NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1998
THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY OF MARYLAND
Dear Readers,
We hope you like the new Internet format of "Heart of Sivananda". It is designed to give you information of our activities and will supply you with inspirational reading and study material on a variety of topics on Yoga and Vedanta by Swami Sivananda, Swami Chidananda and Swami Krishnananda. We have also added a new column on Hatha Yoga. It is through the introduction and practice of Hatha Yoga, that many of the students come to be interested in spiritual life and then go on to the study of the higher Yoga.
Summer was filled with wonderful events and surprises. Our annual Sadhana Retreat was held in July at the Ashram. Swami Vimalanandaji, who stayed with us for several months, presided over the retreat. He taught us many new chants and prayers. The highlight of the week was the Gurupoornima celebration on July 9th. A Paduka Puja was performed with everyone present participating.
We heard in July about a possible surprise visit by H.H. Swami Chidanandaji, who was to make a stop in Maryland on his way to South America. By mid August we were able to host President Swamiji for a weekend retreat. It was truly a Divine Gift. One hundred seventy five devotees from all over the United States and Canada joined us for this spiritual feast. The dedicated help of our associates and devotees made this a most beautiful and happy occasion. Even though, Swamiji's health was very delicate, he gave three discourses and made himself graciously available for Darshan.
Our Fall Retreat was held at the Claggett Center in Buckeystown, Maryland. Swami Adhyatmananda from the headquarters guided us through the retreat. His great enthusiasm, sense of humor and creative approach to teaching brought a special quality to a glorious weekend of spiritual fellowship.
We are very happy to inform you that Pujya Swami Chidanandaji will keep up his communication with friends and devotees through the Internet in future. Since not everyone has access through the Internet, we feel privileged to bring you his message through the newsletter. His first letter is dated Thursday, October 8,1998.
Radiant Immortal Atman!
Dear Friends,
The bright and light filled Diwali or the Annual Festival of Lights in India occurs on the 19th/20th of this month namely, October this year. I extend to every one of you my very best greetings and special good wishes for a joyful and happy Diwali. May your life be full of brightness within and without. Upon that day millions of bright lamps will be lit all over India right from the Himalayan north down to the very tip of India in the extreme south. Every village, town, city will be so lit up that night will look like day. In this auspicious connection I have a request for all who read these lines. When the world outside is thus brightened with the light of countless lamps, please consider if you can similarly brighten the inner world of people's hearts and minds wherein there may perhaps prevail some darkness of one sort or other. It may be the darkness of sadness or of discouragement or despair due to failure. It may be darkness of some negative mood brought about by some offense or injury whether real or imagined. But so far as the person concerned, it will indeed be very real to her or him. You can be to the lives of such less fortunate of your brethren, a light. You can be a living light not lit by any human hands, lit by God himself and shining with the brightness of his own radiance. You know very well that the one universal common factor accepted, affirmed and declared by almost all the living religions of the world is the truth and the fact of the Indwelling Presence of God in each and every one of the creatures, great and small, brought into existence by Him. It is a well known concept that our body is the moving temple of the living God within. This is what you are. You have within you the potential to shine with the dazzling effulgence of the Sun. Shine therefore with this radiance which you are. Live and move in this world as a center of effulgence bringing in light wherever you are. Brighten the lives of others by your kindness, cheerfulness, friendliness and sincere readiness to serve and help. Be a blessing. Be even as the gentle Saint Francis of Assisi expressed in the artless heart language of his Simple Prayer.
More than ever before in human history this positive process of spreading goodwill, love and friendliness has become imperative and urgent too. Because, today when the 20th century is about to conclude soon to welcome the advent of the 21st century, we find ourselves in a world split into numerous waning camps and rent with enmity, hostility, hatred and violent destructive behavior on the part of individuals as well as groups of persons in clash and conflict with others of opposite views. Matters have come to such a head that killing is glorified and raised to the status of a religious duty that should be undertaken as a pious act on the part of a true believer and a faithful follower of "RELIGION". The fantastic interpretations given to scriptures and religious texts take one's breath away and leave the layman aghast. I have always thought of religion as the only unifying and binding force that can bring together mankind in the fraternal bond of spiritual oneness. Because, amidst all the outward diversities and apparent differences that exist on the surface, deep within each and everyone of us and all of us, there abides one identical principle that forms our innermost core-reality. This is the same in all beings. For this reason spirituality which is the inner divine dimension of Religion in the sense of theology, dogma and ritual becomes an enduring foundation of universal brotherhood and human solidarity. It is upon this foundation that we have to raise the edifice of a New Humanity for the 20th century. We have all to work for this. All our shared work and united efforts should be positive, constructive, creative and above all unifying. As a result there must emerge a Global Human Family with planet earth as its home. May this then be our priority task as we go about attending to other tasks as well. It is this priority task which will make other tasks worthwhile and meaningful. Come, come and play your active part in this universal human mission. Exercise the blessed privilege of being an individual member of our Human Family. May your being and doing be a blessing upon the contemporary scene.
Blessed Atman, I am glad that by the will of God I have been able to have a continuous and almost uninterrupted stay in the Ashram from the 21st of September up to the 26th of October. This was a great blessing because from its very commencement this period included the 9 days annual worship of Divine Mother namely, the sacred Navaratra Devi Puja. After the auspicious Vijaya Dasami day I had an intention of proceeding to Uttarkashi and then Gangotri to be present for the winter closing of Ganga Mata's Mandir, which is always the day after Diwali. But, I postponed my departure at the request of Swami Yajnavalkyanandaji (Pujya Sri B.G. Adhvaryoo) of Vimagar, Saurashtra Central Hospital and Sivananda Mission, who was to arrive at Gurudev's Sivananda Ashram on 12th of October. However, after his arrival, my journey to hills was not merely postponed but was given up altogether. Revered Dr. Sahib who was in his 92nd year of age, decided to extend his stay right up to the 1st week of November and was keen to have some detailed personal and private discussions with me. Therefore, I too decided to stay put in the Ashram and continue here itself for another 10-12 days more right upto 26th October. Thus, I am writing this letter at this time with a view to conclude it before leaving for Kankhal, Hardwar on 27th Oct. for Worshipful Sree Sree Anandamayee MA's Ashram to be present during its annual week long spiritual discipline program called SAMYAM SAPTAH MAHAVRAT that takes place this year from 28th Oct up to 3rd Nov. 1998. The letter is being concluded but truth to tell this letter is not yet complete. I have many more things to say. I shall tell them to you in my next letter. Until that time, May God bless you and keep you.
Swami Chidananda
Our next Satsang on Dec 6th, will be our Christmas Satsang. We hope that many of you can join us for this event. There will be no Satsang on Jan. 3rd. We wish you all good health, prosperity and happiness for the New Year, and may the True Spirit of Christmas bring you Peace and Joy.
Yours in the service of Gurudev,
Swami Gurudevananda and Samarpana
From Sri Swami Sivananda
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
FOR KARMA YOGIS
- See God in every face, in everything.
- Repeat mentally or silently or with the breath the Name of the Lord, such as 'Hari Om', 'Sri Ram' or your own Ishta Mantra or Guru Mantra, even while you work in the office. A strong habit of repetition of the Mantra will soon be formed.
- Give up meat. Take Sattvic foods like milk, fruits, bread, pulses and vegetables, etc. Eat simple food. Wear simple clothing. Practice celibacy or moderation.
- Feel that God is the inner Ruler who manipulates your mind, body and the Indriyas (senses). Therefore give up the thought: "I am the doer". Feel: "I am Nimitta or an instrument in His hands. God works through my hands, eats through my mouth and sees through my eyes."
- Do not expect any fruit for your actions; not even approbation, thanks, gratitude, appreciation, applause, return of salute or smile, etc.
- Offer all actions, their fruit, body, mind, the Indriyas and the soul as flowers at the Lotus-feet of the Lord.
- Never, never say: "I have helped that man." Feel and think: "That man gave me an opportunity to serve. This piece of service has helped me to purify my mind. I am extremely grateful to him."
- Feel that the world is a manifestation of God. Harireva Jagat Jagadeva Harih. Sarvam Vishnumayam Jagat. Serve with Narayana Bhava. Feel that you are serving God in all beings.
- Discipline the Indriyas (senses). Control them. Develop alertness, decision, discrimination, mercy, tolerance, forgiveness, discernment, patience, cosmic love, and equal vision. Have a balanced mind. Be calm, cool and serene always.
- Combine Bhakti or Jnana with Karma Yoga.
