Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya!
Om Namo Bhagavate Chidanandaya!
Om Namo Bhagavate Krishnanandaya!

Namaste!

The Dynamics of Selfless Service
by Sri Swami Sivananda

Before proceeding to consider the bearing that the Ethics of the Bhagavad Gita has upon the various aspects of human conduct, it is important to emphasise that the cosmic love that forms the fundamental basis of these ethics is not an ideal to be fondly meditated upon, nor an idol to be bowed to from a distance, nor even an idler’s subject-for-gossip. Cosmic love is a very, very hard taskmaster. No doubt it is elixir for the inner spirit, a tonic for life itself and a fountain of eternal youthfulness and dynamism; but it has often demanded and inflicted a heavy toll on the physical, grosser and material part of man. Cosmic love is the confluence of paradoxes. This is extremely important to note and bear in mind always. It demands great sacrifices which are always made with the greatest delight. It demands ruthless renunciation of worldly pleasures and comforts; and this renunciation is embraced with ecstatic bliss. It demands the merciless severance of all worldly connections, relationship and affections; even this is done with a cheerful face and joyous spirit. Cosmic love only demands the annihilation of what in truth is a limitation, a littleness, a bondage, a painful condition (though in an unenlightened state, this might appear to be pleasurable!), in order that you might enter the Kingdom of Limitless Joy, Infinite Bliss, Ineffable Peace and Immortal Life.

For the sake of Dharma Lord Rama renounced His Consort. Cosmic love transformed Prince Siddhartha into a mendicant, wandering along the streets of his erstwhile kingdom, with a begging bowl. In order that mankind might awake from the slumber of ignorance and walk the path of righteousness, Lord Jesus sacrificed His Life itself on the Cross. Beware of paying lip sympathy to cosmic love!

Ask yourself: "How near have I approached the ideal of Sarva-Bhuta-hite-ratah (devoted to the welfare of all beings)?" That is the acid test of cosmic love. Not a moment of time is yours; it is given to you for being utilised in the service of humanity. Not a grain of food, nor a copper coin, nor a sublime thought, nor even a spiritual experience, is given to you for your private consumption: Cosmic love demands that you should share all with all. The food that you give your own body, the clothes with which you cover it, and the knowledge that you pour into your mind, have justification only in the measure in which your body is utilised in the service of humanity, and the mind is made the instrument through which solace, peace, happiness and enlightenment is brought to His children. Otherwise: Bhunjate te-tvagham Papa Ye Pachanyatmakaranat: if you cook food for your own consumption, you eat not food but terrible sin! Here, food is used symbolically. It refers to everything. Your wealth, your physical strength, your intellectual acumen and your spiritual light are all for others, for all beings.

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Yours in the service of Gurudev,

Pannirselvam

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BOOK SYNOPSIS

Education For Perfection
by Sri Swami Sivananda

With great delight, we offer to our readers our new publication ‘Total Thinking’ which comprises a series of discourses given by Worshipful Sri Swami Krishnanandaji Maharaj during Sadhana Week in 1980. In these illuminating lectures, Pujya Swamiji Maharaj imparts valuable techniques for spiritual practices for the spiritual aspirants and seekers to illumine their journey unto the Supreme.

It is our sincere hope that the readers will find this book a treasure-trove of wisdom teachings and they will also be immensely benefited by implementing those eternal teachings in their lives.

For more information, please see: Education For Perfection

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SPECIAL CONCESSION

The discount on publications is as follows:

20% on Orders Above Rs. 300/-
30% on Orders Above Rs. 3,000/-
40% on Orders Above Rs. 25,000/-

40% Special Discount on the following Pictorial Volumes of Worshipful Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji and Worshipful Sri Swami Chidanandaji:

1. ES8 Glorious Vision                Rs. 650
2. ES4 Gurudev Sivananda        Rs. 250 
3. EC70 Ultimate Journey           Rs. 500
4. EC71 Divine Vision                 Rs. 300

Please visit our online bookstore for further details:
http://www.dlsbooks.org/

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KILLING SAMSKARAS: During Kirtan time one night, the Master saw a visitor suddenly crush a scorpion with the butt of his torch. After Kirtan he asked the person why he killed the insect.

“It stings people,” replied the visitor.

The Master retorted, “By killing one scorpion are you able to save people from the stings of scorpions of which there are millions in the country? To kill the creature it probably took you only a few seconds. But can you give back its life again? When you have no strength to give back life to the dead, how can you take life out of the living? You are the worst kind of scorpion. The scorpion has poison only in its tail but you have poison all over the body; you are full of hatred and other evils. You should be crushed now!”

The visitor was taken aback and promised the Master that he would never kill a creature again.

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“Real religion is selflessness. To live for the sake of the Lord’s Creation is Divine Life. The spirit of selflessness should take possession of every fibre of every Indian. Then will India regain her glorious position as the World-Preceptor which she occupied in day of yore. Her life-breath has always been Yoga and spirituality. That is our heritage, a very rich heritage.” – Swami Sivananda

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