Gurugram July 2017 | Preface

Blessed Self,
Om Namah Sivaya

Greetings to all.

By the grace of Master and Swamiji all Ashrams and Centres in the Sivananda Organization are running smoothly imparting the ancient knowledge of Yoga and Meditation.

The Sivananda Ashrams and Yoga Centres conducted successful programs for the International Yoga Day. Please take a look at this posting:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ8N5E0pHQg&list=PL778C45BB91025FB6&index=7

In addition, this being the 60th year Swamiji’s mission around the world, all Sivananda Centres and Ashrams have been conducting ongoing special programs to celebrate and honor this accomplishment of vast proportion. Please take a look at the websites of each location.

One special program on the horizon is a rare opportunity for your personal spiritual growth with our upcoming and very special Sivananda Sadhana Mandalam, a forty-one day program of spiritual practice, held in the tropical splendour of the Sivananda Dhanwantari Ashram in South India from August 1 to September 10 2017.

In this month’s Gurugram we conclude our exploration of Meditation techniques, guided by Swami Vishnudevananda.

Due to your continued support we have been able to continue Swamiji’s teachings for this long without compromising on the authenticity of the message. We strive to continue, looking forward with the same devotion and dedication.

Pranams to all.

Serenity is merely mental. Therefore, cultivate mental equipoise by gaining spiritual knowledge. – Sri Swami Sivananda

MEDITATION
Swami Vishnudevananda concludes the series on meditation.

At the feet of Swami Vishnudevananda. Thoughts on Meditation.

We conclude Swamiji’s guidance with this quote – “Meditation is a continuous flow of perceptions/thoughts, like the flow of water in a river.”

10  – DISASSOCIATING FROM THE MIND

If the mind persists in wandering, simply disassociate from it, and watch it objectively, as though you were watching a film. Sometimes the mind is resistant and continues living in its world of imagination. To start with, you may find this a little frustrating, even discouraging. If this is the case, try another approach suggested by Swami Sivananda – the attitude of non-cooperation. Watch your mind with the feeling: I am not the mind, I am only the spectator of my mind. If you find you are caught up in your own emotions and cannot let go, this practice of detachment or of witnessing will help. If you can sustain this mode of thought even for a few minutes, your mind gradually slows down. You stop feeding your emotions and thoughts with your consciousness and, since consciousness gives life to everything, the emotions and thoughts will simply have no energy to live, and will lose strength and intensity. Powerful discrimination and a good level of emotional strength are required to maintain a distance from your thoughts even for a relatively short time and may prove demanding for a beginner. However, try to practice a little each day, and a powerful new habit will gradually develop.

11 – PURE THOUGHT

Sustained concentration leads into meditation. This occurs after many months, and in most instances, after many years of practice.

12 – SAMADHI

Sustained meditation leads into samadhi, a state we enter when we have trained the mind to find absorption in consciousness itself. Samadhi is the highest state of meditation and the eighth step in the raja yoga system. Here, duality disappears and you enter the superconscious state.

An expanded insight into meditation can be found in these Sivananda publications:
The Sivananda Companion to Meditation: How to Master the Mind and Achieve Transcendence

An integral part of all forms of yoga, meditation is an important key to achieving peace of mind in our increasingly chaotic lives, with regular practice enhancing mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. The Sivananda Companion to Meditation outlines a simple step-by-step guide to the practice of meditation and shows you how to make it a part of your everyday routine. You will learn about the beneficial effects of meditation, including how this powerful art will help you to

• Reduce stress and experience greater clarity of mind
• Treat health problems, ranging from depression and anxiety to insomnia and chronic pain
• Develop your powers of concentration and positive thinking
• Lead a more balanced life in tune with the fivefold path

This book is geared to Beginners as well as those already experienced in the art of meditation. Regardless of your level, this book will help you to attain a state of profound clarity and serenity that will change your life.

Meditation and Mantras by Swami Vishnudevananda
This book from the Sivananda Ashram explains what meditation and mantras are and how they can be effectively used to recharge oneself with divine energy, so that the tension of body and mind are gradually reduced.

The stillness and calm of nature acts as a perfect setting for the practice of meditation. – Swami Vishnudevananda

Practice meditation regularly. Meditation leads to eternal bliss. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Chapter II: Sankhya Yoga

(Krishna speaking to Arjuna)

Yaam imaam pushpitaam vaacham pravadantyavipashchitah;
Vedavaadarataah paartha naanyad asteeti vaadinah.

II.42. Flowery speech is uttered by the unwise, taking pleasure in the eulogizing words of the Vedas, O Arjuna, saying, “There is nothing else.”

COMMENTARY: Unwise people who are lacking in discrimination lay great stress upon the Karma Kanda or the ritualistic portion of the Vedas, which lay down specific rules for specific actions for the attainment of specific fruits and extol these actions and rewards unduly. They are highly enamoured of such Vedic passages which prescribe ways for the attainment of heavenly enjoyments in Svarga(heaven) which can be obtained by performing the rites of the Karma Kanda of the Vedas.

There are two main divisions of the Vedas–Karma Kanda (the section dealing with action) and Jnana Kanda (the section dealing with knowledge). The Karma Kanda comprises the Brahmanas and the Samhitas. This is the authority for the Purvamimamsa school founded by Jaimini. The followers of this school deal with rituals and prescribe many of them for attaining enjoyments and power here and happiness in heaven. They regard this as the ultimate object of human existence. Ordinary people are attracted to their panegyrics. The Jnana Kanda comprises the Aranyakas and the Upanishads which deal with the nature of Brahman or the Supreme Self.

Life in heaven is also transitory. After the fruits of the good actions are exhausted, one has to come back to this earth-plane. Liberation or Moksha can only be attained by knowledge of the Self but not by performing a thousand and one sacrifices. Lord Krishna assigns a comparatively inferior position to the doctrine of the Mimamsakas of performing Vedic sacrifices for obtaining heaven, power and lordship in this world as they cannot give us final liberation.

Develop pure love. – Sri Swami Sivananda