Samadhi

                                       Samadhi 

Swami Sivananda

Still the waves of the mind and hold it steady in nirvikalpa samadhi (unconditioned state of super-consciousness). This needs constant, protracted practice of meditation. There may be breaks in the meditation in the beginning, but practice makes you perfect. Later you will be able to remain absorbed in meditation for long periods. You can merge yourself in samadhi, with a mind like a flame protected from wind.

Before getting sanguine success in meditation get victory over the pose first. Sit upon your seat with the steadiness of a rock ­ for two or three hours. If the body is steady then the mind will also be steady.

Do not mistake a little concentration or one-­pointedness of mind for samadhi. Simply because you have risen a little above body consciousness, on account of a little concentration, do not think that you have attained samadhi.

Separate the mind from the body and unite it with the Supreme Self. This is known as samadhi or the super-conscious state. This will give liberation or freedom from births and deaths. Samadhi is obtained by practice for a long time and with zeal and enthusiasm.

Samadhi is the highest goal which one can attain through meditation. It is not a little thing that can be attained through a little practice. To attain samadhi one should observe strict brahmacharya (celibacy), dietetic restrictions and one must have purity of heart.

If these are not attained there is no possibility of attaining samadhi. These are preliminary qualifications and should be well grasped. Then only one should try to enter the portals of samadhi. None can enter there unless he is a great devotee of the Lord.

- - -

Moksha (liberation) is loss of one's personality in the divine. It is deliverance from the delusion of personality. Just as the river becomes the ocean itself, the individual soul becomes the mighty supreme soul, with higher consciousness, transcendental bliss and knowledge.

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Yoga of Meditation

Yoga of Meditation 

O beloved Ram! You are within a strong fortress now. A spiritual fortress where no temptation can influence you. You are absolutely safe. Now you can do vigorous sadhana (spiritual practice) without fear. Kill the foe ­ the mind. Wear the spiritual laurels of peace, equal­-vision and contentment.

You are already shining with Brahmic bliss. The all-merciful Lord has given you all sorts of comforts, good health and a guru to guide you. What more do you want? Grow. Evolve. Realise the truth and proclaim it everywhere.

Be silent. Know thyself. Know that. Melt the mind in that. Truth is quite clear and simple. Solitude and intense meditation are two important requisites for self-­realisation. If sadhana is interrupted, make up the deficiency later. 

Practise self­-restraint at all times because, all of a sudden, the senses may suddenly become turbulent. This is why Krishna says: "O son of Kunti, the excited senses of even a wise man, though he be striving, impetuously carry away his mind."

The wandering habit of the mind must be controlled by making it stick to one place, by one method of sadhana, by one guru and by one form of yoga. A rolling stone gathers no moss. When you take up a book for study, you must finish it before you take up another one. When you take up any work, you must devote your whole­hearted attention towards it and finish it before you take up any other work.

Do not cause pain or suffering to any living being, whether through greed, selfishness, irritability or annoyance. Give up anger and ill­-will. Give up the spirit of fighting and heated debates. Do not argue. If you quarrel with somebody you cannot meditate for three or four days, because your balance of mind is upset. Thus much energy is wasted in useless channels. Also the blood becomes hot; the nerves are shattered. Keep a serene mind always. Meditation proceeds from a serene mind.

An aspirant must be sensitive and yet possess a body and nerves completely under control. The greater the sensitivity becomes, the more difficult the task. Noises which pass unnoticed by an ordinary person are torture to one who is very sensitive. Develop the inner power of the self. Centralisation of ideas will stop the out­going habit of the mind.

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On Seclusion

On Seclusion 

As the will power in many persons has become very weak, as they had no religious discipline or training in schools and colleges when they were young, and as they are under the sway of materialistic influences, it is necessary for them to go in for seclusion for some weeks, months or years, to practise rigorous japa (repetition of God's name) and undisturbed meditation.

Calm the bubbling emotions, sentiments, instincts and impulses through silent meditation. You can give a new orientation to your feelings by systematic practice. You can entirely transmute your worldly nature into divine nature. You can exercise supreme control over the nerve centres, the nerves, the muscles, the five koshas (sheaths), emotions, impulses and instincts through meditation.

Those who have fixed up their sons in life, who have retired from service and those who have no ties in the world can remain in seclusion for four or five years and practise intense meditation and tapas (austerity) for purification and self-­realisation. When they have attained self­-knowledge, they should come out and share their knowledge and bliss with others. They should disseminate knowledge of the Self through lectures, conversations, discourses or heart­-to-­heart talks.

A householder (grhasta) with yogic tendencies and spiritual inclinations can practise meditation in a solitary and quiet room in his own house - or in any solitary place on the banks of any holy river, during holidays or throughout the year if he is a whole­time aspirant or if he is retired from service.

The aspirant should be free from hope, desire and greed. Then only will he have a steady mind. Hope, desire and greed make the mind ever restless and turbulent; they are the enemies of peace and self-­knowledge. He should not have many possessions. He can keep only those articles which are absolutely necessary for the maintenance of his body. If there are many possessions the mind will be ever thinking of the articles and attempting to protect them. Those who want quick progress in meditation during seclusion should not keep any connection with the world by way of correspondence, reading newspapers or thinking of the family members and possessions. 

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The Glimpse and the Goal

The Glimpse and the Goal 

When you get a flash of illumination, do not be frightened. It will be a new experience of immense joy. Do not turn back. Do not give up meditation. Do not stop there. You will have to advance still further. This is only a glimpse of truth. This is not the whole experience. This is not the highest realisation. This is only a new platform. Try to ascend further. Reach the bhuma (the infinite). Now alone you are proof against all temptation. You will drink deep the nectar of immortality. This is the acme or final state. You can take eternal rest now. You need not meditate any further. This is the final goal.

You have within yourself tremendous powers and latent faculties of which you have really never had any conception. You must awaken these dormant powers and faculties by the practice of meditation and yoga. You must develop your will and control your senses and mind. You must purify yourself and practise regular meditation, then only can you become a superman or God man.

Every human being has within himself various potentialities and capacities. He is a magazine of power and knowledge. As he evolves, he unfolds new powers, new faculties, new qualities. Now he can change his environment and influence others. He can subdue others' minds. He can conquer internal and external nature. He can enter into super-conscious state.

- - -

The wise cut asunder the knot of egoism by the sharp sword of constant meditation. Then dawns supreme knowledge of the Self or full illumination or self­realisation. The liberated sage has neither doubt nor delusion. All bonds of karma (action) are rent asunder. This is the master­key to open the realms of eternal bliss. It may be tiring in the beginning, because the mind will be running away from the point (lakshya) every now and then. But after some time it will be focused in the centre. You will be immersed in divine bliss.

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Instructions in Meditation

Instructions in Meditation 

Just as the light is burning within the hurricane lamp, so also the divine flame is burning from time immemorial in the lamp of your heart. Close your eyes. Merge yourself within the divine flame. Plunge deep into the chambers of your heart. Meditate on this divine flame and become one with the flame of God.

If the wick within the lamp is small, the light will also be small. If the wick is big, the light also will be powerful. Similarly if the jiva (individual soul) is pure, if he practises meditation, the manifestation of the Self will be powerful. He will radiate a big light. Likewise the purer the soul, the greater the expression.

If the magnet is powerful, it will influence the iron filings even when they are placed at a distance. Even so, if the yogi is an advanced person, he will have greater influence over the persons with whom he comes in contact. He can exert his influence on persons even when they live in distant places.

During meditation note how long you can shut out all worldly thoughts. Watch the mind. Try to increase the period. Fill the mind with thoughts of God again and again.

In meditation do not strain the eyes. Do not strain the brain. Do not struggle or wrestle with the mind. Relax. Gently allow divine thoughts to flow. Steadily think of lakshya (point of meditation). Do not voluntarily and violently drive away the intruding thoughts. Have sublime (satvic) thoughts. The vicious thoughts will vanish by themselves.

If there is much strain in your meditation, reduce the duration of each sitting for a few days. Those who meditate for four or five hours at a stretch can have two meditative poses. Keep the spine erect.

You must daily increase your vairagya (dispassion) and meditation on satvic virtues such as patience, perseverance, mercy, love and forgiveness. Vairagya and good qualities help meditation. Meditation increases the satvic qualities.

Philosophy of Om

Philosophy of Om 

The sound produced in the flowing of the river Ganges, the sound that is heard at a distance, the sound that proceeds from the bustle of the market, that is produced by the fly­wheel when it is set in motion, that is caused when it rains, or there is a conflagration, or thunder ­ it is all Om only. Split any word and you will find Om there. Om is all-­pervading, like akasha (space), like Brahman, the Absolute.

Om is the symbol of Brahman. It is the word of power. It is the sacred monosyllable. It is the essence of the vedas. It is the boat to take you across to the other shore of fearlessness and immortality.

The word Om is the most appropriate name of Brahman. By its application, by its chanting, he becomes propitiated. Om is emblematic of Brahman, as images are of material objects. When you hear the sound 'tree', you at once understand it has a root, a stem, branches, leaves, flowers, fruits, etc. Similarly too, when you hear the sabda (sound) Om it denotes satchidananda Brahman ­ existence absolute, knowledge absolute, bliss absolute.

Sabda (word) and artha (meaning) are inseparable. All collections of words (speech), terminate in one sound ­ Om. All objects are denoted by sounds, and all sounds merge in Om. The whole universe comes out of Om and is absorbed into Om. Hence Om is very important.

Om should be worshipped. Om should be chanted loudly. Om should be repeated mentally, with deep meaning and feeling. Om should be meditated upon.

Watch the breath. When you inhale, the sound so is produced. When you exhale, the sound ham is produced. You are naturally uttering soham ­- I am He ­or He am I - ­with every breath. The breath reminds you that you are in essence identical with the Supreme Self.

In soham the 's' and the 'h' are consonants. If you delete them you get 'oam' or Om. Consonants depend on vowels for their existence. 'S' and 'h' represent names and forms, or this universe which is phenomenal or relative or empirical or dependent existence. Om is the only solid reality. Om is the soul of your breath.

As soon as you sit for meditation, chant Om loudly - three, six or twelve times. This drives away worldly thoughts from the mind and removes vikshep (tossing of the mind). Later you may take to the mental repetition of Om.

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Sivananda Gita - 5 (Continued)

Sivananda Gita - 5 (Continued) 

I constantly meditate on the following:

Prajnanam Brahman, aham brahmasmi, tat tvam asi, ayam atma brahman. 

Satyam jnanam anantam brahman, santam sivam advaitam. 

Aham atma gudakesa. 

Aham atma nirvikarah sarvavyapi svabhavatah.  

Brahma satyam jagan mitya jivo brahmaiva na parah.  

Akarta, abhokta, asanga, sakshi, ajo nityah sasvatoyam purano. 

Jyotisamapi tat jyotih.

To raise the fallen, to lead the blind, to share what I have with others, to bring solace to the afflicted, to cheer up the suffering are my ideals.

To have perfect faith in God, to love my neighbour as my own self, to love God with all my heart and soul, to protect cows, animals, women and children are my aims.

My watchword is love. My goal is sahaja samadhi avasta or the natural, continuous, super-conscious state.

SONG OF JOY

Om Om Om Om - Om Om Om Om 

Om Om Om Om Om - Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om Om 

Om Om Om Om Om - Om Om Om Om Om Om Om.

Within you is hidden God 

Within you is immortal soul

Kill this little 'I' 

Die to live 

Lead the divine life.

Within you is the fountain of joy 

Within you is the ocean of bliss.

Rest peacefully, in your own atma 

And drink the nectar of immortality.

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Sivananda Gita - 4 (Continued)

                                      Sivananda Gita - 4 (Continued)

I respect all saints and prophets of all religions. I respect all religions, all cults, all faiths and all creeds.

I serve all, love all, mix with all and see the Lord in all. I stick to my promises. I serve the poor. This is my delight. I do mental prostrations to asses, dogs, trees, bricks, stones and all creatures. I respect elders and sadhus. I obey. I please all through sincere selfless service.

I attend on guests very carefully. I run hither and thither to serve them. I shampoo the legs of sick persons and sadhus.

I give very prompt reply to all my letters. I do several things at a time. I write with electric speed.

I spend everything. I do lot of charity. I do not keep anything. I take immense delight in feeding the poor and my students. I try to be a mother to them.

I talk to others on things which I have myself practised. I look within always, introspect, analyse, and examine. I hold the trishul: spiritual diary, daily routine and resolve.

I ever served my masters with great sincerity and intense faith and devotion. I learnt many useful lessons for life. I developed many virtues.

I wandered without food during my parivrajak life. I slept on the roadside at night without clothing during winter.

I ate dried bread with water.

I stick tenaciously to my principles and ideals. I do not argue much. I live in silence.

I pray and do kirtan for the peace of the whole world, for the health and peace of sick people, and for the peace of the departed souls and the earth bound spirits also.

I take a dip in the Ganges in the name of all those who are longing for a bath in the Ganges.

I sing the names of all saints of all religions in the bhajan hall. I observe All-Saints day and All-Souls day.

Om. Om. Om.

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Sivananda Gita - 3 (Continued)

                                      Sivananda Gita - 3 (Continued) 

I love nature, music, art, poetry, philosophy, beauty, goodness, solitude, meditation, yoga and vedanta.

I am humble and simple. I am frank and straightforward. I am perfectly tolerant and catholic. I am merciful and sympathetic. I have spontaneous and unrestrained generosity.

I am bold and cheerful. I am patient. I can bear insult and injury. I am forgiving. I am free from vindictive nature. I return good for evil. I serve that man who has injured me, with joy.

I love Ganga and the Himalayas. Ganga is my mother divine. Himalayas is my father divine. They inspire and guide me. I take bath in Ganga. I swim in Ganga. I adore Ganga. I feed the fishes of Ganga.

I wave light to Mother Ganges. I pray to Ganga. I do salutations to Ganga. I sing the glory of Ganga. I write about the grandeur and glory of Ganga.

Ganga has nourished me. Ganga has comforted me. Ganga has taught me the truth of the Upanishads. Glory to Ganga!
My daily routine is like that of Lord Buddha. I always remain in the room. I do japa, kirtan and meditation. I study sacred books. I write. I come out of the room for a short time for work, service and interview.

I talk a little. I think much. I meditate much. I try to do much and serve much.

I do not waste even a single minute. I ever keep myself fully occupied. I lead a well-regulated life. I perform worship of Atman at all times. I work for the good of others. Om. Om. Om.

Gita, Upanishads, Bhagavat, Yoga Vasishta, Avadhootha Gita, Vivekachudamani are my constant companions.

I am a strange mixture of service, devotion, yoga and wisdom. I am a follower of Sri Shankara. I am a keval-advaita vedantin. I am not at all a dry lip-­vedantin. I am a practical vedantin.

I practise and advocate the yoga of synthesis. I practise ahimsa, satyam and brahmacharya. Glory to Sri Shankara!

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SIVANANDA GITA - 2

                                       Sivananda Gita - 2 (Continued)

I am 59 (1946) now. I ever feel I am quite young. I am full of vigour, vim and vitality. I am ever cheerful. I sing, dance, run, and jump in joy. I am robust and strong. I can digest any kind of food.

I continuously work, read and write. I never go to hill stations or seaside for a holiday. Change of work gives rest. Meditation gives abundant rest.

Work gives me delight. Service gives me happiness. Writing bestows joy. Meditation energises and invigorates me. Kirtan vivifies me.

"Aham Brahmasmi, Sivoham, Soham, Satchidananda Swaroopoham" ­ This is my favourite formula for vedantic meditation.

     Hare Rama hare Rama Rama Rama hare hare,
     Hare Krishna hare Krishna Krishna Krishna hare hare.

          - This mahamantra kirtan is my favourite kirtan.

At the present moment I am the richest man in the whole world. My heart is full. Further, all the wealth of the Lord belongs to me now. Hence I am King of kings, Emperor of emperors, Shah of shahs, Maharaja of maharajas. I take pity on the mundane kings. My dominion is limitless.

My wealth is inexhaustible.

My joy is inexpressible. My treasure is immeasurable. I attained this through sanyasa, renunciation, untiring selfless service, japa, kirtan and meditation.

I am tall. My height is 6 feet. I have a sinewy frame. I have symmetrical limbs. I was a first class gymnast.

I fast on Ekadasi. I do not take even a drop of water. I take milk and fruits on Sundays. I do not take salt on Sundays.

I lead a simple, natural life. There is a fountain of youth in me. I beam with joy. I observe fasting, resting, airing, bathing, breathing, exercising, sun­bathing and enjoy freedom, power, beauty, courage, poise and health.

Om. Om. Om.

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SIVANANDA GITA - 1

                                      Sivananda Gita - 1 

I was born of P.S. Vengu Aiyar and Parvathiammal on 8th September 1887 at Pattamadai, Tirunelvely District, S. India, in the line of Appayya Dixit. My star is Bharani.

I was extremely mischievous in my boyhood. I studied in the S.P.G. College, Trichy. I was a Doctor in Malaya States for 10 years. I took sanyasa in 1924 in Rishikesh.

