gurudev bani

8/6/2019 Gurudev Bani

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1. Reduce your wants to the utmost minimum.

2. Adapt yourself to circumstances.

3. Never be attached to anything or anybody.

4. Share what you have with others.

5. Be ever ready to serve. Lose no opportunity. Serve with Atma Bhava.

6. Entertain Akarta and Sakshi Bhava.

7. Speak measured and sweet words.

8. Have a burning thirst for God-realisation.

9. Renounce all your belongings and surrender yourself unto God.

10. Spiritual path is a sharp-edged razor path. A Guru is absolutely necessary.

11. Have great patience and perseverance.

12. Never leave the Abhyasa even for a day.

13. The Guru will only guide you. You should yourself tread the path.

14. Life is short. Time of death is uncertain. Apply yourself seriously to Yogic Sadhana.

15. Maintain daily spiritual diary and record correctly your progress and failures. Stickto resolves.

16. Do not complain that there is no time for Sadhana. Reduce sleep and tall talks. Stickto Brahmamuhurta.

17. Let the thought of God (Reality) keep away the thought of the world.

18. Forget the feeling that you are so and soa male or a femaleby vigorous BrahmaChintana.

19. Never postpone a thing for tomorrow if it is possible for you to do it today.

20. Do not boast or make a show of your abilities. Be simple and humble.

21. Be cheerful always. Give up worries.

22. Be indifferent to things that do not concern you.


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23. Fly away from company and discussion.

24. Be alone for a few hours daily.

25. Give up greediness, jealousy and hoarding.

26. Control your emotions by discrimination and Vairagya.

27. Maintain equilibrium of mind always.

28. Think twice before you speak and thrice before you act.

29. Give up back-biting, criticising and fault-finding. Beware of reaction.

30. Find out your own faults and weaknesses. See only good in others. Praise the virtuesof others.

31. Forgive and forget the harm done by others. Do good to those who hate you.

32. Shun lust, anger, egoism, Moha and Lobha like a venomous cobra.

33. Be prepared to suffer any amount of pain.

34. Have a set of maxims always with you to induce Vairagya.

35. Treat sensual enjoyment as poison, vomited food, Vishta or urine. They cannot giveyou satisfaction.

36. Preserve your Virya carefully. Sleep always separately.

37. Revere ladies as Mother Divine. Root out the sex idea. Prostrate before all.

38. See God in every face, in everything.

39. Take to Sankirtan, Satsanga, prayer, when the mind is overpowered by lowerinstincts.

40. Face obstacles coolly and boldly.

41. Care not for criticism when you are in the right path. Yield not to flattery.

42. Respect rogues and scoundrels. Serve them.

43. Admit your faults plainly.

44. Take care of your health. Do not neglect daily Asanas and exercises.


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Today is a gift of God. It is specially proffered to you. Take it with both hands with a devout bhav.

Apply every bit of yours energy in making it a perfect day.

Swami Chidananda.

Monday, November 15, 2010

SEE GOOD IN ALL

We generally speak ill of others but fail to see the good in others. Every man has some virtue orother. There is no absolute rogue on the surface of this earth. Develop the faculty of seeing good onlyin others.

Evil and good are obverse and reverse sides of the same coin. They are relative terms. Like light and

darkness they are corelatives. Existence of each is necessary for the recognition of the other. Hatred

and lies exist to glorify love and truth.

Life is made up of today - not of dead yesterdays nor of unborn tomorrows. But your life to each oneof you is not even today, it is this moment and this moment only.

Swami Chidananda.

Kind words affectionately uttered bring heaven down to man on earth.

Swami Chidananda.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

TAINT NOTTHY NAME

Maintain your good name. A good name is really the source of ones strength. One lives in vain if hisreputation is lost. He is a dead man though he is alive. A man does not die as long as his fame lasts.

Your character depends upon the quality of thought held in your mind and the mental pictures andideals entertained by you. If your thoughts are of a base nature, you will have a bad character. If youentertain noble thoughts, sublime ideals and holy pictures, you will have a magnanimous character.

You will have a magnetic personality.


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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

BE BOLD AS A LION

Never think, I am a wretched man. Drive off wrong ideas. Bebrave like a lion. Be cheerful always. In reality you are Atman(soul). This body is only a sheath or slough that is to bethrown away. Nobody can hurt Atman. It is invulnerable.

When your house is on fire, how daringly you enter the houseto take your child who is sleeping in the room. Even so, youmust be very courageous when you tread on the spiritualpath. You must be absolutely fearless, you must not have theleast attachment to your body. Then only you will have Self-realisation quickly.

When we saw we believe in God and yet live in a way as thoughHe does not exist, as though He is not present, then this is the

worst type of non theism.

Swami Chidananda.

