Teachings of Swami Sivananda's Posts

Samyama

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 28, 2011 at 2:00pm

A Raja Yogi practises Samyama or the combined practice of Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi at one and the same time and gets detailed knowledge of an object.

By Swami Sivananda, from the Book Amrita Gita. Swami Sivananda lived from 1887-1963. He was one of the great Yoga Masters of the 20th Century who made Yoga available to a great public. Copyright of the texts of Swami Sivananda The Divine Life Society Rishikesh

Siddhis and spiritual progress

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 27, 2011 at 2:00pm

Do not run after Siddhis, spiritual powers. Siddhis are great temptations. They will bring about your downfall.

From the book: Amrita Gita, by Shri Swami Sivananda Maharaj, 1887-1963.Copyright The Divine Life Society, Rishikesh. More Infos from and about Swami Sivananda on German Site: Sivananda photos, Sivananda Video

Control your thoughts

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 26, 2011 at 2:00pm

By controlling the thoughts the Sadhaka attains great Siddhis, mental powers. He becomes an adept. He attains Asamprajnata Samadhi or Kaivalya.

Taken from Amrita Gita, by Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj, 1887-1963. Copyright Divine Life Society, Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh. More Informations: Sivananda photos, Sivananda Video, Books by Swami Sivananda

States of the Mind

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 25, 2011 at 2:00pm

The mind passes into many conditions or states as it is made up of three qualities—Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Kshipta (wandering), Vikshipta (gathering), Mudha (ignorant), Ekagra (one-pointed), and Nirodha (contrary) are the five states of the mind.

Swami Sivananda lived 1887-1963. His teachings are as much inspiring today as they were half a century ago. A life in accordance to his inspiration can lead you to joy, love and highest realisation. Quotes from Amrita Gita copyright The Divine Life Society

Be regular in meditation

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 24, 2011 at 2:00pm

Never miss a day in meditation. Regularity is of paramount importance. When the mind is tired, do not concentrate. Do not take heavy food at night

From Amrita Gita by Swami Sivananda, copyright The Divine Life Society. Swami Sivananda was a self-realized Master and a very practical Guru. Following His teachings can lead you to the Absolute.

How to deal with unwanted thoughts in Meditation

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 23, 2011 at 2:00pm

If evil thoughts enter your mind, do not use your will force in driving them. You will tax your will. You will lose your energy. You will fatigue yourself. The greater the efforts you make, the more the evil thoughts will return with redoubled force. Be indifferent. Become a witness of those thoughts. Substitute divine thoughts. They will pass away.

By Swami Sivananda, from the Book Amrita Gita. Swami Sivananda lived from 1887-1963. He was one of the great Yoga Masters of the 20th Century who made Yoga available to a great public. Copyright of the texts of Swami Sivananda The Divine Life Society Rishikesh

Relax in Meditation

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 22, 2011 at 2:00pm

Never wrestle with the mind during meditation. Do not use any violent efforts at concentration.

Taken from Amrita Gita, by Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj, 1887-1963. Copyright Divine Life Society, Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh. More Informations: Sivananda photos, Sivananda Video, Books by Swami Sivananda

Take the Middle Path

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 21, 2011 at 2:00pm

Do not mix too much. Do not talk too much. Do not walk too much. Do not eat too much. Do not sleep too much. Do not exert too much.

Taken from Amrita Gita, by Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj, 1887-1963. Copyright Divine Life Society, Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh. More Informations: Sivananda photos, Sivananda Video, Books by Swami Sivananda

Dispassion

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 20, 2011 at 2:00pm

Reduce your wants. Cultivate dispassion. You will have progress in Yoga. Vairagya thins out the mind.

Swami Sivananda lived 1887-1963. His teachings are as much inspiring today as they were half a century ago. A life in accordance to his inspiration can lead you to joy, love and highest realisation. Quotes from Amrita Gita copyright The Divine Life Society

Obstacles tto Concentration

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 19, 2011 at 2:00pm

Sleep, tossing of mind, attachment to objects, subtle desires and cravings, laziness, lack of Brahmacharya, gluttony are all obstacles in meditation

From Amrita Gita by Swami Sivananda, copyright The Divine Life Society. Swami Sivananda was a self-realized Master and a very practical Guru. Following His teachings can lead you to the Absolute.

Aids to Concentration

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 18, 2011 at 2:00pm

Retention of breath, Brahmacharya, Sattvic food, seclusion, silence, Satsanga , not mixing much with people are all aids to concentration.