- Serve poor, sick people. There is no Yajna that is greater than this. Serve everyone with Bhava, Prem and full Shraddha. Serve the Lord in all. Serve your country and society. Serve your parents, brothers and sisters, the Sadhus, Sannyasins, Bhaktas, Mahatmas and your spiritual teachers with devotion and a full heart. Shampoo the legs of sick people. Feel that you are touching the body of the Lord (Virat). Feel that the energy of Hiranyagarbha (cosmic energy) is flowing through your hands. Tap the very source, the storehouse of cosmic energy.
- Be good and do good. Become an embodiment of goodness. Keep the body strong and healthy. Note in your spiritual diary the number of good and evil actions that you do daily.
From Sri Swami Chidananda
DYNAMIC SELFLESSNESS
The first step to liberation is to engage in the sadhana of selfless service unto all beings. Selfless service unto all beings is impossible where self-love is the normal state of our interior. When we love ourselves more than all other things, then our whole life will be based on this self-love only. It is when this fact is clearly recognized that one tries to liberate oneself from the binding shackles of self-love and extends one's love to the whole world to all of God's creation including animals, reptiles, insects and even the grass that grows under our feet.
We try to become a center of goodwill and benefit to all. Nothing is considered to be below our attention. Everything is great because one great God has created all things large and small. Then alone the spiritual life begins, because unless self-love gives place to love of all, selfishness cannot be overcome. Unless selfishness is overcome, the process of liberating oneself from the I-dominated consciousness will not proceed. We overcome selfishness by practicing its opposite in a dynamic manner.
Selflessness practiced in a dynamic manner is called selfless service with no hidden motive, wanting nothing, expecting nothing, not even recognition or thanks. As a matter of fact, they say that real selfless service should be done secretly. The one that is served should not know that he is being served. "Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand is doing." This, of course, is the ideal, the height of selfless service.
It is only possible if one liberates oneself from self-love and extends one's love to all creation. And this love is impersonal. It is objectless and impersonal. It is divine, spiritual, and not human, although it starts with the human dimension. It is totally motiveless, devoid of any desire. Then it can do wonders. It can completely reconstitute our interior consciousness by transforming it. It is the expression of God through our heart, through our mind and through our vision, the way in which we view everything that God has created looking at them through God's eye. That means looking at them with a love-filled eye, because God and love are not to be distinguished. They are one and the same.
Therefore, love is something that goes beyond mere human sentiment or emotion. It is a part of us that does not belong to our human nature, because our reality is not human. That part of us which is an amsa (part) of Paramatman is our true identity and it is totally divine. And, inasmuch as God is an ocean of love and compassion, expressing this love in the form of acts of kindness, goodness, compassion, benefit, usefulness and servicefulness is the first step towards liberation.
THE SECRET OF RIGHT ACTION
The Bhagavadgita is the classic treatise on the science of right activity, called Karma Yoga. Krishna exhorts Arjuna to engage himself in the performance of duty, by regarding pleasure and pain as well as success and failure as equal, for the purpose of rightly directed work is not the achieving of any result for oneself but discharging the duty of cooperation with the law of the Universe. The merit that a right action produces never perishes in time, however small it be, and even the least effort done in the direction of righteousness is capable of saving one from the danger of falling into the bondage of life. One should, for this purpose, go beyond the pairs of opposites like pleasure and pain, by centering oneself in purity of thought achieved through a carefree life of the establishment of consciousness in the Universal Self.
One's duty is only to act and not covet the fruit of action. The secret of right action is in so conducting oneself that there is neither regard for the result of the action nor is there total abstinence from action. But the non-regard to the fruit of action is not to be interpreted as callousness to the performance of duty and a carelessness towards its method and purpose, that would be another form of selfishness, for Karma Yoga is "dexterity in execution" and 'balance of mind' in the performance of action. Lest this science of action should be mistaken for mere prudence of behavior and shrewdness in conduct, Krishna adds that all action is to be done after fixing oneself in Yoga and detaching oneself from any ulterior motive behind it. And Yoga is the equanimous settling of oneself in the consciousness of God.
