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Gurugram March 2015 | Preface

Blessed Self,
Om Namah Sivaya, Blessed Selves,

We are coming to you this month with a very good news. The Sivananda Organization has enthusiastically decided to participate wholeheartedly in this year’s International Yoga Day on June 21st. At the moment Europe is in full swing with pre-arrangements of demonstration and yoga activities in their respective cities. One highlight will be the Cruise Boat Float in London, with all European Acharyas present. An event not to be missed, so stay tuned. In Canada and India we are organizing similar programs and would not want to give out as more will be revealed closer to the date. Other arms of the Organization will band everyone together to bring out Swamiji’s teachings on that day. Please contact your nearest Centre to see what they are organizing.

India & South America are currently very busy with their high season and so is Nassau. An abundance of Europeans are travelling to Rudraprayag, North India, for courses offered there this time of year.

After a 7-month hiatus and 30 years at the previous location, the selfless efforts of many karma yogis and supporters have assisted the opening of the doors of a new San Francisco Centre in a new building owned by SYVC. It is more or less in the same neighborhood of the old SF Centre, not too far from the ocean and park, with a large Yoga Hall to continue Swamiji’s mission and vision of Peace. We are so fortunate to have your continued support in spreading Swamiji’s teachings.

Pranams to all.

The Karma of the individual determines the form or shape of the experience that is to be had in this world. It is not the Atman, nor the body, that has any type of relative experience. It is the mind that has all this. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Upcoming Courses

2015

Mar 01 – Mar 28/15
TTC – English
Woodbourne, NY, USA
www.sivananda.org/ranch

Mar 01 – Mar 29/15
TTC – Espaňol
Bariloche, Patagonia, Argentina
http://www.sivananda.org.uy/index.php?option=com_acymailing&ctrl=archive&task=view&mailid=260&key=Gn7ekNPD

Mar 10 – Apr 06/15
TTC – English
Nassau, Bahamas
www.sivananda.org/Nassau

Mar 22 – Apr 19/15
TTC – English
Neyyar Dam, Kerala, South India
www.sivananda.org/neyyardam

Mar 29 – Apr 26/15
TTC – English
Namchi, Sikkim, Himalayas, North India
sivananda.org.in/sikkim.html

Apr 05 – May 03/15
TTC – English
Netala, Uttar Kashi, North India
www.sivananda.org/Uttarkashi

Apr 09 – May 06/15
TTC – English
Nassau, Bahamas
www.sivananda.org/Nassau

Apr 09 – May 06/15
ATTC – English
Nassau, Bahamas
www.sivananda.org/Nassau

Apr 26 – May 25/15
TTC – Français
Orleans, France
www.sivananda.org/orleans

May 02 – May 30/15
TTC – English, Espaňol
Grass Valley, CA, USA
www.sivananda.org/yogafarm

May 09 – Jun 05/15
TTC – English
Nassau, Bahamas
www.sivananda.org/Nassau

May 02 – May 17/15
Sadhana Intensive – English
Woodbourne, NY, USA
www.sivananda.org/ranch

May 09 – Jun 07/15
ATTC – English, Deutsch
Reith, Tyrol, Austria
www.sivananda.org/tyrol/enMay 10 – Jun 07/15
TTC – English
Netala, Uttar Kashi, North India
www.sivananda.org/UttarkashiMay 18 – Jun 15/15
TTC – Français
Orleans, France
www.sivananda.org/orleans

May 31 – Jun 28/15
TTC – English
Woodbourne, NY, USA
www.sivananda.org/ranch

Jun 14- Jun 28/15
Sadhana Intensive
Val Morin, QC, Canada
www.sivananda.org/camp

Jun 02 – Jun 30/15
ATTC – English, 日本語 中文
Grass Valley, CA, USA
www.sivananda.org/yogafarm

Jun 14 – Jul 12/15
TTC – English
Netala, Uttar Kashi, North India
www.sivananda.org/uttarkashi

Jun 28 – Jul 25/15
TTC – English, Français, Espaňol,
Val Morin, QC, Canada
www.sivananda.org/camp

Jul 03 – Jul 31/15
TTC – English, Français, Espaňol, Nederlands
Orleans, France
www.sivananda.org/orleans

Jul 03 – Jul 31/15
ATTC – English, Français, Espaňol
Orleans, France
www.sivananda.org/orleans

Jul 05 – Aug 02/15
ATTC – English
Woodbourne, NY, USA
www.sivananda.org/ranch

See full list of international courses and events:
http://www.sivananda.org/ttc/schedule.html
http://www.sivananda.org/programs/international/index.html

