Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah!
Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya!
Om Namo Bhagavate Krishnanandaya!

Namaste!

Why Do We Have To Search For Our Own Souls?
by Sri Swami Krishnananda

To the question, "Why do we have to search for our own souls," Revered Swami Krishnanandaji Maharaj replied as follows: "There is logical contradiction in that things are outside us. By logic it can easily be seen that the universe is one whole of which we are parts. For example, the hand in our body. It appears to be outside our body. But it is really not so and if there is no conflict between the hand which is outside the body, why should a conflict arise when we perceive the world as outside us? Yet conflict is raised. The world versus man. The greatest conflict however is the relation between man and God. There are four types of conflicts that assail man:

1. Conflict of man in society;
2. Conflict of man in his own (individual) personality;
3. Conflict of man, between the individual and the Universal, i.e., the cosmos;
4. Conflict of the relation between man and God or the conflict between the spirit and the Supreme.

God created the world and therefore it is outside God. That is the idea we have. This is a wrong notion and it is with this wrong notion that we complain against Him. The world is not created in the sense of space-time relationship as far as God is concerned. This space-time relationship being foisted upon God is also a wrong notion. Now the dream proves to you that you can exist independent of the physical body. The parallels can be seen in the existence of God in the world and beyond it. What is it that exists continuously in both states of dream and waking consciousness. We had no awareness in sleep and yet we know that we slept. This is the contradiction. It is a recollection which is a fact also. How does contradiction in this recollection come—of the sleep of yesterday and the waking consciousness today? We say it is memory of the dream which is recollected today. Now what is memory ? Memory is a rememberance of previous experience which is not possible unless there is consciousness of the previous experience. For example, the stone does not have any recollection or memory of the time-space complex, though a degree of consciousness does exist in it. Therefore consciousness is independent of mind and body. Consciousness alone is present in deep sleep. Therefore it is a proof that you can go beyond body and mind, but not beyond consciousness. If there is no consciousness, who will know that you slept, you had dreamt, etc. It can only be if consciousness has been continuously present. You cannot believe that there is anything beyond and outside consciousness, therefore consciousness is everywhere. Thus your essential nature is somehow that existence everywhere. Do you search for your own soul was your question. How can you search your own soul outside this existence which is everywhere, the Absolute? This all-Soul is God within whom rests the whole world. God did not create the world for you as an object and you as the subject opposed and outside you. Yoga aims at reconciling all the conflicts we have now mentioned. (1) Social (2) Individual (3) The individual in the Cosmos (4) Spiritual and the Absolute.

These are the stages mentioned by sage Patanjali and are based on intense scientific investigation. Yoga is meant for every one because every one has these four conflicts which have to be resolved by reconciling the contradictions. Therefore Yoga is for every one. Yoga is the art of the science applicable to anyone, anywhere every time, for Hindu monks or for other types of monks in other religions."

"The story of Swami Krishnanandaji Maharaj, after 1948, is just one of a Jivanmukta enjoying the Sahaja-Samadhi-Avastha. It is the story of Jada Bharata retold. Radiating peace and bliss, he lives in Sivanandashram in a state of Continuous Self-Awareness. All service is welcome to him; though he does not desire to do this or that. When the flower blossoms, bees rush to it; they do not need invitation. Similarly, Krishnanandaji has without the least ostentation drawn to himself many aspirants and seekers after Truth from all parts of the world; to them all, he has become a Guru. He guides Sadhakas not only in Jnana-yoga and Vedantic Sadhana, but in other branches of Yoga as well. He is himself an adept in Hatha Yoga, a master of Raja-Yoga and a great Bhakta of Lord Krishna. He is a master of the Yoga of Synthesis propounded by His Holiness Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj; and is today a wonderful replica of the Master." - Swami Chidananda

Today, 25th April 2018, marks the auspicious 96th birthday anniversary of Revered Sri Swami Krishnanandaji Maharaj. There are several new uploads to Sri Swamiji's website on this holy occasion:

1. Book: A new Commentary on the Kathopanishad is being serialised
2. Swamiji's birthday message in 1984 with audio: Gayatri Mantra: A Prayer for True Understanding
3. Video: Total Thinking: Thinking as Nature Thinks
4. The Japanese translation of Self-Realisation, Its Meaning and Method

The above may be accessed from Sri Swamiji's website.

Yours in the service of Gurudev,

Pannirselvam

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