What is Death? by Swami Isvaramayananda and Swami Karunananda Death is the sloughing off of the physical body as the spirit emerges and regains its freedom from the trammels of the body. Conception, gestation and birth make us oblivious of our pre-incarnate state. Death is our return to the greater life; our incarnations
"A wholesome reprieve from the madding crowd, a place of tranquility, a place to physically and spiritually rebalance.” Hatha is a basic, preparatory ingredient of Yoga, which consists of Asana (postures); Pranayama (life-force control via breathing techniques); Bandha (energy locks); Kriya (cleansing processes); and Mudra (energy-directing poses and gestures). Many
Timetables of classes Hatha Yoga Mornings Monday 09h00 to 10h30 Wednesday 09h00 to 10h30 Friday 09h00 to 10h30 Saturday 08h30 to 10h00 Sunday 08h30 to 10h00
The Diet of the Yogi Every sadhak (practitioner) who is initiated has to resolve to remain a vegetarian for life. This means that the disciple may not deliberately consume any substance derived from the killing or cruelty to any mammal, marsupial, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, mollusc, or other creature in the
Hatha Teacher Training The Yoga School selects for training only practitioners who have already gained experience in the School's own ranks, have studied the "Yoga Sutra of Patanjali," are confirmed vegetarians, and are regular satsangis.
NEWS FROM SIVANANDA ASHRAM Please find our recent newsletter below, followed by upcoming events at the ashram. Please also check our on-going weekly timetable too. OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS FOR 2024 BELOW Saturday 21st December: Christmas Satsang Carols, Nativity play, visit by Santa Claus, gifts for
True to Yoga An explanatory contradiction of descriptions, misinterpretations and misrepresentations encountered in Western media Preamble Yoga’s only purpose — Yoga’s only purpose — is Moksha; that is, liberation from reincarnation and other effects of nescience, via God-realisation: a state of enlightenment-&-liberation referred to in Judeo-Christian as well as Hindu scriptures, but little understood and expounded
“The first time I visited the Sivananda School of Yoga, I fell in love with the depth of peace and love at the Ashram. Each time thereafter I would reconnect with the bliss of that first day.” What Is Yoga? Contrary to popular western belief, Yoga is a philosophy,
Insights into the Vegetarian Ethic Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya Inter-mammalian cannibalism & insights into the vegetarian ethic Uncomfortable considerations for the meat eater, hunter and wearer of animal furs and leather coats: “But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.” — Genesis 9:5 “Ye shall not eat
“The deep wisdom and loving compassion I have experienced here have been an inspiration, a comfort and a guiding light.” Swamis and the Swami Orders The members of the Sivananda Yoga Centre who wear orange clothes are ‘swamis’. Traditionally, we address them as ‘Swami’ or, with affectionate respect ‘Swamiji'. The
Be a Yogi By Swami Isvaramayananda In northern Kerala, near the town of Kanangad, lies Anandashram, a beautiful haven of peace founded by Papa Ramdas. A remarkable feature of this ashram is its freedom from politics. As a policy promoted by all, there is no gossip or disclosing "because it is only
Swami Karunananda Swami Karunananda, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Trustee of the Yoga School, is a nun of the Saraswati branch of the holy Swami Order. Born on 6th April 1950, she entered the ashram as a brahmacharini in 1985. Swami Chidananda Maharaj initiated her into monastic brahmacharia in 1990, and into the
Courtesy of www.swamivenkatesananda.org Swami Venkatesananda Swami Venkatesananda was born was born in Tanjore on December 29th 1921 to a South Indian Brahmin family. Even in his youth he was both scholarly and full of fun, a trait which endear him in later life. At the age of fourteen after discovering a book by
Photo courtesy of the Divine Life Society of India ""Build a shrine of devotion in your heart.Enter the silence.Live the life transcendent." — Swami Sivananda Swami Sivananda “Born on the 8th September 1887, in the illustrious family of Sage Appayya Dikshitar and several other renowned saints
Sadhana for Mastering the Mind by Swami Sivananda Courtesy of www.SivanandaOnline.org You take great care of the body. You desire that it should be clean, healthy, beautiful and strong. You take bath with sweet soaps and hot water. You regularly feed it with nourishing food. If there is the least pain or
Photo courtesy of the Divine Life Society of India Prerequisites of Spiritual Sadhana Part 1 By Sri Swami Sivananda Maharaj Extract from Sadhana: A Textbook of the Psychology and Practice of the Techniques to Spiritual Perfection I will dwell here upon the main qualifications necessary for launching upon the actual Sadhana. All
Photo courtesy of www.SivanandaOnline.org Inspiring Svadhyaya for Aspirants By Sri Swami Sivananda Maharaj Courtesy of the Divine Life Society of India Physical Body And Life Divine This body is a bubble. It is like lightning. This world is a play for two days. It lasts today. It continues tomorrow. No more. No more.
Photo courtesy of www.swami-krishnananda.org Sri Swami Krishnananda Swami Krishnananda was a highly respected philosophical writer, especially on metaphysics, psychology and sociology (in both the Hindu and Western traditions). Born on the 25th April 1922 into a highly religious family, he became well-versed in the sacred Hindu texts. His spiritual yearnings led him
Photo courtesy of www.swami-krishnananda.org The Gods and the Celestial Heavens By Swami Krishnananda From the Divine Life Magazine, March 2007 The tripartite arrangement of the Universal Being into the subjective, objective and the principle of an intermediary consciousness, namely adhyatma, adhibhuta and adhidaiva, raises also the question of the whole range of theological enunciations, since
Swami Isvaramayananda Swami Isvaramayananda Saraswati, President, Chairman, and spiritual leader of the Sivananda School of Yoga, is a monk of the Holy Swami Order. He was ordained in 1988 by His Holiness Pujya Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj, World President of the Divine Life Society of India. Swami Isvaramayanandaji is an acknowledged expert in the
You are What you Choose to Become By Sri Swami Chidananda Maharaj From "Ponder these Truths" by Swami Chidananda Published by The Divine Life Society, 2001 The great Upanishadic seers of realisation have declared that life and the outcome of life for each and every individual is a matter of constant, continuous, moment by moment,
Photo courtesy of the Divine Life Society of India Sri Swami Chidananda Swami Chidananda was the President of the Divine Life Society founded by His Holiness Swami Sivananda. Born on 24th September 1916, Swami Chidananda attended primary school in Mangalore, high school in Madras, and then acquired a Bachelor of Arts at
Photo courtesy of SivanandaOnline.org The Peace Within By Sri Swami Chidananda Maharaj From "Ponder these truths" by Swami Chidananda Published by The Divine Life Society, 2001 Blessed Immortal Atman! Beloved devotees of the Lord! Today, before the sun sets, it will be the solar New Year. Therefore, let us join together at
Photo courtesy of www.SivanandaOnline.org The Necessity of Introspection By Sri Swami Chidananda Maharaj From "Ponder these truths" by Swami Chidananda Published by The Divine Life Society, 2001 Radiant Immortal Atman! Beloved and blessed children of the Divine! Scriptures and saints and those who have had their fingers burnt by running after the
Make this a Perfect Day By Sri Swami Chidananda Maharaj From "Ponder these truths" by Swami Chidananda Published by The Divine Life Society, Rishikesh, 2001 Beloved and blessed presence, adorable Holy Master, thou who hast drawn us into thy proximity at the commencement of this golden day! Bless us that we may live each
Satsang Saturday at 17h00 & Sunday at 09h00 "Satsang" (true association) is a devotional meeting wherein yogis explore in fellowship the intellectual, esoteric and mystical aspects of yoga and its underlying philosophy. Satsang is open to all. It includes music, song and prayer, readings and a discourse and arathi
Photo of some of our Sivananda School of Yoga sadhaks visiting Rishikesh A True Spiritual Path True Mysticism compared with Religion, Occultism and Intellectual Investigation By Swami Isvaramayananda This statement is for advanced aspirants for its essential message is about a high state of enlightenment, essential for liberation from the cycle of
Prerequisites Of Spiritual Sadhana Part 2 By Sri Swami Sivananda Maharaj When we consider any question, a number of different aspects of the same question will have to be thought over if we are dealing with the matter so as to be complete. Usually it is some one of the aspects that gets the
Photo courtesy of www.SwamiVenkatesananda.org Pleasing the Guru or Oneself? By Swami Isvaramayananda In Hindu literature about the guru-disciple relationship there is mention of the importance of pleasing the guru. Obviously this does not refer to sycophantic favours, which would leave any guru unmoved. Our finest guruseva is diligent sadhana – prayer, japa, contemplation and
What is the Mystic Philosophy of the Masters? Classes in Vedantic philosophy and training in meditation practice take place on Monday evenings from 17h30 to 19h00. These classes are led by Swami Isvaramayanandaji Maharaj, mystic, esotericist and spiritual leader of the Sivananda School of Yoga. Swamiji is skilful in communicating the loftiest spiritual concepts