Nirguna is not nothingness. It is the fullness of everything that is good. From a distance this fullness becomes inconceivable and so the sages called it Nirguna. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Raja Yoga

From CHAPTER II: “Sadhana Pada – On Spiritual Disciplines” [Introduction to Second Chapter] Patanjali’s second chapter sets forth the practice of Yoga, or ‘sadhana’. It discusses Kriya Yoga, Which is purification through discipline, study, and self-surrender. It enumerates the five main afflictions, or causes for human suffering, and the methods for eliminating them. Finally, it discusses the first five limbs of Raja Yoga-‘yama’, ‘niyama’, ‘asana’, ‘pranayama’, and ‘pratyahara’- the foundations for the meditation.

II.1. TAPAH-SVADHYAYESVARA-PRANIDHANANI KRIYA-YOGAH.

‘Austerity, self-study, and surrender to God constitute Kriya Yoga’.

Commentary by Swami Sivananda:
Austerity does not mean physical abuse or serve rigors. It refers to strict control of the senses in order to conserve energy for higher pursuits. Austerity in this means fasting occasionally, rising early to meditate instead of sleeping late, and reducing certain physical comforts for the sake of greater control of mind. Study of scriptures and other spirituals works keeps the mind flowing in the desired direction. In surrendering to God’s will one also surrenders the fruit of work performed. This leads to Karma Yoga, the path of selfless service, in which one regards oneself as the instrument of God, and serves humanity with no thought of either credit or blame.

If anyone injures you, forgive him and forget the injury done by him. You will gain immense spiritual strength. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Bhagavad Gita Quote

Chapter VI: The Yoga of Meditation

VI.17. YUKTAAHAARAVIHAARASYA YUKTACHESHTASYA KARMASU;
YUKTASWAPNAAVABODHASYA YOGO BHAVATI DUHKHAHAA.

(Krishna speaking to Arjuna)
Yoga becomes the destroyer of pain for him who is always moderate in eating and recreation (such as walking, etc.), who is moderate in exertion in actions, who is moderate in sleep and wakefulness.

VI.18. YADAA VINIYATAM CHITTAMAATMANYEVAAVATISHTHATE;
NIHSPRIHAH SARVAKAAMEBHYO YUKTA ITYUCHYATE TADAA.
When the perfectly controlled mind rests in the Self only, free from longing for the objects of desire, then it is said: “He is united.”

COMMENTARY: Without union with the Self neither harmony nor balance nor Samadhi is possible.

In Nirguna Brahman, there are no Gunas of Maya. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Quick Links

Spiritual Calendar

March 2015

01 Ekadasi
05 Full Moon
06 Holi
16 Ekadasi
20 New Moon
28 Rama Navami
31 Ekadasi

April 2015

04 Full Moon
04 Hanuman Jayanti
05 Easter
15 Vishu (Malayalee New Year)
15 Ekadasi
18 New Moon
29 Ekadasi

Glossary

AKASHVANI: vani – sound; Kash – celestial. An announcement from the celestial realm; sounds or message coming from the sky.

NIRGUNA:

In a chapter of Brahma-Sutras which deals with the nature of qualities of Brahman, it mentions positive attributes like ‘joyful,’ ‘intelligent,’ etc., as well as negative attributes like ‘measureless,’ ‘colourless,’ etc. Both kinds of attributes are referred to the absolute and yet the contemplation of such a Brahman can be called Nirguna-Upasana or meditation on condition-less Brahman. The chief distinction between the contemplation of the conditioned (Saguna) and unconditioned (Nirguna) Brahman is that in the former the devotee looks upon it as really connected with those attributes, while in the latter, positive and negative qualities are not viewed as essentially connected with it, but as suggesting its absolute nature. Hence, joyful etc., do not enter into the essence of the contemplated Brahman but act as a gateway for grasping its true nature. In the contemplation of the conditioned Brahman, those and similar other properties form a part of the contemplation.

The term Nirguna does not mean that Brahman is a negative concept, the Brahman is a non-entity or zero. It means that the qualities found here in limitation, are found illimitable in Brahman. It means that the attributes are Brahman’s essential nature or His Svarupa. It means that Brahman does not possess perishable qualities of matter like the blue colour of a cloth but possesses all auspicious qualities (Sarva-Kalyana-Gunas). Brahman is Nirguna-Guni.

The appearance of the world vanishes in the Reality of God. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Complete glossary can be found at:

http://www.sivananda.org/teachings/glossary/glossary.html

2022-01-01T20:59:19+00:00