Gurugram February 2020 | Preface

Greetings from the Sivananda Headquarters.

We are very pleased to announce a new feature on our International website. We have gathered together a series of articles by Swami Vishnudevananda, edited from his talks, Satsangs and lectures given over the years to students, guests and disciples on the Five Points of Yoga and the Four Paths of Yoga. The intention is a new article will be added to the Articles feature every two weeks at https://articles.sivananda.org/  

Articles can also be accessed through the top black bar on the sivananda.org website, where it says Subscribe to our Daily Teachings | Read our YOGALife, Articles & Gurugram. The articles can also be accessed through About>Publications>Articles. We pray that the availability of these teachings will inspire you to go deeper into your practice and serve as a guide along the spiritual path.

May there be many blessings to the Sivananda family for the year to come. We thank you all for your continued support in sharing the teachings and the mission of Sivananda Organization. We strive to share with humility and truth, becoming stronger and better instruments to carry on the work without compromising the authenticity of the message. Pranams to all.

The saint purifies the whole world. He who lives in Sadhana seclusion or leads an ‘incognito’ life, influences the world with his thought currents. – Sri Swami Sivananda

All upcoming 2020 TTC, ATTC and Sadhana Intensive courses can be viewed here “TTC | ATTC | SI – Calendar” on the NEW Sivananda website, under the tab, Teachers’ Training. You can now conveniently apply for Teacher Training Courses online on the new Sivananda Organization website – www.sivananda.org

Learn lessons of equal vision from the sun, the fire, the river, the flowers and the air. They serve the peasant and the king, the saint and the sinner, the clerk and the minister. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Chapter II: Sadhana Pada – On Spiritual Disciplines

II.42. SAMTOSAD ANUTTAMAH SUKHA-LABHAH

“From contentment comes supreme happiness.”

Commentary:

Humanity is ever searching for happiness in external objects, but happiness can only be attained when the mind is satisfied with what has been allotted and is no longer looking. When the mind is stilled and contented, happiness is automatic.

Develop pure love. – Sri Swami Sivananda

The Bhagavad Gita is a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, narrated in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata. The Bhagavad Gita is comprised of eighteen discourses, with a total of 701 Sanskrit verses. The timeless scene takes place on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Sri Krishna, through a swift conversation with Arjuna, reveals profound, sublime and soul stirring spiritual truths, plus, rare secrets of Yoga, Vedanta, Bhakti and Karma. Those who study, and endowed with Faith, can reap the full benefits of the Bhagavad Gita, and the science of the Soul.

We continue reviewing Swami Sivananda’s summary of each chapter of the Bhagavad Gita.

The Yoga of Renunciation of Action – Summary of Fifth Discourse:

In spite of Sri Krishna’s clear instructions, Arjuna still seems to be bewildered. He wants to know conclusively which is superior, the path of action or the path of renunciation of action. The Lord says that both the paths lead to the highest goal of God-realization. In both cases the final realization of the Atman is the aim, but the path of Karma Yoga is superior. Actually there is no real difference between the two.

Krishna further asserts that perfection can be attained and one can be established in the Atman only after the mind has been purified through the performance of selfless action. The Karma Yogi who is aware of the Atman and who is constantly engaged in action knows that although the intellect, mind and senses are active, he does not do anything. He is a spectator of everything. He dedicates all his actions to the Lord and thus abandons attachment, ever remaining pure and unaffected. He surrenders himself completely to the Divine Shakti. Having completely rooted out all desires, attachments and the ego, he is not born again.

The sage who has realized Brahman and is always absorbed in It does not have any rebirth. Such a sage sees Brahman within and without—within as the static and transcendent Brahman, and without as the entire universe. He sees the one Self in all beings and creatures—in a cow, an elephant, and even in a dog and an outcaste. He is ever free from joy and grief and enjoys eternal peace and happiness. He does not depend upon the senses for his satisfaction. On the other hand the enjoyments of the senses are generators of pain. They are impermanent. Sri Krishna reminds Arjuna that desire is the main cause of pain and suffering. It is the cause of anger. Therefore, the aspirant should try to eradicate desire and anger if he is to reach the Supreme.

The Lord concludes by describing how to control the senses, mind and intellect by concentrating between the eyebrows and practicing Pranayama. One who has achieved perfect control of the outgoing senses and is freed from desire, anger and fear attains liberation and enjoys perfect peace.

Tap the Source and attain strength, power and wisdom. – Sri Swami Sivananda