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THE FIVE SHEATHS

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 5, 2012 at 7:00pm

When all the five sheaths have been eliminated by the "Nell-Nell" doctrine and through reasoning, what remains is the witness, the Absolute, the ail-full, indivisible eternal Atman.
The five sheaths are the physical, vital, mental, intellectual and blissful. These are all products of nature. They are like the layers of an onion. Just as the onion dwindles into an airy nothing when all the layers are peeled oil so also the body-idea vanishes when the sheaths are eliminated.

From "Daily Sayings" by

OVERCOME SORROW

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 4, 2012 at 7:00pm

Long hast thou been bound by the noose of "I am the body." Feel now: "I am Satchidananda Atman," and, cutting the noose with this sword of wisdom, roam about happily.
There should not exist in the heart the least idea of separateness. The moment the concepts of "I." "mine" and '"you" arise in one, the nail of sorrow is hammered in him. Get established in the idea of "Soham" or "I am He". Through identification with the Atman you will be able to land safely on the other shore, the shore of immorta

TIME IS PRECIOUS

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 3, 2012 at 7:00pm

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

From "Daily Sayings" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963).

LIVE THE DIVINE LIFE

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 2, 2012 at 7:00pm

Lead the divine life of truth, love and purity. Repeat the Lord's Name with every breath. Take everything as His Will. Surrender yourself unto His protecting hands. You will enjoy perennial peace.
Devotion to the Lord's feet alone will enable you to obtain His Grace. Do Japa, sing Kirtan, do charity, practice meditation and realize the Atomic bliss. May (god bless all your efforts!
Think correctly, decide carefully, speak sweetly and measuredly, work diligently. The senses and the mind are your en

THE PLIGHT OF JIVAS

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on May 1, 2012 at 7:00pm

The bull of Jiva sleeps its long sleep under the large shadows of attachment, in the forest of worldliness, weltering in the mire of sinful actions, goaded by tile goad of ignorance and lashed by the whip of sensual enjoyments. It is bound by the strong cords of desire and is ever and anon tormented by the flea-bites of rare diseases.
A sage's power lies in lifting, through ceaseless effort, this bull which groans under the heavy load of pains. Having fallen into the pool of numberless births and

Summer Bhajan Tour of Omkareshwar Swamis (through many Yoga Vidya Centers)

Posted by Swami Mangalananda on April 26, 2012 at 2:03pm

Swami Mangalananda and Swami Gurusharanananda will once more be on their yearly fundraising tour for the spiritual school they founded at their ashram in Omkareshwar, India. The Swamis are from Ma Anandamayi Ashram and will be singing in many Yoga Vidya Centers throughout Germany, including having a public kirtan at Yoga Vidya Bad Meinberg on Sat. June 9th, 2012. Below is the schedule for this summer:

Europe Tour 2012

May
Germany
Tuesday 22nd—24th Fischen--retreat with Uli and his group (private)

YOUR INNER GUIDE

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on April 25, 2012 at 7:00pm

Conscience is the li[ht of the Soul that burns within the chambers of your heart. It is a form of truth. It is the guiding voice from within.
Virtuous actions, charity, benevolence, nobility, generosity, acts of mercy, practice of truthfulness, Brahmacharya and Ahimsa sharpen conscience. On the other hand, falsehood, a cruel and immoral life, crookedness and deceitfulness kill the conscience. A man of guilty conscience is always restless and un¬happy in this world and in the next also. A man of p

What is the purpose of singing Kirtans constantly?

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on April 21, 2012 at 7:00pm

Singing of Kirtans incessantly will produce divine vibrations within and these vibrations
are so powerful as to counteract all external forces distracting the human mind and arrest the
wanderings of the mind, bringing peace and happiness to the individual. There is a mysterious
power in the Divine Name that singing it purifies the heart and mind and makes the Kirtanist
God-conscious.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divin

How can a person, who has been thinking in a negative way for a long time, change to positive thinking?

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on April 20, 2012 at 7:00pm

Let him start with some positive suggestive formulas: “I am hale and hearty. I am
healthy. There is nothing wrong with me. I was under a misconception of my own abilities and
capacities. Now I have realized my real nature”. Let him do it with the help of some person
advanced in Yoga or a devotee of the Lord. Let him start with a prayer to the Lord. Let him
make prayer a part of his daily life and ‘a must’ in life. All negative thinking will end and he will
become quite normal.

