📚 Articles and Books: Publications of the Mandalam
A complete catalog of books and periodical articles made available by the Suddha Dharma Mandalam.
1. The Three Gunas (Qualities of Nature)
Guna means quality or characteristic.
| Plane | State of Gunas | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Avyakta (Unmanifested) | Equilibrium | Perfect state of inactivity; Mula-prakriti is undifferentiated. |
| Vyakta (Manifested) | Disequilibrium | Gunas become unstable through the action of Shakti, giving origin to cosmic manifestations. |
The Divine Trinity and the Gunas
The three Gunas are under the direction of three aspects of Divinity:
- SATTVA: Purity, equilibrium, and tranquility. Represented by VISHNU.
- RAJAS: Activity, motion, and desire. Represented by BRAHM.
- TAMAS: Inertia and immobilization (precedes destruction). Represented by SHIVA.
Examples in Nature: Sattwa predominates in sunlight, Rajas in an erupting volcano, and Tamas in a block of granite. In the Human Mind: Sattva brings meditative calm, joy, and inspiration; Rajas brings forth desire and action; and Tamas brings forth stupidity, despair, and envy. Note: Only Atman is free from the influence of Gunas.
2. Mind: Manas and Mahat
The mind has two distinct aspects, commonly called Tatwakutas:
MAHAT (The Higher Mind)
- Characterized by consciousness (Chetana) and deep insight.
- Located in the Adi Plane, the seat of Buddhi where the Divine seed germinates.
MANAS (The Inferior Mind)
- Forms the Emotional Mind when associated with the emotional principle (Astral Body).
- The vehicle through which Buddhi (pure reason/intuition) acts as the thinking principle.
- The seat of memory and the instrument of waking consciousness (thoughts, feelings, pain, and pleasure).
The Human Personality: Ahamkara is the "I-ness" principle that creates the sense of separation. The Lower I is synthesized by the inferior mind, the Astral body, and Ahamkara. Both minds express through Manomaya Kosha.
3. Forces, Attributes, and Shakties
When the individual soul (Jiva) contacts these planes, it projects specific forces:
Attributes of MAHAT
- Smritti: Memory
- Dhriti: Ability of collecting/uniting
- Kyati: Adoration
- Upalabadi: Understanding
- Pragna: Awareness ("I am" feeling)
- Buddhi: Discriminative Intelligence
Attributes of MANAS
- Chinta: Reflection
- Dhyana: Meditation
- Bhakti: Devotion
- Kama: Wish (force behind physical materialization)
- Iccha: Desire
- Sankhalpla: Resolution
4. The 5 Koshas (Shields of Jiva)
Each individual is enveloped in five shields that protect the atom of pure consciousness:
- Annamaya Kosha: Physical shield formed by food (solid, liquid, gas).
- Pranamaya Kosha: Vital shield made of Prana. It accumulates and distributes energy through the ethereal double.
- Manomaya Kosha: Mental-emotional shield. The point of communication between the personality and the immortal soul (Jiva).
- Vignanamaya Kosha: Causal body/shield of Buddhi and Ahamkara.
- Anandamaya Kosha: Shield of bliss. The purest form of matter from the Akashic plane; the "body of Atman".
5. Atman and Jiva (The Light Bulb Analogy)
To understand the relationship between the Supreme Self (Atman) and the individual soul (Jiva):
💡 The Glass: Represents the Physical, Subtle and Causal Bodies.
💡 The Filament: Represents Jiva (the part that shines and supports light).
💡 The Energy: Represents Atman (the source that makes it shine).
Atman is the aloof witness in all, maintaining oneness while Jiva experiences multiplicity.
6. Divine Qualities Required
To contact Paramatman, one must study Yoga Brahma Vidya and possess these qualities:
1. Description of Meditation by Bhagavan Narayana
The thoughts of man are always attracted to things in which they have interest; therefore, put your thoughts in the Supreme Brahman (the Pure One) as the object of meditation. Brahman is without attributes and also full of attributes; He is eternity and is perceived through our cognitive faculty.
The Three Aspects of Meditation and Their Results:
Meditating on Brahman with Attributes (Saguna): This grants physical strength, which is a valuable help to reach what is superior. It also brings the power of Anima (the power of the spirit Shakti) and other Siddhis.
Meditating on Brahman without Attributes (Nirguna): This grants the power of knowledge and the talent to know everything. It confers Samadhi, or the absorption of thought in Atman.
Meditating on Pure and Transcendent Brahman (Suddha): This blesses the practitioner with the Supreme perfection of Brahman, granting all the fruits that any earthly effort may create. It produces the enjoyment of eternal approximation towards Brahman and the ability to perform elevated Hierarchic functions.
