Swami Shankarananda

2009-08-08T13:46:00.003+02:00

Immortal Beloved,

It is my purpose to give you the tools to remember your own divinity, to light your own inner fire. When you want to light something, you must bring it closer to the source, but understand, that if the light is to receive the source, it must be prepared properly and be soaked and oiled. The same applies here. The recipient must be prepared for changes and must be prepared to receive the greatest Light.

Our lives are bound together by the universal law of Karma. This bondage does not affect humans only, but also plant life, animals and minerals. This fact makes our world a giant house with a large family and, like all families, ongoing complications are a regular occurrence. As long as we are all relatives in this large Earthly family, we will be subject to the law of relativity. This is the scientific and logical law of karma which can cause us pain, but which helps and builds us to understand the effect of our actions, developing the soul by teaching us love and upliftment, and aiding in our eventual spiritual maturity.

Om.

Swami Shankarananda
SOUTH AFRICA

2009-03-14T16:13:00.005+02:00

SCIENCE OF SILENCE MEDITATION RETREAT
Embrace. Evolve. Enlighten.

This is a two-day retreat compiled to promote an understanding of the purpose and practise of meditation as a means to enlightenment. Workshop content includes: Understanding and Overcoming the Ego; Mastering the Senses; Mastering the Mind; Mastering the Breath; Sacred Mantra; Igniting God-Realisation.

The workshop kit includes an A4 file-bound manual, Meditation Journal, set of Contemplation Cards, CD, meditation earplugs and attendance certificate.

The workshop is customarily hosted at a retreat-centre and includes all meals. The cost per person is dependant on the current accommodation rates of the hosting centre.

Please contact us if you would like to host or attend this Retreat.

2008-12-30T16:39:00.003+02:00

Click here
to see 47 more photos of
Swami ShankaranandaMaharajji
performing the Sapta Rishi Linga Temple
Consecration Ceremony held on the
18-19 December 2008 at the
Gayathri Peedam in Verulam, South Africa.

2008-10-03T13:56:00.012+02:00

EXTENSIVE CRYSTAL HEALING

with Swami Shankarananda

Cost R2000.00 per person
(50% deposit required)

includes comprehensive instruction and demonstration on Gemstone Chakra Healing, Gemstone Mandala Healing, Pranic Crystal Healing and Wandmaking, certificate, vegetarian lunch and a crystal Toolkit containing all necessary stones and wand-making implements.

Maximum 8 participants, so book early.
Please contact us to host or attend this workshop.

* * * * * * * * * *

Below are comments from past workshops participants

"This has been an amazing experience for me personally. It has truly intensified my working with crystals as a healer. The knowledge that I have gained now has truly given me a much stronger background of knowledge. Much new information that I gained doing this course has made me wiser and given me a deeper understanding of how to work with crystals in many more ways. The extra information has been truly a Godsend and I am very blessed to have been given the opportunity to experience this special course. Thank you very much and I look forward to doing many more courses with Swami in the future."

"A wonderful learning experience, very comprehensive. A variety of useful tools have been shown to us to use for healing. Of specific interest were the topics of mandalas/yantras and wandmaking, as well as pranic healing. personally, I would enjoy to become more involved i the incorporation of yantras and crystals and learn more about this. Thank you."

"A wonderful and very enlightening course - thank you!. The 'hands-on' approach is very effective as we as healers have also 'experienced' instead of only 'learning and seeing'. I have gained great knowledge and insight into the world of stones and look forward to learning even more as I start using the techniques and information I have gathered in the workshop."

"Thank you for the blessing of coming into my life. I am going to work with children i the near future and I know the children would just love a crystal workshop. I work with colour oils and angel sprays so the crystals just compliment the oils and sprays. I feel happy, at peace and I can touch so many more people's lives with the crystals. I feel like I have found my rainbow and now all I have to do is run through it."

"I am a Reiki practitioner and decided to do the crystal healing course to experience and generally expand my knowledge in the healing sphere. I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I found it interesting and Swami informative. I felt an immediate physical response to the stones and was able to connect both to the stones - to the 'client' on whom we practiced. I have no doubt that I will be using the technique and feel that I will experience growth within myself and my healing work. Thank You. Hari Om."

"... I enjoyed the fact that Guru was able to teach us from astral knowledge every moment. This gave us our understanding that we need at this point in our lives, for each individual."

"Guru's teaching is pleasant and overwhelming. I had a most enjoyable experience and hope to take my knowledge further into practice. Thank you very much for Guru's time and energy."

"The manual and wand-making kit were very nice and fun to work with. I could interact and ask questions without any doubt or confusion. Interactive placement of gemstones allowed us to get a reality of what we were listening to and reading."

"It has been a great privilege to have spent these days with Guru. I have learned so much and will treasure what he has taught us today and yesterday. There is so much to learn from Guru. Please accept my gratitude. I will go back home inspired and enriched in every way, and having experienced a life-changing weekend."

"The workshop was far more than I ever expected. I not only learned so much about crystals, I learned even more about myself. I felt I received answers I've been looking for and feel much more at peace with myself. Also so great to meet Guru and experience how amazing he is but yet how down to earth he is as well. All in all, I feel really honoured to have been able to experience this workshop. For me it has been life-changing."

"Most enjoyable, informative, educational and enlightening. In fact, an awe-inspiring journey I have had the privilege to be part of in a long time. Many, many thanks to you Guruji."

"I attended this workshop because I had a desire to learn more about the mystery of crystals. I believe that the workshop provided me with sufficient practical information with clear explanations of methodology and reasons for these. The solid groundwork has been laid."

2008-08-07T10:16:00.005+02:00

Sixteen Steps to Self-Realisation

a two-day self-development retreat

with Swami Shankarananda

The retreat includes a series of lectures, indoor and outdoor meditations, breathing exercises to enhance health, divine mantra chanting, fire ceremony and ample question-time with Swami.

Cost of retreat is determined by venue rates but includes accommodation, vegetarian meals and workbook.

50% deposit required to secure booking.

Please contact us if you would like to host this workshop.

2008-07-23T13:34:00.011+02:00

Circus of the Intellect
by Swami Shankarananda

Next date and venue to be announced

Cost R120.00

includes afternoon tea, vegetarian snacks and

booklet containing writings of various Masters on the topic.

Questions welcome and encouraged.

All proceeds go towards developing spiritual awareness

through publications, lectures and classes.

Please book for catering.

Please contact us to host this talk.

2008-06-19T16:25:00.015+02:00

SACRED MANTRA WORKSHOP

Sanskrit mantras for upliftment & joy

Learn the OM, Shiva and Gayathri Mantras,

their history, pronunciation and benefits.

R400 per person

includes booklet, japa beads, mantra CD, attendance certificate

and veg lunch. With group bhajan (sacred chanting) of mantras.

Please contact us to host this one-day workshop.

