Swami Shivapadananda on the different Yogas

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

Taken from Mother Radha’s
notes, written at Swamiji’s feet.

Day 91

Jnana Yoga [The yoga of knowledge] can be very dry sometimes. But we must penetrate through the
words and try to realize the truths thereof. It is not like Bhakti Yoga [the yoga
of devotion] where the heart is more involved and the intellect swims in love.
Jnana Yoga is difficult – like in the desert there is an oasis. In Karma Yoga
[the yoga of work or action offered to God] more action is needed.

Raja Yoga [the yoga aimed at awakening the Kundalini or primal power through meditation and other practices] is
the king of yogas. The mind controls the mind. All four yogas go together.

The thought of Brahman [the ultimate reality] is supported by Brahman –
no other thing supports it.

The greatness of the Lord does not need the support
of anything else.

Originally the Aryans in India were nomads, with cattle, with kings, with elephants. They had no temples. They
symbolized God as nature – which is never imperfect.

Sri Ramakrishna said, “Take a man from where he is.” Swami Vivekananda
said, “One coat does not fit Tom, Dick and Harry.”

Hanuman [the great devotee of incarnation Lord Rama] is my solace. Rama
asked him, “Who are you?” Hanuman replied, “If I think I am the body, I am your
servant. If I think I am an individual soul, I am part of you, a spark of
yourself. If I know I am Brahman, you and I are One.” Was Hanuman a monkey?
Yes, he was a monkey plus. God is always plus.

The Infinite includes you in it. God is Almighty. God is not God without
the might of one ant. The ant’s might is His, the worm’s might is His – plus He
is infinitely more than we know.

Posted by Clive Simpkins