Guide To Sadhakas by Gurudev

No complete knowledge is possible as long as there is the relationship of subject and object. When the subject and the object merge into absolute union there are no doubts or questions. When you enter the consciousness of the infinite you will have no problems. You will have no questions to ask, for the questioner and the questioned will be one ­ subject and object will be dissolved.

Only when action is quickened with love and illumined with knowledge, then the pilgrim in the spiritual path finds his destination and end. The one you seek is he who seeks you. The essential craving of the heart is the inner light. He who has faith, he who is tranquil and self-controlled, he who meditates on the Atman attains immortality and eternal bliss.

So, reduce your wants to the utmost minimum. Adapt yourself to circumstances. Never be attached to anything or to anybody. Share what you have with others. Be ever ready to serve. Lose no opportunity ­ serve with atma­bhava (feeling that the Self is all). Speak measured and sweet words. Have a burning thirst for God­realisation. Renounce all your belongings and surrender yourself to God.

Keep your soul strong and fresh and give it spiritual food ­ prayer, japa (repetition of God's name), selfless service, etc. Feed your mind with thoughts of God, your heart with purity, your hands with selfless service. Remain soaked in remembrance of God, with one­pointed mind. Repeat the Lord's name with faith and devotion. Meditate on his form and surrender your heart and soul to him.

Let the thought of God or reality keep away the thought of the world. Forget the feeling that you are so­and­so, that you are a male or a female, by vigorous brahma­cintana (contemplation of God.) Never postpone a thing for tomorrow if it is possible for you to do it today. Do not boast or make a show of your abilities. Be simple and humble. Always be cheerful. Give up worries. Be indifferent to things that do not concern you. Fly away from bad company and discussion. Be alone for a few hours daily.

Control the emotions by discrimination and vairagya (dispassion). Maintain equilibrium of mind always. Give up backbiting and fault­finding. Find out your own faults and weaknesses. See only good in others. Do good to those that hate you. Shun lust, anger, egoism, moha (delusion) and lobha (greed) like venomous cobras.

Meditation In Vedanta by Gurudev

Preliminary meditation for six months: 

1. On the blue expansive sky, all­-pervading air or ether, or light, or Himalayas, or infinite ocean.

2. On abstract qualities ­ mercy, patience, generosity, etc.

3. On abstract ideas ­ indivisibility, existence, wisdom, bliss, truth, eternity, immortality, infinity, purity, etc., will render the mind subtle and sharp and prepare it for deep abstract meditation on Atman.

Just as one thread penetrates all flowers in a garland, so also one Self penetrates all these living beings. Behold the one Self in all. Serve all. Love all. Give up the idea of diversity. You will be established in Brahman. When one Atman dwells in all living beings, then why do you hate others? Why do you use harsh words? Why do you try to rule and dominate others? Why do you exploit others? Why are you intolerant? Is this not the height of folly; is it not sheer ignorance?

Behold the "One in all". Feel, "I am the all", and "I am in all." Feel, "All bodies are mine; the whole world is my body, my sweet home". Feel, "I work in all hands; I eat in all mouths". Feel, "I am the immortal Self in all". Repeat these formulas mentally several times a day. Repeat Om mentally and feel oneness of life or unity of consciousness when you play football or tennis, when you drink and eat, when you talk and sing, when you sit and walk, when you bathe and dress, when you work in the office or answer the calls of nature. Spiritualise every movement, action, thought, feeling. Transmute them into yoga. Gradually names and forms will vanish and you will feel, "Aham asmi" (I exist). The balance or residue left will be Atman.

A jnani sees Atman everywhere; there is no thought of self; the lower self is entirely annihilated. He lives to serve all. He feels that all is himself only. He has cosmic vision and cosmic feeling. He is free from worry, trouble, difficulties and sorrow. He is always happy and cheerful.

In the formless vedantic meditation of advaitins (non­dualists) there will be an abstract mental image in the beginning of sadhana (practice). This will vanish eventually. When you meditate, deny names and forms, do neti­-neti (not this, not this).

SIVANANDA DAILY READING ve Turkce Meali :)

STRIVE

Strive. Strive to realise God. This is the purpose of human birth. The perfection of the realisation of absolute knowledge, supreme bliss and immortality is the one and only goal in human life. Release from the round of births and life in eternity is the goal of man. Till Self-realisation is attained, man is subject to the law of karma and rebirth. Finish your task - God-realisation in this life itself; do not postpone it. Just as food is necessary for the body so also daily meditation and prayer are necessary for the soul.

O man! Wake up from this slumber of ignorance. Why do you waste your life building castles in the air? Turn your gaze within. Stop all this hurry and worry. Sit down and relax. Dive deep within. Discover the pearl of Atman. You will be freed from birth and death here and now.

Remember the goal every moment of this life. Strive incessantly to realise it by living a life of detachment, dispassion, devotion, deep meditation and samadhi (self-knowledge).

O man! Nothing is permanent. All things change. All things pass away. Seek the permanent, changeless, immortal Atman and be free. He is truly wise who lives in the eternal and who is endowed with discrimination and dispassion.

Life is a transforming process by which attachment, fear, anger, hatred and lust are transformed by steady and rigorous discipline and meditation into joy, bliss, peace and love.

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In simplicity is the secret of real beauty. Simplify your life. Be humble, pure, straightforward and true to yourself and others. Be good and do good so that each tomorrow will find you farther than today. Be humble, be meek, be pure, be holy, be godly and peaceful. Be charitable. Be moral. Be humble. Be courageous. Be pure. Meditate. Become wise. Whoever does anything with enthusiasm, patience and perseverance, never fails to achieve his object. Annihilate desires.

Seek the company of saints and devotees. Control the mind. Control anger. Be charitable. Help the needy. Kill the ego. Be grateful. Respect the great. Be truthful. Indulge not in gossip. You will attain the supreme blessedness.

TURKCE MEALI: Kusur ettiysem affola :))

Ugras!

Ugras. Tanriyi anlamak icin ugras. Insan olarak dogmus olmanin amaci bu.  Mutlak bilginin, ilahi mutluluk ve olumsuzlugun tek ve yegane nedeni oldugunu anlamanin mukemmelligi Sonsuzlugun icindeki olum dogum dongusunden bagimsizlasmak insanin amacidir. Kendini bilmek gerceklesene kadar, insanoglu karmanin ve yeniden dogmanin kanunlarina bagimlidir. Isini bitir, -bu hayatta Tanriyi tanimayi- erteleme. Nasil ki yemek beden icin bir gereklilik, gunluk meditasyon ve dua da ruh icin bir gerekliliktir.

Ey Insanoglu! Uyan cehalet uykundan. Neden hayatini kumdan kaleler insa ederek ziyan ediyorsun? Bakisini iceri cevir. Butun bu aceleyi ve endiseyi birak bir yana. Otur ve rahatla. Derine dal. Atman’in incisini kesfet. Simdi, burda yeniden dogum ve olumden bagimsizlasacaksin.

Amacini hayatin her aninda animsa. Bagimliliklardan uzak, tarafsiz, adanmislikla, derin meditasyon ve Samadhi(kendini bilme)’li bir hayat yasayarak hic ara vermeden ugras.

Ey insanoglu! Hicbirsey kalici degil. Hersey degismekte.  Hersey gecmekte. Hic degismeyen, kalici olan, olumsuz Atman’i ara ve ozgur ol.Ebedide yasayan ve ayrimcilik (gercegi, ruyadan ayirabilmek) ve tarafsizlikla donatilmis olan gercekten erdemlidir.

Hayat; bagimlilik, korku, ofke, nefret ve ihtirasin, daimi ve ciddi bir disiplinle ve meditasyonla nese, mutluluk, huzur ve sevgiye donustugu bir surectir.
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Gercek guzelligin sirri basitlikte gizlidir. Hayatinizi basitlestirin. Mutevazi, saf, direk ve kendinize ve digerlerine durust olun.  Iyi olun ve iyi hareketler yapin. Mutevazi,uysal, saf, kutsal, ilahi ve huzurlu olun. Yardimsever olun. Ahlakli olun. Alcakgonullu olun. Cesur olun. Saf olun. Meditasyon yapin. Erdemli hale gelin. Heyecan, sabir ve gayretle calisan kimse asla amacina ulasmakta yenilgiye ugramaz. Arzularinizi yokedin

Azizlerin ve Tanri duskunu kisilerin arkadasligini arayin. Zihni kontrol edin. Ofkeyi kontrol edin. Yardimsever olun. Ihtiyaci olana yardim edin. Egoyu oldurun. Mutesekkir olun.  Cok iyi olana saygi duyun. Durust olun. Dedikoduya karismayin. Ilahi kutsanmisliga eriseceksiniz .

Gurudev'den

ELUSIVE HAPPINESS

Man wants happiness. He tries to get it from money, from power, from woman, from son, from position and so on. He rushes from one thing to another trying to find happiness. He gets knocks, blows, failure and disappointment. He laughs, dances, weeps and mourns. His senses get exhausted. He gets disgust for objects. Eventually he experiences that sense objects are illusory and that real lasting happiness cannot be found in them.

Man feels the need for a particular object. He tries to get it. If he succeeds he is delighted for a moment. If he fails he is sunk in despair and sorrow; he is gloomy and depressed. If he loses an object he becomes very miserable.

As soon as one want is gratified, another new want crops up. There is no end to his wants. Cares, worries, anxieties and fear co-exist with wants and desires. Want is the product or offspring of ignorance. Brahman is all-full. All wants are satisfied in Brahman.

The restlessness of the mind is kept up by all these wants. He who wants nothing is a mighty emperor of the world. Sri Sankara says: "That carefree saint who moves about with a kowpeen or loincloth only, without possessions, without the idea of ownership, without any wants, is the most happy person in the world." Wants and desires can be eradicated by Self-realisation only.

Any number of zeros have no value unless you add a `1' before them. Similarly, even if you possess the wealth of the whole world, it is nothing if you do not lead a spiritual life, if you have no spiritual wealth, if you have no Self-realisation.

You will have to add the Atman to the life here. That is why the Lord Jesus says: "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

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Mind is greater than the senses. Pure intellect is greater than the mind. Atman is greater than the intellect. There is nothing greater than Atman.

Brahman is without senses, mind, prana. He is within and without all beings. He is immovable; he is extremely subtle. He is the light of all lights.

Gurudev'den

PERFECTION AWAITS YOU

The circle of darkness and degeneracy has reached its climax. Come now, arise victorious and step up towards the zenith of perfection that awaits you. Live with a definite purpose - do not roam about aimlessly. Walk with a definite aim. Climb the hill of knowledge steadily and reach the summit of the temple of Brahman, the grand abode of the life immortal.

In the spiritual path there are constant failures and setbacks. Repeated endeavour, constant vigilance and undaunted perseverance are needed. When the heart's knots are gradually loosened, when the vasanas (tendencies) are gradually thinned out, when the bonds of karma are gradually loosened, when ignorance is dispelled, when weakness vanishes, you will become more and more peaceful, strong and serene. You will get more and more light from within. You will become more and more divine.

Hard enough is it to purify the lower nature, difficult enough is it to practise concentration and meditation, but vigilance, perseverance, constant practise, steady and persistent effort, company of sages, resolute will and strong determination, will obviate all difficulties and render the path easy, pleasant and attractive. Fight with the mind bravely. Go on fighting with an undaunted heart. At the end of your battle you will attain the illimitable dominion of eternal bliss, the sweet abode of immortality, the immaculate, imperishable Self or Brahman.

Despair not; light is on the path. Serve all. Love truth. Be serene. Meditate regularly. You will soon attain the life beatitude, the silence, the supreme peace. Even when you get a glimpse of the truth, of the supreme, your whole life will be changed. You will be a changed being. You will have a new heart and a new wisdom. A new thrill of spiritual current will pass through your entire being. A wave of spiritual bliss will sweep over you. This state is indescribable.

Bugun Gurudev dedi ki:

FREEDOM FROM ATTACHMENT

Attachment produces infatuation and causes entanglement. Fear exists on account of attachment and desire. Infatuation or delusion is a stigma on pure love. Attachment to the objects of the world is due to ignorance of their true nature. Nothing but the Atman (Self) really exists. Objects are illusion. Attachment is indicative of the feeling that the objective possession brings happiness. This idea has to be removed from the mind.

Happiness is not in the objects but in one's own Atman. Attachment is the impure vasana (feeling) of love or hate that is entertained by the mind for the diverse objects of this world. If you remain unaffected by joy, envy and sorrow, you have relinquished all attachments. If, without rejoicing in joy, or pining under pain, you do not subject yourself to the trammels of desire, then you can be said to have rid yourself of attachment.

If you can be content with whatever you get, then you have cast off attachment. Through attachment, desire for material objects arises. Renunciation of attachment is said to be moksa (release). Through its destruction, all rebirth ceases. Destroy the association of the mind with the objects and attain the state of the jivanmukta (liberated soul).

Pleasure does not lie in the objects but in the condition of the mind. The mind goes out in search of pleasure. At the same time there is pain as the mind is straying away from the truth. When the object is attained, the mind ceases to function and rests on the Atman, the substratum. Then it unconsciously tastes the bliss of the Atman.

Sublimate your inward longings through discrimination, dispassion,
enquiry and meditation. You will attain supreme bliss.

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Develop vairagya (dispassion). Sharpen the intellect. Give up kutarka and viparita bhavana (distorted and perverted thinking). Identify yourself with the pure Atman. You will soon attain knowledge of the self.

