Swami Jyotirmayananda's Ashram - yogaresearch

Our auspicious celebration of Navaratri Puja (Mother Worship) commenced here in Miami on Friday, October 3, and culminated ten days later on Sunday, October 12. Each morning at 5 a.m. the program began with a devotional song to Devi written by Swami Lalitananda, played and sung by Archana and Rajnish. Then Swamiji explored  a portion of the Devi Mahatmya, followed by performance of arati and archana, blessings of kum kum and flowers, and special prasad (sacred food). A spirit  of joyous self-introspection carried  the disciples through this beautiful puja in the radiant presence of Gurudev.

The grand Vijaya Dashami festivity was celebrated on Sunday evening, October 12. In the lovely floral setting that surrounded him, Gurudev gave his inspiring talk on the profound meaning of spiritual victory in life. In conjunction with the marvelous feast, musical tributes to the Devi by Archana, Rajnish, Ashok, Shiva Ram, Vasanti, and Chris filled the air with sacred vibrations.

Swamiji’s insightful lectures during these ten days were an unforgettable source of delight and inspiration for all. We hope that all those who were unable to join us in person, or listen to the live broadcasts and podcasts at our website (yrf.org), will order and enjoy these treasured talks.

Ashtavakra Gita is a most thoroughgoing and sublime text of Vedanta Philosophy, presented in the form of a dialogue between Sage Ashtavakra and King Janaka. It is an intuitional treatise expounding the Upanishadic revelation, “Aham Brahma Asmi”—I am Brahman or the Absolute Self; this world is nothing but Brahman.

Because of the extraordinary quality of Sri Swami Jyotirmayananda’s ongoing Friday evening lectures on this great scripture, we have decided to include every lecture as a video podcast on our website: www.yrf.org.

We hope that you will enjoy and download these special talks as they continue to appear online every Saturday.

Highlights of Guru Purnima

at the ashram in Miami, Florida

July 20, 2008

 

The celebration of Guru Purnima is one of the most auspicious occasions for aspirants, as they pay obeisance not only to the Guru, but to the entire line of Guru-Shisya parampara.

 On the Sunday before Guru Purnima, Swamiji gave a lecture on the Blessed Path of Nirvana: Nirvana Shatakam by Adi Guru Shankacharya, who was the founder of the sanyasi order to which Swami Jyotirmayananda belongs. During that lecture, Swamiji jokingly said it was a pre-cursor to Guru Purnima. In keeping with that theme, there was a constant stream of devotees arriving and departing from the ashram who wanted to spend time in Swamiji’s presence. Devotees came from North Carolina, Houston, San Francisco, Chicago, India, Toronto, and South and Central Florida. In Swamiji’s presence it is evident that Guru Purnima is everyday.

The karma yogis at the ashram had been joyously preparing for the celebrations. At the center of the altar were pictures of Swami Sivananda Maharaj and Swami Jyotirmayananda. The altar and the satsanga hall were tastefully decorated with red and white carnations, yellow mums and orange tiger lilies, beautifully nestled in palm leaves and other greenery. To accommodate the many devotees who were attending the celebration, the screen doors to the terrace were opened and speakers installed so that everyone could see and hear Swamiji.

Swamiji was welcomed to the celebration with a beautiful garland made of red, white and yellow flowers as devotees chanted Shree Gurustotram. Swamiji’s beaming face radiated calm and peace to everyone as he opened the program with peace chants. The program consisted of a musical tribute of songs written by Swami Lalitananda, including My Great Guru, O Krishna, Oh Mighty sage, and My Beloved Guru (which was the first song that Swami Lalitananda composed as an expression of her devotion to Swamiji). This was followed by appreciations by devotees, Swamiji’s special message, and a delicious buffet dinner, during which disciples entertained Swamiji with devotional music and kirtans.

Swamiji’s schoolmate from India shared his childhood experiences with Swamiji and said that even in his young days Swamiji always gave respect to others and had a calm and peaceful personality. Sri Sahay’s appreciation to Swamiji encompassed the entire teaching about who is to be recognized as a true Guru. As Swamij remarked, Sri Sahayji had put the whole ocean into a little jar, which requires an advanced science. Other devotees shared their gratitude to Swamiji with a recurring theme of how his teachings and guidance have transformed their lives.

In his message, Swamiji stressed that Guru is not a personality, but that the personality is the basis of spiritual growth as the human mind needs a support: the glory of a living personality as a Guru who can provide guidance. Swamiji talked about the 4 main Gurus; Mother (whose impressions never go away), Father, all teachers through schools and colleges, and the most prominent Guru—the one who initiates you into devotion to God and a movement to God-Realization. Swamiji ended his message with prayers for world peace and blessed everyone with Guru kripa, Ishwara kripa and Atma kripa, at the same time reminding us that all three are one.

You can listen to Swamiji’s message on the Internet at yrf.org (under Podcast) or obtain CDs from the Ashram, which will draw you near to the inspiring setting of the ashram and the joy of being in Swamiji’s presence. Swamiji’s teachings, his books and his actions are the revelations of a realized soul. We offer our heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to sit at the feet of our beloved Guru, whose life is a reflection of our own Self.

 

Pranam

Leela Prasaud,

Toronto, Canada

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On June 21 and 22, 2008, the ashram hosted disciples from Orlando, Broward County, Miami and other areas of South Florida for a special retreat dedicated to the study of Chapter 13 of the Gita. In the introduction to this Chapter in his pocket edition of the Bhagavad Gita, Gurudev writes: “When a yogi develops a keen insight into the fact that his soul is different from his body, he becomes more integrated in his personality. In other words, he becomes a better Karma Yogi, a better Bhakti Yogi and a better Jnana Yogi. This is the main theme of this chapter. The soul in the state of ignorance is involved in sowing seeds of good and evil karmas in the field of matter, and consequently reaps the “harvest” of those karmic entanglements. In the state of Enlightenment, however, it discovers its identity with the Absolute Self and becomes Liberated from the bondage of repeated births and deaths.”

Gurudev’s remarkable lectures during this auspicious weekend event have been captured on a 4-CD set so that those who were unable to join us can enjoy the unique teachings. This CD set may be ordered at the sale price of only $40 by calling us at 305-666-2006 or writing to 6111 SW 74th Avenue, Miami, Florida, 33143.

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11/13/2008 4:32:04 PM - 002039713075

The Yoga Research Foundation, founded by our Guru, Swami Jyotirmayananda, offers enlightening classes in Yoga Philosophy, ancient Hindu texts from India: Bhagavad Gita, the Vedas, Puranas, Yoga Vasistha, Srimad Bhagavatam, as well as Hatha Yoga and Meditation.

Founded in 1962 as the Sanatan Dharma Mandir in Puerto Rico by Swami Jyotirmayananda. The headquarters moved to suburban Miami in 1969 as the International Yoga Society. It adopted its present name in the 1980s. Swami Jyotirmayananda is a disciple of Swami Sivananda Saraswati. He has been assisted by Swami Lalitananda, vice president of the foundation, since the beginning. She, too, is a disciple of Swami Sivananda Saraswati.

The foundation publishes books, cassettes, and study courses on yoga and Hindu philosophy, and a monthly magazine called International Yoga Guide. Swami Jyotirmayananda is an authority on the little-known Hindu scripture Yoga-Vasishtha Maharamayana, upon which he comments regularly in the magazine. He has lectured widely, participated in Spanish/English radio programs, and appeared on television.

Branches of the Yoga Research Foundation exist throughout the world. Swami Jyotirmayananda's ashram in Loni, near New Delhi, India, publishes the Hindi Journal Yogajali, as well as numerous Hindi translations of Swami Jyotirmayananda's books. Ashram members assist those in need through a medical clinic, and also further the education of children through the Bal Divya Jyoti Public School.

Devotees of Swami Jyotirmayananda have turned his ancestral home of Ananda Bhavan in Dumari (Bihar, India) into a spiritual center. The project provides the village of Dumari Buzurg with a school for children, library, satsang hall, and technical workshop. Women are taught nutrition and home economics. The project is designed to affect the economic, ethical, cultural, and spiritual life of the village.

The foundation is an international organization, dedicated to "elevating the consciousness, alleviating suffering and enriching the lives of all humanity" through integral yoga (Sivananda's system integrating hatha yoga with the four major traditional yogas: raja, bhakti, karma, and jnana), providing "a basis for upgrading the cultural growth of humanity while bringing about a worldwide level of social and religious harmony." Regular classes teaching yoga, Vedanta, and Indian philosophy are conducted from the center.

Gita: Chapter 13 - June 20-21, 2008

During a two-day retreat at His ashram, Swamiji expounds on Chapter 13 of the Bhagavad Gita, The Yoga of Distinction between the Field and the Knower-of-the-Field.