I did tapas and meditation for 15 years. I went on lecturing tours for 10 years. I founded the Divine Life Society in 1936 and the All­-World Religions Federation in 1945.

I am child­like in my svabhava. So I mix with all. I become one with all.

I am ever happy and joyful and make others also happy and joyful.

I am full of educative humour. I radiate joy through humour.

I respect all. I do salutations to all first.

I always speak sweetly. I walk quickly.

I do japa and meditation while walking and while at work also. I am ever hard­working. I have intense application to work. I never leave a work till it is finished. I never procrastinate any work. I finish it then and there. I am very quick in doing things.

I cannot suppress the spirit of service in me. I cannot live without service. I take immense delight in service. Service has elevated me. Service has purified me.

I know well how to extract work from others. I extract work through kindness, service, respect and love.

I am very regular in doing asanas and exercises. I even now do sirshasan, sarvangasan and other asanas. I do pranayama also regularly. These give me wonderful health and energy. I run round the bhajan hall daily.

I cannot deliver fiery lectures sitting on a special seat. Special seat pricks me. I stand up or throw the seat away and then begin to speak. I never sat on a special seat when I presided over spiritual conferences.

I rejoice in giving. I always give.

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CALL UNTO DIVINE LIFE

SWAMI SIVANANDA SARASWATI

Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya!
Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya!
Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya!

Namaste!

Today (September 8th) is the 127th birthdayanniversary of Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji. In
honour of this occasion we uploaded an article by
Sri Swami Chidanandaji titled "Call Unto Divine
Life":
http://www.dlshq.org/discourse/sep2014.htm

Yours in the service of Gurudev,

Pannirselvam

This article is a chapter from the book Swami Sivananda, Our Loving Awakener.

                              Call Unto Divine Life

                                                                  By
                                                  Sri Swami Chidananda

Blessed Children of the Lord and devotees of Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj!

Salutations and prostrations unto the Most High, the one Reality that dwells in the hearts of all beings. Greetings in Divine Life!

With great pleasure I send you this message for the holy Birthday Anniversary of Sri Gurudev.

Sages and saints of yore have emphatically declared that it is very difficult to get a human birth. Our Gurudev also sang thus: "It is difficult to get a human birth; therefore try your best to realise in this birth." Human birth is put down as the very rare gift of God, and having got a human birth, if you do not have a hankering to attain that state which will bestow on you eternal bliss and immortality, it means that you do not utilise this human birth to any purpose at all. Therefore, live in such a way that it will bring you perennial bliss. The attainment of this bliss is your birthright.

To live is to fight for this birthright. Life is conquest. Life is a series of awakenings. Become free from the bonds of birth and death by realising your Self. Never forget your Immortal Nature. Thou art Divine!

On this holy occasion I wish to remind you of a few spiritual teachings of Sri Gurudev. These teachings will greatly help you in treading the spiritual path.

O Man! Follow your own religion, but stick to its fundamental spiritual ideals. Draw up a programme for your life, and that shall constitute the preparation for the journey towards Divine Life. You do not live on earth for the sake of talking about the Why, What and How of God and religion, but to lead a virtuous spiritual life with a broad feeling, careful understanding, devotion to Truth and tolerance towards all beings.

Religion must educate and develop the whole man, his heart, head (intellect) and hand. Only then will he have perfection (Siddhi). There must be integral development. One-sided development is not commendable. You must have the head of Sankara, the heart of Buddha and the hands of Janaka. Vedanta without devotion is quite dry. Bhakti without Jnana is feeble. How can one who has realised his oneness with the Atman remain without serving the world, which is only the Atman. Devotion is not divorced from Jnana, but rather Jnana is exceedingly helpful to its perfect attainment.

There is no hope of Immortality by means of riches. Such indeed is the emphatic declaration of the Srutis, ‘Na karmana na prajaya dhanena tyagenaike amritatvamanashuh’ (Neither by rituals, nor by progeny, nor by riches, but by renunciation alone does one attain Immortality). Mere giving up of objects will not constitute real renunciation. Dear friends! Remember, remember this point well. True Tyaga consists in renouncing egoism, mine-ness, selfishness, Moha, Deha-Abhimana, desires and cravings.

