Hata Yoga Pradipika is a one of the yoga texts with 389 vases contained in four chapters.

In the first chapter it says that the Practitioner of yoga will note get the desired results because of over eating, over talking, over exertion, following unsuitable vows, inconsistency in practice and having the wrong company. On the other hand one succeeds in yoga by getting all desired results through cheerfulness, perseverance, courage, true knowledge, belief in the words of the Guru and by abandoning the wrong company. Yoga sadhaka (practitioner) should be always cheerful and should not have a dull outlook. He or she should be always willing to act when called for.

Another quality to succeed is perseverance. One should finish the task one has taken upon however difficult it may be. If required he or she call upon others for support but should never drop the ball half way through before taking on another task. By doing this one will start losing faith and trust by others. One must be courageous and should be willing to take up the challenges and responsibility. One should not be weak hearted and should not be swayed by the opinions of others. Yogi should be ambitious and should have vision for life. This helps in getting self-motivated and motivating others.

The above are possible only through true knowledge. One should read the scriptures and reflect on that. One should not be fanatic and should take other opinions also and see the merits and demerits in them. Knowledge dawns to one who has an unflinching devotion to his or her Guru. Through the blessings of a true Guru alone the knowledge will dawn within. One should disown the company of time wasters, interested in gossips and people with petty visons in life. Company of these people makes the sadhaka weak and will shake off the inner confidence. One should have a courage to say no to the wrong doers or wrong company.

By following the above, dawn period in one’s life will set in soon and after that sunrise in one’s life is not far off and he or she will shine in life and will become great.

The above message is taken from Srimad Bhagavad Gita where Lord Shri Krishna says:

Yukta ahara Viharasya Yukta Chestasya Karmasu
Yukta Swapna avabhodasya yogo bhavati dukhaha || BG 6.17 ||

One who is moderate in earing, recreation, work, sleep and wakefulness, for such person yoga becomes a dispeller of grief.

You can watch the full video of the speech below.

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
abhayaṁ sattva-saṁśuddhir jñāna-yoga-vyavasthitiḥ |
dānaṁ damaś ca yajñaś ca svādhyāyas tapa ārjavam || B.G.16.1 ||

ahiṁsā satyam akrodhas tyāgaḥ śāntir apaiśunam |
dayā bhūteṣv aloluptvaṁ mārdavaṁ hrīr acāpalam || B.G.16.2 ||

tejaḥ kṣamā dhṛtiḥ śaucam adroho nāti-mānitā |
bhavanti sampadaṁ daivīm abhijātasya bhārata || B.G.16.3 ||

The Blessed Lord said: Fearlessness, purification of one’s existence, cultivation of spiritual knowledge, charity, self-control, performance of sacrifice, study of the Vedas, austerity and simplicity; nonviolence, truthfulness, freedom from anger; renunciation, tranquility, aversion to faultfinding, compassion and freedom from covetousness; gentleness, modesty and steady determination; vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, freedom from envy and the passion for honor-these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong to godly men endowed with divine nature.

1. Abhaya: Fearlessness is the hallmark of the sadhaka.  One should not only be fearless but also should motivate others to become fearless and achieve great things in life.
2. Satva Samshuddi:  Always keeping the mind fresh and pure by associating with noble people.
3. Jnana Yoga Vyavastiti: Always striving for higher knowledge.  The seeker has a thirst for higher knowledge.
4. Daana: The sadaka is magnanimous in life and extends the helping hand wherever possible.
5. Dama: The sadhaka has control over one’s senses.
6. Yajna:  The sadhaka offers all his actions to the Lord as an offering.
7. Swadyaya:  The sadhaka enjoys the manana – introspection.  The sadhaka enjoys the shastra adyayana – scriptural reading on a daily basis.
8. Tapa: The sadhaka observers the austerities without complaining and without publicizing it.
9. Arjavam: The sadhaka has aligned thinking, talking and action in one line.  His or her dealings are straight forward.
10. Ahimsa: Sadhaka’s like is not a burden for others.
11. Satya: The sadhaka is true to oneself.  The sadhaka is life is dedicated for a search of truth.
12. Akroda:  The sadhaka has curbed his anger.  Anger comes only when one has personal desire.  The sadhaka has dedicated the life for other others so that there is no personal desire.
13. Tyaga: The sadhaka sacrifices one’s personal comforts for the wellbeing of others.
14. Shanti: The sadhaka should ensure that one’s inner peace is not shaken at any cost
15. Apaishunam: The sadhaka does not get indulged in back biting.
16. Daya Bhuteshu:  The sadhaka is highly compassionate.
17. Alolupvam:  The sadhaka is not interested in others wealth and     has freedom from covetousness.
18. Mardavam: The sadhaka has a gentle character and is soft spoken.
19. Hri:  Thee sadhaka is shy in doing things what is not right.
20. Achapalam:  The sadhaka has freedom from craving and addiction.
21. Teja: The sadhaka is very dynamic and is not a lazy person.
22. Kshema:  The sadhaka has a big heart and forgives the people who have wronged against him.
23. Dhriti:  The shadhaka will not give up the talk half way through and makes sure that the task is completed.
24. Shoucha:  The sadhaka leads a pure life.  He or she always thinks of the most purest – Lord to become pure oneself.
25. Akroda: The sadhaka is not into taking the revenge against other.
26. Atimanita: The sadhaka is not be egoistic, arrogant and is not craving for name and fame.

