INSPIRING TALKS OF GURUDEV SIVANANDA

Inspiring Talks of Gurudev Sivananda

3rd June, 1950 

IN THE ASHRAM OF THE INFINITE? 

‘You are coming after a long time. Ten years?’ said Siva as Major-General A.N. Sharma bowed to him.

‘Physically yes, Swamiji. I came here in 1942 last time. But, you are always with me. I see you daily. I am never separate from you, Swamiji. This I have actually experienced through your unbounded grace.’

‘You are very busy in the service of the nation. That is also good. It is also service of the Lord.’

‘But, Swamiji, that is no service at all. Service in the Government is like machines working when the switch is put on. There is no life in such service. These people who are near you are luckier than I. I envy them. They are doing real service to humanity and to the Lord, under your saintly guidance. This is my last year of service, Swamiji. Next April I will surely be here.’

‘Such a good officer like you, the Government would like to retain. They cannot always find an officer with your integrity, nobility, sincerity, spirit of service, and God-fearing nature. An honest officer like you is an asset to the Government of the country.’

‘No, no Swamiji. I am only trying in my humble way to follow your teachings. I am trying to adopt your teachings in my work and daily life. I can be completely satisfied only if I come here and dedicate my life to your holy cause.’

Then Siva introduced several Ashramites, one by one, and described how each one was an expert in his own way, young men of great intelligence, education and culture.

‘You are a mighty magnet, Swamiji. So, it is no wonder that you have attracted so many needles to you. You are the All here. You are the Spirit or the soul of the Ashram. They are all inspired by your rays only. To me only you exist in the Ashram.’

The General said to his daughter: ‘Kamala, look, what a single man has been able to do—and that, too, in such a short time. Many people complain, ‘I am alone. What can a lonely man do? Look at Swamiji. He came to Rishikesh alone. He had to take his Bhiksha from the Kshetra and work. Look how he has converted a jungle into a city. Look what a lot of service is being rendered by him to humanity through this institution. You can also do that, Kamala, if you apply yourself to the task.’

We were coming round the temple. Several Yatris and Sadhus were lying on the temple verandah. 

‘Who are these?’ ask Siva.

‘Yatris, Swamiji.’ 

‘All sorts of people come here. Sadhus, Yatris, young boys who renounce the world; people who wish to take Sanyas; who wish to practise Yoga; people who have had failures in the world; people with incurable diseases—literally all sorts of people come here. I think this is more an asylum than an Ashram.’

‘This is a real Ashram, Swamiji, in every sense of the term,’ said the General.

‘Everyone comes here and takes food in the kitchen. I do not even ask from where the man is coming. He is free to remain here as long as he likes. During his stay here, whatever be the reason for his coming here, he is trained in service, Kirtan, Yoga Asanas, etc. And even if he leaves the Ashram later, he is a transformed personality. All people requiring mental solace and peace come here.’

Then Siva said: ‘You should see Swami Chidanandaji. He is a saint He is a genius. He is a powerful speaker, writer, and there is no one like him in service. Lepers and cholera patients, even dogs and birds receive the kindest treatment at his hands. He takes the greatest delight in service. He is an able doctor by experience. I saw one day an aged Sadhu who was suffering from leprosy, lying on the roadside. I had some milk and food given to him. A little later C. personally went to the patient, led him to the Ashram, and is attending on him day in and day out. The case is so advanced that all his fingers and toes have been eaten away by the disease. The bones are sticking out in the hands. The sores are raw. No one would even dare to go near him. But C. daily dresses him, feeds him and takes motherly care of the patient. I will show you the patient.

‘There was a dog here which was suffering from an ulcer. It emitted an unbearable foul smell. C. dressed the dog daily without feeling the least Ghrina or discomfort. He found a parrot lying paralysed in the jungle. He picked it up and provided a beautiful bed, pillow and cover, and fed it and nursed it nicely. It is very rare to find a heart like his. He is a saint truly.’

