Community on Yoga, Meditation, Ayurveda and Spirituality

January 2012 Blog Posts (41)

Shall I do Japa of “Om Narayana” instead of “Om” in order to make it both Nirguna and Saguna?...

Japa of the Narayana Mantra keeps the Chaturbhuj Murti of the

Lord before my mental eyes. I, however, have been accustomed to meditate on the Murti of

Lord Krishna and am in search of a Chaturbhuj Murti of Lord Krishna with Arjun at His

feet. Please let me know how I should go on in future.

You have already created a clear mental image, momentum and force by meditating on

Lord Krishna. It is not good to change the form now. Even if you change it, the old… Continue

Added by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on January 31, 2012 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Is married life not an obstruction to God-realization? How can a married man please both his wife and God simultaneously?

Married life can never be an obstruction to those who are endowed with dispassion and

detachment to worldly objects and who consider that life is intended to mould one’s own self by

drawing lessons from the university of Nature. Study the lives of saints like Thyagaraja,

Ekanath, Narsi Mehta, Bhadrachalam Ramdas, Tukaram, Namdev, Jayadeva, Chaitanya and

Kabir. Probe deep into the world and the way in which the above-mentioned saints and a host of

others actually led… Continue

Added by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on January 30, 2012 at 6:00pm — 1 Comment

Is woman made for man and to serve him only? Did God create us for the kitchen and for procreation? Why should a woman play a secondary part? Why do you deny equal rights to women?

Woman is in no way inferior to man. The home is a cooperative organization. It

flourishes on the principle of division of labour. If a man earns and the wife stays at home, it

does not mean that the woman is a parasite and a slave. She is indeed the builder of the nation.

To make noble citizens by training their children and to form the character of the whole human

race is undoubtedly a power far greater than that which women could hope to exercise as voters

or… Continue

Added by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on January 29, 2012 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Points of Self Respect and Soul Study:

Points of Self Respect and Soul Study:

1. We, the cheerful souls, like the North Star, do not change our position...with determined thought and determined faith in the intellect, and with a constant and stable stage, we are the multi million times fortunate beads of the rosary...we are full and complete with elevated relationships, elevated connections, true love and all types of wealth and success...we have attainments of all relationships with the One Imperishable, Altruistic…

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Added by VISHNU ER on January 29, 2012 at 1:00pm — No Comments

God is all-pervading formless Being. How can He be confined to an idol? What is the use of idol worship?

The divinity of the all-pervading God is vibrant in every atom of creation. There is not a

speck of space where He is not. Why do you then say that He is not the idols?

The idol is a support for the neophyte. It is a prop of his spiritual childhood. A form or

image is necessary for worship in the beginning. It is not possible for all to fix the mind on the

Absolute or the Infinite. A concrete form is necessary for the vast majority for… Continue

Added by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on January 28, 2012 at 6:00pm — No Comments

I have no desire to leave Grihastha life at this moment and yet I am very, very keen to awaken the Kundalini Sakti. Is this possible? Will Your Holiness help me?

Yes, you can stick to Grihastha Ashrama. But live as an ideal householder. Support the

other three Ashramas. If the duties of a householder are strictly followed, there is no necessity

for Sannyas.

Become a true Brahmachari and give up sexual intercourse completely. You have enough

children. The practice of Yoga strictly demands this from you if you desire to make real,

substantial, rapid spiritual progress. Train your wife also in the spiritual path. Let her also… Continue

Added by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on January 25, 2012 at 6:00pm — No Comments

The rise and fall of humans

The Rise and Fall of Humans

We will understand this lesson with the help of the adjoiningpicture. It is a wonderful story of how the souls, who once were deities became the devotees and very ordinary human beings. It also explains how they lost the divine virtues, spiritual and moral values and developed devilish tendencies. The illustration shows that originally, human souls had complete purity, peace and… Continue

Added by VISHNU ER on January 25, 2012 at 2:42am — No Comments

When I know that this world is not real and I am bound to leave it one day or the other, why should I not renounce it now?...

Taking Pati Seva as my duty, I am doing it very sincerely and faithfully. But I know that neither Pati nor son nor father nor mothercan help me in achieving the real goal. Did not Mira meet Bhagavan by leaving her husband?

For a lady, her husband is the image of God. She will have to realize God in and through

him alone. She need not go to temples even for worship. Your Vairagya is a momentary

bubbling. It cannot help you in any way in your spiritual progress. You may say,… Continue

Added by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on January 24, 2012 at 6:00pm — No Comments

I am disgusted with the false world. I know fully well that it is no use living in such a world. Everywhere I find misery alone....

I intend to enter into the life of a

Sannyasin, but I do not know where to find out a Guru. Kindly let me know what I have to

do to become a Sannyasin.

You should not hate the world, but you should hate the worldly life. The world is a

manifestation of the Lord. The world is the best teacher for you. The world cannot stand in the

way of your attainment of Kaivalya. You must change the way of your living and viewing

things. You will have to build a new mind… Continue

Added by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on January 23, 2012 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Why does God not speak to me? What is the obstacle?

