Gurugram May 2019 | Preface
Blessed Self,
Om Namah Sivaya
Greetings from the Yoga Camp Sivananda Headquarters in Val Morin, Canada.
A very successful high season has concluded in India, Bahamas, South America, China and Vietnam. The high season now begins in the northern hemisphere, where Centres and Ashrams continue to thrive with new enthusiastic students pursuing their true self through a Yoga practice.
Auspicious news: By Master and Swamiji’s Grace, we welcome six new Brahmacharyas. In the presence of all eight Executive Board members, the following staff were given Gayatri Diksha and initiated into Brahmacharyas, on the morning of 29th May 2019, at the Krishna Temple in Val Morin, Canada:
Nirmala Chaitanya (Janaki of Toronto)
Gayatri Chaitanya (Divya of Val Morin)
Lalita Chaitanya (Nikhila of Montreal)
Venugopala Chaitanya (Radhakrishnadas of Grass Valley)
Radha Chaitanya (Gopika of Los Angeles)
Shakti Chaitanya (Atmajyoti of Vietnam)
An invitation to a Sivananda TTC Refresher. We invite all the TTC graduates around the world to join us in celebrating 10 years of Teacher Training Courses in Thailand. We’ll energize ourselves, expand our knowledge, sharpen our teaching skills and deepen our personal practice amidst the beautiful serene surroundings of the Phu Chaisai Mountain Resort, in northern Thailand. Sivananda Teachers will connect with fellow teachers from around the world!
The TTCR will renew your commitment to yourself & your students while helping you to stay inspired. Being a strong and confident yoga teacher means you never stop learning and exploring in order to give your students the best that traditional yoga has to offer. Join us for four unforgettable days that will bring back excitement, depth, joy & tradition into your practice.
For more info, visit our websites:
https://sivanandacanada.org/thailand/ttc-reunion/
We thank you all for your continued support and encouragement of the Organization and its staff.
May Master and Swamiji’s grace guide us in all ways.
Pranams to all.
Spiritualize all your activities. – Sri Swami Sivananda
Upcoming Courses
| May 04 – Jun 01/19 TTC – English Woodbourne, NY, USA www.sivananda.org/ranch May 04 – Jun 02/19 May 04 – Jun 01/19 May 12 – Jun 08/19 May 06 – Jun 04/19 May 25 – Jun 23/19 May 26 – Jun 22/19 Jun 02 – Jun 30/19 Jun 03 – Jul 02/19 |
Jun 16 – Jul 13/19 TTC – English Netala, Uttar Kashi, Himalayas, North India www.sivananda.org/uttarkashi Jun 28 – Jul 26/19 Jun 28 – Jul 26/19 Jun 28 – Jul 26/19 Jun 30 – Jul 28/19 Jul 13 – Aug 10/19 Jul 21 – Aug 17/19 Jul 28 – Aug 25/19 Jul 28 – Aug 25/19 Jul 31 – Aug 28/19 |
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/
Crave for a thing, you will get it. Renounce the craving, the object will follow you by itself. – Sri Swami Sivananda
Raja Yoga
From 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.
The true inner Yoga is the transformation of the essential nature of man. – Sri Swami Sivananda
Bhagavad Gita Quote
Chapter VI: The Yoga of Meditation
VI.13. SAMAM KAAYASHIROGREEVAM DHAARAYANNACHALAM STHIRAH;
SAMPREKSHYA NAASIKAAGRAM SWAM DISHASHCHAANAVALOKAYAN.
(Krishna speaking to Arjuna)
Let him firmly hold his body, head and neck erect and perfectly still, gazing at the tip of his nose, without looking around.
VI.14. PRASHAANTAATMAA VIGATABHEER BRAHMACHAARIVRATE STHITAH;
MANAH SAMYAMYA MACCHITTO YUKTA AASEETA MATPARAH.
Serene-minded, fearless, firm in the vow of a Brahmachari, having controlled the mind, thinking of Me and balanced in mind, let him sit, having Me as his supreme goal.
Satsanga gives the aspirant inner spiritual strength to face the struggle, overcome temptations, kill inner cravings and fill the mind with positive divine thoughts. – Sri Swami Sivananda
Quick Links
Spiritual Calendar
| MAY 2019 04 New Moon 15 Ekadasi 18 Full Moon 30 Ekadasi JUNE 2019 Renunciation is the bestower of peace and immortality. – Sri Swami Sivananda |
Glossary
SIDDHIS – Psychic Powers
The Aspirant becomes free only when his individual will becomes merged in the Divine Will. Licentiousness and autocracy must not be mistaken for spiritual freedom. By becoming a tool (Nimitta) in the hands of God, the Bhakta destroys the egoism or the little false ‘I’, but gains all the Divine Aisvarya or the Siddhis of the Lord. He becomes perfectly free. He has become one with God now.
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
A Hatha Yogi gets Siddhis (psychic powers) by uniting Prana and Apana and by taking the united Prana-Apana through the six Chakras (Centres of spiritual energy) to Sahasrara at the crown of the head. A Raja Yogi gets Siddhis by Samyama, i.e., combined practice of Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi at one time. A Jnana Yogi exhibits Siddhis through pure will or Sat-Sankalpa. A Bhakta gets Siddhis through self-surrender and the consequent descent of grace. Kriyas, viz., Neti, Dhauti, Nauli, Basti, Tratak and Kapalabhati belong to Hatha Yoga. All need not practise these Kriyas. Those who have got much phlegm in the body should practise these Kriyas. Learn these under an expert Hatha Yogi. Hatha Yoga is not the goal. It is only a means to an end. Take to Raja Yoga after possessing good health.
Beware of Siddhis! If you are drawn to the psychic powers or Siddhis, you will miss the supreme goal.- Sri Swami Sivananda