TIME zone CONVERTER

In this 4 part series we will walk through anything Life throws at us – even a pandemic – armed with the Yogic Wisdoms, Yogic Technologies & Universal Grace of the YAMA-s : NIYAMA-s : Kosha-s, Klesha-s, Chakra-s : 5 FOLD PATH. What do these mean to us in contemporary times? Are you obedient or are you in alignment? In the pursuit of Truth, it is often necessary to let go of consistency.

– Niradhara amma

: Join the InnerCircle : e-Satsang :

from SwAr Ashram’s Library online : Sat-Chit-Anand is the Joy of Conscious Reading

& then tune in for e-Satsng 40 minutes discourse Q&A followed by live-streamed Agnihotra

• at completion of each series, you get the entire 4 week series emailed to you in PDF format to review at your own pace. (scroll below the lesson to learn all about the innerCircle)

10 September, 2020

: week 4 : the five fold path :

Welcome to the fourth and final week of “Walk Like a Yogi” series. This week we will discover the 5 Fold Path of Parama Satguru Shree Gajanan Maharaj (ParamaShree) of Akkalkot. He is the one responsible for reviving Agnihotra in 1944.

Agnihotra is the most foundational Yajnya practice and was since ancient times written in Atharva Veda, but in modern times, so many Brahmins were getting western education and leaving the Brahmanic Priestly practices to fewer and fewer. This discipline of Agnihotra was too difficult for the householder to achieve without years of training in the pranic practice of Swar Yog to know the exact time of sunrise and sunset, there were not even clocks in those days and only great Yogis could know the exact second by this pranic practice.

SATGURU means Perfected Master. Parama Satguru means Highest or most Supreme among all Perfect Masters.

The mother of the Son of Man was a great Yogini. Yogini is feminine for Yogi. The father was a great Nada Brahma Yogi. Nada Brahma means the “Word that was in the beginning, which was with God, which was God and by which everything was made that was made”.

Parama Shree has stated that Self Realization, Liberation, comes only through total surrender to the Almighty. “Not my will but Thy will be done”. This is the culmination of all Yoga.

On 27th September, 1944 (Dassera according to the Indian calendar Ashwin Shuddha 4, Saka 1866 – aka the auspicious day of Vijayadashmi.) Parama Shree took the sacred vow at the feet of an auspicious vision of, Lord Parshuram, the Eternal Avatar, where he was shown 4 dying dogs. These dogs are the representation of the Vedas known to follow Lord Dattatreya. The vow:”I will resuscitate Vedas.”

The vow put an end to the era of Kali Yug andushered in the’New Era’ named by Parama Shree as Satya Vikram Samvat. For this reason, he is known by his devotees as Kalki Avatar. the 10th incarnation of Vishnu, whose mission is to eradicate pollutants and purify the planet for the New Era, the return of Satya Yug. On the same day Sapta Shloki (Seven Verses) were revealed unto Shree. This is where Agnihotra and the 5 Fold Path was revealed as the vehicle of purification. The PDF of Sapta Shloki is your e-Prasad today.

Parama Shree had to find a way to teach Agnihotra to the masses, when even the most learned Brahmins studied 12 years to learn how to detect the exact times of Agnihotra. Living in the era just after WW2, he was able to have timetables made from early wartime computers (the size of a whole room – like the Wizard of OZ!) operated by post-war veterans who were his disciples. These tables served all of India. Parama Shree and his Mother Sonamata, a Great Yogini, set out to teach every common man and woman householder to do Agnihotra in effort to reverse the ill effects of the industrial age and its pollution that was beginning to plague India (and the world). This was a groundbeaking task to teach non-Brahmins and to teach women to perform this ritual! You can read more about Param Shree’s bio HERE.

Parama Satguru once said,
“Whatever Almighty has willed to be done through our instrument shall be done. We are not votaries of any religious denomination. Whether it is the Bible or the Quran or the doctrines of Hindus we will convey the message with equal yearning. He, Sonamata and his disciple Shree Potidarji travelled India extensively teaching in the 1960s and 70s.

Parama Shree sent his disciple Shree Vasant to tour the world in 1971 teaching Agnihotra & the Five Fold Path. This is how i came to meet Shree Vasant and subsequently was invited to India for pre-planning of the Somayags near the end of his years on Earth. Back in the 1970s the book to your left, Light Towards Divine Path was the first book on topic written by Shree. It seems to be out of print and not online. The kindle version is linked below the image. If you want a hard copy, message me, i can get a copy nearby to SwAr Ashram at Shree’s family Goshala, and i could mail a copy to anyone.

Here is the 5 Fold Path itself outlined along with references to find these precepts in Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (our themes book of Yogic Reference these past 6 weeks.) These are all found in numerous sacred writings since the Rg Veda (earliest written work on the eternal laws Sanatana Dharma).

