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              <div align="center">Divya Jivan Newsletter<br>
                Sivananda Ashram, Ahmedabad<br>
                  April  2020<br>
                  ====================================<br>
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                <br>
                OM Namo Bhagawate Sivanandaya!     <br>
                OM Namo Bhagawate Chidanandaya!<br>
                OM Namo Narayanaya!</div>
              <div align="left">==================================================================</div>
              <div align="left">Key to Bliss -  "Meditation on OM"  from
                Mandukya Upnishad  <br>
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src="https://www.divyajivan.org/Meditation%20on%20OM/Mandukya%20Upnishad_Mantra%203.jpg"
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              <div align="left">"The first quarter is Vaisvanara whose
                sphere is the state of waking, who is conscious of the
                external objects, who has seven limbs and nineteen
                mouths and who enjoys the gross objects."<br>
                <br>
                "The text now begins to explain how Om is made up of
                four quarters. Through the force of <i>Avidya </i>or
                ignorance, the <i>Visva</i>, the individual soul in the
                waking state enjoys the gross objects of the external
                visible world".............."whatever exists in one's
                own body also exists in the universe." Physical body of
                the <i>Jiva</i> is also the body of the <i>Virat</i><i>.</i>
                The whole world is the body of the<i> Virat-purusha.</i>
                The sum total of the physical bodies is<i> Virat</i>.
                The totality of the gross universe is <i>Virat</i>. The
                human body is a miniature universe."
                <!--StyleSheet Link--></div>
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              <div align="left">"From a study of the waking state, you
                will have to proceed to the study of dream and deep
                sleep states. When you begin to analyze this universe
                for the sake of realizing the<i> Atman</i>, you will
                have to deal with the wakeful state first. Therefore,
                this is called the first quarter or the first condition.
                To begin with, you will have to understand the nature of
                the gross objects. Then you can gradually go to the
                subtle and causal nature of things." <br>
              </div>
              <div align="left">"You will have to render the mind sharp
                and subtle through meditation and discipline it in order
                to comprehend the subtle and causal nature of things."<!--StyleSheet Link-->- 
                Sri Swami Sivananda <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                  href="https://www.divyajivan.org/Meditation%20on%20OM/index.htm"><<
                  Read complete>></a></div>
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              <div align="left">==================================================================</div>
              <div align="left">Early Morning Meditation talks from
                "Ponder These Truths" <br>
              </div>
              <div align="left"><br>
              </div>
              <div align="left"><img moz-do-not-send="true"
                  src="http://divyajivan.org/Monthly_NL/chidananda.jpg"
                  alt="" width="112" height="130" align="left">"The
                Divine Name " : God is intangible. Whatever we know of
                God in temples and mosques, synagogues and churches is
                only created by man, conceptual. We have to superimpose
                upon the symbols and images our imagination, our ideas
                of the higher Being. However, this intangible Being is
                present with us in one tangible aspect, which we can
                actually create, experience, feel and practise. That is
                Name, which we ourselves can articulate very clearly. It
                has a sound we can hear with our ear, and we can write
                it with our hand. <br>
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                "What is it that can link us with that which is beyond
                thought, speech and mind, beyond the grasp of the
                intellect? The path of the Divine Name in this Kali Yuga
                is the supreme, the least complicated, the most
                efficacious, unfailing, simple and powerful path."- Sri 
                Swami Chidananda  <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                  href="https://www.divyajivan.org/ponder_these_truths/index.htm"><<
                  Read Complete >></a></div>
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              </div>
              <div align="left">==================================================================</div>
              <div align="left">
                <div align="left">Learning of  "Jeevan Yog" from a Yoga
                  Acharya Sri Swami Adhyatmananda<br>
                  Through TV episodes of <a
                    href="http://divyajivan.org/Jeevan%20Yoga/Index.htm">"Jeevan
                    Yoga" Serie</a>s by Doordarshan Girnar <br>
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                  src="http://divyajivan.org/Monthly_NL/jeevan_yog.jpg"
                  alt="" width="104" height="132" align="left">Surya
                Namaskara or Sun Salutation ("salute to the sun"), is a
                common sequence of Hatha Yoga asanas. Its origins lie in
                a worship of Surya, the Hindu Solar deity. This sequence
                of movements and poses can be practised on varying
                levels of awareness, ranging from that of physical
                exercise in various styles, to a complete sadhana, which
                incorporates asana, pranayama, mantra and chakra
                meditation. <br>
                <br>
                The physical base of the practice links together twelve
                asanas in a dynamically performed series. These asanas
                are ordered so that they alternately stretch the spine
                backwards and forwards. When performed in the usual way,
                each asana is moved into with alternate inhalation and
                exhalation (except for the sixth asana where the breath
                is held in external suspension). A full round of Surya
                namaskara is considered to be two sets of the twelve
                poses with a change in the second set to moving the
                opposite leg first through the series.  <a
                  moz-do-not-send="true"