From the book: Amrita Gita, by Shri Swami Sivananda Maharaj, 1887-1963.Copyright The Divine Life Society, Rishikesh. More Infos from and about Swami Sivananda on German Site: Sivananda photos, Sivananda Video

Raja Yoga, the Yoga of Mind Control and Meditation

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 17, 2011 at 2:00pm

Real Raja Yoga starts from concentration. Concentration merges in meditation. Meditation ends in Samadhi .

By Swami Sivananda, from the Book Amrita Gita. Swami Sivananda lived from 1887-1963. He was one of the great Yoga Masters of the 20th Century who made Yoga available to a great public. Copyright of the texts of Swami Sivananda The Divine Life Society Rishikesh

What is Asana, Pranayama and Pratyahara

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 16, 2011 at 2:00pm

Any easy, steady, comfortable pose is Asana, posture for meditation. Asanas steady the body. Pranayama, breathing exercise, checks the outgoing tendencies of the mind. Pratyahara, directiong the mind inside, gives inner spiritual strength. It removes all sorts of distractions. It develops will-power.

Taken from Amrita Gita, by Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj, 1887-1963. Copyright Divine Life Society, Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh. More Informations: Sivananda photos, Sivananda Video, Books by Swami Sivananda

Meditation and Ethical Development

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 15, 2011 at 2:00pm

He who practises meditation without ethical perfection, without the practice of Yama-Niyama cannot obtain the fruits of meditation. Purify your mind first through the practice of Yama-Niyama. Then practise regular meditation. Then you will attain illumination.

Taken from Amrita Gita, by Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj, 1887-1963. Copyright Divine Life Society, Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh. More Informations: Sivananda photos, Sivananda Video, Books by Swami Sivananda

Ahimsa – Non-Violence

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 14, 2011 at 2:00pm

Ahimsa is perfect harmlessness and positive love also. This removes the brutal nature in man and strengthens the will

From Amrita Gita by Swami Sivananda, copyright The Divine Life Society. Swami Sivananda was a self-realized Master and a very practical Guru. Following His teachings can lead you to the Absolute.

Niyama – personal discipline

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 13, 2011 at 2:00pm

Niyama is observance of five canons, viz., Saucha (internal and external purity), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (austerity), Svadhyaya (study of religious books and repetitions of Mantras), and Ishvarapranidhana (self-surrender to God , and His worship).

From the book: Amrita Gita, by Shri Swami Sivananda Maharaj, 1887-1963.Copyright The Divine Life Society, Rishikesh. More Infos from and about Swami Sivananda on German Site: Sivananda photos, Sivananda Video

Yama – the ethical teachings

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 12, 2011 at 2:00pm

Yama consists of five parts, viz., Ahimsa (non-injury), Satyam (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (celibacy), and Aparigraha (non-covetousness).

Swami Sivananda lived 1887-1963. His teachings are as much inspiring today as they were half a century ago. A life in accordance to his inspiration can lead you to joy, love and highest realisation. Quotes from Amrita Gita copyright The Divine Life Society

Ashtangas in Raja Yoga

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 11, 2011 at 2:00pm

The eight limbs of Raja Yoga are: Yama (self-restraint), Niyama (religious observances), Asana (posture), Pranayama (regulation of breath), Pratyahara (abstraction of the senses), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (superconscious state).

By Swami Sivananda, from the Book Amrita Gita. Swami Sivananda lived from 1887-1963. He was one of the great Yoga Masters of the 20th Century who made Yoga available to a great public. Copyright of the texts of Swami Sivananda The Divine Life Society Rishikesh

Hatha and Raja Yoga

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 10, 2011 at 2:00pm

Where Hatha Yoga ends, there Raja Yoga begins. Hatha Yogi starts his Sadhana with his body and Prana. He practises Asanas and Pranayama and through control of Prana, tries to control the mind. A Raja Yogi starts his Sadhana with the mind. He starts meditation and tries to control the mind

From Amrita Gita by Swami Sivananda, copyright The Divine Life Society. Swami Sivananda was a self-realized Master and a very practical Guru. Following His teachings can lead you to the Absolute.

What is Raja Yoga

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 9, 2011 at 2:00pm

Raja Yoga is an exact science. It aims at controlling all thought-waves or mental modifications.

From the book: Amrita Gita, by Shri Swami Sivananda Maharaj, 1887-1963.Copyright The Divine Life Society, Rishikesh. More Infos from and about Swami Sivananda on German Site: Sivananda photos, Sivananda Video