Sivananda Yoga FAQ
Q: How was it possible for Sri Sankaracharya to have devotion to Sakara Brahman when he was an Advaitin and his philosophical treatises prove that he believed in the nameless and formless One?
A: It is because Jnana and Bhakti are essentially the same! Look at the various Stotras that he has composed. They indicate clearly that he had developed devotion to a very high degree. Atmanivedan or self-surrender leads to Jnana; and Jnana is synonymous with Para Bhakti. People nowadays condemn Bhakti and think that it is inferior to Jnana Yoga. They have no understanding of Bhakti. They think that they can jump at once to Jnana Yoga Sadhana. They have really no faith in God. They just acquire some intellectual conception of God. This does not serve them. Jnana Yoga without the necessary preparation is of no use.
This marvellous world is a great University of wisdom. Learn your lessons and become wise. – Sri Swami Sivananda
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| OCTOBER 2023 10 Ekadasi 15 New Moon 15 Navaratri begins 24 Dussera (Vijaya Dasami) 25 Ekadasi 29 Full Moon NOVEMBER 2023 Do not bother about spiritual experiences. Go ahead with your Sadhana. Knowledge dawns of its own accord. – Sri Swami Sivananda |
Glossary
JAPA
Japa is the repetition of any Mantra or Name of the Lord. Dhyana is meditation on the form of the Lord with His attributes. This is the difference between Japa and Dhyana. There is meditation or Dhyana with Japa (Japa-Sahita); there is meditation or Dhyana without Japa (Japa-Rahita). In the beginning you should combine Dhyana with Japa. As you advance the Japa drops by itself; meditation only remains. It is an advanced stage. You can then practise concentration separately. You can do whatever you like best in this respect.
Name (Nama) and the object (Rupa) signified by the Name are inseparable. Thought and word are inseparable. Therefore, Japa and Dhyana go together. They are inseparable.
One must take to Japa or Nama-Smarana (remembering the Name of the Lord) very seriously and sincerely with full faith. The chanting of his name is but serving Him. You must have the same flow of love and respect (devotion) in your heart at the time of thinking of or remembering His Name as that you naturally may have in your heart at the time when you really see Him. You should have full faith and belief in the eternity of the Name.