This body which....

Hari Om, 

This body which obscures the truth 

This body which encrusts the soul 

This prison of flesh! Encumbers and enmeshes me 

I was in its control 

I was in its control

(Song Credits: Illayaraja's Oratorio on Manikavasagar's Thiruvasagam)

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

So it Rises, So it Dies

Hari Om,

This vanity, this pretence, this little I
Rises, like a Phoenix

Everytime it rises, it dies
It dies, only in your grace fire

Take me along, cover me fully
And let, you alone remain

Remain, into eternity
Remain, into infinity



Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !


Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

A Glimpse of Grace

Hari Om,

My eyes were set on my own great deeds

My ears heard only words of praise

Tasting, smelling, touching only what is here and gone

And wondering why the hunger, thirst, and longing went on

Lost in vanity and pretense

My five senses made no sense

And then to this man, so blind and base

To him, you granted a glimpse of grace

A glimpse of grace......

(Song Credits: Illayaraja's Oratorio on Manikavasagar's Thiruvasagam)

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

True Renunciation

 Hari Om,

I wanted to write on this topic for sometime, but I did not know where to start. As things are designed to happen, I came across this valuable letter by Swami Sivananda to his devotee, Sri Pannalal Seth .Swami Sivananda in his letter says that renunciation is really 'getting rid of egoism, desires and cravings'. Originally, I had believed that renunciation means to 'give up everything' and live in 'seclusion.As my reading of Swami Sivananda's literature has improved, I started reckoning that true renunciation should happen in the mind rather than outside. Renunciation of the mental attachment to things are more important. As a result of renunciation, the fluctuations of the mind stops. 

Swami Sivananda says, "Those who have freed themselves from the fluctuations of the mind are endowed with the supreme meditation. If the impurities of the mind are removed it will become calm, steady and blissful.Then the worldly delusion with its birth and deaths, pain and pleasure will be destroyed".

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

 

Importance Of Guru

Hari Om,

Swami Sivananda says, "Guru-Bhakti is absolutely necessary. Guru-Seva with Atma-Lakshya will take you to God immediately. People generally complain: “We do not get good Gurus these days.” This is a lame excuse. You can take even the worst possible rogue as your Guru. You will have to change your angle of vision. When you look at a coconut made of sugar, you have a double consciousness. You know pretty well that it is not coconut. In your heart there is Bhava, it is sugar and sugar alone. Even though you see the world, it is really not. This is the Nischaya of the Vedantic student. It is the determination. Even so, the defects of the ‘rogue-Guru’ do not exist for the disciple who has taken him as his Guru with Bhakti. The aspirant should deify and superimpose all the attributes of the Lord on the ‘rogue-Guru’.

You should never look into the defects of the Guru. You must deify the Guru. Guru, Ishvar, Brahman, Om, Truth are all one. You must strictly obey and carry out his orders. You must think that underneath the name and form of the Guru, there is the all-pervading pure consciousness. In course of time the physical form will vanish and you will realise your own self, the pure Brahmic consciousness that lies at the back of the physical form of your Guru. When once you have taken a man as your Guru, you should never change even if you get a man with greater developments or Siddhis. Then only you will have faith. Through strong faith, you will realise then and there, Brahman, the God in that Guru. You must become the famous Bhakta, Pipa of the well-known Bhaktamala, who took a rogue Nata as his Guru and when he saw his Nata-Guru dancing on the bamboos in the open market, he took him as Guru, the Brahma-incarnate, prostrated before him and thus eventually had his Self-realisation through the form of the rogue-Guru, the Nata."

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !


(Source : Swami Sivananda - Yoga in Daily Life )

Why does evil exist in the world?

Hari Om,

Swami Sivananda says "Change the angle of vision or Drishti. All evils will disappear. Evil is negative good. Evil exists to glorify good. It has a raison d'etre, reason for its existence. Evil and good are relative terms. What is good at one time is evil at another time. What is good for one is evil for another. Understand this and become wise. Behold the one Atman in all forms and beings. Evil and good are mental creations. Transmute evil into good by Atma-Drishti. There is good in evil also."

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya ! 

(Source : http://www.sivanandaonline.org/html/sadhanapages/faq/faq.shtm )

Deep in my Soul

Hari Om,

Deep in my soul, there now abides
Someone who is not me
Who breaks the bonds of caring for
The things we own and see
I'm just a man
Imperfect, lowly
Yet beginning to be free....

(Song Credits: Illayaraja's Oratorio on Manikavasagar's Thiruvasagam)

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

What is Enlightenment ?

Hari Om !

Well, this is a question....I still have not found a complete answer. I am still searching. Whatever I have understood till now from the teachings of Swami Sivanandaji and Swami Chidanandaji, I would like to present. Enlightenment or God realization or God consciousness is really a state of being. Maybe a mental state, but I am not so sure since it is believed that there is no mind when there is enlightenment.

Basically, human beings exists with a 'world consciousness' state, which would mean that human beings give utmost importance to themselves. Their self or the 'I' dominates every action of theirs.They think they are responsible for everything that is happening.....success, pleasures, pain, sorrow, etc. The level of attribution does varies amongst human beings. When one transcends from 'world consciousness' state to 'God consciouness' state, the self or the 'I' factor disappears. They would start believing that nothing is due to themselves or the 'I' factor. They believe everything is happening because of God.....hence everything is attributed to God.....good, bad, success, failures, sorrow, pain belongs to God. They feel that they are mere instruments in the hands of God. 

As one transcends from the 'world consciousness' state to 'God consciousness' state, they start believing that God who is formless,nameless, timeless, endless, etc is everywhere. They believe that their own self (atman) or soul is nothing but a part of God. They identify themselves as same as God. Perhaps, this is what the great philosopher Sri Adi Sankaracharya consolidated in his Advaita Vedanta , and the Upanishads imbibe constantly as  "Aham Brahmasmi (I am Brahman)" and "Tat Tvam Asi(Thou art That)". As one grows in spiritual consciousness, they identify themselves with everything in this world. They become extremely compassionate to every living being and even to non living being. Even though they live in this world, they are not attached to the 'worldly things'. They are in constant remembrance of God. 

Om  Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

Enlightenment Words - The Blog

Hari Om!

A couple of years back, I was an active blogger but I dropped it due to some personal commitments. From then, I have developed a keen interest in spirituality and I strongly believe that one could reach a state of Enlightenment or God realization or God consciousness, if the right efforts are put forth. My thinking has been greatly influenced by the books and teachings of the great yogis Swami Sivanandaji and Swami Chidanandaji. I believe in their words and would like to transmit their words of enlightenment through this blog. Predominantly, it's their teaching that will occur on this blog. However, words of enlightenment by other masters, sages, saints irrespective of religion, caste or creed would also figure here. 

The whole intention of this blog is to help readers pick up points to ponder, purify their hearts and work their way up towards enlightenment, which I believe is the sole purpose of human life !

Finally, I would like to reiterate a favourite quote - " God, you are the doer ! I am just a witness of your actions !"

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !