The Way of Fun poster: DAbase length: 54:00 date added: October 19, 2010 event date: 1987 language: English listens: 7506; listens this month: 47; listens this week: 19
Adi Da's very humorous and wonderfully instructive talk from 1987, The Way Of Fun, about how, after being around His devotees, He "finally got it", that "it's time for the Siddhas" to adapt to modern times, "time for the Truth to change". This new way ("The Way of Fun") — for realizing God without requiring self-transcendence — will "require nothing of you except to really dig those Divine Vibes." The talk is Adi Da's masterful reflection of how the ego is always trying to revise the Way into something that is self-fulfilling rather than self-transcending, something that has no requirements and no difficulties, and that takes no time at all. "So whatever kind of association you have with Me . . . as long as it's fun, you're happy to do it. But if it requires anything of you, your resistance comes on immediately." For more on this theme, read our article, The Way of the Bone.
In this occasion at The Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary from October 6, 2005 (the last time Adi Da spoke formally, in response to a devotee's question about practice), a longtime devotee, Cheech Marreo, who recently has had an automobile accident, asks Avatar Adi Da a question about the role of karma in his life and practice. Adi Da, in turn, points to something even more fundamental than the universal law of cause and effect. He also clarifies that the old saying, "through suffering comes wisdom", is just not true. If it were it so, He asserts with amusement, then everyone would be wise — because everyone suffers. Mere suffering makes no difference, unless there is availability to Reality.
poster: AdiDaVideos length: 13:13 date added: March 20, 2013 event date: January 18, 1976 language: English views: 7407; views this month: 62; views this week: 34
In this seminal discourse (at The Mountain Of Attention), from the early years of His Teaching Work, Adi Da speaks about the inevitable process of self-revelation and self-understanding that prepares the being for true Spiritual life.
This is a beautiful talk by Adi Da. But it IS very compressed, making quite a few points in a short space, and depending to a significant degree on a familiarity with Adi Da's spiritual teaching. Here are some notes that may help.
Throughout the talk, the technical term, "sadhana" (spiritual practice), is used.
Genuine spiritual practice is not about belief systems, mere rituals, or a little "peace of mind", but rather about actually locating the Divine, through the tangible Transmission of the Spiritual Master.
After a recent illness, a devotee mentions to Adi Da that he notices how the physical suffering of illness was distracting enough that he was not "able" to find Adi Da's Transmission when he is ill.
Adi Da acknowledges this, and responds with three more general points.
1. The illness didn't "make" the devotee lose the thread of practice; rather, he allowed himself to be distracted from God by the illness. When the devotee gets this, and sees how he himself is "doing" the turning away, he'll be able to "do better next time" by not turning away even when ill.
2. Until Divine Enlightenment — in other words, until there is no limit on one's spiritual practice — sadhana (spiritual practice) is always only reflecting back to devotees the remaining limits in their practice: where they are still turning away from the Divine, where they still need to become responsible for not turning away.
In the beginning, the "turning away" is very "crude": even mere physical suffering is enough to distract one from God. (If we find ourselves saying, "what do you mean, MERE physical suffering?" that definitely identifies us as spiritual beginners! :-) ) But as one grows in practice, and ceases to turn away in such a crude manner (as one becomes a "saint", "yogi", "sage", etc.), one discovers that one is still turning from the Divine at an even subtler level of the being (in the mind, the psyche, etc.)
It is only when that "turning away" has been inspected, understood, and transcended in every dimension of the being that Divine Realization occurs.
In this sense, for the genuine spiritual practitioner, physical suffering — along with every other circumstance that reveals to us our turning away from the Divine — is truly a Grace, enabling us to grow in our practice.
3. Where we are turning away is a reflection of what we are identifying with: the body, the mind, the soul, etc. (For example, if physical illness is enough to distract us from God, then the physical body is what we currently are identified with.) God-Realization only occurs when all "identities" less than God are understood and transcended.
In this sense, "there are no winners in God" — the Way is not about seeking, accomplishment, or winning, but rather about surrender to God, sacrifice of self, and ego-death. There's no "one" left to "win"! But the One Who Remains is perfectly, eternally happy.
Where is Heaven? poster: Mormon Transhumanist Association speaker: Mike LaTorra length: 41:02 date added: July 4, 2014 event date: May 10, 2014 language: English views: 7303; views this month: 106; views this week: 41
Transhumanism is a movement whose goal is to fundamentally transform the human condition by developing and making widely available technologies to greatly enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities and overcome present liabilities, including brief lifespan and limits on intelligence (e.g., through integration with artificial intelligence aids or networks).
What transhumanism and religion share is the question: what is the greatest potential (or destiny) for human beings, and how can it be realized (technologically, spiritually, etc.)?
