Gurugram February 2018 | Preface

Blessed Self,
Om Namah Sivaya

With the guidance of Master Swami Sivananda and Swami Vishnudevananda, 2018 has already has brought high energy into the Sivananda Ashrams and Centres around the globe. Already there’s an abundance of students signing up for the 2018 TTCs and ATTCs. The enthusiasm for seeking Peace through Yoga will be felt from Nassau to Neyyar Dam, from Garopaba to Grass Valley.

What point of yoga would you like to explore in 2018?

Teaching?
ATTC and TTC courses continue to be offered simultaneously at Ashrams and pop-up retreat locations world wide, with an ever expanding number of students attending. The total number of teachers graduating from Swami-jis mission is now well above 45,000, thanks to the Swamis, Teachers and Karma Yogis around the globe.

Your Health?
A variety of life enhancing courses such as Yoga, Fasting and Detox courses; Yoga and Ayurveda Wellness courses; Yoga and Panchakarma courses are frequently offered this year. Visit http://www.sivananda.org/r/en/international_schedule/courses to view and sign up for the diverse collection of these yoga related courses.

How about a Yoga Vacation away from the city life?
For the vacationer wishing to enhance their yoga practice, there are nine permanent yoga retreat locations worldwide, as well as the popular pop-up locations offered by several Sivananda Yoga Centres. Visit https://www.sivananda.org/locations/ashrams.html to choose from one of the permanent locations, while pop-up retreat locations can be found by contacting your local Sivananda Yoga Centre.

Looking to deepen your Spiritual Journey?
There are 10 Sadhana Intensive courses in 2018. There is also an enriching Yatras/pilgrimage planned in South India in late 2018; a deep and inspiring forty-one day spiritual practice session, the Sivananda Sadhana Mandalam, offered mid year; not to forget an abundance of health and wellness Ayurveda courses around the World. Visit https://www.sivananda.org/r/en/international_schedule

We wish you all a deep Sadhana practice. May Master and Swamiji’s blessings be with us always in 2018.
Pranams to all.

You cannot practice Ahimsa (Non-Violence) without practicing Truth. – Sri Swami Sivananda

2019 TTC courses can be viewed here on the NEW Sivananda website.

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

If you are established in Ahimsa (Non-Violence), you have attained all virtues. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Discourse IV: “Kaivalya Pada- On Realization”

Introduction to the Fourth Chapter
The final chapter of Patanjali’s Raja Yoga Sutras discusses ‘kaivalya’, liberation or independence. The full-blown yogi develops perfect discrimination, or the ability to distinguish the Real from the unreal. He is no longer addicted by the three gunas of nature, and can distinguish ‘Purusha'(Soul) from ‘Prakriti'(nature).

IV.1. JANMAUSADHI-MANTRA-TAPAH-SAMADHI JAH SIDDHAYAH
“Siddhis” are attained as a result of birth, medicinal herbs, Mantras, austerities or “samadhi”(Super-Consciousness)’.

Commentary:
Siddhis that are brought into the present life by birth indicate their attainment in a previous life, but it does not guarantee that the individual is making proper use of them in this life. Those gained through chemical means are not necessarily associated with any level of spirituality at all, and can be easily governed by the ego. Siddhis achieved by Mantra repetition or tapas, austerities, are generally of a very high order as long as they are performed for attaining God-Realization rather than personal or material gain. Powers that come from ‘samadhi’ are the purest, for they come to the aspirant without being desired. It must be remembered that siddhis are not the aim but a by-product of the path to God-Realization.

Empty yourself of you egoism then the Divine will fill your heart to the brim. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Chapter XII: The Yoga of Devotion

XII.8. MAYYEVA MANA AADHATSWA MAYI BUDDHIM NIVESHAYA;
NIVASISHYASI MAYYEVA ATA OORDHWAM NA SAMSHAYAH.

(Krishna speaking to Arjuna)
Fix thy mind on Me only, thy intellect in Me, (then) thou shait no doubt live in Me alone hereafter.

XII.9. ATHA CHITTAM SAMAADHAATUM NA SHAKNOSHI MAYI STHIRAM;
ABHYAASAYOGENA TATO MAAMICCHAAPTUM DHANANJAYA.

If thou art unable to fix thy mind steadily on Me, then by the Yoga of constant practice do thou seek to reach Me, O Arjuna!

Equip yourself with these means: Hear. Reflect. Meditate. Then alone can you have Self Realization. – Sri Swami Sivananda