From "May I answer that"

Swamiji, what is the sense in worshipping the Guru as people do here in India? Isn’t that slavery? You mean to say that the disciple becomes the slave of the Guru?

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on April 19, 2012 at 7:00pm

Aren’t you grateful to the man who serves you and helps you? Don’t you express your
gratitude to him in some form or the other? If you behave that way with a man who has helped
you a little bit in a secular way, how much more ought to be your gratitude to the man who shows
you the path to the Supreme? He has given you new life, nay, immortality and eternal bliss. Can
you refrain from expressing your gratitude to him? Actual worship of the Guru is the Indian way
of expressing this highest gratitude. Y

I am a devotee of Lord Siva. Should I go to temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu or Devi also? And if I go, how shall I worship the Deities there?

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on April 18, 2012 at 7:00pm

Yes, you should never miss an opportunity of visiting and worshipping at any shrine you
come across. When you go to a temple of Lord Vishnu or Devi, worship Lord Siva Himself
there. Look upon the Deity in the temple as another form of Lord Siva. If your father came to
you in the attire of a High Court Judge, or being an actor in a drama, if he came to you in the
dress of a female, will you turn away from him? You will greet him as your own father in any
case. Similar should be your attitude in worshi

How long should one practice Sirshasan or Paschimottanasan or Kumbhak or Maha Mudra to awaken the Kundalini? Nothing is mentioned on this point in any book on Yoga.

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on April 17, 2012 at 7:00pm

It all depends upon the degree of purity, stage of evolution, the degree of purification of
the Nadis and the Pranamaya Kosha, and the degree of Vairagya and yearning for liberation.
A student starts his Sadhana from the point or stage he left in his previous birth. Some
are born with account of purity and other requisites of realization on their having undergone the
necessary discipline in their past life. They are born Siddhas. Guru Nanak, Jnana Dev of Alandi,
Vama Dev and Ashtavakra were all adept

When the Jiva undergoes transmigration and takes another birth after leaving this physical body, is it necessary that we should perform the Shraddha ceremony for him? He is no more in the heavens. ...

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on April 16, 2012 at 7:00pm

To whom will the ablations go?

The Pitris remain in heaven, Pitri Loka or Chandra Loka, for a very long period. The
enjoyments in heaven and the peace of the departed soul are enhanced by the performance of the
Shraddha ceremony. Likewise the sufferings of the departed soul in worlds other than heaven are
mitigated by the performance of the Shraddha ceremony by his sons. Thus, in both cases, the
performance of Shraddha is a great help.
And even if the individual takes another birth immediately after h

When the Jiva undergoes transmigration and takes another birth after leaving this physical body, ...

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on April 15, 2012 at 7:00pm

is it necessary that we should perform the Shraddha ceremony for him? He is no more in the heavens. To whom will the ablations go?

It all depends upon the degree of purity, stage of evolution, the degree of purification of
the Nadis and the Pranamaya Kosha, and the degree of Vairagya and yearning for liberation.
A student starts his Sadhana from the point or stage he left in his previous birth. Some
are born with account of purity and other requisites of realization on their having undergone the
nece

When the Jiva undergoes transmigration and takes another birth after leaving this physical body, ...

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on April 14, 2012 at 7:00pm

is it necessary that we should perform the Shraddha ceremony for him? He is no more in the heavens. To whom will the ablations go?

The Pitris remain in heaven, Pitri Loka or Chandra Loka, for a very long period. The
enjoyments in heaven and the peace of the departed soul are enhanced by the performance of the
Shraddha ceremony. Likewise the sufferings of the departed soul in worlds other than heaven are
mitigated by the performance of the Shraddha ceremony by his sons. Thus, in both cases, the
perfor

What are the marks of spiritual progress? How can I know whether he is advanced in the spiritual path or not?

