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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

Upcoming Courses

Mar 02 – Mar 29/20
TTC – Espaňol
Bariloche, Patagonia, Argentina
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Mar 04 – Apr 02/20
TTC – English, עברית
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Mar 08 – Apr 05/20
TTC – English
Woodbourne, NY, USA
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Mar 15 – Apr 11/20
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Mar 22 – Apr 19/20
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Apr 04 – May 03/20
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Orleans, France
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Apr 04 – May 02/20
TTC – English
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Apr 05 – May 02/20
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Netala, Uttar Kashi, Himalayas, North India
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Apr 25 – May 23/20
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Yoga Farm, Grass Valley, CA, USA
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May 04 – Jun 01/20
TTC – English
Woodbourne, NY, USA
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May 03 – Jun 01/20
TTC – English
Nassau, Bahamas
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May 10 – Jun 10/20
TTC – English
Netala, Uttar Kashi, Himalayas, North India
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May 10 – Jun 08/20
TTC – Français
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May 16 – Jun 14/20
TTC – Deutsch
Reith, Tyrol, Austria
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May 24 – Jun 20/20
TTC – English
Madurai, Tamil Nadu, South India
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May 26 – Jun 23/20
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Shojiko Retreat, Japan
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May 31 – Jun 28/20
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Woodbourne, NY, USA
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May 31 – Jun 29/20
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London, England
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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

Raja Yoga

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

Bhagavad Gita Quote

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

Quick Links

Spiritual Calendar

FEBRUARY 2020

05 Ekadasi
09 Full moon
19 Ekadasi
22 Maha Sivarathri
23 New Moon

MARCH 2020

06 Ekadasi
09 Full Moon
10 Holi
19 Ekadasi
24 New Moon

You cannot know the love of God, till you remove your sense of ‘I’-ness, and ‘mine’-ness. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Glossary

PRANAYAMA – The Vedantic Kumbhaka

Being without any distraction and with a calm mind, one should practice Pranayama. Both expiration and inspiration should be stopped. The practitioner should depend solely on Brahman; that is the highest aim of life. The giving out of all external objects, is said to be Rechaka. The taking in of the spiritual knowledge of Sastras, is said to be Puraka, and the keeping to oneself of such knowledge is said to be Kumbhaka. He is an emancipated person who practices his Chitta thus. There is no doubt about it. Through Kumbhaka the mind should always be taken up and through Kumbhaka alone it should be filled up within. It is only through Kumbhaka that Kumbhaka should be firmly mastered. Within it, is ‘Parama Siva’. At first in his Brahmagranthi there is produced soon a hole or passage. Then having pierced Brahmagranthi, he pierces Vishnugranthi, then he pierces Rudragranthi, then the Yogin attains his liberation through the religious ceremonies, performed in various births, through the grace of Gurus and Devatas and through the practice of Yoga.

The divine light and grace will descend only upon the Sattvic or the pure mind, because only a pure mind can receive it. – Sri Swami Sivananda

2020-02-05T00:45:21+00:00