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

The Key To Your Transformation
by Sri Swami Chidananda

Radiant Atman! The words aviveki, viveki and sadhaka refer to three different types of individuals. An aviveki is a person who does not discriminate. All the lessons in life which God sends him or her are wasted, because he or she is in ajnana (ignorance). And ajnana is the outcome of aviveka (non-discrimination).

On the other hand, a viveki is a person who does discriminate. He learns the lessons of life, but they have no effect on him. His learning and the lessons he has learned are stored up in his head; they produce no fruit because they are not applied. He does not allow these lessons to have a powerful impact upon him.

But a true sadhaka (spiritual aspirant) is one who is both a viveki as well as one who actively reacts to whatever lessons life brings in the course of going through it, the experiences that form part of it. Nothing is wasted upon the true sadhaka. Everything produces a change, a transformation for the better. Everything brings forth from the true sadhaka and seeker a certain positive, creative response, after which he is never the same as before. He is changed. His character, his nature, his very life becomes enriched, enhanced by something new which was not there previous to the impact the experience had upon him.

Two hundred years ago, there was born a grandchild, a baby girl, in the family of a very renowned Japanese warrior, a samurai. He was a great warrior, very brave and heroic. And the baby girl was a most beautiful child. She grew up to be a maiden of such exceptional and unusual beauty that the family thought it fitting that she be offered to the Empress of the country as a handmaiden or servant.

At that time the Japanese were ruled by emperors. So they took her to the palace and the Empress and the entire royal family were also struck by the beauty of this girl. She was found to be very keenly intelligent, very active and very perceptive. So she soon became a favourite and an important part of the Empress’ retinue.

Unfortunately, within a few years, while the girl was still in her teens, the Empress, whose health had been apparently perfectly normal, suddenly passed away. This sudden passing had such a profound impact upon this young girl that something stirred deep within her and a sudden change came into her entire psychology. She said: “What is this life? Everything is vain. Everything passes away. There is no stability; nothing can be relied upon. Nothing is real. Everything is evanescent, transitory, ephemeral, perishable and passing.”

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Today, May 10th, is the holy birthday of Lord Buddha. Sri Swami Sivanandaji has written about Lord Buddha in his book Lives of Saints. You may read the full biography at:

1. Lord Buddha

Yours in the service of Gurudev,

Pannirselvam

SINCERITY AND DEDICATION: Arriving at the office one morning, the Master noticed the lethargy and listlessness of the disciples working there.

Turning to Swami Mownanandaji, he began, “Have you noted, Mownanandaji, how very keen and energetic the Europeans are? What a magnificent sense of duty and integrity of purpose they possess! Just a handful of them have conquered many countries, explored vast regions, set up their establishments wherever they went and proved themselves formidable rulers. To what extent they value discipline! How efficient and remarkable is their sense of co-ordination and resourcefulness! How powerful they are!

“Imagine, then, how much more vigorous the spiritual aspirants should be, who have dedicated themselves to the achievement of life’s highest goal—Self-realisation! How heavy is the responsibility they shoulder! I wish that all workers here should possess the virtues of dedication, resourcefulness, perseverance, dynamism and the sense of duty. Only then can they work efficiently for the mission.

“Disdain, faint-heartedness and moroseness should not find any place in an aspirant. All of you must be ever brisk, ever prepared to serve, ever ready to attend on visitors and look to their needs. You should be always beaming with enthusiasm, cheer and joy. You should be ever prompt and efficient in your work. Just now I asked for a letter which I had handed to Swami O. yesterday. It could not be traced. It has disappeared overnight. Spiritual aspirants should be ardent and efficient in performing their tasks. Here I have already created a field for you all to evolve. It is through work that one will be able to soar high and evolve in the quickest possible manner. Unless there is sincerity in any purpose, there is no scope for its fulfilment.”

The Master looked about him, when by this time many of the Ashramites had gathered and were listening with rapt attention. He said, “And so I want each one of you to feel in your heart of hearts that you are fostering the divine cause and should therefore be an embodiment of sincerity and dutifulness, ever and always.”

"Today is Sri Buddha Jayanti. You should, therefore, ponder Buddha’s life, his ideal reaction to experiences and the memorable and epoch-making step that he took. When he felt this profound change, he did not keep quiet about it. He was a practical Yogi. He took a bold step and became a renunciate and a seeker. Then he became an austere practitioner, a tapasvi, practised Yoga and meditation and became a jnani and a world teacher." - Swami Chidananda

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