Yamas teach ing to Nachiketas: Manchooses be tween the good and the pleasent andChoosingthe good leads to his highest welfare; choosing the pleasant leads to his destruction.

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Thursday, November 18, 2010

HUMILITY IS POWER

Humility is a bomb of infinite potency which alone candestroy the invincible citadel of egoism. Egoism is harderthan granite or steel. He who is endowed with humility canconquer the three worlds. The humble man is really blessed.


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He will soon enter the realms of eternal peace.

The spirit of the Srutis or Upanishads cannot be understoodeven in a hundred years by persons who are conceited and

who think themselves very learned. Therefore abandonconceit and become humble.

To be involved is good, necessary. We must be involved. Tobe entangled is not good; it is not desirable.

Swami Chidananda.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

CARE NOT FOR SCANDALS

Do not be afraid of insult, disrespect, dishonour, abuse orharsh words. Wear them as ornaments on your body.

Many worry themselves a lot if they hear a little scandalabout themselves. Dont be afraid as these are vain sounds.These are vibrations in the air. These are nothing. Allow

scandals to enter through one ear and pass immediatelythrough the other ear. You are the immortal Atman wherethere is no sound. Nothing can affect you. You areinvulnerable.


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Your life is nothing but the time you got. A waste of time isdestruction of life. Time well and wisely spent is life grandlylived. Life is time!

Swami Chidananda.

Monday, November 29, 2010

THE FIVE REQUISITES

Five things are indispensable if you want to practise vigorousmeditation and attain Self-realisation quickly. They areMauna, light diet or diet of milk and fruits, solitude with

charming scenery, personal contact with a teacher and a coolplace.

Build through regular meditation a strong spiritual fortressand a magnetic aura around you which cannot be penetratedeven by the mighty messengers of Maya or Satan. Your willshould be rendered strong, pure and irresistible by more

Atma Chintan, eradication of Vasanas, control of the sensesand more inner life.

It is not the number of Pradakshinas round the temple thatyou do, the number of Malas that you turn, or the count thatyou break that are ultimately pleasing the Lord: it is your purethought, sublime sentiments and noble good deeds that bring

you closer to Him.

Swami Chidananda.

Religious life is more than math and Puja Parayana, more than visiting temples, performingceremonies and going pilgrimage or even Japa and sadhana only. Religious means nearness to God,

awareness of his Presence as an indwelling reality in all forms of life around you. Otherwise you willjust be a religious person, with no religious in you.

Swami Chidananda.


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Saturday, December 11, 2010

IDLENESS IS NOT REST

Real rest can be had during meditation when the mind restsin Atman. Change of work can give rest. Remaining idle

without work and allowing the mind to wander about wildlylike a rutting furious elephant and building castles in the aircannot bring rest.

The man who cannot fix his mind in meditation cannot haveknowledge of the Self. The unsteady man cannot practisemeditation. He cannot have intense devotion to knowledge of

the Self or any burning longing for liberation or Moksha. Hewho does not practise any meditation cannot possess peaceof mind. How can there be happiness for the unpeaceful?

Silence is always the most real part of your being. When youare alone, you are silent. When you are alone, you are in God,and you are aware of God in you.-Swami Chidananda

This should be the firm conviction in the heart of a believer, in the heart of a devotee:"when I have God, what do I lack? Even if I have everything in this world, but have not God, I havenothing, i am lost, and I am finished. But if I have God, even if the whole world is against me, I haveeverything." this is an eternal truth: one who depends upon God lacks nothing.

Swami Chidananda.

Surrender is yourself stepping aside and asking God to take over. If God take over, everything getsunder control, everything works perfectly. "My" give place to "Your"

Swami Chidananda.

When man empties himself, God fills his entire being. When God enters man and fills man's entirebeing, man is no more man but becomes the Light itself.

Swami Chidananda


9/31

We come here to learn. This whole world you see, all life, is a university. Life teaches us throughvarious things if we are able to see. This body is not your real self. It is an instrument that you havehad to take in order to undergo this process of learning.

Swami Chidananda

Aim for the stars. Become the best of what you are capable of becoming. If you are a diamond, shinelike the best diamond. If you are an emerald, shine like the best emerald. An emerald is not expectedto shine like a diamond.

Swami Chidananda.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

BRAHMACHARYA IS INDISPENSABLE

Semen or Virya tones the nerves and brain and gives energy to the system. He who has preserved thisvital force by the vow of celibacy and sublimated it into Ojas Sakti, can practise steady meditation fora long period. He only can ascend the ladder of Yoga.

Without Brahmacharya no iota of spiritual progress is possible. Brahmacharya is the very foundationon which the superstructure of meditation and Samadhi can be built up. Many people waste this vitalenergya great spiritual loss indeedand they become blind and lose their power of reason underexcitement. Pitiable indeed is their lot! They cannot make any substantial progress in Yoga.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

TRANSFORM THE SUBCONSCIOUS

Meditation on the immortal Self will act like a dynamite and blow up all thoughts and memories in the subconsciousmind. If the thoughts trouble you much, do not suppressthem by force. Be a silent witness as in a cinema. They willsubside gradually. Then try to root them out through regular

silent meditation.

The practice must be constant. Then only one can attain Self-realisation surely and quickly. He who practises meditation

by fits and starts for a few minutes daily will not be able toachieve any tangible results in Yoga.


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When man empties himself, God fills his entire being. WhenGod enters man and fills man's entire being, man is no moreman but becomes the Light itself.

Swami Chidananda.Thursday, December 23, 2010

ALL POTENTIALITIES AREWITHIN

In all mans struggles and attempts at achieving any desired object, there is in reality no necessity atall for him to go in quest of external forces to aid him. Man contains within himself vast resourcesand inherent powers lying untapped or else only partially made use of.

It is because he has allowed his faculties to get scattered on a hundred different things, he fails toachieve anything great despite his inherent potentialities. If he intelligently regulates and appliesthem, quick and concrete results will accrue.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

FAITHTHE INDEX OF CHARACTER

Lord Krishna says in the Gita, Threefold is by nature theinborn faith of the embodiedpure, passionate and dark(Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic). The faith of each is shapedaccording to his own nature, O Bharata. The man consists ofhis faith; that which his faith is, he is even that.

Faith indicates what mans character is. Have true perfect,living, unswerving faith in God, in His grace, in the power ofHis Name. Meditate and open yourself to the Divine Light. You

will be transmuted into Divinity. Faith can move mountainsand can give you peace, inner spiritual strength, joy, freedom,immortality and bliss.

Aim for the stars. Become the best of what you are capable of

becoming. If you are a diamond, shine like the best diamond. Ifyou are an emerald, shine like the best emerald. An emerald isnot expected to shine like a diamond.

Swami Chidananda.


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Friday, December 31, 2010

HAIL! O LORD OF LORDS!

O hidden Love that pervades all objects! O power thatsustains this vast universe! O Self-luminous Light that giveslight to the sun, the moon, the stars and the intellect! Oadorable Lord of this universe! O Deva of the Devas! O Lordof the Lords; Thou art the womb of the Vedas! Thou art theDirector or Governor of this universe. Thou art the life of mylife, the Soul of my soul, Prana of Pranas, the Mind of mymind, the Eye of my eyes; the Ear of my ears, Thou art the

beauty in flowers and landscapes. Thou art the charm in theface and skin. Thou art the Pranava of the Vedas. Thou artthe sweet silence. Thou art the Peace that dwells in the heart.

Thou art Eternal Bliss. Thou art the destroyer of Avidya orignorance. Thou art ... more..

Youth fades away. A ripe mango becomes a rotten mango aftersome days. The only thing that never changes, never passesand is the same throughout eternities - is God. And You,

because your reality is part of God. Your reality isSatchidananda Swarup Atman. You are a child of God. WhatGod is, that you are.

There is a time you must bind yourself to discipline; othewise you will be lost. Rules nd regulationsare necessary. Discipline is necessary. Adopting certain principles for living is necessary. But thatdoes not mean that one stays there forever. One gradually evolves, goes beyond, and a time comes

when the rules and regulations fall off by themselves.

Swami Chidananda.


12/31

NATURE CURE

Nature Cure is as old as the Vedas and this world. It is the oldest of all systems of health andhealing. The ancient Rishis of India took recourse to this system. They used water-cure, air-cure, herbal-cure, fast-cure, the sun-cure and the diet-cure. They suggested drinking cold waterin the morning, Ushapan treatment, for the removal of constipation and other diseases. They

taught Asana and Pranayama for the removal of various diseases.

They prescribed sunbath, gazing at the sun, Suryanamaskars, chanting of Surya Mantra forregaining energy, Tejas and Ojas. Sunbath increases the haemoglobin (iron) of the blood andreplenishes Vitamin D. Fasting is natures greatest curative agent. It is the one sure method of

bringing health back to you and renovating and overhauling your whole system.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

BACK TO THE NATURE

Most diseases are due to the so-called modern civilisationand artificial way of living. Go back to nature; you need notpay any fee to the doctors.

Diseases are due to violation of the laws of health and

hygienedue to ignorance. Do not identify with the body;identify yourself with the diseasaless, bodiless and sexless

Atman. Attain Knowledge of the Self and enjoy eternal bliss.

Even after years and decades of sadhana, we still continuetoremain what we were, because, together with our outersadhana,inner transformation has never been attempted,inner

transformation has never been seriously pursued and effected.

Swami Chidananda.

That which stands between the individual soul and the universal soul isthe ego.

Swami Chidananda.


13/31

God is an unknown entity.God is an unseen entity.We have not seenGod.Weve only heard about Him.We can only imagine Him.But,if we are

able to see in a human individual,manifestations ofholiness, ofsanctity,something out of the ordinary, something extraordinary,

something special,we begin to realise: "Yes, God I have not seen,butgodliness I have seen."Such a being becomes for us visible God.God

reveals Himself through the Guru. -Swami Chidananda

Thank God that in Kali Yuga mental sin is not taken as a karma, otherwise, we would all go to

hell. Because of God's great compassion, any evil thought or wicked intention is not taken as aminus, but such is His grace, that even if you think of doing good to someone, it is a mark in

your favour.- Swami Chidananda

Everyone wants things created by God, but very few want the Creator and the Creator alone,Him and Him alone. Ask for that being Who is beyond all things - the Thing-in-itself. If you ask

for lesser things, you get lesser things. Be careful of what we ask of God, because, He is a wish-yielding tree

May good thoughts come to us from all directions! Each thought that you allow to emanate fromyour mind is a seed that flowers. Each sentiment that you allow to arise in your heart is anotherseed that can bring about a fragrant flower. Sow the seeds of innumerable blossoms that will

May good thoughts come to us from all directions! Each thought that you allow to emanate fromyour mind is a seed that flowers. Each sentiment that you allow to arise in your heart is another

seed that can bring about a fragrant flower. Sow the seeds of innumerable blossoms that willmake this earth a beautiful garden of God.

- Swami Chidanandasmake this earth a beautiful garden of God.

- Swami Chidananda

If you want to talk, you have to make effort, exert; but for silence you do not have to try, or exertto bring it about. Why? Because it is always there; you do not have to make effort, you do nothave to exert. You have only to stop disturbing it, stop bringing in something else.

- Swami Chidananda


14/31

KNOWTHYSELF

Be simple, be humble, be gentle. Be straightforward, be honest, be sincere. Be truthful, be bold, becheerful. Be tolerant, be generous, be virtuous. Be serene, be self-controlled, be self-delighted. Love

all, embrace all, be kind to all. Discriminate and be dispassionate. Reflect and meditate. Know ThySelf and be free. This is Vedanta in daily life. KNOWTHYSELF

Happiness is an experience. It is not an object. It is not an acquisition. It is an awareness of an

internal state that is already part of your very being. Once it is clearly understood that it is not athing, then the filling of your life with things will be regarded as a great delusion. The absence of

happiness is not so much the loss of the thing as such, but the loss of your awareness of itspresence within.

The Great Guru

- Swami chiadananda

Unhappiness is your own creation. It is self-created. Therefore, what you have yourself

caused; you have it within your own power to cast aside. Happiness does not have to be

created, because it is there already. It has only to be grasped and this is in your own

hands.

- Swami Chidana


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Today is a gift of God. It is specially proffered to you. Take it with both hands with a devout bhav.Apply every bit oo ytouf your energy in making it a perfect day.

To day is a gift of god.It is special proffied to you.Take the both the hand with adevout bhavAppaly every

bit of your energy to make perfect day.

Swamy Chidananda.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Sivananda Daily Readings

HAVE MASTERY OVERTHE MIND

You must have an intelligent understanding of the habits of the mindhow it wanders andhow it operates. You most know easy and effective methods to control the wandering of themind. The practice of thought culture, the practice of concentration, the practice of memoryculture, are all allied subjects. All these are of immense help in the practice of will culture.

Gladstone and Napoleon could go to deep sleep the moment they went to bed through merewilling. Mahatma Gandhi had this practice. They could get up in the morning at any timethey wantedto the very minute. They had so trained their subconscious mind. Everyone of

you should develop this habit through will and become a Gandhi, a Gladstone, or aNapoleon.




You must have an intelligent understanding of the habits of the mindhow it wanders andhow it operates. You most know easy and effective methods to control the wandering of themind. The practice of thought culture, the practice of concentration, the practice of memoryculture, are all allied subjects. All these are of immense help in the practice of will culture.

Gladstone and Napoleon could go to deep sleep the moment they went to bed through merewilling. Mahatma Gandhi had this practice. They could get up in the morning at any timethey wantedto the very minute. They had so trained their subconscious mind. Everyone of

you should develop this habit through will and become a Gandhi, a Gladstone, or aNapoleon.


17/31




You must have an intelligent understanding of the habits of the mindhow it wanders and howit operates. You most know easy and effective methods to control the wandering of the mind.The practice of thought culture, the practice of concentration, the practice of memory culture,are all allied subjects. All these are of immense help in the practice of will culture.