2. Classification of Meditation (Dhyana)
I. SAGUNA DHYANA (Objective Meditation)
This refers to meditation on the aspect of Divinity that is characterized by Gunas (attributes) and is performed with a specific form or image. The mind focuses on an image, sound (mantra), or quality. The meditation must be fixed and continuous, not mixed with tainted emotions such as selfishness, random thoughts, or daydreaming.
II. NIRGUNA DHYANA (Subjective Meditation)
This refers to meditation on the aspect of Divinity that transcends Trigunic manifestation (Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas). The Divinity is perceived as Light living in the ether of the heart. It is a miniature archetype of Purusha, perceived as a "thumb-full of Divine splendor" visible only in the highest mind level. It leads directly to Suddha Meditation.
III. SUDDHA DHYANA (Transcendent Contemplation)
This is the contemplation of Divinity as the first cause of all cosmic manifestation, whose body is the infinite cosmos. An immersion in the Universe, where the disciple perceives Brahm as everything and recognizes all forces and laws of cosmic existence. The disciple is filled with the idea that all that exists is verily Brahm.
3. The Path of Yoga and Study
True Yogis aim to contact Paramatman, which is Saguna and Nirguna at once. In order to contact this aspect of God, Yogis should study The Synthetic Science of the Absolute (Yoga Brahma Vidya) and should be endowed with qualities like ANASUYA (Non-envy), DAYA (Compassion), KSHANTI (Tranquility), ASPRUHA (Non-grasping), CHOWCHA (Purity), AKARPANIA (Selflessness), ANAYASA (Tirelessness), and MANGALA (Prayer for well-being).
4. Final Instructions on the Process
- Focus on Bliss: The mind should reflect on a specific picture that represents a bliss-giving object to prevent wandering or pain.
- Visualization: Visualization of form is imperative; otherwise, it is only Chinta (reflection).
- Practice of Suddha Dhyana: This is the process of collecting all dissipated thoughts and integrating them into the One ALL Source – Brahm.
- Maintenance & Repetition: Maintain this state without force. Repeat surely and incessantly until a state of LAYA (fusion) happens in Manas.
- Recollection: Frequently recollect the idea that all aspects of creation emanated from this ALL ONE source, Brahm. It is only with advancement and determination that truth can be known.
Historical Magazine Collection
Explore our complete digital archive of The Suddha Dharma monthly magazines with deep insights into Suddha philosophy, yoga techniques, and esoteric articles.
Access the Digital LibrarySuddha Raja Yoga
The synthesized path of Yoga integrating action and knowledge.
Yoga Deepika
Practical methods and scientific principles of Suddha Yoga.
Sanatana Dharma Deepika
Exposition of the Eternal Law through Suddha wisdom.
Dīkṣhas (Initiations)
Sacred initiations and spiritual transmissions.
DHYANA AND YOGA
Guidelines on meditation practice in Suddha Yoga.
Dhyāna or Meditation
Internal process defined by Bhagavan Narayana.
Divine Hierarchy
Spiritual administration and the Great Masters.
GÁYATRI UPASANA
Science of the Gayatri mantra.
JĪVA: LIFE AND YOGA
Journey of the individual soul.
Let Us Dare
Awakening human potential and spiritual courage.
Śrī Bhagavān Mitra Dēva
Biography of the guide and Avatar.
NECESSITY OF SUDDHA DHARMA
Why this ancient science is essential.
RĀJA YOGA
The Royal Path of mental discipline.
SAṀNYĀSA AND TYĀGA
True renunciation and sacrifice.
Sanatana Dharma Sutras
Foundational aphorisms of universal life.
Introductory Guide
Foundational text for newcomers.
The Doctrine of Avatār
Divine Descent and work of Avatars.
Unificación Parabrahmán
Proceso de unión con el Absoluto Supremo.
Who Is a Śuddha
Characteristics of a dedicated practitioner.
Pranava Vada
Science of the sacred syllable OM.
Suddha Dharma in a Nutshell
Foundational summary of Suddha philosophy.
El Sendero de Perfección
Realización del Principio Vital.
El Verdadero Candidato
Cualidades necesarias para el sendero.
Atrevámonos
Despertar la inteligencia real.
Avatara Rahasya
Secreto de las encarnaciones divinas.
Comentario Sutras
Conceptos de Bhava y Koshas.
El Egoísmo
Análisis del Swartha-dosha.
Necesidad del Suddha
Por qué es vital para la era actual.
Oraciones y Súplicas
La ciencia de la oración.
Organización Esotérica
Historia de la jerarquía SDM.
Samya Yoga
Yoga Sadhana Universal basado en equilibrio.
Note: Many more books and articles are available in the Digital Library, including Portuguese translations.