No one would gain anything by trying to cease from action, because no one can remain without action even for a moment, as everyone is forcibly driven to it by the properties of Prakriti whose very nature is to evolve increasingly into higher levels of being. There is no point in maintaining an inactivity of the body while the mind and the senses are engaged in the quest of their objects. It is true Karma Yoga when one engages oneself in outward action in keeping with the way of the world, while the mind and the senses are under perfect control. The purpose of work is not the achievement of any selfish end but participation in the cooperative activity of creation. Society everywhere lives on cooperation, the mechanism of the body works on cooperation, the world is an embodiment of mutual cooperation, the solar and stellar systems have their meaning in cooperation, the universe with all its contents is a dramatic scene of an all-round cooperative process. This marvelous system of the universal government becomes intelligible in the concept of the Virat-Purusha or God as the Cosmic Person described in the Purusha-Sukta of the Veda and the Vishvarupadarsana of the Gita.
The responsibility to work is said to cease only in the case of him who is satisfied with the Self and delights in the Self and is contented with the Self. For him, there is nothing to achieve and it is immaterial whether he does anything or not, as he has absolutely no dependence on anything in the world. This extraordinary condition of non-action propounded in the Gita is not to be taken as a license for inactivity of any kind. For the so-called inaction of the knower of the Self is the highest form of action. Noteworthy is the qualification "he has absolutely no dependence". It is humanly impossible for anyone not to depend on the world for something or the other, and man depends on society for his sustenance, on his relations for timely help, on the government for his protection, and on the bounties of Nature for his very existence. The state of consciousness to which Krishna refers in this description of the sage delighting in the Self is not any conceivable bodily condition, but is the state of the transcendence of individuality in Universal Being. Naturally, work ceases to have meaning in Universal Consciousness. But work cannot cease in the case of anyone who feels that he exists in a world.
The great wisdom of action is expressed in the immortal enunciation of its technique that the wise one should engage himself in action outside without attachment inside, in the same way as the ignorant one does it with attachment; nor should the wise one condemn the erroneous acts of the ignorant, because such condemnation would, instead of educating them, mislead them into a state of dispiritedness and lack of zest in life. The duty of the wise is to encourage the ignorant and not to rob them of their faith, for the educative process is a rise from the lower to the higher understanding and not an outward compulsion. What mars the spirit of right action is selfishness in the form of passion, anger and greed. Freedom from these psychological diseases is real spiritual health. Real action is not bodily movement but inner volition born of desire. One who is freed from it does no action, though he is apparently engaged in it in the ordinary sense. The action which tends to the consuming of individuality in the sacrifice of God-consciousness melts away and does not bind the doer thereof. When one beholds the diversity of beings as rooted in the One, he attains to the absolute, then and there.
GITA MEDITATIONS
Rules of Right Activity
- Thy right is to work only; but never with its fruits, let not the fruit of action be thy motive, nor let thy attachment be to inaction. (II-47).
- Perform action, O Dhananjaya, being steadfast in Yoga, abandoning attachment, and balanced in success and failure. Evenness of mind is called Yoga. (II-48).
- Therefore, do thou always, without attachment, perform action which should be done; for, by performing action without attachment man reaches the Supreme. (III-19).
- Actions do not taint Me, nor have I a desire for the fruit of actions. He who knows Me thus is not bound by actions. (IV-14).
- Without hope, with the mind and self controlled, having abandoned all greed, doing mere bodily action, one incurs no sin. (IV-21).
- Content with what comes to him without effort, free from the pairs of opposites and envy, even-minded pairs in success and failure: though acting, he is not bound. (IV-22).
- Of one who is devoid of attachment, who is liberated, whose mind is established in knowledge, who acts for the sake of sacrifice, the whole action is dissolved. (IV-23).
- Brahman is the oblation; Brahman is the clarified butter; by Brahman is the oblation poured into the fire of Brahman; Brahman, verily, shall be reached by him who always sees Brahman in action. (IV-24).
- He who does actions, offering them to Brahman, abandoning attachment, is not tainted by sin, as a lotus-leaf by water. (V-10).
from hatha yoga
(RELAXATION POSTURE)
Practice Session:
Physical Relaxation Processes
Lie flat on the back and bring the body into correct alignment. Place the feet about twenty inches apart. The arms should be away from the upper portion of the chest, with the palms turned upward. Close the eyes.
Gently move all parts of the body. Mentally observe and feel the spine and press it against the ground. Try to bring the small of the back as close as possible to the floor. Observe the neck, pull the head back, and feel how the neck vertebrae come off the floor. Slowly move the head forward, pressing the neck vertebrae down. Find the point of complete relaxation. The head must be in straight alignment with the spine.
