Next Yoga Day is on Saturday the 24th November 2007.

Programme:

9.00am – Karma Yoga. Help with Lunch preparation.

10.00am – “Sing Song Sing, Yoga”

We began the 1st yoga day for 2007 with a song in our hearts, which was very well received.  So it is fitting we should complete the year in the same way. This should be a GREAT DAY so hope to see you all there!

This Yoga Day  (last one for 2007) will be facilitated  by Maryke. She will be conducting a 2 hr Vinyassa Class (Movement with Breath) and also incorporating Mantra’s (Sacred Sounds)  with movement.  The Vibrations of these Mantra’s can have a profound affect on the body. They help to re-align the bodies energy centres , which in turn can assist healing on many different levels. (If you do not like to sing then you can just absorb the vibrations, as you move with the breath.). 

Maryke experienced her first ever yoga class here at the Ashram in 1977, and since those early days has studied under many different teachers on various parts of the world.  She is dedicated to teaching yoga in its holistic form and is strongly influenced by the teachings of  Krishnamacharya.

(Please come 10 minutes early if possible to allow time for parking etc.) 

12.30pm – Delicious Vegetarian Lunch served in upstairs Ashram Kitchen.

1:30 pm – “Diet and Cooking the Ayurvedic Way”  Which will be presented by Meta Doherty  Ayurvedic consultant, and author of “Sattwa Café”  Ayurvedic Cook Book. .

3.00pm – Cuppa and Close.  

Discussion Group

Informal group discussion exploring the philosophy and meaning underlying the spiritual search. Readings from selected texts; followed by a short meditation. No charge. This is held in the Satsang room, in the main building on Sunday at 7.30am. The group also meets on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm.

About Navaratri or Durga Puja

Durga Puja is a festival, which is observed in October throughout India. It consists of 9 days worship of female Cosmic Power which has various names—Devi, Durga, the Divine Mother, Divine Power or Shakti (Cosmic Power).

In 2006 Durga Puja is celebrated from the 23rd of September to the 1st of October.

In the Sivananda Ashram in Beaconsfield we follow the programme below for 9 days:

7.00am:

• Chanting a sacred mantra 108 times.
• Listening to the Sanskrit chanting of a part of the Devi Mahatmyam
• Reading the English translation.
• Chanting the hymn to the Devi.

7.30pm:

• Chanting a sacred mantra 108 times.
• Reading from one of Swami Venkatesananda’s lectures.
• Chanting Devi chants from our booklet.
• Chanting the hymn to the Devi.

Please note that every third day (3rd, 6th and 9th day) there is a puja held at 7.30pm in the evening programme as part of the worship for each Goddess.

We invite you to join us for as many as many sessions as you can during this spiritual feast.

Guru may be external or internal, human or non-human; it may even be a happening, an event—whatever awakens this wisdom and tears the veil of ignorance is the Guru. On the night of the full moon we take time to rededicate ourselves to that awakening influence.

In 2006 Guru Purnima will be held on the 11th of July.

Programme:

7.30am: Havan (fire ceremony); video of Swami Venkatesananda during the day.

7.30pm: Pada Puja

8.00pm: Akanda Kirtan (devotional singing) - Maha Mantra: Hare Rama, Hare Krishna

12.00midnight: Supper (please bring plate to share, we will make chai)

We would appreciate your RSVP so we have an idea of numbers

On each full and new moon of each month, there is a havan (fire ceremony) held on the top west verandah at 7.30am.

Symbolism of Fire Worship (Havan Yajna)

In the Havan (Yajna) a fire is raised and various articles are offered into the fire literally and symbolically, to the accompaniment of Vedic hymns. Here God is identified not only as the sacred fire and the articles used but also as the doer of the action; he who offers the sacrifice.

The symbol of the ritual can be extended to include all actions. The performer of the action, the instruments used, the act itself and the one to whom it is directed—all are god only. For he is infinite. When this truth is realised, charity, gifts and service are all transmuted into (Karma) yoga and free the aspirant from vanity, attachment and expectation.

There are some yogis who ‘sacrifice’ to the gods. They engage themselves in ritualistic worship. In time their vision expands to include in their concept of God their parents, teachers and guests. The ritual widens into charity and the heart is gradually purified.

There are others who do not worship the gods but perform these vedic ceremonies for their own sake. Though these vedic ceremonies offer heaven to the performer he is encouraged to cut this desire out in order that his action may lead to the supreme. Hence even the oblations are followed by ‘na-mama’ (not mine or not for me).

To the vast majority these external rituals are necessary as props for an internal process of meditation. There are, however, a few spiritual heroes who can dispense with them and enter the inner realm, with the aid of these ‘inner rituals.’

