Advices on Spiritual Living

 

By

 

Sri Swami Chidananda

 

 

A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION

 

First Edition: 1974
(1,000 copies)

World Wide Web (WWW) Edition : 2000

WWW site: http://www.dlshq.org/

 

This WWW reprint is for free distribution

 

© The Divine Life Trust Society

 

 

Published By
THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY
P.O. Shivanandanagar—249 192
Distt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttar Pradesh,
Himalayas, India.

Contents

Foreword

We are happy to present to all members of the Divine Life Societies in India and abroad as well as to spiritual seekers in general, these thoughts of Revered Sri Swami Chidanandaji that cover a variety of matters, all of which are however connected directly or indirectly with spiritual life and ethical ideals of man. These expressions of his inner feelings and thoughts were communicated from time to time to the world of seekers and spiritual aspirants, through a series of letters which Revered Swamiji wrote each month addressing the members of the Divine Life Society all over the world. They appeared under the caption of: “The President Writes” and later on as: “Sivanandashram Letter”. The contents of this present handy little book comprise such monthly letters written over a period of five to six years soon after the passing of the Most Worshipful Master, Sri Swami Sivananda Gurudev. From the Holy Ashram in Rishikesh Revered Swamiji kept contact with the spiritual fraternity of all sincere seekers striving to lead a divine life by means of these monthly letters. These letters bring you in touch with Swamiji’s views and vision which he seeks to share with you all. We owe this publication to the generous and loving gift of Mother Yvounne Lemoine of France, who had the eager desire that some inspiring teachings of Revered Swami Chidanandaji must be made available especially to the seekers in France and other European countries as well as the West in general during the occasion of his present birthday on 24th September 1974. Thus the present volume comes as a Birthday Gift from Mother Yvounne to all those who have had the opportunity of meeting Swami Chidanandaji and listening to his teachings during his travels abroad.

Our deepest appreciation of her generous goodwill towards all.

A special word of thanks is due to the Manchandani Brothers Proprietors of the Nilum Printing Press who very kindly worked with great earnestness to accomplish the printing work within less than three weeks in order to bring out this book in time. Our very grateful thanks to them.

24th September 1974                     

DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY

Sivanandashram Letter No. I

To Awaken You Sivananda Gurudev Came

Blessed Atma-Swarupa!
Dear & Revered Member,

Glory Be to the Divine! God Bless you!

Thou art Immortal Soul! Thou art Atman, ever-pure, ever-free, ever-perfect, eternal and divine! Thou art Imperishable Spirit, ever existent, conscious and blissful. Remember this always! Your main purpose and important duty is to express and radiate blessedness and pure love and be aware of your true essential nature at all times and under all circumstances. Never forget this!

In earnest prayerfulness and deep worshipfulness at the sacred feet of blessed Master, our Gurudev Swami SIVANANDA I speak this above admonition unto you all, upon this first occasion, I have of addressing you all, through the pages of your own Wisdom Light monthly journal. I humbly speak thus in the holy Name of our Guru Sivananda Dev, as the merest instrument of His, through whom He carries on now, His sacred mission, of loving and ceaseless spiritual service of you all. My heart’s fervent prayer is that this servant of His even as He worked all His dedicated and noble life during the past more than thirty momentous years. In this life I shall strive to translate this prayer into personal action and live to serve. This shall be my endeavour as a servant of Satgurudeva and as His instrument even as it is of my worthy Gurubhais here at this Ashram. In this endeavour His spiritual Presence shall be my guide and His grace, my sustainer, and His remembrance, my strength. May the Divine inspire and help me in this sacred labour of love!

Gurudev Sivananda came to awaken you all. He came, lived, taught and worked to awaken, inspire, guide, lead and to illumine. Swamiji awakened you to the true meaning and Goal of your life, inspired you to aspire and strive for that Goal, guided you on your path towards its attainment and led you onward towards illumination. You who have been most fortunate as to receive His awakening spiritual impulse and to get the inspiration of His thrilling teachings and be guided by them, you must now go onward and rise upward upon the spiritual Path with keen aspiration, perseverance and zeal. Let unabated be thy enthusiasm and sustained be thy fervour.

Be a sincere seeker and an earnest Sadhak. With joy lead the Divine Life. Adopt the twin motives of Sadhana and Selfless Seva. Become established in truthfulness. Deviate not from Virtue. Pure be thy heart and mind. Let kindness and love dwell in your thoughts, words and actions. May the spirit of Gurudev and His universal teachings light up your life and make all your actions luminous with the rare quality of Dharma and spirituality.

God bless you!

1.10.1963 

—Swami Chidananda.

Sivananda Ashram Letter No. II

Who Is Divine Mother Durga?

Blessed Immortal Atman!
Dear & Revered Member!

Om Namo Narayanaya. Jai Sivananda!

When this letter reaches you, we would have just passed the solemn, auspicious and most joyous period of the sacred nine-day worship of the Divine Mother. It is now the holy period of Navaratri as I write this for your November Wisdom Light. The atmosphere is surcharged with deep devotion to Maha-Devi and vibrant with the fervour of worshipfulness, adoration and prayer. Our thoughts are filled with the glorious Divine Mother, and Her Blessed and wondrous manifestation as Durga-Lakshmi-Saraswati. She is the great Mystery, the inscrutable Power of the Supreme Brahman, who holds in Her Hands both bondage and Liberation.

The Grace of the Divine Mother it is, that enables you to walk the path of Divine Life. Through Her benign blessings you are able to shine as a sincere spiritual seeker and a man of Dharma. To worship the Mother with Devotion is to be immediately uplifted by Her Strength and Power. She works within your inner being as the triple force of destruction, evolution and illumination. Destroying the impure and vicious aspects of one’s lower nature, the unworthy, base, and bestial in the individual personality, and helping evolve the human nature into sublime heights of goodness, nobility and the purity of beauteous virtue. She illumines the Jiva with supreme divine wisdom. Thus the Divine Mother is the very life and support of the aspirant’s spiritual Sadhana. She makes your quest fruitful with Attainment. The Divine Mother grants Kaivalya Moksha or eternal release and immortality.

To worship and to adore the Blessed Mother is to welcome Her Divine Help in working out your highest good and everlasting welfare. When you thus seek Her divine aid, Her compassionate response is immediate. She sets to redeem you in Her own way. She sends experiences both pleasant and painful, through trials and difficulties. She moulds and strengthens you, through sorrow and suffering, She refines and purifies your nature. She enriches and blesses you with spiritual experience and raises you to exalted heights. She makes use of your very life and its experiences to make you perfect and bestow upon you divine Peace and Joy and the Illimitable Splendour of Self-realization. Therefore, O Beloved Seeker! learn to accept the joys and sorrows, the temptations and the trials of your life with wisdom and understanding. Seek to recognise their hidden meaning and purpose for your own evolution and supreme good. Find Her Divine Hand behind all occurrences and see the Mother’s Will working through them. Then will you behold your entire life as the expression of the Mother’s immeasurable Love for you.

Resolutely overcome all defects, faults and wrong tendencies in your nature and behaviour. Develop noble character. Grow in virtue. Ever walk upon the path of perfect righteousness. Seek the Immortal, Be thou an embodiment of Divine Life. Let the sacred name of Gurudev Sivananda be glorified by thy true discipleship into him. Personify his ethical and spiritual teachings. May the world find in you a source of inspiration. Let thy presence elevate all.

May the Divine Mother shower Blessings upon you! Jai Sivananda!

—Swami Chidananda
1-11-1963

Sivananda Ashram Letter No. III

Let Virtue Rule Thy Life!

Blessed Immortal Atman!
Dear and Revered Members!

Om Namo Narayanaya!

Jai Sivananda! Salutations and adorations at the Feet of the Universal Being, the one Divine Reality, whom the prophets of all religions have realised in the innermost depths of their illumined Superconsciousness. May the Light of that supreme Divinity fill our lives, on this auspicious occasion of the celebration of the Bharatavarsha’s national festival of lights, Dipavali, with His Divine Grace! May the choicest Blessings of God and Gurudev grant you all inner spiritual illumination.

Since all of you are devoted to the ideals of divine living, you would readily find the rows of lights lit for the Festival, illuminating the very meaning, purpose and Goal of human life. This earthly life is a glorious opportunity, granted to the individual soul to attain the conscious knowledge of its eternal oneness with the illimitable Light of Cosmic Consciousness.

This gift of human life is a rare opportunity, a splendid change, given to us by the benign Hand of the all-merciful God, for transcending all limitations, bondage, sorrow, suffering, pain, grief and weaknesses of all sorts, and for attaining that unlimited glory and that experience of immeasurable peace which emerges from your union with the Divine. That is the goal; that is the central meaning of life; that is the prime purpose of your existence here upon the earth plane.

With all its defects and imperfections human life has this great redeeming feature, that it is a passageway to the Light of Immortality. Live life in the Divine. Recognise your existence here as such and live in the light of this recognition, of this inner awareness, this inner knowledge. Let each day dawn for you as a fresh opportunity and occasion opening up before you to move one step further towards this great attainment of Divine Realization. Within yourselves, let there be, everyday, a Festival of Lights. And while you live a life of such unceasing and blessed quest towards the supreme Attainment, live a life of great virtues, a life of simplicity, humility, nobility.

Let all your life be a radiation of Virtue—the inner perfection that is inherent in each soul. Let life be an outflow and expression of the goodness, that is the truth of your being, because you are made in the image of God. Like Him, you are Divine, Goodness, Purity and Truth. Let your life, therefore, be an active manifestation of these divine qualities which are the essential part of your innermost reality. Thus alone would you prove that you have caught the true significance of the outward ceremony of lighting several rows of lights that the observance of the Dipavali festival enjoins. Live, then, the life Divine.

Blessed Self! Withdraw the senses from the objects; withdraw the mind from the senses and establish yourself in your inner divine Centre. Be the unchanging one amidst the changing body-and-mind-personality. Let the spiritual Principle in you prevail. Let the spirit Divine enshrined in you express itself in all its glory, express itself through a life of Yoga, through the thought and motives of the mind, through the actions and deeds of the body. Let all actions be full of love, goodness and purity. That is real Divine Life.

Gurudev Sivananda always insisted on living a life of virtue. For, the life of virtue is the common basis of all Yoga, no matter whether it is Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga or Hatha Yoga. A life of purity, virtue, goodness, self-control, selflessness, humility, forms the common foundation of Yoga, of all spiritual attainment and all practical religion. This is the basis, the indispensable preparation. Sincere aspirants can never afford to neglect or overlook this vital truth of spiritual life and realization—that Divine Unfoldment is based upon a life of purity, goodness, truth, selflessness and humility.

Practise daily the virtues, Gurudev has listed in his “Song of Eighteen Ities” “serenity, regularity in Sadhana, magnanimity, absence of vanity,—ego. Ego is the great stumbling block. It is the great stone-wall that prevents the individual from rising upwards to the Universal Consciousness. Ego individualises consciousness; it is the seat of all petty likes and dislikes, all clingings, identification and selfishness. It is a false superimposition. The real personality, the real Consciousness Divine is forgotten and this erroneous identification with the body and the mind gives rise to the “I”-idea. It creates this false human personality and makes you forget your true Immortal Consciousness. You think of yourself as Mr. so, as this little mind and when the mind is in a wave of anger, you say, “I am angry”. How can that wave touch you, you who are the Changeless consciousness Supreme? But you lose knowledge and awareness of your true Nature and identify yourself with every passing wave and phase of body and mind. That is bondage; that is ignorance.

Be large-heated; embrace all; feel oneness with all; realise the infinite inner Divine Self. Be tolerant towards all; regard all people as your own Self, and thus develop virtues and lead the sublime life, a real Christ-like life which all great saints and mystics have embodied in themselves. All those who have reached spiritual Illumination, have themselves been the very personifications of Virtue. Thus we see there is a fundamental connection between a life of virtue and the highest spiritual experience. Therefore, lead the Life Divine. May your inner life be a perpetual festival of Lights!

—Swami Chidananda
1st December 1963

Sivanandashram Letter No. IV

Start A New Life Now

BLESSED ATMA SWARUPA,

Om Namo Narayanaya: Namaskara.

May the Grace of Gurudev Swami Sivananda illumine this NEW YEAR with the brightness and radiance of Hope, Aspiration, and Inspiration. God grant you all Auspiciousness, Blessedness, Prosperity and Success. I wish you Happiness, Health, Progress upon the spiritual Path, and triumph over troubles, tensions and problems of life. May this New Year herald for you many more years of joy, peace, and plenty.

