Sadvidya Foundation Newsletter
Dear Well Wishers,
We are grateful for your continued heartfelt support as well as generous donations. It is through these that we continue to grow, offering the wisdom of yoga throughout the world.
This year’s annual retreat in India was greatly appreciated by all.
Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple, Thiruvannamalai Tamil Nadu.
Prior to the retreat, some participants gathered for a tour of Arunachala.
There was a meaningful visit to Ramanashram and the caves on Arunachala where Ramana Maharshi had lived for many years.
Letter from Acharya:
Shloka to Patanjali
Gratitude is a wonderful quality of humans which brings welfare to all. Our prosperity is based on gratitude. This salutation to Patanjali is a token of our gratitude.
We are performing all our duties, all our actions with three tools, the mind, speech and body. The mind is constantly thinking, making decisions, and experiencing emotions. Speech, the second tool, is a special feature of mankind. It is a wonderful grace of this universe. With it, we are able to communicate our heart, express ourselves, and write, supporting daily interactions. All our activities are conducted by the human body, our third tool. We give and take via the hands, we see with our eyes, and walk using our legs. This body is considered a wonderful tool provided by Nature.
We can use these three tools in a proper way, supporting our welfare and that of mankind. We can misuse them, which may bring calamity and catastrophe. They are very powerful tools, through which it is possible to develop a wonderful kingdom or to destroy a kingdom. Patanjali, an incarnation of Kundalini, is advising us to use them in a proper way.
In the recording below, Ganapati is singing two stanzas for Patanjali, to enlighten us about the yogic science.
Once again wish you all good luck.
Acharya
To listen to the shloka sung by Ganapati Bhat, Click the image.
Auspicious Dates:
January 14th is the Makara Sankranthi festival. From this day onwards the Sun begins moving Northward. For this reason, the next 6 month period is calleduttarayana. Uttara, means North and ayana, movement. This period of Northward movement is very supportive for an aspirant’s inner achievement. The effects of the Northern movement is apparent in the human body as well. In our body North represents the direction from the heart to head and South is considered the portion below.
On this day, remembering our ancestors through offering fruits, food, and clothing to needy persons holds well as does meditation.
~ Wishing you all yogic success ~