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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)
May the blessings of the Gurus be with them always on this path of introspection and vairagya.
Other news, the main Sivananda Organization website – www.sivananda.org – has now a new beautiful design, with elegant looking newsletters and quotes; schedules and the ability to apply for Teacher Training Courses online. The ever popular Gurugram got a face lift along with availability of back issues of Yoga Life magazine.

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:

www.sivananda.org/thailand

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
TTC – English, עברית
Nassau, Bahamas
www.sivananda.org/nassau

May 04 – Jun 01/19
TTC – English
Yoga Farm, Grass Valley, CA, USA
www.sivananda.org/yogafarm

May 12 – Jun 08/19
TTC – English
Netala, Uttar Kashi, Himalayas, North India
www.sivananda.org/uttarkashi

May 06 – Jun 04/19
TTC – Français
Orleans, France
www.sivananda.org/orleans

May 25 – Jun 23/19
TTC – Deutsch
Reith, Tyrol, Austria
www.sivananda.org/tyrol/en

May 26 – Jun 22/19
TTC – English
Madurai, Tamil Nadu, South India
www.sivananda.org/madurai

Jun 02 – Jun 30/19
TTC – English
Woodbourne, NY, USA
www.sivananda.org/ranch

Jun 03 – Jul 02/19
TTC – English, עברית
Nassau, Bahamas
www.sivananda.org/nassau

Jun 16 – Jul 13/19
TTC – English
Netala, Uttar Kashi, Himalayas, North India
www.sivananda.org/uttarkashi

Jun 28 – Jul 26/19
TTC – Deutsch, English
Reith, Tyrol, Austria
www.sivananda.org/tyrol/en

Jun 28 – Jul 26/19
TTC – English, Français
Orleans, France
www.sivananda.org/orleans

Jun 28 – Jul 26/19
ATTC – Français, English
Orleans, France
www.sivananda.org/orleans

Jun 30 – Jul 28/19
TTC – English, Français
Val Morin, QC, Canada
www.sivananda.org/camp

Jul 13 – Aug 10/19
TTC – English 中文
Việt Da Lat, Vietnam
www.sivanandayogavietnam.org

Jul 21 – Aug 17/19
TTC – English
Netala, Uttar Kashi, Himalayas, North India
www.sivananda.org/uttarkashi

Jul 28 – Aug 25/19
TTC – English, Deutsch
Tyrol, Austria
www.sivananda.org/tyrol/en

Jul 28 – Aug 25/19
TTC – Français
Orleans, France
www.sivananda.org/orleans

Jul 31 – Aug 28/19
TTC – English
Woodbourne, NY, USA
www.sivananda.org/ranch

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
03      New Moon
13      Ekadasi
14      Mariamman Flag Hoisting
17      Full Moon
23      Pongala Festival
29      Ekadasi

 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

2019-05-02T09:36:33+00:00