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

Namaste!

The Story of Veetahavya
by Sri Swami Sivananda

“Now I shall tell you another path that leads to Moksha. O valiant Rama! listen to it with rapt attention. A great Tapaswin, named Veetahavya, formerly dwelt in the Vindhya hills. In course of time, he grew dissatisfied with the ritual acts, which serve only to bewilder men and which are the causes of the diseases and difficulties of men. He gave up the practice of making his offerings to fire. He wanted to attain Nirvikalpa Samadhi. He built a hut of leaves with the branches of plantain trees. He spread in it his seat of deerskin. He sat there in the Padmasana posture with his legs crossed upon each other and placed his two hands on his two heels. He closed his eyes. He gradually withdrew the mind from the external objects, rendered it steady, and eventually controlled it firmly in his heart.

“He reflected within himself thus: ‘I controlled my mind but it is again agitated by Prana. It floats in the air like a dried leaf tossed by the wind. It impels the external organs as a charioteer drives his horses and is propelled by them in turn to their different objects. It runs from one object to another, just as a monkey jumps from one tree to another. I try to stop its course, but it runs towards objects. It pursues them with avidity and eagerness. The five organs of knowledge are mere avenues of the mind. I am the seer. I am the silent witness.

“ ‘O, my wicked and wretched organs, why do you in vain entangle yourself in miseries and troubles? Why are you so senseless as to roll on restlessly? I am pure Consciousness. I kept company with the mind and the senses and so I had my downfall. The all-knowing soul knows well the eyes and ears, but these organs cannot know the internal soul. Knowledge will never come in close contact with the organs. They are like Brahmins and outcastes, the cat and rat, the mongoose and cobra. O mind! why do you wander about aimlessly like a strolling street-dog? O perverted intelligence! you have mistaken this perishable body for the immortal Self through Ahamkara. Do not confound the “I” with the body and objects. Annihilate the sense of separateness that arises from the delusion of Ahamkara. O mind! just as darkness vanishes before the sun, so also you will disappear soon through spiritual enquiry. O mind! you have decided now to tread the path of Truth and start Atmic enquiry. The present course is really a laudable one. You will soon enjoy the eternal bliss of the soul.’

Read complete article

---

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

• Darshan with Swami Krishnananda during 1996: We are Alice in Wonderland
• Darshan with Swami Krishnananda during 1996: Surrender to the Guru

 

Yours in the service of Gurudev,

Pannirselvam

---

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Stories From Yoga Vasishtha
by Sri Swami Sivananda

The Yoga Vasishtha was once one of the most widely read books in India. It greatly influenced the general philosophical thought. The late Pundit Brindawana Saraswati of Benares had read the Yoga Vasishtha one hundred and sixty-five times. It is a comprehensive, deep, systematic and literary philosophical work of ancient India. It is the crest-jewel of all the works on Vedanta. It is a masterpiece. A study of the book raises a man to the lofty heights of divine splendour and bliss. It is really a vast store of wisdom. Those who practise Atma Chintana or Brahma Abhyasa or Vedantic meditation will find a priceless treasure in this marvellous book. He who studies the book with great interest and one-pointedness of mind cannot go without attaining Self-realisation. The practical hints on Sadhana are unique. Even the most worldly-minded man will become dispassionate and will attain peace of mind, solace and consolation.

The Yoga Vasishtha is one of the crowning glories of the world spiritual literature. Here are a few of its gems. It inculcates the ideal that Self-realisation can be had amidst the trials and tribulations of life

For more information, please see: Stories From Yoga Vasishtha

---

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.

---

CONQUER THE SENSES: Dr Chellamma, an eminent eye surgeon and a devoted disciple, came to the Ashram to pay her homage to the Master. While returning to his room after the night Satsang, the Master referred to her and said, “She must have cut (operated) many eyes. I think we should cut our eyes, ears and tongues!”

He obviously meant that we should control all our senses by “seeing no evil, hearing no evil, and speaking no evil”.

---

“Why is it necessary to bask in the sunlight? It is always said that people should bask in the sunlight. They can sit inside a cave. Why should they bask in the sunlight? It is because the energy of the sun enters this person. That is why they sit in the sun. Similarly, as the Guru is an established spiritual master, from his body some energy emanates which is a spiritual power, and people come near that person as much as possible so that they may be charged with that magnetic influence that is emanating from that person. Otherwise, there is no purpose. Just as when you sit in the sun you get the warmth, when you sit near a spiritual hero, his potential energy, which travels some distance from his body… How far it travels depends upon the quantum of energy that he has got. It can be 3 feet, 4 feet, 10 feet, half a kilometre, 1 kilometre, whatever it is. Sometimes it can be several kilometres also, if the person is very powerful. So that is the purpose. You are basking in the warmth of the magnetic force generated by the personality of the great spiritual master.” – Swami Krishnananda

---

Please click here to subscribe to Sivananda Day-to-day mailing list.

Other Sivananda related lists:

1) Various Selections from Sivananda's Works