YOGA SADHANA – Part 4

Bhakti-Yoga2 is the path of devotion or the path of affection that is suitable for people of
devotional temperament or in whom the love-element predominates. Ladies are fit for this path, for
affection predominates in them. Generally there is an admixture of devotional and intellectual
temperaments in all persons. Hence Bhakti-Yoga is suitable for the vast majority of persons. In
Bhakti-Yoga the devotee makes absolute and unreserved self-surrender. He depends upon the Lord
for everything. He is extremely humble and meek. He develops devotion to the Lord gradually to a
very high degree by repeating the Name of the Lord, studying the Holy Scriptures and practicing the
nine modes of devotion. Hearing the Name of the Lord, singing His praises, remembering His
presence, serving His Lotus-Feet, worshipping Him, bowing before Him, attending on Him, loving
Him as a Friend and surrendering of the self entirely to Him are the nine modes of devotion. The
devotee will observe austerities, pray frequently to Him and offer mental worship to Him. He will
serve his fellow-men realising that the Lord dwells in the hearts of all. This is the Sadhana for those
who wish to tread the path of Yoga of devotion. Sri Sankara, the great Advaita Jnani, was a great Bhakta of Lord Hari, Hara and Devi. Jnanadeva of Alandi, a great Yogi of late, was a Bhakta of Lord Krishna. Ramakrishna
Paramahamsa worshipped Kali and got Jnana through Swami Totapuri, his Advaita Guru. AppayyaDikshitacharya, a famous Jnani of South India, author of “Siddhanta Lesha” and other monumental
works on Vedanta, was a devotee of Lord Siva.It behoves, therefore, that Bhakti can be combined with much advantage with Jnana. Bhakti is a means to an end. It gives purity of mind and removes mental oscillation (Vikshepa). Sakama Bhakti (devotion with expectation) brings Svarga for the devotee, while Nishkama Bhakti
(devotion without expectation) brings purity of mind and Jnana.
A life without love of God is practical death. There is no power greater than love. You can
win the hearts of others through love alone. You can conquer your enemies through love alone. You
can tame wild animals through love alone. The glory of love is ineffable. Its splendour is
indescribable. The power of love is unfathomable

From – SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

YOGA SADHANA – Part 3

Every work is a mixture of good and evil. This world of ours is a relative plane. You must
therefore strive to do such actions that can bring maximum of good and minimum of evil. If you
know the secret of work, the technique of Karma-Yoga, you will be absolutely free from the taint of
Karma. That secret is to work without attachment and egoism. The central teaching of the
Bhagavad-Gita and the Yoga-Vasishtha is non-attachment to work. Lord Krishna says to Arjuna:“O Arjuna, work incessantly. Your duty is to work always. But do not expect fruits. The lot of that
man who expects fruits is pitiable. He is the most miserable man in the world.”
Generally people have various motives when they work. Some work in society for getting
name and fame, some for money, some for getting power and position, and some others for getting
enjoyments in heaven. Some build temples and churches with the idea that their sins will be washed
off. Some perform sacrifices for getting children. Some sink wells and tanks so that their names will
be remembered even after their death. Some lay out gardens and public parks with the idea that they
will enjoy such lovely parks and gardens in heaven. Some do acts of charity with the idea that they
will be born in the house of a Henry Ford or a Rockefeller in their next birth.
The greatest service that one can render to another is the imparting of Knowledge of Self.
Spiritual help is the highest of all. The root cause for all suffering is ignorance (Avidya) only. Cut
the knot of Avidya and drink the sweet Nirvanic Bliss. That sage who tries to remove the ignorance
of men is the greatest benefactor in the world. If you remove the hunger of man, it is after all a
temporary physical help. It is removal of physical want for three or four hours. Then again the
hunger manifests. The man remains in the same miserable state. Thus it is safe to conclude that
building of hospitals, poor-houses, dharmasalas or choultries for distribution of free food, clothes,
etc. is not the highest kind of help, though they are absolutely necessary. I say this is not the highest
kind of help, because I ask: How long can these last? Miseries have to be eradicated once and
forever. The world will remain in the same miserable state even if you build millions of hospitals
and feeding-places. There is something that can put an end to all these miseries, sufferings, worries
and anxieties, and that something is Knowledge of Self.

From – SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

YOGA SADHANA – Part 2

Raja-Yoga. Raja-Yoga brings Jnana. Supreme devotion is Jnana only. Bhakti, it should be borne in
mind, is not divorced from Jnana. On the contrary, Jnana intensifies Bhakti. Karma-Yoga removes
the tossing of mind, Raja-Yoga steadies the mind and Jnana-Yoga removes the veil of ignorance
and brings in the Knowledge of Self. Every Yoga is a fulfilment of the preceding one. Thus Bhakti
is the fulfilment of Karma, Yoga of Bhakti, and Jnana of all the preceding three.The practice of Karma-Yoga prepares the aspirant for the reception of knowledge of Self. It moulds him into a proper Adhikari (aspirant) for the study of Vedanta. Ignorant people jump at once to Jnana-Yoga without having any preliminary training in Karma-Yoga. That is the reason why they fail miserably to realise Truth. The impurities still lurk in their minds. The mind is filled with likes and dislikes. They only talk of Brahman or God. They indulge in all sorts of useless discussions vain debates and dry, endless controversies. Their philosophy is on their lips only. In other words, they are lip-Vedantins. What is really wanted is practical Vedanta through ceaseless selfless service. Those who follow the path of Karma-Yoga should do work for work’s sake, without any motive. Two things are indispensable requisite in the practice of Karma-Yoga. A Karma-Yogi
should have extreme non-attachment for the fruits of his works and secondly he should dedicate all
his actions at the Altar of God with the feeling of Isvararpana (self-surrender). Non-attachment
brings freedom and immortality. Attachment is death. Non-attachment is eternal life.
Non-attachment makes a man absolutely fearless. When you thus consecrate all your actions to the
Lord, you will naturally develop devotion towards Him, and the greater the devotion the nearer you
are to the Lord. You will slowly begin to feel that God directly works through your body and senses.
You will feel no strain in the discharge of your works now. The heavy load you felt previously on
account of your false egoism, has now vanished out of sight, never to return.
The doctrine of Karma-Yoga1 forms an integral part of Vedanta. It expounds the riddle of
life and the riddle of the universe. It brings solace, satisfaction and happiness to one and all. It is a
self-evident truth. Fortunately even the Westerners have begun to acknowledge its importance and
veracity. They have no other go. Every sensible man or woman will have to accept it. “As you sow,
so you reap” holds good not only on the physical plane but in the moral world as well. Every
thought and every deed of yours generate in you certain tendencies which will affect your life and
hereafter. If you do good actions in a selfless spirit, you will naturally soar high to regions of bliss
and peace. Karma-Yoga is the lowest rung in the Spiritual Ladder; but it lifts us up to ineffable
heights. It destroys pride, selfishness and egoism. It helps growth and evolution.

From – SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

YOGA SADHANA – Part 1

YOGA SADHANA
Sadhana means any spiritual practice that aids the aspirant to realise God. It is a means to
attain the goal of life. Without Sadhana no one can achieve the goal. Sadhana differs according to
taste, temperament and capacity.
You can realise the goal of life by four different paths. Just as one and the same coat will not
suit Mr. John, Mr. Smith, Mr. Dick and Mr.Williams, so also one path will not suit all people. These
four paths lead to the same goal, viz., the attainment of the Ultimate Reality. Roads are different butthe destination is the same. Lord Krishna says to Arjuna: “Howsoever men approach Me, even sodo I reward them, for, the path men take from every side, is Mine, O Partha.” The four paths are: the path of work (Karma-Yoga), the path of devotion or love (Bhakti-Yoga), the path of psychic control (Raja-Yoga) and the path of self-analysis and knowledge (Jnana-Yoga).
These divisions are not hard and fast. There is no line of demarcation between one another.
One path does not exclude the other. For instance Karma-Yoga is suitable for a man of active
temperament; Bhakti-Yoga for a man of emotional temperament; Raja-Yoga for a man of mystic
temperament; and the path of Jnana-Yoga or Vedanta for a man of will or reason. Each path blends
into the other. Ultimately they all converge and become one. Thus it is hard to say where Raja-Yoga
ends and Jnana-Yoga begins. All aspirants of different paths meet on a common platform in the
long run.
Religion must educate and develop the whole man—his head, heart and hand. Then only
there will be perfection. One-sided development is not commendable. The four paths, far from
being antagonistic to one another, indicate that the different methods of the Yoga System are in
absolute harmony with each other. Karma-Yoga leads to Bhakti-Yoga which in its turn leads to

Raja-Yoga. Raja-Yoga brings Jnana. Supreme devotion is Jnana only. Bhakti, it should be borne in
mind, is not divorced from Jnana. On the contrary, Jnana intensifies Bhakti. Karma-Yoga removes
the tossing of mind, Raja-Yoga steadies the mind and Jnana-Yoga removes the veil of ignorance
and brings in the Knowledge of Self. Every Yoga is a fulfilment of the preceding one. Thus Bhakti
is the fulfilment of Karma, Yoga of Bhakti, and Jnana of all the preceding three.

From – SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER

THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER
Thou art, O Lord! the Creator of this universe. Thou art the Protector of this world. Thou art
in the grass and the rose. Thou art in the sun and the stars. Salutations unto Thee, O Destroyer of the
cycle of births and deaths! Salutations unto Thee, O Bestower of Bliss and immortality!
O sweet Lord! May I be free from the bonds of Death. May I never again forget my
immortal nature. May I be able to look upon all with equal vision. May I attain the Supreme Seat of
Brahman. May I be free from impurity and sin. May I know my real essential nature.
Adorations to the Supreme Being who dwells in the hearts of all beings, who is in the fire
and water who is in the plants, herbs and trees, who is in the stones, bricks and iron-bars and who
has pervaded the whole universe.
I bow to Thee, O Secret of secrets! I bow to Thee, O Indweller of our hearts! I bow to Thee,
O Silent Witness of all activities of all minds! I bow to Thee, O Inner Ruler of all beings! I bow to
Thee, O Thread-Soul who connects all beings, who pervades and permeates and interpenetrates all
things of this universe!
Salutations to Thee, the Supreme Lord. Thou art without beginning and end. Thou art the
flower; Thou art the bee; Thou art woman; Thou art man; Thou art the sea; Thou art the waves;
Thou art the old man tottering with a stick; Thou art the saint; and Thou art the rogue.
Thou art Light Divine. Thou art Light of Knowledge. Thou art the Dispeller of darkness.
Thou art the Supreme Guru. Thou art beyond the reach of mind and speech. Thou art beyond any
kind of limitation. Thou art the Oversoul. Thou art the Self of this universe.
Thou art Self-luminous. Thou art without parts, without actions, without limbs, without any
taint of fault, without birth and death. Thou art our Father, Mother, Brother, Friend, Guru, Relative
and sole Refuge. Thou art the embodiment of Peace, Bliss, Knowledge, Power, Strength and
Beauty.
O All-merciful Lord! Through Thy Grace, may I realise Truth. May I always entertain
sublime thoughts. May I realise myself as the Light Divine. May I behold the one sweet immortal
Self in all beings. May I realise Brahman with pure understanding.
May that Light of lights ever guide me.May He cleanse my mind of all impurities. May He
inspire me. May He bestow on me Power, Courage and Strength. May He remove the veil in the
mind. May He remove all obstacles in the Spiritual Path. May Hemake my life happy and fruitful. I
bow to Thee O Lord of lords, O God of gods, O Deva of devas, O Brahman of the Upanishads, the
Support for Maya and Isvara, the Supreme Bridge to Immortality!
Om Peace! Peace! Peace!

From – SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

The Different Types of Yoga

Confused by the many types of yoga? With all the different styles and variations, it’s no wonder. Don’t let it get you down. This article will give an overview of the eight most popular styles of yoga; iyengar, kundalini, bikram, ashtanga, power, hatha, kripalu, and sivanda. Let us shed some light on these and you’ll be a yoga pro in no time!

The three types of yoga you may have heard of are hatha yoga, power yoga and bikram yoga. These are the most popular in this day and age. Hatha yoga is the style of yoga most practiced today. It is what you will think of when you think of yoga in general. Power yoga is a more aerobic-style yoga, with an emphasis on cardio. Bikram yoga is a style of yoga performed in a heated room to accelerate detoxification. These are the types of yoga you will most likely encounter.