With this fourth Sivanandashram Letter, we leave behind a year that has been heavy with many sombre events, and look forward on to a fresh New Year, in which the world might emerge once again, from shadow into bright light, even like the sun unclouded. Traditionally too with the Makarasankranti in January, the sun takes once again the auspicious northern-path, Uttarayana. At this juncture of mankind’s periodical reckoning up the debit and credit of life and of the taking of earnest resolutions, I speak to you all to say, “Blessed Seekers upon the path to Divinity. This year dawns for us without the outward physical presence of the one who was our guide and inspirer in our spiritual life. We have not him to whom our yearly resolutions were addressed hitherto. But this very absence entails the necessity of taking certain new resolutions that were not taken hitherto. These I shall mention. But, even before anything the first and the chief of them shall be that you make your life a dynamic expression of the practical gospel of Sivananda. This is Divine Life.”

Beloved Member, in addition to your routine new-year-resolutions as a Sadhaka, the dawn of 1964, should see you getting ready to take up the work of Gurudev as his worthy child, pupil and spiritual representative wherever you are. Be you a follower or a disciple or even just a devotee of the Holy Master Sivananda, let your resolve be on record that you determine now at the dawn of this New Year to practise and to propagate his Divine life teachings every day of your life. Resolve that you will observe the principles of Satyam (Truth), Ahimsa (harmlessness), and Brahmacharya (Purity). Resolve that you will strive each day to be good, to do good, to be kind and compassionate to one and all. Resolve to excel in service, to progress in devotion, to persist in meditation and aspire for realization. Resolve to be charitable and pure, to be detached from worldliness and passing earthly objects and to attach yourself to Dharma and the spiritual ideal of life. Resolve to love all, to see the Lord in all, and to serve the Lord in all. Resolve to adapt, adjust and accommodate to yourself to all changing circumstances, to be tolerant towards all faiths and religions, and to ever seek to unify all by seeing the good in all, and the underlying unity in the midst of apparent diversity. Resolve thus to make your life Sivanandamaya. Let Sivananda radiate through your pure thoughts, your noble feeling, your kind words, and your selfless actions. Thus resolve to make Gurudev Sivananda immortal through your life and actions.

I have more to say, but that I shall keep for the Letter of February. For the present I shall confine this letter to this main request to you all. Thus loftily resolve and act upon this resolves with sublime determination. May the idea, the will and the Bhav fuse together into an irresistible dynamic urge to do all that is conceived and to do it now. This would verily constitute the true fulfilment of discipleship in this age when ideals need to be actualised through living practice, I invite you to write to me your ideas briefly on the question of, “the duty of individual disciples towards Gurudev, and how disciples all over the world can each serve the great cause of dissemination of spiritual knowledge and the spread of Divine Life.” I shall be glad to receive and consider these letters for the benefit of all. Anyone who communicates to me on this specific matter, may kindly write upon the cover, “Sivanandashram Letter No. 4”, thus underlined.

God bless you all, and grant you Vichara and Viveka, firm determination, strong will power, unshakable faith, Sadhana-shakti and supreme attainment. Greetings again, and the very best good wishes in the name of worshipful Gurudev Sivananda.

—Swami Chidananda
1st January 1964

Sivanandashram Letter No. V

Resolve To Follow Divine Life

BLESSED ATMA-SWARUPA:

May the abundant Grace of the ever-munificent Lord Shiva, the easily-pleased-one, shower upon you on the eve of the most blessed Mahashivaratri day. In continuation of letter number four that appeared here last month, I have now to enlarge upon the theme of spiritual RESOLUTIONS which formed the central subject of that previous letter. Mention was made therein (vide page 11) that more was to be said and it would be said now. What is the place of resolution in the path of Sadhana? What part does such a resolution play in your life? The answer is that resolution is the very basis and origin of all endeavour and achievement. Spiritual aspirations and efforts are no exception to this. All the more is it so in the spiritual field. Specially because, here you are mostly to struggle alone. The comfort and consolation, the support and strength of group endeavours are not so much available to the Sadhakas as they are to people in other fields of secular endeavour. The spiritual seeker does not move in a set-up like that of a whole company of soldiers moving resolutely forward into determined action upon the battle-field. Because, spiritual aspirants and Sadhaaks are a scattered brotherhood, a small minority in this world, manfully endeavouring to ever press forward the Divine Goal in the face of a thousand obstacles and adverse currents. Great resolution is essential.

See what Gurudev himself says upon this point. Here are his words, “The spiritual path is thorny, precipitous and rugged. Temptations will assail you. Your will, sometimes, become weak. Sometimes there will be downfall or a backward pull by the dark Asuric antagonistic forces. In order to strengthen your will and resist the unfavourable currents, you will have to make, again and again, fresh resolves. This will help you to ascend the ladder of Yoga, vigorously and quickly. Stick to them tenaciously. Watch the mind carefully and keep a daily spiritual record.”

When you make these resolves, stand before the Lord’s picture, with folded hands, and pray devoutly for His grace and mercy. You will doubtless get immense strength to carry out these resolves.

Even if you fail in your attempt, do not be discouraged. Every failure is a stepping-stone for success. Make a fresh resolve again with more firm and fiery determination. You are bound to succeed. Conquest over the weakness will give you additional strength and will-force to get over another weakness or defect. The baby tries to walk, gets up and falls down. Again it makes another attempt. Eventually, it walks steadily. Even so, you will have to fall down and get up again and again, when you walk in spiritual path. In the long run, you will steadily climb up to the summit of the hill of Yoga and reach the pinnacle of Nirvikalpa Samadhi”.

Thus we see Iccha-Shakti is the motive force behind all Kriya or activity. Hence the ancients have clearly mentioned “SUBHECCHA” as the first level or Bhumika of the spiritual ascent when they enumerated the Sapta-Jnana Bhumika. With equal emphasis has the blessed Lord declared unmistakably that right resolution verily becomes turning point in one’s life. (vide Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9, verse 30).

Such resolution is Daivi Sampatti. Such resolution does not contradict surrender or humility for it indeed constitutes the very expression of perfect trust in the Lord’s Divine support and our faith in His graciousness to sustain us in our spiritual life.

Now coming to our specific position as the disciples at the feet of Sadguru-Dev Sivananda, there are certain definite points for you to resolve upon as the members of the Divine Life Society. You must embody Gurudev’s teachings. And the essence of his practical instructions to you on the spiritual path have been summed up in five or six important admonitions of his. These, every member of the Divine Life Society must have at his finger-tips. They should be engraved in your heart, to follow them and to incorporate them in your life would be totally fulfilling Gurudev’s concept of Divine Life. It will make your very life a living exposition of Gospel of Sivananda. Sri Gurudev laid the greatest importance to the observance of these sets of his personal teachings which I now give for your close attention. They are contained in the following:—

1. The RESOLVE FORM with its 18 items.

2. Twenty spiritual instructions.

3. The science of seven cultures.

4. A daily routine Time-table with well thought out, systematic programme from dawn till night. This may not be rigid but flexible according to dictates of common-sense.

5. The daily spiritual diary to be maintained in order to cheek up both upon your resolve from as well as your daily routine.

6. The Universal prayer beginning with “O Adorable Lord of Mercy and Love”, which produces a complete pattern of the sublimest ideals of Divine Life in practice.

These six things constitute Gurudev’s complete method for quick evolution and dynamic spiritual progress. They stand for the heart of Gurudev Sivananda’s teachings. During more than 35 years of ceaseless spiritual propagation and dynamic awakening work Gurudev has consistently hammered upon these teachings, tirelessly preached them and broadcast to every nook and corner of the world. Even if all the rest of his spiritual literature were to be taken away from this earth, these six things alone would be amply providing the fullest spiritual guidance and practical teachings to the entire world. They alone would be enough to sustain the spiritual life of humanity. The teachings contained in these six items are comprehensive and are quite capable of guiding you and taking you right up to the great goal of highest spiritual attainments or highest Kaivalya Moksha. Take definite resolves and record them in resolve form. Draw a daily routine and follow it. Maintain spiritual diary. Follow twenty spiritual instructions. Live in the spirit of Sadhana Tattwa. Translate the Universal prayer into your actual life. Yes, the Resolve form, the twenty spiritual instructions, Spiritual Diary and Sadhana Tattwa represent Gurudev himself. They are the whole of Gurudev’s teachings to modern humanity, in a nutshell. Enter into the spirit of these teachings. Assimilate these teachings. Make them your own. Live them. Thus you will be granted the highest spiritual blessedness and will attain the goal of all spiritual Sadhana. They can bring you face to face with God. May Sat-Gurudev make himself manifest to you through these six important Sadhanas of his. May His grace enable you to fulfil these in your life and become the partakers of the highest experience of Divine Bliss, Spiritual Illumination in this very life. Jai Gurudev Sivananda.

Your in the Lord,
Swami Chidananda
1st February, 1964 

Sivanandashram Letter No. VI

Noble Task Of True Discipleship

Blessed Atma-Swaroop:
Beloved Seeker of Truth,

Om Namo Narayanaya. Namaskars.

May the Sunshine of Joy, Health and Well-being illumine your life with the advent of bright Spring season with its beauty and fragrance of colourful flowers and fresh leaves upon the waking branches of wind-swayed trees. I am happy to tell you that several earnest disciples of Sri GURUDEV felt it their duty to respond to the “Sivanandashram Letter No: 4” and so I have their valuable thoughts and suggestions upon the question of—“The duty of individual Disciples towards Gurudev” and how, the disciples all over the world can each serve the cause of Dissemination of Spiritual Knowledge and the spread of Divine Life—sent in by them after reading the January issue of Wisdom Light. This present issue is therefore, going to bring to you their sincere views upon this all important subject of the practical implication of true discipleship and its active expression in the form of earnest Guru-Seva. All letters received here, cannot naturally find sufficient place for inclusion in the pages of this publication, but this certainly does not at all mean that some were considered as of less value or importance and not given place. Far from it. Actually, whether published or not, all the responses received are being given our close attention and every idea placed before us, is being considered carefully. I am most thankful indeed to the many good friends and well-wishers to will thus graciously given their time and thought, to have responded to the previous letter. In doing this very act they have indeed fulfilled a vital part of their spiritual obligation towards their Guru’s spiritual Mission. They have verily exercised the privilege of their discipleship by their guru’s genuine interest in the progress of life-work and his handiwork namely, the Divine Life Society. An appreciable number of earnest disciples taking keen interest in their Guru’s good work will ensure the enduring progress of this holy movement which he has left to them as a heritage. He has left this work to their hands as a part of their spiritual evolution and an essential part of their Yoga and their Jivana-sadhana.

Gurus are of two kinds. The one lives a lofty spiritual life and living thus he continuously instructs and guides his disciples to individually practise and live this ideal life themselves and attain the experience which he reached. The other lives a lofty life, instructs and inspires disciples to do likewise AND UNDERTAKES A GREAT HUMANITARIAN TASK AND LEAVES THIS IDEAL WORK TO HIS FOLLOWERS TO CONTINUE and bless others and bless themselves thereby.

Why certain sages develop into one type and certain others into the other type is a matter we have no knowledge about. May be it is that the needs of particular times call forth men suited to fulfil them, may be it is the prarabdha that decides this. Whatever it be, it is God’s will that brings this about and the world is the gainer for it. Jagadguru Adi Sankaracharya was an uncompromising Absolute Monist Kevala Advaitin. He declared the Atman alone to be the sole Reality. Yet, he undertook to clean up Hinduism of all malpractices and launched a great revival and established a well-conceived institution to carry on this work in an organised and systematic manner. And the great following of his Monastic and lay disciples have been keeping alive this institution and furthering his work through this centuries since his day. Thus we see that this twofold trend in the Gurus upon the Indian spiritual scene is not in any way new nor by any means unusual or contrary to previous tradition.

Our worshipful GURUDEV has been indeed a very combination of both this trend, making himself a confluence of a powerful spiritual ideal, at once lofty and sublime, and a most significant spiritual work at once noble and great. You, my blessed Sadhak, are a disciple of Satguru Sivananda, the holy saint and loving helper of all mankind. Ideal discipleship would be manifested in you when you live the Divine Life and also further the Divine Life work in the service of mankind. The first part of this is an individual process. The second part of it requires the harmonious co-ordination with other D L members in your own city, town or village. Contact fellow-members. If there is a branch of the Divine Life Society in any place, it is the scared duty of each and every individual member of that place to get in touch with the branch workers and to participate and to actively help in the programmes of the branch. Many a time the branch people do not know of the presence of enrolled members in their own town or city. This would not be. Also disciples even if they are non-members in the formal way, must take joyous interest in making contact with other disciples who are known to be in the same town or locality. And to further Gurudev’s work one does not necessarily have to constitute a Branch (though it is good to do so) but may arrange Satsangs, discourses, Asan classes even upon the individual level. In short, let me tell you this, an integral part of your spiritual life and Yoga Sadhana is propagation of the Divine Life Gospel and spreading Gurudev’s teachings in selfless spirit of Karma Yoga and Guru-seva and Ishwara-arpana. Jai Gurudev:

Regards, prem and Om:

 —Swami Chidananda
1st March, 1964

Sivanandashram Letter No. VII

Strive To Live Ideal Life

Blessed Atma Swaroopa!
Beloved Seeker of Truth,

Om Namo Narayanaya. Namaskars.

Om Sri Ram. Sri Ram. Sri Ram. Sri Ram.

This is a great and glorious month. It is verily a month full of rare blessedness and sanctity. For, this month we have the precious occasion and opportunity of offering our adorations to the grand ideal of our Nation, the supreme divine Person who stands for us all, as the greatest model of Perfection in life, nature, conduct and character, namely, the most blessed “LORD RAMA”. The entire Nation will celebrate the divine Jayanthi or holy Birthday anniversary of Rama upon the 20th April: Bhagwan Ramchandra Maryada-Purushottama, who embodies in Himself and expresses through every movement of His life the highest exemplary behaviour in all fields of human relationship. The story of Rama’s divine life is the story of sublime Idealism in actual practice. Its inspiration is perennial. Its appeal is Universal. Its wonderful power to elevate and to transform is unfailing. Its sublimity is unequalled. Ramayana is a treasure of Indian Culture, and National Heritage of utmost importance and significance of the very survival of our noble expiration and aims. To worship in RAMA is to reassert our unshakable faith in Idealism in life and to pledge a new our loyalty to the concept of Dharma and Adhyatma-lakshya in life. Rama is the life-breath of India’s moral life and ethical structure. Without Rama there is no Dharma and without Dharma there will be no India!

We shall try in this letter to receive some Light from the glorious RAMAYANA. May you all prepare yourself to worship the Divine Rama upon the approaching sacred anniversary. Purify your heart with humility, devotion and worshipfulness of spirit. Repeat His DIVINE NAME with great feeling and intense reverence. Ram-Nam is India’s great Mantra of this age. It alone can make your life meaningful and purposeful in a world where the true meaning of life is lost in Hedonism and this disillusionment and frustration has overcome the majority of human beings.

Your life here is a means to the attainment of a glorious purpose. The aim of life is the attainment of the Divine Perfection. This earthly life is full of miseries, sorrows, defects imperfections and limitations. To overcome all limitations, to cross beyond sorrow and pain and to attain Immortality and Divine Bliss is the goal of life. By realising God one reaches this goal and becomes internally free.

Such realization and freedom is achieved by living an ideal life, by practising self-control and by worshipping God. Purity, self-restraint and worship constitutes the essence of Spiritual Life. Every Divine Incarnation comes to give this message of God-attainment, to remind mankind of its importance and glory, and to disclose the inner secrets of Spiritual Life and attainment, by the lofty examples of His own ideal life and conduct. In the Divine Leela of Rama’s Avatara, we get much light and guidance and derive great inspiration upon the inner part of spiritual attainment. Different ideal personalities in the Nara-Leela of this great Avatara exemplify the different factors that characterize your ideal approach unto the Divine. Bharata, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman are the personified expressions of the different factors that make up or constitute our ideal approach unto the Divine.

Uninterrupted, continuous worship of God is the very essence of Spirituality. Worship that is characterised by the total absorption in the object of worship ultimately leads to Realization. Worship to be effective and fruitful must become gradually so intense that yourself is completely forgotten and God alone fills your concentrated and one-pointed mind. There must be no thought of self. The mind must be filled with God. The only meaning in one’s life must be the love of God. Worship should become a positive passion and must be felt as more important than anything else in this world. You must understand that life itself is a worship. Life is meant primarily to be lived as an active worship of Divine, as a glorification of the Lord. Such worship has the power to awaken the Divinity that is dormant within every human soul. It will transform you into a Divine being. The ideal prince Bharatha verily made himself the very embodiment of such passionate, continuous, all-absorbing worship of Sri Rama. He forgot the world, he forgot himself and he forgot everything in his whole-souled devotion and adoration of the Lord Rama through Rama’s sacred Padukas. Day and night, Bharatha was seen absorbed in the divine contemplation of Rama. Rama pined to see him. The moment His mission at Lanka was over, he sent Hanuman in great haste to go in advance to meet Bharata and announce his arrival to him. By true worship such as was demonstrated by Bharata, one powerfully draws the Lord to himself and makes the Divine one’s own. The bliss of this spiritual union with the Divine is the fruit of such worship. It is indescribable. Remembrance of Bharata, contemplation on his personality will create in you the Bhava of such worship. Meditate upon the moving and inspiring life of this great prince among Bhaktas. You will imbibe the spirit of his deep devotion and passionate adoration of the Divine Lord Rama. Such devotion is the real wealth of wealths and the greatest pleasure in your life. Acquire this and attain immortality and bliss.

Self-restraint is the key to mind-control. The outgoing tendencies of the senses and their constant movement towards the fulfilment of the senses make the mind restless and agitated. Such a mind does not turn to God. Such a mind finds it impossible to worship with one-pointedness. Practice of self-control, checks the outward tendencies of the senses and helps you to attain calmness of mind. Self-control is distasteful and painful in the beginning. It becomes interesting, pleasant and joyful at a latter stage. Practice of self-control should be a daily discipline willingly imposed upon themselves. It is a sign of our superior human nature. You will reap benefits in every way, physical, mental, moral and spiritual, by the practice of rational self-restraint. A self-restrained man alone can do effective service to his fellow-beings. Self-controlled person alone can truly worship God. Otherwise, with the thoughts scattered over innumerable objects and a mind distracted by various desires, you cannot truly worship or effectively serve the Society. The quality of service of a concentrated mind of a self-controlled person is bound to be ten times superior to the indifferent service that is done by a person who is himself a slave of his desires, cravings, personal ambition and secret passion. Service demands sincerity of purpose, earnestness and dedication. It demands readiness to sacrifice and willingness to bear and undergo troubles and difficulties with equanimity of mind. Nowhere in the annals of our Spiritual history do we find a more shining example of such a perfect self-control, immense self-sacrifice and unrelenting and unremitting service than in the amazing personality of the great heroic Lakshmana. Moderation, abstinence, the balanced life guided by the principles are all essential parts to self-control. Self-control implies Self-mastery. It is the bed-rock of all achievements, secular or spiritual. To the man of religion it must be the very life-breath. Without self-control there is no Sadhana. Without Sadhana there is no Self-realization. Without Self-realization you can neither have peace nor bliss nor freedom. He who wishes to be with the Lord must willingly part with the little self. He must be prepared to discard all thoughts of petty happiness and self-satisfaction upon the lower plane. The princely Lakshmana turning away from the comforts of Palace, pomp and royal living, chose to follow his Divine brother and voluntarily accepted the hardship of the severe discipline and self-denial. Thus he attained the unique and incomparable blessedness of continued Divine presence of Bhagwan Ramchandra.

The approach to the Divine experience is an ascent into purity. Spiritual life is a gradual but unceasing growth into the perfection of purity, Atman, all the absolute Divine essences variously spoken of as Amala, Vimala, Nirmala, Nitya, Shudha and Niranjana. Spiritual growth and progress implies a process of transforming yourself from the impure into the absolutely pure. He who approaches the Divine should go into the Divine Nature. The pure alone can have access in the realm of Divine Experience. Blessed are they that strive to be pure in thought, word and deed and make their life an embodiment of Purity. The Divine Sita and the great Hanuman stand as resplendent exemplars of this sublime ideal. Noble Sita was a blazing fire of Purity. She stands as the loftiest example of shining Purity in all the annals of Indian tradition towering high above all personalities and forever a source of living inspiration in the Hindu Society. Even amidst the severest of tests, trials and tribulations Sita adhered to the ideals without swerving even by a hair’s breadth. No harm dared approach this fire of Chastity, Purity and highest Virtue. Equalling her in this rare virtue, shining as a symbol of supreme Purity, the heroic Hanuman strides across the sacred pages of the holy Ramayana. Hanuman is the Brahmacharin par excellence of Indian religious history. He is the object of worship and Ishta Devata of all those who aspire after life of perfect purity, continence and self-control. Personalities of Hanuman and the Divine Sita give unto us the secret key to success in this life of Purity. Ceaseless service and total dedication sum up this Spiritual secret. To Mother Janaki nothing existed in the world except her Rama. Hers was a life totally dedicated to her Lord ever since the moment her hand was placed in Rama’s palm by her sage father King Janaka. Rama was her life’s breath. There existed no other thought in her mind except Rama. No other place in her heart except for her Rama. Being absorbed thus in Ram, day and night dwelling in thought and feeling upon Him, Sita was filled with the Divine Fire which no impurity could dare to approach. And Hanuman too was similarly absorbed in Rama’s thought, in His dedication to Rama Seva. Ceaseless service of his Divine Master because the passion of his life ever since their first meeting in the hallowed ground at Kishkindha. Dedicated selfless service transmuted the energy of Hanuman into pure Daivee Shakti. The impossible became possible to the power of purity of this great Brahmacharin. Service of Lord Rama was the sole passion of Anjaneya’s exalted life. This obtained for him the unique and coveted blessedness of an eternal place at the Divine Lotus Feet of Bhagavan Ramachandra. Purity, dedication and devotion of this mighty servant made him one of the dearest objects of the Divine Lord Bhagavan Ramachandra. Where this total dedication for spiritual ideals is, there the seekers shine with Purity. O my beloved friends, become absorbed in unceasing selfless service of saints, holy people, elders and of all. Be totally dedicated to the glorious spiritual ideals. You will rise to the highest purity and come face to face with God.

Lead the Divine Life. Live up to your ideals. Grow in Purity. Practise self-control. Dedicate yourself to the regular worship of the Divine. This sublime way of life unfolds itself before the votary of the holy Ramayana. Bharata, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman give you a dazzling revelation of this radiant path into perfection, Purity, self-restraint and dedication unto worship are ideals to be ever pursued with unabated zeal and earnestness. There are those who would say that ideals are impracticable. I say unto all such that it were far better to be impractical idealists than to successfully be practical bests. Without Idealism humanity is savage. Take away idealism, then the jungle will invade the most urbane society. Ideals need not be totally and entirely realised in practical life. Nevertheless, without them we shall perish as a civilisation and a culture. Ideals should ever be pursued. No matter how difficult of attainment they may seem, yet in constantly striving to approach them, lies the true greatness of a people. Such ideals impart the quality to our life and give it the correct direction. What our life is, depend upon what our ideals are. To move constantly towards definite, lofty ideals is the greatest blessedness in the life of any individual. Ideals are important not because they are immediately and fully practicable, but because they impart the right pattern to the practical living of our lives, individually as well as collectively, here and now. Ideals come foremost. Then follows the practice. And to one who is truly earnest nothing is impracticable. The practice may not be easy but to strive your best to practise, is your duty. Trust in Lord Rama, take His Divine Name and start to lead a sublime life of noblest idealism. You will triumph over all obstacles and shine resplendent as a true child of Bharatavarsha.

Om Sri Ramaya Namah! God be with you!

—Swami Chidananda
1st April 1966

Sivanandashram Letter No. VIII

May The Great One Inspire You

Blessed Seekers after Truth,

The present month is a month of powerful reminders to certain most sublime and sacred ideals that have formed vital factors in the evolution of our great country’s unique culture and view and way of life. We had occasion to note last month how the great ideals propounded and radiantly expressed through the Divine Leela of Ramavatara continued to be moving force in the stream of our nation’s social life and ethical consciousness. We saw how sublimity and purity of your national character both in the individual as well as in collective social life had their very basis and their sole hope in the adoption of these ideals.

Solemn reminders to ideals upon a still higher dimension of our life, in a more inward and deeper depth of our being come to us during the course of this month through the occurrence of a number of anniversaries in this current month of May. The Religious Calendar announces the occurrence of the thrilling birth anniversary of the valiant Parashurama, the glorious Sankara Jayanti, the holy Narasimha Jayanti and the sacred and solemn Buddha Jayanti. These great anniversaries have the specific purposes of the periodical re-infusing of fresh vitality into those living ideals that form the very soul of the Bharateeya Samskriti. They have the specific purpose of recreation of the renewed waves of a living faith, inspired enthusiasm and dynamic dedication. These anniversaries are effective periodical reassertions of our abiding loyalty to enduring cultural values and provide indispensable recurring occasions for the vigorous re-adoption into our lives of concepts and principles, aims and ideals that constitute the living roots and life breath of our national life. It would not be an untruth to say that these numerous anniversaries provide in fair measure the factors that have been the subsistence and the support of the fabric and the structure of our ancient Way of Life. They impart unbroken continuity to it.