They all went into the studio. The General and his daughter were wonderstruck. Kamala asked: ‘How many photos have you taken so far?’ And, even before Padmanabhanji could reply, the General said: ‘Infinite number. In the Ashram of the Infinite, everything is infinite.’  P. then showed them the albums containing some of the photographs taken by him so far. When they had finished with one album, the General exclaimed: ‘It is enough for someone to write a book of the history of the institution.’ And, he looked aghast when six more albums were produced before him: ‘No no, you can write seven books of the history of the Society. Marvellous.’

4th June, 1950

GENERAL SHARMA 

This I.A.S. probationers accompanied Siva when he took General Sharma round the Ashram this morning. Afterwards they said: ‘Swamiji, we shall take leave of you now. We are going to Garuda Chatty now, and on our return we shall leave for Delhi.’

‘Come here again,’ began Siva, ‘and spend a week or a month. Recharge yourself with fresh spiritual energy. That will stand you in good stead in your work, nay in your entire life.

‘Here is General Sharma who makes a Yoga of his office work. He has understood the secret of Karma Yoga. He has studied Gita, Upanishads and Ramayana. He takes a real interest in his official duties. He discharges them well. He thereby earns great merit here, purifies his mind and qualifies himself for the descent of divine knowledge, too.

‘You should all follow his noble example. Do not take your office work as a mere routine work imposed upon you by the government. Do not work merely in order to earn your living. Feel all the time that in your way and within your allotted sphere of work, you are serving the Lord’s children.

‘You are the embodiments of wisdom. You will, each one of you, rule over your district for the protection of whose population you are responsible. You are, therefore, the Amsa of Vishnu. Remember this point very well when you discharge your normal official duties. Therefore, feel that you are but an instrument in the hands of Lord Vishnu, and that He is doing His work of Preservation through you. That is the proper attitude of a Karma Yogi.

‘To be a perfect Karma Yogi, you should develop in yourself many virtues—the Deivi Sampath enumerated by the Lord in the Gita: Amanitwam, Adeambhitwam, Ahimsa, etc. You must be honest, truthful, loving, forgiving, humble and simple. You must be ideal citizens. You must set an example to the people over whose destinies you preside. Then and then alone will you have really justified the Lord’s choice of you for this distinguished service.

‘Please be regular in your study of the Gita. Try diligently to put into practice the Lord’s teachings in the Gita. Then you will not only win the love of the people and the government, but you will also become a saint revered and respected all over the world. You will attain Moksha in this very birth.

General Sharma added a few words: ‘India needs honest administrators. That is what she lacks now. You remember the beautiful song in English which Swamiji sang last night—the ‘Song of Eighteen Ities’? If you bear that in mind always and strive in every way to practise the Eighteen Ities in your daily life, you would have achieved what Swamiji wants you to achieve.’

When, later, we went to the Gita Bhavan, Siva himself (in the fashion of a guide!) explained the main features of the Gita Bhavan to General Sharma.

‘In every room there is a painting of the Lord. Along the verandahs and everywhere in the building, you will find Gita Slokas inscribed in various forms on the walls. On this verandah, there are eighteen pictures on the walls, representing the most important theme of the eighteen chapters of the Gita. In the Hall upstairs you will find marble slabs on which the entire 

Gita is inscribed, etc. etc.’

Jayadayalji wanted that Siva should give Darshan to an ailing devotee there. Siva let the General and his daughter examine him. ‘Diabetes,’ said the General: ‘He should take a course of insulin injections.’

‘Swamiji,’ said Sri Hanuman Prasad Poddar, ‘these orthodox people have strange sentiments about taking medicines. They think it is against the Sastras.’

‘No, no. That is wrong. Medicines are also God’s gifts to man. And, especially when they are not of animal-origin, why should he not take them? Human life is precious. Let him take insulin. It is not against the Sastras.’

The devotee, who was so adamant all throughout his illness which had already kept him in bed for the past nearly two months, now yielded and agreed to take the injection.

Siva at once closed his eyes and said: ‘Let us do Kirtan now,’ and sang the Maha Mantra thrice, and he was followed by the people around. The entire place was filled with the vibrations of the Maha Mantra. Then Siva repeated the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra also.

He then said to the patient: ‘Repeat the Maha Mantra and the Mrityunjaya Mantra also. You will be all right. You will be in a position to go to the Satsang tomorrow. The Lord’s Omnipotent Shakti fills these Mantras.’

In the afternoon, General Sharma had expressed the desire to meditate in Siva’s Kutir for a few minutes. He had promised to come at 2.30. At 2.25 Siva noticed that the General had not come and so got out of his Kutir, ready to wake up the General, if necessary. ‘When I have something to do, I cannot even take rest. I am anxious not to miss even a little opportunity to be of service. Please call Sharmaji.’ As Siva said this, he noticed Sharmaji coming down the hill. Siva gave the General a military salute which the General reciprocated in proper form.

A little later….the car’s engine hummed OM….or was it only the echo of Siva’s loud OM….and the General and his daughter took leave of Siva, Ganga and the Himalayas with folded palms, which they waved again and again.

12th June, 1950

BASTI AND VAMANA DHAUTI 

Sri Somareswar of Muzafarnagar performed the Jala Basti this morning. S. got into the Ganges. When the water had reached his knees, he sat down. After a complete expulsion of the breath, he did Uddiyana Bandha. All the wind in the intestines is now expelled. He released the Bandha, and did the Nauli Kriya. A vacuum is automatically created in the colon. Naturally water is drawn into the colon. S. later expelled this water. He had been able to draw a couple of pints of water, and the expelled water, too, was clean, denoting that the large colon was already clean.

Siva explained the technique and the advantage of the Kriya, to the assembled Sadhaks. ‘This will keep your intestines clean and thus promote your general health. You will never suffer from constipation. You will be free from disease. You will enjoy radiant health. Not only this: all your Nadis will be purified. The Prana will pervade your entire body. You will have peace of mind and spiritual progress also. All of you should practise Basti and do it occasionally.’

S. said: ‘It is all due to your grace only, Swamiji. I learnt this from your book only. I used to practice Uddiyana. One day when I did Uddiyana while yet in the water, I found that I had automatically drawn some water also in. Then I regularised the practise with the help of your book.’

Then S. and Sri Swami Satchidanandaji performed the Jala Dhauti. They drank water—five or six glassfuls—and then tickled their throat with the help of their fingers. All the water was immediately vomited, and with it phlegm and bile, too. Swami S. was able to do the Dhauti without the help of the fingers.

Siva greatly eulogised the proficiency of the two adepts and described the glory of Jala Dhauti: ‘What Basti is for the lower parts of the alimentary canal, Dhauti is for the upper part. The stomach is cleaned with the help of the Dhauti. You do not need to use the stomach-tube. You will not suffer from indigestion or biliousness or from phlegm-trouble. You will have good digestion, and a clear brain. Initially you will have to take the help of your fingers to bring out the water from the stomach. By gradual practice the water will be ejected from the stomach merely by the practice of the Uddiyana Bandha.

‘Our ancients were practising these Kriyas as a matter of course. They used to cleanse their  alimentary canal frequently through the Dhauti and the Basti. Therefore, they were healthy and they enjoyed long life. If you also regularly practise these exercises and Kriyas you will also enjoy radiant health and long life. May God bless you all.’

One remarkable feature during the whole performance was that when S., after performing Uddiyana inside the water, came out to eject the water from within, Siva encouraged him to perform the act, too, right in front of him, practically with his back to Siva; and Siva’s countenance did not register the least disgust to witness this none too pleasant a sight.

S. was shy in the beginning to pull his cloth up to his waist. But, Siva quickly encouraged him: 

‘Why do you feel shy? Throw away the cloth. All are endowed with the same organs. Just because we have been hiding them for a long time, we feel shy to expose them now. If we had from childhood hidden our face also from public view, we would feel shy to expose it to the public.’

