Gurugram June 2022 | Preface
Om Namah Sivaya
Blessed Self
Greetings from all staff in the Sivananda Centres and Ashrams.
This month around the globe, most Centres and Ashrams report high anticipation as they plan their participation for the International Yoga Day celebrations on June 21st 2022. Asana demonstrations and symposiums will facilitate in sharing the teachings of yoga.
Our monthly online meditation for a peaceful planet, lands on on Sunday June 5th. We will send our prayers to those who are affected by the conflict in Europe. Let us remember the message of Peace & Unity in Diversity of the True World Order, founded by Swami Vishnudevananda. It is more relevant than ever.
The Sivananda staff are inspired to serve and working hard on their Sadhana to stay tuned with Master and Swamiji’s energy.
We wish you and your family good health, peace of mind and much inspiration in keeping a positive mental state in the midst of the many challenges of life.
Thank you for your continued support of the Sivananda Organization.
With Om and Prem
Acharyas of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres
Join us for Sivananda monthly Meditation for a Peaceful Planet on Sunday June 5th 2022 at 2pm CET. Check our websites for information. https://sivanandaorleans.org/unite-for-a-healthy-planet
Donations: With many of the International Sivananda Yoga Centres and Ashrams teaching online, finances are a concern, so if this is at all possible for you, your financial support would be very gratefully received by contacting any Sivananda Ashram or Centre.
Samadhi is awareness of the one essence. – Sri Swami Sivananda
Upcoming Courses
2022
SIVANANDA YOGA Teachers’ Training Courses are available both Online (TTCOL) and in-person in residence. Please check with each TTC/ATTC location for any TTCOLs.
To view all 2021 TTC/ATTC/SI courses on the Sivananda website: https://sivananda.org/teachers-training/programme-calendar/
See the full list of other international courses and events: https://www.sivananda.org/
A sage is unmoved and unagitated in all conditions and environments and all circumstances, because he abides in his own Satchidananda (Existence-Knowledge-Bliss) and Svarupa (Nature of the Self). – Sri Swami Sivananda
Raja Yoga
From Discourse IV: “Kaivalya Pada – On Realization”
[Introduction to the Fourth Chapter] The final chapter of Patanjali’s Raja Yoga Sutras discusses ‘kaivalya’, liberation or independence. The full-blown yogi develops perfect discrimination, or the ability to distinguish the Real from the unreal. He is no longer addicted by the three gunas of nature, and can distinguish ‘Purusha'(Soul) from ‘Prakriti'(nature).
IV.1. JANMAUSADHI-MANTRA-TAPAH-SAMADHI JAH SIDDHAYAH
‘”Siddhis” are attained as a result of birth, medicinal herbs, Mantras, austerities or “samadhi” (Super-Consciousness)’.
Commentary:
Siddhis that are brought into the present life by birth indicate their attainment in a previous life, but it does not guarantee that the individual is making proper use of them in this life. Those gained through chemical means are not necessarily associated with any level of spirituality at all, and can be easily governed by the ego. Siddhis achieved by Mantra repetition or tapas, austerities, are generally of a very high order as long as they are performed for attaining God-Realization rather than personal or material gain. Powers that come from ‘samadhi’ are the purest, for they come to the aspirant without being desired. It must be remembered that siddhis are not the aim but a by-product of the path to God-Realization.
Sit for meditation. Close your eyes. Close your mind to every impression from the five senses. – Sri Swami Sivananda
Bhagavad Gita Quote
Chapter VI: The Yoga of Meditation
VI.15. YUNJANNEVAM SADAA’TMAANAM YOGEE NIYATAMAANASAH;
SHAANTIM NIRVAANAPARAMAAM MATSAMSTHAAMADHIGACCHATI.
(Krishna speaking to Arjuna)
Thus, always keeping the mind balanced, the Yogi, with the
mind controlled, attains to the peace abiding in Me, which
culminates in liberation.
VI.16. NAATYASHNATASTU YOGO’STI NACHAIKAANTAMANASHNATAH;
NA CHAATISWAPNASHEELASYA JAAGRATO NAIVA CHAARJUNA.
Verily Yoga is not possible for him who eats too much,
nor for him who does not eat at all; nor for him who sleeps
too much, nor for him who is (always) awake, O Arjuna!
Meditation bestows a spiritual poise. It helps the aspirant to face life with strength, joy and liveliness. – Sri Swami Sivananda
Quick Links
Spiritual Calendar
| JUNE 2022
10 Ekadasi JULY 2022 09 Ekadasi In Samadhi all sound is stilled. All clamouring of desire is silenced. There is perfect peace. – Sri Swami Sivananda |
Glossary
RUCHI – Taste; appetite; liking; desire.
DHYANA – Meditation
Dhyana is the seventh limb of the Patanjali Yoga Sutras, the eighth being Samadhi.
There are many methods of practice of concentration which leads to meditation. The purpose of meditation is to understand the real nature of the object of meditation. The mind is the instrument with which we meditate. A certain amount of the study of the nature of activities of the mind is necessary before one takes up to meditation. The existence of the mind can be found only during its activities. The thief can be found out only during the act of thieving, for at all other times he may look like an ordinary person. When the thief comes to know that the police are after him, he restricts his movements. Similarly, if you begin to study the mind, the mental processes or the activities of the mind will be reduced. There are mainly two stages of meditation. They are: (1) Constantly thinking on one object or thought, to the exclusion of all other objects and thoughts; and (2) keeping the mind free of all thoughts.
In the first stage one must concentrate one’s mind on an object, or engage oneself in the repetition of the Mantra into which he is initiated by his preceptor. If one starts repeating the Mantra with concentration on the Mantra, then alone one will come to know the innumerable other thoughts which lie submerged in one’s subconscious and unconscious levels of the mind and which rise to the conscious level and cause disturbance to concentration on the Mantra. When the concentration on one Mantra together with Bhava (feeling of its meaning), is increased through a long and continued practice, the mind reaches the state of meditation.
In the second stage, one should sit in a comfortable posture, close the eyes and relax all the limbs of the body from toes to the crown of the head. The ears being open, external sounds naturally will impinge on them. One should be a witness to these external sounds and also be a witness to the inner thoughts that may arise one after another in endless succession. One should not go after those inner thoughts, nor should one pay any serious attention to the external sounds. By complete relaxation in the sitting posture and by remaining as a witness of the internal and external activities of the mind, the mind will become non-objectified, after continued, unbroken practice for a long period.
In the early stages care should be taken that one does not go to sleep.
Sincerity, earnestness and purity of thought, word and deed, are the important factors for success in the practice of meditation.
Be regular in your meditation. You will reap a rich spiritual harvest. – Sri Swami Sivananda