Gurugram February 2016 | Preface
Blessed Self,
Om Namah Sivaya
The New Year 2016 started in a very positive mood. Sivananda Centres and Ashrams reported the attraction of many new students, with the onset of new year resolutions, spiking registrations in both long term and short term courses. Open classes in all Centres are also abundant with students.
An interesting phenomena for the upcoming year is people’s interest and inquiry towards meditation. Many meditation courses are very full with new registrations. Also of note, regular morning and evening Satsangs are attended by very enthusiastic students. We, and all the Sivananda staff, are very happy that our hard work is appreciated and Swamiji’s vision continues to grow very strong, as years pass. The Staff subsequently draw more inspiration with this new interest from the students.
May Master and Swamiji bless us always in our Sadhana and service.
Pranams to all.
Maintain always serenity under all conditions and circumstances. – Sri Swami Sivananda
Upcoming Courses
| Feb 03 – Mar 01/16 TTC – English Nassau, Bahamas www.sivananda.org/nassauFeb 07 – Mar 06/16 TTC – English Madurai, Tamil Nadu, South India www.sivananda.org/maduraiFeb 14 – Mar 13/16 ATTC – English, Francais, Deutsch, Espanol, Farsi, Japanese, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam Neyyar Dam, South India www.sivananda.org/neyyardamFeb 13 – Mar 12/16 TTC – Teachers Training Course – English with Chinese & Vietnamese Translation Dalat, Vietnam www.sivanandayogavietnam.org Feb 14 – Mar 13/16 Feb 20 – Mar 20/16 Feb 20 – Mar 20/16 Feb 21 – Mar 20/16 Mar 04 – Mar 31/16 Mar 06 – Apr 03/16 |
Mar 06 – Apr 03/16 TTC – English Woodbourne, NY, USA www.sivananda.org/ranchMar 20 – Apr 17/16 TTC – English Neyyar Dam, Kerala, South India www.sivananda.org/neyyardamApr 03 – Apr 30/16 TTC – English Nassau, Bahamas www.sivananda.org/nassauApr 03 – May 01/16 TTC – English Netala, Uttar Kashi, North India www.sivananda.org/uttarkashi Apr 30 – May 29/16 May 03 – May 30/16 May 07 – Jun 04/16 May 08 – Jun 05/16 May 18 – Jun 15/16 May 28 – Jun 25/16 |
Raja Yoga
From Discourse II: “Sadhana Pada- On Spiritual Disciplines”
II.9. SVARASAVAHI VIDUSO ‘PI TATHA RUDHO ‘BHINIVESAH.
‘Fear of death is the continuous desire to live which is rooted even in the minds of the wise’.
Commentary:
The fear of death is the fear of loss of identity, of letting go of the ego. Even when all else is given up, there is still the clinging to life. It is only when sages reaches the very last stage of ‘asamprajnata samadhi’ they care for nothing but merging with the Lord; and when this level is reached they remain in the body for only a few days.
The Lord’s ways are mysterious. There is something good even in all seeming failures. If you are not able to see that now, time will reveal it. Be patient. – Sri Swami Sivananda
Bhagavad Gita Quote
Chapter XIII: The Yoga of the Division Between the Field and the Knower of the Field
XIII.5. RISHIBHIRBAHUDHAA GEETAM CCHANDOBHIRVIVIDHAIH PRITHAK;
BRAHMASOOTRAPADAISHCHAIVA HETUMADBHIRVINISHCHITAIH.
(Krishna speaking to Arjuna)
Sages have sung in many ways, in various distinctive chants and also in the suggestive words indicative of the Absolute, full of reasoning and decisive.
XIII.6. MAHAABHOOTAANYAHANKAARO BUDDHIRAVYAKTAMEVA CHA;
INDRIYAANI DASHAIKAM CHA PANCHA CHENDRIYAGOCHARAAH.
The great elements: egoism, intellect and unmanifested Nature. The Ten Senses and the five Objects of the Senses.
COMMENTARY: Great elements: earth, water, fire, air and ether are so called because they pervade all modifications of matter. The ten senses are comprised of: the five organs of knowledge and the five organs of action. Plus, the One.
The five Organs of Knowledge are: ears, skin, eyes, tongue and nose. The five Organs of Knowledge are: hands, feet, mouth, anus and reproductive organ. The One: this is the mind. The five Objects/Results of the Senses are sound, touch, form/colour, taste and smell.
Do not worry about obstacles. They will pass away. Dive into Japa. – Sri Swami Sivananda
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Spiritual Calendar
| FEBRUARY 2016
04 Ekadasi MARCH 2016 05 Ekadasi |
Glossary
INDRIYAS: The senses.
The Indriyas (senses) have two states, static and dynamic. When the desire begins to operate, the Indriyas are put in motion. This is the dynamic state. As soon as the desire is gratified, the Indriyas shrink through Tripti (satisfaction). This is the static or passive state of the Indriyas.
The Mind and Indriyas are one. Indriya is a prolongation of the mind. The sea is fed by the rivers; the sea cannot exist without the rivers. Even so, mind is fed by Indriyas and cannot exist without Indriyas. If you have controlled the Indriyas, you have already controlled the mind.
Eyes can only see. Ears can only hear. Tongue can only taste. Skin can only touch. Nose can only smell. But, the mind can see, hear, taste, touch and smell. Mind is the common sensory. The five senses are blended there. It can directly see, hear, smell, taste and feel independent of the senses. It is an aggregate of the five senses. All the sense-faculties are blended in the mind. You can see and hear directly through the mind by Yogic practice (clairvoyance and clairaudience).
Vasikaran – 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.
Kaivalya (perfect independence) is when the Indriyas are drawn into the mind, the mind into the Mahat, and the Mahat into the Purusha. – Sw. Sivananda
MAHAT: the Universal mind; the Cosmic mind
No one who is thirsting for name, fame, power and lordship and enjoyment here… or elsewhere, can achieve success in Yoga. – Sri Swami Sivananda