Teachings of Swami Sivananda's Posts

Meditation and Japa

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on March 29, 2011 at 2:00pm

Practise meditation also along with Japa. This is Japa-Sahita-Dhyana. Gradually Japa will drop and meditation alone will continue. This is Japa-Rahita-Dhyana.

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

Repeat the Mantra regularly

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

Resolve to finish a certain minimum number of Malas before leaving the seat. Mala or rosary is a whip to goad the mind towards God. Sometimes do the Japa without a Mala. Go by the watch.

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

Be alert and concentrated

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

Be vigilant. Keep an alert attention during Japa. Stand up and do the Japa when sleep tries to overpower you.

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

How to use a Japa Mala

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

How to use a Japa Mala
Use not the index finger while rolling the beads. Use the thumb, the middle and the ring fingers. When counting of one Mala is over, revert it and come back again. Cross not the Meru. Cover your hand with a towel.

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 alert in Mantra repetition

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

Pronounce the Mantra distinctly and without mistakes. Do not repeat it too fast or too slow.

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

Repeat a Mantra with feeling

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

Do not do the Japa in a hurried manner, just as a contractor tries to finish his work in a hurried way. Do it slowly with Bhava, one-pointedness of mind and single-minded devotion.

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 repeat a Mantra

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

When you repeat the Mantra, have the feeling or mental attitude that the Lord is seated in your heart, that Sattva or purity is flowing from the Lord to your mind, that the Mantra purifies your heart, destroys desires and cravings and evil thoughts.

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

How to practice Mantra repetition, Japa

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

Get up at a.m. and do the Japa for two hours. Brahmamuhurtha is most favourable for Japa and meditation. If you cannot take a bath, wash your hands, feet, face and body, and sit for Japa. Face north or east when sitting. This enhances the efficacy of the Japa. Sit on a Kusha-grass seat or deer-skin or rug. Spread a white cloth over it. This conserves body-electricity. Do some prayer before starting the Japa. Have a steady pose. Have Asana-Jaya or conquest over Asana. You can be able to sit in Padma, Siddha or Sukha Asana for three hours at a stretch.

Three kinds of Mantra repetition

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

Japa is of three kinds, viz., Manasic Japa, Upamsu Japa or humming, and Vaikhari Japa, loud and audible Japa. Mental repetition of Japa, Manasic Japa, is more powerful than loud Japa.

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.

Practice and realize

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

The glory of the Name of God cannot be established through reasoning and intellect. It can certainly be experienced or realised, only through devotion, faith and constant repetition.

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

Effects of Mantra repetition

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

Repetition of Mantra raises vibrations. Vibrations give rise to definite forms. Repetition of Om Namah Sivaya gives rise to the form of Lord Siva in the mind; repetition of Om Namo Narayanaya gives rise to the form of Lord Hari.

Swami Sivananda

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

What is a Mantra

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

Mananaat Trayate iti Mantrah: By the Manana, constant thinking or recollection, one is released from the round of birth and death; so it is called Mantra.

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

Repeat your Mantra

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

Name of the Lord is a boat to cross this Samsara. It is a weapon to destroy the mind. The repetition of the Mantra again and again generates great spiritual force and momentum and intensifies the spiritual Samskaras or impressions.

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

Name of the Lord

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

Sweeter than all sweet things, more auspicious than all good things, purer than all pure things, is the Name of the Lord.

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

Power of the Name of God

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

Every Name is filled with countless powers; just as fire has the natural property of burning things, so also the Name of God has the power of burning the sins and desires.

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.

Effects of Mantra Repetition

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

Effects of Mantra Repetition
Japa removes the impurities of the mind, destroys sins and brings the devotee face to face with the Lord.

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

What is Japa Yoga

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

Japa is the repetition of any Mantra or Name of the Lord with Bhava and feeling.

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

Japa Yoga – repetition of Mantra

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

In this Iron Age, Japa Yoga is an easy way for attaining God-realisation.

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

Do your duty

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

Practise your Svadhanna, your Varnashrama Dharma unselfishly, without egoism. You will attain purification of heart. Knowledge of Brahman will dawn in your heart.

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

Give up identification

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

An egoistic man alone thinks: “I am the doer.” Really it is the Guna or Prakriti or the sense that does the action. Atman is actionless, Akarta, Nishkriya.

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.