Start to identify and feel some of the muscles of the body by tensing and relaxing them alternately. First visualize the right foot. Inhale and tense all the muscles in the right foot. Hold the breath as tension is applied. After three seconds, exhale and relax the muscles of the right foot. Repeat the same process with the left foot and with the hands. Then concentrate on the muscles of the pelvis and buttocks. Tense them and relax them. Repeat slowly three times. Now visualize the abdominal area. Inhale deeply, hold the breath for three seconds, and with the exhalation feel that all the muscles of the abdomen and diaphragm are completely relaxed. Come further up to the chest region. Again inhale deeply, by expanding the chest. Hold the breath for three seconds and with the exhalation feel that all the muscles of the chest and thorax are relaxing deeply. Concentrate on the shoulders; without moving the arms drop the shoulders back to the floor, completely relaxed.
Reaching the facial muscles, move the jaw up and down, left and right, until the jaw feels relaxed. Tense all facial muscles and then relax; tense the tip of the nose and relax. Now there should be full awareness of the tensed or relaxed condition of the muscles. The ability to recognize a state of tension in the body comes with repeated practice. Now, keep the body absolutely motionless and go mentally over the entire body, giving relaxation suggestions to each and every part. Every relaxation suggestion is based on the following thought processes.
- Fixation of the mind on the particular part of the body to be relaxed.
- Continuous suggestion (repetition of the same thought to that part to relax.
- Sensation, a full awareness of the relaxed condition of the part of the body under attention at a particular time.
Suggestion is successful only when these three steps have been completed. This should be done on every part of the body, one after the other. So, begin by relaxing the toes, then the feet, the instep and heels, and then the calves. Proceed slowly and thoroughly, step by step, with the technique given above, from joint to joint, from the ankle to the knee, from the knee to the hip. Relax the abdomen, then around the waist, and the muscles at the lower spine. Work upwards toward the chest, around the rib-cage, finally releasing the top of the back. Now, concentrate on the hands; relax each finger in turn; relax the palms and wrist; the forearms and elbows; the arm muscles and the shoulders. Concentrate on the neck and relax it, and then the face. Be sure to relax the numerous little facial muscles one by one, since some of these, muscles are always in a state of contraction. Drop the lower jaw without opening the lips. Relax the tongue and the muscles surrounding the mouth, the lips and the nostrils. Next concentrate on the eyes. Relax all the muscles in and around the eyes. Relax the forehead, and finally relax the scalp.
After having gone over the entire body from feet to head, repeat the process, and notice that some muscles will have become tense again. Relax these anew. The second time, relaxation will come more quickly and easily. Now the awareness of a deeper state of relaxation begins. If the instructions have been followed successfully, a sensation of heaviness will be felt in the body. The force of gravity pulling at the feet and legs is felt. Feel the sensation of becoming heavier and heavier. This is not just the result of autosuggestion, but the perception of a feeling which, although not experienced in the normal state, arises when the muscles are totally relaxed. The whole body becomes so heavy that it feels as if it is sinking into the floor, and ultimately all sensation of the body disappears. Once this state is reached, an unbelievable feeling of relaxation is experienced in which the body is forgotten, and one seems to have become incorporeal. Now the student is ready for the next step.
(To be continued in the next issue with
Practice Session: Mental Relaxation)
UPCOMING EVENTS
SATSANGS
Held on the first Sunday of each month at the ashram at 10.30 AM, followed by a "Pot Luck Lunch". All are invited, Please call for directions if needed.
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YOGA CLASSES
Taught By Swami Gurudevananda
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FREDERICK YMCA (301) 663-5131 Mondays (morn/eve) Beginner & Intermediate MONTGOMERY GENERAL HOSPITAL
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DLS KEEDYSVILLE
(301) 432-4918
Wednesdays (eve) Intermediate
WASHINGTON YMCA
(202) 862-9622
Thursdays (eve) Beginner & Intermediate
OLD MACKIN HIGH SCHOOL
(301) 432-4918
Thursdays (eve) Intermediate
CONTACT US
Divine Life Society of Maryland
6606 Hardwood Lane
Keedysville, MD 21756
(301) 432-4918
E-mail: simado@aol.com