Divya Jivan Newsletter
Sivananda Ashram, Ahmedabad
June 2017
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OM Namo Bhagawate Sivanandaya!
OM Namo Bhagawate Chidanandaya!
OM Namo Narayanaya!
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 Remembering " Sannyasa Diksha" day  of Holy Master Sri Swami Sivananda (June 1, 2017)
 
"Rare it is to find a parallel to the type of life—of lofty, sublime selflessness and total, wonderful, dedicated selfless service of all God’s creatures—that Gurudev was and placed before us as an ideal. It is to this embodiment of selflessness and selfless service, this great expounder of nishkama-karma-yoga, who boldly declared, "Service of humanity is worship of God," that we pay our homage. May his blessings be upon us all!"

"All Gurudev’s life after Self-realisation, after becoming an enlightened sage and shining as a great light of the Himalayas, was a saga of selfless service—service of the poor, service of the suffering, service of the sick, service of the distressed, service of spiritual aspirants and seekers, service of all humanity, service of the whole world. In diverse, numerous ways, his entire life was one great, continuous stream of selfless service. He had even forgotten how to think of himself; he could only think of others. He lived thinking of others: "In what way can I be of benefit, in what way can I serve?" That was Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj till the very last days."  - Swami  Chidananda << Read More>>
 

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Early Morning Meditation Talks from Ponder These Truths by Sri Swami Chidananda

"Surrender" - " It is our ego-sense that we surrender, the idea “I am doing.” We surrender our self-will and put ourselves into His hands, so that we act as He dictates, we act as He teaches. So action is there, but no more self-will, no more action prompted by the mind, but action according to the will of God, according to the wisdom teachings of God and His saints."

 Surrender and activity do not conflict with each other, but are part and parcel of a total act of spiritualising yourself completely, stepping aside and asking God to take over. If God takes over, everything is under control, everything is working perfectly. If we are there, nothing is under control—mind is not under control, senses are not under control, everything is upside down. When you put yourself under the will of God and His wisdom teachings, then you are a self-controlled person. You will not allow the senses to do whatever they wish or the mind to do whatever it wishes. You will only do that which is in accordance with the will of God, the teachings of God and the saints. If it is not in consonance with the will of God and the teachings of the saints, you will not do it." - Swami Chidananda << Read More>>
 

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Learning of  "Jeevan Yog" from a Yoga Acharya Swami Adhyatmananda
Through TV episodes of "Jeevan Yoga" Series by Doordarshan Girnar

Primary & Main Yogasana (Yoga Postures)
The Physical techniques of Yoga are the stepping stones to meditation. According to Patanjali, Yoga is the cessation of the modifications of the mind.
 
 In the beginning the primary prerequisite to peace of mind is posture. Yogasana practiced to gain steady posture, health and lightness in the body. All Yoga postures are intended to directly or indirectly quiet the mind. The majority of Asana have been devised to build up different parts of the body and to develop the strength required by the more advanced  Physical disciplines. The purpose of the yogasana is to recondition the system, both mind and body, and to develop the nervous and glandular systems. The different Yoga postures have been devised to bring a rich supply of blood to the brain and to the various parts of the spinal column. The yogasana work by stretching, bending and twisting the spinal column in different directions to promote the health of the nerves. When the body is purified, Prana (vital energy) can be conserved and the individual becomes healthy and conscious.  << Episode 14 >> 

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Highlighting the news and upcoming events

All the activities of the ashram, mainly Spiritual, Yoga and Seva projects are based on the ideals and teachings of Holy Master Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj. Daily worship services at Lord Vishvanath Temple and at Sri Sri Maa Ashtalakshmi Bhavan create Divine vibrations at the Ashram. Prayers & Meditation at Sri Chidananda Dhyan Mandir bring peace & joy to countless Sadhakas. Daily Evening Satsang (9.00pm –9.45pm), Sunday satsang (8.30 am -10.00 am) and ‘Paduka Pujan' on Thursday, Satyanarayan Puja on Purnima day, Gayatri Yajana on first Sunday, Lalita Shashra Nama & Yoga activities: all these have made Sivananda Ashram a pilgrimage place (Bhakti Dham) in the midst of noisy and busy city life. More & more people, inspired by Spiritual head of the ashram, H. H. Sri Swami Adhyatmanandaji Maharaj are involving themselves in selfless services carried out through Ashram’s Seva Projects. Thanks to Gurudev for working behind the scene for running smoothly all the activities at the Ashram.

38th Yoga Teacher Training Course (May 10, 2017 - May 30, 2017): Forty yoga students from the state of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamilnadu attended three weeks of residential Yoga Teachers Training Course organized by Sivananda Ashram, Ahmedabad under the guidance and leadership of Yogacharya Sri Swami Adhyatmanandaji. 200 hrs of yoga education was credited to the successful passing the test and completion of the course. Entire course received a remarkable appreciation by students.

Upcoming Events at the Ashram
News & Activity Report for the Month of May 2017
Divya Jivan / May 2017

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Gitamrutam


The sages understand Sannyas to be the renunciation of action with desire; the wise declare the abandonment of the fruits of all actions as Tyaga. ( 18:2)

Acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity should not be abandoned, but should be performed; sacrifice, gift and also austerity are the purifiers of the wise. (18:5)

But even these actions should be performed leaving aside attachment and the desire for rewards, O Arjuna! This is My certain and best conviction.(18:6)

Verily, it is not possible for an embodied being to abandon actions entirely; but he who relinquishes the rewards of actions is verily called a man of renunciation.  (18:11)