Sivananda Yoga - The Divine Life Society

1 Sivananda yoga . A series of talks by SRI SWAMI VENKATESANANDA. To the students of The yoga -Vedanta Forest Academy Edited by LAKSHMI. SERVE, LOVE, GIVE, PURIFY, MEDITATE, REALIZE. So Says Sri Swami Sivananda Sri Swami Venkatesananda with Gurudev (left). A Divine LIFE Society PUBLICATION. First Edition: 1980. Second Edition: 1983. Third Edition: 1998. (2000 Copies). World Wide Web (WWW) Edition : 2001. WWW site: This WWW reprint is for free distribution The Divine Life Trust Society Published By THE Divine LIFE Society . SHIVANANDANAGAR 249 192. Distt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttaranchal, Himalayas, India. FOREWORD. I consider it a unique privilege to write a short foreword to this compiled volume of lectures entitled Sivananda yoga by Swami Venkatesananda, a resplendent star amongst the disciples of Gurudev Sivananda . His contributions have been manifold and of significant rare quality, a proof of his magnificent personality. This chosen disciple of Gurudev had the exclusive privilege of sitting at the Master's feet and watching every word and action of the great saint, who was an ideal manifestation of Divine Glory.

2 Gurudev has given a practical demonstration of achieving Divine perfection in our day-to-day life at every step, in spite of the dominant mood of wistful, reluctant scepticism of modern ages. Swami Venkatesananda could not have done a better service to mankind; he has given us a peep' into the life and activities of the great saint Swami Sivananda who (it is incredible to believe). trod seventeen years ago the very earth we tread today. Swami Venkatesananda in his usual inimitable way has opened for us, through these lectures, the portals of the Divine Kingdom ruled by Gurudev. Through this spiritual son of Gurudev, we can have the inspiration and bliss of Divine grace gushing from this spiritual fountain of Gurudev. The rays of that luminous sun, transmitted through this chosen disciple will illuminate the dark alleys in our heart, revealing to us the Supreme Love of this God-man and his unique and profound philosophy of blending Karma, Jnana and Bhakti in our day-to-day activities of life.

3 All glory to the author of this work, for holding aloft the banner of Divine Life gifted to him by Gurudev. Let us look forward to many more such jewels' from him the very crest-jewel of Gurudev Sivananda 's Divine mission. Lucknow April 1980 Dr. D. Kutty FOREWORD. TO THE SECOND EDITION. My humble homage and reverential adorations to the sacred and loving memory of our esteemed and beloved Gurubhai (brother-in-the Master) Sri Swami Venkatesanandaji who left us this day, one year ago on 2nd December, 1982. His was a glorious goingforth from the confines of a limited human consciousness into the ever effulgent realm of Infinite Divine Consciousness. He departed simply and serenely when he decided that his duty had been done. Only those close and dear ones who were near his immediate bed-side until the very last breath he took on earth, only they know the full sanctity, the solemnity, the poignancy and at the same time the indescribable grandeur of his last moments and of his departure from the physical body.

4 Iii The book Sivananda yoga edited by his devoted disciple mother Swami Lakshmi Ananda ( LAKSHMI ) is a tribute to the late revered Swami Venkatesanandaji upon the first holy Anniversary of his Mahasamadhi. I was greatly moved and touched when mother Lakshmi approached me and hesitatingly asked me whether I would like to give a brief Foreword to this memorial publication. Her hesitation was on account of due deference to the state of physical weakness I was in after a recent acute illness. But on my part, far from regarding this as a task put before me, I consider it an honour and a privilege to have been asked to contribute these few lines to this present volume that constitute a tribute to one whom I hold in highest regard, reverence and love. Though our varying fields of work and activity took us far apart in physical distance, yet there has always been an unseen inner bond of spiritual fellowship, friendship and mutual love and esteem between Swami Venkatesanandaji and this servant of the holy Master Sri Swami Sivananda .

5 Late Swamiji's own physical earthly mother (also known as mother Lakshmi!) always regarded us as two brothers, referring to Swami Venkatesananda as Lakshmana and referring to the undersigned as Rama. For, that is what she felt to be the relationship between us both. I deem it my good fortune to give this Foreword to Sivananda yoga which gives an intimate and unique glimpse into Swami Venkatesanandaji's personal experiences and observations about the glorious Master as he lived and moved before us in the majestic simplicity of his saintly day-to-day living in his holy Ganga bank Ashram sanctified by his purifying presence. This is indeed a befitting tribute to the holy Master, containing as it does, Swami Venkatesananda's spontaneous heart's outpourings about the one who was the Light of his life, one whom he adored and considered his visible God upon earth. May this book inspire numerous seekers and Sadhakas upon the path of spiritual evolution and God-realisation.