"Heaven" is a popular subject these days - The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Heaven is for Real, and Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife are all huge, recent bestsellers. Because "heaven" is used in many familiar religions to signify the ultimate human destiny, Mike uses it as his jumping off point for this talk (which introduces the Buddhist view and the Adidam view). He distinguishes different kinds of "heavens", introducing Adi Da's "seven stages of life" framework, the Cosmic Mandala (as a "map" that helps answer the talk's title question), and other esoteric concepts helpful in understanding our ultimate potential. He draws on stories about visiting other realms, from devotees Anne Rogers and Connie Mantas and from Adi Da Himself.
[For a related exploration of these themes of human potential, technology, and spirituality, read our article, We Are Consciousness Itself.]
poster: DawnHorsePress length: 07:08 date added: May 4, 2011 event date: 2006 language: English listens: 7302; listens this month: 47; listens this week: 21
On a rainy afternoon at The Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary in 2006, Avatar Adi Da Samraj gave what would be His final discourse in this form (with questions and answers) to His devotees, for the sake of all. He began the occasion with exquisite recitations of His Renderings of key statements from the Buddhist Sages Gotama Sakyamuni (known as “the Buddha”) and Nagarjuna.
These recordings are now available on the 3-CD set, The Reality-Teachings of the Buddhist Sages, the third volume in The Gnosticon Discourse Series from the Dawn Horse Press.
Adi Da’s Renderings bring these traditional Buddhist texts to life in a unique manner. As He speaks these ancient gems of instruction, the truth of each text comes through and penetrates the heart. While listening, you might feel that you are now not only in the room with Adi Da Samraj, but also with the Buddhist Sages Gotama Sakyamuni and Nagarjuna!
This audio clip is an excerpt from Adi Da's discourse.
The collection of Avatar Adi Da’s renderings and related discourses became the seed of His book, The Gnosticon, in which He thoroughly examines the Transcendental Teachings of the ancient Sages in relation to His Transcendental Spiritual Way of Adidam.
Facing East Productions and Adidam Bay Area Present a Sacred Offering - A Celebration of Music & Art to benefit Naitauba, Fiji for Hurricane Relief. July 17, 2010 at St. John's Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, CA @ 7:15pm.
For three days in mid-March, 2010, Adi Da Samrajashram (the sacred island of Naitauba) and many neighboring islands in Fiji were battered by Cyclone Tomas, a category 4 storm. After 27 hours we emerged from shelter to a scene of staggering destruction. We urgently need your help!
Naitauba Island is the Hermitage Sanctuary of His Divine Presence Adi Da Samraj, spiritually empowered by Him, as the primary place from where His Divine Blessing flows perpetually to the world. For 25 years, Adi Da worked to establish the island of Naitauba as a unique esoteric and ecological treasure. Adi Da Samrajashram is devoted to the principles of green living, sustainable energy, cooperation, tolerance, and peace, and Adi Da's devotees and the local Fijian and Indian staff live together harmoniously, serving and protecting the sacred environment of the island. It is a uniquely pure and untouched sanctuary in the world today.
poster: DawnHorsePress length: 10:44 date added: November 6, 2010 event date: December 11, 2005 language: English listens: 7049; listens this month: 32; listens this week: 19
This is a track from the CD, The Ribhu Gita, the first volume in The Gnosticon Discourse Series from the Dawn Horse Press.
In a historic occasion at Walk About Joy (near Tat Sundaram Hermitage) on December 11, 2005, Avatar Adi Da Samraj reads His own renderings of portions of the epitome Non-dualist text, The Ribhu Gita. He then offers illuminating Instruction on the specific distinctions between the revelation communicated in this great text and the “Perfect Practice” of Adidam.
The collection of Avatar Adi Da’s renderings and related discourses became the seed of His book, The Gnosticon, in which He thoroughly examines the Transcendental Teachings of the ancient Sages in relation to His Transcendental Spiritual Way of Adidam.
poster: adidatribute speaker: James Steinberg length: 15:07 date added: July 5, 2011 event date: November 28, 2009 language: English views: 6923; views this month: 45; views this week: 20
Longtime devotee, James Steinberg, offers this testimonial to the life and work of Adi Da Samraj.
Excerpt from First Evening: Track 4 on the DVD, A Tribute to the Life and Work of His Divine Presence, Adi Da Samraj. More than 7 hours long, this Tribute DVD was filmed on the occasion of the first Anniversary of Adi Da's Divine Mahasamadhi, when devotees, family, and friends of Adi Da Samraj gathered at Adi Da Samrajashram, Fiji (Adi Da's principal Hermitage), to acknowledge Adi Da as the Divine in human form, to praise His Greatness, and to express their heart-felt gratitude for the Blessings they have received from Him.
