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<div align="center">Christmas 2008<br>
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<h1><font color="#cc6600">Divya Jivan Newsletter</font></h1>
<address><b><big><font color="#cc6600">Christmas 2008 </font></big></b>
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<td bgcolor="#000099" valign="top"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Swami
Sivananda on Christmas & Its Spiritual Meaning <br>
</b></font><font color="#ffffff"><b><br>
</b></font> </td>
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<p><img alt="" src="cid:part2.07080200.01090809@divyajivan.org"
align="right" height="191" width="150"></p>
<div><img alt="" src="cid:part3.05090109.09030802@divyajivan.org"
align="left" height="205" width="150">"If the Christ-life is to be
lived, first of all, the
child-Christ has to be
born in us. Then only the real spiritual life commences for the
aspirant. The
first manifestation of the Divine urge in the form of spiritual
aspiration and
the recognition of the spiritual ideal signifies the birth of the
infant Jesus
within the seeker’s being. From hence starts the living of the
Christ-life in
all its spiritual details of sublime purity, faith in Divinity, mercy,
compassion, love, selflessness, desirelessness, prayerfulness, etc.
Hence starts
the life of earnest Yoga and Sadhana, of self-restraint and simplicity,
of
unbroken serenity and peace, balance of mind, unflinching courage in
the face of
all oppositions and perfect dedication to the worship of God through
the service
of man. This is the spiritual implication within of the Christmas that
is
celebrated without.<br>
<p>"With the advent of this Christ-spirit within the heart of the
seekers, all
human desires come to an end and they are replaced by pure higher
Divine
aspiration, Spirituality overcomes materialism. You break free from
your slavery
to the senses. You begin to live a new life, a divine life of purity,
love,
renunciation, humility, non-attachment and selflessness. Your life
becomes
sublime like the life of Christ. You begin to live a life of complete
faith and
dependence upon God. You always think of God, talk of Him and live for
Him.
Helping others becomes a real joy to you. You become a living<br>
witness
of the
Divine. All your life’s activities flow towards God." - Swami Sivananda
<a href="http://www.divyajivan.org/christmas/index.htm"><<
More>></a></p>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span>
<p> </p>
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<td bgcolor="#000099" valign="top"><b> </b><b><font
color="#ffffff">Christ's Divine Life</font></b></td>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span><span
style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<b><img alt="" src="cid:part4.08080608.06040707@divyajivan.org"
align="left" height="174" width="150"></b>
<p>"Lord Jesus the Christ IS; here and now!
Christ is Eternal. He has proclaimed this truth to the world not so
much by words but by His glorious Resurrection. Where then is He to be
sought and found? He abides where Virtue is and goodness. He is
enshrined in the Divine Life of Love, Purity, Truth, Holiness, Prayer,
Ceaseless Service and utter selflessness. In the heart where shine the
light of Faith, Devotion, Humility, calm resignation to the Divine
Will, Compassion and a genuine thirst for Righteousness, therein is
Christ present, vibrant, vitally alive and radiantly manifest. O
beloved Brethren! be ye also like Jesus and you shall find Christ
within yourself now."</p>
<p>"Christ has given Himself to Mankind not so much as a
personality but as a way of living, as a Path. He embodies in Himself
the method
of the Divine Ascent. To rise from the little human personality you now
possess
and ascend into the Christ Consciousness is to ascend from the unreal
to the
Real, from darkness to Light Everlasting and from death to joyous
Immortality.
When you have thee Christ Ideal before you as a shining example you
cannot utter
the excuse “Which is the way? I do not know the way. I would fain
follow it if
only I knew.” The ringing assertion of Christ, “I am the Way, the Truth
and
the Life; no one comes to Father but by me.” Yes, verily, verily is it
true
that growing into the Christ Ideal is the one sure and certain Key to
the
Kingdom of Immortality." - Swami Chidananda <a
href="http://www.divyajivan.org/articles/articles/chida/christ_life.htm"><<
More>></a><br>
</p>
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<td bgcolor="#000099" valign="top"><b><font color="#ffffff">Christmas
Message <br>
</font></b></td>
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<p align="left">There was a private garden situated at the
outskirts of a city. Inside the garden, there was a statue of Virgin
Mary with Baby Jesus decorated with diamonds, pearls and gems.<img
alt="" src="cid:part5.05050204.07090009@divyajivan.org" align="right"
height="179" width="111"><br>
<br>
One day, a pigeon stopped to rest at the foot of mother Mary's statue.
