𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲

 

Lead a Simple Life

Lead a simple life. Let your thoughts be lofty. Fear God. Speak the truth. Love all. See your own Self in all. Be honest in all your dealings. You will succeed in life and in God-realisation.

Never worry yourself over any matter. Be always cheerful. Use your common sense and reason always. Have a balanced mind at all times. Turn your mind towards God. Sing His Name. Thirst for His vision. Be sincere at heart.

The Divine Grace will descend on you. Have a strong determination and iron will. You have everything to transmute yourself into a sage. Apply yourself diligently and ignite the

spiritual dynamo within. Exert. Plod on. lgnite. Realise.

Swami Sivananda..

Simplicity disciplines the senses; lofty thoughts elevate the mind. Moderation brings clarity and freedom from sorrow.

Bhagavad Gita :

युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु ।

युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा ॥

For one who is moderate in food, recreation, actions, sleep and wakefulness, Yoga becomes the destroyer of sorrow.

Ethical purity and universal vision are the foundation of God-realisation.

Bhagavad Gita :

सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि ।

ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शनः ॥

The yogi, established in union, sees the Self abiding in all beings and all beings in the Self.

Worry arises from attachment; equanimity is Yoga.

Bhagavad Gita :

योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय ।

सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते ॥

Perform action established in Yoga, abandoning attachment, and remaining even-minded in success and failure — this equanimity is called Yoga.

Grace descends where strength and sincerity exist.

Kaṭhopaniṣad:

नायमात्मा प्रवचनेन लभ्यो

न मेधया न बहुना श्रुतेन ।

यमेवैष वृणुते तेन लभ्यः

तस्यैष आत्मा विवृणुते तनूं स्वाम् ॥

The Self is not attained by much study, nor by intellect, nor by hearing many scriptures. It is attained by the one whom the Self chooses — to such a one the Self reveals Its own nature.

And also:

Mundakopanishad :

नायमात्मा बलहीनेन लभ्यो

न च प्रमादात्तपसो वाप्यलिङ्गात् ।

एतैरुपायैर्यतते यस्तु विद्वान्

तस्यैष आत्मा विशते ब्रह्मधाम ॥

The Self is not attained by the weak, nor by carelessness, nor without proper discipline. But the wise who strive by proper means attain That supreme abode.

Swami Sivananda’s teaching condenses the entire spiritual path:

• Simplicity in living
• Purity in conduct
• Balance in mind
• Devotion in heart
• Strength in will

To sum up:

• Purify the life.
• Steady the mind.
• Direct the heart to God.
• Exert with determination.
• Realise the Self.

This is practical spirituality rooted in the highest Vedanta.