CULTURAL SERVICE FIRST: Sri Natarajan had come from South India on a fund-collection mission on behalf of the Akhilandeswari Temple. They had been experiencing difficulty in carrying on the work which was commenced by his father. Sri Natarajan had come to Delhi for the purpose of collecting funds. He did not meet with the success he had expected. He requested the Master to bless him with success in the undertaking.

The Master was silent for a while, almost as if he was unmindful of the visitor’s plea. He was listening all the while, besides doing his own work.

The pen was put away.

“Do some Anushtan. This sort of running about for money is no good. By sheer Adhyatmic power you must be able to invoke God’s Grace and get what you need. Money will come to you. You need not run after it. Reduce the food expenses in connection with functions. Whatever money is collected you must try to utilise for cultural purposes. Food will only create more quarrels and unnecessary crowds.

“Start a Sanskrit college. Bring out translations of the Vedas and Upanishads. Then people will be benefited. They will appreciate your work and money will pour in. Study the working of such colleges elsewhere. Obtain suggestions from Sri S.V. Iyer of Chingleput. He has organised a Seva Ashram there. That is the way to work. Then people will come to know of your spirit of service and will themselves come forward to help. Nowadays no one will give you a donation merely for the sake of feeding.”

“Swamiji, food is also necessary, is it not?”

“Yes, that also; but the main thing is cultural service.”

“Annadana (food charity) first and . . .”

“No, no. Jnana Dana (charity of knowledge) first and Annadana next. You can give a man food and in a few hours he will be hungry again. Furthermore, if you do not satisfy him and feed him according to his taste, he will abuse you.”

INSTRUCTIONS AND AUTOGRAPH: “You wish to have my autograph? Come, why hesitate?”

The Master relieved Sri Kamala Tuli’s embarrassed silence.

Astonished, she merely smiled and nodded, “Yes.”

“At first I thought that the thing in your hand was a money-bag, but when I noticed your embarrassment, I realised it must be an autograph book. Give it to me.”

When the book was handed to the Master he looked at it with the admiration of a child. But there were no autographs in it!

“Swamiji, I wanted the book to be opened by you first.”

Quietly the Master wrote:

Srimathi Kamala Tuli,

Serve, love, give. Do Kirtan, do Japa. Control anger through patience and forgiveness. See God everywhere. Meditate. Realise God.

May you shine like Mira, Radha and Sita! May Lord bless you with health, long life, peace and freedom!
—Sivananda.

A full page of spiritual instructions in answer to a devotee’s prayer for a simple autograph!

SAVED BY THE LORD’S GRACE: “It is a miracle how they have all been saved. Even a sight of the wreckage is enough to turn one mad. The very thought of the accident is quite sufficient to kill the passengers. They were saved only through Lord Viswanath’s Grace. Instead of meeting with the accident in the middle of a jungle, where there would have been little chance of being saved, they were all brought to the feet of Lord Viswanath, where they could get immediate medical treatment, tea and all comfort.”

The Master extolled greatly the Grace and power of Lord Viswanath as the victims of a nasty bus accident just adjacent to the Ashram dispensary were being treated zealously by the inmates.

A POLISHED CHEAT: “What are Rs.600 before the evolution of a single individual soul? I shall not be sorry if the consignee does not pay even a pie for the Rs.600 worth of books we sent him. What will he do with the books? They are not eatables. He might sell them at an anna per copy at the Moore Market in Madras, or even give them free. In any case they will go round. At least one man’s eyes will be opened and he will begin to do Japa. I will be satisfied. God will give us money when He thinks fit. Why should we consider this a loss?”

The Master made the above observations when the case of a bookseller, who had taken out a consignment of his books worth Rs.600, had not even intimated his whereabouts to the Society for years. The person in question did not have a shop!

When the news was broken to him, the Master, in between winks and a winsome smile, said, “So you have been deceived by this polished cheat! It is a wonder how you entrusted such a large consignment to a stranger!”

“Swamiji, before that he had purchased books worth Rs.20.”

“Yes, he bought books worth Rs.20, sent you a nice letter on his big, beautiful letterhead, then ordered Rs.600 worth of books and bolted! He is a polished cheat!”

Everyone laughed and said, “Yes, Swamiji.”

“There was a similar case in Singapore. A man opened a large shop. He had a lady typist, a spacious office, etc. He had a roaring business. He borrowed some money from the local people. One day he was found missing with all the money. He opened a similar shop in Saigon too!”

Everyone seemed to have reconciled themselves to the view that all of them, including the Master, had been deceived. Reading their thoughts the Master again said, “We have not incurred any loss!”

LEARN AND BE VIGILANT: “I was coming out of my cottage. A horse-cart was standing on the road. A Sadhu and a Bhakta were having hot words with the driver. The Sadhu is a very learned pundit. Suddenly, the Bhakta started thrusting his umbrella into the driver’s ribs. The Sadhu jumped into the cart and started kicking the driver.

“Mysterious is the power of Maya. The past impressions of the mind are very powerful. This Sadhu has been practising austerities here for at least twenty-five years. He is old and learned, but these evil traits do not leave him.

“We should learn a lesson from this and be extremely vigilant.”

The Master spoke the above words and immediately entered the office.

THE MASTER CONSOLES: A heart-broken man walked into the office. Disgusted with the world on account of a series of failures, he wanted solace.

The pen dropped from the Master’s hand. The pair of spectacles disappeared into the case. He led the young man out of the office and seated him on a bench outside.

“Now repeat the Name with me.”

He did Kirtan with the visitor. Om chanting followed. The effect on the man was miraculous. He regained his composure.

The Master asked him to do Japa on the Ganges bank.

SECRET OF ABUNDANCE: “Take Sannyas, then you will get whatever you need. That is the secret of renunciation. When you require some money you have to run to your bank. When I need it someone comes in and offers it with prostration, with love and respect. Some bring sweets. Others bring torches, medicines, etc. Renounce all desires, then God will ever dwell in you and take care of you,” the Master said to Srimathi Liliane and Sri Annapurna of America.

TRUE RENUNCIATION: “Neither want nor give up—this should be the attitude of a Vedantin. He should not say, ‘I have given up salt. I have given up sugar.’ No, not even ‘I have given up the world.’ He should be quite indifferent. He should rest in his own essential divine nature and realise the unity of existence. He should always see Brahman alone in everything and everywhere,” the Master said when a certain Swami quietly placed a packet of sweetmeats­—a visitor’s offering—on his table and walked away.

In such cases the conveyor usually got the first and lion’s share of the offering. The young disciple, who was full of dispassion, was reluctant to put himself in that position.

SANNYAS-AROMA: “M. wants Sannyas,” the Master remarked as he read a letter from a disciple who had proceeded on a pilgrimage to Uttarakhand.

There was silence and no further talk. The Master left the office.

In the afternoon he brought the following poem as a surprise commentary on his morning utterance:

“Comfortable Sannyas will not help you;
Sannyas is sterner stuff;
It demands endurance, renunciation and dispassion;
You have not abandoned betel leaves and nuts,
Smoking, tea, love for crop and newspaper reading,
Mixing with householders freely;
You are saturated with worldly ambitions.
People should see something of Sannyas in you,
Some kind of Sannyas-aroma should waft from you,
Otherwise what is the use of your Sannyas?
Is it for getting respect or receiving Namaskar?
Then you are deceiving yourself and others, too.
Shave the mind first by destroying desires;
Give colouring to your heart first.
This is real Sannyas.”

VAIN DISCUSSION: A pundit of good learning and old age arrives.

“What is divine life, Swamiji?” he asks in Hindi.

“To observe Ahimsa, Satyam and Brahmacharya; to do Japa, meditation and Kirtan; to study the Upanishads and Gita; to serve all, to love all—this is divine life.”

“How to control the wandering mind?”

“By dispassion and practice.”

“How to develop dispassion?”

Silence.

“I think you are not very well acquainted with Hindi, Swamiji. Shall I talk in English?”

Silence.

After the pundit had left abruptly, the Master said, “Vain discussion! They will never do anything in their life. They will ask some stock questions of everyone they meet. In this way they will go on asking. If we also go on replying, a discussion will arise—then, heated debate and hot words, ‘You are a fool, you know nothing!’ It is a waste of time talking to them. Do they not know the simple practices of Japa, Kirtan, study of scriptures, God’s Grace, etc? They will never practise nor will they approach anyone with feeling and respect.”

POWER OF GAYATRI: Sri Harichandani had been at the Ashram for three or four days. He would come to the office daily, bow to the Master and take his seat. This morning he waited patiently and found the Master alone and free in the office. He prostrated.

“Swamiji, I have a small doubt. I have heard of a very powerful Mantra of Devi Shodashakshari. It is reputed to fulfil one’s desires quickly. May I have initiation of this Mantra from your Holiness?”

“Please do not run after these Mantras. It is much safer to go on with the Gayatri. It is the best of all Mantras. It will give you liberation. Please go on repeating it.”

“Yes, Swamiji, I have been repeating the Gayatri 1 008 times daily for the last three months. But I want success in life. Will I get it from the Gayatri?”

“Do not expect to have this or that good fortune from Japa. Do it without desire for the fruits. Then you will get everything. Are you expecting to get a money order every day?”

Sri Harichandani was surprised to receive this answer.

“How long have you to study to obtain a matriculation certificate?”

“Ten years, Swamiji.”

“Then how much longer should you not practise Japa for getting the Lord’s infinite Grace. Go on repeating the Gayatri all your life. Do not expect anything out of it, then you will get everything.”

GOD’S TESTS: A Sadhu from Rishikesh called on the Master and narrated to him at length a dispute between the Mahant of an Ashram and a rich Bhakta, who had also built an Ashram near the former’s Ashram. The quarrel arose over a small piece of land. The attitude of the Bhakta clearly proved his jealousy at the Mahant’s popularity among the devotees.

“Money, fame and lust are all great tests,” said the Master.

“A Sannyasin or a householder devotee might imagine himself great and saintly, but when these tests come, he succumbs to them like a lamb at the hands of a leopard. Saintliness consists in constant vigilance and crossing over the hurdles of money, fame and lust when they are set up by Maya.

“Great South Indian saints were put through strange and severe tests. Maya tried to lead a saint astray. On whatever object he placed his foot, it would be transformed into a diamond. Apsara girls were sent to attend on him. But the saint was unmoved. Only then could he attain the Divine.”

THE MASTER’S LOVE OF SERVICE: Sri Rai Bahadur Sharmaji, the secretary of the Kalikamliwala alms-house, arrived. The Master greeted him with a hearty laugh and respectful Pranam.

The visitor was entertained with fruit and milk.

“Swamiji, I have a request to make.”

“I am always at your service.”

“Will you kindly accept the honorary advisorship of the alms-house? We all feel that the alms-house and the Rishikesh Sadhus will be greatly benefited by your advice. You are the only Sannyasin who can advise us.”
The Master sank into silence.

The Rai Bahadur pleaded insistently.

“Yes, Maharaj, I shall certainly serve you all as an adviser.”

After the Rai Bahadur had left, the Master said, “At first I did not want to accept the job. But then I thought that this might be an opportunity offered to me by the Lord to serve Sadhus. I will not forsake any opportunity of doing service. So I accepted. And he, too, was greatly pleased.”

TRUE TEST: The greatest insult received before respectable gentlemen is the beginning of inner spiritual growth. The greatest pain, sorrow and grief are the beginnings of saintliness. All should reject you. All should hate you, desert you and kick you aside. Then only will the soul be properly disciplined and fit to receive God’s light.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini is the power or Shakti that is located at the base of the spine in the nerve centre called the Muladhara Chakra. Chakra means a “nerve centre”. This power is asleep or dormant in the vast majority of people. When it is awakened through the practice of Yoga, it finally reaches the Sahasrara Chakra in the crown of the head. When this stage is reached the Yogi gets full illumination or God-realisation.

The awakening of this mystic power is no doubt difficult, but it can be achieved through sincere endeavour and by the Grace of God and the Guru. In fact, the whole aim of all the Yogas is to awaken this power.

Not only Kundalini Yoga, but any other Yoga for that matter, cannot be successfully practised unless one has first acquired purity of heart.

Kundalini Yoga aims at arousing this power directly by concentrating on the various Chakras, and by practising Kriyas, Mudras, Pranayama and meditation. The Kundalini also awakens by itself when one practises any other form of Yoga, but through Kundalini Yoga, this power is consciously aroused by the student.

Unless one has a Guru by one’s side and is guided by him, it is not advisable to attempt Kundalini Yoga. It is a difficult process. The problem is caused by students trying to practise Kundalini Yoga before having the other qualities, such as purity of heart, a strong nervous system, and good power of concentration. A premature attempt is likely to cause mental troubles.

There are also various other rules to be followed by one who wishes to practise Kundalini Yoga. One has to be strict in the practice of Brahmacharya. One has also to observe dietetic rules.
It is advisable for students not to try arousing the Kundalini co
nsciously, but to allow it to awaken itself by purifying the heart and mind through selfless service, Japa, devotion, concentration and meditation.

Jnana Yoga

Jnana means “knowledge”. This is the Yoga of knowledge. It is the practice of Vedanta. To know that we are in reality one with God Himself, is true knowledge. This is called divine knowledge or Brahma Jnana. The fruit of all Yogas is this Jnana or divine wisdom.

In order to have a correct understanding of Vedanta, one must have a pure heart, a sharp, subtle intellect, and strong powers of reason and reflection.

Jnana Yoga is also a complete system of training by which an aspirant arrives directly at this knowledge. This system requires a very sharp intellect and highly developed power of reason and understanding. It is possible for just a few very advanced souls to follow this Yoga on its own. In the majority of cases, seekers have to first follow the practices of the other Yogas and develop to a certain level of intelligence and purity before attempting to practise Jnana Yoga. Only after having the basic qualifications, called Sadhana Chatushtaya or the “fourfold means”—can they come to the path of Jnana Yoga for the final knowledge.

The Jnana Yoga method starts by making a deep enquiry into our true nature and our relationship with God. In this respect, perfect honesty and sincerity with oneself are very necessary. The student asks himself the questions: “Who am I? What am I here for? Whither am I going? Am I this body and mind? What is it that does not change?”

By deep enquiry, and study of scriptures dealing with the nature of the universe, the soul and God, the Jnana Yogi’s mind attains serenity, goes deep within and merges in God.

Jnana Yogis have to study Vedantic scriptures like the Yoga Vasishtha, Brahma Sutras, Ashtavakra Gita, etc. These texts are very difficult to understand without the guidance of a God-realised Master. They are also full of mystic meanings and an unqualified student is apt to be easily misled while studying them. That is why the personal guidance of a Guru is so essential on the path of Jnana Yoga.

Vedanta or Jnana Yoga appeals very much to students of today because they have keen intellects and good powers of reason. They always like to ask questions.

Kriya Yoga

This Yoga deals with the various methods of purifying the mind, nerves and body. Yogic texts teach various cleansing exercises. Some saints teach students different meditation and Pranayama exercises under the name of Kriya Yoga. Some of the steps of Raja Yoga, like Tapas, Swadhyaya and surrender to the Lord, are also described as Kriya Yoga. They all aim at purifying the mind and nerves and raising the Kundalini Shakti from Muladhara Chakra at the base of the spine, to the Sahasrara Chakra in the crown of the head. Kriya means “to purify”. The subtle nerve tubes called Nadis, have to be first purified through various Yogic practices. Again, the guidance of an expert Guru is absolutely necessary here.

Nada Yoga

Some people feel that Yoga is to be practised only when we grow old. Again, this is not correct. This thought comes to a person because he is unwilling to go forward and face the challenges of life. He is not brave enough and lacks courage to meet face to face the hurdles of life. With the backing of cowardliness, he postpones the practice of Yoga until he totters on a

Nada Yoga also goes by the name Laya Yoga. It deals with the various Anahata sounds, or mystic sounds, that the Yogi hears within. Japa Yoga is also sometimes called Nada Yoga, as the student concentrates on the sound of the Divine Name. Concentration on this sound leads to the other mystic sounds. Om is the primal sound from which the universe originated. It is one of the mystic sounds heard by the Yogi during his practice of meditation.

That Yoga is a perfect and practical science, can easily be seen, because at every step the student can get the experiences given in the Yogic texts.

During the course of his Yoga practices the student hears the following ten kinds of mystic sounds in the order given.

The first is “chini” (like the sound of that word); the second is “chini-chini”; the third is the sound of a bell; the fourth is that of a conch; the fifth is the sound of a tantri (lute); the sixth is the sound of talas (cymbals); the seventh is that of a flute; the eighth is that of a bheri (drum); the ninth is that of a mridanga (double drum); and the tenth is that of the cloud (thunder).

These mystic sounds are sweet and thrilling. They are to be heard in the right ear during meditation. The mind gets absorbed in them and meditation becomes deep. Eventually, all sounds cease completely and one gets fully merged in the eternal, all-pervading Lord within

Tantra Yoga

Tantra Yoga deals with worship of the Divine Mother or Devi. The Devi Sukta in the Rig Veda is the real source of the Shakti doctrine. Devi is not only the principle of creation and cosmic energy, but is also the principle of Jnana or divine knowledge.

Tantric practices have to be learnt under the guidance of a Guru. If the student does not possess the required qualities of purity of heart, discrimination, dispassion and other divine virtues, he may be led astray and the Tantric exercises can be abused.

Tantric Sadhanas are very difficult and the Mantras are very powerful. They are not to be repeated without the help of a Guru. These Sadhanas are meant only for students who have strong nerves and great mental strength and courage. Often, various ingredients have to be used in these exercises.

The Tantric student is asked not to avoid problems and difficulties but to face and conquer them. Just to give you an example, in order to conquer fear and to develop courage, he is advised to sit at midnight on a corpse at a lonely place and meditate.

In this manner he has to conquer other weaknesses, like lust, greed, anger, etc. It is a swift and short-cut path to God-realisation but is fraught with obstacles and difficulties.

Sivananda’s Integral Yoga

From the description of all the foregoing Yogas, you will have noticed that they have the common aims of purifying the mind, making it calm and steady, and then merging it in God. So really, any practice that has these combined aims may be termed Yoga. This has been described by Lord Krishna in the Gita, when He says that whatever we do, whatever we say, whatever we think, can take us to Him if we give ourselves completely to Him and Him alone.

