Gurugram March 2015 | Preface
Blessed Self,
Om Namah Sivaya, Blessed Selves,
We are coming to you this month with a very good news. The Sivananda Organization has enthusiastically decided to participate wholeheartedly in this year’s International Yoga Day on June 21st. At the moment Europe is in full swing with pre-arrangements of demonstration and yoga activities in their respective cities. One highlight will be the Cruise Boat Float in London, with all European Acharyas present. An event not to be missed, so stay tuned. In Canada and India we are organizing similar programs and would not want to give out as more will be revealed closer to the date. Other arms of the Organization will band everyone together to bring out Swamiji’s teachings on that day. Please contact your nearest Centre to see what they are organizing.
India & South America are currently very busy with their high season and so is Nassau. An abundance of Europeans are travelling to Rudraprayag, North India, for courses offered there this time of year.
After a 7-month hiatus and 30 years at the previous location, the selfless efforts of many karma yogis and supporters have assisted the opening of the doors of a new San Francisco Centre in a new building owned by SYVC. It is more or less in the same neighborhood of the old SF Centre, not too far from the ocean and park, with a large Yoga Hall to continue Swamiji’s mission and vision of Peace. We are so fortunate to have your continued support in spreading Swamiji’s teachings.
Pranams to all.
The Karma of the individual determines the form or shape of the experience that is to be had in this world. It is not the Atman, nor the body, that has any type of relative experience. It is the mind that has all this. – Sri Swami Sivananda
Upcoming Courses
| 2015
Mar 01 – Mar 28/15 Mar 01 – Mar 29/15 Mar 10 – Apr 06/15 Mar 22 – Apr 19/15 Mar 29 – Apr 26/15 Apr 05 – May 03/15 Apr 09 – May 06/15 Apr 09 – May 06/15 Apr 26 – May 25/15 May 02 – May 30/15 May 09 – Jun 05/15 May 02 – May 17/15 |
May 09 – Jun 07/15 ATTC – English, Deutsch Reith, Tyrol, Austria www.sivananda.org/tyrol/enMay 10 – Jun 07/15 TTC – English Netala, Uttar Kashi, North India www.sivananda.org/UttarkashiMay 18 – Jun 15/15 TTC – Français Orleans, France www.sivananda.org/orleans May 31 – Jun 28/15 Jun 14- Jun 28/15 Jun 02 – Jun 30/15 Jun 14 – Jul 12/15 Jun 28 – Jul 25/15 Jul 03 – Jul 31/15 Jul 03 – Jul 31/15 Jul 05 – Aug 02/15 See full list of international courses and events: Nirguna is not nothingness. It is the fullness of everything that is good. From a distance this fullness becomes inconceivable and so the sages called it Nirguna. – Sri Swami Sivananda |
Raja Yoga
From CHAPTER II: “Sadhana Pada – On Spiritual Disciplines” [Introduction to Second Chapter] Patanjali’s second chapter sets forth the practice of Yoga, or ‘sadhana’. It discusses Kriya Yoga, Which is purification through discipline, study, and self-surrender. It enumerates the five main afflictions, or causes for human suffering, and the methods for eliminating them. Finally, it discusses the first five limbs of Raja Yoga-‘yama’, ‘niyama’, ‘asana’, ‘pranayama’, and ‘pratyahara’- the foundations for the meditation.
II.1. TAPAH-SVADHYAYESVARA-PRANIDHANANI KRIYA-YOGAH.
‘Austerity, self-study, and surrender to God constitute Kriya Yoga’.
Commentary by Swami Sivananda:
Austerity does not mean physical abuse or serve rigors. It refers to strict control of the senses in order to conserve energy for higher pursuits. Austerity in this means fasting occasionally, rising early to meditate instead of sleeping late, and reducing certain physical comforts for the sake of greater control of mind. Study of scriptures and other spirituals works keeps the mind flowing in the desired direction. In surrendering to God’s will one also surrenders the fruit of work performed. This leads to Karma Yoga, the path of selfless service, in which one regards oneself as the instrument of God, and serves humanity with no thought of either credit or blame.
If anyone injures you, forgive him and forget the injury done by him. You will gain immense spiritual strength. – Sri Swami Sivananda
Bhagavad Gita Quote
Chapter VI: The Yoga of Meditation
VI.17. YUKTAAHAARAVIHAARASYA YUKTACHESHTASYA KARMASU;
YUKTASWAPNAAVABODHASYA YOGO BHAVATI DUHKHAHAA.
(Krishna speaking to Arjuna)
Yoga becomes the destroyer of pain for him who is always moderate in eating and recreation (such as walking, etc.), who is moderate in exertion in actions, who is moderate in sleep and wakefulness.
VI.18. YADAA VINIYATAM CHITTAMAATMANYEVAAVATISHTHATE;
NIHSPRIHAH SARVAKAAMEBHYO YUKTA ITYUCHYATE TADAA.
When the perfectly controlled mind rests in the Self only, free from longing for the objects of desire, then it is said: “He is united.”
COMMENTARY: Without union with the Self neither harmony nor balance nor Samadhi is possible.
In Nirguna Brahman, there are no Gunas of Maya. – Sri Swami Sivananda
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Spiritual Calendar
| March 2015
01 Ekadasi April 2015 04 Full Moon |
Glossary
AKASHVANI: vani – sound; Kash – celestial. An announcement from the celestial realm; sounds or message coming from the sky.
NIRGUNA:
In a chapter of Brahma-Sutras which deals with the nature of qualities of Brahman, it mentions positive attributes like ‘joyful,’ ‘intelligent,’ etc., as well as negative attributes like ‘measureless,’ ‘colourless,’ etc. Both kinds of attributes are referred to the absolute and yet the contemplation of such a Brahman can be called Nirguna-Upasana or meditation on condition-less Brahman. The chief distinction between the contemplation of the conditioned (Saguna) and unconditioned (Nirguna) Brahman is that in the former the devotee looks upon it as really connected with those attributes, while in the latter, positive and negative qualities are not viewed as essentially connected with it, but as suggesting its absolute nature. Hence, joyful etc., do not enter into the essence of the contemplated Brahman but act as a gateway for grasping its true nature. In the contemplation of the conditioned Brahman, those and similar other properties form a part of the contemplation.
The term Nirguna does not mean that Brahman is a negative concept, the Brahman is a non-entity or zero. It means that the qualities found here in limitation, are found illimitable in Brahman. It means that the attributes are Brahman’s essential nature or His Svarupa. It means that Brahman does not possess perishable qualities of matter like the blue colour of a cloth but possesses all auspicious qualities (Sarva-Kalyana-Gunas). Brahman is Nirguna-Guni.
The appearance of the world vanishes in the Reality of God. – Sri Swami Sivananda
Complete glossary can be found at: