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

Namaste!

Qualifications Of A Yogic Student
by Sri Swami Sivananda

The Yogic student must have faith, devotion to Guru and the Lord. He must have faith in the teachings of his Guru and in Yogic scriptures. He must have intense aspiration and dispassion. Faith, aspiration and dispassion are the three important qualities of a Yogic student. Non-violence, truthfulness and celibacy are the three fundamental virtues. The Yogic student must be gentle, simple, humble and noble. He must be free from crookedness, cunningness, diplomacy, double-dealing, harshness, crude nature, greed and egoism.

Selflessness and Cosmic Love: He must have the spirit of selfless service. He must serve the poor and the sick. He must share whatever he has with others. He must have cosmic love. He must love all. He must have all-embracing love. He must cultivate this again and again. He must be serene. The Divine Light will dawn in a serene mind only. He must be non-violent, truthful and non-covetous. He must adapt the golden medium or the middle path.

Purity and Self-restraint: He must observe perfect celibacy or he must lead a well-regulated, disciplined life. He must be moderate in everything. He must lead a contented life. He must have perfect self-restraint. He must gradually discipline the senses and keep them under subjugation. He must speak gently, sweetly and truthfully. He must not use vulgar words or harsh words. He must give up intoxicants, liquor and smoking. He must take vegetarian food. There is much nutrition in milk, milk-products, nuts, etc. Animal diet excites the passion and makes the mind turbulent.

Virtues for Rapid Progress: He must possess adaptability, courage, mercy, generosity, tolerance, patience, perseverance, sincerity and complacency. He must be earnest, vigilant and diligent. He must have intense faith, application, tenacity and endurance. He must stick to his ideal and goal. He must be ever cheerful. Cheerfulness is a powerful tonic of the mind. He must have discrimination, fiery determination and firm resolve. He must stick to his resolves. He must be regular in his practice. Regularity is of paramount importance for success in Yoga. He must have equanimity, fortitude and forbearance. He must have manliness and mannerliness. His speech must agree with his thought, and his speech must agree with his action. He must practise introspection and analysis daily. He must give up backbiting and boasting. He must annihilate laziness. He should eradicate evil habits.

Read complete article

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

• Giddy with God
• Day-to-Day Activity and Meditation
• The Atman and Reincarnation
• Siva – The Sthita-Prajna
• God, Buddhism and Atheism
• Freud, Adler and Jung

Yours in the service of Gurudev,

Pannirselvam

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The following books were recently reprinted and released during Sri Swami Chidanandaji's birthday on September 24th:

EC36 108 Divine Pearls by Swami Chidananda

HC7 Chidananda Atmakatha by Swami Chidananda

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BOOK SYNOPSIS

Yoga and Realisation
By Swami Sivananda

From the divine pen of H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj has emanated a ceaseless stream of soul-elevating spiritual literature; and it would be quite true to say that today His Holiness’s message has penetrated every part of the world and has won for the forces of God and goodness millions of hearts into which Sri Swamiji has instilled a natural love of fellowmen and a keen aspiration to realise the goal of life.

Besides being the author of over 300 books, and besides getting published and distributed free on a worldwide scale, countless leaflets, pamphlets and books, Sri Swamiji has contributed inspiring articles to various newspapers and periodicals all over the world.

The present work is a collection of quite a number of such articles. They have already thrilled many hearts, and awakened many dormant souls. In order that they might give you permanent inspiration they have been reprinted in book-form and is presented to you as our humble love-offering. We earnestly pray that you will make the best use of it, practise Yoga and attain Realisation.

For more information, please see: Yoga and Realisation

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SPECIAL CONCESSION

We are currently having a Special Aradhana Concession on all our publications from 1st July 2023 to 30th September 2023. The discounts on publications are as follows:

20% on Orders Upto Rs. 300/-
30% on Orders Upto Rs. 1,000/-
35% on Orders Above Rs. 1,000/-
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.

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WEEPING FOR THE DEAD: A man from Hyderabad came to have the Master’s Darshan. The Master noticed that he was thoroughly off-colour and enquired of the cause.

“Swamiji, just a month ago I lost my eldest son.”

And he burst into tears.

The Master also shared the man’s grief and began to weep aloud! The visitor was surprised. His own grief was gone and the Master was found smiling!

“So many of my children, so many of my brothers and sisters died today. I weep out of grief over their loss,” the Master said to him.

He could not grasp the meaning. Therefore, the Master explained, “Why do you weep only over the death of one person, whom you regard as your son? Weep over the death of everyone in the world. Can you do that? What is the difference between the death of your son and the son of an American farmer in California?

“If you are to weep for all, then tears should flow like a perennial stream from your eyes. If you cannot do that, then weep for none. What has happened? One individual soul has left this earth-plane of misery and grief and risen to some other plane. Where is the loss? Where is death? Where is the cause for grief? On the contrary, you should rejoice, and pray that the departed soul may attain a higher region of divine bliss. That is the reaction of a wise man, not weeping.

“Study the second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita and the Katha Upanishad. You will clearly understand that the soul is immortal and that it is foolish to grieve over the death of anyone. The soul does not die, but the body, which is composed of the five elements, has to die one day or the other. It is born with the mantle of death around it. Understand this truth and grieve no more.

“Do Japa on the bank of the Ganges. Pray to the Lord for the light of wisdom. Give up this foolish nerve-shattering grief and rejoice in the thought of God. Attain knowledge of the Atma and destroy all grief and sorrow. The death of a relative is an opportunity for reflecting on the true nature of the Atma and the body. Utilise this opportunity well.”

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“Is there an additional method of contacting the Guru? Yes, and one that was constantly, repeatedly reiterated by Gurudev. Gurudev said: “Obedience is better than reverence.” Devotion is good. But what is the sign of devotion? What is the practical proof that you are really devoted to the Guru? It is to be sincerely, earnestly and seriously desirous of carrying out his instructions and living according to his teachings.” – Swami Chidananda

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