2008-06-19T16:13:00.007+02:00

EXTENSIVE
CRYSTAL HEALING
WORKSHOP TOOLKIT

Includes
(1) Workshop Manual & Mini-Encyclopedia (2) Pranic Activator
(3) Shiva Lingam Protection Pendant (4) Glue (5) Cotton twine
(6) Cotton cloth (7) Small stones for wand
(8) Single-terminated Pranic Wand (9) Velveteen crystal pouch
(10) Flared copper tube with end-cap (11) Gemstones for healing
(12) Handy toolkit box (13) Certificate of Completion

Additional stones available to purchase separately

[click image to enlarge]

2008-01-29T21:45:00.006+02:00

WEEKLY ARTICLES BY SWAMI

Message to students and devotees
The Rays of my Guru
The Guru-Disciple Relationship

Seek Peace Within

2007-12-30T19:49:00.004+02:00

VIDEOS

Swami Dedication Slideshow
Guru Pournami 2007 Morning - Ananda
Guru Pournami Satsang
Swami Sings 'Hare Sri Ram'
Friday Satsang in Durban - Om Devi
Satsang in Johannesburg 2007 - Om Nama Sivaya

2007-12-30T19:47:00.018+02:00

GENERAL INFORMATION

Introduction to Swami
Lineage
Biography
Guru-Disciple Relationship
Consultations
Donations
Tour India with Swami
2009 Itinerary

2007-12-30T19:47:00.015+02:00

ALTERNATIVE

STRESS MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP

Ancient techniques for modern living

Learn breathing techniques, mudras

and exercises to eliminate stress.

R400 per person

includes booklet, meditation CD,

attendance certificate and veg lunch.

Please contact us to host this one-day workshop.

2007-12-30T19:46:00.026+02:00

Birthday Speech by Swami Shankarananda

Evening Service, 7.00pm, July 15, 2010 at the Gayathri Peedam in Verulam

Let us chant the Gayathri Mantra collectively, nine times.

Some forty-three years ago, in October of 1967, at only 14 years of age, sitting in a dimly-lit room, I had a great awakening. On that day I saw my divine mentor, my Master, standing naked in front of me. I still hold that image fresh from the experience. During the time of my growing I saw Him three or four times, with the very same message: “You are here on a divine mission”. My first meeting with Him was a great experience, but also frightening.

I lost contact with my Master during my early teens, but some time during my experiences I met another great individual by the name of Nariansamy. Nothing about his physical appearance or habits reminded me of my Master, but his energy was so intense that I felt the presence of my Master. Him too I let go in my teens, enjoying the painful joys of this material life.

I completed my education in electrical engineering, then in 1982 I met yet another great individual, commonly called Brother Haridas. Again, I could not see my Master in him but his energy was so great that I could feel my Master. In 1996, due to some misunderstanding, we parted ways. During 1982 and 1996, a period of 14 years, Brother Haridas, now known as Yogeswara Haridas Acharya, taught me many things on the journey. Brother Haridas also initiated me into the Gayathri Mantra.

In mid 1994 I met another great individual in my astral travels. His name was Gayathri Siddha Swami Murugesu Maharishi and he also did not show any signs of being the master from my 14th year. But his energy just filled my being. I loved this individual very dearly and Swami subtly taught me all that was to be known. After 14 years, Swami took samadhi.

In June 2009 I ventured to Kedernath and Badrinath and there, after forty-three years, I saw my Master. I am convinced now that the master I first saw at the age of fourteen was none other than Swami Murugesu.

Now here I am, entering my 58th birthday and remembering each one of you from my past and your past. Today I tell you that you are not here for me. I am not here for you. But together we are all here for Him. Hari Om

2007-12-30T19:46:00.024+02:00

TALKS, WORKSHOPS & RETREATS

Interactive talks
Circus of the Intellect
Causes of Suffering
Karma & Reincarnation
Spiritual Relationships
Divine Mother
Significance of Lord Shiva

Workshops
Stress Management
Extensive Crystal Healing
Reiki with Crystals
Sacred Mantra Chanting

Weekend Retreats
Science of Silence Meditation Retreat
16 Steps to Self-Realisation Retreat

2007-12-30T19:45:00.004+02:00

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2009 ITINERARY

Prayer dates are in red.
Workshop & Retreat dates are in purple.
India/Sri Lanka travel dates in Green.
Joburg visits in blue.
Retreats/Courses in pink

September 2009
4th Pournami (full-moon meditation, fire-ceremony & bhajan)
5th Sacred Chants in Bloemfontein
5th Sacred Chants in Bloemfontein
12th Yogathon
19th Mahanavarathri Starts
24th Swami Murugesu Mahasamadhi Service
26th Navarathri Chariot Procession
28th Vijayadasami

October 2009
3rd Mahanavagraha, 1pm Gayathri Peedam, Verulam
4th Pournami (full-moon meditation, fire-ceremony & bhajan), 4pm
10th Brother Haridas Mahasamadhi Service
11th Reiki I - Introduction
17th Deepavali
18th Sacred Chants in Pietermaritzburg
20th Leave for Sri Lanka
26th Swami Murugesu Birthday Prayer

November 2009
2nd Pournami (full-moon meditation, fire-ceremony & bhajan), 7pm
2nd Return from Sri Lanka
7th Reiki I
8th Reiki I
8th Spirit fair at Verulam Daycare Centre
14th Joburg
15th Joburg
21st Sacred Chants in Richards Bay
22nd Sacred Chants in Eshowe
28th Mahanavagraha (nine-planet prayer)
29th Westville MBS Fair
30th Possible India tour

December 2009
1st Pournami (full-moon meditation, fire-ceremony & bhajan), 7pm
5th & 6th Reiki II*
15th Triambagam Healing Prayer
24th Christmas Eve Service
31st New Year's Eve & Pournami Service (full-moon meditation, fire-ceremony & bhajan)

*Reiki III will be held in January 2010

2007-12-30T15:34:00.001+02:00

PHOTOS FROM PAST TOURS

Slide show may take a few moments to download. Be patient, it's worth the wait.

2007-12-30T15:33:00.004+02:00

Causes of Suffering
by Swami Shankarananda

Cost: R120.00
includes afternoon tea and vegetarian snacks
plus compilation booklet containing writings of Swami Shankarananda
and other great sages on Causes of Suffering.
Questions welcome and encouraged.

All proceeds go towards developing spiritual awareness through lectures and classes.

Please contact us to host this 90-minute talk.

2007-12-30T15:21:00.001+02:00

RECOMMENDED PACKING LIST

The following items are recommended for your stay in India and/or Sri Lanka.

10 sets of loose, comfortable clothing (e.g. kurtha tops and loose pants, punjabis)
1 set of warm clothing (e.g. jeans, vest, long-sleeved top and jersey)
1 warm jacket
1 raincoat
5 pairs of socks
1 pair of comfortable, slip-on walking sandals
3-4 sets pyjamas (at least 1 warm)
underwear
2 towels
sun hat
money belt
wall socket adaptor (for hairdryer, camera charger, etc)
toiletries (include soap, shampoo, facecloth/sponge, toothbrush and toothpaste, etc)
insect repellent (essential)
2 rolls toilet paper (toilets outside the hotels seldom have loo paper)
personal journal
camera, laptop, etc.
reading material for long periods in the bus
plastic bags for laundry

Important: First Aid Kit
Each traveler should have their own first aid kit.This must include plasters, bandage, Immodium (for diarrhea), pain-killers, antiseptic ointment, rehidrat, glucose packs, antacid tablets, an antihistamine (for allergies). Any prescription medication which you are taking (remember to include prescription).

2007-12-30T15:16:00.002+02:00

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

1. Please ensure that your passport is valid.

2. A course of malaria tablets must be taken a week before leaving (Medfin, preferably)

3. It is suggested that any spending money be converted to dollars before leaving South Africa. This is the most favourable exchange in India and Sri Lanka. Credit Cards are only accepted at selected outlets in India.

4. Make sure that all your luggage is locked and keep the keys readily available at all times in case of random luggage checks.

5. Transport of liquids/lotions: Make sure that any containers having more than 100ml of liquid or lotion are packed in your main luggage as quantities of 100ml or more will be confiscated from hand luggage.

