Updates

Content Updates

Activites

Announcement

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-Navaratri, Worship of God as Divine Mother (5th October, 2004)
-Sri Ganesh Chaturthi (16th September)
-117th Birthday Anniversary of H.H. Sri Swami Sivananda
-Sri Krishna Janmashtami (24th August, 2004)
-Punyatithi Aradhana Celebration Images
-Aradhana Programme (6th July 2004)
-Guru Purnima Celebration & Sadhana Week Updates (2nd July 2004)
-Guru Purnima Talk by Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj (2nd July 2004)
-Guru Purnima Programme (25th June 2004)
-Guru Purnima Multimedia Presentation (22th June 2004)
-Ganga Dasahara (29th May 2004)
-Birth Anniversary of H.H. Sri Swami Krishnanandaji Maharaj
-Ramanujacharya Jayanti
-Sankaracharya Jayanti
-Sri Ram Navami 2004 (17 March, 2004)
-Mahasivaratri Celebration
-The Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Pratistha Mahotsav of Sri Viswanath Mandir
-Christmas Retreat - 2003
-2003 Christmas Message (25th December, 2003)
-Dattatreya Jayanthi
-Gita Jayanti
-60th Diamond Jubilee Celebration of Akhanda "Maha Mantra" Sankirtan Yajna
-Om Namah Shivaya Chanting (7 November, 2003)
-Diamond Juble Celebration of Viswanatha Mandir (2 November, 2003)
-Skanda Shasti 2003 (26 October-30 October 2003)
-Deepavali 2003 (25 October 2003)
-Bhoomi Puja of The New Spiritual Training Center (8 October 2003)
-Navratri 2003 with H.H. Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj (27 September - 5 October 2003)
-87th Birthday Celebration of H.H Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj (24th September 2003)
-116th Birthday Celebration of H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj (8th September 2003)
-Sri Krishna Janmastami with H.H. Sri Swami Chiadanandaji Maharaj (20th August 2003)

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The Divine Life Society Website

Going Beyond Tomorrow

It has been some years since the launch of our first website for which we owe a debt of gratitude to Sri Pannirselvam Kanagaratnam from Kansas, USA who first pioneered the effort on his own as service unto the mission of Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj. The new website of The Divine Life Society is at www.divinelifesociety.org and is expected to launch on the 14 th of January, in the NEW YEAR 2005.

Since the early days, we have seen much growth and taken on changes to try and keep pace with the potential that this powerful medium has presented. When H. H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj founded The Divine Life Society, among its many aims, the first and foremost was and still is, ‘The dissemination of spiritual information’. Keeping this in mind, we have had to ask of ourselves not only how we should use this immense medium of the internet a key player towards this aim but the fullest capability that can be realized through this channel. Technology has made big advances in recent years and as such, has presented us with capabilities that can be used for higher purposes.

What made us unique from the offset is that we were open with our spiritual literature and provided it in different formats without any cost for download and the personal use of all seekers. We will still continue pushing in this direction and eventually get all of The Divine Life Society’s books on the website for free personal use via download or onsite viewing. There is much work to be done here as we scan, correct and format all of our books, some of which have been out of print for a while. This will make sure that the priceless collection of spiritual information will always be available for any seeker on the path of the truth for all of time to unfold.

The volume of spiritual information exceeded the structure and design of the previous website and to make for a better browsing experience, we have made significant changes to the layout with these points in mind…

1. Faster Browsing: Our old site was graphic intensive and to improve the speed of browsing, we will consolidate all of our graphic and multimedia content in their respective pages. This will make sure that visitors can still access or download images, audio as well as video from one location. This will also enable those who wish to go straight to spiritual information or with slower access connections to avoid being slowed down by graphic intensive pages.

2. Dual Browsing Experience: The links at the top of the site are structured to suit one beginning on the spiritual path, gradually ascending to higher learning. Here, we will have smaller articles and teachings that can be viewed, printed or downloaded in different formats. For one who is trying to get a foothold in the spiritual path, this may be a better way to get going.

For seekers who have already been on the path for a while and have a preference as their primary approach, we offer links on the sidebar that will concentrate on the ‘Four Yogas’ as well as Gurudev Swami Sivananda’s ‘Yoga of Synthesis’. In these pages, we have stacked articles and teachings from our Masters by progressive topics and higher levels of learning. This will allow those with a footing in the path to jump-in where they feel best and move ahead with enhancing their learning quickly.

3. Spiritual Guidance Online: This is perhaps the most significant development of the new website and follows what Worshipful Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj started in the early days as correspondence and continued guidance with earnest seekers the world over. Following Holy Master’s guidance with the format of the ‘Spiritual Diary’, we have created web enabled data bases that will allow for seekers to begin or continue their sadhana with us.

“The keeping up of a daily spiritual diary is an indispensable requisite and of paramount importance. Those who are already in the habit of keeping it know its incalculable advantages. Diary is a whip for goading the mind towards God. It shows the way to freedom and eternal bliss. It is your Guru. It is the eye-opener. It develops the Manana-Sakti or the power of reflection. It will help you to destroy all your evil qualities and to be regular in your spiritual practices. If you regularly maintain a diary, you will get solace, peace of mind and quick progress in the spiritual path. Those who desire to grow in morality and spirituality, those who wish to evolve rapidly must keep a daily record of their actions

By keeping a spiritual diary you can then and there rectify your mistakes. You can do more Sadhana and evolve quickly. There is no other best friend and faithful teacher or Guru than your diary. It will teach you the value of time. At the end of every month calculate the total number of hours you spent in Japa, study of religious books, Pranayama, Asanas, sleep, etc. Then you will be able to know how much time you are spending for religious purposes. You have got every chance to increase the period of Japa, meditation, etc., gradually. If you maintain a daily diary properly, without any fault in any of the items, you will not like to waste even a single minute unnecessarily. Then alone will you understand the value of time and how it slips away .”

—Essence of Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda

Those wishing to develop in their spiritual practice by maintaining a ‘Spiritual Diary’, will now be able to create a brief non-intrusive profile and start logging-in their spiritual practices online each day in the format of Gurudev’s Spiritual Diary. After four weeks of maintaining your diary, you will be able to submit your ‘Spiritual Diary’ with any specific questions or queries on your efforts online and will receive personal feedback and advice from one of our senior monks who are established in their own sadhana shortly. The feedback and advice is not automated, your diaries will be carefully examined along with any specific notes and advice given to you on its basis.

This is not a replacement for a teacher or preceptor; it will serve to help your own self by regulating your life, time and efforts and enhancing your overall progress by establishing a firm foundation for your overall spiritual progress. There is not charge or cost at all and this facility is open to all spiritual aspirants regardless of their background, affiliation or tradition. Having a solid foundation is necessary and essential for one’s progress; Gurudev Swami Sivananda was truly a master with vision in making sure that he provided us with the teachings and tools that would work for us in the busy times we presently journey in.

4. Other Changes: Looking ahead, we see the internet with endless potential and hope to have talks, lectures and short presentations on topics that one can implement into their lives there and then in streaming media and multi-media formats. We will stay away from ‘chat forums’ as it is quite possible to get into ‘intellectual jugglery’ and focus on the actual doing or undoing towards progressive development. Gurudev Swami Sivananda taught, “An ounce of practice is worth more than ten tons of theory” and this is the basis for our approach towards actual change by changing within.

We hope that all visitors to the website will bear patiently with us as we get these changes underway. It is quite possible that some glitches may have to be worked out and wrinkles ironed, we will give it our very best effort. All of this is possible by the continued inspiration of Holy Master Sri Swami Sivananda and earnest seekers on the spiritual path as your good selves, may God and Gurudev guide us all.

Hari Om Tat Sat