Volume XVIII, No. 1, May 2010 The Power that Brings Peace (Sri Gurudev answers questions about Ahimsa) by Sri Swami Satchidananda It’s All in the Motive Question: How can you tell whether you are helping or harming someone before an act is committed? Sri Gurudev: If you think about it well, you will always know. You know the purpose behind what you’re doing. Remember the definition of a perfect act is: An action done to bring at least some benefit to somebody and no harm to anybody. When I say no harm to anybody, I include the person who performs the act. You should harm neither yourself nor the other person. So no harm anywhere, but at least a little benefit to somebody. The ultimate result should be harmless. Sometimes in between it may appear to be a little harmful. For instance, a doctor operates on an abscess and brings a little pain to the patient. It looks like a harmful act at first. But the motive is for the benefit of the patient. So know the ultimate outcome. It’s all in the motive. You should be clear about your motive. Your conscience will tell you that. Be Actively Peaceful Question: Is there any way to become socially active (protesting nuclear power, war, etc.) and be yogic about it? Continued on Page 4 Inside The Power that Brings Peace Balancing Alignment and Self Discovery by Sri Swami Satchidananda p. 1 by Lakshmi Sutter p. 10 Letter from the Editor p. 2 Returning to Yogaville by Apple Knisley p. 12 Ahimsa: Quality of the Brave by Sri Swami Sivananda p. 3 And a Yoga Centre Was Born Our Real Nature by Sri Swami Satchidananda p. 4 by Alessandra Uma Cocchi p.13 Bhagavad Gita Study by Swami Asokananda p. 5 Feeling the Body from Within through Hatha Yoga Yoga Therapy: the Value of Ayurveda as its Foundation by Louis Mahadev Carlino p.14 by Dr. David Frawley p. 6 Academy & Yogaville news by Manu Hunt p.16 Keeping a Meditation Practice Despite Absence of Group Support Senior Speakers Schedule p. 18 by Padma Habib p. 8 Calendar of Upcoming Programs at Yogaville p. 19 The Goal of Integral Yoga® Integral Yoga Teachers Association Founder: Sri Swami Satchidananda The goal of Integral Yoga, and the birthright of every individual The Integral Yoga Teachers Association is a membership is to realize the spiritual unity behind all the diversities in the association open to all Integral Yoga teachers. Its mission is entire creation and to live harmoniously as members of one to provide mutual support and spiritual fellowship, to share universal family. information, to provide inspiration, and to conduct ongoing training and guidance. This goal is achieved by maintaining our natural condition of a body of optimum health and strength, senses under total Director: Gopal Watkins control, a mind well-disciplined, clear and calm, an intellect as Supervising Editor: Rev. Prakasha Shakti sharp as a razor, a will as strong and pliable as steel, a heart Newsletter Editor: Arjuna Guttadauro full of unconditional love and compassion, an ego as pure as a Graphic Design: Anand Shiva Hervé crystal, and a life filled with Supreme Peace and Joy. Photos: Richard DiMaria, Sraddha Van Dyke Copy Editors: Swami Hamsananda, Bhagerati Martin Attain this through asanas, pranayama, chanting of Holy Membership Coordinator: Manu Hunt Names, self discipline, selfless action, mantra japa, meditation, IYTA Assistant: Purnima Trifonova study and reflection. Integral Yoga Teachers Association Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville Ever yours in Yoga, 108 Yogaville Way, Buckingham, VA 23921 USA Tel: 434.969.3121, ext. 177 Fax: 434.969.1303 E-mail (Newsletter): [email protected] E-mail (Membership): [email protected] E-mail (Director): [email protected] Website: www.iyta.org Letter From The Editor Hari Om, Greeting of Peace and Joy to all our readers. I am always humbled and honored to be writing to you. I have returning to Yogaville. I personally love been told by many of you how you look forward to receiving to publish articles such as this because this Newsletter. It is such a good way to stay connected with I think a lot of us feel the same way the Ashram, read articles written by our beloved Swami about Yogaville as Apple describes. I’m Satchidananda and Swami Sivananda, get great Hatha Yoga happy to serve with a reminder of how tips, articles on keeping up and enhancing our own practices, valuable to our inner selves a visit to and learning new ideas from the varied and knowledgeable Yogaville can be. Come on over, what authors that are kind enough to write for us. you are needing is here. This issue we have a new item from one of our members in Two of our articles come from a couple who reside in Italy, Alessandra Uma Cocchi. She