went on and Naren saw more and more of Ramakrishna, he begin to feel intuitions that of course waged war with his keen, rational, Western-trained intellect. He doubted Ramakrishna up to the very last moment, when Ramakrishna was about to die from throat cancer. Vivekananda thought "is this really the Avatara of the modern age? If he can affirm it now, even amidst all this pain, I might accept it". It was jut a thought but on cue Ramakrishna said "do you doubt it even now, my boy? The one who was here as Rama and the one who was here as Krishna is now here as Ramakrishna. But not according to your Vedanta!"
That last response is very important to me because it expresses that there are many ways of looking at a phenomenon like Ramakrishna and that all these ways are legit. Each must come to an understanding according to their own predispositions.

Hit Me Up x

Support the show