The self-surrender is not complete. There are still subtle Moha, subtle desires and

egoism. The Indriyas are still powerful and outgoing. These are the obstacles. When these are

removed, you can hear the shrill, sweet, inner voice of God. Impure souls mistake the voice of

the impure mind for the voice of God.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations… Continue

Added by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on January 22, 2012 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Understanding

(« Detail of a poster for the International Hygiene Exhibition 1911 in Dresden » by Franz von Stuck)

« Understanding » is the third segue in the series that I have written…

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Added by Christopher Stewart on January 21, 2012 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Should it not be considered as Himsa when we cut vegetables and fruits?

Cutting vegetables is not Himsa. There is no real consciousness in plants and trees,

although there is life in them. There is life in plants, sensation in animals, mentality in human

beings and spirituality in sages. There is no Visesha Ahankara and reflection of Chaitanya in

plants and trees. Hence they cannot experience pain. The tree will not say, “I am experiencing

pain”. The mind in plants and trees is not developed. It is quite rudimentary. It is Jada… Continue

Added by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on January 21, 2012 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Guruji's Yoga Quote#3

Activity and Passivity must go together in Asanas. - B K S Iyengar

Added by Arun Kapania on January 21, 2012 at 4:24am — No Comments

The mistakes and sins in my life are countless and the limit of my ignorance is infinite. I have not learnt Sanskrit. Kindly let me know if I can tread the path of spirituality.

Ignorance is a mental Kalpana, imagination. Thou art an embodiment of wisdom. When

the veil drops, you will shine in your own Svarupa. Allow the Vasanas and egoism to pass.

Break the clouds. Behind the clouds, there is the luminous sun. Behind the mind, there is the

self-radiant Atman. Purify yourself. Destroy the evil Vrittis. Plod on in the spiritual path. You

have taken this life for this purpose only. For Self-realization and the spiritual path, Sanskrit is

not at… Continue

Added by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on January 20, 2012 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Is it absolutely necessary to do Nishkama Karma Yoga for Self-realization? If so, how should it be done?

Yes. You cannot understand and realize the spirit and object of Vedanta if you neglect to

practice Nishkama Karma Yoga for the eradication of the impurities in the mind. Nishkama

Karma Yoga gives you Chitta Suddhi and eventually culminates in the realization of the unity of

the Self.

Serve everyone with intense love, without the idea of agency, without expectation of

fruits, reward or appreciation. Feel that you are only a Nimitta or an instrument in the hands… Continue

Added by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on January 19, 2012 at 6:00pm — No Comments

The cycle of time

The Cycle of Time

In this lesson, we learn about the beginning, the middle and the end of one complete ‘time cycle’ of this world. More than anything else, we will understand the great significance of the period we are undergoing at present.

The world has been in existence since eternity and it will continue to be eternal. The world was neither created anytime before nor will it get destroyed later,… Continue

Added by VISHNU ER on January 19, 2012 at 3:30am — No Comments

Respect the Divine Feminity!

‎"The Divine Light manifests itself in the Divine Feminity. So, give full respect to the Divine Feminity..!"

~ Jagada Guruu Maa Jagadambaa…

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Added by Dr SWAAMEE_APRTEMAANANDAA_JEE on January 19, 2012 at 1:30am — No Comments

In your book “Easy Steps to Yoga”, you speak about the importance of Brahmacharya. I get tired after the day’s hard labour; is it a sin to look at my wife who gives me pleasure?...

Does Brahmacharya help one escape old age? The sexual act is

necessary for renewing life. All man’s mental powers give him no chance of escaping the

time-linked process of birth, life, aging and death. For the propagation of the species, man

and woman have been provided with this creative power; and the sex act is a necessity.

You have viewed the topic from a thoroughly wrong angle. The very premise for your

theory is wrong. Immortality does not pertain to the… Continue

Added by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on January 18, 2012 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Thoughts are the seeds that create destiny.

Thoughts are the seeds that create destiny.

Expression: Thoughts lead one to destiny. If there is the same thought as before, there is no newness and there cannot be anything new attained. If things have to change, effort needs to be put in at the level of the thought first. Such thoughts will naturally inspire and motivate to make the best use of the available resources.

Experience: When I begin to create new thoughts in challenging times , Iam able to be happy and… Continue

Added by VISHNU ER on January 18, 2012 at 2:37am — No Comments

In spite of my thorough search, I am not in a position to find out a real Guru. Can you suggest one?

To find out a real Guru who may sincerely look after the disciple is a very difficult task in

this world. It is quite true. But, to find out a true disciple who may sincerely follow the

instructions of a Guru is indeed a very, very difficult task in this world. Have you thought over

this point? Do not use your reason too much in the selection of a Guru. If you fail to get a Guru

of the first-class type, try to get one who is treading the spiritual path for some years, who… Continue

Added by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on January 16, 2012 at 6:00pm — No Comments