6 May it also serve to keep the memory of our departed brother ever bright in our heart. I cherish this book. For, it pays tribute to the memory of one whom I love. I thank Sri Lakshmi. I congratulate the Press for their dedicated labour in bringing it out so neatly and beautifully. I salute the sublime memory of one of the foremost amongst our brotherhood, one whose whole-souled and unsparing dedicated labours in his Gurudev's Mission are unparalleled. May this example inspire us to dedicate ourselves likewise. Hari Om Tat Sat. Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya! Peace! Sivananda Ashram, At Gurudev's Feet, Friday, 2nd December, 1983. Swami Chidananda \. iv PREFACE. In January 1980 Swami Venkatesananda was asked by the Dean of the yoga -Vedanta Forest Academy, Sri Swami Madhavanandaji Maharaj, to share with the students of the Academy his knowledge of the philosophy and teachings of Gurudev Swami Sivananda , the great sage-founder of the Academy and the Divine Life Society .

7 From his experience of living in close contact with Sri Swami Sivananda for 17 years, from the depth of his wisdom and with his usual clarity and humour, Swami Venkatesananda made Swami Sivananda come alive, so that we who were privileged to listen felt that Swami Sivananda himself was present in our midst. The talks continued for three weeks. This book is the fruit of these talks. Swami Venkatesananda continued the theme in several talks during the Ashram's Satsangas. Some of these talks have also been included in this book. Lakshmi v CONTENTS. Foreword to the First Edition .. iii Foreword to the Second Edition .. iii Preface .. v Theory and Practice .. 1. Who is a Guru? .. 4. Communication .. 9. Planting the Seed .. 13. Self-Purification .. 17. Finding the Guru's Wavelength .. 21. Surrender .. 24. Karma yoga .. 28. Absence of Attachment, Fear and Hatred .. 31. Be Thou an Instrument .. 36. Bhakti yoga .. 38. Swamiji's yoga .. 42. Integral yoga .. 45. Remembering God.

8 50. The Path of the Ego.. 54. Selflessness .. 58. Discovering the Ego .. 61. yoga of Synthesis .. 64. Love That is God .. 67. vi THEORY AND PRACTICE. The yoga -Vedanta Forest Academy (originally called a University) was Swami Sivananda 's brain child. When he gave expression to this idea he had a certain vision which was characteristic of him that of a synthesis of theory and practice. In this particular area of the Himalayas you'll find many enlightened souls (some perpetually silent, others engaging themselves in their own practices) without the urge and sometimes the ability to communicate with others. Perhaps if you go and live with them, through what is known as Shaktipath, you might also reach enlightenment but it is also possible that you might not. For the vast majority of people some form of theoretical introduction is vital before they are even induced to take up the practice of yoga . The usual gradation in yoga is that first comes Karma- yoga , then Bhakti- yoga , then Raja- yoga and then Jnanayoga.

9 There was a great Acharya called Ramanuja. It was his theory that Bhakti comes after Jnana, for how can you love something which you don't know? Real Bhakti (or Parabhakti or devotion) arises after you have some knowledge of the person or the principle. Thousands of people may be potential Yogis and may want to practise yoga . If they are given a glimpse of the theory they would probably enter the path, but they are neglected by these cave-dwellers who have reached the goal without an intellectual understanding of the theory. Krishna suggests this in the Bhagavad-Gita: chaturvidha bhajante mam janah sukrtino rjuna arto jijnasur-artharthi jnani cha bharatarshabha (VII. 16). Four kinds of virtuous men worship Me, O Arjuna, and they are the distressed, the seeker of knowledge, the seeker of wealth, and the wise, O lord of the Bharatas. All sorts of people seek to enter the spiritual path. Among them are the Jijnasus, the people who want to know. If they are told that they must become like those silent Yogis, either they are completely turned off, waste their time or imagine that they have become like the masters, which is even more dangerous.

10 Merely sitting erect and unmoving doesn't make you an enlightened person. Gurudev himself used to make fun of these people, comparing them to stones in the Ganga. The stones also sit there for thousands of years, unmoving. Are they also enlightened? Two incidents come to mind. Way back in 1946, when the Ganga bank had not been developed (or spoiled, it depends upon your point of view) there were no steps. There was a longish veranda on the post office complex; that was our kitchen, dining hall, Satsang place, office and everything in those days. Gurudev used to conduct a morning meditation class there from to about Right on the Ganga bank a howling wind blows early in the morning, and in spite of it he used to come out of his room exactly at , wearing an enormous overcoat and a shawl tied as a turban. It was an exciting, inspiring sight just to look at this Jivanmukta walking out of his little Kutir. He was regular and punctual in attending the meditation class.