The above are the divine qualities and all seekers of higher knowledge should strive for this.  The divine qualities liberates oneself and other token the demonic qualities binds and pulls one down.

Article by Sunder Iyer, VKY Practitioner

I have been a student and occasional teacher at VKY for several years now, though I have attended classes at other yoga schools previously. Yoga practice at VKY stands out for its multi-dimensional approach to yoga, one that reflects the true depth of this ancient yet ageless practice from India.

Dimension 1: Physical

• Through sadhana (practice) and bhavana (visualisation), it is possible to do any asana. Personally, it provides me with a sense of achievement to be able to do that which was not possible before. This imperative of constant self-improvement is a hallmark of yoga at VKY.
• Be it the regular weekly classes, Surya Yagnas, retreats or the “Yoga for Serious Yogis,” every experience is a showcase of the sheer variety of yoga.
• There is always something more to learn and try, and to learn by doing (anusasunam). This positively benefits all aspects of life.

Dimension 2: Mental

• Every class features many pranayama, dhyana and kriya (cleansing) sequences. These are appropriate for each season. For example, in winter we do agni sari Kriya to overcome winter lethargy and energise. In summer, sheetkari pranayama to stay cool and unflustered by the heat.
• Meditation (pratyahara followed by dhyana) quiets the mental chatter to allow clarity of thought.
• The above builds resiliency and the capacity to cope with changing circumstances and demands.

 Dimension 3: Spiritual

• VKY emphasises the scriptural dimension of yoga. It does not downplay the Vedic origins of yoga. Rather, it explores its essence and applies it to our contemporary times.
• I have enjoyed this as it is bringing me closer to the life and health-affirming culture of my ancestors.
• The deep meanings of verses from the Bhagvad Gita and Patanjali Yoga sutras are the products of great minds of the past whose insights are timeless. For example, the 26 divine qualities that link the jeevatma (individual soul) to the Paramatma (Supreme).

Dimension 4: Practical

• Diet – VKY classes have helped me adopt positive habits such as avoiding caffeine, drinking warm water always, and avoiding carbonated drinks.
• Sleep – regular practice of Yoga Nidira has improved my ability to rest, sleep quality and cycles.
• Sustainability – As a family, we have ceased using environmentally plastic bottles which seep plastic nanoparticles into the body. I drink from copper bottles instead. Also, we have replaced plastic straws with stainless steel ones, and we use jute bags for our shopping.
• Yoga is a highly practical way to manage one’s time, energy and relationships. It is a darasana or positive way of living in the world, without the negative aspects of the world living in you.

Dimension 5: Non-commercial

• VKY classes are made accessible to all at a price that is one-third to half of commercial yoga classes.
• The purpose of VKY is to live in bliss for 100 years and it’s mission is to help all, regardless of age, gender or background, to shift from illness to wellness.
• This is the need of our age.

Guru Purnima is celebrated in the fourth month of lunar calendar Ashada on the full moon. This date is dedicated to the teachers who showed us the path to the inner world. It is very difficult to find some one who is interested in the meta physical science. Even if we are interested it is even more difficult to find a Guru who can show us the right path. The path should free us from confusion, darkness and repeated coming and going to freedom, bliss, illumination and liberation. A combination of individual effort, Guru’s guidance and God’s Grace are needed for a success in our journey.

The Skanada Purana give the definition of Guru. Gukaro andhakaro hi rukara teja ucchyate.

