Gurugram July 2020 | Preface

Om Namah Sivaya Blessed Self

Some locations in Asia and Europe have already opened, while other locations are pre-planning and waiting for the go ahead from their governments. While the majority of the Sivananda Organization locations are still locked down, as per government regulations, we are praying for everyone’s health and safety. In the end, we will all come through much stronger during this challenge set for entire humanity.

Mental health is the highest priority. The body and mind need exercise to lead a peaceful life. We, at the Sivananda Ashrams and Centres, strive to support you with that notion in mind. It’s working. The Online classes and courses offered by all Ashrams and Centres have received positive feedback and appreciation by students around the globe.

As the Ashram and Centre doors re-open, keep checking your local for their opening dates. In the meantime, we’ll keep meeting you Online, to assist you with your practice. Health and Peace to all. Pranams to all.

Teacher Training Courses: Wherever you live around the world, visit our Ashram websites at sivananda.org to connect to longer courses, including TTCs. The TTCs are offered in multi languages, with mentors and translators on the ready. Visit https://www.sivananda.at/en/teacher-training/sivananda-teachers-training-course-online/ Now with over 47,000 graduates, the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training is the largest classical yoga training in the world. Our prayers are with you all at this time, and with the grace of the Gurus and God, together we can emerge from these trials stronger and more committed to peace on this earth.

Meditation and Chanting: Continue to chant the sacred and powerful mantra “Mahāmṛtyuṃjaya Mantra”, for healing, rejuvenation and nurturing. It is beneficial for physical, mental and spiritual well being.

ॐ त्र्य॑म्बकं यजामहे सु॒गन्धिं पुष्टि॒वर्ध॑नम् ।
उ॒र्वा॒रु॒कमि॑व॒ बन्ध॑नान् मृ॒त्योर्मुक्षीय॒ मा ऽमृता॑त् ।
oṃ tryambakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭi-vardhanam
urvārukam iva bandhanān mṛtyor mukṣīya mā ‘mṛtāt ||

Another way to connect is to join us for meditation and chanting session on Sunday July 5th 2020 (see below) or chant Bhajans with others through Live Facebook, Skype or Zoom; join our Online Satsangs and courses; connect with a group study of a scripture, and last, but not least, practice karma yoga. Please watch out for others. Look out for any opportunity to connect with someone, even for a short while, keeping them cheerful and away from anxiety. There are so many ways we can help others.

As Swami Sivananda would say “Always look out for the chance to serve.” Now we have the perfect time.

UNITE FOR A PEACEFUL PLANET Meditation and Chanting – Sunday July 5th 2020 at 1:00pm UTC/GMT
The Gathering of 100,000 Minds

The mantra Om Namo Narayanaya was given to humanity to be used in time of need to generate powerful waves of harmony and peace.

The Sivananda Organization has launched a worldwide peace action, gathering 100,000 meditation practitioners across the globe at the same time, once a month, every month for a 30-minute practice of meditation, positive intention and repetition of the peace mantra, Om Namo Narayanaya. We invite all yoga students and anyone wanting to help create a positive future for humanity to participate at home in this large scale peace mission. The focus of our meditation will be the unity of all beings, including our home and Planet Earth. To participate in this peace action, please register on our web site at https://sivanandaorleans.org/unite-for-a-healthy-planet/

Through all this, may there be many blessings to the Sivananda family. 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.

May divine grace illumine your spiritual path. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Update: Please check with each TTC/ATTC location whether COVID-19 has affected your selected course. For 2020, SIVANANDA YOGA Teachers’ Training Courses are also available Online (TTCOL). Please check with any Ashram website for the next TTCOL. You can conveniently apply for Teacher Training Courses at www.sivananda.org

The Upanishads are revelations. – Sri Swami Sivananda

From Discourse II: “Sadhana Pada – On Spiritual Disciplines”

II.55. TATAH PARAMA VASYATENDRIYANAM.

‘From that comes the highest mastery over the senses’.

Commentary:
The senses are man’s connection to the physical plane. When it is decided that is time to transcend the distractions of the world, the most difficult undertaking is mastery of the senses. Though perfection of ‘pratyahara’, the greatest obstacles to enlightment are overcome.

Regular meditation alone can give you true happiness. – 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 the Divine Glories – Summary of  the Tenth Discourse

Krishna tells Arjuna that even the Devas and highly evolved souls fail to understand how He projects Himself as the universe and all its manifestations. He goes on to describe the various qualities that beings manifest according to their Karmas. All these qualities—wisdom, truth, contentment, etc.—originate from Him.

The true devotees of the Lord are wholly absorbed in Him. They have completely surrendered to Him and through single-minded devotion they are granted the power of discrimination, the discrimination that leads them from the unreal to the Real. Krishna emphatically declares that ignorance is destroyed and knowledge gained through Divine Grace alone.

Arjuna accepts the descent of the Supreme in a human form, but wishes to know from the Lord Himself His Cosmic powers by means of which He controls the diverse forces of the universe. The Lord describes His Divine glories, bringing within the range of Arjuna’s comprehension His limitless manifestations, and how He upholds everything. In short, the Lord is the Almighty Power that creates, sustains and destroys everything.

What is the highest achievement? It is not wealth, position, power or titles or degrees. It is Self-realization/Knowledge of the Self. – Sri Swami Sivananda