How to do Surya Namaskar

Sun Salutation – The Perfect Yoga Workout

If you are pressed for time and looking for a single mantra to stay fit, here’s the answer. A set of 12 powerful yoga asanas (postures) that provide a good cardiovascular workout in the form of Surya Namaskar. Literally translated to sun salutation, these postures are a good way to keep the body in shape and the mind calm and healthy.

Surya Namaskar is best done early morning on an empty stomach. Let’s begin with these simple yet effective Sun Salutation steps on our way to good health.

Each Sun Salutation round consists of two sets. These 12 yoga poses complete one set of Surya Namaskar. To complete the second half, you need to repeat the same sequence of postures, only moving the left leg instead of the right (in steps 4 and 9 ). You might find several versions of doing Sun Salutation. However, it is best to stick to one particular sequence and practice it regularly for best results.

Besides good health, Surya Namaskar also provide an opportunity to express gratitude to the sun for sustaining life on this planet, For the next 10 days, start your day with a feeling of grace and gratitude towards the sun energy. Do 12 rounds of Sun Salutation,  followed by other yoga poses and then rest deeply in yoga nidra. You might just find that this could be your mantra to stay fit, happy and peaceful. A mantra whose effects last through the day.

Courtesy:
http://www.artofliving.org/in-en/yoga/yoga-poses/sun-salutation (with video and pictures)

International Yoga Day: Swami Vivekananda's Views on Yoga and Pranayama

A series of exercises, physical and mental, is to be gone through every day, until certain higher states are reached. Therefore it is quite necessary that we should find a posture in which we can remain long. That posture which is the easiest for one should be the one chosen. For thinking, a certain posture may be very easy for one man, while to another it may be very difficult. We will find later on that during the study of these psychological matters a good deal of activity goes on in the body. Nerve currents will have to be displaced and given a new channel. New sorts of vibrations will begin, the whole constitution will be remodelled as it were. But the main part of the activity will lie along the spinal column, so that the one thing necessary for the posture is to hold the spinal column free, sitting erect, holding the three parts — the chest, neck, and head — in a straight line. Let the whole weight of the body be supported by the ribs, and then you have an easy natural postures with the spine straight. You will easily see that you cannot think very high thoughts with the chest in...

After one has learned to have a firm erect seat, one has to perform, according to certain schools, a practice called the purifying of the nerves. This part has been rejected by some as not belonging to Raja-Yoga, but as so great an authority as the commentator Shankarâchârya advises it, I think fit that it should be mentioned, and I will quote his own directions from his commentary on the Shvetâshvatara Upanishad: "The mind whose dross has been cleared away by Pranayama, becomes fixed in Brahman; therefore Pranayama is declared. First the nerves are to be purified, then comes the power to practice Pranayama. Stopping the right nostril with the thumb, through the left nostril fill in air, according to capacity; then, without any interval, throw the air out through the right nostril, closing the left one. Again inhaling through the right nostril eject through the left, according to capacity; practicing this three or five times at four hours of the day, before dawn, during midday, in the evening, and at midnight, in fifteen days or a month purity of the nerves is attained; then begins Pranayama."

(Excerpted from Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Volume 1, Raja Yoga)

Swami Vivekananda on Sri Ramakrishna

This is the message of Sri Ramakrishna to the modern world. Care not for doctrines or for dogmas, for sects or for churches. All these count for but little, compared with that essence of existence, which is in each one, and called spirituality. The more this is developed in a man, the more powerful is he for good. He who has most of it can do most good to his fellow-men. First, then, acquire that. … Only those who have seen it will understand this; but such spirituality can be given to others, even though they be unconscious of the gift. Only those who have attained to this power are amongst the great teachers of mankind. They are the powers of light.

Then be you this! The more of such men any country produces, the higher is that country raised. That land where no such men exist, is doomed. Nothing can save it. Therefore my Master’s message to the world is, “Be ye all spiritual! Get ye first realisation!” And to the young and strong of every country he would cry that the time is come for renunciation. Renounce for the sake of humanity! You have talked of the love of man till the thing is in danger of becoming words alone. The time is come to act. The call now is, Do! Leap into the breach and save the world.
                             (Courtesy: Vedanta DC)

Swami Brahmananda: Keep at least three-fourth of your mind in God

God first and then the world. The purpose of life is to know God. Attain knowledge and devotion and then serve God in mankind. Work is not the end of life. Disinterested work is a means of attaining devotion. Keep at least three-fourths of your mind in God. It is enough if you give one-fourth to service.

Swami Brahmananda, Spiritual son of Sri Ramakrishna

Smiling Buddha, 2016

5 quotes by Sri Ramakrishna on love for God

1. God is in all men, but all men are not in God; that is why we suffer.

2. God is everywhere but He is most manifest in man. So serve man as God. That is as good as worshipping God.

3. Pray to God that your attachment to such transitory things as wealth, name, and creature comforts may become less and less every day.

4. If you must be mad, be it not for the things of the world. Be mad with the love of God.

5. The winds of grace are always blowing, but you have to raise the sail.

- Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa

When Swamiji was desperate to save his family

Naren loved and respected Sri Ramakrishna but sometimes mocked his fervent devotion to Ma Kali.
Some years passed but, slowly under the influence of Sri Ramakrishna’s spiritual power, Naren’s doubts and skepticism melted.  Though he continued to rebel and argue some times, in the end, he had to surrender to the Divine Mother.

When Naren’s father died in 1886 and left the family at the brink of starvation, Naren begged Sri Ramakrishna to ask a boon of Ma Kali on behalf of his family.
“My boy, I can’t make such demands,” said Sri Ramakrishna.  “Why don’t you go and ask the Mother yourself.”  

Desperate to save his family, Naren put aside Brahmo Samaj principles and bowed down low before Ma Kali.  He stood in the inner shrine of the Divine Mother, but he could not pray. He saw the beautiful form of  Ma Bhavatarini Kali and was engulfed in a surging wave of love.  Naren forgot everything else.  
Flushed, and intoxicated in a divine mood, Naren addressed Ma Kali with folded hands:  “Ma, give me discrimination, give me renunciation, grant me knowledge and devotion.  Ma, grant me that I may have uninterrupted vision of You!”

Naren failed to ask a boon for his family. Sri Ramakrishna sent him back three times, but every time, Naren forgot the world when he saw the beautiful face of the Divine Mother.  He no longer saw a statue.  He saw Ma and felt overwhelmed.
Sri Ramakrishna was very happy that his Naren had finally accepted the Divine Mother and, full of compassion he blessed him, saying: “All right, your people at home will never be in want of plain food and clothing.”

What followed was a night of blissful adoration during which Sri Ramakrishna taught Naren a song glorifying the Divine Mother.  Naren was a superb musician and had a beautiful voice.

“Mother, Thou art our sole Redeemer,

Thou the support of the three gunas,

Higher than the most high.

Thou art compassionate, I know,

Who takest away our bitter grief.

Thou art in earth, in water Thou;

Thou liest at the root of all.

In me, in every creature,

Thou hast Thy home; though clothed with form,

Yet art Thou formless Reality.

Sandhya art Thou and Gayatri;

Thou dost sustain this universe.

Mother, the Help art Thou

Of those who have no help but Thee,

O Eternal Beloved of Shiva! 
~Sri Ramakrishna and His Divine Play (tranlated by Swami Chetanananda)

Happy Mother's Day

My son, if a thorn pricks your foot, it hurts me like a spear entering my heart. Never fear, and whenever you are in distress just say to yourself, "I have a mother."
- Holy Mother, Sri Sarada Devi

Sri Ramakrishna on performing worldly duties

It was almost dusk. The Master and M stood talking alone near the door on the southeast verandah. The master spoke to M.
MASTER: “Perform your duties in an unselfish spirit....Always try to perform your duties without desiring any result.” M: “Yes, sir. But may I know if one can realize God while performing one’s duties?”
MASTER: “All, without exception, perform work. Even to chant God’s name and glories is work, as is the meditation of the Nondualist on ‘I am He.’ Breathing is also an activity. There is no way of renouncing work altogether. So do your work but surrender the result to God.”
M: “Sir, may I make an effort to earn more money?”
MASTER: “It is permissible to do so to support a religious family. You may try to increase your income, but in an honest way. The goal of life is not the earning of money, but the service of God. Money is not harmful if it is devoted to the service of God.”
M: “How long should a man feel obliged to do his duty toward his wife and children?”
MASTER: “As long as they feel pinched for food and clothing. But one need not take the responsibility of a son when he is able to support himself. When the young fledgling learns to pick its own food, its mother pecks it if it comes to her for food.”
M: “How long must one do one’s duty?”
MASTER: “The blossom drops off when the fruit appears. One doesn’t have to do one’s duties after attaining God, nor does one feel like doing them then. “If a drunkard takes too much liquor he cannot retain consciousness. If he takes only two or three glasses, he can go on with his work. As you advance nearer and nearer to God, He will reduce your activities little by little. Have no fear. “Finish the few duties you have in hand, and then you will have peace. When the mistress of the house goes to bathe after finishing her cooking and other household duties, she won’t come back, however you may shout after her.”
- Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Chapter V

Rama Navami: Victory to you Lord Rama!

Greetings on Rama Navami! May Lord Rama bring harmony and peace to the world. Jai Sri Rama.

शुद्धब्रह्मपरात्पर राम् ॥१॥कालात्मकपरमेश्वर राम् ॥२॥शेषतल्पसुखनिद्रित राम् ॥३॥ब्रह्माद्यामरप्रार्थित राम् ॥४॥     राम् राम् जय राजा राम् ।राम् राम् जय सीता राम् ।

I take refuge in Sri Rama, who is of the nature of pure Brahman and who is superior to the best.

I take refuge in Sri Rama, who is of the nature of Kala (i.e. master of everyone's destiny) and the supreme Lord.

I take refuge in Sri Rama, who sleeps blissfully on the bed of serpent Sesha Naga.

I take refuge in Sri Rama, whose lotus feet is desired by everyone beginning with Brahma to gain immortality.

O Rama, Sri Rama, victory to you king Rama,

O Rama, Sri Rama, victory to you Sita Rama,

(From Nama Ramayanam, Trans./Image: greenmesg(dot)org)