A Christmas message of Swami Sivananda—1951. Continue reading
Celebrate Christmas in a permanent frame of mind
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Tag Archives: divinity
Goodness
How can we describe goodness? Goodness is an internal quality that develops when we connect with Divinity around us and with our inner divinity.
The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all directions. – Chanakya
You are never alone
Dear ones,
Have we forgotten the pain of others?
Can we accept the sufferings of others?
Do we only think about our personal pain?
Where are we in our pursuit of the Divinity?
Quotes from Abhinava Gupta’s commentary on the Bhagavad Gita. Chapter 6. Continue reading
We are never lost
Why do I start with these lines? Because when we are aware and in the presence of the Divinity, we are never lost.
He who is established in Yoga sees the same Atman everywhere. He sees the Atman present in all beings and all beings in the Atman. – Chapter VI: Verse 30
A harmonious self
It is wisest to be impartial. If you have health, but are attached to it, you will always be afraid of losing it. And if you fear that loss, but become ill, you will suffer. Why not remain forever joyful in the self? – Swami Yogananda
A harmonious self is far more valuable than an unhappy self. Ill health can affect us anytime, but do we have to brood about it and dwell on it. One has to understand that it is our thoughts which are influencing us and when that happens, we begin to think that we are victims. The question which come up is: “why me”? Continue reading
Become a devotee
God is the lotus and the devotee the bee. The devotee sips the honey of the lotus. As a devotee cannot live without God, so also God cannot live without the devotee. Then the devotee becomes the lotus and God the bee. It is the God who becomes these two so as to enjoy its own bliss. – Sri Ramakrishna
Treat your body as a temple
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own: you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies. – Corinthians 6:19—20
What do I want?
Can you seriously answer this question?
Beauty, wealth, health, peace of mind, serenity, harmony in my life, awakening the inner divinity, seeing the divinity all around. Continue reading
Divinity Meditation
Dear ones, close your eyes. Place a Yantra or a Mandala of your choice at eye level if possible or on the table or altar. A yantra is a spiritual, geometrical design. And a mandala is a spiritual artwork, typically in a circular, radial form that incorporates the image or symbol of the divinity. Continue reading
Jnana
Jnana comes in many ways. Jnana for the Buddha came through the contemplation of sufferings of others. In the case of Sankara, the great saint it came with the longing to understand. For others it comes through the art, or sacred songs or chants. It can come through the sound of the silence within. Continue reading
Smarana—remembrance of the Lord
Repeating the name of the Lord is an invocation of the divinity. Chanting Om Namaha Shivaya or Sri Rama is only a reminder. Divinity is total and comprehensive. It has no form and is universal. God’s name reminds one of purity, divinity and greatness.
Dear ones, ask yourself the questions listed below and then read the answer given by Swami Sivananda. Continue reading
To be compassionate
Compassion is the basis of Bhakti in Hinduism. The Sanskrit name for it is Daya and Karuna. It is also one of the three virtues along with charity and self-control. Vedas and other sacred texts composed before 1500 BC speak about compassion. Spirituality refers to Ahimsa which is a Sanskrit word meaning refraining from harmful activities. And it is the central concept of compassion. Continue reading
Stop your misery, before it comes
Dear ones, accept Yoga and connect your inner journey to yourself. Awaken your inner Divinity.
The purpose of Yoga is to stop the misery before it comes. – Patanjali
Yoga is the journey of the self through the self to the self. – The Bhagwad Gita
Understanding the Divine Feminine
From woman man is born,
Within woman man is conceived,
To a woman he is engaged and married.
Woman becomes his friend,
Through woman future generations come, when his woman dies
He seeks another woman,
To a woman he is bound,
So why call her bad?
From her kings are born,
From woman, woman is born.
Without woman there would be no one at all. – Guru Nanak
We must honour the Divine Feminine, which is in all of us. Shakti symbolizes power—divine force that creates, sustains and evolves. Shakti is the essence of existence. Continue reading
Argala Stotram unblocks the Blessings of the Divine Mother
Argala Stotram means to open the argala, which is the impediment or bolt to seek the blessings of the Divine Mother by chanting the Stotram.
Roopam Dehi Jayam Dehi, Yasho Dehi, Dvisho Jahi. This verse is chanted at the end of each sloka.
Give the form, give the victory, give the glory, kill the enemies. Continue reading