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

Namaste!

How To Find Peace
by Sri Swami Chidananda

The mind is but a reflected consciousness. The seeming intelligence, power and perception of the conscious mind are only a borrowed light. The real source is Atman, not the mind. Just as the body is inert, the mind is also inert. The mind is highly subtle matter; nevertheless, it is matter as distinct from spirit. Ultimately all wisdom, knowledge and power derive from spirit. A mirror catches the direct light of the sun shining in the sky, and the mirror becomes so powerful with light that it can brighten a darkened room. Seemingly the light comes from the mirror, and yet there is in reality no light in it. The same is the case with the mind.

Whatever power the mind is manifesting, it does not ultimately belong to the mind as such, but the Atman that is beyond the mind. That is the true source of light and wisdom. Vedanta has the term "reflected consciousness," so mind is understood as only shining with borrowed luminosity. You are a radiant centre of pure spiritual consciousness, and that is your "true face," as they say in Zen. What was your face before you were born? What was that faceless face when this face did not exist? You are a mass of radiance, and that is your eternal countenance when no name, no body, no form and no face existed.

How then can one invoke these deeper powers beyond the mind? The most important insight we get from Vedanta in this matter of tapping the inner source of strength, power and peace is what is called atma-bhav. This term means "to abide in the Self, to be aware of yourself as the Self"—not as the little, ineffective, limited human individual subject to so many stresses, worries and problems. Through atma-bhav one is grounded in this inner attitude that, "I am the eternal spirit; I am Atman; fire cannot burn me; water cannot wet me; weapons cannot injure me. I am the unborn, eternal and permanent." To always be firmly based in this truth is strength. It gives us power over the constant assailments of the mind, which subjects us to so many negative moods and tendencies. If you want to triumph over them, be based in this unshakeable position of strength in Self-awareness. Abide in Self-awareness—atma-bhav. Be rooted in this awareness, and do not allow the erroneous consciousness of your apparent human personality to hold you down. This is a sadhana that you must keep up, because through long ages we have somehow or another got into the habit of being only in this little human consciousness.

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Yours in the service of Gurudev,

Pannirselvam

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BOOK SYNOPSIS

Sessions With Ashram Residents
by Sri Swami Krishnananda

Tadviddhi pranipaatena pariprashnena sevayaa;
Upadekshyanti te jnaanam jnaaninas tattwadarshinah. (4.34)

Know that Supreme Being by prostrating, serving and asking questions with humility to the enlightened ones. They will instruct you in that Knowledge.

Following the divine injunction of Srimad Bhagavad Gita, the Ashram residents started visiting Worshipful Sri Swami Krishnanandaji Maharaj on Sunday mornings in the year 1997 with their queries and doubts regarding spiritual path. Pujya Sri Swamiji Maharaj lovingly answered their queries, clarified their doubts and gave informal talks on various subjects. These Sunday morning sessions with Ashram residents cover a wide range of topics, some of which cannot be found elsewhere in Pujya Sri Swamiji Maharaj’s talks.

We are immensely delighted to bring out our new publication ‘Sessions with Ashram Residents’ by Worshipful Sri Swami Krishnanandaji Maharaj. The book consists of series of special talks that Worshipful Sri Swamiji Maharaj gave to Ashram residents on Sunday mornings between January 1997 and December 1998.

We hope that this book will prove an enlightening reading for all spiritual seekers.

For more information, please see: Sessions With Ashram Residents

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GITA STUDY: When the Master was in Colombo during his All-India Tour, a young man approached him and asked to be initiated into the study of the Bhagavad Gita.

An enchanting smile lit up the Master’s face as he remarked to the young man, “If you want to be a scholar, go to a good library and study all the commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita; if you want to attain liberation, then inscribe one verse of the scripture on the tablet of your heart and live it.”

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"If you want to have peace, bear no ill will towards anyone. Bearing no ill will towards anyone should not depend on the other person’s attitude towards you. He may have ill will, but you should bear him no ill will. To feel nicely about people who feel nicely towards you, and to be upset by people who don’t feel nicely about you is simply the way of the world. If you want to be something exceptional, bear no ill will towards anyone—no matter what the occasion. You will have peace. If you have a feeling of enmity towards anyone, it destroys your peace of mind." – Swami Chidananda

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