Autobiography of Swami Sivananda
by Swami Sivananda
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Paperback: 176 + xlvi pages
ISBN: 81-7052-029-0
Book Dimensions: 7.0 x 5.0 x 0.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 190 grams
Table of Contents
Publishers’ Note | v |
Sivanandastuti | vi |
Siva’s Experience | vii |
Siva’s Message | viii |
How God Came Into My Life | ix |
What Life Has Taught Me | xiii |
Introduction | xx |
Preface | xxxii |
Chapter One |
|
The Blessed Advent-Sri Dikshitar | 3 |
A Giant Among Geniuses | 4 |
Great Spiritual Luminary | 5 |
My Birth-Place | 6 |
The Budding Phase | 7 |
Trials in Life | 10 |
First Lessons in Service to Humanity | 14 |
Chapter Two |
|
Dawn of a New Vision | 17 |
As a Wandering Mendicant | 18 |
How to Benefit by Pilgrimage | 19 |
Necessity of a Guru | 19 |
The Journey’s End | 21 |
Chapter Three |
|
Vagaries of Spiritual Ambitions | 23 |
How I Synthesised My Sadhana | 24 |
Life at Swargashram | 25 |
Out on Divine Ministration | 27 |
Call of Mount Kailas | 29 |
Mass Dissemination of Spiritual Knowledge | 30 |
Spiritual Conferences | 32 |
Lecture Tours | 32 |
Unfailing Inspiration | 34 |
Dynamic Transformation of the Masses | 35 |
Types of Different Kirtans | 36 |
Chapter Four |
|
First Stage: How Students Are Trained | 37 |
Reserve and Humility | 38 |
Guiding the Steps of Neophytes | 39 |
Second Stage: Planting of the Acorn Sapling | 40 |
Talents Find Their Best Uses | 42 |
Third Stage: Birth of a Great Institution | 43 |
A Centre of Dynamic Spiritual Regeneration | 44 |
Fourth Stage: Collective Sadhana | 46 |
Prayer and Study Classes | 46 |
Attention to Visitors | 48 |
Chapter Five |
|
The Divine Life Movement | 50 |
The Need of the Hour | 51 |
Universal Ideals for Spiritual Perfection | 52 |
The Critical Juncture | 53 |
Rapid Growth of the Mission | 54 |
Basic Approach | 55 |
No Secret Doctrines | 56 |
What Is True Religion | 56 |
Gospel of Divine Life | 58 |
Practical Aspect | 58 |
Role of Divine Life Branches and Spiritual Aspirants | 59 |
Oneness of Humanity | 60 |
The Clarion Call of Divine Life | 61 |
(1) Importance of Collective Sadhana | 62 |
(2) How to Start a Branch of The Divine Life Society | 62 |
(3) Spiritual Current Must Be Kept Alive | 65 |
(4) Service Is Greater Than Meditation | 66 |
(5) Integral Yoga | 67 |
(6) All-round Application to the Task | 68 |
Chapter Six |
|
Problems of Spiritual Organisations | 71 |
The Ashram Grew by Itself | 71 |
Where Everyone Is Welcome | 73 |
Perfect Freedom | 73 |
Miracle of Miracles | 74 |
How Aspirants Should Be Cared For | 76 |
Helpfulness and Love Towards All | 77 |
Individual Attention and Consideration | 78 |
Encouragement and Advice | 79 |
Spirit of Accommodation | 81 |
Who Can Start Ashrams | 82 |
Ideals Must Not Be Forgotten | 84 |
Chapter Seven |
|
The Glory of Renunciation | 86 |
Youth Is the Best Period for Renunciation | 87 |
No Rigid Conditions Are Attached | 88 |
Who Are Fit to Be My Disciples | 89 |
Purify the Inner Nature | 90 |
Attitude Towards Women | 91 |
Should Women Renounce the World | 92 |
Service to Women | 94 |
To Those Who Wish to Take Sannyasa | 95 |
Combine Service and Meditation | 97 |
Financial Independence | 98 |
Importance of Service | 99 |
Sannyasins and Politics | 99 |
Is Guru Indispensable | 100 |
Initiation Transforms the Mind | 101 |
First Deserve, Then Desire | 102 |
Chapter Eight |
|
Profound Experiences Blossom As Countless Publications | 104 |
Why There Are Repetitions in My Books | 105 |
Rapid Work Is My ideal | 107 |
Attention to Details | 108 |