6. Click here for Recommended packing list

2007-12-30T14:54:00.002+02:00

TOUR COSTS & REGISTRATION

Cost of Tour varies depending on current exchange rates and the number of people travelling. Please contact us if you'd like to join Swami on a tour to India or Sri Lanka.

Cost includes the following:
Airfare
Accommodation (sharing)
Airport taxes
Visa costs (please supply 2 photos)
Travel tag cost (please supply 1 photo)*
Internal transport costs (tour bus)
Flight travel insurance
Entrance fees to sites
2 meals daily (breakfast and supper)
1 bottle of mineral water daily

*Before leaving South Africa on your tour with Swami, you will be supplied with a Travel Tag with your name, photograph and details (passport number, emergency numbers, etc) and the contact details of Swami Murugesu Travel and Tour. This is to affiliate you with Swami Shankarananda's travel group and is necessary in case of any mishap or emergency.

Excludes
Excess baggage costs
Land travel insurance
Spending money
Personal expenses (laundry, internet, medical, banking, etc)
Lunches

Payment Terms
A 50% deposit is payable by the 31 January 2008 with the balance due by the 28 February 2008. Deposit is refundable if cancelled by the 28 February 2008, but incurs a cancellation fee of R2000.00.

Payments can be made to
Mr S.M. Moodley
Standard Bank Master Card
Account No. 5221 2664 6162 8843

Please fax proof of payment to 031 570 1025.

Your proof of payment should be accompanied by your completed Registration Form which can be obtained from us by email or fax.

Alternatively cash or cheque payments can be made to Swami Shankarananda personally.

2007-12-30T14:37:00.001+02:00

ACCOMMODATION & MEALS

Accommodation

Accommodation costs are included.
Most hotels are 2 to 4 star, depending on area and availability.
Costs include a shared room (2-4 people depending on room size).
If a single room is required, the extra cost will be at your own expense.

Hotel rooms are quite comfortable and most have air-conditioning
and a clean toilet, bath and/or shower.

Some hotels have internet access and most have a laundry service.
Costs of these are not included and must be paid for separately by each traveler.

The images above are photos taken from previous tours with Swami
and show examples of the standard of accommodation.

Meals
A daily vegetarian breakfast and supper are included and are generally had at each hotel.
These are ordered beforehand by Swami Shankarananda who has the best experience in which foods are most nutritious and tasty. Lunch is usually had 'on the road' at a small local restaurant or tea-house and is at the expense of each individual.
On these occasions, Swami will be quite happy to make suggestions on
what is best to eat (or not to eat).

IMPORTANT
Please do not drink water directly from any tap at the hotels or restaurants.
A bottle of mineral water is supplied to each person daily.

2007-12-30T13:18:00.001+02:00

PLACES VISITED

Although it is not always possible to visit all of these great sites, Swami will try to include as many as possible in your tour. This three-week tour includes approximately 5 days in Sri Lanka and two weeks in South India. Click on each region below for more information.

SOUTH INDIA
Tamil Nadu
Kerala
Pondicherry
Chennai
Bangalore
Mysore
Cochin
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
Trivandrum
Kovalam
Thiruchendur
Madurai
Rameswaram
Palani
Trichy
Tanjore
Chidambaram
Mahabalipuram
Kancheepuram

SRI LANKA
Colombo
Nuwaraeliya
Kandy
Kathrigama

2007-12-30T13:02:00.002+02:00

Swami Murugesu Travel & Tour
is the name of the travel club recently established by Swami Shankarananda
in honour of His Guru, Swami Murugesu Maharishi.

Swami Shankarananda has made more than 50 trips to India and Sri Lanka!
Who better to be your guide and companion on such a spiritual journey?

If you would like to travel to India and/or Sri Lanka with Swami Shankarananda,
click on each of the following for more information.

Places to be visited

Accommodation and meals

Tour costs and registration

Important information

Photos from past tours

Please contact us if you are interested in being a part of this incredible journey.

2007-12-30T12:47:00.002+02:00

Karma and Reincarnation
by Swami Shankarananda

Cost R120 per person
includes afternoon tea and vegetarian snacks
plus booklet containing writings of Swami Shankarananda
and other great sages on the topic of Karma and Reincarnation.
Questions welcome and encouraged.

All proceeds go towards promoting spiritual awareness through lectures and classes.

Please contact us to host this 90-minute talk.

2007-12-30T12:07:00.002+02:00

Spiritual Relationships
by Swami Shankarananda

Cost: R120.00
includes afternoon tea and vegetarian snacks,
booklet containing writings and tips by Swami Shankarananda
and other great sages on Spiritual Relationships,

Discussion includes the following:
Understanding our ongoing search for love
Overcoming loneliness in a partnership
Enhancing spirituality in a like-minded union
The ideal spiritual journey of the modern householder.
Questions welcome and encouraged.

All proceeds go towards developing spiritual awareness through lectures and classes.

Please contact us to host this 90-minute talk.

2007-12-30T09:35:00.001+02:00

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A TIME TO HEAL

Understand that this is the time to heal - also know this to be possible. You need only to go into inner discovery. By this inner discovery you will cultivate unconditional universal love, peace within, joy of the fullest, faith of the self (body, mind and circumstance). There is a Hebrew proverb that reads: ‘The consciousness of God’s presence is the first principle of religion’. Know that the mind is the greatest organiser for the self - perception, reflection, thought and reasoning are the factors of mind. If your thinking is irrational, then your journey will also become irrational. Therefore, train, train, train your mind and become a rational thinker as this will assist you in becoming calm, peaceful and spiritual. But make sure you do this in a practical manner. What did Kabir say? ‘Perform your duties with your hands, let your heart be with God.’

Get initiated, increase your intuition. After you have increased your intuition, knowledge is easy to attain, for intuition is the source of direct knowledge. This helps you control your irrational emotions. Know that emotions are not objective responses. Since all emotions grow from thoughts and perceptions, they are subjective and subject to change. TO avoid this, firmly anchor yourself, with intuition, in Self-knowledge and attain heightened states of peace. Only then can you accurately observe thoughts, memories, feelings and false happiness and thus transcend them without passionate objectives. Reject anything that is sad, hopeless, dispassionate and disheartening. Remember that you are always a spiritual being, therefore you are superior to every thing around you, including your emotions (thoughts and feelings). In the words of Master Paramhansa Yogananda: ‘If you sometimes fail to accomplish your purpose, don’t be discouraged. That is the best time to sow the seeds of success. In everything that you do, express your limitless soul qualities’; and Swami Sri Sri Yukteswar said: ‘Human conduct is unreliable until anchored in the Divine. If you perform right actions now, everything in the future will improve’.

To enjoy good health in body, mind, emotion, goals, finances and spiritual growth, you need to, with help, truly and divinely follow a healthy lifestyle that will help nurture your total well-being. This means wholesome living or Holysome Living. Again, meditation is important to calm the mind and render your awareness clear. Study the scriptures and higher realities.

A great Buddhist, Pali Canon, once said: ‘This is the noble eightfold path: right views, right aspirations, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right endeavour, right mindfulness and right contemplation. This noble eightfold path is not the easiest to follow, but know this to be a possible venture, just by making a change. If your personal relationships are not beneficial or wholesomely divine, being based on negative emotions, attachments based on dependency or convenience, or if you are misguided because of your obligations to relationships, immediately renounce, reject or refute them. Your relationships must be ideal, empowering ones which are both socially and spiritually enhanced. A good and divine relationship can improve your mental attitudes, giving you divine behaviour and habits in order to attract divinely enhanced events.

Swami Shankarananda

2007-12-03T22:21:00.004+02:00

DONATIONS

If you would like to make a donation to the work of Swami Shankarananda and play a part in promoting spiritual awareness in South Africa please use the following banking details to make your contribution:

Jadatharaya Institute of Right Living & Yoga

First National Bank, Verulam Branch

Account Number: 620 854 807 98

Branch Code: 22-02-29

or

Gayathri Peedam of South Africa
First National Bank, Verulam Branch
Account Number: 620 754 401 24
Branch Code: 22-02-29

Thank you for your offering.

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INSPIRED AND GUIDED LIVING

As long as you are living, as long as you are able, as long as your brain is active, and as long as you have thought, there will always be an acquisition of different and new knowledge, skills, powers and opportunities to accept and adapt creatively. Know this. Accept this. And daily live this, for you are effectively immortal, a spiritual being.

Age does not matter when it comes to understanding your divine qualities and journey as every divine journey gives you opportunities to go further. Therefore, aspire now to be spiritually enlightened. The time is never later, or tomorrow, or another time. It is never too late, or too early to do it. Make your commitment now. Right now, wherever you are.

By aspiring to be spiritually enlightened, there is always the possibility of attaining Self or God realization because you will have realized its existence in the process. The younger you are, the greater chances are that you will waste your divine time and energy on mundane activities. The younger you are when you start your spiritual journey, the quicker will be your attainment. By this I am not suggesting that older people have less spare time, but that younger persons are more attracted to non-useful activities than the elderly are.

Aspire also to acknowledge and fulfil your wholesome desires, especially if they relate to being spiritually enlightened. Remember who you really are: an individual divine unit of pure consciousness abiding in God. Upon fulfilment of wholesome requirements, the sense requirement to spiritual attainment is enhanced. This gives one more meaningful purpose to their life on this plane. Think about how happy and satisfied you are when your desires and needs are satisfied. Consider how much happier you would be if your spiritual wholeness was attained. By attaining anything, you become more energetic, optimistic, realistic and confident, striving for more spiritual consciousness and enhancement. This enlightenment will allow you to experience a sense of vivid aliveness and energy boosts that will be evident in all aspects of your life. You will live more effectively, be happier and with an increased understanding that there is no difference between the spiritual and material realms, but that they both exist to create a balance. You will become simple in action and thought, thereby having no ego and selfishness.

Together with what has been mentioned herein, question your growth spiritually. Take it upon yourself to understand your potential for spiritual development in this incarnation and to activate or actualise it. Make decisions by thinking rationally and in a mature manner, taking responsibility for all your thoughts, actions and words. Consciously nurture your growth. Study the scriptures in order to acquire knowledge to live positively, and effectively. Follow a wholesome diet. Do not speak harmfully to anyone, or harm anyone.

Swami Shankarananda

2007-10-02T15:48:00.004+02:00

Divine Mother

aspect of God

by Swami Shankarananda

Cost: R150 per person

Includes booklet on the significance of Gayathri, Gayathri Mantra CD,

and voluntary participation in a Divine Mother fire ceremony,

followed by a vegetarian meal

All proceeds go towards developing spiritual awareness through publications, lectures and classes.

Please contact us to host this three-hour event.

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PRIME OBJECTIVE

One who is blind is always in darkness, but this darkness is not related to sight, in the physical sense. One who is spiritually blind is without spiritual light. One who is ignorant is also in darkness and this darkness is spiritual blindness. Do not at any time be caught in this state of ignorance. Many of you are ignorant by choice. That is to say, selectively ignorant. Ignorance in certain matters does not at any time add to your karma.

Blindness is a state of the mind. Ignorance is also a state of the mind. A physically blind person is seldom ignorant but a materially blind person is always ignorant. Ignorance, so often used to get out of a situation, is one of the greatest elements of maya. When ignorance is totally removed (which is not easy, but possible), then everything becomes perfectly clear and pure, reflecting total love, peace and the light from within. This is being born-again. Maya thereby becomes one within the light. This saves you from the illusion of the world. If maya, or darkness, influences you, you will be spiritually blind. You need to understand your inner Self.

Let liberation be your prime objective in this life. Maya will make you forget your Self, thereby bringing to you suffering for which you may blame God. Commit yourself to God so that you may have relief from negativity.

Swami Shankarananda

2007-09-18T13:07:00.007+02:00

CONSULTATIONS

Many people come to a point in their lives when an important decision or choice has to be made and they are unsure of which direction to take. By understanding the cosmic and planetary energies and their effect on our lifepaths, we are better equipped to make choices that will affect our future.

Swami Shankarananda offers personal Astronumerological (combined Astrological & Numerological) consultations to help sincere students and devotees progress on their spiritual journey by choosing the most productive paths in potential life-changing situations. The consultation includes a 16-20 page print-out for your reference as well as 'after-sales service' where you can email Swami after your consultation if you have any further questions you might need answered.

To find out more or to book a reading with Swami, please email

jo.petzer@mweb.co.za
or phone 031 701 9356 or 083 459 5852

2007-09-18T12:51:00.004+02:00

CONTACT DETAILS

Swami Shankarananda resides at the Gayathri Peedam in Verulam, South Africa.

The physical address is 2 Fairview Drive (cnr. Tod & Fairview)

Brindhaven, Verulam, kwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Please click here to send us an email, or if you would like any further information.

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SEEK WITHIN

Peace, to many people, is virtually impossible. What then is peace? Peace can be attained by many only after everybody on Earth has perished. Then there will be an absence of war, conflict and argument - there will also be no life. The whole world will be a graveyard of blissful silence. Is there any use for such a situation? No. It is worth absolutely nothing - this means war is better - it reinforces the fact that we are alive.

Look at another type of peace: one of a totally different dimension also exists at this moment, when you are alive and energetic. This peace is found by centering yourself in your being, after you have become enlightened: the inner knowledge has acknowledged you. This ignites a flame within your being, dispelling all the darkness or ignorance around you. You will enjoy more of life in the silence found within, not that of the graveyard.

Silence is peace. Silence is very necessary. It belongs to life. Meditation is the key to this silence. Think about the following: Buddha, Mahavira, Jesus and other great beings, all lived in the same world of tension and conflict as we do. Did they have peace? Yes. Mahavira conquered the self, therefore he was called the Great Conqueror. You can become such a conqueror by enjoying the silence, the peace. You are peace, born in peace, so therefore you should live in peace.

You are always in a hurry, in your physical body and your mind. Look around you, at nature, the plants and animals. Do they look like they are in a hurry? No, because they have remained eternal. You have lost your eternal nature. Find it, conquer it and recover that peace.

Why do you go to the church or temple? Don’t you go there to find peace? Yes, you do. But you are unaware that you are at the wrong place for, if peace is being handed out there, are you receptive to it? Come to the temple, go to church - but be receptive first. Many of you come, but it is noticed that you carry problems and are looking for consolation of some kind. Many say ‘Guruji, I have so many problems. I am in much difficulty. My mind is not at peace. Bless me, O Guruji, bless me’. Notice how it is peace-of-mind that is so important for many to attain. Meditate, meditate, meditate - this is the ultimate peace. Follow the teachings on meditation and your mind and body will be at peace.

Swami Shankarananda

2007-08-12T18:39:00.001+02:00

DEVOTION

With Bhakti Yoga (devotional yoga) you’ll find that after hearing devotional singing, even when you're driving your car, somehow you'll hear within yourself some of the bhajans sung and find yoruself singing. Sometimes this may go on for weeks or months. You’ll get joy out of singing one line because it contains the name of the Lord.

Who is the Lord? We don’t really know. But we’ve been given the opportunity to see the Lord, the great Supreme Intelligence Who lies within each of us. Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, “I am the cause of all causations”. You have a choice. Life has given you many choices. Krishna has given us in the Bhagavad Gita many choices on our spiritual journey. If you don’t like one kind of yoga, there are other kinds to choose from. Gnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, and others. So, straining the body with some fantastic yoga discipline (like in the USA where every second shop is a yoga studio), is not necessary. There is a form of Yoga for everyone.

Yoga is the union between you and God. Your connection to God is like talking on the phone. You can talk to somone on the phone overseas via the telephone connection. If there is no connection, you won't be able to talk. If you don't push the buttons to make the connection, you will not connect. Like yoga, the connection must be there to talk to God. You need to make the connection. Devotion is so very important in our lives. In the Bhagavad Gita, again, Krishna says, “Give me a twig or a leaf with devotion and I will accept it.” The key word is devotion. Why did he say leaf? He didn’t ask for expensive distracting material things. You are given all the options and opportunities to worship in a simple form. “Do not build me a golden temple” He said, "because I reside in your heart". Even Buddha said, “Don't worship me in statutes, worship me in your heart”.

Our devotion and dedication is what takes us to God. It is the most important aspect of this journey. But it comes with many obstacles, obstacles unlimited. Fortunatley, the solutions are also unlimited. Mahatma Gandhi says, “Anytime you have a problem, turn to the pages of the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna very nicely answers all your questions and gives solutions to all your problems”.

Bhakti is devotion, the foundation of any spiritual journey. Besides Bhakti you should have a guru in some form. The Hindus say 'mata, pita, guru, deva', that is, 'mother, father, guru, then God'. In the Hindu tradition, when child is born, the first person it sees is the mother, then the father (the mother could introduce anyone as the father). The father takes the child to school, to the guru. The guru will take the child to God, whoever your guru is – they will know the route. They might not know God but they will know the route. Krishna says, “I have many paths, choose any one. They all lead to me.” He also said, “He who gives me the greatest devotion and dedication, in his heart I reside”. Paramahamsa Yogananda said, “In the inner altar of your being is Ishwara – God - the highest form”. Reside with that Ishwara within yoruself.

The Bhagavad Gita talks a lot about the blind king and his hundred sons. Gurushaktra is this physical body, the battle is there every day, the hundred sons are our desire, greed, hate, envy, and other negative influences that lead us away from God. The blind king is your ego. The soul wants these creepers of negativity removed. Only we can remove them by bhakti, our devotion to God. This can only be achieved through your guru – not any other way. There should be a guru-disciple relationship present on your journey, and once you have that, you don’t have to see your guru daily. My Master has attained mahasamadhi (conscious exit of the physical body - physical death). By dropping my eyelids and shutting myself off from the apparent material reality, I can be with my Master and I meditate with my Master. He gives me instructions. We can all attain that.

Becoming spiritual is not a desire – it is one of the requirements we’re born with in this life, and the reason for our birth is to show bhakti. Our attainment in this life is what determines our position in the next. If we give a hundred percent of ourselves to God in this life, we won’t suffer in the next life. This is the preparation ground for our next life. Both Paramahamsa Yogananda and Swami Vivekananda said that the world is a stage, and we are just actors, when we've finished our part, we go back to our source. Think of a play at school. When you don’t act properly in a school play you are sent back to do it again until you get it right. It's the same with life. Once you act properly, then you qualify for the greater audience. This life is exactly like that.

How often do you search all over when your Guru is right here? Because that is your journey. Everything in life does not happen by coincidence. It is called 'sequential events of the Infinite'. As long as there is bhakti and devotion the energy of the Supreme will be present. You’ll feel it. It has to be from the heart. When I sing 'guruve namashivaya', it is to the guru within you I refer. Once you find a guru, hold on for dear life and see where the guru takes you. Gurus are very strange people. They won't show you the road immediately - they know your mental capacity is like a monkey’s. Students will visit gurus and compare them. There is no comparison between gurus. You can’t say one guru or religion is better than another. There's no such thing. That is materialism. Any religion that brings down any other belief is far from God and realization. First comes self-realization, the most difficult realization, because we live in this apparent reality and you think you are real. You’re not real. Anything that is real does not change. The only thing that does not change is the Truth. The only thing that is Truth lies within us, athma of the soul. It cannot be “contaminated, dried, wet or burned”. Krishna talks about the soul in these words. There's a saying that goes: “many brothers and sisters I've had; many fathers' mothers, companions”. In this present lifetime you may not remember them, but in other lifetimes we have been together. Sometime in our past lives, we had some association, therefore we meet again in this life.

So with bhakti, with divine and complete devotion to God and your master, nothing for you is impossible - nothing in this world is impossible. What you put out into the universe is what you get back. There are many kinds of karma. The latest kind is called 'bomerang karma' when you throw it out, it comes back to you. If you have bhakti, devotion, and follow the instructions of your guru, nothing will be an obstacle. Listen to your guru. Forget everyone else around you. Listen and you will attain. Attainment is what we are all here for; for some kind of peace, eternal bliss. We can all attian that. One who is ignorant is bound to darkenss, one who is ignorant and intelligent is bound to deeper darkness. But one who is knowlegable in attainment is light. Once you find that light, you must know you're knowledgeable. What is that knowledge? It is nothing that can be found in a book. Close your eyes and meditate and you will get that knowledge.

Swami Shankarananda

2007-08-11T12:32:00.002+02:00

SERVICE (Serva)

Many people talk about serva. Do they really know what serva is? Cooking some food and giving it to people once in six months - is this serva? Do people only eat once in six months, or is this serva for personal glory? Think about it. You cook some good food. Normally meat is regarded as good food for many of the people who do serva. You distribute this food to people who have not eaten a proper meal for a long time. I say ‘proper meal’ because you may think that I also think meat is good food if I say ‘good food’. You have now brought back a sense of taste that was long forgotten by these people. They enjoy their meal even if it is not tasty because they feel enjoyed. You leave them and go to your homes and comforts, having re-introduced the desire in those people for a certain kind of food. This is your karma and it is bad karma. It adds to your list of karmas.

Now understand what serva is. It is helping people live, not by making them beggars. It is true that we make people beggars. I would like you to do this kind of serva: identify a person who is in total need of help, assist them by finding jobs for their immediate family members and following up with assistance. Many of you like to feed people to identify yourselves. ‘I feed so many people,’ is what you may say. This is self-recognition. Serva is a divine responsibility.

Swami Shankarananda

2007-08-11T12:25:00.001+02:00

2007-08-11T10:38:00.002+02:00

Symbolism of Lord Shiva

and the significance of the Shiva Lingam

by Swami Shankarananda

R120 per person
Includes explanatory booklet and vegetarian meal.

Shiva Lingams available for sale separately.

Please contact us to host this 90-minute talk.

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2007-08-10T15:56:00.002+02:00

Reiki Healing with Crystals
presented by Swami Shankarananda

One-day workshop detailing the basics of Reiki Healing using specific crystals.

An effective complimentary healing method for reiki practitioners.

R500 per person

includes booklet, crystals, lunch and attendance certificate.

All proceeds go towards promoting spiritual upliftment.

Please contact us to host this workshop.

2007-08-06T21:59:00.001+02:00

LOVE

Love is a vibration requiring time, space and atom. When the development of Divine Love is great, then the evolution of ignorance starts to decrease until it is totally withdrawn. Ignorance is the Maya or darkness that is manifested by you. In the state of Love, atoms embrace each other, moving closer to creation. When this Love is great, then you start to see the light. Once the light is seen, Divine intelligence is perceptible and the power to determine right from wrong is attained.

