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Om Namo Bhagavate Krishnanandaya!

Namaste!

Guru – The God-Incarnate
by Sri Swami Sivananda

Taken from Divine Life Magazine 1950

The Vyasa Purnima is the sacred occasion when the Vedic Preceptor, Vyasa, and all the Brahmavidya-Gurus are worshipped. Spiritual seekers of all stages of life are all actually the disciples of these great Gurus who have handed down spiritual knowledge through Shishya-parampara. The qualities of the soul and the knowledge of God are not matters of individual caprice but facts of intuition and realisation. Knowledge does not suddenly arise in the individual without any reason. It comes through Purva-punya, Satsanga, Guruseva and Vichara. Even the requisite qualities which precede knowledge are not imbibed except through contact with the perfected ones. Spiritual qualities and natures are not parts of the ordinary human conduct and hence, they cannot be had by the worldly-wise. Even if the sense of sight is healthy, no perception is possible without light. In man, however, this spiritual sense is generally not felt, because it is obscured by the sense of worldly contacts and the consequent anxiety, worry and dissatisfaction. There is neither real virtue nor real knowledge in the common man, because these two are not in relationship with his natural instincts.

Neither the means (virtue) nor the end (knowledge) is the property of the superficial nature. They are found only in the depth within. The external instincts constitute the flow of the downward current of the river of life, and one is given the strength to swim against this current and manifest the higher natures of virtue and knowledge by the Shakti that proceeds as the result of contact with one who has scaled the heights of spirituality, the Brahmanishtha Guru.

In fact, it is the Guru who provides the disciple with the means as well as the end, with the sense of sight as well as the object of sight. Arjuna was given both the eye to behold the Glorious Form (Vishwaroopa) and was shown the Form itself by his Teacher, Sri Krishna. It is sometimes believed by some rationalists that no Guru is necessary, but only the self can elevate itself through itself without any aid. But there is some misconception in those who hold this view. Though all knowledge and all power is really hidden in one’s own self, it is not possible to make this manifest very easily. The great misfortune of the common individual is that it can have no knowledge except through coming into contact with an external environment belonging to some other person, place, time, thing or condition. All men are controlled by the stresses of life and the urges of the senses. Their minds cannot be diverted from their natural courses to the spiritual reality, because it is not the habit of the mind to concern itself with unworldly conditions. If it is so very easy to draw out knowledge from within, without the help of a teacher, why should children be sent to schools and why should there be so many colleges on earth? Though knowledge is revealed from inside and not imported from the teacher, the latter’s role is not insignificant. No doubt, aspiration, perseverance and personal ability and calibre play a very important part in the rise of knowledge. But, this does not mean that knowledge can spring forth automatically without effort and devotion. Cases of those who had attained perfection without study under any Guru, should not be cited as authorities against the necessity for a Guru; for such great men are the anomalies of spiritual life and not the common normality. They come into existence as spiritual masters as a result of the intense service, study and meditation practised in previous births. They had already studied under the Guru. The present birth is only its continuative spiritual effect. Hence, the importance of the Guru is not lessened thereby.

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29th July is the holy Guru Purnima day.

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The following article was recently posted at Sri Swami Krishnanandaji's site:

• Realising the Mantra
• God Is Thinking Himself
• Where the Soul Goes After Death
• The Universe Is the Yoga of God
• Everything Is Living
• The Meaning of the Purusha Sukta
• Buddha's Previous Lives

Yours in the service of Gurudev,

Pannirselvam

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BOOK SYNOPSIS

Guru-Bhakti Yoga
By Swami Sivananda

Just as Kirtan-Sadhana has been made the special Kali-Yuga Sadhana for quick God-vision, even so herein you have the New Yoga, a Yoga most eminently suitable for this age of doubt and scepticism, pride and egoism. It is Guru-Bhakti Yoga. This Yoga is marvellous. Its power is tremendous. Its efficacy is most unfailing. The true glory of Guru- Bhakti is indescribable. It is the Yoga par excellence for this age, which makes God appear here before you in flesh and blood and move with you in this very life. The hard Rajasic ego is the arch enemy of the Sadhaka. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is the surest and best Sadhana to destroy arrogance and to dissolve the vicious ego. Just as a particular deadly germ can be annihilated only by a certain specific chemical germicide, even so, to destroy Avidya and Ahankara, this unique Guru Bhakti-Yoga is the peerless specific. They are the gravest 'Mayacide' and 'egocide'. They become quite powerless and no longer afflict the fortunate soul who saturates himself with the spirit of Guru- Bhakti-Yoga. Blessed indeed is the man who earnestly takes to this Yoga; for he will obtain crowning success in all other Yogas. To him will accrue the choicest fruits of perfection in Karma, Bhakti, Dhyana and Jnana.

The qualification for taking to this Yoga is the simple trio of sincerity, faith and obedience. Be sincere in your aspirations for Perfection. Be not vague or half-hearted. Then have perfect faith in the one you have accepted as your Guru. Do not allow even so much as a shadow of doubt to approach you. When once you have reposed absolute faith in him, then know that what he instructs you is indeed for your highest good. Therefore, obey his word implicitly. Follow his teachings to the letter. Be earnest in doing thus, and take my word: you will attain Perfection; I assure you emphatically.

For more information, please see: Guru-Bhakti Yoga

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BE NOT A SLAVE: While coming out of his cottage, the Master began instructing Sri S.

“Your mother and your brother may want that you should take up some job in Calcutta. Your mother might feel that her son is an M. A. and that he should become a good officer and earn a lot. Then she will be supremely happy. She will not be satisfied if you do not accede to her request.

“Even that is good. You have remained here for a couple of years. You have learnt many lessons. When you return to Calcutta, you should set an example in honesty, sincerity and other virtues. Please do not hesitate to write to me. If you wish to take up some employment, write to me. You have developed many virtues and you will prosper well in any employment.

“Your mother may even ask you to marry. In order to give joy to her, you may have to do that also. The spiritual impressions that you have acquired here are embedded in you. They are your asset. Wherever you are, you will evolve and progress on the spiritual path.

“But do not marry. Your freedom will be lost. You can serve your mother and make her happy even without marrying. Marriage will bind you. You will have no time to do Sadhana when you marry and get four or five children. Take up some job. Work. Do Sadhana. But do not marry.

“What is there in employment and money? For the sake of a few rupees a month you have to show your teeth to an officer. You have to be his slave and do all sorts of things. You are not a free man. You have to act according to his dictation. It is a wretched state of existence.

“On the other hand, if you are a Sannyasin, if you study the Gita and Upanishads and acquire a good knowledge and Sadhana Shakti, then even ministers and governors will sit at your feet and learn from you. You can hold classes in the Gita. Even your informal talks will attract a large audience. By casual talks with a few people you can inspire them and they will be greatly benefited. You will be respected everywhere. Unhindered by any obstacle, you will progress rapidly and attain the goal of life.”

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“The presence of the Guru is a great influence upon the mind of the chela. Whatever we are today, in our own humble capacity, is entirely due to our personal association with Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj, and not due to the books that we have studied or the texts that we have mastered or the lectures that we have heard. These are nothing; they are a husk. It is due to the force of Swami Sivananda that we somehow or other imbibed—by his grace, I should say. Sivananda was everything for us—father, mother, brother, everything. ” – Sri Swami Krishnananda

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