Blessed Sadhak: Let us move along the luminous pathway of esoteric understanding and an inner vision to look for a moment into the heart of these anniversaries. Let us have a glimpse into their hidden meaning and message that they come to convey. While bowing in devout homage to the radiant Parashurama, valour Incarnate, may you recognise and receive the message of supremacy of the subtle over the gross. His life is a call for overcoming of the Rajas, of passion and of desire by their relentless higher dynamism of a purified Sattva. The Leela of this Avatara breathes the eternal lesson of the unfailing triumph of the spiritual over the merely temporal and material. It is the repeated and continued predominance of Sattva Guna that makes for the perfect establishment of supreme virtue or Daivi Sampatti in this human field (“Kshetra”) and paves the way for Divine Attainment. This sums up the very essence of the inner Yogic process that transforms the individual from Tamas and Rajas into pure Sattva and thence transports him into highest spiritual super-consciousness.

The nation also venerates and pays homage to the greatest of its philosophers, the brilliant and peerless world teacher, Jagadguru Sri Adi-Sankaracharya of immortal renown. To him India owes an unforgettable debt of gratitude for his exposition of the pure Vedantic doctrine of the absolute Unity of the ultimate Reality and the Oneness of all mankind in the spirit. He reasserted the truth that all faiths and religions led to the same ultimate Truth and thus stood for the perfect reconciliation of apparently conflicting faiths under the universal banner of Advaita Vedanta. Tolerance is the great gift of Sankaracharya’s life and teaching and equal vision and brotherhood, his message to mankind. Love all see Atman in all names and forms and attain the great Reality in this very life, here and now. Become a Jivanmukta. This is his call to us all.

The nature of God is an indescribable Divine mystery. God is love. This transcendental infinite love is simply beyond the ken of human mind and intellect. Words fail to define it. Yet, aspects of Divine power can at times take such awesome and terrible manifestations that one is puzzled how to reconcile them with the All-Love that is the Divine. The Lord Himself describes his advent as, ‘Paritranaya Sadhunam Vinasaya Cha Dushkritam’ i.e. for the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked. The latter expression may well take on the appearance of such modes as normally prevail upon this plane of relative phenomena. Nevertheless, the perfect love of the Supreme Divine Essence remains uncontradicted despite the transient modes assumed by its manifestation. Delving into this mystery one comes to know that even the most awesome expression is but a manifestation of that Highest Love. This immediate co-existence of factors that seemingly contradict and exclude each other according to the normal human standards is found marvellously expressed in the divine Narasimha Avatara. Bhagavan Narasimha combines fearful grandeur with perfect protection. The destructive divine might of Narasimha was entirely to rescue the boy-devotee Prahlada from the villainous persecution of the Asura. It was to keep up the great promise “Na Me Bhaktah Pranasyati”, my devotee shall never perish. Narasimha is the mighty symbol of eternal Divine protection. Prahlada is the living symbol of the great way. Deep devotion, firm and an unflinching faith and trust, complete self-surrender and a constant ceaseless remembrance of the Divine constitute this way. It is the Supreme Bhagavata Dharma, the one unfailing path to God-realisation. The sure and certain method of attaining God-realisation. Blessed are the pure in heart who follow this Supreme path of devotion and surrender, for they shall be dearly beloved of the Lord. They shall ever abide in Him.

The beautiful, serene full moon of the auspicious month Vishakha shall shed its soft radiance on the 25th of this month. All nature rejoiced upon this great day and the celestials showered flowers, for the great Buddha made his advent upon this most memorable day. His great call to right living, his message of the Good Life and his unforgettable shining example of supreme virtue have left an indelible impress upon the consciousness of people of Bharata. His love and compassion, gentleness and peace are the essence of ethics and Dharma. Dharma forms the bed-rock of our culture. Dharma is the sole basis of supreme attainment in human life. This is the first of the great fourfold Purusharthas that impart the correct direction to our lives and govern and regulate our activities and endeavours. The goal of Divine Realisation is the highest ultimate attainment to be striven for. Without the first the last is impossible. Without the primary basis the Ultimate goal shall ever remain an idealistic Utopia. With the perfect fulfilment of Dharma, the realisation of Moksha and experience of Jivanmukti becomes a practical possibility. The noble way of Dharma demonstrated by the great Buddha makes for human happiness in our lives here and now, while transcendental realisation emphasised by the great Sankaracharya renders it into an eternal experience that shall for ever lift you into a realm of perennial Bliss and infinite Peace.

Buddha bade mankind to seek the solution to life’s problem through diligent self-effort, ennobling of the human nature by the adoption of a perfectly virtuous life. Purity of personal life can alone ensure your welfare, bring happiness and grant peace. Abandon Virtue and you destroy your welfare and usher in untold sorrow. Happiness is where Virtue abides. Sorrow is the direct fruit of vice and evil living. Grow into goodness and the inner godly nature will manifest itself in thy life. You will attain the Highest by the merit of thy blameless life. Waste no time in dry discussion and vain debate but rather LIVE THE NOBLE LIFE:

Living inspiration we thus receive from these four great expressions of the Divine Essence; the radiant Parashurama, the mighty and majestic Lord Narasimha mellowed by the melting devotion of Prahlada, the Prince among lovers of the Lord, the great Sankaracharya and the noble Gautama Buddha. The Jagadguru, inspired World teacher Sankara uncompromisingly holds aloft before our gaze the grand Transcendental Goal of human life. Buddha’s lofty example and unforgettable teachings state the indispensable basis of this sublime attainment. Prahlada demonstrates the one sure and unfailing method of attaining this Divine Goal. Parashurama emphasises the need for ceaseless, unremitting endeavour in this process. The Avatara Narasimha gives perfect assurance of absolute and fullest protection of Grace to one who launches forth upon this noble path of purity unto perfection.

Beloved Seekers: followers of the Divine Life diligently strive to become established in Virtue and advance in Devotion. Be ceaseless in thine Worship. The Goal of God-realisation be ever before thy vision every moment of thy life. This is the Ancient Way of Bharatavarsha. This is the Way to Peace, Joy and eternal Welfare. There is no other way. Onward upon this Path. God be with you. May you reach the other shore—Immortality.

Om Tat Sat

Yours in Sri Gurudev
 Swami Chidananda
1st May 1964

Sivanandashram Letter No. IX

Make Renunciation The Basis Of Your Life And Actions

BLESSED ATMASWAROOP:

Om Namo Narayanaya. Namaskars.

Greetings to you from this Holy Abode of Sri Sadguru Bhagawan Sivananda Maharaj. May this letter from this sacred Ashram find you all in good health, peace and joy. Let Guru Kripa bring into your life the Light of Discrimination, Strength of Self-Control, the Joy of Selflessness and the Loftiness of Loving Service and Spontaneous goodness or Paropakara.

This month holds for us a message of significance and importance. It brings to memory of a momentous event that resulted in an immeasurable good and blessedness to countless soul in this troubled century. Exactly forty years ago, in the June of the year 1924, Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji renounced his secular career to embrace a life of Sannyasa. He entered into the glorious path of Nivritti, plunged into a period of asceticism, seclusion, intense Sadhana and deep meditation. Thus he attained realisation and launched his great mission of spiritual awakening to inspire mankind and guide the seekers along the path of Divine Life and God attainment.

His renunciation resulted in world welfare. Verily Tyaga is indeed for Loka Hita. We celebrate the auspicious and holy anniversary of Gurudev’s renunciation and Sannyasa this month. I would urge you all to reflect a while upon this great ideal of Tyaga. What is the role of Tyaga in your life? Is renunciation a negative movement? Does renunciation imply denial of the world and your relation to it? Is Tyaga a virtue for Sannyasins alone? What is true inner significance of Tyaga?

Dispassion and renunciation comprise the key to inner peace. Such peace alone makes happiness possible. Without peace, there is no happiness. Thus, it is clear that any one who wants peace and happiness must cultivate Vairagya and Tyaga. Attachment and selfishness constitute terrible bondage. Vairagya eradicates attachment. Tyaga cuts at the root of selfishness. They make you free and bring you peace and joy.

Life is a great and sublime Yajna. Yajna means self-offering, a noble giving of oneself for the good and the benefit of others. Paropakara is the overall governing principle of man’s life. You can engage yourself in doing good to others, in bringing happiness into the lives of others, only when you shed your selfishness. This is real renunciation. The secret of renunciation is the renunciation of selfishness, egoism and personal desires. Renounce personal selfishness and live in the world, enjoying what Providence brings to you as your due. This is an admonition of the Seer of the Isopanishad.

We now see that renunciation is a virtue and a noble quality to be cultivated by every individual in human society. By this alone will the principles of Yajna and Paropakara be fulfilled. Tyaga is not the monopoly or the exclusive duty of the Sannyasins. It is a pervasive virtue that is to permeate and penetrate into every moment of your daily life. Then alone will your entire life flower forth into a thing of countless blessings unto your neighbour and of the society.

The loving mother is a true Tyagi. She renounces personal comfort, conveniences and happiness for the sake of her children and their welfare. The father of a family denies himself and renounces many a personal pleasure and profit to serve his family and children. The devout wife renounces all personal considerations to serve and to care for her Lord and Master. The faithful servant renounces personal happiness and comfort to serve his master and carry out his behests in loyalty and devotion. The doctors and nurses renounce sleep, rest and comfort and even forego food at times to look after the sick and the suffering. A brave patriot and soldier stands ready even to renounce his very life for the sake of his country’s safety and welfare. A true social worker and leader of the people renounces everything to dedicate his life for his people’s welfare. A true teacher renounces all personal ambitions and desires in life and dedicates himself to bring the light of learning, knowledge and wisdom to the young people who pass under his care. A saint renounces the whole world and everything in it to worship God and to serve mankind. It is this quality alone that ennobles human nature and makes life beautiful. Renunciation in the individuals renders sweet all relationship he has with the rest of mankind. Yes, renunciation is to be understood as a pervasive virtue, which rises Vyavahar to pure heights, and adds to the joy, welfare and unity amongst the mankind.

Beloved seeker, reflect well over this universal aspect of Tyaga. Renunciation alone enables you to become selfless. Selflessness is soul of life. Selfishness is the bane of mankind and the root of all conflicts, problems and unhappiness. By renunciation, rout out selfishness and become a blessing unto others. Diligently cultivate renunciation in your everyday life.

Practise renunciation day after day at home, in thy family, with thy neighbours, playing thy profession, walking the streets, in the market place, everywhere act with renunciation. Grow in this great quality day by day. Never allow selfishness to make your life ugly. Permit not pernicious desire and personal avarice to poison thy life. Shine resplendent with the radiance of true renunciation. Be rooted in true Tyaga. In thought, word and deed, be egoless and selfless. Renounce desire and be filled with peace. Renounce petty selfishness. Become a personification of Paropakara. Renounce Egoism; become an embodiment of egoless simplicity, humility and purity. Such a life is even greater than the life of mere external Sannyasa, which may not be filled with this spirit of real renunciation.

Thus has Sri Sadgurudev taught this servant of His. Even so do I speak this unto you in the name of Sri Gurudev, through these pages that bring the Light of His Wisdom to you, who are dear to him. Beloved Brother in the Spirit: Live to uphold this noble ideal of our great culture. Become a Tyagamurti in all walks of life. Even the care that you bestow upon yourself and your personal welfare, let it be based upon Tyaga. Look after yourself that you may preserve and keep fit this body instrument of thine so as to make it an effective instrument for service unto others and to achieve their maximum good and bring happiness into the lives of all. May your life be a witness to this great virtue and left all that you do, be a demonstration of what this noble principle of Tyaga truly means.

I close now with my best regards and Prem. We are moving towards a very sacred and significant event, namely the auspicious Punyatihi Aradhana of the first Anniversary of Gurudev’s Maha Samadhi. At this Holy Ashram of Sri Gurudev, we are all earnestly engaged in drawing up a suitable spiritual programme of earnest Sadhana during the whole week, leading up to the Punyatihi anniversary on the 2nd of August. More of this we shall dwell upon in the coming issue of Wisdom Light. Until then, may you all dwell in the abiding peace and bliss of Divine Grace and Blessings. Jai Gurudev.

—Swami Chidananda
1st June 1964

Sivanandashram Letter No. X

Enshrine Thy Guru In Thy Heart!

BLESSED ATMASWAROOP,
BELOVED SEEKER OF TRUTH,

Om Namo Narayanaya. Namaskars.

Your blessedness and unique good fortune in this present life is something for which you have to constantly lift up your heart in gratitude and thankfulness to God. Rare indeed is it to obtain a human birth; rarer still is to have aspiration for Moksha; and rarest of all, is the blessedness of the contact of association with an illumined saint and sage.

O, Beloved Seeker: Can you realise now your blessedness? Endowed with the first two, you have had the greatest boon in the form of your contact and association with the Holy Master, the illumined Sadguru, Pujya Swami Sivananda. Awaken to this holy privilege. Count this blessedness rightly. Understand your wonderful good fortune. Be fully worthy of it. Ceaselessly seek the immortal. Aspire for liberation. Adore the Divine. Worship Him in gratitude. Pray to Him in thankfulness. Realise the grace. He has showered upon you. Utilise this wonderful life. Rise to sublime heights. Shine radiantly as an ideal person and a noble seeker and sadhaka.

