The Happiness that I seek
What is the happiness I seek?
Not to win the race,
But to understand the face of failure,
For through it I have learned to run
And not to fear the doubts of my mind.
It is that they have shown me
Where the road lies narrow and hardest to pass
Through the forces of the world around me,
Even when I feel tired and oppressed,
I shall find the way to increase my own strength
And stand in awe of the pattern of the universe. – Swami Satyananda Saraswati.
A guru takes you from darkness to light. – Mahatma Gandhi
The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind. – Khalil Gibran
Veda means revealed knowledge. It is derived from the ancient Sanskrit root Vid which means ‘to know.’ In the Vedic tradition, knowledge is not only intellectual; it also comes in the form of experience. Therefore, we always refer to knowledge as being of two types–either direct or indirect. Continue reading
Sadhana has to be understood in the context of one’s daily life. Sadhana is a signal indicating the beginning and growth of the divine life within. Through sadhana the hidden powers of the mind are discovered which can be used for successful living and for spiritual realization. Sadhana enables one to overcome limitations. Continue reading
As explained by Swami Satyananda Saraswati
God’s will is known as Divine will and is a universal reality. It is the most powerful force that conducts each and every activity seen as well as unseen. When one is attracted by maya one is led away from the Divine will. One becomes full of fear and anxiety. However, when one can transcend the barriers of the mind, one begins to realize the will of God, which is the destiny of all creation. Once one knows the will of God, then one knows how to manage one’s affairs and how to work. Continue reading
The human frame will be an empty shell
If the soul within is lonely and unwell.If the soul is clothed in flesh that feels both soft and rough
It is to get a sense of what it means to love.The life lived in love is a gainer full twice over
On earth in joy and then in heaven’s clover.
Quotes from Tirukkural Continue reading
Thou art in the innermost depth of all being
Thou art in the hidden recesses of mind.
Thou art at all levels of every being
At all times thou art the glory I find.
Thou art in all beings that are
Animate and inanimate—thy force in all.
In all that exists there is always thee
In the stone, in the moss, the flower, the tree.
Thou art the source, the creator of all
Thine is the force of life which throbs in our veins.
Thine is the life force which gives us pains
We must suffer, to learn and rise up again.
Thou art the secret, thou art the life
Thou the commandment and ours is the strife.
We learn from our errors to profit by giving
To face up to life and the battles of living.
Thou knowest all, thou knowest rhyme
Thou givest freely in fullness, in time.
Thou art the golden bird that watches me
Till from my earth fetters break free.
And discover that thou art really me
And that I was also thee.
Thou has awakened the sleeper in me
Thou hast uncovered that me that is thee.
Thou art my prana, thou art my life
Thou my deliverer, the end of strife.
Swami Satyananda Saraswati. Yoga Magazine, September 1978.
Aim Hrim Klim
How do I surrender my ego? The most precious pearls of wisdom were given by my Guru Swami Satyananda Saraswati. He shares his experience of when he met Swami Sivananda. He felt his overwhelming influence. Continue reading
Turned into strife.
Water makes up 60% of our bodies. On Earth, it appears as lakes, rivers, seas and oceans and it covers 71% of the earth’s surface. Water also exists in the air as water vapor. Currently 44% of all wastewater returns to earth untreated. This means that all our waste (human, household sewerage, toxic and medical) is released directly into the planet’s ecosystems.
We have forgotten what water means. Continue reading
In the Hindu tradition, the real Guru is regarded as the divine him/herself. A Guru is the only one who dispels the darkness within one, and then leads one to the light which is burning within oneself. S/he guides one spiritually, without being didactic or dictatorial. A guru enables one to become a better human being and accept one’s flaws. A guru is blessed with divine grace. Continue reading
Dear ones, make a list of all your joys. You will be surprised as to how much we have to be happy for.
My greatest joy is that I came to Yoga Vidya 21 years ago and have a second home with people I love and respect. I cannot explain this feeling but I feel like crying when I leave.
I have been writing a daily blog as you my dear ones are aware. It is a troubled time. Cost of living has risen. The weather is unpredictable. In India, we are becoming toast and here we are freezing. There are air, train and bus strikes. We look around and life after Covid has changed for all of us. Continue reading
The practices of Ajapa Japa were given by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in 1963 in Cama Hall, Bombay.
In his talk, he has given six practices for the followers of Yoga. They are simple and easy to follow. What is essential is that the Ajapa Japa sadhana has to be practiced for a month. I have written the sadhana as he gave it and it is simply said by the Guru for all to follow. Continue reading
Ajapa Japa Sadhana as explained by Swami Satyananda Saraswati.
When we chant, we are uttering from the mouth, when we chant from the heart, it is called Ajapa. Ajapa Japa is a complete sadhana and through it one can have direct experience of samadhi. Continue reading
The power of the word lasts forever. It cannot fade away. I read that when we say something hurtful to someone intentionally, it never leaves the ether. Words are made of prana as we utter them by using our prana. They themselves have the energy and power which can heal, help, hurt, harm or hinder, humiliate and humble. Continue reading