TTC March 2009, Madurai

We are very happy to display the graduates of the TTC this March/April 2009. A late addition to the ashram calendar, our eighth so far at Madurai, had more than it’s fair share of auspiciousness, those that found their way here started the course very much with Gurudev’s blessings and a group trip to the birthplace of Swami Sivananda. In one week we had the good fortune to enjoy a Mrityunjaya Homa, an eggciting easter egg hunt around the ashram and climaxing in Vishu, local New Year celebration, where all the residents were woken individually at dawn and led blindfolded to the temple for their first sight of the New Year to be one of divinity, auspiciousness, beauty and abundance. We were very blessed to share the ashram with these Yogis. A small group, we got the opportunity to share some great experience and learn more from them than they can imagine.

Sivananda Gurugram - April 2009

THOUGHT OF THE MONTH Identify yourself with the all-pervading Self. Lead the life of oneness and unity. - Sri Swami Sivananda SIVANANDA YOGA FAQ ~~~ Frequently Asked Questions Q 1: How does the mind differ from the Soul? A: The mind is a special, limited particularization of the Soul-consciousness, which is unlimited and never ceases to be all-pervading. The mind is the form of the collective totality of desires, and hence, it is inert and powerless. But it appears to be conscious and powerful as the Inner Self or the Soul is reflected through it. The mind alone is the real person or the individual and it is the real doer of all actions. It is the experiencer of every condition in the universe, both objectively and subjectively. The Soul is the Absolute which is not really affected by any experience of the mind. The mind is mortal, while the Soul is immortal. Q3: How do you train your disciples for quick spiritual success? A: As a drastic measure to overhaul the vicious worldly Samskaras, I ask the students to drown themselves in active service for some months or years. The period of training varies according to the evolution of the students. They must know cooking, washing, and nursing of the sick. They must serve the Sadhus and the Sannyasins in every possible way. Side by side they must be able to learn all the Yogic exercises, concentration, Japa, meditation, etc. They must be able to write essays on philosophy and Yoga. They must do Kirtan and deliver lectures also. I teach them on all these points. I give them lessons in the treatment of some ordinary diseases. When I find that the students are able to control their senses and advance in concentration and meditation and when I find that they have developed all the Sattvic qualities, I send them to cool places with instructions fordeep meditation. Important Dates for April: APRIL 2009 03 – Rama Navami 05 - Ekadasi 09 - Full Moon (Hanuman Jayanti) 12 - Easter 13 - Tamil New 21 - Ekadasi 25 - New Moon

ATTC Feb 2009 The first ever ATTC with all the 92 students passing the course concluded successfully. The graduation ceremony was preceded by a Gurupuja performed by the priests and the students. Running every two years, the next ATTC will be jan/feb 2011. During the week there was a Devi puja which was liked by all. Ananda lead a group of 25 students and staff to a 2 day trip to Rameswaram and Dhanushkoti after the ATTC. A yoga vacation programme with 10 people started immediately on Mar 8th. The registration for the next TTC starting on Mar 22 is going on well. The main teachers and many staff especially came for the ATTC assisting left the ashram immediately. Swami Tatwarupananda went back to his ashram in Trivandrum . Swami Govindananda and Prahlada left for Neyyar Dam for the India director's meeting. Swami Gayatriananda went back to Neyyar Dam. Dr Padma ( now Swami Padmapadananda ) was initiated into sannyasa deeksha by Swami Mahadevanandaji on Sivaratri day. Satyadev left for Uttar Kashi to continue as staff there. Sita, Ambika , Panchavarnam , Durairaj, Surendran , Indiradevi , Br. Sajith, Annapurna and Zdenik Hanus left as staff. Satya went to Srilanka to to renew her Indian visa to come back to ashram for another year as staff. Jyoti came back to the ashram after getting a new Indian visa from Srilanka. Sridevi ( Wei-Chi - Taiwan ) joined as staff after her ATTC. Mani Chaitanya and Vijay from the Delhi centres graced the graduation ceremony in the ashram on their way to Neyyar Dam for the Indiadirector's meeting. We are very grateful to all the staff who left after helping the ashram wholeheartedly during this busy season. May Gurudev's Blessings guide them always. Staff : Swami Govindananda, Swami Padmapadananda, Ananda , Chiman Chang, Satya ( Srilanka ), Nirmala, Narayani, Mahendra Kumar, Yogiswar , Sara O Connel, Jyoti , Brahmaswaroop, Karuna Kumar, Mahalakshmi, Sridevi, Tara, Lakshmi, Deepakdas, Iswara , Anjani , Veena, Sridevi.

Yoga Course Information Nov 2008 onwards

Yoga Info for non resident Indians and non Indians only: Yoga Vacation daily donations applicable - Temporary dorm Rs 500 per day / Rs 7000 per 2 weeks; Permanent dorm Rs 600 day / Rs 8500 per 2 weeks

Nov 2008 onwards Yoga vacation program is not held during TTC, ATTC or SI

A guest who is new to Sivananda Yoga system should stay for the whole 2 weeks – others who had undergone YV, TTC, ATTC or SI , in any of the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres will be allowed to stay any number of days with minimum as 3 days.

The program for 2009 / 10 in the Madurai ashram is as follows: Jan 4 – 19, 09: Sadhana Intensive (SI) – only for TTC graduates(For non resident Indians and non Indians - SI donation: US $ 740 in temporary dorm/US $ 660 in permanent dorm)

Jan 20 - Feb 2, 09: Yoga vacations ( YV ) - 2 weeks duration.( For non resident Indians and non Indians - YV donation for 2 weeks - : Rs 7000 in temporary dorm/Rs 8500 in permanent dorm)

Feb 8 - Mar 8, 09: Yoga Advanced TTC (ATTC). ( For non resident Indians and non Indians - ATTC donation: US $ 1800 in temporary dorm/US $ 2000 in permanent dorm)

Mar 15 – Apr 12, 09: Yoga Teacher Training Course (TTC). (For non resident Indians and non Indians - TTC donation: US $ 1800 in temporary dorm/US $ 2000 in permanent dorm)

Apr 16 - 29, 09: our 14 day Yoga Vacation programme resumes (For non resident Indians and non Indians - YV donation for 2 weeks - : Rs 8500 permanent dorm is only available)

May 09 onwards 1st to 14th & 16th to 29th of every month: Yoga Vacation programme (For non resident Indians and non Indians - YV donation for 2 weeks - : Rs 8500 - permanent dorm only is available )

Nov 8 – Nov 22, 2009 - TTC refresher course

Nov 29 – Dec 27, 09 - Teacher Training Course

Jan 3 – 18, 2010 - Sadhana intensive

Jan 24 – Feb 21, 2010 - Teacher Training Course for Indian residents

please email: madurai@sivananda.org or call if you have any further questions, or need any assistance from us, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Telephone:+91 452 291 2950 +91-(0)9442190661 +91-9344677965