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Mind-conquest By Spiritual Culture
by Sri Swami Sivananda

The mind is like a wheel which revolves endlessly with tremendous velocity. It generates new thoughts with every revolution. This wheel is set in motion with the vibrations of psychic Prana or subtle Prana. The practice of Pranayama lessens the velocity of the mind, slows down the wheel gradually. Perfect control of Prana will bring the wheel to a standstill.

Alcohol, meat, Rajasic foods, the cinema, novel-reading, obscene songs, obscene sights, obscene talks, evil company will make the wheel of mind revolve very rapidly; whereas fruits, Sattvic food, the company of Mahatmas, study religious books, solitude, Japa, Kirtan, concentration, meditation, enquiry of “Who am I?” will slow down the wheel and eventually bring it to a standstill.

Identify yourself with the immortal Self. Enquire, “Who am I?” whenever bad thoughts arise in your mind. All the thoughts will gradually die.

The fewer the desires, the fewer the thoughts. Become absolutely desireless. The wheel of your mind will stop entirely. If you reduce your wants, if you do not try to fulfil your desires, if you try to eradicate your desires one by one, your thoughts will diminish in frequency and length. The number of thoughts per minute will also decrease. Fewer the thoughts greater the peace. Remember this always. A wealthy man who speculates in a big city and who has a large number of thoughts has a restless mind, in spite of his comforts, whereas a Sadhu who lives in a cave in the Himalayas and who practises thought-control is very happy in spite of his poverty.

The power of concentration will increase by lessening the number of thoughts. Certainly it is an uphill work to reduce the number of thoughts. In the beginning it will tax your ability very much. The task will be very unpleasant. But later on you will rejoice as you get immense strength of mind and internal peace by reduction of thoughts. Armed with patience, perseverance, vigilance, fiery determination and iron will, you can crush the thoughts easily just as you crush a lemon or an orange with ease. After crushing, it will be easy for you to root them out. Mere crushing or suppression will not suffice. There may be again resurrection of thoughts. They should be totally eradicated just as loose tooth is pulled out.

Read complete article

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The following article has been posted at Sri Swami Krishnanandaji's site:

• The PDF format of The Great System of Yoga Propounded by Patanjali
• On the occasion of Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj's birth anniversary on September 8th, two booklets were released in print for free distribution:
  - Gurudev Sivananda—Physician of the Soul
  - Sivananda's Vision of Divine Life
• The Tapas of Swami Sivananda

Yours in the service of Gurudev,

Pannirselvam

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The following new books were recently released:

Divya Bhajana Mala (Telugu) by Swami Sivananda

Bhagavad Gita for Students by Swami Venkatesananda

Rare Quotes from a Rare Master by Swami Krishnananda

The Nature of the True Religious Life by Swami Krishnananda

Rudram Chamakam Cha (in Sanskrit)

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BOOK SYNOPSIS

Fourteen Lessons on Raja Yoga
By Swami Sivananda

Life today is full of stress and strain, of tension and nervous irritability, of passion and hurry. If man puts into practice a few of the elementary principles of Yoga, he would be far better equipped to cope with his complex existence.

Yoga is complete life. It is a method which overhauls all aspects of human personality. Yoga is a system of integral education. The science of Raja Yoga is universal, it is applicable to all.

The fourteen elementary lessons on Raja Yoga are an enumeration of Patanjali's octagonal system which begins with ethical discipline and ends with the final dissolution of the individual perception in the cosmic consciousness. No impossible methods are advocated herein. No allegiance is demanded to a particular cult. Here indeed is shown the way to live full and happy life to one's own personal advantage and usefulness to others.

For more information, please see: Fourteen Lessons on Raja Yoga

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SPECIAL ARADHANA CONCESSION

We are currently having a Special Aradhana Concession on all our publications from 1st July 2021 to 30th September 2021. The discounts on publications are as follows:

20% on Orders Upto Rs. 299/-
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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.

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INTROSPECT EVERY MINUTE: The Master was seated in the office, surrounded by a host of visitors, including Sri Pushpa Anand of Dehra Dun.

In the midst of his work he took a moments respite and, turning to Sri Pushpa, questioned her, “Where was your mind just now?”

She could not help smiling at the unexpected question and said, “Swamiji knows where my mind was.”

The Master put the same question to another devotee, who also smiled in reply. Then he remarked, “It is difficult to know where the mind is. Do Japa of Sri Ram. When the mind listens to the sound it will not wander, it will be steadied.”

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“He who loves all without distinction, is indeed worshipping his God best.” – Swami Sivananda

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