Gurugram November 2022 | Preface
Om Namah Sivaya
Blessed Self
Greetings from all staff in the Sivananda Centres and Ashrams.
This past month of October brought the magical colours of the Indian summer at the yoga Camp in Canada and in most of the northern hemisphere.
The last part of the Navaratri celebration culminated with the Viyaya Dasami Puja in which staff presented their books and work tools for blessing. The yoga Camp also had the visit of two schools, bringing much life and energy to the Ashram.
Divali was celebrated in the Centres and Ashrams with many lights, pujas to Goddess Lakshmi, bringing together students and old friends of the Ashrams together in a spirit of joy.
Both the Vietnam and California ashrams were very busy this month conducting the Sivananda Yoga Health Education Training serving a total of 50 students onsite and online across continents.
The All saints weekend are well attended, with students commenting how happy they are to recharge in the positive atmosphere of the Ashrams.
We have recently inaugurated our new dining hall and kitchen at the Ashram in Orleans, it is a blessing to have this bright and modern space after 20 years of struggling with a small kitchen and no dedicated place to eat. We also installed solar panels on one of the buildings, helping to become a bit more independent with our energy consumption, a very important step with the current energy crisis in Europe.
May the blessings of the Divine Mother be with us all.
With Om and Prem
Swami Kailasananda for the Acharyas of the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres and Ashrams
To view all 2022-2023 TTC/ATTC/SI courses on the Sivananda website: https://sivananda.org/teachers-training/programme-calendar/
Join us for the monthly Sivananda “Meditation for a Peaceful Planet” on Sunday December 4th 2022 at 2pm CET. Check our website for information. https://sivanandaorleans.org/unite-for-a-healthy-planet
Donations: Your donations and financial support would be very gratefully received by any of the International Sivananda Yoga Centres and Ashrams. Please contact any Sivananda Ashram or Centre on how to proceed.
Ahimsa is positive, cosmic love. Ahimsa is Sakti. Ahimsa is true strength. Behold thyself in all. This is the vision of unity. – Sri Swami Sivananda. – Sri Swami Sivananda
Upcoming Courses
2022 Update
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.
Please check with each TTC/ATTC location whether COVID-19 has affected your selected course.
The SIVANANDA YOGA Teachers’ Training Courses are available either online (TTCOL) or in residence, depending on the location. Please check with each TTC/ATTC location whether your selected Teacher Training Course is available online or in residence as some Ashrams have opened, while others remain closed. Thank you for your patience as schedules change during COVID.
To view all 2022-2023 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/
Philosophy deals with Humanity, God, Brahman and Universe. Philosophy signifies love of wisdom. – Sri Swami Sivananda
Raja Yoga
From Discourse IV: “Kaivalya Pada – On Realisation”
IV.2 jāty-antara-pariṇāmaḥ prakṛty-āpūrāt
All evolutionary transformations are due to the fulfilling of Nature’s tendencies.
Commentary:
All powers come in direct correlation with the evolution of the individual toward perfection through his many incarnations. Any attempt to force their manifestation will stunt spiritual growth. It is man’s purpose to achieve Union with the Divine. This is a natural progression which can be aided through self-discipline and self-inquiry.
Sadhana is catching hold of one ideal and sticking to it at all costs, even at the risk of life. – Sri Swami Sivananda
Bhagavad Gita Quote
Chapter VI: The Yoga of Meditation
VI.17 yuktāhāra-vihārasya yukta-cheṣhṭasya karmasu;
yukta-svapnāvabodhasya yogo bhavati duḥkha-hā.
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.
Commentary:
The Yogic student is here advised to adopt the middle course. Lord Buddha went to extremes in the beginning in matters of food and drink. He was very abstemious and became extremely weak. He tortured his body very much. In this state he was not able to attain success in Yoga.
