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

Namaste!

Mind—A Great Blessing and a Great Curse
by Sri Swami Chidananda

Today I have the privilege of sharing with you a subject that has been suggested as something that might be very helpful to all who have recognised that the human status is not the top rung of the evolutionary process, but on the contrary it is the commencement of the evolutionary process upon a different dimension. Biologically, yes, the human status is the top-rung. But what is a conclusion biologically is a commencement spiritually, which culminates in perfect divinity. And those who have come into the path are souls who have recognised the fact that we stand upon the threshold of a great journey. If it is lived in the consciousness of this truth, then life becomes an ascent into ever expanding consciousness; from the ordinary body-bound awareness as a biological and a psychological individual awareness gradually begins to expand, and you become aware that you are also a moral being. You are not merely to live as a physical and a psychological being, expressing the normal nature of the body and the mind—but knowing that there is within you the potential for idealism, because there is a Being who expects you to over-reach your human nature. You have got potential for being an ideal being and to live for a cause. Now that this has been awakened, you are prepared to even sacrifice something that was so very precious at one time, that you would never have thought of renouncing it. But now you have changed your values and thus expand into an awareness of idealism: "I shall not merely live to satisfy the demands of the senses, satisfy the desires and cravings of the vital and mental nature. I shall rise above them in order to satisfy the call of an ideal, a high emotion, a great idea—something within me that I did not suspect was there—but it is there: the dimension of Dharma."

After that the consciousness will expand even more into a feeling of oneness with all; beyond the moral and idealistic vision one begins to see that there is a still greater dimension wherein all are one. There is a cosmic harmony, a universal unity, underlying the apparent variety that nature is presenting. We are not different. The joys of all are my joys. The sorrows of all are my sorrows.

This expansion to embrace all creatures in friendship, compassion, loving kindness—the great Buddha called it Metta, loving kindness. Ultimately, there is in us the ability to expand even beyond this universe into infinity, because that is the reality of our being, boundless and eternal. Thus arises within us the awareness that life should be made into a conscious process of ascending into Light, of expanding into universal infinity and realising our being as timeless and eternal. We are standing upon the threshold of this spiritual journey, or we are upon the first rung of this ladder, whose top is lost in a Light that we cannot see—we can only imagine it. We cannot see the top, because it is lost in that dazzling radiance, in the pure white Light of Reality.

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The following articles by Sri Swami Krishnanandaji have been posted at Sri Swamiji's site:

• Commentary on the Kathopanishad - Discourse 4: The Best of Teachers and the Best of Students
• India's Ancient Culture - Appendix: Siva’s Trident of Yoga Practice

Yours in the service of Gurudev,

Pannirselvam

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Swami Chidananda Talks in South Africa
By Swami Chidananda

We are very happy to bring out in book form these 23 very inspiring talks, given by H.H. Swami Chidanandaji at the Sivananda School of Yoga in Johannesburg in the years 1978 and 1983. Swami Vimalananda, who was constantly accompanying Swamiji all over the world, recorded them and later, with the help of one more person undertook the big work of typing them all. Then these papers were kept in bundles in the Ashram, and only with the preparations for Swami Chidananda’s Birth Centenary they came to life again. They were first scanned, and these scans had to be corrected in the computers. Then they were edited, re-edited and given for final editing. This work was going on almost worldwide for the last two years! Our heartfelt gratitude goes to all the many helpers who made this book possible.

‘Talks in South Africa’ is a real treasure. The book contains beautiful talks on ‘Bhakti’, one of Swami Chidanandaji’s favourite topics. The talks on ‘Yoga’ and on the ‘Science of the Mind’ show Swamiji’s never ending concern to help spiritual aspirants on the Path to Self-realisation. Swami Chidananda illumines so many facets and answers so many questions about spiritual life that one should make this book one’s Swadhyaya!

These ‘South African Talks’ constitute the first volume. There are more transcribed talks which will appear later on.

For more information, please see: Swami Chidananda Talks in South Africa

DIALOGUE WITH A WESTERNER: An American disciple of the late Paramahansa Yogananda had come to India. He called on the Master. An interesting dialogue ensued.

American: “Swamiji, I have heard so much about you and also read some of your works. They are very inspiring. I have been longing to have your Darshan. So from Delhi I came straight here. I have also met your disciple known as Radha in Canada.”

Master: “What are the important places to be seen in Delhi?”

American: “There are a few places worth seeing, like the Red Fort.”

Master: “They are only stone, mud and cement. You have seen many such things in America. You must see the saints in India. Are there any saints in Delhi? One must see them.”

American: “Yes, Swamiji, you are right. I have no desire for sightseeing; I have come only to be in the holy company of sages like your Holiness. Is it a fact, Swamiji, that the Darshan of such holy persons helps aspiring souls like myself considerably? What are the benefits of Darshan?”

Master: “You will be inspired in their presence. Peace and bliss will be experienced. The spirit of discrimination and dispassion will dawn. The more the receptive capacity on the part of the aspirant, the greater will be the benefit. Indelible impressions will be made on the pure minds of all.

Everyone will experience this in the company of saints.”

American: “Is it a fact that a saint takes on the suffering of his disciples and thus quickens the process of their Self-realisation? In Christianity there is such a belief. In Eastern literature also I have read that it is a fact. How far is this true?”

Master: “There can be no suffering for a saint. How can there be suffering and affliction for a perfected saint?”

American: “I am sure that a man of Self-realisation is beyond all suffering in his spiritual consciousness, but inasmuch as he possesses a body, bodily suffering must be admitted even in his case.”

Master: “Yes, the body feels pain. Vicarious suffering is a fact. A Guru takes on the Prarabdha of his disciples in order to accelerate the process of their Self-realisation. He will take the suffering only of those people who are brought into contact with him by the cosmic plan. He cannot and will not take on the suffering of the entire universe; that would be impossible. What books are you reading? What have you read so far?”

American: “I have read some of the works of Swami Vivekananda as well as yours; but now I find that too much theory will not help me. My Guru, Sri Yogananda, taught me some practical Sadhana and I am following it steadily. That I think will help me. I get confused when I read many books by different authors. There seem to be many ways to spiritual realisation. Is it good to follow only one path and achieve perfection or should I follow many methods?”

Master: “One path is quite sufficient. Follow that one path with sincerity, diligence and tenacity. Success will be yours. You are perfectly right in your view that one path is sufficient.”

American: “I am quite satisfied with your very valuable advice. This doubt has been tormenting me for a long time. Now my mind is clear, Swamiji.

“I have a feeling that the West, especially America, is going to witness a thorough spiritual revival. There is so much unrest there. Many religious and spiritual institutions are already at work. Do you think such a revival is certain?”

Master: “Yes, after material progress the philosophical bent of mind is natural. No one can be fully satisfied with material prosperity only. Spiritual bliss alone is lasting and completely satisfying. America and the West will slowly move towards spiritual ideals. They are bound to do so.”

American: “This is a very consoling answer from your Holiness. I will carry this message from here. Many people in America want to know about this.”

The Master asked for biscuits to be given to the visitor. They were offered in the hand. He told the guest, “You have to take them without saucers and tables. Simplicity is a great virtue.”

American: “Yes, Swamiji, we are tired of our pompous habits and conventions. We like this simplicity of India.” After this some books and more prasad were distributed. The young man thanked the Master heartily and took leave.

"The things that we perceive all around us are only mind in form and substance. “Manomatra Jagat--mind creates, mind destroys”. Bitterness and sweetness are not in the object but are in the subject. They are created by the mind." – Swami Sivananda

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