For quick spiritual development we should take up one Yoga that suits our nature and taste, and combine it with a little of the other Yogas. A one-sided development of the human personality is not desirable. It does not give balance and harmony.

For example, if one gets lost only in Dhyana Yoga—the Yoga of meditation—and neglects everything else, such a person will not come out of his room to serve a sick and needy one who comes to his door. When God comes to him in the form of a beggar, such a student will not be able to recognise the Lord. You will readily agree that such exclusive attention to one single Yoga, without understanding the purpose of Yoga as a whole, will not lead to the realisation of God. Actually, it may eventually lead to one’s downfall. The Yoga that does not end in loving and serving God in the form of all created beings, is no Yoga at all. It is an inferior practice that has nothing to do with Yoga.

Virtues like charity, love, compassion and adaptability can be very effectively developed in the field of selfless service. In such service there is the added advantage that the aspirant will know the contents of his mind better.

A human being is endowed with the head, the hand and the heart, and these should be perfectly and harmoniously developed. We should have the head of Sri Shankara, the hand of King Janaka, and the heart of Lord Buddha. Sri Shankara, the intellectual giant and Jnana Yogi, gave the world the essentials of Hinduism in his treatises on Vedanta. King Janaka, the father of Sita, was a great king, able administrator and Karma Yogi who continued to rule his kingdom even after realising God. Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, is well-known for his tender and compassionate heart.

Integral Yoga brings about a harmonious development of the personality. It is safe and free from all dangers and pitfalls.

The head or intellect should be developed through study of the scriptures, the hand through selfless service, and the heart through Bhakti or love of God and love of all our fellow men and creatures of God.

All the great saints of the past and present tell us that if properly understood, Yoga can be practised wherever we are. If we take a walk, it can be Yoga; if we take our meals, it can be Yoga; if we decorate a prayer shrine, it can be Yoga; if we clean the toilet, it can be Yoga; if we cook in the kitchen, it can be Yoga; if we work in the garden, it can be Yoga.
To sum it up, whatever we do can be termed Yoga if it is done with love and devotion and dedicated to God. It is really the sense of inner feeling and the attitude that determines whether we are practising Yoga or not.

Conclusion

The same type of jacket does not suit all people. Individual tastes and capacities differ. Hence, there is need for different types of Yogas and different religions. One religion and one type of Yoga is as good as another. One road or path to God is as good as any other. Cows have different colours but the colour of the milk they yield is the same. There are different roses but the fragrance is one. Real religion is one though there are many forms of practice.

The essence of religion and Yoga is not marks on the forehead, not matted locks and long beards, not standing in the hot sun or cold water, not wearing the orange-coloured robe, not shaving the head, not ringing bells, not blowing the conch, not playing the cymbals. Real Yoga is a life of purity, love, goodness, and service in the midst of worldly life and temptations.

You must be able to know clearly the essentials and non-essentials in Yoga and religion. You must use your power of reason and enquiry. You must use your common sense. Then only will you be able to make rapid progress on the path and arrive triumphantly at the feet of the Lord.

May God bless you with a pure and stainless heart! May He grant you strength, power and wisdom to tread the path of spirituality and attain peace, bliss and everlasting joy!

YOGA: Yoga is not merely a physical culture or a philosophy. It is a religion and a way of life. Life today is full of stress and strain, of tension and nervous irritability, of passion and hurry. If man puts into practice a few of the elementary principles of Yoga, he would be far better equipped to cope with his complex existence. Yoga stresses moral discipline. Discipline is the essence of Yoga—discipline of the body as well as discipline of the mind.

Importance of Guru-Bhakti

It is one thing to say we must love God but quite another to put it into practice. How do we go about developing love for God? First of all we need to have some form which we take to represent God, and we offer our love and service to that form. This outer form that we take as God, is called the Guru. To serve and worship the Guru is a very powerful way by which we can cultivate love for God.

In the person of the Guru, we have a living image of God. If our service is not correct, if there are defects in our love, the Guru will speak out and tell us so. He can guide us at every stage in our growth. Therefore, Guru-Bhakti is invaluable to the devotee who wishes to perfect himself on the path of devotion.

Let us not forget that the Guru, Truth, God and the Self are all one. The Guru is God. A word from him is a word from God. He need not teach anything. His mere presence inspires the devotee. The Guru is the most reliable guide and instructor for a devotee. He is our father, mother, brother, relative and intimate friend. He is a boundless ocean of mercy and love.

Even the simple path of Bhakti is full of pitfalls and snares. So the guidance of a Guru is absolutely necessary if we are to progress in our devotion.

The Guru’s smile radiates light, bliss, knowledge, joy and peace. He is a blessing to all humanity. He helps us to overcome our suffering. He knows the spiritual path. He is fully qualified to guide seekers on the path of devotion, because he is one with God and enjoys all the Lord’s powers. The spring of love flows from the Guru to his devoted disciple. This takes the latter gradually to the Lord.

Previously we explained why it is so necessary to have a Guru or guide on the spiritual path. Just as you have a teacher in school to impart knowledge of secular subjects to you, so also you need a Guru to impart the secrets of devotion to you, to show you the pitfalls on the path and how to overcome them easily and quickly.

Common Myths about Bhakti

Finally, one more important point needs to be explained about Bhakti. Some great Bhaktas—like Chaitanya, who was a Krishna Bhakta—were accustomed to singing and dancing in great ecstasy. Not all devotees express their joyous emotions so openly. There are Bhaktas amongst the serious, too. You will learn later the different approaches and the emotions displayed by Bhaktas, and the names given to them.

Through Bhakti all base and impure emotions like anger, pride, lust and hatred are destroyed, and in their place pure emotions like kindness, compassion, forgiveness, love, mercy and spirit of selfless service are developed. Bhakti purifies all our sentiments and feelings.

A saint has said: “A slave is a slave because he is free”. It means that if you become a true devotee of the Guru, you will be freed from all weaknesses.

We should not wrongly imagine that Bhakti is a sign of weakness and helpless submission to the Guru. It is actually a sign of great inner strength and humility. The devotee of God is fearless and courageous. He is not a coward. He faces all situations bravely.

Another common error often made is to believe that there is no need to go to the temple and worship idols. Only an ignorant person will say: “I practise supreme devotion. There is no need for me to go to temples and do ritual worship. Of what use is it to worship idols, offer flowers and wave lights?”

Such devotees labour under a serious delusion. This is the result of not having the guidance of an expert Guru. Those who have no faith cannot rightly be called devotees. They are easily led astray by the lower mind. They cannot make any spiritual progress.

It is difficult to develop Bhakti. Therefore, it is necessary for us to go through all the initial stages of its development. Idol worship is a great help to the beginner in acquiring devotion. Just as you have to pass your standard six before going to standard seven, so also you have to pass through the stage of idol worship before you can worship God as the formless and eternal Being.

Instructions in Bhakti Yoga

We are now going to learn about the practical side of Bhakti Yoga. We shall first of all consider the five attitudes that a devotee can have towards God. Then we shall discuss the nine modes of Bhakti, by which a devotee expresses his love for God and at the same time cultivates the feeling of devotion in his heart. Thirdly, we shall deal with the eleven disciplines which have to be observed by the student who wishes to follow the path of devotion. Study them carefully and try to understand them.

Bhavas or Attitudes of a Bhakta

An important factor in all Yoga and, especially in Bhakti Yoga, is the inner feeling called Bhava. It is an attitude that expresses a particular relationship with God. It is a mental state.

There are five kinds of Bhavas in the practice of Bhakti Yoga. These Bhavas are Santa, Dasya, Sakhya, Vatsalya, and Madhurya. We shall explain these terms very soon. We have to first mention that each Bhava goes hand in hand with a particular Rasa. Rasa is the feeling of joy that the devotee experiences. For example, one who practises the Vatsalya Bhava, or feeling that God is his child, feels the Rasa of intense parental affection towards God.

1. SANTA BHAVA: Santa means “calmness of mind”. In Santa Bhava the mind of the devotee is filled inwardly with divine love, without any outward expression of emotion. It can be practised only by Yogis who are highly developed, whose emotions have been stilled, and who have direct experience of God. Bhishma, the grandfather of the Pandavas, had all his emotions under control. He was a Santa Bhakta. The Santa Bhakta is always undisturbed, peaceful and tranquil. He is never upset when things go wrong. His opinions are firm, and do not change by the remarks of others. He rests peacefully in God and appears like an ocean without waves.

2. DASYA BHAVA: In Dasya Bhakti, the devotee considers himself as inferior to the Lord. He takes God to be his Master, and looks upon himself as just a simple, humble servant. Dasya means “servant”.

The Dasya Bhava is a beautiful and easy attitude to adopt towards God, as all are servants of someone, even in their ordinary day to day secular activities.

The Dasya Bhakta considers it his duty to worship and to love God. Taking the world to be a form of God Himself, he becomes a humble servant of all beings. He considers all as his masters. He develops the feeling that God alone exists.

He craves for God’s protection at all times. He feels that he has no power; as he is a servant, the Master will always take care of him. He prays to God to save him. In this way he is filled with thoughts of God alone, until he finally loses himself in God. Sri Hanuman is an example of a Dasya Bhakta.