Loving God is always easy because one cannot have a conflict with God. But loving another being may not be easy due to many reasons, such as conflicting personality differences; or you may perceive the other person as not lovable, they may not love you back, or you might even think they may not be worthy of love. Always remember: it is possible to love all these kinds of people. With all these perceptions, you still, deep down, love yourself; meaning that you care about yourself, forgive yourself and always give yourself a chance to improve. God’s Love and your love for God can only contribute to total Spiritual growth. This transformation enhances your appreciation for life. This also may blossom into the greatness of Divine Love, thus dissolving ‘I-ness’ boundaries opening your awareness to a larger Universe.

Let your love be unconditionally universal. Always find yourself doing something good to and for others. That is true Divine Love. Transform everything in your presence to that love. If you have to endure some pain for the benefit of others, so be it. If you have lunch in your hand and you see someone who has not taken meals for a few days, hand over your lunch. This is serva with love. Love should make this present world go round, not wars and killings.

Swami Shankarananda

2007-08-06T21:49:00.002+02:00

GURU-DISCIPLE RELATIONSHIP

Extract from a talk by Mrinalini Mata SRF

God sent us into this world to play a divine drama. As individualized images of the Lord Himself, our lives have a singular purpose: to learn; and through learning, to grow; and through continual growth, to express ultimately our true nature and return to our original state of oneness with God.

This God-created universe runs by orderly cosmic law, and the guru-disciple relationship is rooted in that law. It is divinely ordained that he who seeks God shall be introduced to Him through a true guru. When a devotee sincerely desires to know God, his guru comes. Only one who knows God can promise the disciple: “I will introduce you to Him.” A true guru has already found his way to God; therefore he can say to the chela, “Take my hand. I will show you the way.” The guru-disciple relationship encompasses the disciplines and principles of right action which the disciple must follow to prepare himself to know God. When the disciple, with the guru’s help, perfects himself, the divine law is fulfilled, and the guru introduces him to God.

The first principle of the covenant between guru and chela is loyalty. Ego, the consciousness and self-assertion of the little “I”, is the one thing that keeps us from God. Banish the ego, and in that moment one realizes he is, ever has been, and ever will be one with God. The ego is a cloud of delusion surrounding the soul, veiling and diffusing its pure consciousness with endless misconceptions about the nature of oneself and of the world. One effect of the ego delusion is fickleness. As the Truth-seeker begins to manifest his divine soul qualities, he banishes this unreliable tendency of human nature and becomes a loyal and understanding person. Loyalty to the guru is one of the most important steps of discipleship. Most human beings have not perfected the quality of loyalty even toward their own flesh and blood, or husband, wife or friend. That is why the concept of loyalty to the guru is not fully understood. To be a true disciple, the chela must be loyal to the guru sent by God: he must abide faithfully and one-pointedly by his guru’s teachings.

Loyalty is not narrowness. The heart that is loyal to God and his representative is magnanimous, understanding and compassionate towards all beings. Remaining centered in one-pointed unconditional loyalty to his own guru and his teachings, such a devotee beholds in correct perspective all other manifes-tations of Truth, according them due appreciation and respect.

Obedience or surrender to the guidance of the guru is another basic tenet of the guru-disciple relationship. Why this divine imperative? Man must learn obedience to a higher wisdom in order to overcome the stumbling block of ego and its self-made delusions. The disciple’s obedience must be sincere and wholehearted. To give lip-devotion to the guru and continue to behave according to the dictates of the ego’s bad habits is folly. He alone is the loser who cheats in his efforts on the spiritual path.

Humility is the wisdom that acknowledges One who is greater than ourselves. Most human beings worship the ego-self. But, as the disciple bows instead to the ideal of a greater Self, and to the guru as the instrument of the Divine whose aid he seeks in realizing that Self, he gains the humility necessary to tear down the imprisoning wall of ego, and feels within him an ever-expanding divine consciousness welling up from that greater Self.

The guru-disciple relationship also perfects in the chela the quality of faith. The world in which we live is founded on relativity, hence it is unstable. We know not from day to day whether our bodies are going to be well or beset by disease. True faith is born of experience of truth and reality, a direct knowledge and certainty of the divine forces sustaining all creation. Man is insincere because he has no such faith. The guru-disciple relationship calls for complete faith on the part of the disciple. To help the disciple to cultivate faith, the guru says, “Follow me; blindly if need be”. Ego impairs our vision, but the guru’s sight is always flawless. His eyes of wisdom are always open. To him there is no difference between yesterday, today and tomorrow.

The guru helps the disciple in countless ways. Perhaps greatest of them all, he inspires the chela through his exemplifi-cation of divine attributes: He is the “speaking voice of silent God”, and the incarnation of highest wisdom and purest love; he embodies the soul-qualities that reflect God; he symbolizes the way and the Goal. The guru also helps the disciple by assuming much of his burden of karma. He may also, at God’s behest, take on part of the mass karma of humanity. The Bible states that, “The Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). The guru also serves as a mirror reflecting the character image of the disciple. If a disciple stands before the mirror of his guru with reverence, devotion, faith, obedience and surrender, it will show him all the personal flaws and weaknesses that block his way to the Goal.

The disciple must learn to follow the guru by emulating his example and by practicing faithfully the Sadhana he gives. (Sadhana is the Indian term for spiritual discipline: the ‘do’s and don’ts” defined by the guru as necessary to the chela’s search for God.) By following these instructions sincerely and to the best of his ability, and by constant effort to please the guru through right behaviour, the disciple demolishes every ego-erected barrier between his will and the will of the guru as expressed through His wise precepts.

The guru is omnipresent. His help, his guidance, and his teachings prevail, not only for the brief years he dwells on earth, but forever. The guru’s help to sincere followers does not cease when he leaves his body as the consciousness of the true guru is eternal. His awareness of the disciple and his link with him are constant.

Vedic scriptures state that the spiritual effort of the disciple constitutes only twenty-five percent of the spiritual forces required to bring his soul back to God. An additional twenty-five percent is given through the blessings of the guru. The remaining fifty percent is bestowed by the grace of God.

2007-08-06T21:17:00.005+02:00

SWAMI SHANKARANANDA BIOGRAPHY

Swami Shankarananda was named Thaniajalum Veeragava Moodley at birth, which was at nine o’ clock on the morning of July 15th, 1953, and during the Nakshatsha of Pooram. Swami was born in Stanger, a small town on the North Coast of kwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. At birth, his hair was long and thick, almost the length of his 1.3kg body and which, for convenience sake, was cut short just half an hour after he had been born.

As a young boy, Swami spent his early years in Port Shepstone on the South Coast of kwaZulu-Natal, and moved with his parents Veeragara (Henry) and Rajmah Moodley, to Shakaskraal at the age of five, to stay with his maternal grandparents. His father worked as a bartender and Swami describes his him as being ‘a pleasant and humble individual who showed love to all people he met and always looked out for the best for his children.’ Of his mother he said, ‘she was a loving but stern individual with a stubborn character.’

The eldest of four children (two brothers and a sister), Swami grew up having to be an example to his siblings and, although his family weren’t overly spiritual, they took part in many ritual prayers and he was encouraged to light the lamp every afternoon. He loved going to the temple and was fascinated by devotees experiencing states of trance, and amused by their facial gestures. On returning home after such occasions he would find himself doing the very same thing with his brother Steve, for entertainment.

