Pain is a Blessing in Disguise

Hari Om,

Unknown to you, the Divine has been shaping you gradually for the noble, sublime life spiritual through various means. He has been putting opportunities in your way, and bringing obstacles; giving bitter experiences. God does more miracles through painful and unpleasant experiences than He does through pleasant experiences.

Pain is an eye-opener. When one realises the ground truth that association with all temporary things is fraught with sorrow, then only our journey to Eternal begins. Sorrow, therefore, seems to have some purpose. Pain is a blessing in disguise. Pain turns your mind towards God, in whom alone there is lasting happiness and peace. This mundane life is full of miseries. Life is not a bed of roses. Ups and downs, troubles and tribulations are common in this world. There is no way to escape from them. The reactions of one’s past actions have to be gone through.

There are many instances of those who had to undergo a lot of sufferings: Harishchandra, Nala, Dharmaraja, Savitri, Damayanti and Draupadi. Even Lord Christ had to undergo a lot of suffering.

God sometimes puts His devotees in difficult situations in order to strengthen them spiritually. Face them bravely. Each obstacle will strengthen you. Each failure is a stepping-stone to success. Please be happy in whatever circumstances God has placed you. Have intense faith in Him. Rely on Him, He knows what is best for you. Pray to God to give you strength to face them calmly. He will protect you and guide you.

Difficulties come in our path to test our strength. As such, we should welcome them. And with faith and trust in the Lord and His holy Name, we should tide over them. Remember: even this will pass away. God’s ways are mysterious. The world is the play of God. Be a witness in this play.

God is kind and merciful. Therefore, despair not. Be calm and serene. It is worry that weakens the mind and body. You cannot remove worries by worrying. Be ever cheerful and happy. All unpleasant happenings are so much ‘account settled’, and makes your burden lighter. There must be unshaken faith in God during trials, disappointments and difficulties. Ever be rooted in God. Hope and help come when one is utterly helpless. He is Karunanidhi, kind and all love. There is no end to His mercy. Those who surrender to Him will have no fear.

Source: Swami Chidananda's  'Daily Swadhyaya'

 Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

Caring for Fellow-Beings

Hari Om,

Once the All India Divine Life Society Conference was organised at Bhavaniputra (Orissa). Normally everyone comes earlier and Sri Swamiji is the last person to arrive at the camp. But this time from Sonabada, Swamiji arrived earlier than other Mahatmas and Guest Speakers. Immediately after reaching his camp-residence he inquired, about the whereabouts of other Mahatmas. Swamiji desired to see their accommodation personally to satisfy himself about the arrangements. 

Swamiji indeed is knower of the Self. When he arrived at other Mahatmas guest house, the place was found very shabby, full of stink and dirt. At once without wasting any time he found out a broom and started sweeping the floor and then cleaning the bathrooms. He was state guest of Orissa and is worshipped as Sri Chidananda Mahaprabhu like Sri Jagannath Mahaprabhu and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

It is only because of his feelings for fellow beings, his reverence for smallest one, which for him is the reverence to Almighty Lord. He sees, perceives and experiences nothing else but God at all times, and at all places.

Source - Harih Karta - Thy Will Be Done
 

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

Prayer for Health and Long Life

Hari Om,

Swami Vishnudevananda performing Vrischika Asana(Scorpion Pose) before Swami Sivananda

O Adorable Lord of compassion and love,
Prostrations and salutations unto Thee.
O Lord, give me good health and long life,
Free me from my disease, O Lord of my Life.
Let my limbs be strong and firm.
Let my senses function vigorously.
Let my mind be fixed in Thee.
Let the three humours be harmonious.
Let the Koshas vibrate harmoniously.
Let me be full of vim, vigour and vitality.
Let my body, senses, serve Thee.
And let them not do any mischief or wrong.

Source : Swami Sivananda's A Boon To Diabetics

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

Meditation on Atman

Hari Om,

Meditation on the fearless Atman removes all sorts of fears in toto. A sage beholds the immortal fearless Self only everywhere. How can there be fear for him then? There is fear only where there is duality. If one feels that there is a second object besides himself, at once fear is generated. He is afraid of the other man. Separation, duality, perception of objects are all due to Avidya or ignorance.