Even the greatest of persons will in course of time become the lowest of the low. Countless kings, earls, barons and emperors have come and gone. Where are those distinguished poets, intellectual geniuses, reputed scientists with boasted intellects; where are Shakespeare, Kalidasa, Byron, Newton, Kant, Faraday, Gandhi, Kennedy, Nehru?

In youth you are enveloped in complete ignorance, in adult age you are entangled in the meshes of sex, in old age you groan under the burden of Samsara and debility. You eventually die and pass off from the scene. Being thus always occupied, when will you, my dear friends, find time to devote yourselves to the performance of virtuous deeds, Nishkama Karma, Bhajan, Satsanga, Vichara, Kirtan and meditation?

Why should you try to realise the Atman? Because Self-Realisation gives you freedom from the Samsaric wheel of births and deaths, with its concomitant evils. Hear the emphatic declaration of the Sruti: ‘This Atman (Self) which is free from sorrow, hunger and thirst, with true desires and true resolves--that is what is to be sought after, what one must wish to understand; one who has sought after this Self and understood it, obtains all worlds and all desires’, said Prajapati to Indra.

Hear the forcible utterances of the Chhandogya Upanishad: ‘Yo vai bhuma tat sukham, na alpe sukham asti, Bhumaiva sukham, Bhumat eva vijijnasitavyah’ (The Infinite (the Great) is Bliss. There is no bliss in what is small (finite). The Infinite alone is Bliss. One should therefore wish to understand the Infinite). ‘Kalau Kesava-Kirtanat’--in days of yore, people had Self-Realisation by Tapas, Jnana, Yajna, etc. But in Kali-Yuga, when people lack in bold understanding, when people have not got strong, irresistible will and pure intellect, and when the vast majority of persons do not possess a strong physique to practise various Hatha Yogic Kriyas to awaken the Kundalini, Hari-Kirtan alone will help them in getting salvation easily.

Suka Deva, though a Brahma Jnani, did Sankirtan. Lord Gauranga, a master of logic, an intellectual giant, dedicated his life to preaching Kirtan throughout Bengal. Mira, Tukaram, Pavhari Baba of Punjab, Ram Prasad of Bengal, Rup Kala Bhagavan of Ayodhya, all had Darshan of God through Kirtan and Kirtan alone.

Sankirtan purifies and elevates the mind. Sankirtan destroys Vasanas, old vicious Samskaras, cravings, three kinds of Tapa,--the Adhyatmika, Adhidaivika and Adhibhautika,--three kinds of diseases, and brings the devotee face to face with God. Tukaram, the reputed Maharashtra saint of Deo, was an illiterate Bhakta. He could not even sign his name. His inspiring Abhangas are texts for the M.A. students in the Bombay University. What a great miracle it is! Wherefrom did the unlettered, untutored Tuka derive his knowledge? Tukaram had communion with Lord Krishna through Bhava Samadhi induced by Sankirtan. His inner eye of intuition, Divya Chakshuh, was opened. He tapped the fountain of Knowledge. He penetrated deep into the very source of Knowledge.

Where is God? God is in your heart. He is in you. You are in Him. If you do not find Him there, you will not find Him anywhere else. God is Truth. God is Love. Speak the Truth--Satyam Vada. Love everyone. See God everywhere, in every face, in everything. You will realise Him quickly.

Dear brothers! Plod on. Push on. Live in Truth. Live in the Spirit. Fix the mind on God and give the hands to worldly activities without expectation of fruits and without the idea ‘I am the doer’. Forget not the Source. Forget not the centre. Forget the body. Forget the world. Forget friends, relatives and property. Forget the past. Do not look backwards. March straight to the Goal. A glorious future is awaiting you all. March courageously with Sraddha, Vairagya and taking the sacred Name of the Lord. Merge in Him. Dive deep in Him. Plunge deep into the self-shining Lord, in the chambers of your heart. He is quite close to you.

Lead a life of self-restraint, service, devotion, spirituality and meditation. Speak the truth. Do not injure any living being. Help your neighbour. This is Divine Life. Live this Divine Life! Realise the indwelling Divine Being. God grant you Peace, Bliss and Immortality.

May the Light of lights guide you in the path to the Eternal every moment of your life. May success be yours. May you attain God-realisation in this very birth and put an end to all misery and suffering!

May the choicest blessings of God and Guru be upon you all!

With deepest regards, Prem and Pranams,

Yours in Sri Gurudev.
Swami Chidananda

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