NEWS AND REPORTS
NEWS FROM THE HEADQUARTERS
SEVA THROUGH SIVANANDA HOME
“Feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Serve the sick. This is Divine Life.”
Inspired by these divine words of Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj, the Divine life Society Headquarters humbly tries to render its service through Sivananda Home situated in Tapovan near the Laxman Jhula, a Medical Centre with a home facility for sick destitute people. This is a home for those who literally lost every single thing in this material world, removed from their family homes for whatever reason, living a life on the streets, being harassed, disregarded, dishonoured, downtrodden, ridiculed, humiliated in public, whose bodies are worn out, whose tears have dried up and whose minds have gone into a complete turmoil, by the agonizing scratching hurt of being forgotten and left alone in the misery of darkness.
Who can imagine that that the so-called bearded beggar in the corner of the bazaar, his clothing torn, his meagre luggage black and stinking, pervaded with insects, was once a businessman, respected in his family and town?
What has happened in the lives of all these men and women, dwelling in the streets, who just like every human being want to live a happy life in harmony and peace?
The shocking answer one of the lady patients in Sivananda Home gave when her name was asked was “kutta” (dog) which leaves us just speechless. This word, called by others, but imbibed in her own consciousness, left her behind in a dehumanised, inaccessible, and untouchable state. No wonder that this mother still fights for her food, is violating herself and others, even when it is not necessary anymore, since it is said: “habits die hard.” But by the grace of the Divine, she slowly recuperates, after emergency medical treatment of an abdomen infested with worms. With an Hb of 2.0 only she is suffering from epilepsy and muscle spasms.
No one but He Himself, the All-knower, the All-embracer, the All-compassionate One, enshrined in the hearts of all, stretches out His arms; is present even in the deepest sorrow and carries His children through the darkest night. Pray that we always be aware that it is only He Who is holding us, that it is His breath which is breathing in us, that His hands alone are acting through us, and that it is but His Light which is shining on our paths.
Om Sri Gurudevaya Namah.
“Never find fault with the man who limps, as he
struggles along the road
Until you have worn the shoes that he wears, and
staggered beneath his load.
He may have some nails in his shoes that hurt,
hidden away from our view.
And the burden he bears upon his back, might
cause us to stumble too.”
(Anonymous)
REPORT OF THE VALEDICTORY FUNCTION OF THE 56TH BASIC
YOGA-VEDANTA COURSE
The valedictory function of the 56th Basic Yoga-Vedanta Course was held on Friday, the 29th June, 2007 in the Y.V.F. Academy’s Lecture Hall. After the invocatory prayer, Prof. Ved Prakash Groverji, Registrar of the Academy welcomed all those present on the occasion. Prof. Rajinder Kumar Bhardwaj Ji, Asst. Registrar, presented the report of the Course. Thereafter, some of the students expressed their impressions about the Course. H.H. Sri Swami Vimalanandaji Maharaj, General Secretary, The Divine Life Society Headquarters graced the function and awarded Certificates and Jnana Prasad to the students. The members of the faculty were also honoured by the Swamiji.
Delivering the Valedictory address, Swamiji expressed his happiness on the successful completion of the Course and on the benefit and inspiration which the students have derived from it. Narrating the story of the Yaksha and the three skulls, Swamiji advised the students to be like the third skull in which the rod inserted in one ear did not come out either from the other ear or from the mouth, indicating thereby that whatever good is heard of is retained and put to use. Swamiji told them to practise in their daily life, to the extent possible, whatever they have been taught in the Academy. They should make their life sublime, share whatever positive they have with others and make efforts to achieve the highest goal of life, i.e., God-realisation. Swamiji invoked the blessings of Worshipful Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj upon them.
The function came to a close with Saraswati Puja and Prasad distribution at about 10.30 a.m.
CULTURAL TOUR OF H.H. SRI SWAMI NIRLIPTANANDAJI MAHARAJ
During the month of May, 2007, H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji Maharaj, Vice-President, The Divine Life Society Headquarters, took up cultural tour in Orissa.
The Divine Life Society, Cuttack Branch, was having a mobile Satsanga in the house of Sri Somnath Sarangi, Secretary, on 15th May. Upon their invitation, Swamiji attended the mobile Satsanga. Many devotees of Cuttack Branch had participated in it. Swamiji gave a discourse at the Satsanga.
The Yoga Shiksha Kendra of Arya Samaj, Bhubaneswar, had organised a Yoga Shivir of one Week’s duration for the youth. Students and young men, many of them tribals, had joined the Yoga Shivir from all over the State of Orissa. There were about 80 participants. The Yoga Shiksha Kendra had invited Swamiji Maharaj to bless the Yoga participants on the 16th May. Swamiji attended the Yoga Camp and addressed the members of Arya Samaj, Yoga Shiksha Kendra and also the young Yoga trainees and gave a discourse which was very much appreciated.
Under the Sadhana Ganga Scheme, an Annual All-Orissa Sadhana Shivir had been organised at Baliguali which is a part of The D.L.S. HQ, from 18th to 22nd May, 2007. Prior to this, seven Sadhana Camps under Sadhana Ganga had been conducted, once in a month, for the Sadhaks of one or two Districts at a time. This series had culminated in The All-Orissa Sadhana Shivir. More than 1,700 Sadhaks had registered as delegates from all over the State and including other devotees, about 2,000 Sadhaks had participated in the State Level Sadhana Shivir. This was inaugurated by Swamiji and Swamiji was also the Chairman for the entire Sadhana Shivir for all the five days. Revered Gajapati Maharaj Sri Divyasingha Deb had attended on the first day as the Chief Guest. Revered Babaji Chaitanya Charan Das Maharaj had also blessed the devotees on one of the days. Revered Sri Maheswar Mohanty, Honourable Speaker of Orissa State Legislative Assembly, was the Chief Guest on the concluding day afternoon (22nd May). Revered Sri Swami Sivananda Gurusevanandaji Maharaj, Revered Sri Swami Dharmaprakashanandaji Maharaj, Revered Sri Swami Ramakripanandaji Maharaj, Revered Professor Sri Hrudananda Rai, Revered Sri Lakshmi Kanta Rath and Revered Sri Subash Chandra Nanda had joined the Shivir as Acharyas.
Swamiji, as the Chairman, presided over most of the sessions and also gave discourses in the early morning meditation session, during the day and also the night Satsanga. Different subjects were handled by the different Acharyas. Swamiji gave talks on Meditation and also on the Yoga of Synthesis of Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj and general Spiritual Sadhana.
There was a great enthusiasm, joy and satisfaction among the Sadhaks. There was perfect discipline and each session was being attended by the Sadhaks with great interest. The Sadhana Shivir was of immense benefit to all the participating Sadhaks and had brought about a great revival of the spirit of Sadhana among the devotees. The Sadhaks were very happy to have got the opportunity of attending the Sadhana Shivir.
In spite of the paucity of facilities available in Chidananda Hermitage Shanti Ashram, Baliguali, excellent arrangements were made for the accommodation and comfortable stay of the devotees by Revered Sri Swami Jitamohanandaji, Incharge of Baliguali Ashram, who was the Convener, and by Sri Bipracharan Patra, Sri Jayachandra Nayak, Sri Kailash Chandra Sahoo, Sri Ravi Narayan Mahasuar, Sri Bhagirathi Mahapatra and others. The arrangements were faultless from every point of view and made the devotees’ stay very comfortable so that they could concentrate on Sadhana. The Sadhana Shivir was a grand all-round success.
On 26th May, Swamiji attended the Birth Centenary Celebrations of Baba Paramahamsa Hariharananda Giriji Maharaj, the great Master of Kriya Yoga, at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Cuttack. This was as per the invitation of the Prajnana Mission, Baliguali (Puri). They had taken up a year-long celebration of the Centenary prior to this and were having the concluding function for five days from May 25th to 29th. swamiji had attended the function on the 26th and gave a discourse to the visiting delegates, and other dignitaries and devotees. Swamiji spoke on the Indian Spiritual Culture as also the Value of Yoga of Synthesis for all Yoga practitioners. On 27th, at their request, Swamiji also joined the Paduka Puja in the forenoon at the Indoor Stadium.
During this tour of Swamiji which was from 10th May to 6th June, mostly Swamiji stayed at Baliguali Shanti Ashram and supervised and guided the activities of the Ashram. Occasionally, Swamiji attended the evening Satsanga and gave talks.
CULTURAL TOUR OF SRI SWAMI PADMANABHANANDAJI MAHARAJ
Revered Sri Swami Padmanabhanandaji Maharaj on invitation from the General Manager, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala (Punjab),visited and conducted a 3-day retreat programme from 30th June to 2nd July 2007 at R.C. Factory Colony, Kapurthala.
The programme included early morning prayers and guided meditation and evening Satsanga on Gita with emphasis on management of stress. The programme was well attended.
During the course of his stay at Kapurthala Swamiji also visited The Divine Life Society Branch, Jalandhar on 1st July 2007 and had Satsanga with the devotees of the Branch.
ANNOUNCEMENT
SECOND ALL-UTTAR PRADESH STATE D.L.S. CONFERENCE
(September 30th to October 2nd, 2007)
The President, The Divine Life Society, Vrindavan Branch has intimated that the Second U.P. State D.L.S. Conference is scheduled to be held on September 30th to October 2nd, 2007. Presidents, Secretaries and Devotees from all the Districts of U.P. are requested by the office-bearers of Vrindavan D.L.S. Branch to join the occasion and make the Conference a success.
Contact Address:
Divine Life Society, Vrindavan Branch,
270, Chaitanya Vihar, Phase-1,
Raman Reti,
Vrindavan—281 121, Distt. Mathura, U.P.,
Tel: 0565-3208893
Mobile: 9897986371
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