Gladstone and Napoleon could go to deep sleep the moment they went to bed through merewilling. Mahatma Gandhi had this practice. They could get up in the morning at any time they wantedto the very minute. They had so trained their subconscious mind. Everyone of youshould develop this habit through will and become a Gandhi, a Gladstone, or a Napoleon.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011


BALANCE OF MIND

He who is attempting to develop his will should always try to keep a cool head. He shouldkeep a balanced mind under all conditions. He will have to train or discipline the mind. Itis worth practising.

Balance of mind is one of the vital characteristics of a developed Jnani or Yogi. That Yogiwho can keep a balanced mind at all times is really a strong and happy man. He will getsanguine success in all his undertakings. You may fail to maintain the balance in fiftyattempts; but from the fifty-first endeavour, you will get strength of will. You will slowlymanifest balance of mind. You should not be discouraged in the beginning. Rememberthe story of Bruce and the Spider. Bruce learnt from the spider. He failed seven times

but succeeded in the war in his eighth attempt

We see people who engage in doing good things having a lot of misfortune, lot of troubles, lot ofsuffering. That is a law. If debts are accumulated, you have to repay them. If someone issuffering even while doing good to others, it means that he is getting rid of old debts. A littlenegative past is being cleared and finished.

Swami Chidananda.


18/31

God is an unknown entity.God is an unseen entity.We have not seenGod.We've only heard about Him.We can only imagine Him.But, if we are

able to see in a human individual, manifestations ofholiness, ofsanctity,something out of the ordinary, something extraordinary,

something special,we begin to realise: "Yes, God I have not seen,butgodliness I have seen."Such a being becomes for us visible God.God

reveals Himself through the Guru.-Swami Chidananda.



THATTHOU ART

Understand the glory, splendour and power of the Self which is at the back of yourmind, thought, will and memory. Understand the magnanimity and immortalnature of that hidden interpenetrating, indwelling Essence. Know that this Self is

the storehouse for all knowledge, bliss, power, beauty, peace and joy.

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Feel that the sun, the moon and stars do their respective functions at yourcommand. Feel that the air moves, rain showers, fire burns, rivers flow, sun shines,stars glitter, and Indra, Agni and Yama do their respective functions at yourbidding. Thou art the Glory of glories, Sun of suns, Light of lights, Holy of holies,Divinity of divinities, God of gods, Emperor of emperors. Thou art Truth. Thou artBrahman.

The teaching of the Masters is: "If you want God, shun ruthlessly all powers, all occultphenomena, as poison. If you want God, do not want anything else but God. For if you have God,

you have everything." Take it from me: If you have God, you have everything.-SwamiChidananda.

You should act your part in the scheme of things as dictated by the situations in whichthe Lord places you. You are where you are, and what you are, due to the Will of theLord.

- Swami Chidananda


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Firm trust in God will bail you through all crises. God is the Supreme Director of thisUniverse, the Invisible Inner Controller of all things. He listens to the footfall of an ant; He

repairs even the wing of a little fly. Have faith HE is the real Solver of all problems, He

Himself is the real solution to all your troubles. Know Him to be thus, and the burden willbe lifted from your shoulders.

- Swami Chidananda

Swami Sivananda

Most of the diseases take thier origin in overeatiing,sexual excess and outbursts of anger and hatred.If

the mind is kept cool and calm at all times, you will have wonderfull health, strength and vitality.Energy

is depleted by fits of anger.The cells and tissues are filled with morbid poisionous materials when one

loses one's temper and entertains deep hatred.Many kinds of physical ailments spring up.Various kind of

nervous diseases are attributable to excessive loss of seminal energy and frequent fits of explosive anger

or warth or undesirable emotions.

To do all your duties and obligations in the world and to neglect your duty to God is not

wisdom: it is not proper; it is not right. Strike a balance - This is the art and science of life,the art and science of Yoga.

- Swami Chidananda

s

Inner calm in the midst of the storm is balance. No inner agitation, restlessness or

excitement is serenity.

- Swami Chidananda

Happiness and peace are inseparable; you cannot have happiness unless you are at peace.

- Swami Chidananda


20/31

Many a time we think God's love is not available to us. However, when you think that God'slove has been withdrawn - that is the time when it is most extended to you.

- Swami Chidananda

One does not have to invite Him: you may call out to Him, but you dont have to inviteHim. He is already there.

- Swami Chidananda

Swami Sivananda

Man is plagued on by the sense pleasure he creates. Every type of sense enjoyment hashidden beneath its velvety cover, a ferocious tigress! Lust eats away his intelligence;

wealth brings with it restlessness. Family means worry! Even if fortune smiles on him, theinevitable Old Age creeps in. The pleasure centres which sustained him during his youth

and manhood, haunt him now.

All other things may be possible, but that God is absent in life of man in an absoluteimpossibility.

