Journey Into Your Own Heart
published on Fri. Jul. 4th, '08 by LalitaFirst of all it blows my mind that there is a spiritual path. And then it blows my mind even more that I might even be on it. That my life is really a journey into my own heart. Krishna Das
The Way to Happiness Can Be Counter-intuitive
published on Fri. Jun. 13th, '08 by Swami AtmaHe who, casting aside the ordinances of the scriptures, acts under the impulse of desire, attains neither perfection nor happiness nor the supreme goal. Lord Krishna
Bhagavad Gita - XVI.23
How to Become Powerful & Peaceful
published on Thu. Jun. 12th, '08 by Swami AtmaThe moment you turn your mind Godward, you will gain immense strength and peace. Swami Sivananda
Famous Vegetarians
published on Thu. Jun. 12th, '08 by Swami AtmaI feel ambiguous about this because I haven't checked whether this list is accurate but here it goes.
- The list includes
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Henry David Thoreau
- Martin Luther
- Vincent Van Gogh
- Carl Lewis and many, many more
Karma Yoga Baby
published on Thu. Jun. 12th, '08 by Swami AtmaYou've got to train them young ;-)
A bit the ideal of karma yoga. Combining fun and useful work without the feeling of agency.
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Psychological & Spiritual Health
published on Wed. Jun. 11th, '08 by Swami AtmaIt is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. Krishnamurti
In other words play the game of life in your own terms. Too many people waste their life trying to fit in and just follow the masses and the system.
The system is just there to take your money, not for your own good.
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Christianity & Atheism
published on Wed. Jun. 11th, '08 by Swami Atma
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Flexible Little Yogini
published on Sat. Jun. 7th, '08 by Swami AtmaHere is a yoga link that all will enjoy. Very spectacular demonstration by a young yogini.
Thanks to Bhagavati for submitting it.
Apples and Vedanta
published on Wed. Jun. 4th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaIn the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Swami Muktibhodhananda, gives a unique explanation of how to think of the jiva, or individual soul, in relation to the whole, or Brahman.
A single apple represents the whole tree from which it came. Just because you cannot see the tree when you look at the apple does not prove the tree does not exist. On the other hand, as the tree grows, the apple appears and then falls and dissolves back into the earth from whence it has sprung. We could say there was no individual existence of apple but only the tree's growth and development are real. It is like that with the coming and going of souls. Just as the potential of the tree and the apple expands and contracts, so does the entire universe of individual names, forms and beings within it. Swami Muktibodhananda
Smiling In The Rain
published on Mon. May. 26th, '08 by LalitaToday I took the bike to my university and on my way back it started to rain - just very lightly, so I didn't care. But then it got more and I started to get this "Oh no, I'm getting all wet"-feeling.
This was the moment the drops started to become thicker and suddenly I heard a small splashing noise when they hit my forehead. I cannot remember that I consciously heard this anytime before and found this small sound so amazing that I started to smile. And I was hoping it would continue to rain so that I can hear this small splashing noise and feel it on my forehead a little bit longer. And I continued my way home smiling and thanking the rain for this experience.
Seven Blunders of the World According to Gandhi
published on Wed. May. 21st, '08 by Swami AtmaMahatma Gandhi
- Wealth without work
- Pleasure without conscience
- Knowledge without character
- Commerce without morality
- Science without humanity
- Worship without sacrifice
- Politics without principle
This list is very thoughtful. The work of an original thinker.
Quote on War
published on Wed. May. 21st, '08 by Swami AtmaYou can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake. Jeannette Rankin
Comparing the Paths of Action & Renunciation
published on Tue. May. 20th, '08 by Swami AtmaChildren, not the wise, speak of knowledge and the Yoga of action or the performance of action as though they are distinct and different; he who is truly established in one obtains the fruits of both. Bhagavad Gita V. 4
Sri Krishna
On this Day the Adventure Began
published on Thu. May. 15th, '08 by Swami AtmaToday marks the 20th anniversary of my leaving France to become a full-time staff member in the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers.
My original commitment was for one to two years but it soon became obvious that I'd stay much longer than that. I ended up staying over 12 years. Twelve years of intense training in the different aspects of yoga, especially karma yoga.
I still see myself in the plane from Paris to Montreal. I did not speak a word of English. I had taken TTC the year before. I was as enthusiastic a yoga student as you can be and was very aware that I needed to learn much. Heartfelt thanks to all swamis and senior staff members who taught me so much.
I'm so happy I got to do this. No regrets whatsoever. Would do it again in a moment. I'm still as far to the goal as I was then though. So much work remains to be done.
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How to Become Happy & Peaceful
published on Sat. May. 10th, '08 by Swami AtmaWish good to all beings. This will enrich your life and make you happy and peaceful. Swami Sivananda
Growing Your Willpower
published on Sat. Apr. 26th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaUnruffled state of the mind, poise, cheerfulness, inner strength, capacity to turn out difficult works, success in all undertakings, power to influence people, a magnetic and dynamic personality, magnetic aura on the face, sparkling eyes, steady gaze, powerful voice, a magnanimous gait, unyielding nature, fearlessness, etc., are some of the signs or symptoms that indicate one's 'will' is growing.
The source of all life, the source of all knowledge, is Atman, your innermost Self. This Atman or supreme Soul is transcendent, inexpressible, uninferable, indescribable, the ever-peaceful, all-blissful. It is Omnipotent; the more you reflect upon its infinite Strength, and the more you are conscious of this inner Power of the Infinite in you, the greater is your will-power. Swami Sivananda
Swami Vishnu-devananda
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Get Rid of the Ego
published on Thu. Apr. 24th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaAs long as there are thought impressions and tendencies, there will be more reincarnation. The tendency of the ego itself must be broken down, for it, too, is illusion. Maya projects qualities onto the individual, and he thinks that he is tall, fat, man, woman, talented or dull. When all such ideas, good as well as evil, have been overcome, the soul stands alone. Swami Vishnu-devananda
Swami Vishnu-devananda
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Vedanta and the Ultimate Reality
published on Mon. Apr. 21st, '08 by Sita Chaitanya
For you there is no birth or death,
for you there is no mind,
for you there is no bondage or liberation,
no good or evil.
Why do you weep, my child?
Neither you nor I have name and form. Dattatreya,
Avadhuta Gita
... and Happy Birthday, Swami Atma, 4-22-08.
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Worship with Flowers
published on Sun. Apr. 13th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaOfferings to God need not necessarily be rich and costly things. What did the lord of elephants (Gajendra) offer? Only a flower from the tank. Draupadi offered a vegetable leaf and Sabari some wild plums. But the Lord was pleased. It is the feeling of love for God that God takes into account and not the material that is offered. He is pleased even with leaves and mere water. Swami Sivananda
Swami Vishnu-devananda
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Quote on God plus Photo
published on Sat. Apr. 5th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaWho is God? What is God?
Is there a God? Where is God?
How to realise God?
Man wants an answer to these eternal questions,
Certainly there is God.
God exists; He is the only Reality.
God is your Creator, Saviour and Redeemer.
He is all-pervading, He dwells in your heart,
He is always near you.
He is nearer to you than your jugular vein or nose.
He loves you; He can talk to you.
You cannot find God by the intellect,
But by feeling, meditation, experience and realisation. Swami Sivananda
Swami Vishnu-devananda
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Life in God
published on Wed. Mar. 26th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaLife in God is free from sorrow and pain. It is full, rich, perfect and independent. It is full of wisdom and eternal bliss. Live in God, in the inner Divine Being. Swami Sivananda
Swami Vishnu and His Peace Plane
published on Mon. Mar. 24th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaAs I was editing some photos of our guru Swami Vishnu-devananda, I found this rather fun photograph which I really liked. It shows Swami Vishnu doing a headstand on the wing of his Peace Plane which he flew to many countries in the 70's distributing flowers and leaflets to promote world peace.
Swami Vishnu's teaching was that world peace could only happen when people first found peace within themselves. While the above photo is in fun, his mission was quite serious and important. In spite of all the continuing problems in the world today, we can be thankful that Swami Vishnu's peace mission lives on in the hearts of all the students who have taken his yoga teacher's training program.
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The Energy Made Me Do It
published on Mon. Mar. 24th, '08 by Swami AtmaThe Gist for Busy & Impatient Yogis
In the vedic path and religion in general great emphasis is put on being good in thought, speech and action, oftentimes leading to guilt and split of personality - a split between one's aspirations and one's day to day nature.
Tantra says: forget about morality, do lots of yoga with the right attitude and that will lead to being a more moral and ethical person. We say here: practice on both fronts.
You Are Not a Bad Person
This essay aims at exploring the relationship of the moral and ethical precepts of yoga (yamas and niyamas) with the theory of tantra. Obviously the title of this page is a play on the famous saying ...
The devil made me do it.
This playful remark is often dismissed as a poor excuse for one's defects but it may hold the key to successful self-transformation and a better understanding of oneself.
Invoking the devil, an outside entity, is an easy cop-out to personal responsibility, however, why do so many new year's resolutions not last until January 15th? Many of us can relate to making conscious resolves to perform or not perform a given action and soon after not keeping up to that resolve, defeated, as it were, by an outside force.
The recurring theme of Advaita Vedanta is that our true Self is pure consciousness and taking the physical body and mind for the Self is a pure case of mistaken identity. This spiritual truth, just like many scientific facts, is counter intuitive but it is very useful as it leads to the realization that some parts of our own minds are independent of us and function on their own volition.
In the excellent book 'Yoga Nidra' Swami Satyananda tells of teaching deep relaxation to jail inmates. After only a few one-a-week sessions a substantial drop in fights and violent behavior was observed.
Somebody who acts in an over aggressive manner will often be met by a "what's his problem anyway?" reaction. This expression intuits that inner tensions and unease will lead to psychotic actions and that a well adjusted being won't indulge in such conduct. Managing stress and tensions through deep relaxation is a subject worth exploring on its own and is a major factor to the topic at hand but I want to focus here on the energetic side of the equation. This leads to the tantric view on spirituality.
What's Tantra Again?
Because of the general misconception it's always better to start with saying what tantra is not. Tantra is not primarily about sex and how to get a better sex life.
Tantra is a very ancient Indian spiritual tradition which is primarily concerned with the power aspect of the Divine. Consciousness (Shiva) is the static, male aspect of divinity and power (Shakti) is its dynamic, female counterpart.
This shakti is expressed as different Goddesses when thought of as outside ourselves and as the Kundalini Shakti when looked at within.
Tantra is a very practical way of spirituality. To oversimplify you could say that it's all about harnessing, awakening, and controlling prana and shakti .
Morality According to the Tantric & Vedic Traditions
Vedic Scriptures & Most Religions
Religious traditions lay out moral and ethical guidelines which usually manifest into hard rules and edicts. For example among the yamas is ahimsa which is the universal principle of non-violence. An application of this principle is the commandment 'Thou shalt not kill'.
Very good. Most agree that killing somebody is bad. In practice things get a lot more complicated but that will be the subject of a different essay.
Similarly we are taught not to steal, and this for obvious reasons. Now imagine that I have the samskara (deeply engrained habit) of stealing things from folks and stores - which I don't by the way ;-) .
Wanting to be a good yogi or Christian I try with all my might to not indulge in this bad habit but again and again I end up committing theft. This will create a strong feeling of guilt as well as shame if uncovered.
Now all of a sudden the non-stealing precept is creating a lot of inner tensions and may end up working against my spiritual evolution. At the very least it's not very helpful and at worst it's physically, psychologically, and spiritually damaging.
Please note that to be fruitful yoga sadhana needs to have a strong emphasis on purification, not just awakening, and that the lofty spiritual aim of life should be entertained in the mind throughout the whole practice in order to bear fruit. Otherwise the practice could lead to strengthening of lower desires and attachments leading to unrighteous character and behavior.
So what is one to do?
Morality in Tantra
Here the emphasis is to do much practice and invest little time and energy on the theory and philosophy although there are of course very sophisticated theoretical and philosophical tantric systems. Also one should be aware of the moral and ethical teachings but doesn't need to actively live up to them.
The idea is to awaken the inner powers and to channel all energies and forces upward and toward the higher chakras, thus freeing the mind from lower desires and tendencies. This will help loosen up attachment to old actions and habits and increase the practitioner's free will thereby leading to a more righteous behavior, in line with the yamas and niyamas.
So what's better, Vedanta or Tantra?
The Solution
All religious traditions tend to include practices which help sublimate lower energies in order to enable one to reach the spiritual heights extolled and exemplified by their prophets and mystics. This article contends that if you had to choose, just practicing tantric methods such as hatha yoga will be preferable but it's best to combine both approaches with, for most people, an emphasis on tantra.
This is the approach taken in our tradition of Sivananda Yoga.
Advaita Vedanta with Tantra
In the Sivananda tradition we use advaita vedanta as the guiding light to our spiritual life but we use yogic and tantric practices such as yoga asanas, pranayama, mantras, etc. to purify, awaken, and sublimate prana and shakti.
Many yogis have integrated these concepts into their spiritual life but not always being consciously aware of this process, hence this article.
Balance of Mind
published on Sun. Mar. 23rd, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaKeeping up the balance of mind in pleasure and pain, heat and cold, gain and loss, success and failure, praise and censure, respect and disrespect is wisdom. This practice is a trying discipline indeed, but it gives inner spiritual strength. He who is able to keep a balance of mind at all times, in all conditions, even under extreme provacation, is a mighty potentate on earth. He must be adored. He is a most wealthy man, though he is clad in rags, though he has nothing to eat. Swami Sivananda
Face All Obstacles
published on Thu. Mar. 20th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaA beehive is all quiet; when you disturb it with a stick, bah! swarms of bees start chasing you. Our inside also is like that, all the evils are there; but so long as they are not attacked by the rod of Sadhana they do not seem to bother us. But once they sense the impending danger, they start harassing you with all their might. Be bold and face all obstacles. Swami Sivananda
Where to Find Peace
published on Tue. Mar. 18th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaPeace is within. Search for peace within the chambers of your own heart, through one-pointed concentration and meditation. If you do not find peace there, you will not find it anywhere else. Swami Sivananda
Dive into the Heart
published on Mon. Mar. 17th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaThere is happiness when agreeable things are presented to the mind. It is the happiness inherent to the Self, and there is no other happiness. And it is not alien and afar. You are diving into the Self on those occasions which you consider pleasurable; that diving results in self-existent bliss. But the association of ideas is responsible for foisting that bliss on other things or occurrences while, in fact, that bliss is within you. On these occasions you are plunging into the Self, though unconsciously. If you do so consciously, with the conviction that comes of the experience that you are identical with the happiness which is verily the Self, the one Reality, you call it Realization. I want you to dive consciously into the Self, i.e., into the Heart. Sri Ramana Maharshi
Man is God
published on Sun. Mar. 16th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaMan is God in disguise who puts on a garb in fun, but quickly forgets his true identity. Desire drags him down. Discrimination lifts him up. God became man. Man will become God again. Swami Sivananda
Become Divine
published on Sat. Mar. 15th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaTake the fullest advantage of this human birth. Have a real, inner, divine life. May divine grace illumine your spiritual path. May the divine power actuate you to perform great deeds. May the divine grace transform you into divinity. Swami Sivananda
Sivananda Yoga
published on Wed. Mar. 12th, '08 by Swami AtmaThere are Different Yogas?!?
Oh yeah! Many different yogas exist. To avoid any confusion it's best to define what we mean by yogas. Yoga means union and refers to a mystical state where one is experiencing perfect merging of the individual consciousness (Jivaatman) with the Cosmic Consciousness (Paramatman). It defines the goal of spirituality. But yoga also refers to any technique bringing the practitioner to that goal.
Yogas as Paths
God is one but names are many. Truth is one but paths are many. Swami Vishnu-devananda
Truthfully there are at least thousands of such yoga techniques. They can be practiced individually or in combination. These yogas have been classified into four paths or margas. Some examples of these yogas are dhyana yoga (meditation), hatha yoga (physical and energetic path through postures, breathing, etc.), karma yoga (yoga of action), and japa yoga (repetition o a mantra)
Yogas as Traditions or Schools
The tradition of yoga is at least several thousand years old and has been transmitted through the millenia via the system of direct transmission from a guru (teacher and master) to a student. The succession of a given line of teacher to student to student is called a Guruparampara. Throughout India countless such lineages exist, all presenting a different mix of practices, theoretical teachings and philosophies.
Since the 20th century the world has associated the word yoga with the wonderful practice called hatha yoga. Different systems have evolved into different traditions and for the sake of simplicity they have been labeled as Iyengar yoga, ashtanga yoga, Sivananda yoga, etc.
So What is Sivananda Yoga Then?
It refers to yoga as taught by the great Master Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh. Sivananda yoga is somewhat of a misnomer because Swami Sivananda never intended to create a new brand of yoga and because he did not invent anything new.
He was an incredible Master resulting in a great number of followers from all around the world but also, and this is very unusual, a few dozens of his close disciples became advanced masters and gurus themselves. Many of them are listed in the dedication page of the excellent book 'Meditation & Mantras' by Swami Vishnu-devananda. These Yogis went all around the world spreading the teachings.
Sivananda Yoga as Hatha Yoga
When most folks talk about Sivananda Yoga they mean the typical yoga class involving 12 basic postures, two breathing exercises, and a deep final relaxation. The 12-posture sequence is also called the Rishikesh series as it originates in the region of that little town in the foothills of the Himalayas.
- Characteristics of Sivananda yoga also include:
- Mantra/prayers at beginning and end of yoga classes
- Longer holding of postures
- Pranayamas at the beginning or end of class
- An overall awareness and focus on breathing and the pranic dimensions of the practice
Sivananda Yoga as an Integral Path
Swami Sivananda was at once an orthodox and a revolutionary. His bold contributions - bold in those days, things we take for granted by now - include opening up yoga to the whole world by making English the official language in his ashram and in the writing of his 200+ books. He also liberally taught and initiated students of all castes, countries, and creeds - men and women alike.
If you could summarize his teachings and influence in a few words, they would be 'the revival of the yoga of synthesis'. Most paths and lineages tend to specialize in a limited number of practices belonging to one or two of the four paths. His genius was to recognize that all aspirants can benefit from a well-rounded daily sadhana containing jnana, bhakti, raja, and karma yoga while putting the most time and energy in their discipline of predilection.
Sivananda Yoga as an Organization
To make matters a tad more complicated Swami Vishu-devananda, out of devotion and respect to his Gurudev, named the organization that he setup in the 1960's "Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers" (SYVC). This has been one of the most visible groups representing the great Master. To anyone belonging to this group in any capacity 'Sivananda' or 'Sivananda Yoga' became synonymous with SYVC to the point that SYVC owns the copyright for the term!
Here I feel the need to mention a few Sivananda influenced groups which are also very significant.
First of all and most important is the Divine Life Society which is headquartered in Rishikesh. Swami Sivananda founded this group which has branches worldwide. Their web site offers free downloads of many of the books by Swami Sivananda in pdf or html formats. Other organizations include:
- Integral Yoga Institute founded by Swami Satchidananda
- Advaita Yoga Ashrama, owner of this web site and which is an offshoot of SYVC
- Yoga Vidya, extremely dynamic group based in Germany and founded by my beloved teacher Sukadev. These days I do a lot of my teaching there.
- Bihar School of Yoga founded by Swami Satyananda and run by Swami Niranjananda. Special mention to their books and publications. Outstanding in every way. To get you started feel free to try Yoga Nidra and Kundalini Tantra
- Keep in mind there are many, many more ...
Conclusion
I hope this short essay brought clarity to the subject and that it will contribute to the most important thing as far as your spiritual progress is concerned ...
An ounce of practice is worth tons of theory. Swami Sivananda
On Resting in the Self
published on Sun. Mar. 9th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaThe enlightened one is a yogi devoid of yoga and absence of yoga. He is an enjoyer, devoid of enjoyment and absence of enjoyment.
Thus he wanders leisurely, filled with the spontaneous joy of his own mind. Sri Dattatreya
Avadhuta Gita
Explanation below is from the "Avadhuta Gita of Dattatreya" with commentary by Swami Ashokananda, Sri Ramakrishna Math:
Yoga - practice of concentration. The yogi who is enlightened has gone beyond the need for it.
Absence, etc. - because he is in the state of eternal yoga, or Self-realization.
Enjoyment, etc. - enjoyment of relative life. Absence of such enjoyment would imply self-restraint and self-abnegation. The enlightened one is beyond both.
Sadhana to Eliminate Negative Thinking
published on Sat. Mar. 8th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaWhen an evil thought harasses the mind, the best method of conquering it is by ignoring it. How can we ignore an evil thought? By forgetting it. How can we forget? By not indulging in it again, and also by not brooding over it. How can we prevent the mind from indulging in it again or brooding over it? By thinking of something very interesting, something sublime and inspiring. Ignoring, Forgetting, Thinking, of something inspiring, - these three constitute the great Sadhana for establishing mastery over evil thoughts. Swami Sivananda
On Positive Thinking
published on Fri. Mar. 7th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaBrooding over impure thoughts adds to their evil force. Do not become prey to these haunting dangerous thoughts. Entertain counter-thoughts: good sublime thoughts of God and His Divine Glory. By Japa, fasting, charity and selfless service, you can easily destroy the impurities of the complex mind. The evil thoughts, for lack of attention and by the pressure of good thoughts, will die a natural death. Swami Sivananda
On Being a Wise Aspirant
published on Thu. Mar. 6th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaVigilant among the careless, awake among the sleepers, restrained among the indulgent, reflective among the thoughtless, the wise aspirant boldly marches forward, reaches the goal now and here and attains Immortality and Eternal Bliss. Swami Sivananda
On Yoga and the Mind
published on Wed. Mar. 5th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaCareful reflection will show that the entire universe is in reality the projection of the human mind Manomatram Jagat. Purification and control of the mind is the central aim of all Yoga. Mind in itself is but a record of impressions that keep expressing themselves ceaselessly as impulses and thoughts. The mind is what it does. Thought impels you to action; activity creates fresh impressions in the mind-stuff. Yoga strikes at the very root of this vicious circle by a method of effectively inhibiting the functions of the mind. Yoga checks, controls, and stops the root function of the mind, i.e., thought. When thought is transcended, intuition functions and Self-knowledge supervenes. Swami Sivananda
Poem by Swami Sivananda
published on Tue. Mar. 4th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaIn me the universe has its origin,
In me the whole world subsists,
In me it is lost; this Brahman,
The Timeless, it is I myself,
Sivoham! Sivoham! Sivoham! Sivoham!
In me exist Brahman, Vishnu and Siva,
In me revolve the sun, moon and the stars,
In me flow the sacred Ganges and Jumna;
This Brahman, the spaceless, it is I myself,
Sivoham! Sivoham! Sivoham! Sivoham!
In me the Vedas and Vedanta have their origin,
In me roll all the Siddhis and Riddhis,
In me alone merge all the Rishis and Yogis,
This Brahman, the spaceless, it is I myself,
Sivoham! Sivoham! Sivoham! Sivoham!
Swami Sivananda
Become a Radiant Yogi
published on Mon. Mar. 3rd, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaAwaken thy heart, O Man! Happiness is here and now. Become a friend of humanity. Become a radiant Yogi. Strive. Endeavor. Swami Sivananda
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality
published on Fri. Feb. 29th, '08 by Swami AtmaWhat is Emotionally Healthy Spirituality?
Emotionally healthy spirituality is a universal approach to spiritual and religious life. It advocates a way of life where one can come closer to God while respecting one's needs, tendencies, and temperament.
What is Spirituality?
Spirituality is a path and a lifestyle which aims at bringing one closer to the 'Spirit'. Spirit should not be mistaken as anything which is not physical. Rather the Spirit is what is often referred to as 'God' or 'Soul'. The Soul is the divine spark which shines within each of us.
Love and compassion in action
Difference between Religion and Spirituality
Religion and spirituality have similarities but are not the same thing. Their common ground is to enable one to come closer to God.
Religion
Religion aims primarily at bringing God to regular folks and thus to enrich their life and give it a higher purpose and meaning. The focus is usually on practices and traditions inherited at birth. Most religions discourage indulging in practices belonging to other religions. One usually needs to abandon their own faith if they wish to convert to a new one. The goal of religion is to add a divine dimension to one's life and thus obtain happiness here and hereafter - in this world and in heaven.
Many like to argue that religion may have created more evil than good on this planet. Others tend to think of religion in negative terms and spirituality in positive terms. I firmly disagree with these opinions. Both religion and spirituality can tremendously benefit whoever is using these great tools for a better life. Of course they can also be misused and create untold sufferings in this world. Overall they bring more good than evil.
Spirituality
Spirituality is concerned with becoming one with God or the true Self in a very pragmatic way. If a method works then the spiritual aspirant will use it no matter what tradition it belongs to. For eons the mystics have been like scientists testing out techniques of all kinds, discarding the inefficient ones and keeping all practices that led them closer to God or the Self. Spirituality is more concerned with mysticism and less with traditions and rituals although mystics practice rituals for a definite purpose. The spiritual aspirant wants to experience union with God first and get worldly happiness second. The goal is not to be happy here and to go to heaven but to become one with God in this life and hereafter.
Forgiveness and cheerfulness in face of incredible adversity
How about the Emotions?
There is an inherent danger in religious and spiritual life to sacrifice so much for the sake of God so as to deny our physical, energetic, sensorial, and psychological needs. This can lead to repression of our basic desires and emotions leading to an inner conflict and a - mild or strong - form of schizophrenia.
Repression & Expression
Here is a dilemma. The spiritual aspirant needs to transcend his lower self and lower needs to embrace the glory of his Spirit. In so attempting, many a religious person suppresses their desires and various emotions. This creates untold tensions in the depth of the unconscious.
Modern western psychology is well aware of this and many want to avoid this pitfall. The knee-jerk reaction will be to express all their feelings, positive and negative all alike. Let's say one feels anger mounting and building up. The mistaken aspirant will express it in a fit in a poor attempt to get rid of the excess energy contained in this emotion. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality is about finding a better solution, which is ...
Sublimation
The process of sublimation - in the spiritual context - is to take the tremendous energy belonging to our lower nature and manifesting in all types of desires, tendencies, and emotions, and transforming it into a higher type of power which will fuel our spiritual life. Lower emotions and desires such as sexual impulses are not looked at as obstacles anymore but as the very foundation of our spiritual life.
The obvious question here is: How to we do that? There are two avenues to that purpose which are 'spiritual practices' and a 'refinement of our lifestyle'. They should be practiced in concert. They eventually merge into one.
Self abnegation and renunciation
Spiritual Practices
One can beat around the bush for ever but spiritual growth is a direct outcome of practice and discipline. The more one invests in prayer, meditation, rituals, and other disciplines advocated by their tradition, the faster and the farther one will advance in one's spiritual quest. A subtle, esoteric process is triggered and the energy usually dwelling in lower regions of the mind is transmuted into a subtler form which now pushes the practitioner's mind and consciousness upwards. This is very much like the naturally downward flowing water will naturally be transformed into a more potent, upward moving power when placed in contact with heat. The water in its new form of steam has now the power to propel a whole train and much more.
Refinement of Lifestyle
In order to not create any imbalance and repression of the emotions and desires, one needs to embrace the totality of one's being. There should not be any shame or guilt beyond a small, healthy dose. Let's open a parenthesis here to acknowledge that guilt can help one become aware of one's errors and lead to correcting them. Too much of it though will lead to inner conflicts and tensions which will slow down one's spiritual advancement.
Recognize Your Desires & Emotions Through Introspection
The first step is to develop the habit to be more introspective. Throughout the day do observe your thoughts, emotions, reactions, innermost desires and activities. You can optionally keep up a spiritual diary or journal to that effect.
With practice you'll become better at it and you should also see the causality of thoughts. You will recognize common though patterns. For example you will find that the same thoughts always occur when you are in a certain location, situation, or around certain people. You will also note that oftentimes a thought is always preceded by similar ones. If you want to address a certain desire or negative emotional state you will be more successful at it if you can interrupt or redirect the process at its budding manifestation.
Pure love, simplicity, and generosity
Gradual Transformation
Be kind to yourself. Don't try to change yourself all at once. As you go on with the introspection you will become acutely aware of certain actions and feelings which will stand out as more harmful than others. Look at them and don't deny these desires but devise other healthier outlets for these tendencies. It's all about replacing thoughts and actions with similar ones which are more in tune with your spiritual aspirations.
The golden principle is that a negative quality or emotion can be best dealt with by developing the opposite positive quality. Good is stronger than evil. If for example you find yourself being too cheap, meditate on the quality of generosity. Visualize and analyze the downsides of miserliness and the advantages of generosity and magnanimity. Bring to your consciousness great examples, either famous ones or people close to you. Draw this quality from them and thank them for it. Emotions and feelings all come in such dual pairs: fear & courage; sadness & cheerfulness; greed & contentment; etc...
The gist is to not dwell so much on the negatives but to focus on positivity.
This should also be applied to actions. Substitute any actions you are not happy with with better alternates which will fulfill the same psychological needs. For example if you find yourself doing a lot of backbiting, replace the fault finding with the keen observation of other people's good qualities and virtues and replace the backbiting by making a point of discussing other folks' great character traits. If somebody tries to suck you into the old negative speech, stay quiet, try to change topic, don't feed the negativity in any way. Walk away if necessary. After a little practice backbiters will find you boring and positive thinkers will be drawn to you and this will thus create a new speech dynamic.
The Fascinating Journey
This post is just scratching the surface. The main principles have been laid out but more examples could have been given. It's up to you now to change your religious and spiritual approach. Above all remember that emotionally healthy spirituality is and should be fun and enjoyable. A sign of an emotionally healthy spiritual person is that he or she looks happy, relaxed and radiates love. Everybody wants to be around such a person. There must be a mix of determination to reach the spiritual goal with the tenderness and softness of love and compassion as well as a tangible, communicative joy.
May we all be in that state.
Photos of Swami Sivananda & Swami Vishnu-devananda
published on Wed. Feb. 27th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaRecently I had the great fortune of sorting through some old paperwork and getting to see some photos and prints of Master Sivananda and Swami Vishnu-devananda. For the time being I have them spread across my desk to look at when I am at my computer.
Anyway, I find them very inspiring and so I wanted to share a few with you. Some you may have already seen other places.
