Gurugram September 2016 | Preface

Blessed Self,
Om Namah Sivaya

Greetings to all.

The Summer of 2016 was extremely busy. We are blessed to have the high energy and pure teachings of Swamiji at the Headquarters. For August, life at the Yoga Camp/Headquarters was very vibrant, with many new courses. Rooms were continually full with lots of guests, participating in the programs, including a Sivananda Teachers Refresher course, with about 50 students. We had many senior Swamis from Europe and United States visiting during August, bringing lots of prana and energy to the Ashram.  At the Subramanya/Ayyappa Temple the number of devotees increased drastically. There were many improvements done to the infrastructure.

Europe is working so hard, as always, and so busy with many programs and possible acquisition of our new Centre in Munich.  Bahamas extended their high season to year long,  as the Ashram is always with full of people, with many guests registering a year or more in advance to secure a space in the courses available.  United States and South Asia Centres, Ashrams, plus, satellite facilities for TTC and ATTC, are also growing at a rapid speed.  Indian Ashrams and Centres saw regular programs well attended. Ashrams there are preparing for their high season, which is coming soon.

We, as staff, feel Swamiji with us, guiding our every move. All we just need to do is our part in treating each guest as God. May Master and Swamiji guide us in our Sadhana and service. Pranams to all.

Meditation is the divine ladder that helps the aspirant to rise to the abode of immortal bliss of Brahman. – Sri Swami Sivananda

From Discourse II: “Sadhana Pada- On Spiritual Disciplines”

II.50. BAHYABHYANTARA-STAMBHA-VRTTIR DESAKALA-SAMKHYABHIH PARIDRSTO DIRGHASUKSMAH.

‘”Pranayama” is inhalation, exhalation or retention of breath; it is regulated by place, time and number, and (becomes progressively) prolonged and subtle’.

Commentary:

Here all the variations in ‘pranayama’ are given, each yielding a different result. With practice, each breath and retention is prolonged and made more silent, and yogi develops more control and contraction.

Bear enmity to none. Do not vex others, and do not be vexed by others. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Chapter III: The Yoga of Action

(Krishna speaking to Arjuna)

III.42. INDRIYAANI PARAANYAAHUR INDRIYEBHYAH PARAM MANAH;
MANASASTU PARAA BUDDHIR YO BUDDHEH PARATASTU SAH

‘They say that the senses are superior (to the body); superior to the senses is the mind; superior to the mind is the intellect; and one who is superior even to the intellect is He-the Self.’

III.43. EVAM BUDDHEH PARAM BUDDHWAA SAMSTABHYAATMAANAM AATMANAA;
JAHI SHATRUM MAHAABAAHO KAAMAROOPAM DURAASADAM

‘Thus, knowing Him who is superior to the intellect and restraining the self by the Self, slay thou, O mighty-armed Arjuna, the enemy in the form of desire, hard to conquer!’

COMMENTARY: Restrain the lower self by the higher Self. Subdue the lower mind by the higher mind. It is difficult to conquer desire because it is of a highly complex and incomprehensible nature. But a man of discrimination and dispassion, who does constant and intense Sadhana, can conquer it quite easily.

HARI OM TAT SAT
ITI SRIMAD BHAGAVADGEETAASOOPANISHATSU
BRAHMAVIDYAAYAAM YOGASHAASTRE SRI KRISHNAARJUNASAMVAADE
KARMAYOGO NAAMA TRITIYO’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 third discourse entitled: “The Yoga of Action”.

Youth is a state of the mind. It is not of time or period of life. Utilize well all opportunities. You can make your life sublime. – Sri Swami Sivananda