In addition to power yoga, there are two other styles of yoga designed for the more aerobic and fitness conscious person. These are iyengar yoga and ashtanga yoga. These are the types of yoga that will give you a strong cardio workout and are fast flowing and precise for those looking more for extreme fitness.

One of the types of yoga that might sound familiar to you is kundalini yoga. The kundalini is considered by many cultures to be the life force within us that can be awakened. This theory is applied to meditation, belly dancing and also yoga. Kundalini yoga concentrates on charkas in the body to generate a spiritual power.

The types of yoga that are more obscure and less heard of today are kripalu yoga and sivanda yoga. Kripalu yoga utilizes practices from many different wisdom traditions. It also includes health sciences, psychology and consciousness. It makes for a much more intensive life improvement plan than just a yoga class. Sivanda yoga is very similar to kripalu yoga in that it focuses on many aspects, including meditation, as part of its basic practice.

By Sarah Freeland

Beyond Flexibility – The Health Benefits Of Yoga

When I was 21 I suffered a slipped disc in my lower back. I couldn’t sit down during the acute phase, only lie or stand, though standing itself was uncomfortable at the time. Once the acute phase had passed (with rest, although acupuncture and shiatsu are great), I had the fortune to meet some yoga teachers and I started going to their classes. I started out with Oki yoga, which is a Japanese form of yoga, and very good for healing the body.

I was given a series of correcting and strengthening exercises designed to improve my back and specific to the meridians that were in need of attention in my particular case. Oki yoga has postures classified on how they affect the meridians, which are like energetic pathways within our body. And that was the one thing that helped restore my back completely, to a state that was actually better than it was before I injured myself. When you are suffering an acute injury though, yoga really shouldn’t be attempted until that stage has passed.

That introduction to yoga ignited a deep love of it through which I began to see the more subtle health benefits it brought to my life. Yoga can help with a wide spectrum of physical issues and injuries, but it is also an excellent alternative to the gym for those that find the repetition and distraction of it not to their taste. It is great for toning up your body, whilst gaining flexibility.

Yoga has a reputation for flexibility, and deservedly so. But it can also develop strength. Developing strength is particularly important for women. Women tend to be more flexible than men, but not as strong, unless they have been involved in fitness regularly. But unlike many traditional forms of exercise, yoga also strengthens the inner muscles and organs in our bodies. It makes a great preparation for childbirth!

Yoga also develops discipline. This comes in making the time on a regular basis to either go to classes, or practice yoga in your living room, or in the morning sun in the garden. But there is a more subtle level of discipline. It starts with bringing your mind to focus on your breathing, and then feeling the effects of a posture on your body. This conscious exploration is quite a different experience of fitness than usually seen at the gym – where loud music, televisions and other external stimuli fight for your attention. You won’t see people with headphones on, or reading a magazine, whilst doing yoga.

This conscious exploration establishes a relationship with your body, and its importance cannot be overstated. So often, parts of us are frozen, or numb in some ways. This can express physically as pain, coldness, or stiffness. Energetically, it is as though despite trying to concentrate on an area, we just cannot feel connected to it.

In a more subtle way, when we feel the points of resistance within our body as we do a pose – when we breathe into that stiffness, and sometimes pain, we develop a resilience and mental fortitude. Yoga does, of course, help with concentration. But that process of releasing and going beyond the point of physical limitation is not limited to the body. It develops a quiet confidence and knowledge about one’s own capacity that is not held back by the boundaries we may have falsely believed about ourselves before. With a yoga practice, we can get back in touch with what yogi’s call our dharma, our purpose in life. And we find in ourselves, by virtue of our growing strength, the courage to follow that path.

And finally, a quote from a yoga teacher from Sydney, Australia, Eileen Hall, printed in the Australian Yoga Life magazine:

“Yoga is not about relaxation, it’s not about losing weight, it’s not about learning meditation. It’s about discovering the divine being within ourselves.”

References: Yoga Journal, November 2005

Australian Yoga Life, Nov 2005 – Mar 2006

If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of yoga, click here. The article talks about the psychological, physiological, and biochemical benefits a regular yoga practice can bring. Rebecca Prescott runs the website Yoga To Health.