Articles

29.11.2018 Yoga as a means of understanding ourselves and the world (ACU YOGA REIKI MAGAZINE #2)
In this article I would like to talk about a complicated topic, but in a simple and understandable language. Surely, many have already heard about natha-yogis, the founders of the Nath Tradition, such as Gorakhnath, Matsyendranath, Dharmanath and others. I have been inspired by their stories, spiritual experiences, guidelines and continue to practice and explore their doctrine. Read more>>
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

29.11.2018 Natha Yoga (ACU YOGA REIKI MAGAZINE #1)
In this article, I would like to tell you about Nath Tradition, which I have belonged to for almost twenty years since my first initiation. It so happened that I became a yogi in that tradition and what is more, received the blessing from my Guru to spread it to others, which is what I have been doing since 2004. Read more>>
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

30.07.2018 Shiva and Shakti

Natha Sampradaya refers to the Shivaism, but this tradition also worships Shakti - the Goddess. Shakti is a power that allows Shiva to manifest as a form. We know many forms of Shiva - Rudra, Bhairava, Aghora, Sadyojata, Tatpurusha, Sadashiva. Generally, Shiva is the original emptiness, he is beyond all gunas (nirguna), beyond all qualities. He is the super-consciousness (parasamvit), is the omnipresent consciousness, and Shakti is the energy by which this consciousness is revealed.

13.01.2018 Divisions of the Order
This is chapter of "Gorakhnāth and Kānphaṭha Yogīs", G. W. Briggs. The principal panths, or sub-sects of the order may be described as follows: Satnath, Ramnath, Dharamnath, Lakshmannath, Daryanath, Ganganath, Bairag, Rawal or Nagnath, Jalandharipa, Aipanth, Kaplani, Dhajjanath, Kanipa. Read more>>
Tags: :  sampradaya Nathas

01.11.2017 Yama and Niyama: brief review
Yama-Niyama are the principles of spiritual life, based on which yogi, practicing spiritual practices, becomes perfect. In other words, Yama-Niyama is the boat in which you are sitting, and spiritual practices are the oars, the motor and the map, which by the grace of Guru lead you in the right direction, thanks to your efforts. Without a boat, you are most likely to be eaten by sharks or will simply drown: the ocean of life consists not only of sunny moments. There are different variations of Yama-Niyama, but they are all alike. Read more>>
Tags: :  yoga sampradaya nathas
Author: Lakshminath

15.09.2017 Kanda and its location
Many Yogic texts mention a certain area called kanda, which means "bulb" or "root", from where all body’s nadis take a flow. But since the texts sometimes contain different information about the location of kanda, confusion may arise. The reason for the misunderstanding may be that the concept of kanda is associated with tantric symbols which is not explained in the texts in details. Read more>>
Tags: :  yoga tantra sadhana kanda
Author: Lakshminath

09.09.2017 Answers about measurement and depth of breathing
Touchy questions that I am often asked on seminars, specifically about the practice of prāṇāyāma. Read more>>
Tags: :  yoga pranayama sadhana
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

04.09.2017 Khecarī as a mudrā, mantra and a Goddess
There are many practices and elements of one or another practice under the name of khecarī–mudrā, for the reason that in India every spiritual path introduced something of its own. For example, in Gorakh-bānī, khecarī-mudrā is one of eight mudrās Read more>>
Tags: :  yoga mantra sadhana mudra

19.01.2017 Mantra Yoga

Mantra Yoga is a method for achieving the highest goal by using mantras. Practicing Mantra Yoga, sadhaka realizes mantra that he or she receives from Guru and the mantra`s siddhi.

