Sivananda Yoga FAQ

Q 1:  I have been reading the Upanishads and other scriptures and I find one and the same thing in all of them. They say that everything we come across is unreal, only God is real and that we have to think and understand the Truth by ourselves. How are we to do it, Swamiji?

A: Reading will help you only to a certain extent. Too much reading will land you in confusion. You should meditate and concentrate on one particular idea. That particular idea should serve as the eye-opener. Then alone will you get Vairagya; you will be able to understand the false nature of things. Take, for instance, the life of Sri Swami Sadasiva Brahmendra of Nerur. The mere uttering of the word ‘wait’ by his mother, when he asked her to serve food, inflicted such a blow on his mind and stirred it so well as to make him understand the Reality. You may be convinced intellectually that the world is false, only God is real and all the sense-enjoyments bring misery only. But this conviction is not strong. You may think, “Let me enjoy the sense-pleasures for five minutes”. Thus you are deceived by Maya. All sense-pleasures are sugar-coated pills made by Maya. You must reflect on such Slokas as “Ye Hi Samsparsaja Bhoga Duhkha Yonaya Eva Te…”. You should identify with the Higher Self which is infinity, eternity, immortality. Always think, “Suddhoham, Shantoham, Satchidanandoham”. You will be elevated. Abhyasa and Vairagya are necessary. Tyaga and Tapas will give you tremendous powers. Be not cheated by the temporary pleasures of the world– car, property etc. Be not unnecessarily worried by undue attachment etc. Do your duty and leave the rest to Him. He will take care of you.

Q 2:  Sometimes I hush up things in my mind. I get mental torments thereby. What shall I do to get rid of this habit?

A: You must be frank and as simple as a child. Then only you will get the divine light. You will grow spiritually. Even if it is a horrible crime, you must admit it before a Guru. Then only you will get his sympathy and protection. By admitting your faults before others, you remove the effects of bad actions. It serves as a Prayaschitta or expiatory action.

Q 3: What is Vairagya?

A: Vairagya is the opposite of raga. It is dispassion or non-attachment. It is indifference to sensual objects herein and hereafter. Vairagya thins out the fatty sensual mind. It turns the mind inward (antarmukh vritti). This is the most important qualification for an aspirant. It is the one and the only means to enter into nirvikalpa samadhi. There are four stages in vairagya:

1. This is an attempt not to allow the mind to run into sensual grooves.
2. In this stage some objects are attracting you and you are endeavouring to cut off the attachment and attraction.
3. The Indriyas stand still and subdued, but the mind has either raga or dwesha for objects.
4. In this highest stage of Vairagya, the objects no longer tempt you. They cause no attraction. The Indriyas are perfectly quiet. Mind also is free from likes and dislikes (Raga and Dwesha). Then you get supremacy or independence. Now you are conscious of your supremacy.

Without vairagya no spiritual progress is possible. If you get vairagya, rest assured that is a sign of purification of mind (chitta-shuddhi).

Now just for a few minutes, dive deep into that silence. Hear the silence, see the silence, taste, smell and touch the silence. The last moment of your Life, you’ll hear that beautiful silence, that melody of your soul, the sound of your own soul, the music of your soul. That Godhead, that Peace will come to you. You will leave your body with full awareness and Peace and Shanti. Now dive deep. Hear the eternal sound of Om in silence, and we’ll keep silence just for a few minutes, just a few minutes… –  Swami Vishnudevananda