Today Swami describes the occurrence of his first real experience of God while attending a Kavady Procession in Tinley Manor during 1962, as follows: “We arrived at the temple, having walked since 4.30 in the morning from my grandparent’s house in Shakaskraal, all the way to Tinley Manor along the railway line, playing various games along the way. When we reached the temple area, I became transfixed at the gates and the only colour I could see was yellow. The whole area was divinely bathed in yellow. Amongst the Kavadies were chariots, all beautifully decorated. What a beautiful sight! Even the clothes the devotees wore were yellow. Bhajans started and the entire temple was charged with divinity. Everywhere devotees were jumping, running and dancing in total transcendence. I remember watching in amazement as, for the first time, I witnessed hooks being pushed through the skin of some of the devotees, waiting in anticipation to see if there would be any blood, but there was none.” Intrigued by this spectacle, young Mogan decided to try the same thing at home later that day, by using office pins, which he pushed through the skin of his hand, hurting himself. He suffered for four days afterwards, but was certain deep within that he would one day perform the same feat (which he did later for a number of years).

One day, at about the age of thirteen, while attending an Amman Pooja, young Thaniajalum witnessed a black fowl being slaughtered for sacrifice. While watching the ritual he had an experience during which his head was involuntarily turned away from the scene, and over which he had no control. This caused the teenager to become weak and confused so he decided to leave the prayer and go home to sleep. When he awoke he was filled with an inexplicable divine happiness, and from that day on no longer attended any ritual prayer involving sacrifice.

At the age of fourteen, Swami experienced and spoke to God, during which time he would manifest convulsions. This strange behaviour incited his parents to take him to hospital, where he was admitted and diagnosed as having a mental disorder. Although his parents had wanted their eldest son to become a doctor, he adamantly insisted on following a spiritual path. On two occasions He had to undergo electroconvulsive mental therapy, which was unsuccessful, but he was forced to continue his schooling nevertheless, having to deal with his ‘condition’ as best as he could.

After matriculating, Swami went to the United States to study at the Hearald Engineering College in San Francisco, U.C.S.F. Returning to South Africa after graduating, he worked for a local paper mill company monitoring the paper weight . During 1982 he married Tammy Govender and over the following ten years, four new souls were introduced to the world, two sons and two daughters.

During the period that followed, our Swami was employed by a number of companies and promoted to supervisor, opened and closed two businesses, and excelled in his position at a large retail firm. Despite all of this, he was increasingly aware that something was lacking in his life, but couldn’t quite establish exactly what it was until something happened to change things.

On the 15th June 1988 Swami Shankarananda was assaulted by two African men who hit him repeatedly with a sharp object, badly cutting his right hand in the process as he raised his arm to protect his face. Swami tells us, “at that moment I thought about Shri Hanuman Baba, and suddenly the attackers began running away, looking back at me in fright, as if they had seen something they couldn’t understand”. Swami was admitted to hospital and pronounced dead-on-arrival. Bu God's Grace Swami recovered, after which he accepted a resignation package from his employer.

During 1994, Guru received some books by a living saint he had never met, Swami Murugesu Maharishi, and two years later, in 1996 found himself travelling to Sri Lanka to meet his master who initiated him into the Swami order. Later during 1999, Swami Shankarananda was also initiated into Kriya Yoga by Yogiar SAA Ramaiah during his visit to South Africa.

Since then Swami Shankarananda has founded the Gayathri Peedam in South Africa under the direction of Swami Murugesu and has also formed the Jadatharaya Institute of Right Living and Yoga to create awareness of the spiritual importance and correct practise of the ancient science of Yoga. Today Swami Shankarananda works as a channel and a mediator between aspirants and the Infinite by holding spiritual talks, workshops and yoga classes, and by distribution of His inspirational writing.

It is little known (as Swami in his humility seldom mentions it) that Swami Shankarananda also holds an honorary doctorate in Vedic Astrology, is a Reiki Master and a Lighterian Master, a Justice of the Peace and a Commissioner of Oaths. He is known by devotees and students for His infinite patience, infectious sense of humour, haunting voice and, most of all, Divine Presence and unconditional love that can be felt just by sitting at His feet, all of which Swami attributes to the presence of Swami Murugesu in his heart.

2007-08-06T19:46:00.003+02:00

SWAMI SHANKARANANDA LINEAGE

[click image to enlarge]

This lineage representation is an extreme simplification of the Kriya Master lineage and it must be understood that the masters shown had many other disciples, and some also had more than one teacher, creating a complicated network of teachers.

Those shown are included merely to show the lineage segment pertaining to Swami Shankarananda.

At the head of the diagram is Lord Shiva and His consort Parvati who introduced Kriya Yoga to Lord Muruga. Lord Muruga taught the discipline to Siddhar Agasthiar who passed it on to Siddhar Boganathar. Both these Siddhas were teachers of Babaji Nagaraj. Siddhar Agasthiar was also the guru of Kanniah Yogi (very little information is available on the life of this Saint).

Kanniah Yogi initiated Gayathri Siddhar Swami Murugesu, who in turn initiated Swami Shankarananda during 1996. Swami Murugesu was also initiated by Swami Sivananda.

The deathless saint, Babaji Nagaraj was the teacher of Lahiri Mahasaya, who initiated Sri Yukteswar into Kriya yoga. Sri Yukteswar was the Guru of Paramahansa Yogananda, who astrally initiated Swami Shankarananda into Kriya.

Babaji also initiated Yogiar Ramaiah into the Kriya disipline, who in turn also initiated Swami Shankarananda during 1999.

2007-07-26T22:00:00.001+02:00

2007-07-15T11:07:00.001+02:00

KARMA

Our lives are bound together by the universal law of Karma. This bondage does not only affect humans but also plant life, animals and minerals (including crystals). This fact makes our world a giant house with a large family and, like all families, ongoing complications are a regular occurrence.

As long as we are all relatives in this large Earthly family, we will all be subject to the law of relativity (revealed by Albert Einstein) which states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. This is the scientific and logical law of Karma which can cause us pain but which helps and builds us to understand the effect of our actions, developing the soul by teaching us love and upliftment and aiding in our eventual spiritual maturity.

The law of Karma is simple: if we punish, hurt or deprive another being of their freedom (human or animal), then in our next lifetime we will be subjected to the same, or a similar (equal) experience. Once we understand and accept this universal law, then we can be liberated and we can avoid becoming ‘victims of karma’. This law of karma directs us to follow the higher spiritual code of ethics making the journey to spirituality not a passive path to God, but a very active one. Try to finish your mission in this life by doing what is right, correct and good so that you don’t have to come back to this plane, unless to teach, guide and serve others. Maintain a pure spiritual consciousness throughout your lifetime because there is always a chance of losing it, thereby slowing your journey towards God-consciousness.

Remember, what you are going through is not punishment but experiences to wash away past karma. You must be responsible in this lifetime, earning your perfect state of consciousness. You are reaping what you have sown in past lifetimes.

Swami Shankarananda

2007-07-13T17:36:00.001+02:00

SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

We need to understand that spiritual awakening is naturally orderly and progressive when we ‘spiritual beings’ live in harmony with the laws of nature and our aspiration to be fully awake is constant. Generally, it is erratic and inconsistent for ‘spiritual beings’ live against the laws of nature and not at all aspire to become spiritually awake. The lack of harmony with the laws of nature is great. When our awareness is blurred and fragmented, flawed illusions may appear and be accepted, presumed as facts.

When our thoughts are material and our awareness is clear, what is perceived is seen and known as it is. Our awareness is our perceptions as it is referred to our minds. When our awareness is not clear, then our perceptions are never accurate. This normally happens when we are not attentive. This hinders us from ‘seeing’ what is present to be seen or fully know what is present to be known. That means having eyes we do not see and having the sense of hearing we do not hear and, having the capacity to be intelligent, we do not accurately discriminate for true knowledge is absent.

Due to the lack of knowledge, the mind is impressed with the increasing accumulation of misinformation, confusion, irrational thinking and erratic behaviour. This situation is trouble-causing, therefore it must be corrected by improving our powers of concentration and clarifying our awareness. To do this we must become alert and attentive at all times.

Spiritual awakening proceeds through seven stages, each of which is related to the chakras in our subtle body. The characteristics of each stage are determined by psychological states, behaviours, intellectual capacities, heights of alertness and powers of perception and functional abilities by one’s habitual mental attitudes and stages of consciousness.

Just by efficiently removing useless habits and procedures, and overcoming obstacles, you could accomplish your divine Spiritual purpose. Thus, it should be your life-purpose to divinely plan your present existence. Constructively analyse what you will do and why you will do it. Let everything be clear and constructive. Make sure there are no restrictive habits present in your planning.

Are you as simple a being as you look? That is, in this body form, covered by skin, do you understand that your total being is beyond this, your simple physical organism. You have within you many, many powers or energies. You also have the potential to tap into them at any time you want, according to your physical or personal requirements. This is how you have managed to survive all the drastic conditions of this world. This potential is exceptionally great, beyond your ordinary perception Paramahansa Yogananda said, “Behind the light in every little bulb is a great dynamic current, beneath every little wave is the vast ocean.” So it is with you. You have your own divine freedom and, in the ‘eyes’ of God, you are identical to him. You are the one that lacks the ‘know-how’ to tap into these energies because you forgot your own source and therefore do not know clearly the power of God, which is unequalled to anything you know, being a greater part of you.

The nature of life is to attain higher levels

of consciousness and total bliss;

the desire to know thyself,

implanted in the inner altar of the being.

To attain freedom, the only way to

reach the state of Effortless Being,

is through enlightenment;

to attaiunion with God

through loving dharana.

Swami Shankarananda

2007-07-13T17:32:00.001+02:00

MY MEETING WITH GOD

Last week when I was unwell, God asked me: ‘So, you are feeling sick?’

‘Yes’, I said.

God smiled at me and said, ‘You are tired; your time is eternity. Are you ready to come?’

‘Not yet’, I said.

‘Why?’, God asked.

I replied: ‘I still need to teach man about life. Man surprises me a lot’.

‘How?’ asked God

‘As a child he is bored, he rushes to do adult things. Afterwards he wants to be a child again. He loses his sense of good health to become wealthy and afterwards visits hospitals and health spas to become healthy. He is always worrying about yesterday and tomorrow and never about now, the present. He ends up living none of them. He wants to live longer and never to get older. He is always looking for some kind of love, but is never lovable. He is always emphasising what is most valuable in his life, not knowing who is in their lives. He is always comparing himself with others, at the same time forgetting his own identity. He does not understand that he is not the one who has the most; he is actually the one who needs the least. He is always hurting the ones he loves, leaving wounds that never heal. He forgets that, above all this, there is one person who loves him dearly. That’s You, God. You are always there.’

When I was finished, God said, ‘Son, you can stay’.

Swami Shankarananda

2007-07-13T17:25:00.001+02:00

THE RAYS OF MY GURU, SWAMI MURUGESU

All teachers are learned, but not all are enlightened. One who has experienced the turbulences of life, looks to the inner path and comes to guide others through this life’s journey, is enlightened. So is my Divine and Loving Guru, Swami Murugesu. I have treasured a special bond with Swami and always look to him to connect me to my own experience with Mother Gayathri. I experience Swami always in the innermpost part and the outermost part of my being. I truly understand Swami as the Divine Grace of Mother Gayathri.

The Guru Poornima, the full-moon day, is dedicated to the Guru and to His hidden Grace. As Swami Muktananda said in his speech on Poornima in 1980, “When God was distributing the full moon, he gave the most perfect one to the Guru,” I say that when God was distributing the full moon, he could not have found a better recipient for the most perfect moon than Swami. Swami Murugesu is like a light. You can take many lights from it and it will never be affected.

When you want to light something, you must bring it closer to the source. But understand that if the light is to receive the source, it must be prepared properly and be soaked and oiled. The same applies here. The recipient must be prepared for changes and must be prepared to receive. Once this happens, you have given yourself totally at the lotus feet of your Guru.

Our journey in this perishable world is to attain the imperishable.The Guru is the divine foundation upon which stands the disciple’swhole spiritual journey. The seed that is planted by the Guru inthe disciple’s mind needs to be tended all the time, so that it is not polluted by the oceans of desire.

Swami Shankarananda

2007-07-10T11:57:00.001+02:00

2007-07-03T07:34:00.003+02:00

INTRODUCTION TO SWAMI

Many Westerners are dazed and confused about what a Swami is. Simply, Swami is a title bestowed upon a member of India's most ancient monastic order. The word 'swami' is sanskrit and means 'he who is one with the Self'. A Swami usually takes formal vows of celibacy and renunciation of worldly ties and ambitions, but can also be a householder, having the responsibility of a family. Although renunciation has many challenges to be faced, the life of a Spiritual Householder has just as many (if not more) obstacles and distractions which need to be overcome on the Journey to Spirit. The 'job' of a Swami includes devotion to meditation and other spiritual practices as well as unconditional service to humanity. There are ten classificatory titles of the venerable Swami Order including Giri, Bharati, Tirtha and Saraswathi. Swami Shankarananda belongs to the Giri, or Mountain, Order.

Swami Shankarananda is also known as a Guru, a term often incorrectly used today to refer to any well-informed teacher or instructor - in any field. The word guru actually means 'one who leads from darkness (gu) to light (ru)' and, as such, is one qualified to lead the spiritual aspirant on their way to Divine realization. A God-illumined guru is one who has attained mastery of the Self and has realized his identity with the Omnipresent Spirit. Such a Master is Swami Shankarananda although, in his humility, He will not openly admit to this.

When an individual seeks in desperation to experience God, they are sent a Guru for guidance along the path to Self-realization. A true Guru is not an ordinary teacher, but is a human vehicle used by God as a channel to guide seeking and lost souls back to their Universal Home.

It is important to bear in mind that not all Swamis are Gurus and not all Gurus are necessarily ordained in the Swami Order.

Although Swami has a really long name: Jadatharaya Gurudasamani Swami Shankarananda, being only part of it, most refer Him as Swami Shankarananda, (shankarananda means 'bliss of Shiva'), Swamiji, or just 'Guru'.

Swami Shankarananda is a householder, having a dedicated wife and a family of four children. He is a qualified electrical engineer by trade (having studied in America), has received an honorary degree in Vedic Astrology, is an honorary Reiki and Lighterian Master, a Justice of the Peace and a Commissioner of Oaths. Nevertheless, all of these titles mean nothing to Swami, and He never acknowledges or even discusses them, preferring to place God ahead of His every achievement.

Swami lives in the town of Verulam in the province of kwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where He runs a small ashram and Gayathri temple (focusing on the Mother, or female, aspect of God), conducting spiritual counselling, yoga and meditation classes, Vedic maths lessons, full-moon ceremonies and other prayers. He travels to Johannesburg every month to give interactive discourses and workshops on Spirituality, and He also travels to Sri Lanka and India at least four times a year to visit His other ashrams there.