Simple way, lofty life

``SWAMIJI, WE are from Madurai, the City of Goddess Meenakshi. We are not much educated. Hence we cannot read and digest the great teachings found in your books. Can you kindly tell us in simple terms and method of divinising our daily life?'' - was the question asked by a group of Railway employees to Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh, Founder of the Divine Life Society at Sivanandashram. Swami Sivananda, in his own humorous way, replied immediately. ``Detach. Attach. That is all. This is Divine Life for you''. ``That simple! This is what we are doing at our work spot daily,'' said one of them.

``Yes. Do the same thing in your house also. In addition to your routine work, take some time to detach your mind from the worldly objects and attach it to the Lord's Feet both in the morning and evening. This is called Meditation. This will make your daily life more meaningful and divine.''

A famous surgeon once visited Sivanandashram to have Swamiji's darshan. He was explaining in detail to Swamiji the various complicated operations he had performed. Swamiji listened with all interest. Himself being a doctor in his pre-monastic life, the Swamiji put across a very simple question to the doctor: ``Dear surgeon, have you ever performed Egodechtomy?'' The surgeon shook his head. Swamiji, with a smile, told the surgeon, ``Oh! This is the most difficult operation to perform. It is the removal of ego from one's mind and one who does it effectively can be considered the ideal surgeon.'' The surgeon said, ``Swamiji, You are the great Surgeon.''

Swami Sivananda was born in Pattamadai, a tiny village in Tirunelveli district on the banks of the Tamiraparani, on September 8, 1887. He was educated in Raja's high school, Ettayapuram, and later in the Thanjavur Medical College. He served as a doctor in the Malayan rubber estates for a number of years.

At the peak of his career he relinquished everything and proceeded to the Himalayas and did penance there for more than 12 years, got illumination and established the Divine Life Society at Rishikesh in 1936.

This has now more than 300 branches in various countries all over the world. He has written more than 200 books on various subjects such as religion, philosophy, psychology and medicine. ``Sure ways for success in life and God-realisation,'' ``Concentration and Meditation,'' ``Mind-Its Mysteries and Control,'' ``Kundalini Yoga,'' ``Science of Pranayama,'' ``Essence of Principal Upanishads,'' ``Nature Cure'' and ``Home Physician'' are some of the works of Swami Sivananda.

Among the Hindu monks of the modern age, Swami Sivananda stands unique in many aspects. He shaved his head but wore an English overcoat in winter. An Indian to the core, he wrote in English. He came from the very orthodox Brahmin family of the great Appayya Dikshitar but his catholicity embraced even the lowest in its sweep. He himself underwent the harshest austerities but advised his disciples to care for the body. He ran a big Ashram without a budget and trained thousands of students without a set syllabus. He stuck to the Ganges bank for well over three decades but his name was heard and respected in every continent in his own lifetime. He displayed no miracles in public but his devotees affirmed and re-affirmed that Swamiji wrought miracles in their life. He spoke the highest philosophy in the most simple language with all humour.

The essence of Swamiji's 200 books can be summarised in a simple song, which was very dear to him.

Serve Love Give Purify Meditate Realise

Be good Do good Be kind Be compassionate.

Enquire who am I, Know thy Self and be free.

Adapt. Adjust. Accommodate.

Bear insult Bear injury Highest Sadhana.

Another equally famous song of Swamiji, `The Song of A Little', summarises the Bhagavad Gita in a nutshell, explaining the technique of divinising our daily life and the song is this:

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.

Eat a little Drink a little

Talk a little Sleep a little

Do asan a little, Pranayam a little

Do vichar a little, Meditate a little.

Mix a little, Move a little

Serve a little, Rest a little

Do japa a little, Do kirtan a little

Write mantra a little, Reflect a little.

Swami Sivananda attained Maha Samadhi on July 14, 1963, and he lives in the hearts of thousands of his devotees who try to be good and do good in their daily life.

T. K. NARAYANAN

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