Asura means against sura or against the Divine. To be against the Divine means to view one's life as independent and separate from the Divine. The asuric person feels "responsible" for his or her life and is constantly seeking something that will improve the quality of life. Everyone passes through the asuric stage on the way to Brahman Consciousness.

An asuric individual looks for ways and means for perfecting the physical body, extending the physical lifespan, improving the mind, making the body more beautiful, gaining supernatural powers, experiencing various altered states of consciousness through concentration and contemplation types of meditation and/or the use of chemical or physical stimuli. In short, the asuric individual spends his or her time in attempts to become beautiful, healthy, immortal, wealthy, wise, and powerful.

In the great cycle of evolution that begins with the separation of the jiva from S'iva, there is a descending arc and an ascending arc - see the diagram on the right. At some point in the eons of evolution and innumerable lifetimes since the initial prajña-aprada that separated the jiva from S'iva, the individual makes a conscious decision to discover his or her relationship with God and move in the direction of returning home. At that time the arc of evolution changes from stagnant or descending to ascending.

Here are a few common and some not so common asuric practices. They have been grouped into two categories - ascending and descending. An individual who engages in ascending asuric practices is helped along on the ascending arc in the direction of becoming a sura, and ultimately will reach Unity or Brahman Consciousness. Conversely, an individual who engages in descending asuric practices will be moving in the direction of a more asuric future.

Asuric Practices
Ascending	Descending
Jyotish, Yajña	Astrology, tarot, and psychic readings, channeling and communications with astral beings
TM Sidhi Program, yogic flying, yoga asanas, mild pranayama	Kundalini meditation, hatha yoga, intense pranayama, mind control exercises, positive thinking as a way of achieving power and control, astral travel, remote viewing, mind or consciousness altering drugs or herbs
Ayurveda, rasayanas, herbal therapy, vegetarianism, kaya kalpha, aroma therapy, marma therapy, homeopathic medicine, crystal therapy, reiki	Allopathic, chiropractic, and chinese medicine, reflexology, theraputic massage, "laying on of hands" type healing, psychic surgery, non-vegetarian diet
Stapathya veda	Feng shui, modern architecture
Gandharva veda	Most popular music

All this is not to imply that these practices are wrong or immoral as such, but the intention of the practioner is what makes them asuric. The ascending practices are more life supporting to others and move the individual life in the direction of Brahman or Unity Consciousness.