Prepare to worship the Holy Sadguru. The sacred Guru Purnima now draws high. It is the great day of all days to every sincere seeker and disciple. Cast you thine eyes back upon this previous year. See how you hast lived these 12 months. Has your life been a divine life? Have you radiated the Master’s Gospel through daily activities? Have you served thy neighbours selflessly? Have you engaged in humble Seva? Have you increased in thy love and devotion to God and Guru? Have you shared and given what He has granted you? Have you diligently sought to purify yourself and cultivate noble virtues in thy nature? Have you remembered God constantly and meditated upon him? Have you aspired after Divine Realisation with sincerity and earnestness and intensity of purpose?

Gurudev insists that from the very commencement of our sadhana, we should hold before the mind the ideal of an integral and harmonious development of all the aspects of the personality. Therefore the Sadhaka’s daily routine must contain element of all the four Yoga Margas. The mainstay of the daily routine should be the spiritualisation of the entire life of the Sadhaka. The goal of life should be ever remembered. This goal is the attainment of God-realisation. Whatever the external form the Sadhaka’s life be, the aim of his life should be God-realisation. Keep up the Nishkamya Bhavana in all your daily activities. This is the ‘easy sadhana’ of Gurudev. Never miss an opportunity to serve humanity.

Are you striving to be a true Sadhaka? Are you engaging in earnest sadhana? For, primarily Gurudev came to teach us the essence of Sadhana. He came to train and guide us in practical spiritual life. He wanted that our life should be ‘sadhanamaya’. Plunge into Sadhana; that is Sivananda; that is true discipleship, Sadguru Swami Sivananda stands for spiritual Sadhana in life. Be intent on Sadhana. Make your life an integral Sadhana. Stick to your path of Sadhana. Combine all your paths as harmonious helps.

Without Sadhana, Self-realisation cannot be had, Sadhana is indispensable. Regularity in Sadhana is indispensable. Sincerity and earnestness are the essential conditions for the fruition of all Sadhana. Make the coming 10-day period from Guru Purnima to Aradhana the commencement of new life of earnest and sincere spiritual Sadhana. Be sincere. This is the key-note of spiritual Sadhana. Let these 10 days be a period of intense spiritual Sadhana, for you, no matter where you are; at home, or at the Ashram. Let this period inaugurate a future of life-long dedication to ceaseless spiritual sadhana, in and through your ordinary daily life in this world.

To be a disciple is to be a Sadhaka; always remember this. Gurudev asks you; He looks and sees and tries to perceive what you—His disciple—have been. Look at thyself. Try to be transformed. Aspire nobly. Prepare to worship the Sadguru upon the holiest of Holy days—auspicious Guru Purnima. As the sacred Guru Purnima approaches, with its period of Sadhana, leading upto the solemn Maha Aradhana next month. I send out to you all, my prayerful good thoughts for your all-round welfare, spiritual progress and divine illumination. Even as the moon receives on the full moon day the glorious radiance of the sun in the fullest measure and shines brilliantly; even so, upon this sacred Guru Purnima Day, may you all receive the radiant spiritual light of Gurudev Sivananda in the fullest measure and shine brilliantly with Wisdom, Bliss and Divine Life. May joy and Blessedness be yours. God bless you.

My regards, Prem and OM to each one of you.

Jai Gurudev Sivananda:

At His Feet,
Swami Chidananda
Sivanandashram,
23.6.64.

Sivanandashram Letter No. XI

Practice Gita Teachings

Salutations to you all, from this sacred Samadhi Shrine of Sri Satgurudev. The holy name of Sivananda has filled the Ashram with its solemn sound this day as devout disciples and devotees congregated for this most auspicious Puja of the Guru. The heavens blessed the day with heavy downpour of rain. A period of serene silent meditation in the early morning attuned the hearts and minds of the earnest seekers with the holy Spiritual presence of Gurudev. Peace and calm pervaded the morning hour. After sunrise, at 8-30 A.M. the principal Puja to Gurudev through His sacred Samadhi commenced with auspicious Abhisheka, Archana with deep devotion, Alankara with profusion of flowers and garlands and Arati. Lord Gurunatheswar Siva shone radiantly with the beautiful silvered Seshanaga and Prabhavli presented by the devotees of Rasipuram. It was a glorious sight. The soft marbled beauty of the Samadhisthan was brought out more fully by the colourful floral adornments. The Divinity of Gurudev was felt in all hearts.

25 and 26th: The earnest Sadhana has now commenced. Prayer for world welfare and silent Meditation occupies the early morning hour. Worship, Japa, Kirtan, Bhajan, Sravan, Swadhyaya keep all devotees continuously absorbed in God-Remembrance and prayerful mood. They are finding it verily a period of spiritual renewal and revitalization. I have no doubt that most of you too, who have not come to Ashram, have been carrying out a similar programme of Spiritual Sadhana, inward contemplation and worship in the holy memory of Gurudev. Taking advantage of this wave of worshipfulness, seekers all over the world are renewing their inner contacts with their Holy Master Sivananda. As I write these lines my prayers are going out to you, to one and all of you, that the Grace of the Divine and the choicest blessings of Gurudev Sivananda may be showered upon each one of you in abundance. May you all now enter into a new life of spiritual Blessedness rich with higher Experiences.

The nation will now turn its heart and mind towards the great ideal of the land, namely, the resplendent Lord Krishna. For on the 30th August we shall celebrate the joyous Krishna Janmashtami Day. Krishna is the Divine Darling of millions of devout hearts. Contemplation of His life is a soul-purifying Spiritual exercise, at once sublime and blissful. Turn to the lofty message of the Lord, the Gita Sandesha of unattached living and selfless loving services unto all beings. Adopt His admonition of constant God awareness during all your activities.

Remember—maam anusmara, mayi eva mana aadhatsva, mayi buddhim niveshaya—root yourself in God and perform all activities with joy. May Lord Krishna bless you.

At the time of the sacred Maha Puja during the Punyatithi Aradhana day (2nd August), I shall remember you all and offer flowers to Gurudev on your behalf. I shall take extra dips in the holy Gauge for your sake when I bathe upon that most auspicious Day. I shall do Parikrama around the holy Samadhi Shrine thinking of you all. About this worship, in my next letter. Until then Jai Gurudev.

My regards, Prem and Pranams,

Swami Chidananda.
July 1964

Sivanandashram Letter No. XII

How Best To Celebrate Sivananda-Jayanti

Immortal Atmasvaroopa:
Blessed Seeker of TRUTH:

Om Namo Narayanaya: Loving Namaskars.

Glory be to the Divine and to Gurudev, the visible expression of the Divine upon this human place. My salutation to you all, travellers upon the shining highway of Divine Life, pilgrims to the shrine of the Eternal.

Jai Sivananda: This letter is the holy Sivananda JAYANTI letter. It brings you my special Birthday-greetings for the auspicious 8th September, which is a great day to us all. It is a day which held the seeds of our blessedness and Spiritual awakening. Upon this day 77 years ago, there took place the dawn of our good fortune or our Bhagyodaya. At the close of the last century, this day granted to us our wonderful Spiritual guide, our inspirer, friend and well-wisher. On this holy day was born our spiritual father, our Gurudev. Sivananda JAYANTI is the day of auspiciousness, joy and extreme sanctity. His advent meant a Spiritual rebirth to all of us who were born into Divine Life through our contact with Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji. Upon this day, the true significance of that ancient prayer of our land—

Asato ma sadgamaya
Tamaso ma jyotirgamaya
Mrityorma amritam gamaya

dawned upon us in a luminous way. For, verily, that great soul who took birth upon that day came into your life, awakened your spirit and set you upon the road to the great Reality, Light and Immortality. Such is Sivananda JAYANTI.

May your thoughts flow towards his sacred feet in worshipfulness and love! May the Bhava and Bhakti of your heart wind their way up to him now in his tranquil transcendence and silent splendour. May all your energies be directed and applied with determined will and devout loyalty to the vigorous furtherance of his Spiritual Mission of awakening Divinity in the hearts of men. May your time, energy and abilities be dedicated to the leading of the divine life of the Truth, Purity, and Selflessness which Gurudev demonstrated. This is indeed the great privilege of your discipleship. This is indeed the most fitting token of your devotion. Such is indeed the celebration of Gurudev’s sacred JAYANTI.

Now a word about the recent Aradhana. It is my deep privilege to tell you all that on the 2nd August upon the most holy Punyatithi Aradhana Day you all did offer worship to Gurudev’s Divine Presence through this servant, who represented you all. In keeping with my solemn promise to you in the August, Sivanandashram Letter, I stood in the holy river Ganges, thought of you all, adored Mother Ganga in your name, and took the sanctifying dips on behalf of you. Then filling a vessel with the Sacred waters. I went up to the Samadhi Shrine, the Gurusthana, vibrant with his silent Presence, and offered the Ganga-water in ceremonial Abhisheka for your sake. I then offered flowers and worshipped Gurudev’s marbled Charan-Paduka feeling myself only as a representative of you all in the presence of Gurudev. Thus while I apparently worshipped yet, in reality, YOU offered worship. When the elaborate Puja was ultimately concluded by midday and the rush of devotees was over, I went silently and did Pradakshina (Prikrama) around the Samadhi. And while I thus Perambulated it was verily you who walked around the holy one. While this servant thus worshipped, a photograph was taken, perhaps in the next issue you will see it.

A special event that took place during the Aradhana, I wish to recount for your benefit. One day the glory of the Divine Name and the Supreme importance of Japa Sadhana was discoursed upon. In this connection it was later on mentioned how the method of Mantra Purascharana found an effective way of progressing in Japa. I called upon the assembled Sadhaks to come forward and undertake such Mantra Purascharana right then. Numerous Sadhaks readily took the pledge to start and complete Mantra Purascharana before the end of Chaturmasa (i.e. 15th November, 1964). Forms were signed to confirm this undertaking. All commenced it in the Ashram during the Aradhana Period itself. One of the Sadhaks has even continued the Japa in the Ashram itself and will be concluding it by the holy Krishna Janmashtami Day. We are arranging for the customary sacred Havan at the conclusion of this Sadhak’s Purascharana. She is the venerable Mrs. Raj Devi Shivraj of Delhi. Despite considerable bodily discomfort, she had determinedly persevered in her Purascharana. She deserves our congratulations.

Two days after Gurudev’s Birthday falls the Vinayka Chaturthi or the holy Ganesha Chouth. Lord Ganesha represents the Divine power in the functions as a force overcoming all obstacles and bestowing success to all undertakings. Therefore, he is called variously Vighna-Vinayaka, Vighneshwara, Siddhi-Vinayaka etc. It is a day of supreme and unique importance on which to commence any new undertaking in your life. Do not let this rare occasion go by. Make new resolutions. Commence any fresh activities. Start any important programme which has been eluding you so far. Ganesh Chouth is wonderful juncture to assure successful commencements and obstacles-free progress in undertakings. Worship Lord Ganesh upon this day. Offer your adorations. Make auspicious beginnings of worthy achievements. May Lord Ganesha bless you with all success, prosperity and progress.

I am glad to tell you that Sri Swami SIVANANDA CULTURAL ASSOCIATION, DELHI with its newly constituted executive body is launching into a new programme of public Satsangs in different parts of the Capital to spread more effectively the gospel of Good Life, Pure Conduct, and Divine Living. As an inauguration of these new activities, the Association has decided to celebrate public function of Sivananda Jayanti on 13th of the month (13-9-1964). On the day before, it being second Saturday, it will also hold certain programmes. This servant is to go to Delhi to attend this two-day programme. Incidentally, this enables Delhi devotees to attend the Ashram Jayanti Celebrations on 8th September, I wish the Sivananda Cultural Association all success during the year ahead of them.

From Delhi to Dehra Dun, en route return to Ashram, I go because Dehra Dun devotees would like to revive the activities of that centre which have ceased due to misfortune and bereavements of the main organisers of the Divine Life Branch there. Sri Chandravati Singh, Mr. & Mrs. B.N. Kaul, the family of our late revered Gurubhai Dr. R.R. Anand and other friends intended to arrange some Satsang function. I must not forget to tell you that during Sadhana week preceding the Punyatithi Aradhana, many Sadhaks took down notes of important talks and discourses, Dr. Sivananda Adhvaryoo of our Gujarat Centre proposes to compile, edit and bring out a Sadhana Souvenir. It is in preparation. I look forward to its early publication, may be before the end of this year. This reminds me, the present letter now completes a full year of the Sivanandashram Letters. This one, as you will see is the letter No. 12. I hope they have conveyed, to some extent at least, the Bhava with which our worshipful and beloved Satguru Sivananda is making this servant of his work and offer his Seva to His Divine Life fraternity, scattered throughout this country and abroad. These letters, it has been my intention are to convey to you my true feeling my wishes for you and ideas of how we may serve the cause of Divine Life. I am happy to have this opportunity and privilege of thus speaking to you all through these lines. I must now conclude for to be too lengthy would mean depriving you of other matter that comes to you through this “Wisdom Light”.