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on April 13, 2012 at 7:00pm

Peace, cheerfulness, contentment, dispassion, fearlessness and an unperturbed state of
mind under all conditions indicate that you are advancing in the spiritual path.
Spiritual progress is not measured by Siddhis or powers, but only by the depth of your
bliss in meditation.
These are sure tests of your spiritual progress:
Is your interest in inner spiritual activity and outer Sadhana increasing day after day?
Does spiritual life mean to your consciousness a matter of great delight, a delight far
trans

I understand the biggest mistake an aspirant often makes is to falsely identify lower Samadhi with higher or the highest Samadhi; but, how can a man who makes such a mistake guard himself against it?

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on April 12, 2012 at 7:00pm

When one rises to the state of Samadhi, he does not make the mistake of doubting as to
whether it is lower or higher or the highest. He knows what it is without doubt, quite naturally.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

Why do the Hindus give more importance to the Bhagavad Gita than to Uttara Gita?

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on April 11, 2012 at 7:00pm

The Bhagavad Gita is more comprehensive and detailed in the exposition of the
philosophy and teachings of Sri Krishna. Rather, it is a magnum opus among the scriptures of
the Hindus, and so, in substance and scope, it is more important than the Uttara Gita, also of Sri
Krishna. But please note that there are many Gitas, such as Anu Gita, Avadhuta Gita and so on,
all of which are helpful to the spiritual aspirant. Yet, among all Gitas¾quite a few dozens of
them, major and minor¾, the Bhagavad Gita is

Which among the Yogic Asans will help a married lady to keep her youth for a considerable period?

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on April 10, 2012 at 7:00pm

Sarvangasan, Matsyasan, Sirshasan, Padahastasan, Halasan, Paschimottanasan and
Chakrasan, coupled with Yoga Mudra and Viparitakarani Mudra, help quite a lot to keep up
bodily poise and tension. All these need not necessarily be taken up simultaneously. Whichever
of these are found convenient can be practiced, along with Pranayam, within the boundary limits
of health and not overriding the limitations of her sex. A lover of Yoga - male or
female - should have restricted carnal desires.

From "May I answ

Is it true that death (voluntary or otherwise) places us in a more conducive environment in the next birth for the ...

Posted by Teachings of Swami Sivananda on April 9, 2012 at 7:00pm

fulfillment of certain deep-rooted desires which are otherwise difficult to fulfil in this life?

Death need not necessarily place one in a more conducive environment in the next birth.
That depends upon the quality of man’s actions during the present birth as well as in the remoter
past. It is true that our desires guide our future births to a great extent.Death need not necessarily place one in a more conducive environment in the next birth.
That depends upon the quality of man’s actions during the

Blog Posts

All Posts (2343)

THE FIVE SHEATHS

OVERCOME SORROW

TIME IS PRECIOUS

LIVE THE DIVINE LIFE

THE PLIGHT OF JIVAS

Summer Bhajan Tour of Omkareshwar Swamis (through many Yoga Vidya Centers)

YOUR INNER GUIDE

What is the purpose of singing Kirtans constantly?

How can a person, who has been thinking in a negative way for a long time, change to positive thinking?

Swamiji, what is the sense in worshipping the Guru as people do here in India? Isn’t that slavery? You mean to say that the disciple becomes the slave of the Guru?

I am a devotee of Lord Siva. Should I go to temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu or Devi also? And if I go, how shall I worship the Deities there?

How long should one practice Sirshasan or Paschimottanasan or Kumbhak or Maha Mudra to awaken the Kundalini? Nothing is mentioned on this point in any book on Yoga.

When the Jiva undergoes transmigration and takes another birth after leaving this physical body, is it necessary that we should perform the Shraddha ceremony for him? He is no more in the heavens. ...

When the Jiva undergoes transmigration and takes another birth after leaving this physical body, ...

When the Jiva undergoes transmigration and takes another birth after leaving this physical body, ...

What are the marks of spiritual progress? How can I know whether he is advanced in the spiritual path or not?

I understand the biggest mistake an aspirant often makes is to falsely identify lower Samadhi with higher or the highest Samadhi; but, how can a man who makes such a mistake guard himself against it?

Why do the Hindus give more importance to the Bhagavad Gita than to Uttara Gita?

Which among the Yogic Asans will help a married lady to keep her youth for a considerable period?

Is it true that death (voluntary or otherwise) places us in a more conducive environment in the next birth for the ...

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