TTC December 2008

We're very pleased to display our recent graduates of the International Teacher's Training programme. We had 67 students join us and graduate the programme with flying colours. Falling over Christmas, we took the opportunity to invite Santa to the ashram with students singing carols from around the world and celebrate with a wonderful feast and some wonderful not so sattvic chocolate cake!

What is the nature of the mind? - Sri Ramana Maharshi

Question: What is the nature of the mind? Bhagavan: What is called ‘mind’ is a wondrous power residing in the Self. It causes all thoughts to arise. Apart from thoughts, there is no such thing as mind. Therefore, thought is the nature of mind. When one persistently inquires into the nature of the mind, the mind will end leaving the Self (as the residue). What is referred to as the Self is the Atman. The mind always exists only in dependence on something gross; it cannot stay alone. It is the mind that is called the subtle body or the soul (jiva). Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi

What is Life by Swami Sivananda

What is Life? Life is a duty - perform it, Life is a game - play it, Life is a mystery - unfold it, Lie is a song - sing it, Life is a journey - complete it, Life is a promise - fulfill it, Life is a love - enjoy it, Life is a beauty - praise it, Life is a spirit - realise it, Life is a challenge - meet it, Life is a gift - accept it, Life is an opportunity - take it, Life is an adventure - dare it, Life is a sorrow - overcome it, Life is a tragedy - face it, Life is a struggle - fight it, Life is a puzzle - solve it, Life is a goal - achieve it, The salt of life is selfless service, the bread of life is universal love, the water of life is purity, the goal of life is self-realisation. By Swami Sivananda

Who Am I? - Sri Ramana Maharshi

As all living beings desire to be happy always, without misery, as in the case of everyone there is observed supreme love for one’s self, and as happiness alone is the cause for love, in order to gain that happiness which is one’s nature and which is experienced in the state of deep sleep where there is no mind, one should know one’s Self. For that, the path of knowledge, the enquiry of the form ‘Who am I’, is the principal means. Sri Ramana Maharshi – Who Am I?

Meditations on OM: The Iron Safe

To look for the God without, abandoning the God within, is like going in quest of conch-shells after giving up the precious diamond on the hand. If you cannot find Him in your heart you will not find Him anywhere else. Search Him within the innermost recesses of the heart. He is subtler than the subtlest. Make the lotus of your heart as pure as possible. Withdraw the fuel of desires and extinguish the fire of Sankalpas. Realise the Truth now through your higher mind. Enjoy the perennial joy of Divine Bliss. A rich man keeps his valuable jewels in an iron safe that is kept in the innermost chamber of his bungalow. One has to pass through five compartments before he reaches the compartment in which the iron safe is placed. Five walls screen the iron safe. Even so this most valuable jewel of the Atman is placed in the innermost recesses of your heart. Five veils cover this Atman. The five veils are the Annamaya, Pranamaya, Manomaya, Vijnanamaya and the Anandamaya Kosas. You must tear these five veils if you want to approach the Atman. In other words, you will have to pass through the five compartments formed by the five Kosas if you want to get at the jewel of the Atman. An extract from Meditation on OM and Mandukya Upanishad by Swami Sivananda

Swami Sivananda Pocket Spiritual Gems: Obtain Divine Grace

The degree of grace Is in proportion to the degree of surrender. Do total self-surrender And obtain the divine grace: This is the royal, blessed way To supreme peace and eternal bliss

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

In Indian Culture: Why do we….light a lamp?

Why do we light a lamp?

In almost every Indian home a lamp is lit daily before the altar of the Lord. In some houses it is lit at dawn, in some, twice a day – at dawn and dusk – and in a few it is maintained continuously (akhanda deepa). All auspicious functions and moments like daily worship, rituals and festivals and even many social occasions like inaugurations commence with the lighting of the lamp, which is often maintained right through the occasion.

Why do we light a lamp?

Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness, ignorance. The Lord is the “Knowledge Principle” (chaitanya) who is the source, the enlivener and the illuminator of all knowledge. Hence light is worshipped as the Lord Himself. Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness. Also knowledge is a lasting inner wealth by which all outer achievement can be accomplished. Hence we light the lamp to bow down to knowledge as the greatest of all forms of wealth. Knowledge backs all our actions whether good or bad. We therefore keep a lamp lit during all auspicious occasions as a witness to our thoughts and actions.

Why not light a bulb or tube light? That too would remove darkness. But the traditional oil lamp has a further spiritual significance. The oil or ghee in the lamp symbolizes our vaasanas or negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, the vaasanas get slowly exhausted and the ego too finally perishes. The flame of a lamp always burns upwards. Similarly we should acquire such knowledge as to take us towards higher ideals.

A single lamp can light hundreds more just as a man of knowledge can give it to many more. The brilliance of the light does not diminish despite it’s repeated use to light many more lamps. So too knowledge does not lessen when shared with or imparted to others. On the contrary it increases in clarity and conviction on giving. It benefits both the receiver and the giver.

Whilst lighting the lamp we thus pray:

Deepajyotihi parabrahma

Deepa sarve tamopahaha

Deepena saadhyate sarvam

Sandhyaa deepo namostute

I prostrate to the dawn/dusk lamp, whose light is the Knowledge Principle (the Supreme Lord), which removes the darkness of ignorance and by which all can be achieved in life.

Which else shall beautify a home

But the flame of a lovely lamp?

Which else shall adorn the mind

But the light of wisdom deep?

Swami Chinmayananda

Thus this custom contains of wealth of intellectual and spiritual meaning.

Taken from: In Indian Culture: Why do we…. By Swamini Vimalananda & Radhika Krishnakumar

Daily meditations by Swami Sivananda: 8th Nov - Ignore Criticism

8^th November – Ignore Criticism

Are you the Atman or mind or body? Even though you have read my writings a thousand and one times, you still identify yourself with the mind and body and lose your mental balance when a little criticism is made. So strong is your egoism.

People criticize your body and mind or become your friends. Why do you get agitated then, my dear Krishna? You are still weak. You have not grown spiritually. Ignore criticism.

Why do you brood over past events? You cannot have peace of mind if you indulge in this habit. Rise above criticism and petty remarks. You will then enjoy peace of mind.

Gurugram November 2008

OM Namah Shivya

Sivananda news can be read here in November's Gurugram - http://www.sivananda.org/publications/mailinglists/guru-gram/gg-Nov01-2008.html

Today is your own. Tomorrow perchance may never come. -- Sri Swami Sivananda

October saw work continuing on the new dormitory building (soon to be completed!) whilst the Madurai ashram celebrated Navaratri with Devi Pujas, Rudra Homa and Abhishekam Puja every day and a Chandika Homa on the 8th and 9th day of Navaratri.