May God bless you all. May health, strength, prosperity and joy be with you all the days of your Life. Be always happy. Work with good cheer. Lead a pure life. Be rooted in God-remembrance. Jai Gurudev Sivananda.

With regards, Prem and Om,

Yours in Gurudev,
Swami Chidananda
Ananda Kutir
1st September, 1964. 

Sivanandashram Letter No. XIII

Ma Anand Mayee Graces Sivananda-Jayanthi-Celebrations

Immortal Atmaswaroopa:
Blessed Seeker of Truth,

Om Namo Narayanaya. Loving Namaskara.

Salutations in the name of Gurudev Sivananda and in Divine Life. Your worshipful offering and wonderful response has enabled us here to conduct this year’s birthday Anniversary of Gurudev in a very befitting and satisfactory manner. I am very thankful and grateful indeed for this noble help that came from very amongst you. Last year upon this date I could not participate in the Birthday functions because the Sivananda Cultural Association of Delhi had insisted upon my presence at their function where the Foundation Stone for their Sivananda Satsang Hall was laid by H.E. Rashtrapatiji. This time however, Gurudev granted me the privilege and joy of joining the Gurubhais in this auspicious worship of our holy Master. It was grand and elevating. All gathered devotees felt blessed by this solemn, sacred annual worship.

A coloured Pada-Puja full pose was set up on Gurudev’s big sofa-chair under the spangled pink canopy of a silk umbrella. A profusion of floral garlands and coloured flowers adorned the glowing picture of the Master. The sandalwood Padukas, which Gurudev used to wear during Pada-Puja time, were placed in the centre of a huge brazen plate around which devout disciples sat in a ring for the Puja. There was Abhisheka, with chant of Purusha Sukta, and then offering of fragrant Chandan and Kumkum. Then commenced the Archana and flowers started raining from all directions through numerous hands. Prasad was offered. Beautiful Arati then followed to the singing of the new Arati composed by the family of Chaman Lal Ji of Chaudausi. He and his daughter Gita were present to lead the Arati upon this auspicious day. A beautiful silken cloth, covered with Pranava-Mantra designs all over, was offered by them for Gurudev’s decoration during the Puja of that day.

A wonderful event of this occasion was the visit of the Holy Mother, Sri Ananda Mayee Ma, the great saint well known in India and abroad. This worshipful Mother, a great soul illumined with spiritual radiance graced us all with Her Darshan and blessed with her Satsang all the assembled devotees in the Bhajan Hall upstairs. She arrived first at the Sivananda Eye Hospital at the eager request of Dr. S-Hridayananda Mataji, who wished MA to come and sanctify the hospital by her presence and benediction. After a brief halt there and some little refreshment the holy Mother left for the Samadhi, up the hill. She was highly pleased to see the hospital and know of the good work, being done for countless eye-patients.

Offering Her Pushpa-anjali at the Samadhi of Satgurudev, MA shone with a rare light of Divine Prem. Her regard for Gurudev is really immense. She was received by Rani Kumudini Devi of Hyderabad as she arrived at the entrance of Bhajan Hal and then conducted a special dias arranged for her. Swami Vidyanandaji, and his students, gave a Veena recital chanting Sanskrit compositions of great saints, and also did Sankirtan. A blissful atmosphere prevailed, and we all felt spiritually uplifted by Holy MA’s divine presence. I share this wonderful experience with you all, through these lines.

I take this opportunity to send you all my greetings and Good wishes for the holy Navaratri period and Dussehra. My VIJAYA greetings specially to Calcutta Gurubandhus and all devotees throughout Bengal. May the Divine Mother PARA-SHAKTI shower her grace and Blessings upon all of you and grant you all prosperity, happiness, success and highest spiritual blessedness. Worship the Mother with the deepest devotion, one-pointed mind and heart and pray to her to make you childlike in nature, namely, innocent, simple, pure, humble, and egoless and unattached. To be born anew in absolute simplicity and humility of nature is the true means of drawing close to God, the Universal Mother Principle, that broods over all existence with Cosmic Love and Protective Grace: Jai Ma Durga:

Last month’s function organised by the S. S. Cultural Association at Delhi was indeed very successful and satisfactory. Well attended and keenly appreciated by all who attended them, both the Satsangs created a spiritual atmosphere effectively. It was very glad to participate and observe the success of this programme which was Gurudev’s Birthday celebration for the public of Delhi. The two big sized coloured pictures (one was a huge photo-enlargement) of Gurudev dominated the stage and looked beautiful and grand. Exquisite rendering of devotional Bhajana in classical style by artists like Shanta Saxena and others was highly elevating. I am looking forward to this month’s Satsang which will probably be on 10th and 11th Oct.

Very glad to tell you all that the Andhra Pradesh D. L. Societies have ultimately fixed up the dates for their 8th Annual D. L. S. Conference. It is to meet at Mehbubabad on 11th, 12th, and 13th December. I have just received a telegram, a few days ago from Sri B.V. Guptaji of that place, who is the convener. I urge upon all the Andhra Pradesh centres of Divine Life to arise and join up and help him in every way to make this year’s Conference of theirs a thorough success, even as the last one of Tanuk was successful. This is their promise as also mine to personally attend it. I hope to meet organisers of all the A.P. DLS. branches in December at Mehbubabad. Tanuk and Hyderabad branches must give special help to Sri Gupta Saheb in every way.

Winter weather is gradually setting in now and the breeze has become a wind and it now has a chilly edge that makes you want to draw your cloth closer around you. End of last month after two days of almost non-stop rain the Ganges rose up in flood. One wondered if Gurudev’s Kutir would be threatened like last year. But fortunately the rain ceased on the third day and the flood level slowly subsided. Today the sun shone bright and the sky is a beautiful blue and it seems that the rains have taken leave of us for the present. The thatched shed we had put in front of Sri Gurudev’s sacred Samadhisthan for the Aradhana functions of 2nd August has indeed weathered the season. It has now become very helpful and convenient for devotees and worshippers, who are visiting the Samadhi in increasing numbers.

Our brother Sri Swami Sharadanandaji who was for five years in the icy upper Himalayas near Gomukh and Gangotri has now returned to Ashram and is taking keen interest in imparting Yoga-training to eager young seekers, who came to this place, seeking practical Yoga instructions. Some students from France are also reaping the benefit of his kind and selfless efforts in this direction. Thus the work of Gurudev goes on under His benign inner guidance and unseen help of His Spiritual Presence. May Gurudev’s benediction be upon you all. I shall now leave you to prepare yourselves for the forthcoming solemn and auspicious nine-day Pooja of the blessed Divine Mother of the Universe—the great Bhagawati Para-Shakti. Worship Her with all thy heart’s deepest devotion reverence and loving adoration. May SHE grant you all health, long-life, prosperity, all divine Aishvaryas and Vidya, Pushti, Tushti and Parama Shanti. Glory be to the MOTHER. Hari Om Tat Sat. I close with regards, Prem and Pranama.

Yours in Gurudev
Swami Chidananda
Sivanandashram,
1st October, 1964.

Sivanandashram Letter No. XIV

Strive To Make Life A Perennial Divali

IMMORTAL ATMA-SWAROOPA:
BLESSED SEEKER OF TRUTH,

Om Namo Narayanaya: Loving Namaskaras.

Salutations in the holy name of Gurudev Sivananda and in Divine Life. Let me first of all offer you my best Goodwishes and Greeting for a Bright and HAPPY DIVALI DAY. May Joy, Brightness and Auspiciousness fill your life and may Divine Mother Lakshmi smile upon you as prosperity, plenty and progress in everything you do. Happy DIVALI to you and to all in thy home and thy friends too.

The spirit of Divali is the spirit of gladness and friendliness unto all life. Joy is the essential nature of Man and love and friendliness is to man the natural relationship with his fellow-beings. The significant act during Divali is the lighting of lamps to brighten every nook and corner so that all darkness is put to flight. In your life the Light of virtue, purity and goodness shall verily banish the darkness of impurity and evil. Joy comes where virtue abides. Peace prevails where goodness fills the heart. Suffering and sorrow are the result of selfishness and hatred. Ignorance is the source of evil. Wisdom is the Light to dispel this Darkness of spiritual Ignorance. The Presence of God pervades this universe. O Man: Know this and live in virtue and holiness. For thou art ever in the Presence of the Most High. HE alone is the reality indwelling all names and forms and all beings are verily His moving tabernacles. This is Wisdom. Light up thy life with this wisdom and dispel the darkness of worldliness and materialism from your life.

Live to bring the light of Joy into the lives of one and all. Light up bright little lamps of kind words, kind actions, helpful deeds, loving good thoughts and smile upon one and all by looking upon everyone as your own. No one is a stranger to you in this universe. All are your own. Thus love all and seek to serve and to bring comfort, joy and well-being into the lives of all. By your own life strive to make life a perennial Divali unto others. Within the interior of thy own being do likewise and light the lamps of devotion and prayerfulness. Let not the darkness of desire or of selfishness mar the inner chamber of thy heart-shrine. Bright and clean keep thy heart fit to install the Lord therein and to worship Him with the flowers of Devotion, Truth, Self-control, Forgiveness, Compassion and Penance. Feel happy at the happiness of others; then your life will become filled with the Radiance of a constant Joy which nothing can mar. The selfish individual has a very limited unit of happiness available to him. But who finds joy in making others happy, his happiness is ever expanding and knows no limit. This is a secret of Divali. The more lamps you light the greater the radiance you become bathed in.

Is it not happily significant that the Divali follows soon after the nine-day worship of the Divine Mother? Does this not perhaps give you an insight into a great and sublime Law of Life? He who adores the Divine and propitiates the Universal Mother draws down the Grace of the Supreme and finds his life becoming filled with Light, Joy and Auspiciousness. Life smiles upon him and he now rejoices in the blessed radiance of God’s Grace. Navaratri brings Divali in its wake. Therefore, O Man: worship the Divine and reap joy and peace.

This season holds for you a great lesson on the place of wealth in human life. You know very well indeed that all great Teachers of Mankind, all saints, sages and holy men have declared that money is the root of all evil. It is the seed of sorrow and the prolific source of corruption and sin and vice. Kalipurusha is said to have made gold the seat of his residence. Renunciation of money has ever been the indispensable condition of entry into spiritual life. Renunciation of ‘Kanchana’ is the first step in the quest of God. Yet in the Divali season we know that heaps of coins, silver and gold are actually worshipped in many parts of India. Lakshmi Puja is widely observed by the business communities everywhere. What does this mean? Is it totally against tradition and accepted beliefs? No, this is not so. There is a deep lesson in this. It serves to teach you the sanctity of wealth. Money and wealth are manifestations of the Divine Mother Maha-Lakshmi and are truly a sacred trust placed at your disposal to be used for the purest purposes and in the noblest way. Money does not constitute evil. Greed for money is evil. Living for money is the worst evil. Sheer selfish utilisation of money is the bane of human life. Money can ennoble or degrade according to man’s concept about it and attitude towards it.

With money you can build a hospital or erect a slaughter house. With money you can raise a temple and a house of prayer or start a gambling house or a liquor shop. It can be utilised to help countries and people or to make war and destroy. You can use wealth to ennoble human nature or to debase human lives. It can bring happiness or cause sorrow. This is money. Regard it as a sacred trust to enable you to fulfil your moral obligations and duties and use it selflessly for Paropakara and Lokahita.

Charity is the main function of wealth. Its secondary function is one’s own survival and comfort. Charity is a great purifier. It “covereth a multitude of sins”. Exclude all greed and selfishness in regard to wealth. Know it to be Divine Shakti. Treat it with reverence. Approach it with purity of heart. Utilise it WORSHIPFULLY. This is Lakshmi Puja and its lesson. It is in this light that wealth has been given a place in human life by our ancients. Thus conceived, has it been included as one of the four Purusharthas by our sublime Culture. Acquired honestly and by pure means, handled without greed or attachment and utilised in reverence and worshipfully, your wealth can enhance Dharma, purify your life, free you from bondage and take you towards Moksha. It becomes filthy Lucre when you abandon Dharma for the sake of money and sacrifice virtue at the altar of Kanchana. Remember this and keep up the sanctity of wealth and utilise it worshipfully All auspiciousness will come into your life.

Perhaps, you know that during this month four great Spiritual Anniversaries sanctify our lives. The six-day worship of Lord Kartikeya or Skanda commences on the 5th and concludes on 10th. Then we have on 14th November, the Yajnavalkya Jayanti of tremendous significance in our Culture. The discourse between sage Yajnavalkya and Maityeri is one of our most treasured heritages. Next comes the holy Tulasi Puja, a sacred day for all devout ladies. Tulasi symbolises the ideal feminine virtue in this Land. Women all over India worship the sacred Tulasi praying to be blessed with the precious wealth of modest purity, modesty, chastity and Pativrata Dharma. This is the bedrock of Indian Spirituality. The full-moon this month marks the birth Anniversary of the most worshipful saint GURU NANAK. He came to spread the true religion of Spiritual living in this land of five rivers. He restored the spiritual ideals to our religion which was being weighed under the mass of dry ritual. Religion is to be lived not merely believed in.

A life of truth, selflessness, devotion unto God, love of all beings, Purity of conduct and humility, selflessness and compassion constitute the true religion that the great Guru Nanak proclaimed.

O beloved seeker: What most precious wealth does not our Cultural heritage hold for us? Leaving this priceless treasury of gems why should you imitate the West and run after the worthless fashions and meaningless values. Enrich yourself with that which is your own by inner wealth of Mother India which knows no parallel and is inexhaustible. Come: be a true child of Bharatavarsha: Be a true heir to great illumined men of wisdom who founded our culture. Manifest Divine life. Be a noble Sadhak. May God bless you. I close with regards, and Pranams. Jai Sri Gurudev.

Swami Chidananda.
1-11-64

Sivanandashram Letter No. XV

The Mystery Of The Supreme Divinity Is Revealed In Srimad Bhagwad Gita And The Bible

Immortal Atma-Svarupa:
Blessed Seekers of Truth:

I greet you all in the name of our blessed Lord Gurudev Sivananda and in Divine Life.

I greet you all in the name of our blessed Lord Jesus the Christ, the Great Messenger of God, who incarnated upon earth to teach men for all times, that way of life that brings you face to face with God. In the history of mankind, there has rarely been a life as holy, as pure, as divinely compassionate and sublimely truth-filled as the life of Jesus. He was the very personification of loftiest virtue. Very few in all the range of human history have been the beings so full of a motiveless, spontaneous and all-encompassing love and Divine compassion radiated through every atom of this Godly being. Jesus verily lived the highest ideal of Divine Life.

This month is the holiest of all months in the calendar for it is the blessed advent of this great Teacher of mankind. Christmas is the holy period for Spiritual joy and inspiration unto a higher life. The pattern of life demonstrated by Jesus is one of intense and almost effortless doing of good deeds to help others and to bring joy into their life. His ideal saintly life rested upon a foundation of deep devotion, prolonged prayer, much penance and inner contemplation. His was not a soft life of ease or comfort. Austere simplicity, strenuous and rugged open air life, food that chance had brought and no fixed abode,—such was the life of the Master. His flaming spirit of renunciation, his absolute desirelessness and his total surrender to the will of God constitute his fundamental call to modern man. Humanity of today has created a Hell upon earth for itself by its extreme egoistic self-will, its insatiable desires without end and its intense greed and clinging attachments. To live as Christ lived would be to free oneself at once from this binding net of man-made sorrow and to experience peace and joy of God’s Kingdom hereupon earth. If only the world today could observe Christmas instead of celebrating it, it would soon be walking out of darkness into light. May the spirit of Jesus help man to move towards God. The Lord be with you: May His Light lead you on the pathway of life through all the coming years.

In this month of Margashirsha it is that, many centuries ago, Lord Sri Krishna delivered His immortal message to mankind through His disciple Arjun. Sacred Gita Jayanti is to be observed on the 15th of December, throughout the length and breadth of India. Arrangements are afoot to conduct this memorable Anniversary at Kurukshetra continuously for a period of eighteen days (from December 15th, 64 to January 1st, 1965) with a programme of holy gatherings, religious Conferences and Spiritual discourses. This servant of the Master has been invited to participate in at least one entire day’s programme there. It is possible I may make this immediately after conclusion of the Chandigarh All-India Divine Life Conference which ends on 27th December, 1964. On the 28th or 29th December I am thinking of taking as many of the delegates and functionaries of the Conference as are willing to accompany and go to Kurukshetra for a day’s camp and service there. It will be as Gurudev may wish it to be. I would urge everyone of you to take to a systematic study of (and a devout and humble study at that) the Bhagavad Gita and the New Testament of the Bible from this month onwards. This will bring about a transformation in your entire life, I promise you. And if possible make your acquaintance with Thomas A’ Kempis’s “Imitation of Christ” as well as the 11th Skandha of the Bhagavata Mahapurana. An English translation of this letter text is available from the Ramkrishna Mission Publication Department. Srimad Bhagavad Gita and the 11th Skandha of Srimad Bhagavta Maha Purana, containing as they do the direct personal teachings of Bhagavan Himself, sum up the entire range of spiritual wisdom and highest Upadesha. The mystery of the Supreme Divinity is revealed therein.

Learn from this world. There is much it has to teach. Life itself is a school. Life is full of essence. Everything perceived through the senses could verily be more than books and sermons if you would learn to see the hidden wisdom underlying such perception. All your experiences come with a message to you. Those who have eyes, can see. Be a learner always. Wisdom can be gathered between each sunrise and sunset. Thus at each eventide can you find yourself wiser than you were at daybreak. Even the very elements exist to teach. Thus declared the great teacher of mankind Sri Dattatreya, the Parama Avadhuta. This shared wisdom of his is to be got in the 11th Skandha as well. The holy Birth Anniversary of the Lord Dattatreya that occurs on the 18th, brings to my mind this great wisdom-treasure imparted by Avadhuta Dattatreya to the great Yadu. Study it in Adhyayas 7, 8, 9 of Skandha 11.

Last month has been a month of great spiritual activity in different parts of India. An important one among them has been the Maha-Rudri-Yajna conducted at Amritsar in Punjab under the direct personal blessings and presence of their exalted Holiness, the three great Jagadguru Sankaracharyas of Dwarka, Joshimutt and Puri. Blessed indeed were the fortunate souls to have the Darshan of these great Spiritual luminaries. The Vedanta Conference of H. H. Swami Nirmal and the Punjab Gita Conference of H. H. Vedavyasji created Spiritual waves too. This servant’s visit to Lucknow, the Capital of Uttar Pradesh provided scope for much spiritual service. Two new branches of the Divine Life Society have been started in Aligarh. This month too is proving to be a month of much activity. I am soon to leave to South for the 8th Andhra Pradesh Divine Life Conference at Mehbubabad. Shall be at Hyderabad on 8th December and attend the conference at Mehbubabad on 11th, 12th and 13th December.

On my way back to North to participate in the 17th All India Divine Life Conference at Chandigarh I shall break journey for a day at Kirkee (Poona) to meet the Divine Life workers of that branch as also to go to have Darshan of the venerable Sadhu T.L. Vaswanji and offer my love and respects to the holy man of God. There was deep affection and Spiritual friendship between revered Sadhuji and our worshipful Gurudev. From Poona straight North to be in good time for the Chandigarh Conference. Significantly, this conference opens upon the holy Christmas Day. I am hoping to be back at the holy abode of Sri Gurudev by the 31st of December to be present at the sacred Pratishtha Anniversary of the holy Sri Vishwanath Mandir of the Ashram. This also means the new year’s eve, for the Mandir Anniversary is on the last day of the year.

Before I close now let me request all of you to sing the most sacred and exalted Mantra of this Kali Yuga, namely, the supreme MAHA MANTRA. It was in this month (on the 3rd) twenty-one years ago that Gurudev initiated the Akhanda Maha Mantra Kirtan Yajna at the Ashram Bhajan Hal for World-welfare and peace. This great Mantra raises you to sublime level of God Experience:

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Repeat this every night before you retire, breathing a prayer for the world-welfare and peace. May God bless you.

With my deepest regards and Pranams, Jai Sri Gurudev.

Yours in Sri Gurudev,
Swami Chidananda.
Ananda Kutir
1st December, 1964.

Sivanandashram Letter No. XVI

The Holy Trail Blazed By The Lives Of Saints

Immortal Atma Swarupa!

Om Namo Narayanaya! Jai Gurudev!

Please accept my most reverential salutations at thy holy feet and my loving greetings and good wishes for this NEW YEAR. May all health, prosperity, happiness and fulfilment be yours throughout this year and the years ahead. God grant you joy, wisdom and grace and bless you, thy home and all that are dear to you with auspiciousness and highest good.

My prayerful good thoughts go out to you all, wherever you may be, and I seek from the Almighty thy welfare and advancement, here in this world, as also thy highest blessedness and illumination in the spiritual realm. May the Divine abide with you! And may you abide in Him! At this auspicious beginning of a bright New Year, let us sanctify ourselves by the devout remembrance of the great holy men of God, the saints, sages and divine messengers of this world, who have declared to us the true meaning and lofty purpose of our life, shown us the way of its fulfilment, and inspired us to follow this holy upward path towards God and divine experience. Let us sanctify ourselves by remembering their ideal lives and exalted teachings. Turn your thoughts now, and lift up your thoughts to a devout and joyous contemplation on sage Vyasa and Vasishtha, on Narda and Valmiki. Contemplate on the glorious Lord Buddha, Jesus the Christ, prophet Mohammed, the noble Zoroaster (Zarathushtra), Lord Mahavira, the holy Guru Nanak. Think of the great saints and sages of all ages, like Yajnavalkya, Dattatreya, Sulabha and Gargi, Anasooya and Sabari, Lord Gauranga, Mirabai, Saint Theresa and Francis of Assisi. Remember St. Augustine, Jallaludin Rumi, Kabir, Tukaram, Ramdas, Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, Vivekananda and Rama Tirtha. Adore in thy heart the sacred memory of Mahatma Gandhi, sage Ramana Maharishi, Aurobindo Ghosh, Gurudev Sivananda and Swami Ramdas. They verily are the inspirers of humanity towards a life of purity, goodness and godliness. Their lives, their lofty examples, their great teachings constitute the real wealth and greatest treasure of mankind today.

To think of these saints, to carefully study their lives and to live by their teachings is the only way of rising above suffering and sin, of going beyond pain and death, and attaining true peace and perennial joy in the Divine. There is no other path to true welfare and blessedness than to follow the footsteps of the holy men and saints. There is no greater blunder than to forget the saints and live an aimless life. It is a great loss to waste away your life in meaningless pursuits of fleeting sensations and perishable objects here. There is no greater folly than to ignore and neglect the teachings of these great souls and destroy your own welfare and weep at the time of death.

Beloved child of God! Awaken to thy great heritage. Walk the way of purity, truth and goodness. Serve the world and worship God. Diligently work out thy supreme welfare. Fulfil Dharma at every step. Remember God at every moment. You do not belong to this material world. Beyond this physical and mental existence, there is a life spiritual. Therein lies your true avocation and true and loftiest function. Live in this Spirit. Know thy true Swarupa. It is Satchidananda. Thou art immortal Spirit. Thou art the deathless Soul. Thou art eternal Self. Thou art divine. Live divinely.

Live in God. Wherever thou art, whatever thou doest, in whatever condition you are whether in joy or sorrow, whether in health or illness, whether at home or in foreign land—live in God always, everywhere, in all conditions. This is wisdom. Herein is happiness. Herein lies thy true good. Do not postpone for tomorrow that which you ought to, and must, do today. “Tomorrow” is a deceptive thought that ensnares soul the unwary and binds him in the net of forgetfulness. Time is fleeting. Days, nights and years pass away. Death snatches you suddenly. This rare opportunity is lost. Beware. Remember death Cultivate virtue. Do good deeds. Live for God. Do not waste time. Be up and doing. Utilise every moment in virtuous living and spiritual Sadhana. Remember death.

There is no pleasure in the perishable objects of this world. There is no true happiness and peace here. Senses deceive. Mind is the enemy. Samsara is full of defects, pain, bondage, fear and a thousand afflictions. You must transcend them all by attaining God and realising the self. This is the true aim of life. This is life’s ultimate goal.

God is bliss. God is peace. God is eternal life. To attain Him is to go beyond all sorrow, pain and suffering and enter into a state of unalloyed joy, fearlessness and freedom. This is the supreme blessed state you have come to achieve. The sure and unfailing way to this attainment is shown by the radiant lives of saints. Live in the light of their shining lives. Thus is the path unto perfection. By their lives, the saints show you the gateway to God. O man wander not any longer in this vast forest earthly existence. Tread the radiant path that leads to Divinity. Start now upon this auspicious period of a New Year. One more year has gone by. Life is shorter and time flies away. Be wise. Be resolute. Heedfully awake, alertly vigilant, sincerely aspiring and earnestly striving and praying, live wisely and move towards God, and thus make a true success of this precious life of thine.

May God bless you all. May the spiritual benedictions of all the holy saints and sages be upon you! May you lead a divine life and attain your highest welfare here and now.

With regards, Prem and Pranams,

Yours in Gurudev,
Swami Chidananda
1st January, 1965

Sivanandashram Letter No. XVII

Tour In The South. Meeting With Dadaji. The Chandigarh Conference

Immortal Atma Swarupa!
Blessed Seeker after Truth!

