Swami Sivananda's ashram started as a simple cow shed & as you can see from the picture, grew to a small village. I spent many hours here sitting at the foot of Sivananda's bed when I was pregnant with Indira. Ganga aarti in the evening & kirtan too. At this ashram they have sung the Maha mantra continuously since 1947 - think about it, someone there in that room, always, singing, day & night, the Maha mantra, right now. The room in which it is sung or chanted is highly charged. It was Sivananda's sadhana (spiritual practice) hall. He decorated it with the pictures of saints, sages, seers from traditions from all over the world. Sivananda had an open heart, an open mind - he saw everyone as God.Those times are etched in my mind - those beautiful, serene scenes. The type of scenes that you go to in your mind when you need to feel peace again.
The Ities written & derived by Swami Sivananda Saraswati of Rishikesh.
I choose one a month to study & practice.
Serenity, Regularity, Absence of Vanity,
Sincerity, Simplicity, Veracity,
Equanimity, Fixity, Non-irritability,
1. SERENITY
Be tranquil within. Let that inner peace and joy radiate through a serene countenance. A serene countenance is peaceful, smiling and serious and does not betray any violent emotions. It is like the surface of a still lake.
2. REGULARITY
Be regular in your daily habits, and in your work and spiritual practices. Get up at a particular time. Be clock-like in your daily activities. You will be free from worry, fear, anxiety, haphazard and shabby work. You will do the right thing at the right moment.
3. ABSENCE OF VANITY
Do not boast of your birth, position, qualifications and spiritual attainments. Praise others. See good in all. Treat even the lowliest creatures as your equal and with respect.
4. SINCERITY
Let your words agree with the thoughts; let your actions agree with your words. Let there be harmony among your thoughts, words and actions.
5. SIMPLICITY
Be simple in your speech. Do not twist words and topics. Be plain; avoid diplomacy, cunningness and crookedness. Be simple in your dress. Be simple in your food.
6. VERACITY
Be truthful. Stick to your promises. Do not exaggerate. Do not twist facts. Think twice before you speak. Speak truthfully. Speak sweetly. Be precise in what you say.
7. EQUANIMITY
Be calm. Bear insult patiently. Bear injury, suffering, failures and disrespect calmly. Do not be elated by praise, pleasure, success and honour. Look upon both with equal vision. Behave alike towards friends and foes. Never let anything disturb your inner peace.
8. FIXITY
Remember that you cannot achieve anything if you are fickle-minded. Choose your goal or ideal and remember it always. Never let it go out of mind even for a moment.
9. NON-IRRITABILITY
Irritability is the precursor of violent outbursts of anger. Watch carefully for the disturbance in the mental equilibrium. Watch for the ripples of anger that might rise in the lake of the mind. Quell them then and there. Do not allow them to assume greater proportions. Then you will attain peace.
More tomorrow, x
