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Om Shri Ganeshaya Namah Sri Gurubhyoya Namah Salutations to the Remover of Obstacles Salutations to the Remover of Darkness & Ignorance

Divya Sandesh The Newsletter of THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA Inc. Regd: inc 9877082

Issue: Jan – Mar 2013

Adapt, Adjust, Accommodate

If everyone is to think that all others should do as one thinks, then all will be at loggerhead with one another. By adaptation to the circumstances with the spirit of adjustment and accommodation, in an attitude of give and receive, life can be made more fruitful and amicable than otherwise; rather, without this necessary qualification no one can live in peace or look for any progress. Therefore, the practice of adaptability, adjustment and accommodation is indispensable.

Swami Sivananda

God’s Response

Sometimes, we develop a guilty conscience and find it difficult to go towards a temple and stand before the Deity. We know that the before which we stand holds a Being before Whom nothing is hidden. We know what we are, and we know that He knows what we are. So, gradually we feel a strange reluctance, awkwardness in presenting ourselves before God. No matter what you may be, turn towards Him. You only have to call; immediately He responds.

Swami Chidananda

God’s Power

God first; the world next; yourself last. Follow this sequence in the development of the thought process so that God’s power and existence may be affirmed in everything.

Swami Krishnananda

CONTENTS 1. His Holiness Sri Swami Sivananda Sarawati Maharaj 2 - 4 2. GOD Operates In Selfless Service – Swami Sivananda 4 - 5 3. Perseverance and Aspiration Leads To Success – Swami Chidananda 6 4. DLSA Branch contacts 6 5. DLSA Australia Branch News 7 6. Upcoming Programmes 7 7. DLS Australia Divine Activities 7 8. Activities of Branches and Sivananda family 7 9. Festivals at a glance 7 2

HIS HOLINESS SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA SARASWATI MAHARAJ