Om Namo Narayanaya! Salutations in the name of Gurudev Sivananda. I greet the Lord in you all and pray that the blessings of the Lord of the Universe, Bhagawan Vishwanath, may ever be upon you and fill your life with auspiciousness, joy and prosperity. I write this to you in the fond belief that the first month of this year has been for you one of peace, good health, harmony and Spiritual progress. May this month be a blessed one too. Similarly also be the months coming ahead.

I want to express my thankfulness to the numerous good friends in India, as well as from several countries abroad, who have remembered me with so much love, and sent in their Christmas and New Year’s greetings, and expressed their great goodwill towards this servant of Gurudev, as well as, other Ashramites of this abode of Gurudev. Trying though I am to acknowledge all of them individually, I still take this opportunity of saying, “Thank you very, very much indeed” to every one of these gracious souls. May they ever dwell in the remembrance of the Supreme Lord, who is the sublime connecting link between us all here. Those of you who constantly endeavour to remember God and to be aware of His ever-Presence, with such I am always close in Spirit. I say that we are together when we strive to keep ourselves in the presence of the One Reality. True spiritual brotherhood is wrought by the oneness of our common goal and the common centre of our abidance, namely, God. Man’s true relationship is with God and God alone. All other relationships are transient, fluctuating and essenceless. He who loves mankind for the sake of the Divine that indwells man, such a one has verily established oneness with humanity. This relationship is based upon the eternal essence of our existence. Could not this also be the basis of the universal weal and world peace?

You will be glad to know about some specially interesting Divine Life activities that took place in the closing month of the recent year. This servant has been absent from the Headquarters Ashram practically whole of December and a good part of last month, i.e. January 1965. Soon after returning from Aligarh at the end of November last, I left on tour on my way to Mehboobabad, near Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. The first halt was at Delhi, en route to the South, to fulfil a few engagements at the Capital. On December 6th, there was a wonderful Satsang arranged by our devoted Gurbehn Srimati Vanibai Ram (known here as “Sivananda Vani”) at the house of the Honourable Reddy Ji. That evening, H.H. Sri Swami Parvathikar Maharaji held the audience spell-bound and thrilled, by a wonderful musical recital upon the Svara Mandali and rare Rudra Vina. He lifted our hearts into sublime heights by his music, which in places was almost all-inspiring in its solemnity and subtle and ethereal melody. It was a rare spiritual treat offered in worshipfulness at the feet of Lord Badri Narayan by this unique Nada Yogi, Parvathikar Maharaj. During that Satsang, Sir K C. Reddy Ji made a beautiful speech. Next day I had the joy of visiting the Swami Sivananda Rehabilitation Centre which is being conducted by another noble Gurbehn, the very sincere Mrs. Varalaxmi Rao. She has established it for the training of members of lower-scale income group families in different handicrafts, so that they are enabled to supplement the main wage-earner’s income. This is very beautiful enterprise and I wish it success and much future development.

On the morning of the 8th December, this servant arrived at Hyderabad and my heart still heaves with joy, when I remember the wonderful welcome and the love that was showered upon this servant by all those devotees in Hyderabad that day. The devoted Sri Sivananda Kumndini Devi, Sri B. Ramadasji (or the A. I. R.), the very earnest seeker Sri Vijayarangamji, Sri Rajeswara Rao, Sri Gautam and numerous others came and met me in the name of Gurudev’s work. Revered Sri Subba Rao Garu, Gitavyas, was graciously present in all affection. We had some public lectures, morning prayer-gathering at “Sivananda Griha”, and also visited the Leper Colony run by Rani Kumudini Devi at Kukkutapalli. I still remember the nice visit to the Bolaram Branch, whose members meet near the Hanuman temple.

Then we all went to Mehboobabad for the Eighth Andhra Pradesh Divine Life Conference. It was in every way a very satisfactory and successful conference. Very inspiring programmes of spiritual discourses, thrilling Nama Sankirtan, religious music, Asana demonstrations, etc. provided a spiritual feast for crowded audience. Dr. Menon from Warangal conducted Prabhat pheri with his party and filled the town with divine vibrations of the Lord’s Name. Sri Avadhutendra Swami’s Kirtan was unforgettable. So was Sri Sadhu Janabai’s discourse on Gita. All the arrangements were perfect. Due to Shri Surendra Reddy’s earnest selfless efforts, numerous delegates were looked after excellently. But for his wonderful thoughtfulness and consideration, coupled with the great kindness and care of blessed mothers Kumudini and Niranjani, this servant of Gurudev would never have been able to stand the strain of the Conference programme. So bad indeed was his physical condition at that time, but these three were veritable angels. They took care of every little detail of his physical requirements and comforts. God bless Surendra Reddy. This young man is an inspired Karma Yogi. I must also congratulate Sri B. N. Guptaji whose pious Sankalpa was the very root of the Conference. Other Branches cooperated very beautifully and nobly in guiding the three-day programme. I was happy to meet (as I had eagerly expected to meet) good friends like Sir N. S. V. Rao, Dr. Gopal Krishan Murthy, Tettali Ramachandra Rao, etc., from Tanuku. Gita-Vyas Sir Subba Rao Garu was of immense help to this servant in interpreting English talks in Telugu to the assembled people. The Conference was, indeed, an expression of Sri Gurudev’s Achintya Sakti. All glory to the living Spirit of Gurudev Sivananda! He continues to inspire us to awakening.

On December 14th, we drew back to Hyderabad, reaching there at 2 P.M. That evening there was a visit to Medichal for a Satsang at that Branch at the pressing request of young Subba Rao. From Medichal we went to Trimulgherry E.M.C. for a Satsang arranged by Sri Gautam of the Centre. It was a great joy to visit that beautiful temple with its big Satsang Mantap and speak to the assembled Army personnnel, who listened with rapt attention. That night we left by train for Kurnool, where we arrived next morning. There, the foundation-stone was laid for a Sivananda Ashram close to the river Tungabhadra. Sivananda Sirnivasa Rao had arranged nice programmes which included an address at the local Mahila Mandal. We stayed at the home of the pious and noble Mr. Pasupati, retired Headmaster of the local High School. During this period we were taken for a visit to nearby Alampur across the river, to see the very famous temple of Lord Siva, where Adi Sankaracharya has established a Sakti-peetha by doing the Sri Chaka Sthapana. Here, Sri Anasooya Mata, our Gurubehn, a Vendantini, entertained the entire party at her ancestral home.

From Kurnool we were taken to Hospet at the earnest insistence of Gurudev’s great devotee and disciple Sri G.T. Veeriah. This devotee’s Bhakti-bhav is unique and wonderful. He had arranged his son’s marriage on the day after our arrival (17-12-64) and invited all his friends. This wonderful man converted his marriage house into a Satsang Bhawan and a veritable temple of Sivananda Gurudev. Gurudev’s picture shone resplendent on a beautifully decorated altar. The marriage was performed at this altar, under the gaze of Gurudev as it were. And your Swami Chidananda was made to bless the young couple as the representative of Gurudev. To this wonderful family, Gurudev is living reality. The entire family is simply filled with Guru-prem. Their devotion, their faith, their Bhav is some thing which I cannot adequately describe, and the special point about this marriage was that this alliance was personally blessed by Sri Gurudev himself seven or eight years ago, when both the families had come on pilgrimage to this Ashram, and the betrothal was solemnised at Sri Gurudev’s Kutir on the Ganges bank. Gurudev placed both his hands on the head of the boy and the girl who were young children at that time. The photograph taken at that time is still treasured in their home and it was very much on display during the auspicious event. At Hospet, Sri Murlidhar took us to the Tungabhadra Dam Project where the Engineer-in-Charge very kindly took us round and explained all the workings of the power plant. We also visited the famous ruins of Hampi. This Sevak had the privilege of addressing the public of Hospet that evening and giving a talk to school and college students. It seemed that the entire town cooperated in the two-day functions. Hospet was a feast of love. Gurudev’s name spread everywhere.

The next halt, Kirkee, Poona, Sri Sirvaramakrishnan and Sri Srivinasanji of Kirke Branch had arranged a very nice programme of Satsangs, public lectures and talks to students. The most blessed event here was the unique opportunity I had of placing my head at the holy feet of our beloved and worshipful Dadaji Sadhu T.L. Vaswani Maharaj. I was filled with happiness. I considered myself most sanctified by this holy God-man’s Darshan. I treasure the warm embrace of divine love in which he graciously enfolded this servant of Gurudev during the prayer gathering in the sun-lit garden of his Mira Centre. My thanks go to Sri J. P. Vaswani who arranged for this spiritual meeting and to Sri Gangaram Sajandasji, his beloved colleague. They are rare flowers in the spiritual garden of adorable Dadaji.

We left for Bombay on 20th December. Sri G. V. Parameswaranji of Divine Life Society Branch had arranged a Satsang that night at his home in Khar. I was glad to meet there H. H. Swami Sivananda-Krishnananda Mata and also to listen to the beautiful Bhajans by Premanand of Ananda Ashram, Kanhangad. Thence, the Chandigarh D. L. S. Canference summoned me North once again. This Conference, conceived by H. H. Sri Swami Premanandji Maharaj, executed with the wonderful help and noble efforts of Sri Ravindra Nath Ji, Sri L. R. Magon, Sri Suraj Prakash, Sri Har Datt Sharma and others was a grand success. It was inaugurated by Comrade Ram Kishan, the Chief Minister of Punjab, who gave a thrilling speech upon the need for ethical values of public life. The full report of this Conference appears in the Branch Gazette as well as in the Divine Life Magazine. The highlight of this Conference was the thrilling speeches by H. H. Sri Swami Nirmal Maharaj of Amritsar. He is a wonderful man. En route to the Conference, we had very nice Satsang at Delhi at the residence of Sri K. C. Reddy Ji, now Rajyapal of Madhya Pradesh.

Your servant was able to be back at the Ashram on the 31st December, just in time to participate in the holy worship to celebrate the Anniversary of the Pratishtha ceremony of the Ashram Viswanath Temple. There was a grand Maha Puja at mid-day. We had a special Satsang at 3 P.M. in the afternoon on that day; and that night the usual Satsang went on till 12 mid-night (it was the last Satsang of the departing year 1964!) when we marked the advent of the New Year with chanting of the Divine Name and prayers for the world welfare. Thus we moved into 1965. We wished one another “Happy New Year” and retired to sleep. December was practically a month of travels and the carrying of Gurudev’s message and the Divine Name into distant corners of Bharatvarsha.

Beloved Seekers, I send you greetings of joy and auspiciousness for the occasion of the beautiful and colourful BASANT. February 6th is Basant Panchami. May the Gods smile upon you and rain down blessings to make your life flower forth into gladness, rejoicing and plenty. This month also celebrates the holy and inspiring memory of the great Guru of the heroic Shivaji Maharajah. You will know the name of this august saint SAMARTHA RAMDAS, a God-realised soul who spread the message of Dharma and courageous faith in defence of sublime principles against all odds. He preached the gospel of Ram Nam and Ram Bhakti as the supreme path for your welfare, here as well as hereafter. Ramdas stood for sterling character, devotion to duty, service of mankind and dedication to divine worship. Study his wonderful books Dasabodha and Manache Shlok. May His blessings be upon you all!

Now, just before I conclude, I exhort you all to prepare to observe the most holy and sacred Sivaratri festival that falls on the last of March. Meditate on Lord Siva. He is the embodiment of perfect mastery over external nature (Prakriti or lower self) and perennial abidance in the Divine Reality within. All Siva Bhaktas should commence a Purascharna of the Panchakshari Mantra from the moment that this line is read by them. Make up your mind to complete five lakhs of Japa (Aksharalaksha Japa) by the first of March. Perform a Havan on Sivaratri Day. If not, repeat some extra Malas of Japa in lieu of Havan. Lord Siva will be immensely pleased and will shower His divine grace upon you. May all health, prosperity, joy and blessedness be unto you. Om Namah Sivaya! Jaya Gurudev Sivananda! God bless you.

With regards, Prem and Om,

Yours in Sri Gurudev
Swami Chidananda
Ananda Kutir, Rishikesh
1st Feb. 1965

Sivanandashram Letter No. XVIII

The Spirit Of Mahasivaratri. Tour Of Gujarat

Immortal Atma Swaroopa!
Blessed Seeker of TRUTH!

Om Namo Narayanaya.

The Divine Grace of the Lord of the Universe, Jagadeeshwara Mahadev, the Vishwa Natha, shower upon you and fill your life with Light, Joy and supreme Peace of Atman! Maha-Siva-Ratri, one of the holiest of holy days in this land of ours, would have been observed from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari by the time this letter comes to you. Worship of the Great God with intense devotion and holy fervour would have been witnessed all over India and the spirit of worshipfulness and adoration would have purified the Nation’s atmosphere with its unique spiritually sanctifying touch.

Devotion should pervade the entire life-process of