In the middle of the night, a diamond fell on the ground. The pigeon
thought it must be a gift that the compassionate Lord Jesus and Mother
Mary wanted it to be delivered to the needy one. Therefore, the pigeon
held the stone in its mouth and flew it to a poor family. Not long
after returning to Mother Mary's foot, another pearl fell on the
ground, believing that this is the kindness of holy Jesus, the pigeon
picked up without hesitation and flew away again.<br>
<br>
Just like this, whenever a stone fell off the statue of Mother Mary,
the pigeon would pick it up and delivered to the needy ones. The pigeon
continued its work until all the gems had fallen off the statue.<br>
<br>
When the owner of the garden returned, what he found was a plain statue
and a dead pigeon lying at its feet. Without a second thought, the man
disdainfully picked up the pigeon and trashed it. </p>
<p align="left"><b>On a cursory look the story seems very
ordinary and insignificant but it has a deeper meaning. The statue of
Mother Mary along with baby Jesus represent the highest reality, the
supreme Lord who is very kind and He is ever ready to provide whatever
one needs to sustain and evolve. The pigeon represents the soul who has
aligned himself to the Will of God and ever ready to be used by Him as
a worthy instrument to carry out His will. The owner of the garden and
the statue represent the mass of people who do not have time and eye to
see beyond the diamond studded statue and a dead bird. They have little
understanding of the creation, the creator and the goal and the purpose
of life. </b></p>
<p align="left"><b>This is the message of Holy Bible, Holy Jesus
and the message of the Divine Life. Do Good, Be Good. Be kind, Be
Compassionate. And even after doing good, if you are being ignored or
ridiculed never mind. Bear insult, Bear injury and Bear injustice but
continue to be an embodiment of service to the mankind, service to
known and unknown. Love all, Hate none. Rejoice in the Lord each moment
of your life. Pray fervently and Abide in Him.</b><i><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br>
</span></i></p>
<p align="left"><i><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></i>Prayers for
Peace, Joy and Harmony in Zimbabwe, Greece
and around the Globe.<br>
Merry Christmas to you all.<br>
Wishing a Peaceful, Purposeful and Blissful New Year to all.<br>
With lots of prayers and best wishes for the Year 2009. </p>
<p align="left">-Swami Adhyatmananda</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </p>
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<p align="left"> </p>
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<td bgcolor="#000099" valign="top"><b><font color="#ffffff">Jesus
Christ Quotes</font></b></td>
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<font color="#000000"> </font>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></b>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Ask
and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to
you.” <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">"Blessed
are they who hunger
and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied." <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Let
him who is without sin cast the
first stone.” <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Do
unto others as you would have
them do unto you.” <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">"For
everyone who exalts
himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“What
shall it profit a man if he
gains the whole world but loses his soul.” <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“It
is easier for a camel to pass
through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of
Heaven<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Love
the Lord your God with all
your passion and prayer and intelligence. Love others as well as you
love
yourself.”<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: white;"> </span></b><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">"Yes
I am with you always, until the very end of time”</span></li>
</ul>
<br>
<div align="center"><o:p><img alt=""
src="cid:part6.08010501.07050906@divyajivan.org" align="middle"
height="273" width="270"><br>
</o:p></div>
<i> </i><a
href="http://www.divyajivan.org/articles/chida/dattatreya.htm"><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"></span></a><i>
</i> </div>
</div>
<p><font color="#000000"> </font></p>
<p><font color="#000000"> </font></p>
<span></span><span></span> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span>
<p><font color="#000000"> </font></p>
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<span></span><span></span> <span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span>
<p><font color="#000000">
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<p><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span>
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<span style=""></span><span style=""></span>
<p><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<div align="center">
<div align="left"> <a href="http://www.quotedb.com/quotes/2746"
title=""What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday and our present thoughts build our life tomorrow. Our life is the creation of our mind.""><span
style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"></span></a>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.quotedb.com/quotes/762"
title=""Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.""><span
style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
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