Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya!

Om Namo Bhagavate Chidanandaya!



Salutations and prostrations.



This month's discourse, "Spiritual Life Should Be Vital and Alive" by

beloved Gurudev, Swami Chidanandaji, makes us take a good look at our

attitude towards our Sadhana. Gurudev also gives us instructions to steer

it back in the right direction. The URL is

http://www.rsl.ukans.edu/~pkanagar/divine/discourse/feb97.htm



I have also included Gurudev's talk on "Yoga and Christianity". In this

talk, Gurudev explains how Yoga can be incorporated into any religion. The

URL is

http://www.rsl.ukans.edu/~pkanagar/divine/religions/yogachristian.htm



Sivananda Day-to-Day is now being archived at

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/4670/daytoday.htm

courtesy of Shree Devi Kumar.



Yours in service of Gurudev,



Pannir



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IS REBIRTH TRUE? "Swamiji, what is your conclusive opinion about rebirth?

Do you really believe in rebirth?" asked Sri Asvatthanarayanan.



Surprisingly enough, the Masters first reaction was a bit stern.



"What! Having been born a Hindu and having the blood of great sages

coursing through your veins you still entertain this doubt in your mind?"



Immediately the Master resumed his serene, happy countenance and

continued, "Yes, undoubtedly there is rebirth.



First of all, you have several miraculous instances of young boys and

girls suddenly exhibiting great knowledge. A young girl who has never

studied any book recites the Gita. How do you account for it except by the

fact that she had mastered the Gita in her previous birth and that through

the Grace of the Lord that knowledge has come to the conscious part of her

mind in this birth too.



Further, rebirth is a necessity for the souls evolution. Perfection cannot

be achieved in one birth. Even to develop some cardinal virtues it might

take several births. If you wish to attain Self-realisation you have to

achieve perfection in all virtues. You have to achieve perfect

self-purification. So rebirth is a necessity for the individual souls

evolution."



"Swamiji, please explain to me how the impressions of actions and desires

are transferred from one embodiment to another."



"Have you seen the caterpillar moving from one leaf to another? It will

reach the edge of one leaf and then project itself; it will catch hold of

another leaf and then only will it leave the first one entirely. The soul

also goes about like this. Even before it leaves one body, it has made

another (gross or subtle), according to its Karmas and desires.



Now please go through some of my books. You will get a clear idea. It is

no use merely discussing these things. You should study, understand the

mystery, then practice Sadhana and realise. Do not yield to intellectual

curiosity."



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"Sense of void, sense of want, sense of imperfection, sense of

limitation-all these will not leave man till he attains Self-realisation."

- Swami Sivananda