Swami Sivananda and the River Ganga
Master's feet
Master and Swamiji and the Ganga, 1948
Swami Sivananda statue in Val Morin, Canada
Swami Vishnu lecturing late 1980's
classic photo of Swami Vishnu meditating
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On the Benefits of Meditation
published on Wed. Feb. 27th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaMeditation is a powerful mental and nervine tonic. The holy vibrations penetrate all the cells of the body and cure the diseases of the body. The powerful, soothing waves that arise during meditation exercise a benign influence on the mind, nerves, organs and cells of the body. The divine energy freely flows like the flow of oil from one vessel to the other, from the feet of the all-pervading Lord, to the different parts of the body of the aspirant. Through regular practice of meditation build around yourself a strong fortress of protection against the evil forces of the ignorant world and robe yourself with a magnetic aura. Swami Sivananda
On Finding the Lord
published on Tue. Feb. 26th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaIt is the pure undefiled flower that finds a place at the feet of the Lord and nowhere else. Take great care to spend your life in spotless purity. Speak about Him, meditate on His Glory, try to see Him in everyone, Him who is the Self, the breath of life, the heart of hearts...
See That which, when seen, the wish to see anything more vanishes forever; hear That which, when heard, the desire to hear anything else does not awaken. Sri Anandamayi Ma
Sri Anandamayi Ma, 20th century Bengali Saint
Recipe for Happiness
published on Mon. Feb. 25th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaAwaken thy heart, O Man! Happiness is here and now. Become a friend of humanity. Become a radiant Yogi. Strive. Endeavor. Swami Sivananda
On Means and Ends
published on Sun. Feb. 24th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaMeans and ends are necessarily identical. One cannot employ a wrong means for achieving a right end. The motive of the objective is judged by the character of the method employed for its attainment. One cannot obviously be a rogue outside and a saint inside. Therefore, be always watchful about the hidden impulse motivating your manners and actions. Swami Sivananda
On Happiness and Contentment
published on Fri. Feb. 15th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaWhen you are contented you are not looking for something, expecting happiness only if you have such and such a thing. For example, only if the weather is good, are you going to be happy. Only if Swami Vishnu teaches you everything are you going to be happy; only if your husband buys you a mink coat are you going to be happy; only if your wife cooks a delicious meal are you going to be happy.
In that way will you ever find happiness? No, because when you are depending on someone else, things can always go wrong, and they do. You can't expect the sun to come out just because you are not happy without it. But you can be happy within yourself. You can smile at the rain also. That's called contentment. Swami Vishnu-devananda
On The Active Practice of Virtue
published on Tue. Feb. 12th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaVirtue will develop and survive only when practised positively and actively... Rigidly observe truth and purity in your thoughts, speech, actions, in your inner motive and general conduct. Be loving, tolerant and charitable in your opinion of men and things, in your dealings with others. Swami Sivananda
On What is the Ego
published on Sat. Feb. 9th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaIs it possible for you to look at someone with whom you totally disagree and say, without hypocrisy, "Sir, you may be right."? During those few moments watch what goes on within you. There is a combination of an earthquake, volcano, tornado and a tidal wave, all together. THAT is the ego... Watch what is happening inside you. That is the ego. Swami Venkatesananda
On Thinking of Life as a Movie
published on Fri. Feb. 8th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaIs it possible to isolate each little bit of what happens to us in our lives and look at it just as it is - a tiny little fragment, not worth even looking at again? Like a movie film, this thing moves on. Each frame has got only one little picture, and there is no movement in it, there is nothing terrible. If I can view the present - a thought, an emotion, an experience, an event - as not more than a Vritti*, then it is easy to deal with. It is the mind (with all its memory, imagination and so on) that makes it big, magnifies it.
Put an end to that by remaining in that background of thought, in the God-consciousness, in the Japa** mood, in that meditative mode all the time - coming out for just a little while... Come out, work, go back into your background of thought.
* Vritti - thought wave
** Japa - repetition of a mantra Swami Venkatesananda
On Silence
published on Thu. Feb. 7th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaPurify the mind and meditate. Be still, and know that you are God. Calm the mind. Silence the bubbling thoughts and surging emotions. Plunge deep into the innermost recess of your heart and enjoy the magnanimous Silence. Mysterious is this Silence. Enter into Silence. Know that Silence. Become Silence itself. Realise God now and here. Swami Sivananda
International Teacher's Training Course Every Summer in Germany
published on Wed. Feb. 6th, '08 by LalitaOm namah shivaya!
I recently got some photos of this year's Teacher's Training Course with Swami Atma. It took place at the Yoga Vidya Ashram in Bad Meinberg, Germany. It was the third International Teacher's Training Course completely in English, there is one every summer with Swamiji since 2005. Apart of Swamiji who lead the course and took care of the yoga philosophy part and most of the theory, there were Ganga and Bhavani. Ganga taught the Hatha Yoga classes and the teaching theory. Bhavani assisted during the classes and our first experiences with teaching yoga by ourselves in small groups.
We were 22 people who came from all over the world. We had participants from Chile, Mexico, India and South Africa. There were many different reasons for taking that course. Some just wanted to learn more about yoga philosophy and have an intensive experience by diving into yoga for four weeks. Most really knew where they would teach afterwards, some didn't.
Mareike Getting Her Certificate
For everyone of us it was a really interesting and intensive new experience. Living yoga apart of your daily life for four weeks shows you very much about yourself. There is time to reflect where you want to go in life and what life is all about. We all learned very much and gained depth in our yoga practice. Some got a spiritual name and mantra initiation. By doing this we confirmed for ourselves that this yoga path is our way and that we want to go on following it at home and for the rest of our lives.
We learned very much for our own practice. Apart of that we studied the philosophy and the Kriyas which are cleansing techniques. Ganga taught us how a yoga class should be structured and what to pay attention for while teaching yoga to students. And there was so much more, it would be too much to write about all this here.
