The Yoga Hour

Ela Gandhi, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, joins Rev. O’Brian for an inspiring glimpse of the Bhagavad Gita’s power to offer inspiration and support. Gandhiji said, “When disappointment stares me in the face and all alone, I see not one ray of light, I go back to the Bhagavad Gita. I find a verse here and there, and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming tragedies …”  Discover how the Gita’s timeless wisdom can help us meet life’s challenges and discover its inherent joy.

Dr. Jay Kumar, professor of Hinduism, Yoga philosophy, Sanskrit language, and cognitive studies at Chapman University and at LMU, joins Rev. O’Brian for an inspiring conversation about the inherent divine order in the universe that supports us all in reaching our potential. Learn more about living in the highest way from the ancient wisdom found in the Bhagavad Gita that is especially appropriate for our time.

Have you ever asked, Why do I continue to do things that I know aren’t useful, as if compelled to do them? If, like most people, you have asked that question, you’ll find this soulful exploration of the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita with Michael Nagler, founder of the Metta Center for Nonviolence Education, and Rev. O’Brian to be a breath of fresh air. The dynamics of the inner battle to fully express our divine nature, so skillfully portrayed in the Bhagavad Gita, offer us the key to changing our minds, changing our behavior, changing our lives and our world.

Nothing is more practical than spiritual realization and nothing transforms our lives for the better in such a complete way. Br. Prabodh Chaitanya, resident Acharya of Chinmaya Mission in San Jose, joins Rev. O’Brian for a look at what the Bhagavad Gita can tell us about conscious, fulfilled living every day. When viewed as a manual for achieving success in life, we find that the Gita explains our nature, our purpose in life, and offers us the means for achieving our goals.

Is God transcendent or immanent, beyond or within the world? What is the key to spiritual realization—a focus on Absolute Reality or Manifest Divinity? Which is better: active works or silent meditation? Wisdom or devotion? Join Dr. Christopher Key Chapple and Rev. O’Brian to discover how the Bhagavad Gita advances, and holds, teachings that at times seem contradictory but point to a holistic worldview that is liberating by its very nature. Dr. Chapple is professor of Indic and Comparative Theology at Loyola Marymount University and the editor of the comprehensive Winthrop Sargeant translation of the Bhagavad Gita.

Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, returns to the Yoga Hour for an insightful conversation with Ellen Grace O'Brian about the timeless wisdom found in The Bhagavad Gita. When explored as an allegory, where characters and events symbolize every person’s spiritual journey of awakening from self-conscious involvement with physical and psychological circumstances to realization of our essential nature, the Gita becomes a treasured guidebook to authentic spiritual growth and fulfilled living.

Understanding how our brain functions and how to effectively use our mind helps us let go of thinking patterns and habitual behaviors that impede our ability to prosper and succeed. This knowledge supports our ability to implement the positive changes we desire. Martin Wuttke, founder and clinical director of Neurotherapy Centers International, joins Rev. O’Brian for this timely and inspiring look at our potential through the lens of mind and brain function.

Discover how we can work with our deepest intentions and use the power of resolve—sankalpa shakti—to meet challenges, overcome obstacles, and realize our potential. Rod Stryker, Yoga and meditation teacher, founder of Para Yoga and author of The Four Desires: Creating a Life of Purpose, Happiness, Prosperity, and Freedom, returns to The Yoga Hour for this inspiring conversation with Rev. O’Brian.

Tom Zender, president emeritus of Unity and author of God Goes to Work, joins Rev. O’Brian for an insightful exploration of spirituality in the workplace. If you have ever wondered how to fully shine the light of your spiritual practice at work, don’t miss this in-depth conversation about work, integrity and spiritual transformation.

Conscious speech holds the key to prosperous and fulfilled living. CSA minister Ron Lindahn joins Rev. O’Brian for an insightful look at how we can align our thoughts, speech and actions with the power that runs the universe. Delve into the spiritual principles and practices related to conscious speech and discover the promise of fulfilled living today.