3. SAKHYA BHAVA: In Sakhya Bhava, God is taken to be a friend. He is the supreme comrade, the sole companion. He is the lover, guide and protector.

The Sakhya Bhakta considers God as his equal in relation, status, dress and other qualities. Yet he maintains a certain distance; he feels separate from the Lord. One cannot live without the company of one’s friend. Friends dine together, talk together, and live together. So also, a devotee cannot live without God.

Arjuna was an example of a Sakhya Bhakta. He regarded Lord Krishna as his comrade. The Lord also regarded him as a friend. He said, “I am My devotee’s heart, and the devotee is My heart.”

4. VATSALYA BHAVA: In Vatsalya Bhava the devotee feels that God is his child. You may have seen pictures of Lord Krishna depicted as a little child crawling on all fours. This form of the Lord is suitable for the Vatsalya Bhakta. Mother Yashoda, the foster-mother of the young Krishna, had Vatsalya Bhava towards Him. She cared for the Divine Child as a loving mother would. All her maternal feelings were directed towards God in this way. She bathed Him, fed Him, nursed Him, and sang sweet lullabys to put Him to sleep. What great joy she derived by doing these services for her Divine Child!

You will read in the Bhagavata how the little Krishna used to upset his mother by stealing butter from the homes of the Gopis! Yashoda would appear to be upset, but in reality this feeling would give her deep joy. In that mood, she would identify herself completely as the Lord’s mother. In Vatsalya Bhava, therefore, the devotee develops the same love for God as a mother would for her child.

5. MADHURYA BHAVA: The highest expression of divine love is that felt in Madhurya Bhava. Here the devotee regards the Lord as his Beloved, and he plays the part of the lover. It is hard to develop this kind of divine love, hard to understand it, and hard also to break it.

Read the account of the Rasa Lila, the divine sport of Lord Krishna with the Gopis. You will then realise how difficult it is to develop the Madhurya Bhava.

The Gopis had this kind of Bhava towards Lord Krishna. Radha was the foremost among the Gopis. She looked upon the Lord as her husband. Hers was not an earthly love. She went into divine ecstasy at the very thought of her beloved Lord. It was pure love, free from attachment and selfishness. This kind of love cannot be understood by those who are impure at heart.

In Madhurya Bhakti all hesitations and personal views are cast aside. Love and love alone is developed. The greatest degree of intensity of bliss is experienced in this Bhava.

It must be understood very clearly that Madhurya Rasa, or the joy of union with the beloved Lord, is totally different from sensual enjoyment resulting from worldly passion or lust. The latter is purely selfish and is sought for one’s own sake. But in love of God, the union is sought because it gives pleasure to God and not to oneself. Divine love is devoid of egoism and selfishness. It is related to lust as light is related to darkness—that is, it is directly opposite to lust. One should understand this very clearly before one begins to develop this Bhava towards the Lord.

The practice of these five Bhavas helps us to think of God always. It also cuts us off from our worldly attachments and attaches us to the Lord. It enables us to feel His Presence in our hearts. It purifies our emotions. Service and worship rendered in any one of the above Bhavas reaches God.

In the Gita, Lord Krishna commands us to seek His help in any or all of the above Bhavas, by regarding Him as our father, mother, friend, relative and lover.

From a knowledge of these Bhavas and Rasas, you will note that Bhakti Yoga is a definite method of attaining the Supreme Self and is not a mere play of emotions and feelings. When through practice the particular Bhava takes possession of the mind, the devotee experiences the pure state of bliss. This is the nature of his innermost Self. When he enjoys this state he has attained Self-realisation. Now he has a calm mind and is filled with love and purity.

The Nine Modes of Bhakti

In the Srimad Bhagavata and the Vishnu Purana it is written that there are nine forms of Bhakti by which we may express our devotion or love towards God. These are:

1. SRAVANA: hearing of the Lord’s Lilas or divine pastimes.
2. KIRTANA: singing the glories and praises of the Lord.
3. SMARANA: remembrance of His Name and Presence.
4. PADASEVANA: service of His Feet.
5. ARCHANA: worship of God.
6. VANDANA: prostration to the Lord.
7. DASYA: service of the Lord.
8. SAKHYA: friendship with the Lord.
9. ATMA NIVEDANA: complete surrender to the Almighty Lord.

We can practise one or any combination of the above methods of Bhakti, according to our nature, temperament and taste. By practising this sincerely and regularly we will attain God-vision. This is the goal for which we have taken this human birth.

Sravana

Sravana is listening to the Lord’s Lilas, His virtues, glories, sport, and stories associated with His life and personality. The devotee becomes fully absorbed in the divine stories, and his mind merges in the thought of the Divine. It cannot think of undivine things. The world loses its attraction for him. He remembers only God even in his dreams.

The company of saints and devotees of God, and study of the sacred scriptures, are two very important factors in the development of Bhakti to the Lord.

Sit before a learned teacher or saint and listen to the divine stories. Listen with a sincere heart, without any fault-finding. Try your best to put into practice the ideals of the lives of great personages in the scriptures.

The Srimad Bhagavata describes the glorious pastimes and sport of Lord Krishna and is a favourite scripture of all Bhaktas.

In Sravana Bhakti, the company of the wise plays a very important role. Merely reading the scriptures by itself is not enough. Doubts will arise and only the wise can help you to solve them by giving you correct explanations. Sri Shankara says: “The company of the wise even for a moment becomes a boat to cross the ocean of Samsara or worldliness”. In the Bhagavata you will see how King Parikshit attained God merely by listening to the glorious pastimes of Lord Krishna from the lips of Sukadev. His heart became purified within seven days.

Kirtan

Kirtan is singing the Lord’s glories. It is the most suitable method for people today. It gives pleasure to the mind and purifies the heart at the same time. It has this double effect. The singing of Kirtan is suitable for all people without any kind of distinction.

The singing of the Lord’s Name is melodious and sweet. It inspires and elevates everyone quickly. It is a very easy method of developing devotion to God.

The devotee is thrilled with pure divine emotion. He loses himself in the love of God. He weeps when thinking of the glory of God. His voice gets choked. He goes into a state of Divine Bhava. He constantly chants the Divine Name and eagerly relates the Lord’s glories to one and all. Wherever he goes, he sings and glorifies God. He asks all to join him in singing the Lord’s Kirtan. He sings and dances in ecstasy. He inspires others to sing also.

These practices should spring naturally from a pure heart, and should not be merely a show. God knows the inner motives of all; none can cheat Him. If done sincerely, Kirtan is the easiest way to approach God. In this age it is the best Yoga. It is the prescribed method of devotion for this age.

Divine beings like Narada, Valmiki, Sukadev, Chaitanya, Nanak, Tulsidas and Surdas attained God by singing Kirtan alone. Even the great sinner, Ajamila, attained God by the repetition of His Name. It is written in the Bhagavata Mahatmya that when Sukadev was singing Kirtan, the Gods themselves came down from heaven and took part with their musical instruments. Narada played his veena, Indra played the mridangam, Prahlad played his cymbals and danced, and Lord Siva did the same. Lord Vishnu was present, too. They were thrilled by the occasional dance of Sukadev himself.

TRUST IN GOD: If you courageoulsy face your problems they will melt away. Here is a prayer to conquer fear: “O all-merciful Lord, I offer my body, mind and soul to You. All that I have belongs to You. Thy Will be done. Guide me.”

Sri Swami Sivananda

Once a pair of shoes and a lump of halwa (a kind of confectionery) approached a wise sage and placed before him their grievances.

The pair of shoes said, “O adorable sage! Listen to our pitiable lot. We carry our master day and night over dirty, stony and thorny surfaces. On account of his weight we constantly wear out. But our master does not have the courtesy to take us into his house. He leaves us outside the door always. We are not able to bear this insult. Our master does not appreciate our service even a bit.”

The sage replied, “O beloved shoes! You are indeed great Karma Yogis. You serve your master at great personal sacrifice. You protect him from thorns and stones by covering his feet in yourself and enduring all hardships. You both are certainly embodiments of sacrifice. All glory to you!

“But you do not seem to have understood the technique of Karma Yoga correctly. A Karma Yogi should perform his work in a spirit of divine worship, without the least expectation of any personal gain, not even appreciation for the work he does. A Karma Yogi should feel that he is serving the Lord in the person whom he is attending upon. Far from expecting appreciation from the person served, the Karma Yogi should be thankful to the person for having given him an opportunity of serving the Lord in him.

“Do not feel that you are serving your master’s feet, but think that you are serving God in the master. God is in all forms. All are manifestations of God only. Further, shun honour and respect. A Karma Yogi should treat honour and dishonour alike. He should maintain balance of mind under all circumstances. If you continue treating all work as the worship of God Himself, expecting no fruits, not even recognition, and treating honour and dishonour, pain and pleasure, gain and loss alike, you will doubtlessly earn God’s supreme Grace and enjoy eternal bliss. Therefore, go back and continue your work.”