14th June, 1950

INTELLECT AND YOGA 

Srimathi K. Saberwal, Professor of Philosophy in the Lucknow University, has come. As soon as she came in to have Siva’s Darshan, Siva handed her a copy of his commentary on the Brahma Sutras. A discussion ensued.

‘Swamiji, how was it possible for Sri Sankaracharya to have devotion to Sakara Murti when he was an Adwaitin and his philosophical treatises prove that he believed in the nameless and the formless?’

‘It was because Jnana and Bhakti are essentially the same. Look at the Stotras that he has composed. They indicate clearly that he had developed devotion to a very high degree. Atma-Nivedan or self-surrender leads to Jnana—and Jnana is synonymous with Para-Bhakti.

‘People nowadays condemn Bhakti and think that it is inferior to Jnana. They have no understanding of Bhakti. They think that they can jump at once to Jnana Yoga Sadhana. They have really no faith in God. They just acquire some intellectual conception of God. This does not serve them. Jnana Yoga without the necessary preparation is of no use.’

‘Then, Swamiji, who is fit for Jnana Yoga Sadhana?’

‘When there is only the veil of ignorance, when there is no Mala (impurity) in the mind and when there is no Vikshepa (vascillation) in the mind, then one can proceed to Jnana Yoga Sadhana. Mala can be removed only through Nishkamya Karma Yoga and Vikshepa through Bhakti. In the case of the vast majority of persons, all the three Yogas are necessary: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga.’

‘That is perfectly true, Swamiji. Your Yoga of Synthesis alone can enable Sadhaks nowadays to advance on the spiritual path. But, nowadays we have unfortunately developed the intellect which proves a hindrance at every stage. It does not allow us to have faith in God or to practise devotion. It questions and doubts.’

‘Intellect ought not to be allowed to put obstacles in our way. Intellect ought to be trained in such a way that it should help us in our faith in God and Bhakti.’

‘Yes, Swamiji. That way I think our grandmothers were better off than we are.’

Siva laughed.

‘Meditate early in the morning and in the evening also. Do Vichar. Intellect may or may not believe in a thing which is beyond the senses and the mind. Intellect may not believe in bliss apart from objects. But, the state of deep sleep proves that bliss is, in reality, not in the objects or in the contact of senses with the objects.

‘By bliss is not meant pleasure! Pleasure is the other side of pain. Pleasure and pain are inseparable. Our goal is not this pleasure. Our goal is the Absolute Bliss. Brahmin or the Atman alone can be that Bliss. For in the Awareness of Brahman there is no duality; there is oneness. That is Truth. That is Consciousness also. And, in that Consciousness of Truth alone is there Bliss.

‘That Bliss is indescribable. Even the deep sleep bliss is indescribable. You wake up and say: ‘I had a delightful sleep.’ But, when you are asleep you are not able to describe the experience of sleep. It is like the state of a man who had lost a ring in a pond, dives into the pond, finds the ring, but is unable to say: ‘I have found the ring,’ and is able to say this only on coming to the surface of the water. Each one of us has to experience this bliss for oneself.’

‘What a blessed thing it would be for one to realise this, Swamiji. I am tired of theory, theory, theory. I have to teach philosophy to my students. I know Vedanta in theory only. I tell them what the books contain. But, I have no knowledge of the Reality. It is a miserable state. I feel like throwing away everything and coming here and spending the rest of my life in meditation.’

‘Theory is good. For it elevates your thought and brings up the ideal again and again before you. It stimulates Atma-Vichara. Gradually, the Truth will dawn on you.

‘Meditate. Meditate regularly. You will understand everything.’

Then Srimathi Saberwal informed Siva that she was repeating Gayatri also. 

‘That is wonderful. Gayatri is a great Mantra which nicely combines Saguna and Nirguna. Now you have yourself admitted that you do combine Jnana Yoga Sadhana with Bhakti. You cannot separate them. And, besides, you are working in the University and teaching philosophy to thousands of girls. That is very great service. You are moulding their character and you are placing before them the high ideals of Vedanta. That is Nishkamya Karma Yoga of a very high degree. At the same time try to feel, ‘I am Akarta. I am Abhokta. I am Sakshi. I am Satchidananda.’ Then you will progress rapidly on the path of practical Sadhana.’

‘That is the difficulty always, Swamiji. We do work, but we do not do it in the spirit of selfless service. We work for money or to fulfil our earthly ambitions.’

‘It is true. But, by repeatedly trying to raise up the Vedantic feeling, it will one day be possible to get established in the idea. You may fail a thousand times. That need not bother you. But after each failure, when you rise up, you will rise up stronger than you were before. Nothing is lost. Every effort takes you nearer the goal. When you get a few days’ leave, come here and spend the vacation in silent contemplation and intense Sadhana. Once the mind realises that there is bliss in Sadhana and meditation, it will not leave it. You will then be established in Yoga. May God bless you.’

15th June, 1950

NATURE CURE PROFESSOR 

Sri Kameswara Sarma, son of the famous Sri K. Lakshmana Sarma of Pudukotah, the father of Nature Cure in India, has come. He was cordially received by Siva who quickly entered into a discussion with him on Naturopathy. This is Siva’s secret of success with men of all types, temperaments and talents: everyone becomes his at first sight, for Siva with his versatile personality is at once able to engage them in their own fond game, stimulate them in their own pet topic, and make them feel that ‘Here is an appreciative listener into whose ears I can pour my knowledge without being contradicted.’ This is a great consolation when they do not get a friendly ear anywhere else in the world where vanity rules.

At the conclusion of a series of lectures by Sri Sarma at the Ashram, today, Siva gave the following talk:

‘We are all thankful, not only thankful, but highly grateful to Sri Kameswara Sarmaji for delivering this series of lectures on the sacred science of naturopathy.

‘Nature is our kind and all-powerful mother. She protects us all in every way. She provides our food, and she gives us disease also to cleanse our system.

‘All the animals obey the laws of nature. It is only man with his little vain intellect, with his little knowledge, who violates the laws of nature and then suffers. Man is endowed with discrimination. He should be the first to obey the laws of nature and enjoy eternal life.

‘Health is most essential for a Sadhaka. Without good health, you cannot do Sadhana. 

Therefore, it is all the more important that all of you should take the lessons that Sri Sarmaji has taught you to heart, and put them into practice. Then only will you realise its full benefit.

‘Sri Sarmaji has been good enough to deliver his most illuminating lectures during the past three days. It is a great service to you all. He has rendered a service which you cannot easily repay. The only way you can pay your homage to him is to follow his precepts, and derive the maximum benefit from his lectures.

‘I am his foremost disciple here. I have been keenly listening to his lectures with very great interest. I have taken notes of his talks. How many of you have done so? You must at once take notes of all the lectures that you attend. Then you should put all the good ideas into actual practice. Then only will you be benefited.

‘Sri Kameswara Sarma and his revered father Lakshmana Sarma, as also his brothers, are all doing great service to the humanity. Even though they are leading the household life, they are in fact Sanyasins only. Sri Lakshmana Sarma is rendering pure selfless service unto humanity. He does not demand fees from his patients. He effects a radical cure: and more than anything else, he leads the patients forever after along the path of life natural.

‘Only if all of you who live here practice naturopathy diligently will Sri Sarma be encouraged to come here again and again. You should take good naturopathic resolves, stick to them, and you should, when he comes here next time, show him that you have been true followers of naturopathy.

‘Be true to yourself. That is the most essential thing. All other forms of creation are true to themselves; the elements are true to themselves. But it is only this self-willed, egoistic man who falls an easy victim to cunningness, crookedness and falsehood. Habits like keeping a pinch of salt hidden in the pocket when there is saltless diet in the Ashram (on Ekadashi day) are dangerous. That shows that you have no control over your tongue. True spiritual progress is not possible without the strictest control over the senses.

‘The mind craves for certain kinds of Rajasic and Tamasic food only because you have not trained it to enjoy Satvic food. Once you experience the bliss of fasting, you will long for the day when you can fast. You will look eagerly forward to Ekadashi. You will look eagerly forward to the saltless diet on Sunday, if you realise what incalculable benefits such a diet bestows on you.

‘Fasting is, besides being a potent curative agent, a beautiful Sadhana also. Watch: what a peaceful mind you have on the fasting day. Real prayerful mood will come only when the stomach is empty. You will meditate more peacefully and for a longer period on the day you fast.

‘It is not possible for anyone to convince you of the efficacy of fasting, or of water-cure, or of the glory of Satvic diet. You will have to practise and experience the results for yourself.

‘May you all lead the life natural and attain health and longevity. May Lord bless Sri Lakshmana Sarma and Sri Kamesvara Sarma and brothers with health, long life, peace, prosperity and Atma-Jnana.’

22nd June, 1950

SIVANANDA MANDIR: FOUNDATION STONE LAID 

At 10 a.m. we all assembled near the Viswanath Mandir. The happy function fixed for today then began. Chidanandaji led the Kirtan. Krishnanandaji chanted Shanti Patha. ‘Sat-Guru Maharaj ki Jai’—a powerful Jaya Jay kar rose from twelve feet beneath earth’s surface, where the devotees of Siva were witnessing Sri Narayanaswamiji lay the foundation stone for the Sivananda Mandir.

Sri Swami Chidanandaji then explained the significance of the great event in an eloquent speech full of divine emotion.

‘Every external ritual has got its corresponding inner significance. In what we are doing today the ritual is a very simple one: but the meaning that lies hidden in it is profound. We lay the foundation for a Mandir in which our revered Gurudev will be immortalised. At the same time, we take upon ourselves the vow that we shall perpetuate for all time to come the great mission which he has espoused, of which he has been the founder: the mission of Sadhana, the mission of awakening man to the purpose of life, the mission of awakening the latent divinity in man. We undertake that we shall, till the last breath lasts in us, devote our entire life to this great cause. Thus, we shall make our Gurudev live in our heart forever and ever.’

THE GREATER ASHRAM 

The Parliament Member, Sri Tirumala Rao, is at Ananda Kutir again, on a flying visit. Sincere believers, once they taste the joy of a saint’s proximity, will never miss a chance of drinking again and again at the fountain-source of peace.

As Sri T. and party were taking their meals, Sri R. Ramakrishna of the New Delhi Secretariat, mentioned that he was acquainted with Siva since 1939, when he first visited the modest four-roomed tenement in a jungle. He admired this phenomenal growth of Siva’s work.

‘This is nothing,’ said Sri T. ‘Think of the world-wide spread of Swamiji’s teachings. Just think of the millions of people who have been brought nearer to God, in whom the moral-conscience has been awakened by Swamiji’s message. That is far more magnificent work than this one of building up a big Ashram, a great achievement though it is.’

Then T. turned to the several young Sanyasins who were serving him, and said: ‘Look at the number of young and able men that he has drawn towards himself, and whom he is leading along the holy path.’

ASHRAMS AND FOUNDERS 

A devotee said that a certain Ashram, after the passing away of the founder, had lost its ‘spiritual atmosphere’.

Siva at once grew grim and serene. ‘The responsibility for placing his mission on sound basis lies with the saint who founds an Ashram or institution, as well as his disciples. The saint must so train his disciples that they will, on his departure from the earth-plane, be able to take over the mission from him and run it with equal efficiency.’

‘At the same time, it is the duty of every true disciple to follow the footsteps of his Guru, to endeavour to grow into his likeness—to become like the Guru. He should then develop a great zeal to carry on the Guru’s mission. Then and then alone will the mission be successfully carried on for all time. Look at the way the Ramakrishna Mission is organised and run.’ 

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