Swami Sivananda's Yoga Questions and Answers 2: Q: What is the difference between pleasure and Bliss?

Q: What is the difference between pleasure and Bliss? A: Pleasure is derived from contact with sensual objects. It is changing, fleeting and illusory. But Bliss is eternal. It is attained through realisation of Self or Atman. Taken from: Yoga Questions and Answers Swami Sivananda A Divine Life Society Publication

Swami Sivandanda Pocket Spiritual Gems 2: Tat Tvam Asi

Tat Tvam Asi Thou art not this perishable body; Thou art all-pervading, immortal Atman Tat Tvam Asi, Thou art That.

Swami Sivananda's Parables 1: Parable Of The Lost Wrist-Watch

Parable Of The Lost Wrist-Watch PARABLES OF SIVANANDA By SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION A man was frantically searching for something in a dark room. He was weeping and shouting. He was making a mess of the things kept in the room. He broke some and tumbled on others. Yet, what he was searching for, he could not get. A friend came to the threshold and asked for the reason of the man's misery. He replied: "O my friend, I have lost my wrist-watch. It is gone." The friend said: "How can it go away from here? But, what a fool you are to search for it in the darkness! I have brought the light. Now, calm yourself. Think deeply and try to remember where it ought to be. You will soon discover it." The man did so, and got the wrist-watch. The friend explained: "The watch was not lost, nor have you gained it now. It was there all the time. But because of the darkness that prevailed in the room, and because you were searching for it where it was not, you did not get it. You were ignorant of its whereabouts. Now that the ignorance is removed, you think you have got it. It was ever yours and was never lost." Similarly, within the deepest recesses of man's heart is the Self, full of bliss and peace. But, blinded by the darkness of ignorance, man is unable to see it and experience the bliss and the peace. Searching for happiness and peace, he wanders about among the objects of this world, makes a mess to himself and the things of the world, causes misery to others and to himself, weeps and shouts. But the object of his quest is not found. At last the Guru appears with the lamp of wisdom in his hand. He says to the man: "Remove the darkness of your ignorance with this lamp of wisdom; calm yourself; restrain all the mental modifications. Then analyse all experience and meditate on the result. You will discover the Self. You had not lost it before; nor have you gained it now. It has always been there. Only you were ignorant of it. Now that in your pure heart and calm mind, the Self shines, self-luminous, you feel that you have regained it. In fact you had never lost it."

Daily meditations by Swami Sivananda 3: Time is Precious

May 3rd – Time is Precious: Know the value of time. You cannot salvage even a second spent in a worthless manner. Time is most precious. Utilise every second in spiritual pursuits and in service. The moment you turn your mind Godward, you will gain immense strength and peace. If you are truthful and pure in your daily life, you will inherit the kingdom of God. As soon as you get up from your bed in the early morning, do Japa and meditation. Then do Asanas and Pranayama.

Sivananda Gurugram: May

THOUGHT OF THE MONTH ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ahimsa is cosmic love. Ahimsa is true sacrifice. Ahimsa is forgiveness. Ahimsa is true strength. - Swami Sivananda

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OM

Swamiji meets up with TTC students in Rishikesh on his way to Uttarkashi

Swami Sivananda's Yoga Questions and Answers: What is Yoga?

Q: What is Yoga? A: Yoga means “union” – union of the individual soul with the Cosmic Soul, fusing of the limited consciouness in the Supreme Consciouness. Balance of the mind is Yoga. Freedom from attachment, egoism and imperfections is Yoga. Q: What is Hatha Yoga? A: It is the Yoga by which the body is rendered strong and healthy by the practice of Asanas and Mudras, and the Prana united with Apana is taken through the Sushumna to the Sahasrara Chakra at the crown of the head.

Taken from: Yoga Questions and Answers

Swami Sivananda

A Divine Life Society Publication

In Indian Culture: Why do we…. 1 - CHANT OM?

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

Om is one of the most chanted sounds symbols in India. It has a profound effect on the body and mind of the one who chants and also on the surroundings. Most mantras and vedic prayers start with Om. All auspicious actions begin with Om. It is even used as a greeting – Om, Hari Om etc. it is repeated as a mantra or meditated upon. It’s form is worshipped, contemplated upon or used as an auspicious sign.

Why do we chant Om?

Om is the universal name of the Lord. It is made up of the letters A (phonetically as in “around”), U (phonetically as in “put”) and M (phonetically as in “mum”). The sound emerging from the vocal chords starts from the base of the throat as “A”. With the coming together of the lips, “U” is formed and when the lips, “U” is formed and when the lips are closed, all sound ends in “M”. The three letters symbolize the three states (waking, dream and deep sleep), the three deities (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva), the three Vedas (Rig, Yajur and Sama) the three worlds (Bhuh, Bhuvah, Suvah) etc. The Lord is all these and beyond. The formless, attributeless Lord (Brahman) is represented by the silence between two Om chants. Om is also called pranava that means “that (symbol or sound) by which the Lord is praised”. The entire essence of the Vedas is enshrined in the word Om.

It is said that the Lord started creating the world after chanting Om and atha. Hence its sound is considered to create an auspicious beginning for any task that we undertake.

The Om chant should have the resounding sound of a bell (aaooommm). It fills the mind with peace makes it focused and replete with subtle sound. People meditate on it’s meaning and attain realization.

Om is written in different ways in different places. The most common form symbolizes Lord Ganesha. The upper curve is the head; the lower large one, the stomach; the side one, the trunk; and the semi-circular mark with the dot, the sweet-meat ball (modaka) in Lord Ganesha’s hand. Thus Om symbolizes everything – the means and the goal of life, the world and the Truth behind it, the material and the Sacred, all forms and the Formless.

Daily meditations by Swami Sivananda 2: Discrimate and Become Wise

April 7th – Discriminate and Become Wise: The pleasure derived from sensual objects gives pain to the man who discriminates. Worldly-minded people, who have lost the faculty of discrimination, rejoice in sense-objects. People without discrimination weep in old age. We weep when we are born; we weep when we are about to die; we weep in the interval also. Where then is pleasure in the world? Learn to discriminate. Become a Yogi, for Yoga puts an end to all pains. OM

Swami Sivandanda Pocket Spiritual Gems 1: Who is Happy?

Who is Happy?

He alone is happy Who has controlled his mind and other senses, Who is free from egoism, lust and pride, Who is resting on is own Atma. Therefore realise this all-blissful Atma. Taken from Pocket Spiritual Gems

Swami Sivananda A Divine Life Society Publication OM