If you are careless and non-vigilant, if you are irregular in meditation, if your dispassion wanes, if you yield even a bit to sense pleasures, the mind will continue to go downward. Maya (illusion) closes in even upon a wise man if he stops his sadhana (practice) and meditation even for a short time.

Be careful. Be alert. Be regular in your meditation.

Ilac

Separate yourself from the objects. Have the strong conviction that `I' does not belong to the objects, that the objects do not belong to the `I'. Identify yourself with the infinite `I' (the satchidananda Brahman) - and abandon the burden of the physical body. Become a videha mukta (liberated and bodiless) - all burdens will perish now.

-Swami Shivananda

Boş tas

Empty vessels only make sound. A practical man who does meditation and worship, who is full of knowledge and real devotion, keeps always silence.

Bos tas ses cikarir. Meditasyon ve ibadetini yapan, gercege hakim ve adanmis olan hep sessiz kalir.

diyor Gurudev Swami Shivananda

Hala konusmam ondandir...

THE SUPREME GIFT by GURUDEV

Yoga is the supreme gift of India to the world at large. Yoga does not quarrel with science; it supplements it. Yoga is a methodical way to attain perfection, through the control of the different elements of human nature - both physical and psychical.

Yoga is the supreme science of contacting reality. It is perfection in action. It is equanimity of attitude. It is perfect peace. Yoga is union with God.

Yoga is not a thing merely to be heard. Yoga is a thing that has to be assimilated and put into practice in daily life. The practice of yoga enables one to realise unity with the whole world. It is living in tune with God.

Yoga is abiding by the principles of truth and avoiding the path of untruth. Yoga is a science which is meant for the study of the reflective. It is for those who are convinced that the world of the senses has nothing substantial to offer.

Yoga is a process of continuous transformation. The inner perfection of Self-realisation can only come to be revealed by experience. This happens only progressively. The transformation of one's personality is achieved through stages.

As you advance in yoga, the ego is progressively replaced by the spirit. It is through this that the will of God works. By the practice of yoga, the sadhaka (seeker) is freed from the tyranny of the lower mind and he becomes divine. At a later stage the transformation takes the shape of a progressive unfoldment of the spirit.

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A preceptor or guru is indispensable for the practice of yoga. The aspirant should be humble, simple, gentle, refined, tolerant, merciful and kind. You will not have success in yoga if you have desire to get psychic powers. Yoga does not consist of sitting cross-legged for six hours, nor in stopping the heart-beat, nor in getting buried in the ground for a week or a month.

Resurrection

Christ is the ego. The cross is the body. When the ego is crucified, and it perishes, what survives is the Absolute Being, and this glorious survival is called Resurrection.
~ Ramana Maharshi

Know the Guru by Swami Sivananda

Guru leads man to God. Guru, mantra (mystic formula) and devata (deity) form a unity. Guru is present in the mantra which he enlivens and communicates. The mantra is the body of the devata. The guru is the embodiment of the deity that is invoked.

True guru is living God. Devotion to guru trains your heart and prepares for devotion to the Lord. Gurus are plenty but good disciples are very rare. When the disciple is ready the guru appears. He who has a guru can alone know Brahman, and the knowledge received from a teacher alone becomes perfect.

Initiation is necessary to go along the spiritual path. Guru shows you the path. When you are initiated your body and mind become purified. The highest spiritual wisdom experienced by the seers of truth in ancient times, has been passed down to the present day, through an unbroken line of traditional teachers.

Have self-control, tranquillity, sincerity and humility. Then approach the spiritual preceptor. Then alone you will be benefited. Hear silently - anything that your guru may say - hear with faith and bhava. Adapt yourself to his ways. He who serves the preceptor and follows his instructions gains the greatest benefit. He who speaks ill of his guru and does not follow his instructions loses most.

A perfect guru is learned in the scriptures and is desireless. He is a boundless ocean of mercy. He is a full knower of Brahman. He is a friend and a guide to those who have surrendered to him.

Guru is the word. The word is guru. Though God is indescribable, you can see and realise God through the guru.

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Here are the characteristics of a real guru. If you find them in any man accept him at once as your guru. A real guru is one who has full knowledge of the self and the vedas. He dispels the doubts of aspirants. He has equal vision and balanced mind. He is free from likes and dislikes, joy and sorrow, egoism, anger, lust, greed, pride, etc. He is an ocean of mercy. In his presence one gets peace and elevation of mind - all doubts are cleared. The guru does not expect anything from anybody. He has an exemplary character. He is full of joy and bliss. He is in search of real aspirants.