Start the anti-current from today. Deny the body, and identify yourself with the all-pervading, immortal, fearless Atman. Entire denial of the body cannot come in a day or a week. Constantly think of the Atman. Gradually you will become fearless. You will have to fight against the Samskaras of Anadikala (beginningless time). The more you think of Atman, the more courageous you will become. By constant hammering only can you entirely drive the nail into the wall or a plank. Even so, by constant and protracted thinking on Atman alone you can become absolutely fearless.

Meditate. Assert. Recognize. Realize.

Source: Swami Sivananda's Conquest of Fear

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

Universal Prayer

Hari Om, 

O Lord! I do want to serve the world disinterestedly and practise Nishkama Karma Yoga to get Chitta Suddhi. I am sometimes perplexed, agitated and depressed. I am in a dilemma. I do not know what to do. I have no clear idea of right and wrong. I have no knowledge of the Sastras and the Smritis. I do not know Sanskrit, Laghu nor Sidhanta Kaumudi. I have no training to hear Thy shrill inner voice.
 

This world is full of apparent contradictions, paradoxes and puzzles, peculiar troubles and difficulties. This world is peculiar. Thou hast given me a peculiar mind with peculiar habits. Nay, this world is full of temptations. I have no strength to resist temptations, public opinions, criticisms,oppressions, pressures and even assaults. I am not able to please anybody to the fullest extent. Enemies do crop up, though I keep quiet, though I do not interfere with anybody.
 

O sweet adorable One! Give me strength to control the restless turbulent Indriyas and the mind that ever wanders.  Stand behind me always and guide me in every inch of my action. Give me good Preranas((thoughts). Give me Chitta Suddhi. Give me a calm, pure and balanced mind. OLord, give me light,knowledge and purity. Om. Om. Om.

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

Source : Swami Sivananda's Practice of Karma Yoga

Divine Grace

Hari Om, 

Sri Jagdish Badoni of Baroda writes: 

My father came home after 50 days of hospitalisation. He was treated for an illness called hallucination, in the most modern and well equipped hospital by a galaxy of reputed and experienced medical specialists. At home  a top Neurosurgeon regularly attended him. He was receiving the best treatment known in the medical science for this type of sickness. The treatment cost was very heavy, about Rs. 1.4 lacs. Despite all efforts there was no improvement in his mental condition. He was not aware of the present - he would slide back in the past.He was in a strange condition and lost to himself.

As willed by the Divine, in the month of January, 1993 Swami Chidanandaji - my Gurudev - came to Baroda, and I went to have his Darshan. By sheer grace Swamiji accepted my request to see my father.

I escorted my father to see Swamiji around 1.45 p.m. While talking to him, Swamiji's face was radiant with his usual benign smile, there was unique compassion and love in his eyes. He took an apple, cut it in to pieces, peeled off its skin and with his own hand, put in the mouth of my father. It was a unique moment. How much love was there! How much compassion was there! My whole being was permeated with joy and happiness - not knowing what was happening.

Soon after I left my father at home, at 3.30 p.m., I received a phone call from my wife, "Pitaji has come back to his normal senses. It is a miracle - Swamiji has done it. He is alright and is talking in sense." She was so excited. My father is still alive and happy and is in full senses. He does not remember at all that he was ever in the hospital and ever had any mental illness.

This great Master, so simple, so child-like, so innocent has done what others could not do. We are blessed to have Him as our Satguru.

Source : Harih Karta - Thy Will Be Done

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

Madhava In Madhava

Hari Om,

Once during his stay at Jyoti Vihar, the Sambalpur University Campus, Swami Chidanandaji wanted a barber to shave his head. When the barber came, Swamiji politely asked him his name. The barber said that his name was Madhava. Then, to the utter astonishment of the barber, Swamiji prostrated himself at the feet of Madhava who had to serve him as barber. Before he could receive the service of the barber he first of all offered his grateful prayers to the man. When the shaving was over, Swamiji offered him plenty of fruits as Bhog and some coins in the form of Dakshina. Thus by personal example he imparts the lesson that the seeker should behold Madhava in each Manava and rise from humanity to divinity. 

Source : Harih Karta-Thy Will Be Done 

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !