Gurugram July 2015 | Preface

Blessed Self,
Om Namah Sivaya

Greetings to you all. We are happy to inform you that the International Day of Yoga celebrations on the 21st of June were very successful throughout the entire Sivananda Organization. All Sivananda Centre and Ashram staff, karma yogis and students did their very best to create full day programs and events for the special day, plus enthusiastically participating and, in some cases, leading the enormous public events held in city parks. New Delhi, India peaked its celebration with 36,000 various participants and the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The inaugural International Day of Yoga was a successful and uplifting day for the entire Sivananda Organization, celebrating yoga and sharing the true spirit of Swami Vishnudevanandaji’s teachings to the World.

Reports of participation in the International Day of Yoga can be found below, in the International News Section, under each Ashram and Centre.

Summer at the Yoga Camp Ashram is in full swing with Fasting and Sadhana Intensive just concluding and a TTC starting with 76 students. Our rooms are booking rapidly this year, indicating a very busy season ahead. The popular TTC Refresher course with Swami Durganandaji, Swami Sivadasanandaji and Swami Ramapriyanandaji is scheduled to begin July 6th with just a few spaces still open.

The Bahamas Ashram extended its season this year with a new June TTC course. The Ashram still very active with many Yoga Vacation guests enjoying their yoga in the ocean breezes.

The European programs are packed in all Ashrams and Centres. It is heartening to see how Swami Vishnudevananda-ji’s work has kept it’s purity in Europe.

Indian Centres are extremely busy along with the Uttar Kashi Ashram in North India, vibrant with programs and courses. The Ashrams in South India are receiving unusually more guests than normal even though they have finished their high season. It may be result of the Indian Government’s enthusiasm and encouragement for Yoga.

May Master and Swamiji bless us always in our Sadhana and service.

Pranams to all.

Cultivate discrimination between the Real and the unreal. – Sri Swami Sivananda

From Discourse II: “Sadhana Pada – On Spiritual Disciplines” II.33. VITARKA-BADHANE-PRATIPAKSA-BHAVANAM “When negative or harmful thoughts disturbs the mind, they can be overcome by constant pondering over their opposites.”

Commentary: The yogi is ever alert, watching his mind. When he sees useless thought waves arising, he immediately replaces them with positive thoughts, thus creating new mental habits that are conducive to spiritual growth.

When you are free from attachment to all external objects, the mind will be at peace. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Chapter V: The Yoga of Renunciation of Action

V.3. JNEYAH SA NITYASANNYAASI YO NA DWESHTI NA KAANGKSHATI;
NIRDWANDWO HI MAHAABAAHO SUKHAM BANDHAAT PRAMUCHYATE.

(Krishna speaking to Arjuna)
He should be known as a perpetual Sannyasin who neither hates nor desires; for, free from the pairs of opposites, O mighty-armed Arjuna, he is easily set free from bondage!

COMMENTARY: A man does not become a Sannyasin by merely giving up actions due to laziness, ignorance, some family quarrel or calamity or unemployment. A true Sannyasin is one who has neither attachment nor aversion to anything. Physical renunciation of objects is no renunciation at all. What is wanted is the renunciation of egoism and desires.

Renunciation alone can make you fearless and happy. – Sri Swami Sivananda