• YAJNYA : Practice Agnihotra, attune yourself to the circadian rhythms, purify your body-mind vehicle and fortify your immune system. At the same time, a 1km radius will benefit from purifications and fortifications including even anti-radioctive protection, pathogen resistance, mental clarity and more. Reference can be found in every Veda, there is a complete Yajur Veda. Agnihotra itself is mentioned first in Atharva Veda (1000 BC), v 97:1, pouring ghee into the ritual fire was known as early as in the Ṛgveda (c. 5000 BC). There is Agnihotra outlined in the Grihyasutras and in later post-Vedic texts. (In ref to Bhagavad Gita, a much later text, Krishna says “All Life is Yajnya” so refers to All the Yogas)
• DAANA : The Rg Veda has the earliest mention of daana in the Vedas. The Rigveda relates it to Satya “truth” and in another hymn points to the guilt one feels from not giving to those in need – (Inaction is indeed an Action).^. It uses da, the root of word daana, in its hymns to refer to the act of giving to those in distress in Book 10, Hymn 117 of the Rigveda. The Upanishads, composed before 500 BCE, present some of the earliest Upanishadic discussion of dāna. Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, in verse 5.2.3, states that three characteristics of a good, developed person are self-restraint (damah), compassion or love for all sentient life (daya), and charity (dāna). Daana is related to and mentioned in ancient texts with concepts of Dakshina which means gift or fee one can afford; Paropakāra which means benevolent deed or helping others; and Bhiksha which means alms. These are all forms of Daana. (Karma)
• TAPAS : can be referenced easily in full context in the Yoga Sutra 2.43 – the third Niyama. Tapa/Tapasya being a Sanskrit term literally meaning HEAT, it is used here to denote spiritual, mental or emotional suffering or an austerity which is difficult to achieve as a spiritual practice as it brings out the aformentioned anguishes, restlessness, awkwarness, resistance in us. For one practicing Fire Rituals such as Agnihotra or any Sadhana which involve alot of self-discipline, Tapas is the journey to spiritual ecstasy of a yogi or tāpani (a practitioner of fire rituals, austerities, parayana, japa, an ascetic). In this sense, a Bhakti is performing Tapas while chanting kirtan & bhajans endlessly thought the days & nights. By these processes we literally burn off bad Karma-s and accrue good Karma-s. Tapas recurrs in Vedic literature such as Ŗg Veda (10.154. 5), Satapatha Brahmana (5.3 – 5.17), and Atharva Veda (4.34. 1, 6.61. (Kriya and Bhakti)
• KARMA : Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 verse 1 is on the topic of Karma Yoga, this is the sense in which Karma is to be taken in our context today. To do self-less deeds. Karma Yog is but one of the 3 Paths of Yoga detailed in Bhagavad Gita. These other 4 steps on our Path today can also refer towards these 3 Paths in Yoga. Being a Karma Yogi means fully engaging with the world in an active way. Look around and see what needs doing. Then just do it. Yogis are often only focused on BEing and that is certainly important, however we do not live in a vacuum. Ignoring the needs of others while jouneying on our Self-quest can range from imply unkind to being cruel. There is a direct path to enlightenment that is often overlooked by those clinging too much to their own path. The surprisingly easy way towards Self-realization is to help others. In this way we quickly experience that there are no ‘others’. We are all one organism, working together. The suffering we can aliviate in others, is our own hidden suffering. (Karma)
• SVADHYAYA : Yoga Sutra 2.44 Here we balance out engaging with the external world with exploring and caring for our own inner world. With the guidance of an enlightened Master or a friend just a step ahead on the path, by solitude and introspection, communion with Nature and by study of sacred texts are all ways to Self-Study, the meaning of Svadyaya. These are precepts so common to every aspect of Yoga, we virtually never are not practicing Svadhyaya once we step on the Yogic path. It is a level of awareness that is a lifestyle. Most of the time in a busy life we experience Svadhyaya by mirroring with all around us. Taking time to just be alone and process the day is an integral part of developing Conscious Awareness in Yogic Life. (Jnana or Raja)

and there you have it! Enjoy exploring how you can add these 5 Sadhana-s to your life towards ultimate Purification for Liberation!

: aum tat sat :

More Agnihotra links & where to read Yoga Sutras links below :Week 1:

_༺🔥༻

SwAr Ashram is experiencing unprecedented hardships due to the nationwide lockdown of India and the particular difficulties of rural isolation. We are a charity based initiative with families depending on us and we have overhead of our own to contend with. We are reaching out to you, offering both free and paid courses including rare teachings online so that we can continue to communicate with the developed world & earn for our charities by sharing the Art & Science of Yoga with you.

_༺🔥༻ Blessings fom Amma Niradhara नर्मदे हर NARMADE HAR! _༺🔥༻

Several popular copies of Yoga Sutra translations & commentaries are linked at the bottom of this 4 part blog post at the end of Week 1. Highly recommended to add the Yoga Sutras of your choice to your Yogic book collection today.

THE RESCHEDULED SHARING OF THE BELOW LIBRARY PAGE WAS 3 SEPTEMBER, 2020 THE JAYANTI (BIRTHDAY) OF SWAMI ANANTRAM. IN ADDITION TO THE e-PRASAD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BLOG-POST, AMMA ALSO OFFERS YOU THIS SPECIAL GURU-PRASAD. (e-Satsang 6 Sept.)

INVOCATION TO PATANJALI
yogena cittasya padena vacam • malam sarirasya ca vaidyakena •
yopakarottam pravaram muninam • patanjalim pranjalir anato‘smi • abahu purusakaram • sankha cakrasi dharinam • sahasra sirasam svetam • pranamami patanjalim •

common chant to open study of Yoga sutras composed by patanjali’s devotees

27 August, 2020

: WEEK Three : energy bodies :

This Sunday innerCircle e-Satsang’s topic is all about how Yoga Sutras advises us to care for our energy bodies. Clearly, the teaching is that our outer and inner lives are connected, each feeds the other. We gain control over our well-being by Yogic Sadhana-s outlined in the Yoga Sutra-s. But first we learn what those disturbances are, how they work in the body-mind vehicle and then what to do about it. This is a vast topic for an 8 week e-course of Yoga Sutra-s which i am offering HERE>

• How to work with Emotional & Mental traumas in our Energy Bodies as outlined in the Yoga Sutras.
• Understand vrittis, kleshas, samskaras, vasanas, gunas can clash with clear perfect divine koshas, chakras, nadis and how to remedy that.
• What to be aware of if attempting to raise your kundalini.