                  href="http://divyajivan.org/Yoga_Book/Sun_salutation.pdf"><<Read
                  More>></a>/ <a
                  href="http://divyajivan.org/Jeevan%20Yoga/Index.htm"
                  moz-do-not-send="true">Jeevan Yog</a><a
                  href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ytzy_GQT8cc?rel=0"><br>
                </a></div>
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              <div align="left"> ==================================================================</div>
              <div align="left">Highlighting <a
                  href="https://www.divyajivan.org/upcoming_events.htm">upcoming
                  event</a> and news</div>
              <br>
              <div align="left">Sivananda Ashram, Ahmedabad
                announces.......At this unprecedented time of Global
                Crisis due to Corona Virus Pandemic, all the regular
                Yoga & spiritual activities are canceled at the
                Ashram until further notice. Also, the planned upcoming
                Satsang programs, Yoga camp and scheduled <i>Mangal
                  Utsav</i> celebrations from April 13, 2020, to May 4,
                2020, all are canceled. <br>
                <br>
                Ashram has started relief efforts in the distribution of
                food packages to the needy in the underprivileged area
                of the town and joined in helping hands, whatever best
                possible under the circumstances. Each food package
                contains <i>Pou-roti</i>, a pouch of Milk, two bananas,
                cooking spices, potatoes, onions & oil pouch, etc...</div>
              <div align="left"><br>
              </div>
              <div align="left"> In a time like this people go through
                emotional stress, panic, sadness.......Feel free to call
                ashram If, you need support and receive Pujya Swamiji's
                blessings. Also,  Ashram's priest will provide worship
                services on request & perform a special <i>Pooja</i>
                on your behalf.</div>
              <div align="left"><br>
              </div>
              <div align="left"> Once again, please note, <br>
              </div>
              <div align="left">
                <ul>
                  <li>All yoga classes at the Ashram are closed.</li>
                  <li>Chaitra Navratra Retreat & Parayan (group
                    recitation) of Sri Ramcharit Manas at Sri Sri
                    Ashtalaxmi Bhavan has been canceled.</li>
                  <li>Sri Ramnavami Utsav, Sri Hanuman Jayanti Satsang
                    are canceled.</li>
                  <li>Ashram's Priest performs daily worship at all the
                    shrines but all the temples are closed for casual
                    visitors.</li>
                  <li>We regret to announce that all the ASHRAM'S
                    Satsang programs from April 13, 2020, to May 4,
                    2020, are canceled.       <br>
                  </li>
                </ul>
                Be safe,  stay healthy and play your part in the whole
                to prevent the spread of Corona Virus! <br>
              </div>
              <div align="left"><br>
              </div>
              <div align="left">While humanitarian relief efforts are
                active all over, it is time for us to do our part at the
                individual level to overcome this crisis and think about
                what can I do to prevent the Coronavirus disease at home
                and people around you ?....... Avoid close contact with
                people who are sick. Stay home when you are sick, except
                to get medical care. Cover your coughs and sneezes with
                a tissue. Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects
                daily (e.g., tables, countertops, light switches,
                doorknobs, and cabinet handles) using regular household
                detergent and water. <br>
              </div>
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              </div>
              <div align="left">We pray for the Global Crisis to resolve
                soon.......... sharing the "call to Krishna" made 
                "Heart to HEART"  <a
                  href="http://divyajivan.org/News%202020/News_March%202020.htm">
                  << Read  More>></a></div>
              <div align="left"><br>
              </div>
              <div align="left"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
                  href="https://www.divyajivan.org/News%202020/News_March%202020.htm">News
                  & Activity Report for the Month of March 2020</a></div>
              <div align="left"><a
                  href="http://divyajivan.org/divya_jivan/index.htm">Divya
                  Jivan/ </a><a
href="https://www.divyajivan.org/divya_jivan/DJ_March%202020/Divya%20Jivan%20march%202020.pdf">March
                  2020</a></div>
              <div align="left"><br>
              </div>
              <div align="left">==================================================================</div>
              <div align="left">
                <div align="left">Parables of Sri Swami  Sivananda <br>
                </div>
                <div align="left"><br>
                </div>
              </div>
              <div align="left">"The Philosopher And The Broken Mirror"
                : Once there lived two friends, Ram and Gopal. They were
                both philosophers. By Vichara and Anvaya-vyatireka, Ram
                learned to see the Glory of the Supreme Self reflected
                in and through all the universe. But Gopal continued to
                remain a theoretical philosopher, condemning the
                universe as an illusion and dream containing nothing but
                evil and vice. <br>
              </div>
              <div align="left"><br>
              </div>
              <div align="left">One day, after a long time, Ram called
                on his friend. Gopal discussed for a long time, as
                usual, the evil in this universe, and in the end asked
                Ram what present he had brought for his friend. Ram,
                after thinking a while, produced a broken piece of
                mirror from his pocket and handing it over to Gopal,
                said, "This is my little and humble present. It will
                help you to understand your own beauty and charm, which
                you cannot otherwise see." <br>
                Gopal learnt a lesson, and from that moment began to
                visualize and understand the Glory of the Supreme Self
                reflected in all the universe. <br>
              </div>
              <div align="left"><br>
              </div>
              <div align="left">Nothing is useless in this world.  The
                non-self exists to reflect and glorify the Self.