- Swami Chidananda

Reflecting too much about the past, speculating too much about the future aredeceptive processes that deprive you of the present. NOW is what you have. Learn to

live in the NOW.

Swami Chidananda

We Should not waste our nervous energy constantly by worrying

,worrying,worrying indicisiveness, what shall I do? Worry is a great Drain of ourphysics energy.

Lord Swami Chidananda.

We rrrrrrrr


21/31

You areYou are unique in the eyes ofGod. Noone can replace you in the role that youfulfill in Gods creation. Therefore, rejoice, and be grateful to the Lord that He has given

you a role to perform.

- Swami Chidananda

We come here to learn. This whole world you see, all life, is a university. Life teaches us

through various things if we are able to see. This body is not your real self. It is aninstrument that you have had to take in order to undergo this process of learning.

------------------------------------ Swami Chidananda--------------------------------------------

Aim for the stars. Become the best of what you are capable of becoming. If you are a diamond, shine

like the best diamond. If you are an emerald, shine like the best emerald.An emerald is not expected

to shine like a diamond.

- Swami Chidananda

Youth fades away. A ripe mango becomes a rotten mango after some days. The only one thing that

never changes, never passes and is the same throughout eternities is God. And You, because your

reality is a part of God. Your reality is Satchidananda SwarupAtman. You are a child of God. What God

is, that you are.

- Swami Chidananda

Within each one of you there is the potential of a godly nature. There is a hidden potential waiting to

be awakened and unfolded. Like a towering tree within a tiny seed, there is God within you.

- Swami Chidananda

it is meaningless to say that the universe is bondage, that we are caught in samsara and helplessly

suffer. The universe cannot bind anyone. It is you who cling to it. It is you who act and set up

relationships. Bondage arises not from samsara, not from this world, not from this creation, but from

you.

- Swami Chidananda

Our main problem is ourselves. Our bondage lies within us, not outside. Others are not our problem.We are more our problem than all others put together.

- Swami Chidananda


22/31

The ultimate freedom is freedom from oneself. This little human personality is the one great bondage

that denies you the freedom that is your birthright.

- Swami Chidananda

The conditions that God has given you are the very best for you. He knows best, and,therefore, He has given you what is your necessity. We need not be anxious that Godmay forget or that He may make a mistake. If He wanted to do something else, He has

the power in Him to do it.

- Swami Chidananda

How much your environment will influence you is a thing that is not decided by the environment - it is

decided by you. If you are wise, then the outer environment becomes powerless to affect you, toinfluence you, or to keep changing you and agitating you.

- Swami Chidananda

Turn your gaze within. All the while our minds pull us outward so that we are only thinking of things; we

are always preoccupied; our lives are hectic with so many things to do, to see, to touch, to smell and to

hear. Pause for a while. While this situation may not be avoidable, do not make it your end-all and be-

all. Remain inside. Turn your gaze within. Still the thoughts. Quiet the outgoing clamour of the senses.

Hold them in check. Hold them on a leash. Compose yourself.

- Swami Chidananda

Be absolutely fearless knowing that you have infinite strength within. The world cannot overcome you ifyou have courage. Your senses cannot overcome you if you know that you are strong. Nothing in this

universe outside has the power to attract, ensnare and enslave you, if you are fearless in the knowledge

of your own divine strength. Fearlessness is the key to blessedness.

- Swami Chidananda


23/31

What do you care for: the opinion of God and the opinion of your own conscience or the opinion of

others? Have a backbone.

All other relationships will terminate one day. Even while living on earth, relationships terminate. Your

own children, whom you have loved with all your heart, sometimes have no more use for you. Finally, all

relationships terminate when you take your leave of this physical, mortal world and go beyond. But

there is one relationship that never ends. That is your relationship with your Cosmic Parent.

- Swami Chidananda

- Swami Chidananda

There is no need to keep on thinking and speculating what your true work or lifesmission is, or how you can commence a task and do it in the best manner. As you are, asthings are now, do what you can here. The important thing is to start doing the thing that

is before you to do. Do not wait for imaginary opportunities to present themselves. Youare where you should be. Therefore, where you are, there do what you are called upon to

do.

- Swami Chidananda

Where are you? Are you in the Samadhi Hall? No, you are in God. Are you in Rishikesh? No,you are in God. Are you in India? No, you are in God. Are you on the planet Earth? No, you are

in God. Are you in the solar universe? You are ever rooted in God. It is not in bhav only,physically you are in God, because other than God nothing exists.

- Swami Chidananda

Intense bhav alone has the power to ultimately take you beyond the mind. It is only when bhavcomes into your life that something happens: for then this bhav will take you from processes to

the Reality, which cannot be reached by processes. Your senses will perceive only the outername and form. That's all. Only bhav penetrates and goes into the heart of the matter.