The lump of halwa then laid its complaint before the sage. It said, “O revered sage! Kindly listen to my pathetic tale. I look very appealing and sweet-smelling in the sweetmeat shop. No passer-by goes away without casting a fond glance at me. People like me so much that my aroma, or the very mention of my name, makes their mouths water. No important feast or festival can take place without my presence. But alas! A strange transformation takes place in me after I have been eaten by people. Several hours after I am eaten, I am discarded in a changed form, very dirty and foul-smelling. People now shun me. They spit on the ground or close their nostrils when they see me. I am unable to bear this insult.”

The sage replied, “O beloved sweetmeat! You, too, are a great Karma Yogi like the shoe. With your nutritive elements, you serve all those who eat you. You sacrifice your beauty, sweet aroma, honour and your very form itself in order to nourish and sustain people and satisfy their palate. What an embodiment of selfless service you are! But do not weep over the change that comes to your physical form, for you are not this physical form. You are neither the beautiful, attractive halwa nor the foul-smelling excreta. Do not identify yourself with the material form, but stand as a witness of its functions, and continue to serve people with your nutritious and taste-giving elements. You are an embodiment of the spirit of selfless service. This spirit lives through the ages and is eagerly sought as an ideal by great souls. It is unaffected by the changes and impurities of the physical form. Service done without the idea of agency, but as a witness, is the ideal of a Karma Yogi. It is an immortal ideal that makes one very happy. Identification with the physical form is the root cause of suffering and sorrow.”

Thus comforted, both the pair of shoes and the lump of halwa returned to their respective abodes, serving the people in a selfless manner as instructed by the sage, and did not complain thereafter.

EXPAND YOUR HEART: Always try your best to utilise your energy, your intellect, your education, your wealth, your strength, or anything that you possess, for the betterment of those who are lowly placed in life, and for society in general. You will thus expand your heart and enjoy everlasting peace, bliss and satisfaction.

Sri Swami Sivananda

Once upon a time, there lived a Mahatma in a beautiful valley of the Himalayas. He had a small grass cottage on the banks of the Bhagirathi river. He was quite content with what he got by chance and led a very happy life, spending his time in divine contemplation.

It so happened that one fine morning the thought entered his mind that he should leave his Himalayan solitude and enter the plains, and lead a mendicant’s life, wandering from place to place.

So he entered the plains. People were struck by his magnetic spiritual aura. He impressed them by his actions, speech and advice. His charming personality attracted all. He had grown a beautiful beard and had flowing hair, the colour of gold. On account of this he came to be known as “Svarnakesa”, meaning “the golden-haired one”.

As Swami Svarnakesa wended his way through the plains, he impressed all by his magnetic and charming personality. One day, he was passing through a village. A lady approached him in tears with a child in her arms. She narrated her woeful tale of how six of her children had died one after another. She appealed to the Mahatma to save her seventh child who was seriously suffering from high fever.

Svarnakesa felt pity for the woman and consoled her. He pulled out a hair from his head and said, “O venerable lady! Take this hair. Preserve it carefully and your child will be all right.”

The lady took leave of the Mahatma in great joy. By God’s Grace the child soon recovered. The news spread like wildfire everywhere. The Mahatma became very popular. The citizens of the towns and villages all around came to know that there was a Mahatma who could cure the diseases of children by his magical hair.

The number of devotees who visited him grew more and more. Thousands of women approached him with their children for blessings. For all deserving cases the Mahatma would pull out a hair from his head and bless the patient—and the cure was sure.

As days passed, the number of patients increased. There was a regular cry for the Mahatma’s hair. Svarnakesa could not cope with the crowd. And they in turn could not wait for the Mahatma to pull out his hair from his head.

At last the excited crowd got hold of him and forcibly pulled out all his hair one by one! The Mahatma yelled in agony. People in their anxiety to get themselves cured of their diseases did not mind his anguish—until at last, poor Svarnakesa breathed his last with wounds all over his head.

A spiritual aspirant should not run after name and fame. He should not run after powers. Flying in the air, drinking nitric acid, swallowing nails, walking on fire, entering into Samadhi on public platforms, burying oneself alive for forty days—these are not the true tests of a Jivanmukta or Siddha.

A Yogi is not one who shows some miraculous feats. A Siddha or Mahatma is not to be tested merely by the wearing of a loincloth, or by living in icy regions, or by eating neem leaves, or by living on air and water only. The real test of a Mahatma lies in the peace that he radiates, the joy and bliss that he imparts to those around him. The good that he does for humanity, the peace and bliss that he himself enjoys, absence of anger, lust, greed and desire for name and fame, equanimity in success and failure, cheerfulness, unalloyed bliss, absence of cares, worries and anxieties—know a true Mahatma by such sterling qualities as these.

A Mahatma is a Kalpa Vriksha. He bestows everything on his devotees. The extent of his powers depends upon the degree of devotion he possesses. One can get anything and everything from him. Qualify yourself. Purify yourself. Empty yourself. He will then fill you with realisation, light, joy, prosperity, bliss and immortality.

May the blessings of Mahatmas be ever upon you! May you become blessed to receive their Grace!

PRAYER: Pure sincere prayer can move mountains. It can work miracles. Pray even once from the bottom of your heart. Have a receptive, meek attitude. Then your prayer will be answered. Practise daily and realise the efficacy of prayer. Pray and wait. Be not impatient.

Sri Swami Sahajananda

Depression causes pessimism. It discourages all effort and kills initiative. It produces despair and sickness in the mind and body. It infects others also. It makes one a prey to all kinds of negative thoughts. It makes one resort to rash and thoughtless actions.

Causes of Depression

The causes of depression may be different in each person. It should be found out and intelligently analysed and understood. Then the method of overcoming it will be easy and effective.

Here are some factors that cause depression in people:

1. Sometimes the cause may be purely physical; it may be due to indigestion.

2. A cloudy day may cause depression in some people.

3. Ill-health is a contributory factor. Sometimes the body may be lacking in certain essential vitamins, and this may be the cause of the depression.

4. The revival of old bad habits, the unpleasant memories of which recur in the mind again and again.

5. Hatred, fault-finding, revenge, anger, jealousy, envy, the guilt complex, all these bring about a morbid state of mind and depression.

6. Inability to face difficulties, trials and setbacks. Inability to face failure. Lack of initiative and will-power.


7. Unnecessary tension, fear, worry and anxiety are great contributory causes of depression.

8. A weak nervous system makes one a prey to depression. Sexual excess, fear, worry, jealousy, hatred, anger, overwork and tension are some of the causes of a depleted mental and nervous state.

9. Inhibitions resulting from inadequate parental care may surface in later life and torment one mentally.

The above are some of the causes. There are also occult causes but these will not be dealt with here.

Disastrous Consequences of Suicide

Depression is very common today. Many are not able to overcome this negative state of mind. They seek medical and psychiatric treatment, and in extreme cases even resort to suicide, thinking that such a step will put an end to their problems.

All the scriptures and sages of the East and West have vehemently condemned the act of suicide. They have emphatically declared that absolutely nothing is solved or gained by getting rid of the physical body. On the other hand, the results of suicide are disastrous in the extreme.

Scientists and psychologists today, researching in psychic phenomena, have corroborated some of the teachings of the sages.

The sages state that at the time when the soul is to depart from the body, the dying person sees, as on a cinema screen, all the actions done by him during the present lifetime, from childhood up to the moment of death. And from all these varied scenes, the most prominent one arrests and engages the soul’s attention, and the soul leaves the body in that state.

If there is intense attachment to someone, then the soul departs with that person’s image in mind. Intense hatred means that the hated person’s image remains in the mind as the predominant thought at the time of death.

A person who had been strongly addicted to liquor and drugs will leave the body only with thoughts of liquor and drugs.

A person who had led a pious and virtuous life, with thoughts of God, will depart from the body with thoughts of God.

The last thoughts determine the conditions and nature of the next birth. This is what the sages have declared about the phenomenon of death.

This argument seems reasonable, as the last dominant thought in our mind at the time when we just drop off to sleep, is the thought that dominates our mind the next day.

It is for this reason that we are advised to sing the Divine Name or hymns at the time of death, in order to focus the attention of the dying person on holy and noble thoughts.

It is needless to add that if the soul departs from the body with thoughts of anger, hatred, jealousy, worry and fear, or in a state of great mental turmoil, then such thoughts and turmoil will be carried over and immediately experienced on the other plane also.

That is why the sages state that suicide does not solve anything. On the contrary, it makes the condition of the soul very much worse.

They give an analogy to explain this. When we experience a nightmare during sleep, we wake up abruptly with a shock. But we feel a sense of great relief at the same time, because the consciousness has rushed back to the safe refuge of the physical body. In suicide the soul does not have a physical body to return to as in the case of a nightmare. Hence, it undergoes great misery and suffering, perhaps more than during its sojourn in the physical body. Furthermore, it is said that such a soul has to roam about as a ghost for a long time. As the body is a precious instrument given to us by God for realising Him, voluntarily discarding it will bring in its train very adverse reactions. The repercussions may last for a long time and the soul may encounter adverse conditions for many births.

Hence, under no circumstance should one resort to this most thoughtless and rash action of suicide.

Blessings in Disguise

Adversities, trials, difficulties, calamities, diseases, pains, afflictions and sufferings are all blessings in disguise. They strengthen the will and increase the power of endurance. They turn the mind more and more towards God. They instil in us discrimination and dispassion. They draw out all our latent faculties. They force us to perform even beyond our ability. They develop all the talents and capacities lying dormant within us. Therefore, do not try to evade trials and problems, but make the best use of them for your spiritual progress.