                Otherwise how can you know the existence of the Self?
                Verily, the non-self is the mirror that truly reflects
                the Self for us to cognize. <br>
                So, too, evil is the mirror for good. 'The presence of
                sages and saints is easily cognized amidst an assembly
                of ignorant men. Learn to see the good reflected by the
                evil, and say, "Evil exists to remind me of good, the
                perishable exists to remind me of the Imperishable," and
                so on. <br>
              </div>
              <div align="left"><br>
              </div>
              <div align="left">Truly, this universe is a mirror that
                reminds us of God. Learn not to condemn it as an
                illusion and dream, but to utilize it to feel the
                presence of God.</div>
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              </div>
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                src="http://divyajivan.org/Newsletter%202020/OM.jpg"
                alt="" width="36" height="32"></div>
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            </div>
            <div align="center">
              <div align="left"><b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
                    href="https://www.divyajivan.org/ramanavami/index.htm">"The
                    Transcendental Divinity  That Is Lord Rama"- Swami
                    Sivananda (Sri Ram Navami - April 2, 2020) :</a> </b>"Rama
                Nama burns ignorance, passion and sin. With knowledge or
                without knowledge, correctly or incorrectly, when the
                word "Rama" is pronounced, it showers a rain of good on
                the devotee. Sri Rama Brahma Tarakam: Sri Rama is
                Brahman who takes one across Samsara. Rama is one
                in whom yogins sport i.e., the Self within. Once you
                take refuge in Him, your welfare becomes His
                responsibility. - Sri  Swami Sivananda <br>
              </div>
              <div align="left"><br>
              </div>
              <div align="left">
                <div><a
href="https://www.divyajivan.org/ramanavami/Learning%20from%20Ramanayan.htm"><b>"Learning
                      from Ramayan"(Video clip) - Discourse by  Sri
                      Swami Adhyatmananda</b></a></div>
                <div><br>
                </div>
                <b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
                    href="https://www.divyajivan.org/hanuman/index.htm"> 
                    Sri Hanuman Jayanti ( April 8, 2020):</a> </b>"Hanuman
                was the living embodiment of the power of Ram-Nam. He
                was an ideal selfless worker, a true Karma Yogi who
                worked desirelessly. He was a great devotee and an
                exceptional Brahmachari or celibate. He served Sri Rama
                with pure love and devotion, without expecting any fruit
                in return. He lived only to serve Sri Rama." - Sri Swami
                Sivananda</div>
              <div align="left"><br>
              </div>
            </div>
            <div align="center"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
                href="https://www.facebook.com/AmdavadtakAT/videos/2337421039884517/"> Maa
                Sri Ashtalaxmi Sringar Darsha & Poojan /Aarti during
                Chaitra Navaratri ( March 25, 2020 - April 2, 2020)   <br>
                 On significance of Navaratri</a> -  Sri Swami
              Adhyatmanandaji</div>
            <div align="center"><br>
            </div>
            <div align="center"><img moz-do-not-send="true"
                src="http://divyajivan.org/Newsletter%202020/Maa.jpg"
                alt="" width="1252" height="1659"></div>
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                <div align="center">
                  <div align="center"><font size="-1">Gurudevarpanmastu<br>
                    </font></div>
                  <div align="center"><font size="-1">Home Page:</font></div>
                    <font size="-1"><a
                      href="http://www.divyajivan.org/">http://www.divyajivan.org/</a></font><br>
                  <font size="-1">  For questions, comments and
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