09.12.2016 Viṣa and Amṛta in Tantra
Various Sampradayas could define many images of Vedas, Puranas, Tantras, Yoga-Shastras in their own, sometimes diametrically opposing ways. They use metaphorical language which is intentionally called 'sandha-bhasa’ by siddha yogis. This is a language which allows you to find doors to multidimensionality and versatility of meanings. One of such often described terms in Tantras is विष “viṣa” (poison), which is related to a poison consumed by Shiva after Samudra manthan (churning of the ocean by Devas and Danavas). Shiva also wears snakes instead of brahmanical thread and as earrings in his ears and etc. However, you may notice that the same element, for example, the churned ocean could produce opposite elements such as amṛta (nectar of immortality) and poison. Goddess Kundalini in her snake form could be associated with poison, but she is the Goddess of nectar, Sudha as well. Read more>>
Tags: :  amrita kundalini tantra vamachara
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

01.11.2016 Karma and karma-yoga

A lot of people might wonder what human karma and sanskaras are. Whether it is one’s nature or an offspring of karma.

Karma means a deed which leads to some result. Committing some action leaves an imprint (sanskara) in the soul, namely in the karana-sharira (the causal body). This imprint is carried through life and after some time it germinates.

15.06.2016 Vedic elements in Natha’s mantras

Let’s take a closer look at the meaning of Gorakshanath gayatri-mantra.

At the beginning it says about being (existence), element सत् – sat, which is also connected with a root अस् as – to be, from which a famous term सत्त्व sattvá (essence, existence) comes from.

25.09.2015 Meaning of the word Adesh

“Adesh” is a common greeting among Nathas.

In “Siddha-siddhanta-paddhati” Gorakshanath says that “Adesh” means unity between Atma, Jivatma and Paramatma. People in their usual state of mind don`t realize this unity, because of this all the problems appear.

12.09.2015 Dhyana

During dhyana you dive into an object, the sense of ego becomes simultaneously lost and perception of the object prevails.

Interview with Yogi Matsyendranath (Argentina, May 2014)

My spiritual name is Yogi Matsyendranath. I was given it while I was receiving the transmission into tantric sadhanas. But among Nath Sampradaya followers in India I am more known as Yogi Matsyeshvarnath. Actually, these two names are synonymous.

I belong to the Nath Sampradaya, it traces back to Shiva Adinath, however, it became famous in virtue of Mahayogi Gorakshanath. In fact, both of them are considered to be the Lord Shiva.

Nadi-shodhana pranayama

The nadi-shodhana practice has always been popular in tantra, also it is used in a puja. Such pranayama leads to connection between mind and prana and "Kundalini straightens". This results in that the channels are cleansed, and the circulation of prana in the channels is distributed evenly. That is the true pranayama, which makes the mind quiet and clean.

Master – disciple relations

I permit to myself some personal thoughts on the most important, in my opinion, relations, without which any spiritual practice is impossible. There is one general opinion – if you have Guru, you have nothing to worry about. But that is true only in case disciple is devoted to his Guru to such extent that he is absolutely convinced he will reach the desired aim with the help of Guru.

Asana as the place for sitting

These asanas [as seats] play a fundamental role in any yogic practice, both in Hatha Yoga and in mantra practice. Asanas are required in pranayama because they eliminate the destructive effect of gravity on prana. Energy and consciousness are interrelated, during the practice of pranayama, till a certain stage, changes occur in the consciousness of practitioner. The mind becomes calmer, however, even with some certain changes nadi are not always completely purified, therefore, the gravitational field of the Earth affects such "drawbacks".

Utsaha

Zeal (utsaha) is certainty, intelligence, knowledge of reality, knowledge of the meaning, the rejection of the idle talk – these six steps lead to the improvement of yoga. Diligence is an effort to improve the quality of your apprenticeship, but at the same time, diligence and focusing on the practice, does not mean the pursuing the experience and knowledge. Diligence is a very quiet and continuous effort in all actions related to the sadhana. You need the quiet force to avoid rollback in practice. The experience shows that people who do systematic efforts according to their abilities show the best results.

Asana

Hatha yoga is inseparably linked to Raja yoga. This connection is explained as based on the nature of the perfect, nondual state, attained by the Yogi in samadhi. It means the nature of Perfection originally involves the unity of these two yogas.

Accordingly, irrespective of our perception of asana, it primarily contains "the stable light state in which the mind remains in its authentic form". I believe it is what one should strive for.