BIRTH AND BOYHOOD carried with him a good quantity of sweets which his mother had prepared for him. When he arrived in Singapore, he was On Thursday, the 8th. of September, 1887, in the early almost half dead! hours of the morning, when the star Bharani was in the ascendant was born a boy-child in the village of Pattamadai Dr. Kuppuswamy describes his experiences in Malaya: on the bank of the river Tamraparani in South India. Sri "Immediately after disembarking, I went to the residence of P.S. Vengu Iyer, a revenue officer and a great Siva Bhakta Dr. Iyengar. He gave me a letter of introduction to his (devotee of Lord Siva), and Srimati Parvati Ammal, an friend, Dr. Harold Parsons, a medical practitioner in equally great god-fearing lady, were the fortunate parents of Seremban. When I arrived there, Dr. Parsons introduced me this child. The happy couple christened this last and third to Mr. A.G. Robins, the manager of a nearby rubber estate son of theirs Kuppuswamy. which had its own hospital. Fortunately for me, Mr. Robins was just in need of an assistant to work in the Estate Boy Kuppuswamy was intelligent and mischievous. In his Hospital. He was a terrible man with a violent temper, a boyhood itself he showed signs of Tyaga (renunciation) and giant figure, tall and stout. He asked me, 'Can you manage a love for fellow-beings. He used to pity the poor, feed the hospital all by yourself?' I replied 'Yes, I can manage even hungry at the door, and make his father throw a pie into the three hospitals'. I was appointed at once. I had been told by hands of pauper passing by. He often got cakes and a local Indian resident that I ought not to accept, in sweetmeats from his mother and distributed them liberally accordance with their policy, anything less than a hundred to his younger companions, dogs, cats, crows, and sparrows, dollars a month. Mr. Robins agreed to give me one hundred himself not eating a bit. He used to bring flowers and bael and fifty to start with". leaves for his father's Siva . The young doctor worked very hard. Unusual handicaps At the Rajah's High School, Ettayapuram, where he studied, began to tell upon him and he felt like resigning the job Kuppuswamy always topped the class and won prizes every after some time, but Mr. Robins would not allow him to go. year. He had a sweet voice and wonderful memory. When His Excellency Lord Ampthil, the Governor of Madras, Dr. Kuppuswamy was very kind, sympathetic, humorous, visited the Kuru Malai Hills in 1901 for hunting, witty, and sweet-speaking. Hopeless cases came to him, but Kuppuswamy sang a song of welcome on the Kumarapuram success was sure. Everywhere people declared that he had a railway platform. After the completion of the Matriculation special gift from God for the miraculous cures effected in examination, he studied at the S.P.G. College, the patients and acclaimed him as a very kind and Tiruchirapalli. In the college he used to take part in debates sympathetic doctor with a charming and majestic and dramas. He played the part of Helena beautifully when personality. In serious cases, he kept vigil all night. In his Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream" was staged in private practice, Dr. Kuppuswamy used to attend to the 1905. poor and often not charge them even visiting or consulting fees. Instead he would give them money for special diet or After the completion of the First Arts Examination, to cover their own expenses after discharge from hospital. Kuppuswamy went to the Medical School in Tanjore to He gave money like water. study medicine. He used to be tremendously industrious and never went home during the holidays. He would spend the Once a poor man, drenched to the skin, came to the doctor entire period in the hospital. He had free admission into the at night. His wife was in birth pangs. The doctor went there operation theater. Kuppuswamy was first in all subjects. He at once to her aid, and after attending to her, stayed outside possessed more knowledge than doctors with covetable the hut in spite of the heavy rain. Only after the save degrees, and in the first year itself he could answer the delivery of the child did the doctor return home the next papers which the final year students could not. morning. Kuppuswamy completed the course and earned the title of In spite of his busy life, Dr. Kuppuswamy served the M.B.,C.M. He practiced at Tiruchi. While practicing, he , Sannyasins, and beggars. He attended marriage started a medical journal called "The Ambrosia". He got functions, parties, and other social gatherings. Once a one hundred rupees from his mother for the initial expenses gave him a book "Jiva Brahma Aikyam" by Sri Swami of running the journal. Later, when his mother wanted a Satchidananda. It ignited the dormant spirituality in him. He hundred and fifty rupees for celebrating some festival, Dr. began to study the books of Swami Rama Tirtha, Swami Kuppuswamy had the money ready for her. Even then he Vivekananda, Sankara, Imitation of Christ, the Bible, and used to distribute the journal freely; he was very shy to ask literature of the Theosophical Society. He was very regular people for contribution. in his daily worship, prayer and Asanas. Study of sacred scriptures like the Gita, the Mahabharata, DOCTOR IN MALAYA (MALAYSIA) the Bhagavata, and the Ramayana was done with great A call came to Dr. Kuppuswamy from Malaya, soon after devotion. Sometimes he conducted Nandan Charitam and the death of his father. He used to have an adventurous sang and . He practiced Anahat Laya Yoga spirit in him. In 1913 he left India in the "S.S. Tara". and Swara Sadhana. Kuppuswamy belonged to an orthodox Brahmin family and High-class dress, and collection of curious and fancy was afraid to take non-vegetarian food in the ship. So he articles of gold, silver, and sandalwood always attracted the 3 doctor. Sometimes he purchased various kinds of gold rings fed them with his own hands when they fell sick. He and necklaces and wore them all at the same time. He used brought water from the Ganges and washed their Kutirs. He to wear ten rings on ten fingers! When he entered shops, he attended upon cholera and small-pox cases. If necessary, he never wasted his time in selection, haggling, and bargaining. kept vigil through the night by the side of the bed of the He gathered all that he saw. He paid the shopkeepers' bills ailing Sadhu. He carried sick persons on his back to the without scrutiny. hospital. With some money from his insurance policy that Nothing could tempt the doctor. His heart was as pure as the had matured, Swamiji started a charitable dispensary at Himalayan snow. His immense philanthropy and spirit of Lakshmanjula in 1927. He served the pilgrims and saw service and renunciation endeared him to all. People Narayana in them. lovingly called him the "Heart of Love". Swamiji practiced all the various and studied the The rich doctor did not engage a cook permanently. He was scriptures. After years of intense and unbroken Sadhana, he his own cook though he had work that gave him no leisure. enjoyed the bliss of Nirvikalpa Samadhi. He had come to Occasionally he engaged a cook. One such cook of his one the end of his spiritual journey. day wanted to have a photograph of himself taken. The He used to gather bits of paper and used envelopes, and doctor took him with great joy to a first class studio, made stitch them into little notebooks. He entered some self- the cook put on his own suit, shoes, and hat and had a photo instructions in them. Some of the instructions found in them taken. read thus: "Give up salt, give up sugar, give up spices, give RENUNCIATION up vegetables, give up chutnies, give up tamarind". In another we read: Serve Bhangis, serve rogues, serve As days passed, he reflected more and more and wanted to inferiors, remove faecal matter, clean clothes of Sadhus - renounce the world. His heart was purified through loving take delight, carry water". In another page: "Do not service. At last, Dr. Kuppuswamy, enjoying a lucrative revenge, resist not evil, return good for evil, bear insult and practice, renounced the world like Prince Siddartha, in injury". On some neat little pages we again read: "Forget 1923. He left Malaya for India. like a child any injury done by somebody immediately. At Madras he proceeded to the house of a friend and left his Never keep it in the heart. It kindles hatred. Cultivate Maitri luggage there. He began his pilgrimage. At Benares, he had (friendship), Karuna (compassion), Daya (mercy), Prema the Darshan (vision) of Lord Visvanath. He visited (love), Kshama (forgiveness)". In another paragraph we Mahatmas (great souls) and temples. At Dhalaj, a village on see: "Develop good manners, extreme politeness, courtesy, the bank of the Chandrabaga river, he met a postmaster and etiquette, good demeanour, nobility, gentleness, mildness. lived with him. He acted as the postmaster's cook, and when Never be rude, harsh, or cruel. There is nothing to be hated the latter arrived home in the evening, the doctor was ready in the world. Hatred is ignorance. All contempt for anything to shampoo his legs in spite of his remonstrances! It was the or being must be removed through love and Vichara postmaster who suggested Rishikesh when the aspiring (enquiry)". doctor wanted a place for solitary meditation. Swamiji traveled the whole length and breadth of India Dr. Kuppuswamy reached Rishikesh on the 8th of May, during his Parivrajaka (wandering monk) life. He visited 1924. On the 1st of June, 1924, there came His Holiness Sri important places of pilgrimage in the South, including Swami Visvananda Saraswati. The doctor saw a in the Rameswaram. He conducted Sankirtan and delivered monk and the monk saw a Chela (disciple) in the doctor. lectures. He visited Aurobindo and met Maharishi After a brief exchange of words, Dr. Kuppuswamy was Suddhananda Bharati. At Ramana Ashram, he had Darshan initiated into the Sannyas order by Swami Visvananda. of Sri Ramana Maharishi on the Maharishi's birthday. He Swami Vishnudevanandaji Maharaj, the Mahant of Sri sang Bhajans and danced in ecstasy with the Bhaktas of Kailas Ashram, performed the Viraja ceremonies. Ramana. Swamiji went on a trip to Kailas-Manasarovar and The Guru named the doctor Swami Sivananda Saraswati. Badri. Swami Visvananda wrote the necessary instructions about THE ORGANIZATION Sannyas Dharma from Benares. Swami Sivanandaji stayed at Swargashram for Sadhana. He returned after the pilgrimage, to Rishikesh, and in the year 1936 sowed the seed of The Divine Life Society on the SADHANA bank of the holy Ganga. He found an old Kutir, dilapidated Swami Sivananda dressed to clothe himself, ate to live, and and disused, which looked like an abandoned cowshed. To lived to serve humanity. A small dilapidated Kutir (hut), not him it was more than a palace. It had four 'rooms'. He resorted to by others and infested with scorpions, protected cleaned the Kutir, and occupied it. Then, the increasing him from rain and sun. Living in that Kutir, he did intense number of disciples who sought his lotus-feet, undaunted by Tapas (austerities), observed silence, and fasted. Often he forbidding conditions of living, necessitated expansion. fasted for days on end. He would keep a good stock of They found more cowsheds, vacant, but uninhabitably bread in his room, and for a week have this, together with filthy. In one room, an old cowherd was living; the others Ganges water. He would stand up to the hips in the ice-cold were full of hay and dung. In about a year or so, the old Ganges in winter mornings and commence his , coming cowherd also vacated his 'room', and the Divine Life army out only when the sun appeared. He would spend more than completed the occupation. Thus began the early life of The twelve hours in daily meditation. With all his intense Tapas, Divine Life Society. Swamiji did not neglect service of the sick. He visited the From this small beginning the Society grew imperceptibly huts of the Sadhus with medicines, served them, and and it is now the headquarters of a world-wide Organization shampooed their legs. He begged food on their behalf and having a large number of Branches both within the country 4 and outside. He got the Divine Life Society Registered as a in the hearts of the people. The effect was tremendous. Trust in the year 1936, with the main objects of Since then there was an incessant flow of seeking souls to dissemination of spiritual knowledge and selfless service of the Ashram, as also a greater inflow of letters from aspirants humanity. The free distribution of spiritual literature drew a from the entire country, which demanded more intense steady flow of disciples of Sri Swamiji. With the getting of dissemination of knowledge. The Yoga-Vedanta Forest able hands, he started the various departments of the Academy Press was established in September 1951, a Society to provide suitable fields of activity for the powerful means of wide dissemination of knowledge. Sri purification of their hearts and to grow spiritually. The Swamiji convened the World Parliament of Religions in publication of the monthly journal, 'The Divine Life', was 1953, at the Sivanandashram. commenced in September 1938, to coincide with the The small dispensary that was inseparable from Swami celebration of his birthday. The world was in grip of the 2nd Sivananda, grew slowly and became regular Hospital with world-war and in order to release a continuous stream of X-Ray and other facilities. The Sivananda Eye Hospital was peace-current in the whole world, to help the distressed formally opened in December 1957. The Hospital has 10 minds of the people, he started the Akhanda Mahamantra beds for in-patients at present and is being expanded to have (non-stop chanting of the Mahamantra, Hare Rama 30 beds. Hare Rama; Rama Rama Hare Hare; Hare Krishna; Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, round-the-clock) on The Publication League had published almost all the the 3rd of December 1943, and also instituted the Lord Sri writings of the Master and a need was felt by his disciples to Visvanath Mandir with three-time regular worship, daily, on do research in his works. This gave rise to the establishment the 31st December 1943. of the Sivananda Literature Research Institute in 1958, which, among many things, decided to get the works of the Swami Sivananda believed in synthesis in everything, in Master translated and published systematically in all the Yoga as well as in the alleviation of human suffering. The regional languages in India. Thus the S.L.D. Committees Allopathic treatment was inseparable from him and the was established in 1959 which has Regional Committees for Society, even from the earliest days of his life at each language. Swargashram. He now felt the need to serve the people with genuine Ayurvedic preparations out of the rare Himalayan The Society's Silver Jubilee was celebrated in 1961, by herbs. He therefore instituted the Sivananda Ayurvedic which time the Master saw the fulfillment of his mission in Pharmacy in 1945, which now has grown to such an extent his own lifetime. that it is even unable to cope up with the increasing Swami Sivananda radiated his divine and lofty message of demands from people. service, meditation and God-realization to all parts of the Swami Sivananda organized the All-world Religions world through his books, running to more than three Federation on the 28th December 1945 and established the hundred, through periodicals and letters. His devoted All-world Sadhus Federation on 19th February 1947. The disciples are drawn from all religions, cults and creeds in year 1947 saw a great expansion in the activities of the the world. Society. It was the year of the Diamond Jubilee of the Great Swami Sivananda's Yoga, which he has significantly called Soul, when a number of buildings sprang up. The Yoga- the 'Yoga of Synthesis', effects a harmonious development Vedanta Forest Academy was established in the year 1948 of the 'hand', 'head' and 'heart' through the practice of Karma to give a systematic spiritual training to the resident Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. Sadhaks, and also to benefit the visiting seekers. On the 14th of July 1963, the Great Soul Swami Sivananda Swami Sivananda undertook a lightning All-India and entered Mahasamadhi (departure of a Self-realized saint Ceylon (Sri Lanka) tour in 1950 to deliver his divine from his mortal coil) in his Kutir on the bank of Ganga, in message throughout the length and breadth of the country. Shivanandanagar. He virtually awakened the moral and spiritual consciousness

God Operates In Selfless Service Swami Sivananda

Actions which are of a binding nature lose that nature when within (Antaryamin). He is perfectly conscious that God you do them with equanimity or evenness of mind through the really operates in this body-machine and moves this machine. help of pure reason, which has lost all attachment to sensual This of equanimity or evenness of mind now objects and which is resting in the Self. You will have to understands fully the fundamental principles that govern all cultivate and develop this pure reason and equanimity of bodily actions. He performs all actions for God’s sake in mind. God has given this marvellous machine, to man for fulfilment of His purpose without desire for fruit and service of humanity and thereby attaining an immortal life. If eventually attains the everlasting peace. he uses this body for satisfaction of petty desires and selfish Work Without Any Motive ends, he becomes an object of pity and condemnation. He is Man generally plans to get the fruits of his works before he caught up in the wheel of birth and death. Rest the mind in the starts any kind of work. The mind is so framed that it cannot Self or Ishvara when you perform any action. He who has think of any kind of work without remuneration or reward. developed pure poised reason and who is resting in the Self, This is due to Rajas. Human Swabhava is always like this. is quite aware that all actions are done by the Divine Actor 5 When discrimination dawns, when the mind is filled with good actions. Sympathy, love, the spirit of patriotism and some more Sattwa or purity, this nature changes slowly. The service will be developed. Nothing is lost when the candle spirit of selflessness slowly creeps in. The quality of Rajas burns. creates selfishness and attachment. A selfish man has no large In agriculture you may manure and plough the land. Your heart. He has no ideal. He is petty-minded. His mind is full of efforts will be rendered futile if you do not get rain in the greed. He always calculates. He cannot do any service in a year. This is not the case in Nishkamya Karma Yoga. There is magnanimous manner. He will say: "I will get so much no uncertainty here regarding the result of any effort. Further money. I must put forth so much work only." He will weigh there is not the least chance of getting harmed by practising the work and money in a balance. He cannot do a little more this Karma Yoga. If the doctor is injudicious, if he work. He will be ever watching the time for stopping his administers the medicine in over-dosage, some harm will work. He is mercenary. He is hired for money. He is actuated certainly result. This is not the case in the practice of Karma by the hope of reward. He is greedy of gain. Selfless service Yoga. Even if you do a little service, even if you practise a is unknown to him. He has no idea of God. He has no glimpse little Nishkamya Karma Yoga in any form, it will save you of Truth. He cannot imagine of an expanded, selfless life. He from great fear, from the fear of Samsara and of birth and has got into a narrow, circumscribed circle or groove. He death with its concomitant evils. That is the reason why Lord dwells within this small grove. His love extends to his own Krishna Says to Arjuna: body, his wife and children. That is all. Generosity is unknown to him. Nehaabhikramanaasosti pratyavaayo na vidyate Svalpamapyasya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. If you expect fruits for your actions, you will have to come back into this world to enjoy such fruits. You will have to "There is no loss of effort here, there is no harm. Even a little take birth again. A Nishkamya Karma Yogi says: "Do all of this service delivers one from great fear." Gita: Chapter II- works without expectation of fruits. This will produce Chitta 40. Suddhi. Then you will get knowledge of the Self. You will get The path of Karma Yoga, which eventually leads to the Moksha or eternal bliss, peace and immortality." This is his attainment of the infinite bliss of the Self, cannot be futile. doctrine. That is the reason why Lord Krishna says to Arjuna: Ignorant people say that one cannot work without any motive. Karmanyeva adhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana It is a great pity that they have not understood the essence and Ma karmaphalahetur bhurma te sangostvakarmani. truth of Karma Yoga. Their minds are saturated with all sorts "Thy business is with the action only, never with its fruits; so of fantastic desires and selfishness, and as a result, their let not the fruits of action be thy motive, nor be thou to minds are very impure