No Attachment to Copyright | 110 |
Attitude Towards Profit Motive | 112 |
Chapter Nine |
|
The Philosophy of Life | 114 |
Integral Development | 115 |
My Creed | 116 |
Secret of Energy and Dynamic Work | 117 |
Healing Through Prayers | 117 |
Chapter Ten |
|
1. Detached, Yet Careful | 119 |
2. Sadhana Till the End of Life | 119 |
3. Why So Many Photographs | 120 |
4. Self-reliance | 122 |
5. A Purpose Behind Everything | 123 |
6. Simple Living and Generosity | 124 |
7. Not a Slave of Fashion and Style | 125 |
8. Evolution for Everybody | 125 |
9. Personal Attention and Liberal Disposition | 126 |
10. No Compulsion But Full Liberty | 128 |
11. The Way to Get Things Done | 129 |
12. Message of Cheer | 131 |
13. Attitude Towards Vilification | 132 |
14. Rise Above Criticism | 134 |
15. Constancy and Gratitude | 135 |
16. You Cannot Get Away From Evil | 136 |
17. My Attitude Towards Dissension Among Disciples | 137 |
18. Raking Up the Issue Does Not Solve Problems | 139 |
19. Way to Success | 140 |
20. How to Convert the Nature of a Man | 141 |
21. My View of Goondas | 141 |
22. Destroy Abhimana (Egoism) | 142 |
23. An Ideal Teacher | 142 |
24. Come, Come, My Friends | 143 |
Chapter Eleven |
|
1. Training of Students Through Post | 144 |
2. Way to Peace | 145 |
3. Have Strong Thirst for Knowledge | 145 |
4. Do Not Be Hasty in Leaving the World | 147 |
5. Look Before You Leap | 148 |
6. Snippets for Evolution | 149 |
7. Unfold the Latent Divine | 150 |
8. Regeneration of the Lower Nature | 152 |
9. The Bane of Sensual Life | 154 |
10. Sadhana Should Be a Daily Habit | 154 |
11. Nishkama Seva | 155 |
12. Troubles Through Pranayama | 155 |
13. Overcome Depression and Gloom | 156 |
14. When You Are Agitated | 156 |
15. Avoid Extremes in Yoga | 157 |
16. What Is Actual Yoga | 157 |
Chapter Twelve |
|
1. Dawn of New Life | 158 |
2. Preliminary Spiritual Experiences | 158 |
3. I Have Won the Game of Life | 160 |
4. In Him I Find My All | 160 |
5. In the Ocean of Bliss | 160 |
6. Immortal Self I Am | 161 |
7. Speechless Zone | 161 |
8. I Have Become That | 162 |
9. The Great Bhuma Experience | 162 |
10. Mysterious Experience | 163 |
11. Sivoham-Sivoham-Sivoham | 163 |
12. State of Samadhi | 164 |
13. Through the Grace of Guru | 165 |
14. I Am That I Am | 165 |
Chapter Thirteen |
|
1. Training of Students in Lecturing | 167 |
2. The Way of Business People | 167 |
3. Regarding A Strong Packing Case With Thick Nails | 168 |
4. When Important Points Are Omitted by Publishers | 168 |
5. Care About Manuscripts | 168 |
6. On Attractive Advertisement | 169 |
7. Philosophy Over the Call of Coffee | 169 |
8. Method of Sending Reminders | 169 |
9. Correcting the Ways of Students | 169 |
10. Invitation for Formality | 170 |
11. Over the Damaged Parcel of Cashew-Nuts | 170 |
12. Rich Despite Debts | 170 |
13. Ideal Tonic for Brain-workers | 170 |
14. My Respectable Guests | 170 |
15. An Attack on Weakness in ‘Walking’ | 171 |
16. Ways of Virakta Mahatmas | 171 |
17. Philosophy Over Snuff | 171 |
GLOSSARY | 172 |
Publishers’ Note
A saint’s life is the ideal for all to emulate, a pattern for everyone who would make his own life sublime. It is an open book from which to learn the lessons of divine life. However much one tries to gain knowledge of spiritual truths from scriptures and texts, it is not until one actually sees someone in whom those truths shine exemplified that one is ready, willing and eager to realise those truths in actual daily life.
That is the purpose that this inspiring book serves.
THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY