Gurugram June 2021 | Preface

Greetings from all staff in the Sivananda Centres and Ashrams!

As many countries are slowly coming out of lockdown and reopening, more Sivananda Centres started to open their doors to students, which feels very refreshing after over a year of online teaching. The numbers are small, but the gratitude and joy expressed by the students who can finally practice at the Centres is very much felt. Everyone is very happy to be able to meet and share with other practitioners. One can also feel how the stress of the pandemic and the measures put in place have affected body and mind. Asanas and Pranayama are blessings to rejuvenate tired nervous systems and stressed minds. Meditation feels like a balm to soothe the pain of isolation, sadness and depression.

The 5 Points of Yoga from Swami Vishnudevananda seem to be exactly what the world needs right now to come back to a state of balance, both individually and collectively. These 5 Points help strengthen the challenged immune systems and rest the strained nerves. The 5 Points of Yoga offer a goal and vision to focus upon after this period of insecurity and helplessness. As we reopen, many of the guests visiting our Ashrams and Centres are new and connect quite naturally and easily to the teachings. They leave with a profound sense of gratitude. Many told us that their stay literally brought them back to life. We can only be deeply grateful for the gift of these teachings we have received and the grace to be able to share them with many, who are truly thirsty for them.

As we turn our focus on reopening our Centres and Ashrams, we continue to teach online courses daily, with a good group of faithful and dedicated seekers attending. These online classes have very much become a part of their life.

The online TTCs also continue, and the feedback from students remains very positive. In house TTCs, ATTCs and Sadhana Intensives are planned for the summer in many of the Ashrams.

May we also reach out to those Ashrams and Centres who have had to temporarily close while their country manages a Covid-19 count increase. May their students and staff remain safe and healthy.

Om Namo Narayanaya. We look forward to your participation to our monthly peace meditation “Unite For a Healthy Planet” on Sunday June 6 at 2pm CET.

We send our best wishes for good health and inner strength to you, your family and friends.

May divine protection be with all.
Om and Prem
Swami Kailasananda on behalf of the Acharyas of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres

Donations: With many of the International Sivananda Yoga Centres and Ashrams teaching online, finances are a concern, so if this is at all possible for you, your financial support would be very gratefully received by contacting any Ashram or Centre.

Meditation and contentment are the secrets of good health and longevity. – Sri Swami Sivananda

2021 COVID-19 Update:
Please check with each TTC/ATTC location whether COVID-19 has affected your selected course.

The SIVANANDA YOGA Teachers’ Training Courses are available either online (TTCOL) or in residence, depending on the location. Please check with each TTC/ATTC location whether your selected Teacher Training Course is available online or in residence as some Ashrams have opened, while others remain closed. Thank you for your patience as schedules change during COVID.

To view all 2021 TTC/ATTC/SI courses on the Sivananda website: https://sivananda.org/teachers-training/programme-calendar/

See the full list of other international courses and events: https://www.sivananda.org/

Crave for a thing, you will get it. Renounce the craving, the object will follow you by itself. – Sri Swami Sivananda

From Discourse II – Sadhana Pada – On Spiritual Disciplines
II.32. SAUCA-SAMTOSA-TAP-SAVDHYAYESVARA-PRANIDHANANI

“The Niyamas consists of cleanliness, contentment, austerity, self study, and self surrender.

Commentary:
The ‘niyamas’ are observances which cultivate positive qualities. They involve purification, stilling the mind, self-discipline, inquiry into the nature of the Self, and surrendering the personal will, or ego, to the Supreme will. Aside from cleanliness, one should cultivate indifference toward the body. Cleanliness means internal as well as external purification. A proper diet based on vegetarianism and natural foods, specialized yogic cleansing techniques, and the Yoga exercises keep the body internally pure and free from obstructions. Cleanliness also extends to the mind. Only when it is it is purified of all dross can it be a pure mirror for the reflection of the Self.

Saturate your mind with divine thoughts. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Chapter III: The Yoga of Action

III.20. KARMANAIVA HI SAMSIDDHIM AASTHITAA JANAKAADAYAH;
LOKASANGRAHAM EVAAPI SAMPASHYAN KARTUM ARHASI.

(Krishna speaking to Arjuna)
‘Janaka and others attained perfection verily by action only; even with a view
to the protection of the masses thou should perform action.’

III.21. YADYAD AACHARATI SHRESHTHAS TATTADEVETARO JANAH;
SA YAT PRAMAANAM KURUTE LOKAS TAD ANUVARTATE.
‘Whatsoever a great man does, that other men also do; whatever he sets up as the
standard, that the world follows.’

Feel you are all-pervading Atman. Live in Atman. – Sri Swami Sivananda