Gurugram June 2015 | Preface

Blessed Self,
Om Namah Sivaya

Greetings to you all. By the grace of Master and Swamiji, the Sivananda Organization is flourishing with lots of students, plus, a variety of enlightening activities offered in all Ashrams and Centres.

At the Yoga Camp Ashram in Val Morin, Canada, staff is getting ready for a very busy high season. Sadhana Intensive, TTC and ATTC courses have more than usual number of students already registered this year, with a most exciting, not to be missed, varied general program to date. Needless to say, Subramanya/Ayyappa Temple will be very also busy this year. The highlight of Yoga Camp’s Summer of 2015 will be the Teachers’ Refresher course, 6-12th July, run by Swamis Durgananda, Sivadasananda and Ramapriyananda, an excellent course, offered earlier this year in Europe. July’s Kids Camp has overflowing numbers. Yoga Camp’s Family week, commencing 27th July is filling rapidly, as well. As usual we are now working on some improvements at the Yoga Camp Ashram and Headquarters. If you haven’t made summer plans yet, this the time to book your accommodation and be in the strong energy of Swamiji in summer months.

From India, we are glad to inform you that a beautiful and big temple is built for Lord Siva at our Ashram in Netala, North India. You can read the special report in the Netala Report on the International News in this month’s GURUGRAM.

We are all excited about the grand celebration of our beloved Swami Swaroopananda’s 60th birthday celebrations at our Ashram in Bahamas. The 60th birthday is very auspicious in the Vedic Tradition. The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas will be offering a wonderful celebration program, June 2-8th 2015, to make this a special and memorable occasion. Many honored guests and members of the Sivananda community will be joining in the festivities. Among those offering concerts, teachings, and Pujas and bringing light to our gathering will be Swami Atmananda, Swami Medhananda, Master Ou Wen Wei, Krishna Das, G.S. Sachdev, Swapan Chaudhuri, and Atmarama Dasa. Our priest, Krishnan Namboodiri, will be performing the special Puja for this occasion (Sashta Purti) in the morning of June 7th. Srinivasan, Acharya and Director of our East Coast Centres, will join us to celebrate his birthday, which is also on June 7th!

May Master and Swamiji bless us always in our Sadhana and service.

Pranams to all.

Eradicate self-justification. Then alone can you annihilate your ego. – Sri Swami Sivananda

From Discourse II: “Sadhana Pada – On Spiritual Disciplines” II.33. VITARKA-BADHANE-PRATIPAKSA-BHAVANAM “When negative or harmful thoughts disturbs the mind, they can be overcome by constant pondering over their opposites.”

Commentary: The yogi is ever alert, watching his mind. When he sees useless thought waves arising, he immediately replaces them with positive thoughts, thus creating new mental habits that are conducive to spiritual growth.

Draw strength and power from within. Atman is a magazine of infinite power and strength. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Chapter V: The Yoga of Renunciation of Action

V.3. JNEYAH SA NITYASANNYAASI YO NA DWESHTI NA KAANGKSHATI;
NIRDWANDWO HI MAHAABAAHO SUKHAM BANDHAAT PRAMUCHYATE.

(Krishna speaking to Arjuna)
He should be known as a perpetual Sannyasin who neither hates nor desires; for, free from the pairs of opposites, O mighty-armed Arjuna, he is easily set free from bondage!

COMMENTARY: A man does not become a Sannyasin by merely giving up actions due to laziness, ignorance, some family quarrel or calamity or unemployment. A true Sannyasin is one who has neither attachment nor aversion to anything. Physical renunciation of objects is no renunciation at all. What is wanted is the renunciation of egoism and desires.

It is a shameful slur on you if you bear a grudge or ill-will towards anybody. – Sri Swami Sivananda