- Swami Chidananda

Bhav, feeling of the heart - that is the one way of drawing down His grace.

- Swami Chidananda


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This is the one truth about God: He is infinite love, immeasurable love, boundless love, thatdoes not know barriers of time and space.

- Swami Chidananda

Always remember that the worship of the God within you does not require any time or space or

preconditions. Because wherever you are, He is there. To live in that awareness is to be always in atemple.

- Swami Chidananda

When a devotee realises God, he does not produce God, he does not make God. God is always there,God is always here, God is always everywhere, God is always within you.

Swami Chidananda

Be frank and confess all your troubles before Him. Speak to Him like a child. Even before you express,

the Lord understands your difficulties. He is the life of your life, Soul of your soul. Depend upon Him

alone. All other help will fail, but this divine company will never fail. Ever repeat His Name. He will take

care of you.

SWAMI SIVANANDAS

Satyam or truth is the seed. Brahmacharya or celibacy is the root.Meditation is the shower. Santi or

Peace is the flower.Moksha or emancipation is the fruit. Therefore speak the truth, practise celibacy,

cultivate Santi and meditate regularly. You will surely attain the final emancipation or freedom from

birth and death.

Beyond space and time, I am forever here. Swami Chidananda

All is divine. See all as divine. Knowing that all is divine, make your life divine. Live

divinely. Lead the Divine Life and be free!

Swami Chidananda

Think deeply. Decide how will you work? In what way will you labour? What will you bring forth

from this field that God has given you? This the field cannot decide. It is the one who labours there that

has to decide.

Swami Chidananda


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Faith and belief are the two legs that have to take you to your destination. Faith

and belief are the left and right hands that can enable you to achieve anything. Faith and

belief are like the two eyes that enable a person to see correctly.

- Swami Chidananda

This inner being is a zoo inside. A beautiful peacock and a not-so-beautiful somethingelse. Maybe a chimpanzee, an orangutan, a little ape, a multicoloured parakeet or atalking mynah bird. All is there inside. And you cannot keep it concealed, nor can you

suppress it.

- Swami Chidananda

This This karma is not imposed upon us or forced upon us. Karmic pattern works itself.The Karmic pattern

Experiences go only as far as the mind, and if you allow it, as far as the intellect. But beyond that

they cannot go. They cannot touch You, for You are eternal and absolute, incorruptible andchangeless. This knowledge is your greatest wealth.

-

You should keep the company of those in whose company your faith in -creases, your be liefs become confirmed, un shaken, they become firmly estab -lished within you, and you become firmly established in what you belive.

Swami Chidananda

Con sider your house as a tem ple of the Lord, ev ery ac tion asser vice of the Lord, the light that you burn as wav ing lights to the Lord,ev ery word you speak as the Lords Name, your daily walk as per am -bu la tion of the Lord. This is the wor ship of the Lord.* * *You are ever free. You are al ready free. You will have to knowthat you are Atma, that you are free. You must real ise your free dom.

Swami Sivananda

Let your eyes look with kind ness, your tongue speak with sweet nessand your hand serve with soft ness.


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Swami Sivananda

Nothing can bring you peace, but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace, but the victoryover your lower self, triumph over your senses and mind, desires and cravings. If youhave no peace within yourself, it is vain to seek it in external objects and outward

sources. Swami Sivananda

When man finds the way in which to act so that he does not create fresh causes, thenperhaps after a series of lives, he would find himself without any Karma at all. This doesnot usually happen, because man never allows the pile to be reduced - and that is the

great folly of man.

- Swami Chidananda

Real happiness comes out of peace. When the mind is tranquil and serene, peace, blisswells up from within you. You do not have to manufacture happiness, for it does not lieoutside of you. True happiness is right here where you are sitting. You are yourself

happiness. Happiness is your essential nature.

- Swami Chidananda

Look for your solutions within yourself where all the problems abide. Find your

solutions there. Do not search for solutions where they do not exist.

- Swami Chidananda


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A deep fundamental unwillingness to let go of the "I" is the essence of the jivatma.

Just as you cannot see your own eyes, you cannot see your own jivatma. Yet itdominates; you are completely under its subjugation. That is the problem, that issamsara. It is very difficult to open your eyes and know that there is a greaterwisdom, a greater intelligence, a greater understanding - in following which alone,

you can come out of darkness; and in surrendering to which alone - you can liberateyourself from yourself.

- Swami Chidananda

The first and foremost reason for your sorrow, your problems, troubles and sufferings - and the

troubles and sufferings you cause for others - is you. You have to learn to take responsibility, tosquarely look at yourself. Do not remain a baby always trying to find some other reason for what

is wrong with you, always attributing it to someone or something else. Say: "No it is notsomething or someone or some other circumstance that is responsible. I am responsible. It comes

from me."