“YOGAS CHITTA VRTTI NIRODHAH” Yoga is the peaceful resolution of conflict in the heart-mind.”

YOGA SUTRAS OF PATANJALI 1:2

Sutra 1:2 (above) & 1:5 (left).

Key word here is Vrtti. This refers to the ever-moving fluctuations of the mental-emotional mind. These are not inherently bad. It is the fact that these are re-active rather than the True state of Consciousness is what we are focusing on here.

It may be impossible to never be re-active to positive or negative stimulii as a human being, and it may not even be desirable or practical to be so detached, however, the self-mastery or control over these fluctuations is what brings a Yoga inner peace.

The Yogi chooses when to react with joy or disapproval and can just as easily NOT react, particularly to triggers of anxiety, stress & trauma. There are sometimes valid reasons that we need our re-actions for our survival – it is a function of Ahamkara, the ego that is our key to staying alive in the body. There are also plenty of times when we make the situation more unpleasant and more difficult by not having control over our re-actions.

Keeping our channels clear by Yogic Sadhana, we are able to discern and walk in Alignment with the Higher Good which will always be a match for our own Higher Purpose if we are actually in Alignment.

Sutra 1:12 : Our re-actions are our Karma. We obviously would wish to avoid non-virtuous, negative harmful Karma-s and accrue virtuous, positive helpful Karma-s.

Yoga is the method to master control over our own actions so that we pro-act rather than re-act.

Unconscious and subconscious re-actional karma-s (which are most often not healthy for us or others) are rooted in tendencies or latencies (Vasana-s) that function like chains of samskaras, trigger points. Often described as fingerprints in our psyches, think of Vasana-s as fingerprint access to Samskaric patterns. Vasana-s are our trigger fingers, they trigger us.

These are like bumps in the road of Life. Roadblocks. Speedbumps.

Attentiveness in the form of Abhyasa (self-abidance, mindfulness and self-regulation) and Vairagya (properly choosing what needs to be let go of).

In these ways, we find our True Light on the Path is able to shine through, unencumbered.

Sutra 2:14 : Vasana-s & Samskara-s (discussed more in depth last week) trigger patterns that manifest as Karma-s which often are not for our highest good or the good of others. Sage Patanjali categorized 5 Kleshas (categories of suffering) that occur because of our imperfect human condition. He does this for the purpose of teaching the remedy of these by Kriya-s, an active method towards practicing Yoga.

Sadhana Padah starts off giving us a clue to next week but lets skip right to the Kleshas-s.

Sutras 2:1-3 : These mental-emotional afflictions are of a subtle nature but they are the blueprints of physical ailments and our outer re-active Karmas-s that also lead to more physical and subtle ailments – Duhkha (suffering). In order to understand the remedial Kriya Yoga methods and how they work for us, we need to know the metaphysical qualities of our energy bodies.

Sutra 4:11 : This is the basis of controlling our own Akashic Record, by owning and controlling our own causes & effects (Karma-s).

Chapter 2, Sadhana Padah, is filled with practices we can do to achieve the peace of being in Yog. I will get to that in a minute.

We have to get to Chapter 4, Samadhi Padah, to get to the map of why these functions of the body-mind work together.

In English: Ignorance of one’s True Self (I-AM) causes us to use our mind and senses towards ill-effect. This is why we suffer in this live as well as cycle through birth & death again & again.

Sutra 2:31 begins to hint at the symptoms we must target in order to remedy them with Kriya-s such as all 8 limbs of Yoga describe, particularly Pranayama. also particular Asana-s that are regulated by Pranayama. Meditation & its tools such as Trakak, Mantra, Agnihotra and more.

Being informed about the 3 Hearts, 4 Minds, 3 main Nadi-s is going to help you tremendously in your Sadhana. These are the life-blood coursing through the entire scripture. Kosha-s are outlined by Shri Brahmananda below in reference to how to use them in Asana & Pranayama of Sadhana Padah.

Sutra 2:45 : There are 7 main Chakras, some of which are touched upon in the Yoga Sutras in Chapter 3, Vibhuti Padah – how to achieve specific Samyama by meditating on the various Chakras.

Patanjali doesnt concern his Sutra-s with Kundalini as a word in itself or as a system. Nadi-s & energy centers are individually given nods in every Chapter for individual purposes. Within Asana, Pranayama, Mudra & Bandha, Chakra-s are outlined but not detailed in the Yoga Sutras, we can also employ this knowledge of Chakra-s.

Ashtang Yog of Patanjali is primarily concerned with transcending the body-mind by mastering it as a vehicle to attain spiritual results, I AMness, beyond the body-mind. Kundalini Chakra-s is primarily a method of working in the body-mind vehicle to achieve tangible results. The Chakras are outlined more fully in Soundarya Lahari by Adi Shankaracharya, a topic for a future e-Satsang series.

Sutras 3:30-33 : The Chakra-s as well as Kosha-s are viscerally felt and known through Pranayama in the Sadhana Padah, including as it is employed in Asana practice. Some Chakra Meditations are listed in Vibhuti Padah, Chapter 3. Examples can be read above.

Pranayama is outlined in 4 parts below. Sutras 2:48-50 :

Sutra 1:31 : All of the symptoms shown in the image on the left are forms of Duhkha (suffering). Lets look at some possible Pranayama Yoga Therapies for each one given. When i do a session, i first run and intake sheet and one can determine which methods are best for an individual. Pranayama is just one method and normally i will include 3-5 methods.

Distress, anxiety, anguish (trauma) > Anuloma Viloma Chandra Bhedan Pranayama (aka Nadi Shodhana). Inhale Left side (Ida Nadi) count 4/ Hold both in the central Nadi (Sushumna) count 8/ Exhale right side (Pingala Nadi)count 16/ Inhale right side count 4/ Hold count 8/ Exhale left side count 16, repeat 10x. See the video.

Restlessness, lack of peace > 4-7-8 Triangular Breathing. Inhale 4 counts, Hold 7, Exhale 8 counts. Do this lying down, breathing through both nostrils/ nadis.

Nervous shaking : Kapalabhati, more advanced Bastrika. See the video.

Breathing disorders : Square Breathing creates a balance of the Nadis using Nadi Shodhana usually recommended to begin on the Right side (Pingala) in the daytime and Left side (Ida) when practicing before bedtime. Depending on the specific disorder, the starting side will be determined. Equal inhale (Puraka), hold in (antah-Kumabhaka) exhale (Rechaka) and hold out (bahya-Kumbakha) are performed according to the physical abilty of the client and increasing was they gain strength.

The self-regulated self- abidance of Abhyasa is achieved by careful practice of Yoga-s with mindfulness of the energy bodies. All Klesha-s and Karma-s can be dissolved, allowing full freedom from afflictions for the Yogi. Sutra 4:31 :

Next week : the 5 fold path of an Agnihotri and where we can find each of those steps in the Yoga Sutras.

: aum tat sat :

More Agnihotra links & where to read Yoga Sutras links below :Week 1:

_༺🔥༻

SwAr Ashram is experiencing unprecedented hardships due to the nationwide lockdown of India and the particular difficulties of rural isolation. We are a charity based initiative with families depending on us and we have overhead of our own to contend with. We are reaching out to you, offering both free and paid courses including rare teachings online so that we can continue to communicate with the developed world & earn for our charities by sharing the Art & Science of Yoga with you.

_༺🔥༻ Blessings fom Amma Niradhara नर्मदे हर NARMADE HAR! _༺🔥༻

20 August, 2020

: WEEK TWO : NIYAMA-s :

NIYAMA – Personal observances (how do we care for ourself?)

A note about the photos in this series. The textbook is Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati’s translation / commentary of Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, available through Ananda Ashram’s online store. A master teacher edition, the Textbook of Yoga Psychology, is the ultimate companion to this little book, also on the same website. You will find there a DVD and CD of Guruji Shri Brahmananda teaching and chanting the entire Yoga Sutra. Numerous other translations and commentaries are listed and linked at the very bottom of this blog post along with more places to read the Yoga Sutras free online.

The photos are intentionally taken to capture not only the words but also the feeling of a physical book. The curve of the turned page, the shadows of your hand on the paper, the live edge of the stacked pages… Does anyone enjoy physical books like I do?

The Niyama-s are self-disciplines to improve your own character & raise your frequency.

Often we hear it said that we ought to raise our frequency. But how does one do that exactly? The Niyama-s are a set of instructions.

• Simply put:
• Purify Yourself inside & out
• Be Happy with What You Have
• Practice Self-Disciplines
• Study Yourself to Improve
• Surrender it All to a Higher Power

If ever there was a time when the whole world is collectively being guided to follow the Yama-s & Niyama-s, Now is the Time. Imagine if everyone took this opportunity how the vibration of the planet would rise!

You might be prompted to think of a few ways to apply these in your life right now, just from these broad topical suggestions. The following breakdown of each will detail ways to practice each of the Niyama-s.

Saucha – Sutra 2.40 & 41 – Purity of body/mind vehicle, (clean out the junk in your trunk). How many of us took the first imposed days of Staying at home to clean and organize, clear out clutter from our homes? When we are forced to sit at home and look at this external clutter, we are moved to do something about it. When we realize the body/mind is in a constant state of detox, every breath is an expulsion of toxic gasses. Excretion, urination, perspiration, bursts of tears or anger, etc are all cleansings. Little bits of purification. We strive to be as pure as possible because each bit more we Liberate ourselves from the burden of impurities, we are that much closer to a permanent Liberation.

We lessen the stress of constant eliminations by having a healthier diet, bathing often, being in a clean-air environment (unspoilt nature or by practice of AgniHotra, feeding positive inputs and affirmations to our mind, meditation & fasting and all the 8 limbs of Yoga back in Sutra 2.29. All of these are Sadhana-s. Hence they are listed in the Sadhana Pada. The chapter on spiritual practices.

Just as Ahimsa is the basis of the Yama-s, Saucha is the basis of the Niyama-s.

Where the Yama-s make heathier relationships, the Niyama-s begin at hOMe with YourSelf. A Healthier YOU will automatically be a healthier part of a social network or relationship.

When we say we are purifying antah-karana, this refers to the egoic self, that deals with self-preservation, fulfilling one’s daily needs and one’s basic survival. This egoic part of the Yogic Mind is not necessarily a ‘bad’ thing in the sense that some spiritual blamer and shamers would have you think. We are given this antah-karana so that we an survive in this world. Without it, we would have no drive to eat or take care to simply live. Problems happen when it gets too active or too inactive. In everything, seek balance. Shelter in Place has given the quest for daily bread a complete make-over for many people. Those who continued working outside of the home in ‘essential jobs’ also had to re-think and learn new protocols for public interaction and their own safety.

Our thoughts, actions and environment are one thing, The other side of the Saucha coin is purifying the humanoid body. Interesting to play with this, because these 2 things are not really separate things. They function in tandem. You can purify your mind by physical activity and purify your body by mental/emotional activity.

This is the achievement of Sattva. A Pure Field of Personal Consciousness, balanced and non-reactive.

Being aware of our own impurities, we become aware of the impurities in others. This cultivates a sharp sense of discernment in terms of whom we wish to come into contact with or not.

Santosha – Sutra 2.42 – A transcendent contentment being happy with whatever is given to us. A Yogi’s objective is not to accumulate clutter but to clear the home as well as the mind. Live simply. Live with less. downsizing and minimalism are becoming mainstream. We hear the surprised reaction – It just feels so Liberating! Enjoyment and / or suffering are both attachments. Freedom from desires, needing significantly less so that maintaining your needs is a breeze, is a profound Liberator.

Some of us had to become satisfied with food shortages. We had to learn to just be happy and content with whatever nourishment is available during the lockdown, even if it wasn’t always the best nourishment.

Other humans can sometimes bring us dis-content. Being trapped at home with family members may be a challenge. This is an excellent opportunity for practicing Santosh. Accept and be content with ‘who they are’. The basis of all accommodation in relationships starts from there.

Tapas – Sutra 2.43 – Burn off impurities of the body and negative karma. You will be rewarded with occult powers. Tapas is often referred to as Meditation. It is the common practice in a Brahmanic Gurukul. A sadhaka may attain enlightment by sitting long hours every day for months or years with only one break food, rest and bathroom break. This only one of countless ways to describe Tapas.

The literal meaning of Tapas is “to burn”. Fire is the Great Purifyer. Our bodies also contain fire. By fasting, we burn off fat and remove toxins from the body. By sublimation, mantra, affirmations and not responding to negative inputs such as insult and injury, we can burn away samskaras (patterns formed by past impressions). Tapas is often uncomfortable or even painful. However, when we choose to endure, pain burns away impurities and the path as well as the result is joyful.

No doubt we are witnessing a collective Tapas in humanity at this time – a Global Yajnya. The person performing the fire ritual, AgniHotra or any of the homas or yajnyas, is called a Tapani. One who controls, manages the heat of the Fire.

This is what i mean when i say “All Life is Yajnya” (fire ritual). Remember the definition of Yajnya is “sacrifice, to make sacred”. Seekers on the path constantly give up something of a lower, material nature (burn it) in order to attain something of a higher, spiritual nature.

niradhara Amma

The example given by Swami Satchitananda is of clothes clothes being washed in hot water – heat (tapas) – to clean them, hot air to dry them, and hot iron surface to remove wrinkles. the result is a fresh cloth.

If someone insults, shames, blames or criticizes us, if they even harm our work or involve us in an accident, we should welcome the opportunity to purify the mind by responding with gratitude for the opportunity to reflect and the lessons learned. Even if that lesson is to remove that toxic person or activity from our life, that clarity and conviction to do so is a gift. If you are competitive by nature, this will be very difficult , you might wish to think of it as a challenge and turn the competition in on yourself.

Parenting is the perfect example of Tapas in everyday life. Many parents were put in a position to manage homeschooling online for their children over the past 6 months – a real challenge for both child and parent. A mother goes through labor pains. Every parent experiences sacrifice of their time, finances and energies and goes through alot of pain while raising the child. The child certainly experiences growing pains too. Being Sheltered in Place for months on end with a house filled with energetic children is Tapas, how do we teach our kids to burn off that energy constructively? Yet with all the real challenges, we get immense joy raising our children while we are both parent and child building character and spiritual strength.

Svadhyaya – Sutra 2.44 – Studying spiritual texts as well as the context of our own life, enlightens us. This reflection of Light enables a free and unencumbered communion with Divine Light.

Svadhyaya is the sadhana scriptural study, such as this one, which gives us a framework in which to study our own weaknesses and faults and a means to burn through those to illuminate our Higher Self. When we look deeply inside, we can get a “darshan” or a clear vision of our own relationship with any chosen deity and eventually, the realization that all of these names and forms including our own and other beings – are ONE.

: This last few months has given millions of people time to reflect on life, on themselves. Isn’t this the overall theme of 2020? Cultivating perfect innerVision :

If you are not inclined towards intellectualizing, a simple practice of chanting the holy names goes subconsciously deep into their inner meaning. ‘Deep’ in Sanskrit means Light. We are experiencing the Divine in the form of light or a sound.

Ishwara Pranidhana – Sutra 2.45 – Total surrender to a Higher Power, this is the direct path to Samadhi.

The whole of Creation is an expression of Ishvara, So not to confuse this Higher Power with an old bearded man sitting on a throne. Ishvara-pranidhana implies letting go of control and surrendering our responses to the whole of humanity and life’s circumstances by an attitude of gratitude. Those who can go directly into surrender are on the fast track to all the above Yama-s & Niyama-s.

We realize that we don’t own anything, not even those possessions we worked and paid for or our own spouse or children. All we really own is our own reaction to those things and to the people we love. This higher perspective frees not only us but the people around us. Free people. No one can really love when they are not Free to do so. Reaching Samadhi is to be Free to love and accept everyone just as they are.

Non-attachment is a requirement for Samadhi, the ultimate Liberation.

All of us have been instructed to yield to ‘the authorities’ during the past months. What Yoga Sutra-s calls us to do is surrender to the Higher Authority. THIS puts us in Alignment, a more complex and sometimes conflicting ideology in relation to obedience.

See you on Sunday at the inner Circle Satsang. Let’s hear from you if you are leaning towards obedient or in alignment.

The end of the Niyama-s brings us into the next week lessson study of the Energy Bodies and how to bring that into Alignment in these curious times.

Klesha-s, Kosa-s, Chakra-s, and more…. next Week 3

More Agnihotra links & where to read Yoga Sutras links below :Week 1:

_༺🔥༻

SwAr Ashram is experiencing unprecedented hardships due to the nationwide lockdown of India and the particular difficulties of rural isolation. We are a charity based initiative with families depending on us and we have overhead of our own to contend with. We are reaching out to you, offering both free and paid courses including rare teachings online so that we can continue to communicate with the developed world & earn for our charities by sharing the Art & Science of Yoga with you.

_༺🔥༻

13 August, 2020

: week one : YAMA-s :

YAMA – Communal observances (do we play well with others?)

The planet is in a collective Yajnya – we are walking through fire – tested by fire – a global sacrifice of sorts, giving up temporal things for the greater good, perhaps for spiritual betterment.

In this 4 part series, i will detail some Vedantic teachings on this topic. The life of a Yogi is one of consciousness & care. This very often means putting your own needs second to someone in more need, or delayed gratification of your own needs or desires. These are the hallmarks of a responsible adult, the definition of a parent – a leader.  Yes a Yogi is FREE but never at the expense of others.  With Freedom comes a great sense of responsibility. As we realize we are all one, there is a strong sense of service to those less fortunate in health or wealth, those disadvantaged or disempowered.

We are living in extraordinary times of perfect vision – 2020. These are the times when we clearly see who are the compassionate, who are the mindful, who are the people who are considering the health and well-being of others. Literally, the lives of others. When Sri Ramana Maharshi was asked “how should we treat others?” His reply: “there are no others”. These are the times when we see who actually understands the meaning of this is = we are One. It does not mean we are the only person on the planet or there are no others that “matter”. No one really enjoys wearing a mask, or a condom, or a seatbelt – do they? But it is these small sacrifices of pride or even discomfort, that are tapasya. What you do influences and matters to those around you. These small acts of kindness that may be helping others more than they help ourselves are what influence character.

Raise your vibration – your frequency. Studies show that the planet as a whole has rapidly increased its hz in the past 3 years at an accelerated rate never before seen. Past increases in frequency have shown us great times of cultural upheaval as well as cultural renaissance. Increased frequency is both creative and manic. New Age thought never thinks of it like this, but frequency is a currency. And just like money or a flowing river, or fire, there are 2 sides to that coin. As a Yogi we cultivate the positive side. It doesn’t just happen. It is cultivated, by Generosity, Sharing, Gratitude, Love and Compassion for all living beings, Unconditional and Universal Love, Smiling, Laughing, Blessing, Playing, Painting, Singing, Dancing, Meditating, Contemplating anything larger than yourself, Yoga, Breathwork, Tai Chi, Problem-solving, Walking, Exercising, Enjoying nature, the Sun, Eating whole plant foods: seeds, grains, cereals, legumes, fruits, vegetables and spices, Drinking clean water.

Social distancing, when considering those who are house-bound due to age or health restrictions, is not a punishment for you to look out for their health. It is a privilege. A Yogi takes into consideration how their actions affect those they come in contact with, and act accordingly. And know that all this is temporary. Maybe we have to be more careful when hugging for awhile. Studies prove that even the thought of a hug releases the same brain chemicals.

Think also of those who must work in heavily risky environments.  Hospitals, hotels, restaurants…  if you have the option and internet to do more online, at home, count yourself as fortunate.  You have choices.

Many of us in rural developing countries are struggling to just get in contact with net speeds too slow to stream on zoom and a limit of 2gbs of data per day.

We have the opportunity to break with routine. Find what we do out of habit or convenience in relation to work or other responsibilities, but is not, in Truth, making us happy.

We have all had the rare chance to spend a little time alone now that society finally agrees with that concept.  Now that some of us are going back to work (with rather clumsy protocols in place). Will you still take time of your own accord to slow down and just treated yourself to a day alone in nature, diving deep into your thoughts or a good book?  The rat race doesn’t normally permit stopping to smell the flowers –  Now is your chance!

What has the world collectively learned from some months of ‘me-time’? Self-care isn’t to be confused with self-ishness. Taking care of yourself is a necessity, and 1face it, many people have not been taking care of themselves due to being over-worked & stressed out.

Practically everyone in the workforce can benefit from more rest. Before this, how many of us felt ‘burnt out’?. Silence and solitude are potent elixers for personal growth & self-renewal. If you haven’t already picked up the habit – Meditate – improve your mental clarity & imagination. This in turn fuels productivity & creativity. You will need this if you have been stagnating for awhile. Meditation is not the same as ‘doing nothing’.