A list of all the tracks on this DVD can be found here.
poster: adidatribute speakers: Rachel Kuhn, DVD length: 06:18 date added: July 6, 2011 event date: November 29, 2009 language: English views: 6756; views this month: 38; views this week: 15
Devotee Rachel Kuhn, who grew up in the Company of Adi Da, offers this testimonial to His life and work.
Excerpt from Second Evening: Track 7 on the DVD, A Tribute to the Life and Work of His Divine Presence, Adi Da Samraj. More than 7 hours long, this Tribute DVD was filmed on the occasion of the first Anniversary of Adi Da's Divine Mahasamadhi, when devotees, family, and friends of Adi Da Samraj gathered at Adi Da Samrajashram, Fiji (Adi Da's principal Hermitage), to acknowledge Adi Da as the Divine in human form, to praise His Greatness, and to express their heart-felt gratitude for the Blessings they have received from Him.
A list of all the tracks on this DVD can be found here.
What To Remember To Be Happy poster: AdiDaVideos speaker: Jonah Strauss length: 04:33 date added: April 17, 2014 language: English views: 6666; views this month: 46; views this week: 18
This video is an excerpt from Second Evening: Track 6 on the DVD, A Tribute to the Life and Work of His Divine Presence, Adi Da Samraj. More than 7 hours long, this Tribute DVD was filmed on the occasion of the first Anniversary of Adi Da's Divine Mahasamadhi, when devotees, family, and friends of Adi Da Samraj gathered at Adi Da Samrajashram, Fiji (Adi Da's principal Hermitage), to acknowledge Adi Da as the Divine in human form, to praise His Greatness, and to express their heart-felt gratitude for the Blessings they have received from Him.
A list of all the tracks on this DVD can be found here. Other excerpts available on this site can be found here.
Adi Da's Life and Work poster: adidatribute speaker: Ruchradama Nadikanta length: 15:30 date added: July 5, 2011 event date: November 28, 2009 language: English views: 6652; views this month: 34; views this week: 20
Ruchiradama Nadikanta, senior devotee of Avatar Adi Da and a member of the Ruchira Sannyasin Order, offers this testimonial to the life and work of Adi Da Samraj.
Excerpt from First Evening: Track 2 on the DVD, A Tribute to the Life and Work of His Divine Presence, Adi Da Samraj. More than 7 hours long, this Tribute DVD was filmed on the occasion of the first Anniversary of Adi Da's Divine Mahasamadhi, when devotees, family, and friends of Adi Da Samraj gathered at Adi Da Samrajashram, Fiji (Adi Da's principal Hermitage), to acknowledge Adi Da as the Divine in human form, to praise His Greatness, and to express their heart-felt gratitude for the Blessings they have received from Him.
A list of all the tracks on this DVD can be found here.
poster: AdidamVideos length: 07:24 date added: February 1, 2009 event date: October 29, 2004 language: English views: 6492; views this month: 41; views this week: 15
Adi Da Samraj discusses the notion of familiarity and its transcendence in the Way of Adidam.
This is an excerpt from a longer evening of consideration with Adi Da (October 29, 2004), which can be found on the DVD, The Illusion of Familiarity.
This talk excerpt is followed by a clip of Darshan of Adi Da (at 5:53).
Adi Da's Teaching as Transmission poster: AdiDaVideos speaker: Jonathan Condit length: 17:55 date added: January 25, 2016 event date: January 2016 language: English views: 6486; views this month: 60; views this week: 30
This video clip includes:
Commentary from Jonathan Condit (at 0:00) — Jonathan Condit was Adi Da's senior editorial assistant, and is Senior Editor for the Adidam Editorial Department. Jonathan talks about "The Function of the Spiritual Literature of Adi Da Samraj", and how Adi Da's Teaching works as Transmission of His Transcendental Spiritual State, and serves the Spiritual Realization of the reader.
Excerpt from an Avataric Discourse by Adi Da (at 5:35) — The Discourse is "My Teaching is a Direct Transmission of Me", from October 28, 2005. Adi Da talks about how His Teaching Word is a form of Spiritual Transmission, that enables Divine Communion with Him (if the devotee is in the right devotional disposition), in the same way that a Murti photograph does, or any of the other forms of Agency that Adi Da has created for this purpose.
Commentary from Megan Anderson (at 12:44) — Megan Anderson is an editor in the Adidam Editorial Department. Megan talks about Adi Da's great, final masterpiece, The Aletheon as the purest communication and Transmission of Adi Da Himself (among all His many, extraordinary books), and describes receiving the Revelation of Adi Da as she was proofreading The Aletheon before its publication.