- Swami Chidananda

A deep fundamental unwillingness to let go of the "I" is the essence of the jivatma.Just as you cannot see your own eyes, you cannot see your own jivatma. Yet itdominates; you are completely under its subjugation. That is the problem, that issamsara. It is very difficult to open your eyes and know that there is a greaterwisdom, a greater intelligence, a greater understanding - in following which alone,you can come out of darkness; and in surrendering to which alone - you can liberateyourself from yourself.

- Swami Chidananda

A deep fundamental unwillingness to let go of the "I" is the essence of the jivatma. Just as youcannot see your own eyes, you cannot see your own jivatma. Yet it dominates; you are

completely under its subjugation. That is the problem, that is samsara. It is very difficult to openyour eyes and know that there is a greater wisdom, a greater intelligence, a greater understanding

- in following which alone, you can come out of darkness; and in surrendering to which alone -you can liberate yourself from yourself.

A deep fundamental unwillingness to let go of the "I" is the essence of the jivatma.

Just as you cannot see your own eyes, you cannot see your own jivatma. Yet itdominates; you are completely under its subjugation. That is the problem, that issamsara. It is very difficult to open your eyes and know that there is a greaterwisdom, a greater intelligence, a greater understanding - in following which alone,

you can come out of darkness; and in surrendering to which alone - you can liberateyourself from yourself.

- Swami Chidananda

The first and foremost reason for your sorrow, your problems, troubles and sufferings - and thetroubles and sufferings you cause for others - is you. You have to learn to take responsibility, to

squarely look at yourself. Do not remain a baby always trying to find some other reason for what


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is wrong with you, always attributing it to someone or something else. Say: "No it is notsomething or someone or some other circumstance that is responsible. I am responsible. It comes

from me."

- Swami Chidananda

Prakriti (Nature) immediately becomes a friend ofthose who are befriended by Bhagavan(God). Bhagavan befriends those who give themselves to Him, befriend Him, want Him,

and thinkofHim.- Swami Chidananda

When man listens, God speaks. "Listen, O man, I am by your side. As long as you keep

searching for Me elsewhere, you will never find Me. You put me far away, while the fact is

that there is nothing more close, more near to you than Me".

- Swami Chidananda

Wednesday 01 June 2011

SADHANA FOR SELF-REALISATION

Swami Sivananda

Analyse your thoughts. Scrutinise your motives. Remove

selfishness. Calm the passions. Control the Indriyas. Destroy

egoism. Serve and love all. Purify your heart. Cleanse the dross

of mind. Hear and reflect. Concentrate and meditate. Attain Self-realisation.

RELIGIOUS LIFE IS MORE THAN BATH AND PUJA AND

PARAYANA, MORE THAN VISITING TEMPLES, PERFORMING

CEREMONIES AND GOING ON PILGRIMAGE OR EVEN JAPA AND

SADHANA ONLY. RELIGION MEANS NEARNESS TO GOD,

AWARENESS OF HIS PRESENCE AS AN INDWELLING REALITY

IN ALL FORMS OF LIFE AROUND YOU. OTHERWISE YOU WILLJUST BE A RELIGIOUS PERSON, WITH NO RELIGION IN YOU.

- SWAMI CHIDANANDA

it is not the number ofPradakshinas round the temple that you do, or the

number ofMalas that you turn, or the coconuts that you break that are

ultimately pleasing the Lord: it is your pure thoughts, sublime sentiments and

noble good deeds that bring you closer to Him


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God-realisation is not a matter to be postponed till retirement. It is not a

matter to be discussed in Lalbagh and Dalhousie Parks. It is a vital, urgent

need to be attended to immediately. A weak, emaciated and decrepit old body

is not fit for Yoga Sadhana. Offer the prime ofyour youth to God, a rareflower offresh fragrance.

Swami sivananda

Ifyou are practising pratyahara, or withdrawal of the mind, you will find that

things, which once had a very powerful effect on you, are no longer affecting

you. Why? Because your attention, instead ofbeing directed towards things,

people and events outwardly, is directed inwardly, where there is peace,

stability, strength, light, power and wisdom. It is not what people think that

aff

ects you

- it is what you

think.- Swami Chidananda.

It is not the outer atmosphere that is the important factor; it is the inner atmosphere thatyou yourself create. Live in that inner atmosphere - serene, unaffected by the outer

atmosphere. Your life is in your hands. You create your world; you create youratmosphere.

- Swami Chidananda


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If you are practising pratyahara, or withdrawal of the mind, you will find that things,which once had a very powerful effect on you, are no longer affecting you. Why?Because your attention, instead of being directed towards things, people and eventsoutwardly, is directed inwardly, where there is peace, stability, strength, light,power and wisdom. It is not what people think that affects you - it is what you think.

- Swami Chidananda

gurudev bani

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