Gurugram June 2014 | Preface

Blessed Self,

Om Namah Sivaya

With the upcoming high season approaching the Ashrams and Centres of the Northern Hemisphere, Centres and Ashrams are busy preparing for students and guests to the many educational programs and teacher trainings. The Southern Hemisphere enjoys a pause and time to prepare for their high season in Fall. The number of trained teachers around the world that have been taught in Master and Swamijji’s methods, exponentially increases each year, given the skills of spreading Peace to all. It is the abundance of these inspired students that gives life to the Sivananda Organization.

We thank you all for your continued support and encouragement. May Master and Swamiji’s blessings be with us always.

This month the GURUGRAM continues the Raja Yoga series, reviewing Swami Vishnudevananda’s Instructions on Meditation Series, with excerpts from book The Sivananda Companion to Meditation (2003).

Pranams to all.

This ego is a false non-entity. It is a mere false shadow. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Swami Vishnudevananda Instructions on Meditation Series

Swami Vishnu-devananda would say that it is not possible to teach someone how to meditate, any more than it is possible to teach them how to sleep. Sleep overtakes us only when we detach our mind from its concerns. Meditation also cannot be forced, but unlike sleep, it is a conscious state. We need a degree of willpower to remain in the state of heightened awareness that occurs when we meditate. However, at the same time we need to relax, letting go of all expectations and desires. This subtle balance between the effort needed to sustain concentration on the one side and detachment from all distractions on the other is the art of meditation. We learn to focus the mind without struggle, yet maintain enough control to avoid a drift into reverie. To attain this state of relaxed awareness we need to prepare ourselves, and there are several steps that will help us. It is important to reiterate that meditation is a process, and as such, takes time. Be gentle and patient with your mind; do not expect miracles. The more care and attention you give to the preparation, the more positive the results.

Here are the basic guidelines for the beginner:

4 – THE BREATH

Consciously try to relax and make the breath rhythmic. Begin with one minute of deep abdominal breathing to bring oxygen to the brain. Then, slowing the breath down to an imperceptible rate, inhale and exhale rhythmically, for approximately three seconds each. The breath becomes light and completely silent. This technique is a pranayama (breath control) exercise that steadies the prana (breath) and thereby quietens the mind.

“Be gentle and patient with your mind; do not expect miracles. The more care and attention you give to the preparation, the more positive the results’. Face north or east to take advantage of favorable magnetic vibrations.” – Sw. Vishnudevananda

Next month… the mind while meditating. Following months address choosing a point of concentration an object of concentration, giving space to the mind, disassociating from the mind, pure thought, then Samadhi to conclude.

Excerpts from The Sivananda Companion to Meditation (2003) – The Sivananda Yoga Centre; Gaia Books, New York.

There is no bond equal in strength, to Maya. There is no power greater than Yoga, to destroy this bond. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Chapter XII: The Yoga of Devotion

XII.20. YE TU DHARMYAAMRITAMIDAM YATHOKTAM PARYUPAASATE; SHRADDHADHAANAAH MATPARAMAA BHAKTAASTE’TEEVA ME PRIYAAH.

(Krishna speaking to Arjuna) They verily who follow this immortal Dharma (doctrine or law) as described above, endowed with faith, regarding Me as their supreme goal, they, the devotees, are exceedingly dear to Me.

HARI OM TAT SAT ITI SRIMAD BHAGAVADGEETAASOOPANISHATSU BRAHMAVIDYAAYAAM YOGASHAASTRE SRI KRISHNAARJUNASAMVAADE BHAKTIYOGO NAAMA DWAADASHO’DHYAAYAH

Thus in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita, the science of the Eternal, the scripture of Yoga, the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, ends the twelfth discourse entitled: “The Yoga of Devotion”.

Love all, because all are the manifestations of the One Self. – Sri Swami Sivananda