It is easy to bask in the sunshine of prosperity. The crucial test is your reaction under adversity and hardship.

God wants us to enjoy eternal bliss and peace. For this purpose the body and mind have to be strengthened and purified, so that they may be able to bear the pressure of His matchless bliss and peace. This process of purification and strengthening cannot be effected without one confronting adverse conditions and circumstances.

Furthermore, nature’s law of cause and effect is inexorable and operates with relentless precision. The discriminative and wise individual will allow the effects of his past actions to bear fruit by meeting all the conditions of life with patience, good cheer and calmness, and thereby develop more faith and trust in God.

How to Overcome Depression

It is very easy to overcome depression. It is not at all as difficult as one imagines. Mind has the mysterious power of magnifying a problem and making it appear formidable. Do not listen to the promptings of the mind. Reject them and throw them out ruthlessly.

Here are some practical hints that will enable you to triumph over this malady once and for all:

1. First try to analyse yourself thoroughly and find out the cause of the problem. Do not be hasty. Sit calmly and think over the matter for some days. Put your thoughts down on paper and reflect over them. If necessary get the assistance of someone whom you trust and who will be sympathetic to your feelings. Pray to God within to lead you to the right person.

2. Do not listen to promptings from within that your trials and problems cannot be solved. The Divine within you, and the loved ones around you, can effectively solve or dissolve all your problems.

3. Know that for every problem that confronts you, however complicated, insoluble and difficult it may seem to be—there is the requisite guidance, strength and wisdom readily available to you from the Divine dwelling in the chambers of your heart. The Lord is nearer to you than your life-breath. Turn to Him with a childlike faith and experience the miraculous results.

4. The easiest way to tap the Divine power within is to repeat God’s holy Name. Select any Divine Name from the sacred scriptures and repeat it constantly without a break. Do it audibly or mentally. In a short time you will experience its power. In this one method of spiritual practice all the holy scriptures of the world are unanimous. The power latent in the Divine Name is like the power latent in the seed. Just as the seed needs soil and water to make it germinate, so also the Divine Name needs to be constantly repeated to make its power manifest.

The Divine Name is the one sovereign, infallible remedy to get rid of depression once and for all. So repeat it constantly with all faith and devotion.

5. Keep the body fit by doing regular physical exercises, and by participating in healthful activities. A regular hike in the countryside will be refreshing and invigorating both mentally and physically.

6. A pure, nourishing diet is very important for the health of both the body and the mind. Take more of fresh fruit and vegetables. Take health tonics. They are available from health stores. Vitamin tablets from natural products may be highly beneficial.

7. The nervous system must be strengthened by means of exercise, relaxation, pure food and regular prayer. A useful nerve and brain tonic may be prepared as follows: Soak 8 dates, a similar quantity of almonds and 4 cardamoms in a bowl of water overnight. In the morning remove the skins from the almonds. Reduce the ingredients to a paste, add honey and butter and take with warm milk. This delicious tonic rejuvenates the brain and nervous system quickly.

8. Attend regular prayer services in the temple or Ashram. The holy vibrations and Satsang with devotees will give you added mental and spiritual strength to cope with your daily problems.

9. Study the scriptures, especially the Gita, daily. This will give you discrimination, which in turn will give dynamic strength to the mind. It will be your most effective weapon to deal with the promptings of the mind.

10. Check all your undesirable habits. Overcome them by developing virtuous qualities. Lead a disciplined life of purity and righteousness. Such a life will free you from all worry, fear and depression.

11. The constant repetition of some beneficial formulae will strengthen the mind considerably. Such repetition is called auto-suggestion. Here are some proven formulae for this purpose. Repeat them as many times as possible during the course of the day, and when you are just about to fall asleep at night:

12. Serve the poor, the sick and the needy through some service orientated institution. If you take up some useful activity for the good of others, you will have no time to think about yourself. Losing oneself in selfless service is one of the most dynamic methods of overcoming depression. If you give cheer, joy and happiness to others, you yourself will receive cheer, joy and happiness in return.

13. Do not try to run away from your problems, trials and difficulties. Face them bravely through calm reflection and discrimination, knowing that the Divine within is ever your Guide, Protector and Saviour. Know also that everything in this world that you now hold so dear is temporary, and will soon disintegrate and pass away. You are only a passing pilgrim on this earth plane.

If you constantly reflect and discriminate thus, then all such emotions and feelings that have such a tenacious hold on your mind will be loosened, and an inexpressible freedom, lightness and joy will fill your heart.

14. Be content. Adopt the life-style of “simple living and high thinking”. A great deal of unhappiness today may be traced to unfulfilled desires. There is no end to desire. Each desire breeds a host of new ones. Modern man longs to own TV sets, dishwashers, expensive cars, swimming pools, video recorders and other items of luxury. Reduce your desires and lead a life of contentment and simplicity.

15. A constant attitude of gratitude to God for having provided you with your physical and material needs, will give you an abiding sense of contentment and peace, and free you from depression, cares and worries.

16. Select any suitable method or a combination of methods and put them into immediate practice. You will succeed without difficulty. Nil desperandum. Never despair. There is a magazine of enormous power within you. Tap that power and come out victorious. Then share your knowledge with others and be a blessing to this world.

17. Strictly avoid viewing TV. It is one of the main causes of depression. Frequenting places of gambling and liquor, evil company, witnessing vulgar dancing, and literature that deals with violence, sex and crime are all contributory causes of depression.

18. Excessive loss of the vital fluid depletes the brain and nervous system considerably. It weakens the will and makes control of mind almost impossible. In such a mental state it will be extremely difficult to throw out negative thoughts and thoughts of depression. Therefore, try your best to observe Brahmacharya (celibacy).

Pleasure & Pain are in the Mind

What is pleasure for you is pain for another man. What is pleasure for you now is pain after some time. The first two cups of milk give you some pleasure. The third cup induces disgust, nausea and retching. Milk does not give pleasure during fever. Therefore, pleasure is not in the objects, but in the imagination or inclination of the mind. Pleasure and pain, beauty and ugliness, are all false imagination of the mind. Mind is a false, illusory product. Conceptions of the mind must also therefore be false.

Pleasure and pain are in the mind only. They are subjective. Things, when longed for, are pleasant but are bitter if not longed for. You can convert pleasure into pain and pain into pleasure by thinking, by feeling and by imagination. Ignorant people attribute their pleasures to external objects and this is a serious blunder. Really, there is not any pleasure and pain in objects. It is all mental creation, mental perception, mental jugglery. It is only the mental attitude or a certain kind of mental behaviour towards objects that brings joy or grief, pleasure or pain. Illusion has her power seat in the imagination of the mind.

The Caged Robin
Courtesy: "Animal Citizen"

Susie was so excited. It was her birthday and her fingers kept going into her pocket and closing round the bright 20 cent piece her Aunt had given her.

Mummy had listened to her breathless account of the dollies’ tea-set in the toy-shop window and had said that on her way home from school she might go in and buy it.

Susie could hardly sit still in school, but it was nature study and the teacher was telling them about robins.

“Up into the blue sky goes the little robin,” she said, “making a song like this.”

And she imitated the bird’s melodious call.

“The robin should never be captured and kept in a cage. It’s dreadful and cruel, and even though it is against the law, sometimes thoughtless boys will do it.”

Suddenly Susie remembered Joe. Joe was the boy who sometimes played with her big brother Dick. Joe had proudly shown them only last week, a little robin which he had caught and imprisoned in a cage, and made them promise not to tell anyone.

Susie could see it now, beating its wings against the bars of the miserable little cage, and her heart swelled with pity as her teacher went on.

“Suppose someone put you in a tiny little prison and locked you in. Outside, all the other children are playing in the sunshine, but you cannot get free. You try to tear the bars of your prison away, but you only tear your fingers instead, until they are sore and bruised.”

School was over and Susie raced out with the others, but instead of going straight to the toy-shop, she turned the other way. She found Joe fixing his bike. The little robin had dropped sadly at the bottom of the tiny cage, as though tired of beating against the bars.

“Joe”, began Susie, “will you sell me your robin?”

“How much will you give me for it?” he asked.

Susie took the 20 cent piece out of her pocket.

“Gee! Where did you get that from?” Joe asked.

“It’s my birthday present from my Aunt,” she answered.

A few minutes later Susie was walking away with the little cage in her hand. She went straight to the field where Joe had told them he had found the bird’s nest. She put the cage on the grass and knelt beside it. The little bird was chirruping softly as though saying “thank you” for what he knew she was about to do.

Susie undid the door of the cage and timidly the bird hopped out. Then it flew a yard or two and stopped again, its head on one side—and then it joyously flew high into the air.

“Oh!” said Susie, clapping her hands and watching him as he rose. “Oh! you dear little bird, how glad I am you’re happy at last.”

“Where is the tea-set?” her mother asked as Susie came running in.

“O mummy, I didn’t buy it after all! I bought a robin instead.”

“A robin!” exclaimed her mother in surprise. And then Susie told her all about it.

“I’m so glad you did that, darling,” her mother said gently. “One day we’ll ask Joe to come for tea and I’ll talk to him about keeping wild birds in cages. I’m sure he can’t realise how cruel it is.”

As Susie sat down to tea, she felt so glad to think of the little robin enjoying its freedom, that she didn’t care a bit about the tea-set.

One of the Family
Courtesy: "Animal Citizen"

Snoot knew his name and would run to the cage door when he was called, expecting some titbit or other. For some strange reason he adored peas, although any other table scrap was always welcome. Cornflakes were a special treat, and the rustle of the packet in the morning never failed to draw him to survey the scene at our breakfast table.

When I first obtained my little friend, he was so tiny that a mouse cage was big enough for his needs. Snoot soon convinced us, however, that although he was small, he had a great deal of energy, and needed a home which would offer him both variety and space.

Eventually, we discovered an old bird cage in the garden shed, and this was cleaned until it sparkled. In this we suspended a wooden box which we thought would make ideal sleeping quarters. However, Snoot decided that he couldn’t keep an eye on us from there, and converted it instead into a hiding place and store for special pieces of food.

There was never any need for me to provide bedding material for Snoot to sleep on, as his sharp teeth would tear any cardboard article into soft, tiny shreds—a perfect nest in which to hide and keep warm at night. Wooden bars, which we fixed inside the cage to act as vantage posts, were gnawed regularly, and at intervals they had to be replaced, having been unbelievably reduced in size.

An adventurer at heart, my intelligent pet decided that the kitchen definitely needed exploring.

One day, when we were cleaning the cage, he stood on the kitchen table and adventurously jumped on to the floor, which was about a metre below.

Gaily scampering behind the fridge, oven and washing machine, he paused to give us all a defiant glance, before diving beneath the gas-fired boiler. We were worried in case he became trapped, but he returned to view, and eventually, tiring of the game, remained still whilst I bent to pick him up and lift him into his clean home. This escapade became a regular habit—and he always returned, contented but tired, to his spacious “house”.


Snoot had days when he longed to be picked up and given a cuddle, climbing on to proferred hands, and settling down there for long periods. His large, round, brown eyes seemed to read my mind, as he would nuzzle a finger and then inspect both arms and lap, before leaping back into his own territory.

Gerbils are desert rats and have developed so that they only need to drink a small volume of water. In fact, Snoot would rarely have a drink, even on a hot day. His back legs were adapted for jumping, and this was often obvious as he leapt up into his box, instead of using the rough wooden steps which we had provided.

In summer I would build a run out on the grass in the garden, so that Snoot could get some additional exercise. It was very important to check that this was covered, otherwise his hind legs pushed him over the walls and he became lost in the grass. In the open air, Snoot became spellbound, listening to the birds and watching the insects crawling over the blades of grass.

Snoot was most certainly “one of the family” and made sure we never forgot it!

COSMIC LOVE: Worship the poor, the down-trodden and the oppressed. These are your first gods. Love all. You will reap the benefit of more than a million sacrifices, austerities and religious observances. Regard your neighbour’s happiness as your own happiness and regard your neighbour’s pain as your own pain.

Man is one. God is one. Love is one. Law is one. Realisation is one. We are all the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch. There is no stranger, no alien in this world. All men are limbs of one body. All creation is the family of God. Love all God’s creation.

Everyone is God in the process of evolution. Identify yourself with everything that lives. Live at peace with foe and friend. Cosmic love is all-embracing and all-inclusive.

The Master's Assurance

In his handwritten letters to Sri Swami Sahajananda the Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, gave his assurance about the work of Divine Life Society of South Africa:

	God will look after the divine work,
	Lord will look after everything.
	All must adapt, adjust and accommodate; co-operate, collaborate and co-ordinate. Co-operation means fifty-fifty—giving out and taking in advice.
	Strengthen your resolves. Regularity, tenacity and fixity in spiritual practice are essential. Record your practice in a spiritual diary daily. Review it every month and correct your failures.
	The ego is your terrible enemy. It wages guerrilla warfare with you. Beware! Beware! Beware!
	Take delight in the joys of other people, in making them happy. Intense, concentrated effort is demanded in self-discipline towards righteousness and God-realisation.

Sunlit Path Programme—Estcourt

On Friday, 16 September a very successful Sunlit Path Programme was held at the Forderville Primary School Hall, from 9am to 1pm. It is pleasing to report that of the 125 learners from the five schools in the Estcourt Circuit who attended, 104 learners signed the pledge form to abstain from alcohol, smoking, gambling, sex, drugs and intoxicants and adopt a wholesome diet and healthy lifestyle and to tread the spiritual path.

In his welcome address, Superintendent of Education of the Estcourt Circuit, Mr V.C. Maharaj, said that the Sunlit Path Programme is an excellent initiative and clearly demonstrates the determination of Divine Life Society to assist and provide meaningful education. He quoted the following words of the Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, “The ultimate aim of education is to draw out the divinity lying hidden within each human being. Spiritual enlightenment is the fruit of real, inner education.”

Dr D.C. Moodliar, Chief Education Planner, Department of Education, KwaZulu–Natal, read out Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s 2006 message inaugurating the Sunlit Path Programme.

Professor K. Bhowan, the Guest of Honour elaborated on various ways in which learners could stay away from substance abuse. He highlighted the impact of positive peer pressure. In a humorous and lively interactive session, Professor Bhowan succeeded in getting responses from learners to “pass various laws” to prevent drug addiction and to protect learners against its use. These were then “documented” by the Programme Director, attorney, Sri Ajeesh Lalparsad. In this play-way method, learners were able to see the gravity of the situation and the dangers of substance abuse.

We were gratified to observe the keen participation of learners who presented suitable poems and songs on the theme of drug addiction. The song by Estcourt Primary School, “Heal the World”, caught the attention of all listeners: “Heal the world, make it a better place, for you and for me and the entire human race. There are people dying, if you care enough for the living—make it a better place for you and for me.”

The interactive “Buzz Session” and the report back session was perhaps the highlight of the programme. Learners spoke articulately and from the heart about some of the problems they are encountering. The confident manner in which group representatives reported at the plenary session did Estcourt proud.

The Society pays tribute to the Estcourt Branch of Divine Life Society for their excellent organization of the function, as well as to Forderville Primary School, Estcourt High School, Estcourt Primary School, Drakensburg Secondary School and M.L. Sultan School for their participation in this programme.

Hindu Dharma Campaign—Greytown

Spiritual Darlings of Shri Vishnu Mandir rendering an item

Pujya Swami Sahajananda initiated the Hindu Dharma Campaigns some years ago to awaken faith and devotion in the hearts of Hindus and to enable them to grasp easily the tenets of our glorious and ancient religion. Our latest campaign was held in Greytown, at the Shri Vishnu Mandir Vidya Pracharni Sabha on Sunday, 9 October. The programme, which was co-hosted by Shri Vishnu Mandir and Divine Life Society of S.A. also attracted devotees from Cool Air, Dalton, and its surrounds.

The Bhajans and Kirtans, melodiously sung by Spiritual Darlings of the Shri Vishnu Patshala and the devotees of Shri Vishnu Mandir, inspired and captivated the congregation. All other items both by Spiritual Darlings and adults were eloquently presented. Divine Life Society of S.A. records its sincere appreciation to the officials and devotees of Sri Vishnu Mandir for their commitment and dedication to promote the teachings of our Sanatana Dharma.

62nd Anniversary Satsangs of Divine Life Society of South Africa

Divine Life Society of South Africa celebrates its Anniversary on three days, which correspond to the three letters sent to Pujya Swami Sahajananda by the Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda to open a branch in this country. The letters were dated 5 June, 18 October and 11 November.

On 18 October, the congregation paid homage to the Divine Master and Pujya Swamiji at a soul-elevating Satsang held at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. The highlight was a video presentation covering the opening of the Society’s Sivananda Sunlit Path Centre in Chatsworth, which had been broadcast on national television a few days earlier.

On 11 November 2011, the third 62nd Anniversary of the Society was observed at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills.

This day also bore special significance as it was the culmination of a special 41-day recital of the Sri Hanuman Chalisa, 11 times daily by over 180 devotees of Divine Life Society of S.A. This undertaking was for the peace, protection and welfare of the entire world. The final recital of the Sri Hanuman Chalisa took place from 3-4pm and was attended by over 150 devotees. The powerful spiritual vibrations generated by this mass chanting was felt by many. Thereafter, a special Havan was conducted at 4pm to mark the culmination of the 41-day puja as outlined by Pujya Swamiji.

Havan to mark the culmination of 41-day chanting of Sri Hanuman Chalisa

At the Anniversary Satsang that followed, a passage was read from Pujya Swamiji’s autobiography, Glory of Guru’s Grace, in which Pujya Swamiji related events during the early years of the Society and how the land at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills was acquired in 1959, as guided by the Divine Master. We heard also in the reading how, in the early days, Pujya Swamiji used a brick as a pillow and used only one pair of socks to save money to send to the Master in Rishikesh to print books. A recording of the chanting of the Sri Hanuman Chalisa by Pujya Swamiji was a great inspiration to devotees and ample reward for coming to Satsang. All in all, it was a spiritually charged day with prayers being conducted from 3pm to 7.30pm.