Too much of austerity is not necessary for Self-realisation. This is condemned by the Lord in XVII.5-6. Austerity should not mean self-torture. It then becomes diabolical. The Buddhi Yoga of Krishna is a wise approach to austerity.
Some aspirants take asceticism as the goal. It is only a means but not the end. The nervous system is extremely sensitive. It responds even to very slight changes and causes distraction of the mind. It is therefore necessary that the aspirant should lead a very regulated and disciplined life and be moderate in food, sleep and physical activities.
Take food in a measured quantity. Sleep and wake up at the prescribed time. Go to sleep at 9 or 10 pm and wake up at 3 or 4 am. Only then will you attain success in Yoga, which kills all sorts of pains and sorrows of life.
Life on earth is a school for wisdom and realisation of the Self or Atman. – Sri Swami Sivananda
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Spiritual Calendar
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NOVEMBER 2022
03 Ekadasi DECEMBER 2022 03 Ekadasi; Gita Jayanti A true unity of heart is the real remedy for the diseases of separatism, hatred, hostility and a great deal of misunderstanding among individuals. – Sri Swami Sivananda |
Glossary
GITA JAYANTI
Gita Jayanti, or the birthday of the Bhagavad Gita , is celebrated by all the admirers and lovers of this most sacred scripture on the eleventh day (Ekadashi) of the bright half of the month of Margaseersha (December-January), according to the Hindu almanac. It was on this day that Sanjaya narrated to King Dhritarashtra the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, and thus made the glorious teachings of the Lord available to us, and to people of the world, for all time.
The Gita is the most beautiful and the only truly philosophical song. It contains sublime lessons on wisdom and philosophy. It is the “Song Celestial”. It is the universal gospel. It contains the message of life that appeals to all, irrespective of race, creed, age or religion.
The Gita is a source of power and wisdom. It strengthens you when you are weak, and inspires you when you feel dejected and feeble. It teaches you to embrace righteousness and to resist unrighteousness.
The Gita is not merely a book or just a scripture. It is a living voice carrying an eternally indispensable and vital message to mankind. Its verses embody words of wisdom coming from the infinite ocean of knowledge, the Absolute Itself.
The voice of the Gita is the call of the Supreme. It is the divine sound explained. The primal source of all existence, all power, is the manifested sound–Om. This is the Divine Word. It is Nada Brahman, whose unceasing call is: “Be ye all ever merged in the eternal, unbroken, continuous consciousness of the Supreme Truth.” This is the sublime message that the Gita elaborates and presents in all comprehensiveness and in a universally acceptable form.
The Gita may be summarised in the following seven verses:
1. “Uttering the one-syllabled Om, the Brahman, and remembering Me, he who departs, leaving the body thus, attains the Supreme Goal”.
2. “It is meet, O Lord, that the world delights and rejoices in Thy praise; the demons fly in fear to all quarters, and all the hosts of Siddhas bow to Thee!”
3. “With hands and feet everywhere, with eyes, heads and mouths everywhere, with ears everywhere, He exists in the world, enveloping all”.
4. “Whosoever meditates on the omniscient, ancient ruler of the whole world, minuter than an atom, the supporter of all, of form inconceivable, effulgent like the sun, such a one goeth beyond the darkness of ignorance”.
5. “They, the wise, speak of the indestructible Asvattha, having its roots above and branches below, whose leaves are the metres or hymns; he who knows it is a knower of the Vedas”.
6. “And I am seated in the hearts of all; from Me are memory and knowledge, as well as their absence. I am verily that which has to be known by all the Vedas; I am indeed the author of Vedanta, and the knower of the Vedas am I”.
7. “Fix thy mind on Me; be devoted to Me; sacrifice to Me; bow down to Me; having thus united thy whole Self with Me, taking Me as the Supreme Lord, thou shalt verily come to Me”.
Glory to Lord Krishna, the Divine Teacher! Glory to Sri Vyasa, the poet of poets, who composed the Gita! May his blessings be upon you all!
From Hindu Fasts and Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda