Science of Reality

From the divine pen of H. H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj has emanated a ceaseless stream of soul-elevating spiritual literature; his Holiness's message has penetrated every part of world.

Swami Sivanandaji Religion of the Heart which he has significantly termed' 'Divine life' is not the cave dwellers concern for the monopoly of the monks. It is for all. In the plainest language Swamiji tells each one of us how to translate our daily life into Divine Life and how through regular fruitful dynamic activities every one can expand the heart to infinite dimensions.

This book 'Science of Reality' contains the essence of the wisdom of centuries in poetic from. A study of these highly spiritual lines from the holy pen of the saint is meant to cheer up the weary aspirant in his journey towards the city of the Immortal.

Born on the 8th September, 1887, in the illustrious family of Sage Appayya Dikshitar and several other renowned saints and savants, Sri Swami Sivananda had a natural flair for a life devoted to the study and practice of Vedanta. Added to this was an inborn eagerness to serve all and an innate feeling of unity with all mankind.

His passion for service drew him to the medical career; and soon he gravitated to where he through that his service was most needed. Malaya claimed him. He had earlier been editing a health journal and wrote extensively on health problems. He discovered that people needed right knowledge most of all; dissemination of that knowledge he espoused as his own mission.

It was divine dispensation and the blessing of God upon mankind that the doctor of body and mind renounced his career and took to a life of renunciation to qualify for ministering to the soul of man. He settled down at Rishikesh in 1924, practised intense austerities and shone as a great Yogi, saint sage and Jivanmukta.

In 1932 Swami Sivananda started the Sivanandashram. In 1936 was born The Divine Life Society. In 1948 the Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy was organized. Dissemination of spiritual knowledge and training of people in Yoga and Vedanta were their aim and object. In 1950 Swamiji undertook a lightning tour of India and Ceylon. In 1953 Swamiji convened a 'World Parliament of Religions'. Swamiji is the author of over 300 volumes and has disciples all over the world, belonging to all nationalities, religions and creeds. To read Swamiji works is to drink at the Fountain of Wisdom Supreme. On 14th July 1963 Swamiji entered Mahasamadhi.

Sri Swami's Message of Divine Life he has himself summed up in a few words:

Serve, love, give, purify, meditate, realise

Be good; do good; be compassionate.

Enquire "who am I?" Know the Self; and be free.

The new Gospel of Divine Life that he has given mankind is the gospel of divinisation of life itself. That is the fruit of his toils; that is the solution to the problems that face mankind; that is the panacea for the ills of man. In every to action to feel the working of the Divine Will; in every event to see the flow of Divine Grace; in every face to perceive divine radiance aglow; to experience the all-pervading Presence of God -this is Sri Swami ji 's New Vision. Blended with dynamic activity, this vision issues as selfless service, cosmic love, unbounded generosity and ceaseless contemplation of God. Self-realisation-which ends rebirth and with it all pain and suffering-is then only a matter of time. That is the Truth that Sage Sivananda proclaims today. That is the Truth which reverberated in every town of India and Ceylon during the Sage's all India Ceylon Tour in 1953. And that is the message which fills every one the 200 volumes that had issued from his pen which poured forth from this perennial fountain source of wisdom.

May Sri Gurudev's blessings and grace be with us all