1. First kindle the fire of self-restraint within. Into that burning desire for achieving perfect restraint, offer the cravings and longings of the senses as and when they arise. The symbolism of the fire-worship will greatly help.
2. In the case of such activity and even such righteous enjoyment’s as are inevitable to the living of life, visualise the senses themselves as the sacrificial fire. Offer the objects of enjoyment into this fire; this is a very effective way of getting rid of ‘likes and dislikes’ which are the result of over-rating the objects of the world. The objects are like inert firewood, fuel for the senses which are the fire to be sustained so long as it is necessary for the enlightenment of the soul.
3. In a higher kind of meditation, the fire is Samyama (combined practice of concentration, meditation and Samadhi) and the oblation is the actions (present and past) of all the sense and even the vital force.

Once the oblation is offered into the fire it becomes one with the fire which alone shines. Thus, when the sense and the vital force are offered into the fire of Atma-Samyama, the Self alone shines, after absorbing the oblations (senses and vital force) into Itself.

Kirtan is singing God’s name with feeling, love and faith. We join together in the Satsang room and sing God’s names with accompaniment of musical instruments such as harmonium, cymbals, drum, etcetera.

“If one does sankirtan from the bottom of his heart with feeling and divine love, even the trees, birds and animals will be deeply influenced. They will respond. Such is the powerful influence of sankirtan. Melodious music soothes the nerves.” (Swami Sivananda)

Kirtan takes place once a month on the fourth Saturday at 5.30pm in the Satsang Room. Feel free to bring your own instruments. 

Followed by supper, please bring a plate to share.

Lord Krishna’s Birthday Celebrations.

The dates vary each year. In 2006 it will be held on 16th August.

Program: 

7.30am: Sri Krishna's Havan (fire ceremony). 

7.00pm: Satsang with Swami Sathyadharma Saraswati in the Satsang room.

Held on the weekend of Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th of August 2006 by Bobby Wilson (3pm to 5pm Beginners; 10am to 12noon Intermediate).

The intention of these classes is to introduce an understanding and experience of meditation suited to individual needs. It will include posture, focus, intention and allow for questions and feedback. There is a more in-depth morning session on the same dates.

Please note: Bobby is taking a year off and therefore there will be no Meditation Intensive in 2007. Further Intensives for 2008 will be advertised.

Puja is performed at 7.30pm (before Satsang) every Friday night.

Also sometimes performed at 7.30am on Friday morning. Please contact the Ashram for confirmation. 

Puja is worship of Venkatesa statue with flowers, water, fruits, incense and sandal wood paste, accompanied with mantras, for approx half-an-hour.

Venkatesa means ‘the Lord who destroys all sin and all suffering.’ In the beginning of the present epoch Lord Krishna himself returned to the earth to dwell there permanently for the redemption of mankind The abode for his incarnation is Tirumalai—a range of seven hills not far from Madras in South India.

Lord Venkatesa has a special message to enrich our lives and keep us from sleep-walking through our lives. His is a twofold mission:

1. To provide easy accessibility of the divine to even the not-so-saintly devotee.
2. To remind us of the nature of divine grace. It is seen in the ‘image’ that Lord Venkatesa’s eyes are covered in front, leaving only the corners free. The Lord thus assures Man: “Whatever you may be, when you come to me, I do not frown on you; I can only look through the corners of my eyes and therefore only with love.” Again, please note the positions of the ‘lower’ arms. The right hand points to the feet indicating, “Take refuge at my feet” and the left held at thigh-level indicates that when you do so, “The ocean of misery which worldly life is here will come up only to thigh-level and you will not drown in it.”

Symbolism of Worship

Worship is to be offered with love, with your heart and not with the head or the rational intellect. However, the following might help to create the ‘inner feeling’ and sustain it, giving it a proper direction.

1. Bathing the image is bathing the Lord with the love of one’s whole being.
2. Offering flowers in worship: thus should we offer all our actions as flowers at he feet of the omnipresent Lord regarding all beings we come into contact with and serve, as the Lord’s own images.
3. Sandal-paste: the Lord is pleased with the forbearing person who gives of his fragrance to one who injures and ‘grinds.’
4. Incense: the unseen fragrance pervades the atmosphere and is experienced by you. Even so is the divine.
5. Light: May I be enlightened.
6. Fruits, et cetera: May I offer all the fruits of my actions to the Lord and be free.
7. Camphor: burns without leaving a residue. Even so may we adore the Lord and be totally absorbed in Him.

Every Friday evening, beginning with Puja at 7.30pm, followed at 8.00pm by chanting and readings of source Scriptures, in the Satsang room.

Held on the 8th of each month at 7.30pm with Pada Puja and Satsang at 8.00pm.

Sivananda's Birthday Celebration - Friday 8th of September 2006.

Programme:

Morning

Occasionally we have visiting Teachers either staying here at the Centre for a while giving programs/retreats, or teachers from outside coming to give talks in the Yoga Hall. We usually advertise these events in the magazine/newsletter or if it is short notice, a letter to members plus posters in various locations.

Will be advertised here!