Om Namo Bhagavade Sivanandaya

Established in 1949 by Sri Swami Sivananda

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News & Reports (257)

New Year Message

New Year Message

Sri Swami Sivananda

By the command of the Indestructible Being, minutes, hours, days and nights, stand apart. By the command of the Immortal Brahman, months, years, seasons and solstices stand apart. He who knows this Indestructible Being is a liberated sage or Jivanmukta.

Time rolls on. New becomes old and old becomes new again. Today is the most auspicious New Year’s day. God has given you another chance this year to enable you to strive for your salvation. Today man is. Tomorrow he is not. Therefore avail yourself of this golden opportunity, struggle hard and reach the goal of life. Make the best use of every moment of this New Year. Unfold all latent faculties. Here is a chance to begin life anew, to grow and evolve and become a superhuman or a great dynamic Yogi.

In Path of Divine Grace, Volume 3, published on 10 December 2012, Pujya Swami Sahajananda wrote, “When you pass away‒especially devotees of Gurudev‒you will have absolutely no trouble at all. Your transition will be smooth because the Guru appears before you and he makes the transition smooth. That is, of course, provided you don't stray away from Gurudev and you don't do evil deeds. So, all of Gurudev's disciples have absolutely nothing to fear about death. In the case of Yogis, they have a conscious death. They don't get unconscious like us. While they are fully conscious, the Prana leaves and nothing seems to have happened. When they asked Ramana Maharishi what the Yogi thinks, he said the Yogi will either impose his will and stop death or he will just watch the fun. So, if you meditate a lot, you need not have an unconscious death. I don't think I will have an unconscious death but I am sure that I will watch and see how the whole business takes place. At least, I get a free show”.

Our final 70th Anniversary Satsang was hosted by our branch in Richards Bay on Sunday, 17 November 2019. The function commenced with Havan at 8am, followed by Ganga Arati at 9.30am.

A parting message for the final Satsang, written by Pujya Swami Sahajananda was read at the event. Perhaps, once may regard this as "a take home message" for the year. Pujya Swamiji wrote, "If people today understand clearly the operation of the great Law of Karma‒the Law of Cause and Effect‒they can avoid a lot of problems, calamities, sufferings, etc. None can escape the working of the great Law of Karma. Every action, whether good or bad, will bear its fruit, sooner or later.

The 70th anniversary Satsangs of Divine Life Society of S.A. are drawing to a close. The penultimate function was celebrated on Monday, 11 November 2019. It was 70 years ago on this day that our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, put pen to paper for the third time in asking our beloved Pujya Swamiji to start a branch in this country. We observe this event each year in order to celebrate perhaps one of the most valuable gifts to us in South Africa. This year's celebration has been extended throughout the year where our branches have hosted special Satsangs. Divine Life Society of South Africa is unique in spiritual history, because it was founded by a spiritual Master who forced his disciple, Sri Swami Sahajananda to obey him and carry out his instructions.

Deepavali Greetings

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Divine Life Society of South Africa takes this opportunity of wishing you and your family the very best for Deepavali. May the blessings of our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, Lord Rama, Mother Sita, and Lord Hanuman, be upon you and your family during this most auspicious period. May peace, prosperity, joy & illumination be yours!

'The auspicious hour came. The star Rohini was shining. It was Vijaya Muhurta. The elements were extremely pleasant. Winds were blowing auspiciously. The stars were shining with lustre. The lakes were filled with lotuses. Lord Krishna incarnated at midnight on this earth. The gods played divine music. The Kinnaras and Gandharvas sang. Siddhas and Charanas praised. The Vidyadharas danced along with Apsaras, sages and Devas. There was a rain of flowers from the heavens in joy. Lord Krishna was the highest incarnation of the great Vishnu. He was the unique and crowning incarnation of all. He was the Purna Avatara. He had sixteen Kalas or rays. He was a noble scion of the illustrious Yadava dynasty. He was the world teacher. He was the one Lord of love. He was the lover of men. His divine form holds the heart of India captive in chains even today." (Sri Swami Sivananda)

The Sunlit Path Workshop held at the Sastri College Hall in Durban, was held on Thursday, 29 August 2019. One hundred and sixty-nine learners from the following schools participated: Centenary Secondary, Futura High, Hunt Road Secondary, Overport Secondary and Sastri College. In the welcome address, Principal of Sastri College, Mr S. Rajcoomar, said that the success of this programme will depend on learners themselves. The onus will rest on them "to embrace what they will learn today and to take it back to their respective schools." They should share what they have learnt with other learners.

The Sivananda Conference which was held over the weekend of 7 & 8 September 2019 at the Sivananda International Cultural Centre, was a resounding success, well-attended by devotees from various parts of KZN, from Gauteng and Cape Town. It was also attended by well-wishers, donors, patrons and members of sister organisations. The event celebrated the 132nd Birth Anniversary of our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda in conjunction with the Platinum Jubilee of the Society. It also marked the culmination of the chanting of the 41-day Sri Hanuman Chalisa.

Many readers would know that it was in 1949 that the Master instructed Pujya Swami Sahajananda to start a branch of Divine Life Society in South Africa. In the 58 glorious years under his silent but dynamic leadership, Swamiji was able to fulfil the Master's divine wishes in all respects.

I must respect my body as it is sacred to me!

The Sunlit Path Workshop that was held at the Shree Veeraboga Cultural Centre in Tongaat on Thursday, 18 July 2019, was attended by 37 learners from Nkosibomvu Secondary, Fairbreeze Secondary, Seatides Combined and Tongaat Secondary. This is what learners wrote in their feedback slips:

  • I really learnt a lot from attending this workshop and therefore I will take all the information and share it with all. I will continue with the Sunlit Path Checklist.
  • The workshop has been very informative and helpful. It highlighted important solutions and ways to deal with things in life. It also helped differentiate right from wrong. It also gave me ways to deal with problems if I'm ever faced with it in life.
  • I feel that the first video and the programme helped to acknowledge my beliefs and thoughts regarding what is happening in society and showed me the way to cope with negative situations, using prayer. The second video provides me with information to cope with depression, alcohol, suicide and violence and not to be a victim of these.
  • My favourite one is about God; that He is testing us. If God gives us the problem, He will surely give us a solution.
  • I must respect my body as it is very sacred to me. I must abstain from activities that will make me lose my concentration.
  • I think that the Sunlit Path members should continue to share their wisdom with young minds throughout the community as it is an incredible way to demonstrate what is right.

Gurudev Centenary 2023

Sri Swami Sivananda

(1887 - 1963)

Forthcoming Functions

Publications

"Sure Ways for Success in Life and God Realisation"

"Sure Ways for Success in…

April 30, 2015

Size: 14.8cm x 20cm Soft Cover: Pages: 320 Pages Donation (SA): R50 Foreign: $15 Sure Ways for Success In ...

"Path of Divine Grace, Volume 2"

"Path of Divine Grace, Vo…

April 30, 2015

Size: 14.5cm x 20.5cm Soft Cover: Pages: 244 Pages Donation (SA): R25 Foreign: $10 The eagerly awaited s...

"Path of Divine Grace, Volume 1"

"Path of Divine Grace, Vo…

April 30, 2015

Size: 14.5cm x 20.5cm Soft Cover: Pages: 244 Pages Donation (SA): R25 Foreign: $10 The first of 4 Volume...

"Practice of Karma Yoga"

"Practice of Karma Yoga…

April 30, 2015

Size: 14.8cm x 21.2cm Soft Cover: 233 pages Donation (SA): R30 Foreign: $12 The nectar-like teachings of...