and clouded. They cannot grasp the inaction attached." Gita: Chapter II-47. underlying truth of Karma Yoga. They judge others from their own standpoint. Selflessness is a thing unknown to them. God dispenses the fruits of actions according to the motive. If Their minds and brains are rendered callous and so they the motive is pure, you will get Divine Grace and purity. If cannot vibrate properly to understand what a motiveless the motive is impure, you will get rebirth in this Mrityuloka to action is. Passionate householders cannot dream of doing any reap the fruits of your actions. Again you will do virtuous and work without expecting some gain for themselves and their vicious actions through the force of Raga-dwesha (likes- families. dislikes). You will be entrapped in the never-ending wheel of birth and death. When the thought of doing good becomes part and parcel of a man’s very being, he will not entertain any motive at all. He But you should not remain in a state of inertia also takes immense delight in serving others, in doing good to (Akarmani) thinking that you will not get the fruits if you others. There is a peculiar joy and Ananda in the practice of work selflessly. You must not say: "What is the use of my vigorous Karma Yoga. The Karma Yogi gets inner spiritual work now? I can’t get any fruits. I will keep quiet." This is strength and power by performing motiveless and selfless also bad. You will become Tamasic and dull. There will be actions. mental inactivity. You will get purity of mind if you work in the spirit of Nishkamya Karma Yoga. This is a very great He should understand the secret of Karma Yoga. He should reward for your actions. You cannot imagine the exalted plunge himself in selfless work. He must work incessantly. He condition of a man of pure mind. He has unbounded peace, must nurse people with Atma Bhava. He must serve society in strength and joy. He is very near to God. He is dear to God. a variety of ways. Gradually he will understand the glory and He will soon receive the divine light. Work without any sort splendour of unselfish work. He will become a changed being of motive and feel its effects, purity and inner strength. What with divine effulgence and sweet Yogic fragrance. Many of an expanded heart you will have! Indescribable! Practise, feel his actions may be selfish in the beginning of his Yogic and enjoy this state. career. It does not matter. He should not be discouraged on this score. But, slowly when he grows in purity, some of his No Loss In Karma Yoga actions will turn out to be unselfish. In the long run all his You do not lose anything in Karma Yoga. Even if you do a actions will be unselfish. He should patiently work with little service to the country or to the society or to poor sick indefatigable energy. He has to destroy his old mind of people, it brings its own advantages and benefits. It purifies selfishness and build a new mind of selflessness. This is your heart and prepares the Antahkarana (mind, intellect, ego doubtless up-hill work. This demands struggle and constant and subconscious mind) for the reception of knowledge of effort with asinine patience and iron determination. Selfless Atma. The Samskaras or impressions of these good actions work elevates and brings freedom. Selfish work retards are indelibly imbedded in your subconscious mind. The force spiritual progress and fastens one more chain to your feet. If of these Samskaras will again propel you to do some more you find it difficult to work without any motive, have one 6 strong motive for freedom when you work. This will not bind Their names are still remembered. The whole world worships you. This will destroy all other lower selfish motives and will them with reverence. Can you attribute an iota or grain of eventually die by itself, just as the stick used in burning a selfish motive to their actions? They lived for doing service to dead body burns the dead body and is itself consumed in the others. They were examples of absolute self-abnegation. end. The joy of a developed Karma Yogi is really unbounded. Expand. Purify your heart. Live in the true spirit of Karma Words cannot adequately describe his exalted state and Yoga. Live every second for the realisation of the ideal and inward happiness. goal of life. Then and then alone will you realise the true Look at the stupendous and magnanimous work turned out by glory of Karma Yoga. Keep before you the examples of the Lord Buddha, Sri Sankara and other Karma of yore. great Karma Yogis who served mankind and thus radiated Their names are handed down from posterity to posterity. peace, bliss and wisdom unto all.