See how it feels to CHOOSE to spend time with fewer people, choosing them with care. Talk less and listen more. It opens the pathways of empathy. While your spiritual community may be a wonderful blessing in your life, avoiding congregational prayers and rituals for some time can help internalize and personalize your spiritual experiences. Meditation, personal rituals that you create yourself and do alone, and mental prayers are much more effective than being a follower at social gatherings, even though social gatherings so have their own inherent value, and there are times when the energy of a large gathering is undeniably potent when the participants are all together in alignment.

Welcome the OPTION of social distancing or self-quarantine as an opportunity to slow down and go inward, reflect and reset, when YOU choose to.  Get your imagination going, art, music, creative writing, cooking, dance, painting or learning a language all help us look more closely and consciously at life around us and within us.  Don’t forget how good it felt going to bed early sometimes, deep sleep is sorely lacking in the frenetic world.

We have the opportunity to take what we learned in these months and apply it to a world where we are getting more options and choices in how we wish to live better with ourselves and others.

We have the opportunity to find and follow our Dharma & to align that with our BLISS!

INVOCATION TO PATANJALI
yogena cittasya padena vacam • malam sarirasya ca vaidyakena
yopakarottam pravaram muninam • patanjalim pranjalir anato ‘smiabahu purusakaram • sankha cakrasi dharinam • sahasra sirasam svetam • pranamami patanjalim

Now lets discover how the Yogic Sacred Texts speak to these times, in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

Beginning with Sadhana Pada : Chapter 2 verse 29, we first come in contact with the words Yama – Niyama. You can get a copy of your own or link to read it online at the bottom of this blog post. I will be linking a site derived from Swami Satchidananda’s commentaries & translations because of its ease of navigation for online study. And photos from the pages of Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati’s translations & commentary because it is handy at my bedside. There are countless links at the end of this blogpost for other sources of translations and commentaries of Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

यमनियमासनप्राणायामप्रत्याहारधारणाध्यानसमाधयोऽष्टावङ्गानि॥२: २९॥
yama niyama-āsana prāṇāyāma pratyāhāra dhāraṇā dhyāna samādhayo-‘ṣṭāvaṅgāni ॥2:29॥

_{Yama (Disciplines), Niyama (Self-Disciplines), Asana (Postures connecting us with the Earth), Pranayama (Breathwork to manage Life Force Energy), Pratyahara (Withdrawl of Senses), Dharana (Focus on a singular point), Dhyana (Beyond the thinking mind, True Meditation) and Samadhi (Perfect Union) Are The Eight Means Of Attaining Yoga.}

sage patanjali – yoga sutra : sadhana chapter (2) verse 29

YAMA – Communal observances (how we play with others) : Sutra 2:30 Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

Ahimnsa : sutra 2:35 – Do no harm.  Be the peace.  A Yogi is above all things – Conscious. Be conscious about how you may be harming other beings by what you eat, say, do, wear – or in this case don’t wear. 

Na’mask’e – the mask on me recognizes the mask on you.  A Yogi’s auto-immune system is one that would likely thwart all or much of the symptomatic pain of the Covid Virus. Yet we choose to wear it to protect others.  It puts us in alignment with the principle of Ahimnsa. To do no harm. A person with a strong immune system can walk about for weeks carrying Covid Virus and not even know it. The elder or health-compromised persons we come in contact with daily are not so fortunate. We respect that, and take measures to protect them.

Think about the masks we already have been wearing our whole lives – the roles we play, the body-minds that are not our real Self.  Na-mask-e! Meditate on the deeper meaning of what wearing masks are teaching us about our Ahamkara, our ego-self. (which in Yogic terms is not a ‘bad thing’ unless it is out of alignment, just like anything else).

What are some ways we can practice doing no harm? Be kind. Be thoughtful, mindful of others, including animals & plants. Yes, we recognize plants have life, too, and Hindus offer prayers for the plant spirits – Anapurna, Shakambari, Vanaspati, as well as Visvadeva-s.  We recognize this as well as the distinct roles of plant and animal organisms.

Yogis do not consume living creatures or harm them in any way. We recognize that it is not necessary to harm animals for humans to lead a healthy life. Animals that humans typically eat, get their nutrition from plants. It is a far more efficient system for us to eat the plants directly. The least amount of harm is done with a plant based diet.  This is true for the environment as well as humans.

In a Vedic cultural environment, Cows are more revered than a family pet, literally worshipped. They are Gaumata. There is totally ahimsak dairy, which is the leftover milk from cows after nursing their calves. Hindu-s know that cows do not produce milk because they are cows, they produce because they are Mothers. First to their own babies, secondly for Yajnya offerings to the planet. This secondary amount is relatively small and not even economically feasible to sell as food.

Its value is in what happens when its burnt. As the pure dried dung and ghee are burnt together in a specific way, it releases the healing gasses into the atmosphere which counter-acts methane gas as well as all forms of pollution, even radioactivity and pathogens. A conscious Yogi is aware of what this rare and valuable substance can d o when offered to a Yajnya vs when made into sweets mixed with white sugar. We choose to save these rare drops of ghee for the greater offering of Agnihotra as you can learn more about in my FREE e-Tutorial: (more Agnihotra links at the bottom of this post)

_༺🔥༻free : phyr-o-sutras : agnihotra online e-TUTORIAL

Agnihotra reverses harm done in the environment. In a healthier atmosphere, the living beings, including plants, also thrive. Find out more at the very end of this page. Teaching Agnihotra is the culmination of following my Dharma & SwAr Ashram’s darshan of Narmada is the culmination of my Path to Liberation.

In the world as it is, no one can be totally harmless, not even the most strict vegan.  Computers, mobile phones, vehicular tires and fossil fuels are examples of things that almost no one is able to give up and still function to provide a basic survival in our life. Sadhus are able to do this and so they are revered even though they are penniless mendicants. 

The goal is to harm as little as possible. As a Yogi we can search for, support & invest in alternatives to the destructive fuels and electronics that we are all dependent on now.  The pandemic has shown us the unsustainable nature of meat industries, and how the excessive use of transportation and water has negatively impacted the environment. We have been shown that we CAN live in a more peaceful, harmless world without those things. Within weeks, the skies & water are healing from the harms of these pollutions. Nature is rejoicing! All of the other Yamas are contained in this Ahimnsa.

Satyam – Sutra 2:36 – Be Truthful. Authentic. Is it true> kind> necessary? Be a constructive critic, or be silent. Be kind in Truth. And if you have nothing good to say in Truth, say nothing at all.

Asteya – Sutra 2:37 – Respect other’s rights & property, including wasting the time of others. Do not take what you haven’t earned or what belongs to others.

Brahmacharya – Sutra 2:37 – Walk the Walk, treat those on the journey with you as a Divine Being. Be faithful to towards others. Most often this is applied to celibacy or fidelity in marriage.

Aparigraha – Sutra 2:38 – Don’t take more than your share, needs. Detachment, non-hoarding, generosity and sharing. Don’t let your possessions own you.  Just what you need, minimalism. I have enough.

We will discuss more of this during the Sunday LIVE e-Satsang. I am looking forward to hearing other interpretations.

More Agnihotra links & where to read Yoga Sutras links below

_༺🔥༻ ASHIRVAD • NIRADHARA AMMA _༺🔥༻

“MAHARANI’S PUNYATITHI COMMEMORATION”

:get your copy of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali :

BELOW: some options to get a copy of Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and study along with us. Throughout the years we will return to this book again and again in our SwAr Ashram courses.

options for other Commentators of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras include:

LIGHT ON YOGA: THE BIBLE OF MODERN YOGA translation & commentary BKS Iyengar

Demystifying Patanjali: The Yoga Sutras: The Wisdom of Paramhansa Yogananda as Presented by his Direct Disciple, Swami Kriyananda by Paramhansa Yogananda

PATANJALI YOGA SUTRAS by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

INTEGRAL YOGA – YOGA SUTRAS OF PATANJALI POCKET VERSION by Swami Satchitananda

PATANJALI’S YOGA SUTRAS translation & commentary by Swami Vivekananda

THE ESSENTIAL YOGA SUTRA: ANCIENT WISDOM FOR YOUR YOGA (Geshe Michael Roche & Lama Christie McNally)

FOUR CHAPTERS ON FREEDOM translation & commentary by Swami Satyananda Saraswati

YOGA SUTRAS OF PATANJALI with the Exposition of Vyasa: Translation & Commentary : Samadhi-Pada by Usharbudh Arya

Yoga: Science of the Absolute: A Commentary on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Abbot George Burke (Swami Nirmalanandana Giri)

Mind and Self: Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra and Modern Science by Subhash Kak

Patanjali Yoga Sutras commentary by Ashwini Kumar Aggarwal

YAMA et NIYAMA – Yoga Pratique (French Edition) by S S Varma

YOGA, POWER & SPIRIT: PATANJALI THE SHAMAN by Alberto Villoldo

Yoga-Sûtra de Patanjali (Arca de sabiduría) (Spanish Edition) by Tirumalai Krishnamacharya Venkata Desikachar (Editor), J.A. Enreig (Translator)

TANTRA OF THE YOGA SUTRAS : ESSENTIAL WISDOM FOR LIVING WITH AWARENESS & GRACE by Alan Finger & Wendy Newton

THE YOGA SUTRAS OF PATANJALI – Ilustrated -: “The Book of the Spiritual Man” by Charles Johnson

BRAIN SOFTWARE: the Technology in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras( a wonderful rare book also in our SwArA Library!)

Below are e-Prasad, (FREE gifts) included in this e-Satsang package. THE FOLLOWING ARE PRIVATE YOUTUBE LINKS TO OUR SWAR ASHRAM PUJA-S FOR GURU PURNIMA.

Below is Downloadable e-Prasad, (FREE gift) included in this e-Satsang package. the-baneshwar-mandir-2pgsbaneshwar mahadev mandir pdfshivalingamstoryshiva lingam story pdf

This is your exclusive invitation as a part of our Ashram Community to be among the first to launch our zoom e-satsang page. warning: it may have bugs the first week or 2. if that happens we will revert within 5 minutes to the semi-private FB page.

::: LIVE ONLINE COURSES & KITS :::

Love and abundance of gratitude by the Grace of Maa Narmada & Devi Ahilyabai

You may enjoy SAT CHIT ANAND our e-Library book blog pages designated for snipets & bits of Love from the marvelous collection of Swami Anantram’s Books in SwAr Library in connection with LIVE e-Satsang Chats with Amma, sharing and Q&A will be included. We welcome you into our Community and invite you to interact through the available media as we grow in this virtual space. See what we have available right now – FREE e-PRASADAM