Group Chanting In The Last Satsang After Four Weeks
There will be a TTC like this one from July 13 to August 10 this year. If you're interested, you can find informations at the Ashram's web page. Some of us wrote their opinion about the TTC at the Ashram's forum. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
On Faith
published on Wed. Feb. 6th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaYou can ascend the rungs of the spiritual ladder with the help of intense, unflinching faith alone. Whenever doubts assail you, reject them ruthlessly. Open your heart to the Divine Light, the source of all knowledge, all light. Become as simple as a child. Pray from the bottom of your heart. The flame will again become brighter and brighter. Swami Sivananda
On Control of the Mind
published on Tue. Feb. 5th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaMy main instruction is to control the mind. Secondly, avoid unnecessary desires with one exception - desire to increase your will power. If you satisfy one desire, ten more will come to take its place, and then when will you ever be finished with all those desires? But if you develop your will power and kill even one desire, then you will be strong. Then you will easily kill ten more, and then a hundred. Swami Vishnu-devananda
On Love
published on Mon. Feb. 4th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaThere is no virtue higher than love; there is no treasure higher than love; there is no knowledge higher than love, there is no Dharma higher than love, there is no religion higher than love; because love is Truth; love is God. God is an embodiment of love. In every inch of His creation, you can verily understand His love. Swami Sivananda
On Imagination
published on Sun. Feb. 3rd, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaOnce you have understood that nothing perceivable, or conceivable can be yourself, you are free of your imaginations. To see everything as imagination, born of desire, is necessary for self-realization. We miss the real by lack of attention and create the unreal by excess of imagination. Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
I Am That
How to Make Others Happy
published on Sat. Feb. 2nd, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaMake others truly happy as you strive to make yourself happy. Speak a helpful word. Give a cheering smile. Do a kind act. Serve a little. Wipe the tears of one who is in distress. Render smooth a rough place in another's path. You will feel great joy. Swami Sivananda
On Cheerfulness
published on Fri. Feb. 1st, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaBe always cheerful. Laugh and smile. How can a mind that is gloomy and dull think of God? Try to be happy always. Happiness is your very nature. This is termed cheerfulness. The spirit of cheerfulness must be cultivated by all aspirants. Swami Sivananda
On Faith and Dharma
published on Thu. Jan. 31st, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaFrom faith in the scriptures comes fidelity to one's own duty; and by the performance of that duty comes the purification of the heart. There only is the knowledge of the Supreme Self, and by that knowledge comes the destruction of the tree of the world - root and all. Sri Sankaracharya
Vivekacudamani
Good Advice
published on Wed. Jan. 30th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaWrite the words "Serve, love, give, purify, meditate, realise, be good, do good, be kind, be compassionate. Enquire who am I? Know the Self, and be free. Adapt, adjust, accommodate" on the tablet of your heart. You will hear the music of the Soul and be drowned in the ocean of Bliss and Peace. Swami Sivananda
Who is a Sage?
published on Tue. Jan. 29th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaHe whose craving is annihilated is a calm sage. He who is free from anger, lust, greed, egoism and jealousy is indeed a sage. He who calls nothing in this world as his own, who is not elated by success or gain, who is not depressed by failure or loss, is a sage. He who does not crave for sensual pleasures, who is independent, is a sage. May you also become a sage. Swami Sivananda
True Spiritual Mother
published on Mon. Jan. 28th, '08 by Swami AtmaJiun, a Shogun master, was a well-known Sanskrit scholar of the Tokugawa era. When he was young he used to deliver lectures to his brother students.
His mother heard about this and wrote him a letter:
"Son, I do not think you became a devotee of the Buddha because you desired to turn into a walking dictionary for others. There is no end to information and commentation, glory and honor. I wish you would stop this lecture business. Shut yourself up in a little temple in a remote part of the mountain. Devote your time to meditation and in this way attain true realization."
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On Who is Liberated
published on Mon. Jan. 28th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaThat man is liberated who is a friend of all, who bears everything patiently, who is tranquil and self-controlled, who is devoid of fear and anger, and who is without passion. Swami Sivananda
On Dharma
published on Sun. Jan. 27th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaTruth, compassion, Tapas (austerity) and charity are the four feet of Dharma. Swami Sivananda
On Meditation and Duty
published on Sat. Jan. 26th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaMeditate on love, bliss and peace, regularly in the early mornings. Sit still in peace and silence; forget the body. Rest in soul. this is your greatest duty. Swami Sivananda
On Self-realisation
published on Fri. Jan. 25th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaGod is the end of all your actions and movements. Seek Him. Realise Him. Only then can you be perfect and free. Swami Sivananda
On God and the Self
published on Thu. Jan. 24th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaGod is always established upon his own majestic changeless Self. You and I try to be one with Him, but find ourselves diverted by nature, by the trifles of daily life, by money, by fame, by human love, and all these changing forms which make for bondage. When nature shines, upon what depends its shining? Upon God, and not upon the sun or the moon or the stars. Whenever anything shines, whether it is the light in the sun or in our own consciousness, it is He. He shining, all shines after Him. Swami Vivekananda
On Karma Yoga
published on Wed. Jan. 23rd, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaHe works best who works without any motive - neither for money, nor for fame, nor for anything else. And when a man can do that, he will be a Buddha and out of him will come the power to work in such a manner as will transform the world. This man represents the very highest ideal of karma yoga. Swami Vivekananda
Quote on the Present
published on Tue. Jan. 22nd, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaLive in the present. The past is dead. The future is a fancy of the mind. The present alone is. Swami Sivananda
On Being Fearless
published on Mon. Jan. 21st, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaBe not afraid of anything. You can do wonders. Your essential nature is fearlessness. Fearlessness is Brahman the Absolute. Tat Twam Asi. Thou art Brahman. Be bold. Swami Sivananda
On Solitude
published on Sun. Jan. 20th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaSolitude is in the mind of a man. One might be in the thick of the world and yet maintain perfect serenity of mind; such a person is always in solitude. Another may stay in the forest but still be unable to control his mind. He cannot be said to be in solitude. Solitude is an attitude of the mind; a man attached to the things of life cannot get solitude, wherever he may be. A detached man is always in solitude. Ramana Maharshi
On Taking Care of What is Essential
published on Sat. Jan. 19th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaTake care of essentials. Do not pay too much attention to non-essentials. What may be unessential to an aspirant at a later stage, may well be essential to him now. Do not throw away precious grain with the chaff. Watch the mind. Swami Sivananda
How to Be Peaceful and Happy
published on Fri. Jan. 18th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaHave friendliness with equals; compassion for those in sorrow; joy in the joy of others and superiors; and indifference and absence of ill-will and anger for the wicked men. You will be peaceful and happy. Swami Sivananda
Quote on the Spiritual Benefits of Yoga
published on Thu. Jan. 17th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaYoga leads from ignorance to wisdom, from weakness to strength, from disharmony to harmony, from hatred to love, from want to fullness, from limitation to infinitude, from diversity to unity and from imperfection to perfection. Swami Sivananda
Sins & Punishment
published on Wed. Jan. 16th, '08 by Swami AtmaWe are punished by our sins, not for them.Elbert Hubbard
Importance of the Right Perspective
published on Wed. Jan. 16th, '08 by Swami AtmaOne of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important.Bertrand Russell
Quote on Physical Benefits of Yoga
published on Wed. Jan. 16th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaYogic exercises and breathing exercises, right and simple living and high thinking and meditation are the important requisites for the preservation of health, for the attainment of the high standard of vigour and vitality, longevity and everlasting peace and joy. Swami Sivananda
Quote on Yoga
published on Tue. Jan. 15th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaBe in harmony with the fundamental laws of the universe. This is the first step in the path of Yoga. Swami Sivananda
On Self-control
published on Mon. Jan. 14th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaSelf-control is the best of all vows. Sweetness of speech, benevolence, absence of malice, anger, and hatred, forgiveness, patience, forbearance, non-violence, modesty, courtesy, good behavior, truth, straightforwardness, and firmness - the combination of all these constitutes self-control. Swami Sivananda
Flower Shower Zen Koan
published on Sun. Jan. 13th, '08 by Swami AtmaFlower Shower
Subhuti was Buddha's disciple. He was able to understand the potency of emptiness, the viewpoint that nothing exists except in its relationship of subjectivity and objectivity.
One day Subhuti, in a mood of sublime emptiness, was sitting under a tree. Flowers began to fall about him.
"We are praising you for your discourse on emptiness," the gods whispered to him.
"But I have not spoken of emptiness," said Subhuti.
"You have not spoken of emptiness, we have not heard emptiness," responded the gods. "This is the true emptiness." And blossoms showered upon Subhuti as rain.
On the Self
published on Sun. Jan. 13th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaKnowing the real Self, which is the witness of the intellect and its actions, by this thought, "I am That," conquer the false idea of "I am" in the non-Self. Sri Sankaracharya
Vivekacudamani
Advanced Young Hatha Yogini
published on Sat. Jan. 12th, '08 by Swami AtmaHere is a treat for everyone.
Thanks to Bhagavati for sending us a video of this 9-year old girl who can REALLY do asanas.
On Love
published on Sat. Jan. 12th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaLove of God is Prem or devotion. It is pure love. It is love for love's sake. To love anyone for attaining some selfish gain is selfish love. It binds you to this earth. Swami Sivananda
On the Dangers of Open Mindedness
published on Fri. Jan. 11th, '08 by Swami AtmaStudent: If I'm open minded, won't my brains fall out?
Teacher: No, just keep your mouth shut at the same time.
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Ego & Devotion
published on Fri. Jan. 11th, '08 by Swami AtmaThe only trouble with being a self made man is when you worship your creator.
This funny joke serves as a perfect introduction to the program I'll be giving tomorrow. I'll teach a yoga class, and a satsang. The theme of the lecture will be "Ego".
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On the Greatness of Meditation
published on Fri. Jan. 11th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaHearing of Brahman is good, but thinking is one hundred times better than hearing. Millions of times greater than this is meditation. And when one becomes free from doubt in that meditation, that is endlessly greater. Sri Sankaracharya
Vivekacudamani
On Worry
published on Thu. Jan. 10th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaWorry does great harm to the astral body and mind. Energy is wasted by worry. It causes inflammation and drains the vitality of man. Nothing is gained by the worry-habit. If you are vigilant and keep the mind fully occupied, this worrying-habit will disappear. Swami Sivananda
On Work
published on Tue. Jan. 8th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaWork incessantly, but give up all attachment to work. Do not identify yourself with anything. Hold your mind free. Swami Vivekananda
Alexandra David-Neel, An Early Western Mystic
published on Mon. Jan. 7th, '08 by Swami AtmaWe are very lucky living in 2008. At least this is true for those of us being spiritual aspirants in Eastern traditions. Thanks to the work of the pioneers who brought these teachings to the West there is wealth of information and teachers to learn from.
But it was not always the case and there were few Western aspirants who had the true spirit of adventure and went to get the teachings where they were.
One such adventurer was French yogini Alexandra David-Neel who became a mystic in Tibet. She knew early that she wanted to travel.
In 1885, when she was seventeen, Alexandra again left home, this time traveling alone by train from Brussels to Switzerland. She then hiked alone over the Saint-Gotthard Pass through the Alps to the Italian lakes. Her distraught mother had to travel to the shores of Lake Maggiore and retrieve her by then penniless daughter.
I recommend reading the short online biography of this fearless yogini.
At one stage, in early 1923, she went as far north as the Gobi Desert, from where she returned via Kanchow and Lanchow, south through China, and westwards into southern Tibet. Altogether her journey covered around 8,000 miles on horse, sedan chair and foot. Along the way bandits were a menace, as were tigers and leopards.
On Finding Happiness
published on Mon. Jan. 7th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaAll are agreed that the one aim which man has in all his acts, is to secure happiness for himself. True lasting happiness can be had in one's own Atman or immortal Soul, but not in external perishable objects. Swami Sivananda
The Gist of Ethics
published on Sun. Jan. 6th, '08 by Swami AtmaDo as you would be done by. This is the gist of ethics.Swami Sivananda
Leave it to Swami Sivananda to extract the essence of the teachings with utmost simplicity.
On the Importance of Spiritual Life
published on Sun. Jan. 6th, '08 by Sita ChaitanyaWith spiritual life everything can assume an importance or value. Without it nothing is of any value. Swami Sivananda
Smart Humans Might Be More Ancient Than Thought
published on Sat. Jan. 5th, '08 by Swami AtmaAn interesting ongoing development is the relationship between the ancient teachings of yoga and modern science. Many yogis like to point out all the ancient assertions which are validated by modern science but my skeptical (meaning scientific) mind is also looking at all the discrepancies.
The biggest one is the timeline of history given by the yoga masters compared to the works done by different schools of scholars. In a nutshell the yogis and mystics believe there were advance civilizations way before what science and scholars believe.
As an aside I formulated the former sentence in this way on purpose. One thing that always cracks me up is when scientists or pseudo-scientists talk about ancient or foreign cultures they always phrase it as 'they believed' or 'they believe' and usually contrast these statements with 'now we know'. Semantic bias.
An interesting point is that science's timeline