Once again, we thank the Divine Master and Pujya Swamiji for giving us the best facilities in the world for our spiritual growth.

Guru-Bhakti Yoga Workshop

On Saturday, 22 October 2011, an important Guru-Bhakti Yoga workshop was conducted at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. The theme for the workshop was one that forms a cornerstone of spiritual life­—discipline. Our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda and Pujya Swami Sahajananda always stressed the importance of this quality.

The workshop commenced with an inspiring written message by the Divine Master on the subjects of order, punctuality, regularity and discipline. The Master states that these qualities are vitally important for success in life and God-realisation.

In Pujya Swamiji’s audio message, we heard how important it was to observe the rules of the Ashram. Pujya Swamiji said, “Whenever you go to an Ashram, there are rules and regulations in place that are binding. If you break the rules and regulations then your merits will be lost. In all Ashrams there must be discipline. So you got to show some sort of discipline, some sort of devotion when you do a duty. So don’t come to the Ashram and work here unless you try and look at your faults and try and rectify them. We are living in very difficult times. Therefore we have to observe all the rules and try and put them in practice.”

Experiences shared by devotees inspired all and rekindled their Guru Bhakti. The first devotee spoke about the protective hand of Pujya Swamiji whilst she worked in the printing press and the compassion shown to her. Another devotee informed us of her experience during a recent operation and how she had a vision of the Master being present at her bedside. She said, “I cannot really describe how I felt. So many years of worshipping Gurudev, and to have this experience, even for just a moment, is an eternal gift.”

The third speaker traced his association with Pujya Swamiji to the days when Pujya Swamiji was a teacher at the FOSA T.B. Settlement. One of the most significant things he said was that in the early 1950’s, Pujya Swamiji pointed to the hill where the present Ashram in Reservoir Hills is situated and told him that one day a great Mission will be situated there. So clearly, Sri Gurudev’s and Pujya Swamiji’s divine vision extended far into the future.

The importance of the Spiritual Diary & the Guru-Bhakti Yoga Card were highlighted as an important part of improving our lives on both the secular and spiritual fronts. The six codes of conduct contained in the Guru-Bhakti Yoga Card are: communication, obedience, punctuality, cleanliness, forgiveness and appreciation. If we follow these codes effectively, we are sure to progress along the path of Guru Bhakti. Overall, the workshop proved to be highly informative and spiritually rewarding. We thank our Divine Master and Pujya Swamiji for giving us these unique Guru-Bhakti Yoga workshops.

Anniversary Satsangs of Branches

We are pleased to report that the following three branches hosted Satsangs commemorating their anniversaries.

CHATSWORTH, 11 SEPTEMBER: The branch celebrated its 40th Anniversary amidst a large gathering of devotees. The services of pioneers, some of whom were honoured on this day were gratefully acknowledged. Some early inspirational experiences were recounted.

STANGER, 30 OCTOBER: This was a memorable day for this branch as it joyously hosted its 54th Anniversary Satsang which was attended by a number of devotees and well-wishers. The Society congratulates the branch for achieving this milestone.

RICHARDS BAY, 13 NOVEMBER: The celebrations on the day commenced with Havan, followed by a soul-elevating Satsang with the highlight being an audio recorded message by Pujya Swami Sahajananda.

The Society expresses its gratitude to the members of the above branches for their selfless dedication in promoting the Mission of the Divine Master.

Visit by Mayor of Durban

On Sunday, 6 November 2011, the Mayor of eThekwini Municipality (Durban), His Worship, Cllr. James Nxumalo, was the Chief Guest of Honour at our Sivananda Day Satsang held at Sivananda International Cultural Centre, La Mercy. We thank the Mayor for his visit, and pray that the Lord and our Divine Master bless him with peace, good health and protection.

Excerpts from Message by Mayor

My worshipful greetings to the Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda and to H.H. Sri Swami Sahajananda. My warm greetings to all present here today.

I would like to start by telling you about my visit to the Ashram in Reservoir Hills on Saturday, 8 October. I was informed later, during my tour of the Ashram, that it was an auspicious day as it was the birthdate of the Divine Master. Perhaps it was the will of God Almighty and of Swami Sivananda that I visited his Ashram on this holy day.

I heard of the Divine Life Society and the good work it is doing but I never had the first hand experience of visiting the place. It was pleasing to learn that some of the buildings are about 50 years old. It speaks well for the training and discipline that Swamiji imparted to his devotees as the place is exceptionally well maintained and very clean.

My first visit was to the “Hall of Fame”, the Sahajananda Diamond Jubilee Centre. Here I saw a well documented history of the Divine Life Society of S.A. Although the officials were explaining various aspects of the work, I was also enjoying the silence of this place. It was staggering to realise that Divine Life Society of S.A. has completed about 415 projects, 95% of which were for the disadvantaged in this country.

I was taken to the printing press. I was not surprised to see that it was spotless. I was pleased to hear that the press was run mostly by young girls who have renounced the world, the rishikumaris. I was told that in La Mercy, the young men run the printing press, the rishikumars. May I extend my congratulations to the rishikumars and rishikumaris for their bold and courageous step to come to the Ashram. You are truly blessed to be in this atmosphere. We pray that God will keep you here for as long as you live and in good health so that you will continue with your good work. I exchanged many thoughts about how one has to control the mind to meditate and enjoy peace of mind. I think you will all agree that in the whole world, there is nothing more challenging than trying to control our minds. Swami Sivananda says that it is easier to control the wind than to control the mind. Our prayers should therefore go to these young people as surely they are striving to swim against the current of worldly life. Such people are indeed rare and a blessing to this earth.

Sahaja Kutir was the next place I visited. I learnt that this is the place where Swamiji meditated. Whilst we were there, we discussed the work that Swamiji did and how he embraced people of all faiths. I was told how the work of building schools for Africans started in 1974 and how difficult it was to get to the rural areas.

Whilst we were having refreshments, we discussed various possible projects that could be undertaken in the eThekwini Municipality. We are keen to participate in the construction of crèches, Peace and Skills Training Centres and perhaps other projects. One day, we will have a formal meeting to discuss all this.

I was pleased to see the good work of the clinic of Divine Life Society where scores of people, with their children, were seated outside, waiting for medical treatment.

I was also happy to learn that money used to do all this good work comes mainly from devotees who dig deep into their pockets to fund these projects.

Before I could leave, they gave me a beautiful picture of Lord Jesus. I will treasure the books and picture I received. Perhaps one day, I will have to take time off from my busy and hectic schedule and go through some of these books. It will enable me to get some idea of the Hindu religion and the Hindu people as well. It is important for the Mayor of the City to get to know all the cultures and religions of the City.

Mayor meeting patients at Sivananda Clinic

The policy of the City is to increase the literacy level of eThekwini and to provide employment for its people. This is a sign of a developing country. Progress and prosperity comes from education and skills. I think that if we are in partnership with the Divine Life Society, we will be moving in the right direction to accomplish this to some extent.

As part of our commitment towards participatory democracy, we would like to develop a relationship with community organisations like the Divine Life Society.

In conclusion, I want to thank you for the support you have given to Swami Sahajananda all these years. There is no doubt that Swamiji has left a rich cultural and spiritual legacy behind. If devotees wish to walk in his footsteps and to continue with the work he has done, it requires a lot of dedication, commitment and discipline. We in eThekwini look forward to working with you.

May God bless you all!

In Memoriam

The Society expresses its deep respect to our Father Michaelson who passed away on 16 November 2011. Father was associated with Pujya Swami Sahajananda and Divine Life Society of S.A. for more than 30 years.

Father Michaelson’s quiet, unassuming and gentle mannerisms shall always be remembered by all with whom our dear Father came into contact. Gratitude was also one of the hallmarks of Father’s quiet but dynamic personality.

Pujya Swamiji held him in the highest esteem. Every Sunday, he would attend Satsang at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills and offer his prostrations to Pujya Swamiji with great reverence and humility, in the Hindu tradition. Pujya Swamiji, recognising his greatness, also returned the greeting in a similar manner.

We pray to Lord Jesus and our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda to bless the soul of our dear Father Michaelson with eternal peace!

Projects

By the Grace of our Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, the Society continues to serve the underprivileged of the Province by building schools, crèches, Peace & Skills Training Centres, etc. in the deep rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal. This year saw the Society undertake 10 Peace & Skills Training Centres, 13 crèches and 4 schools in the Municipalities of Paulpietersburg, Ndwedwe, Umvoti, Umlalazi and eThekwini. Early in the new year, work will commence on 5 new schools and 5 crèches.

The Society would like to take this opportunity to thank all devotees, donors, patrons and well-wishers who continue to nourish the Mission, making it possible for this important work to continue.

Publications

In the last three months, Sivananda Press has released the following publications:

1. Divine Life No.92: 5 000
2. Sunlit Path No.15: 4 000
3. 2012 Single Sheet Calendars: 2 000
4. 2012 Flip Calendars: 1 000
5. Divine Life for Junior Children (Sotho translation): 20 000
6. Sure Ways for Success in Life & God-realisation: 3 000

Forthcoming Publications:

1. Sunlit Path No.16
2. Service Activities (Updated)
3. Projects Booklet (Updated)
4. Mother Ganga (Reprint)
5. Path of Divine Grace – Volume 3

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