Adi Da: "My Reality-Teaching is unparalleled Spiritual Transmission, occurring under the most extraordinary circumstances. It is not the product of an ordinary mind or a kind of scholarly commentary. It is a direct expression of Spiritual Transformation, of Spiritual Power, of Transcendental, Inherently Spiritual, and (necessarily) Divine Being, Consciousness, and Love-Bliss. It does not arise in Me or through Me in any ordinary fashion. It is an utterly spontaneous and Transcendental Spiritual Event."
poster: CDBaby length: 12:21 date added: February 17, 2016 event date: January 18, 1976 language: English views: 6466; views this month: 70; views this week: 32
An excerpt from the talk, "The Grace of Suffering", given by Adi Da on January 18, 1976.
This excerpt is track 1 of the CD, The Impulse to God-Realization, a collection of talks focusing on Adi Da's clarifying Wisdom on the Impulse to Realize God that is inherent in all beings, and His Divine Offering and Instruction on the Ultimate Means to cultivate this heart-Impulse, thereby allowing it to become the guiding force of one's entire life.
This selection of Talks by Avatar Adi Da Samraj focuses on His clarifying Wisdom on the Impulse (inherent in all beings) to Realize God, and His Divine Offering and Instruction on the Ultimate Means to cultivate this heart-Impulse, thereby allowing it be the guiding force of one's entire life. As Avatar Adi Da points out, the real Spiritual Process cannot be truly initiated until and unless one’s Impulse to God-Realization becomes the governing principle of one's life.
Note: Due to distribution policies set by CDBaby (and beyond the control of this website and Adidam), this video may not be playable in every country. However, sometimes, even when you can't play it on this page, you may be able to play it on YouTube: click here.
"The Grace of Suffering" is a beautiful talk by Adi Da. But it IS very compressed, making quite a few points in a short space, and depending to a significant degree on a familiarity with Adi Da's spiritual teaching. Here are some notes that may help.
Throughout the talk, the technical term, "sadhana" (spiritual practice), is used.
Genuine spiritual practice is not about belief systems, mere rituals, or a little "peace of mind", but rather about actually locating the Divine, through the tangible Transmission of the Spiritual Master.
After a recent illness, a devotee mentions to Adi Da that he notices how the physical suffering of illness was distracting enough that he was not "able" to find Adi Da's Transmission when he is ill.
Adi Da acknowledges this, and responds with three more general points.
1. The illness didn't "make" the devotee lose the thread of practice; rather, he allowed himself to be distracted from God by the illness. When the devotee gets this, and sees how he himself is "doing" the turning away, he'll be able to "do better next time" by not turning away even when ill.
2. Until Divine Enlightenment — in other words, until there is no limit on one's spiritual practice — sadhana (spiritual practice) is always only reflecting back to devotees the remaining limits in their practice: where they are still turning away from the Divine, where they still need to become responsible for not turning away.
In the beginning, the "turning away" is very "crude": even mere physical suffering is enough to distract one from God. (If we find ourselves saying, "what do you mean, MERE physical suffering?" that definitely identifies us as spiritual beginners! :-) ) But as one grows in practice, and ceases to turn away in such a crude manner (as one becomes a "saint", "yogi", "sage", etc.), one discovers that one is still turning from the Divine at an even subtler level of the being (in the mind, the psyche, etc.)
It is only when that "turning away" has been inspected, understood, and transcended in every dimension of the being that Divine Realization occurs.
In this sense, for the genuine spiritual practitioner, physical suffering — along with every other circumstance that reveals to us our turning away from the Divine — is truly a Grace, enabling us to grow in our practice.
3. Where we are turning away is a reflection of what we are identifying with: the body, the mind, the soul, etc. (For example, if physical illness is enough to distract us from God, then the physical body is what we currently are identified with.) God-Realization only occurs when all "identities" less than God are understood and transcended.
In this sense, "there are no winners in God" — the Way is not about seeking, accomplishment, or winning, but rather about surrender to God, sacrifice of self, and ego-death. There's no "one" left to "win"! But the One Who Remains is perfectly, eternally happy.
The Giving Tree poster: adidam23 length: 06:45 date added: May 21, 2010 language: English views: 6426; views this month: 53; views this week: 26
An artistic offering about the "Divine Spirit-Tree of Light", an expression of happiness that is part of Adidam's annual celebration of the Season of "Light-In-Everybody".
Accompanied by Naamleela's musical version (from her album, Eyes In Other Worlds) of Adi Da's poem, "I served to priest the pharoahs", from Crazy Da Must Sing.
For more about the celebration of Light-In-Everybody, read here and read Naamleela's The Danavira Mela Book.
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, 
, and 
are all huge, recent bestsellers. Because "heaven" is used in many familiar religions to signify the ultimate human destiny, Mike uses it as his jumping off point for this talk (which introduces the Buddhist view and the Adidam view). He distinguishes different kinds of "heavens", introducing Adi Da's "
. He then offers illuminating Instruction on the specific distinctions between the revelation communicated in this great text and the “Perfect Practice” of Adidam.