is an illustrator, a drawing Boulder, Colorado. One article is from Padma Habib who art teacher and an Integral Yoga teacher. She joins her two gives us great insight into how to maintain a meditation passions (Yoga and art) to describe, with a sense of humor, practice away from group support. The other article is from the joy and the difficulties along the spiritual path. On page Louis Mahadev Carlino, “Feeling the Body from Within 17 you will see her illustration which utilizes Merudan the Through Hatha Yoga”. Both articles help us make a deeper bear to do just that. Merudan represents our inner animal connection to our inner selves. self, that which is more or less subdued, that sometimes makes us more aggressive, competitive, jealous, selfish and Special thanks to Swami Satchidananda and Swami also greedy, a little lazy and sometimes playful. It is helpful Sivananda. Their articles are treasures that transcend time. to perceive the illustration knowing which part of ourselves Speaking of timeless treasures, Swami Asokananda continues Merudan is. Let us know how you like Merudan, and if you his series with his comments on the Bhagavad Gita. Lakshmi want you can get more of Merudan and Uma’s illustrations Sutter provides a centerfold article on “Balancing Alignment on the web at “http://thebearposition.blogspot.com/”. and Self Discovery,” and of course, there are more articles inside that I’m sure you will also love. Please enjoy this issue. We also have an article from a recent TT graduate (Apple Knisley) who explains her excitement and feelings in In Love and Light, Arjuna IYTA Newsletter • May 2010 • Page 2 Ahimsa: Quality of the Brave by Sri Swami Sivananda In its comprehensive meaning, Ahimsa means entire abstinence from causing any pain or harm whatsoever to any living creature either by thought, word, or deed. Non-injury (Ahimsa) requires a harmless mind, mouth, and hand. Ahimsa is not mere negative non-injuring. It is positive, cosmic love. It is development of a mental attitude in which hatred is replaced by love. Ahimsa is true sacrifice. Ahimsa is forgiveness. Ahimsa is true strength. Acme of Bravery The vow of Ahimsa is broken even by showing contempt towards another person, by entertaining unreasonable dislike or prejudice towards anybody, by frowning at another person, by abusing another person, by hating another person, by speaking ill of others, by backbiting or vilifying, by Sri Swami Sivananda and disciples harboring thoughts of hatred, by uttering lies, or by ruining another person in any way whatsoever. After controlling the body, control your speech. Make a strong determination, “I will not speak any harsh words to All harsh and rude speech is injury (himsa). Wounding the anybody from today forth.” You may fail a hundred times. feelings of others by gestures, expressions, tone of voice and What does it matter? You will slowly gain strength. unkind words is also injury. Slighting or showing deliberate discourtesy to a person before others is wanton injury. To Check the impulses of speech. Observe mouna (silence). approve of another’s harsh actions is indirect injury. To fail Practice forgiveness. Say within yourself, “He is a baby soul. to relieve another person’s pain or even to neglect to go to He is ignorant. So he has done it. Let me excuse him this the person in distress is a form of injury. time. What do I gain by abusing him in return?” To err is human; to forgive divine. Avoid strictly all forms of harshness, direct or indirect, positive or negative, immediate or delayed. Practice Ahimsa in its Finally go to the thoughts and check the thoughts of injuring. purest form and become divine. Never think of injuring anyone. One Self dwells in all. All are manifestation of the One God. By injuring another, you If you practice Ahimsa you should put up with insults, rebukes, but injure your own Self. By serving another, you serve your criticisms and assaults also. You should never retaliate or own Self. wish to offend anybody even under extreme provocation. You should not harbor anger. You should not curse. Love all. Serve all. Hate none. Insult none. Injure none in thought, word and deed. Try to behold your own Self in all Ahimsa is the acme of bravery. Ahimsa is not possible without beings. This will prompt Ahimsa. fearlessness. Non-violence cannot be practiced by a weak person. Ahimsa cannot be practiced by a person who has Ahimsa is soul-force. Hate melts in the presence of love. no power of endurance and resistance. Ahimsa is a quality There is no greater power than Ahimsa. The practice of of the behavior of the strong. Ahimsa is the perfection of Ahimsa develops willpower to a considerable degree.