Perseverance and Aspiration Leads to Success Swami Chidananda

When spiritual aspirants, seekers and sadhaks are looking for the obstacles that come in its way, it circumvents them and guidance, when they are seeking clarification and some goes onward. Our ancients also compared this continuity to advice about their difficulties and doubts, the ultimate advice the flow of oil from one vessel to another. Just as the oil flows that is usually given is, "Whatever you are engaged in doing, in an unbroken, continuous stream, so should one’s inner continue to do it, but make it gradually progressive. Do more spiritual life and sadhana be. and more of it. Increase your sadhana, and persevere in In addition, keep your aspiration alive and blazing. Mystics your sadhana. This is the way." and saints have spoken about this great longing by giving Impatience does not help in any way. In any journey you have human analogies from everyday society and life. If your to cover the distance between where you are and your longing for God, if your desire for meeting the Lord is as destination. If you are eager to reach the destination early, keen, as intense, as that of an unfaithful wife longing to then increase your pace and speed a little more. In addition, secretly meet her lover, if your longing for God is like that of cover a comparatively greater distance each day than you a miser constantly thinking of ways and means to accumulate have been doing hitherto. That may mean walk more hours more wealth, if your longing for God is like the longing of a than you have been doing. If you have been walking six hours sensuous person hankering day and night after sense a day, walk seven, maybe eight hours. It is thus that a traveller enjoyments of various kinds, then surely you will attain God- will be able to fulfil his desire to reach the destination earlier. experience, you will attain God, you will come face to face with the Supreme Being. Even so, a sadhaka in the spiritual life, on the path of sadhana, should gradually increase and persevere in One mystic came forward with this assurance: "If you have his sadhana, be it japa, be it meditation, be it study, be it the intensity of longing for God of these three—the secret praying to the Lord, be it remembering Him in the midst of longing of the unfaithful wife, the longing of the miser and your duties and work. Do not let any doubt become an the longing of the sensual person thirsting after sensual obstacle in your path. Let the doubt be there, you carry on pleasure—and do not attain the Lord, I stand responsible. I your sadhana with greater vigour. This very act itself give my guarantee." Many of the mystics of both East and sometimes helps in clearing up doubts. What we could not West embodied in themselves such longing. understand a little while before, we begin to understand as we It all adds up to saying that we should not be lukewarm. We continue our sadhana and make it more progressive. should become the very personification of that longing. We All want to succeed in the spiritual life. This is but natural, should become in our total nature that longing personified. and success is achieved by adhering to our This is the inner truth of all spiritual life and sadhana. This spiritual sadhana and enhancing it. Continue to do what you should be the inner content of the sadhaka’s heart. are doing and do more and more of it. This is the one sure We should ponder deeply and become benefited by dwelling way of ultimately succeeding in attaining the goal of life— upon these truths about the life mystical—a life of devotion, continuous, unceasing movement towards the great goal. perseverance and aspiration. May the grace of the Divine and Persevere and augment your sadhana day by day, and you the of Holy Master enable us to become such an have the key to sure attainment of the great goal. aspirant and seeker and enable us to keep this before us as a By analogy, it is this continuity and onward progress that touchstone and ideal. makes each river ultimately attain the ocean. No matter what DLS AUSTRALIA BRANCH CONTACTS Contact Us: Email - [email protected] Website - www.dlsaus.org Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/dlsaus Recordings of Skype Satsangs on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/thedivinelifesociety Recording of bhajans etc. by DLS Australia devotees at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/dlsaus Daily quotes from Gurudev Swami Sivananda on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SwamiSivananda Daily quotes from Sri Swami Chidananda on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SwamiChidananda Updates on HQ on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheDivineLifeSociety 7 UPCOMING PROGRAMMES MONTHLY SATSANG: 1. Sunday 06 Jan 2013 – 4 pm to 5.30 pm Address: 16, Grazier Circuit, Pemulwuy, NSW 2145 Contact: Shalav and Poonam Mehta Tel: (02) 9769 0690 2. Sunday 03 February 2013 – 4 pm to 5.30 pm Address: 6, Ruby Place, Seven Hills, NSW 2147 Contact: Murali and Shanti Tel: (02) 9920 1215 3. Sunday 03 March 2013 – 4 pm to 5.30 pm “Available”

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HINDI CLASSES FOR CHILDREN: Strathfield: Dr. Asha Gupta has been conducting classes and teaching the Hindi language and culture to the children Every Saturday, Time 11.30am-2.30pm. Place: Homebush Boys Highschool, Room No-76, Contact: Dr Asha Gupta; Phone: (02) 9764 6604

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LIBRARY: Books published by the Divine Life Society headquarters can be borrowed from the library at Wentworthville: 85, Thane Street, Wentworthville, NSW-2145; Contact: Gunvant Vaghela Phone: (02) 9688 3312 Eastwood: 16 Threlfall Street, Eastwood , NSW-2122 Contact: Vijay Gokarn Phone: (02) 9801 5900 or 0411 450 321

ACTIVITIES OF BRANCHES AND SIVANANDA FAMILY

CANBERRA Satsang: First Sunday of each month Address:- 7 Longford Street, Lyons, Canberra; Ph. 62850105, Mob. 0400690204 Contact - Manish Chopra Lunch time Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation Contact: Kamal Sharma (02) 6258 6925; Subhas Chandra (02) 6294 4344 MELBOURNE Monthly Satsanga held first Saturday of every month at 15 Bareena Grove, East Doncaster, Victoria 3109 at 6 pm. All are welcome. For more information Tel (03) 9395 1840 Contact: Sri P.B. Shah Phone: (03) 9395 1085 Molloy Sivananda Ashram, North Queensland For activities at the ashram, Contact: Ms Hilary Perry-Keene, 20 Fraser Road, Mount Molloy, N.Q. 4871; Contact: Phone - (07) 4094 1168 Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre; Katoomba Yoga and meditation classes: for beginners, Intermediate and advance group. For regular activities of Yoga and Meditation at the Ashram, Contact: Kamaladevi - (02) 4782 3245 Email - [email protected]