Gu means darkness. Ru means light. The indweller of all, the inner Guru, the all-pervading principle is beyond all darkness is Light of all Lights. He is called as Vasudeva as He is indweller of all and is Light of all Lights – the Cosmic Light.

To introduce Him to us we need an external teacher who is called as Guru and through that external Guru alone we are able to meet our inner Guru. We come across many teachers in the world talking about the material science. But we rarely come across the teacher who talks about the inner science.

The Sakanda Purana says atma jnana pradanena tasmai shri Gurave namaha – our salutations to the one who has introduced us to the (Apnoti iti atma -One who pervades everywhere is Atma).

The Svetasvatara Upanishad says

yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ prakashante mahatmanaha prakashante mahatmanah ||

Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed and he also becomes great.

In Bhagavad Gita Shri Krishna tell Arjuna if we come across anyone with special skills especially the knowledge of the inner science, there is a Grace of His Grace manifesting through him.

yad yad vibhutimat sattvam srimad urjitam eva va

tat tad evavagaccha tvam mama tejo-‘msa-sambhavam || 10.41 ||

Know that all beautiful, glorious, and mighty creations spring from but a spark of My splendour.

We have to offer our respects to such a teacher who shows the path to our Inner Guru for our inner Freedom. This is a Tapas as mentioned by Shri Krishna and without this one cannot come out of inner darkness.

deva-dvija-guru-prajna-pujanam saucam arjavam

brahmacaryam ahimsa ca sariram tapa ucyate || 17.14 ||

The austerity of the body consists in this: worship of the Supreme Lord, the brahmanas, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother. Cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence are also austerities of the body.

The Mundakoanishad says by tuning the mind to the realised master we can accomplish the goal of our life.

yam yam lokam manasaa samvibhaati vishudda satvaha kaamayate yaamscha kaamaantam tam lokam jayate taamscha kaamaan tasmat aatmajnam hyarchayet bhootikaamaha || 3-10 ||

Whatever sphere the man of purified nature desires, whatever objects he fixes his heart upon, he obtains those world and those objects. Therefore, he who is desirous of prosperity should honour the man of Self-realization.

Guru Purnima is a special occasion to remember and pay our respects to our external Guru who out of compassion showed us the path to our inner Guru.

– Rajendra Yenkannamoole

We are excited to announce that, Vasudeva Kriya Yoga Audio Podcast is now live..!

You can listen to Rajendraji’s Knowledge Nuggets in Audio format on the go on your Phone/iPod/iPad by Subscribing to Vasudeva Kriya Yoga Podcast.

If you have an Apple Device (iPhone/iPod/iPad)

 

 

 

 

1. Go to Podcasts app and search for “Vasudeva Kriya Yoga”.
2. Tap on Subscribe and you are ready to go..!

If you have an Android Device

 

 

 

 

 

1. Download and Install “Cast Box” app from Google Play Store.
2. Open the Cast Box app and Login with your Google Account.
3. Search for “Vasudeva Kriya Yoga”
4. Tap on Subscribe and you are ready to go..!

NOTE:
1. This is the same material that is available on Vasudeva Kriya Yoga YouTube channel, but in Audio Format. We are still in a process of adding more episodes.
2. To save your 3G/4G data, you can download the episodes offline over wi-fi at home and listen to it on-demand in your car or while commuting to office..!
3. New episodes added will be automatically available on your app, you can configure the app to automatically download over wi-fi.

Vasudeva Kriya Yoga has been conducting Yoga classes since 13 years and it all started in 2004 in the Rowville Centre. At the end of this term, on 24th September 2017 it will be the 500th class at the centre.

By divine grace, the classes are ongoing uninterrupted from the past 13 years with continued support from all the students.

Vasudeva Kriya Yoga welcomes you to celebrate this milestone at this free event on November 18th 2017. All the details can be found the flyer below.

Please RSVP for this event by registering at https://vky-500.eventbrite.com.au/

Vasudeva Kriya Yoga celebrated their 10th Annual Yoga conference on June 18th 2017, the 3rd in a row coinciding with the International Day of Yoga.  It is a unique conference in Melbourne that endeavours to share the benefits of Yoga as experienced by practitioners from various professional backgrounds. This year the Keynote was delivered by the world famous Dr. Ian Gawler, a cancer survivor for close to 40 years, he has started a globally famous foundation promoting alternate forms of treatment.

The day started at 7.30 AM sharp with a round of Yoga practice and 51 Suryanamaskaras.

The conference was officially inaugurated by the dignitaries including Honourable Inga Peulich – Victorian Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Dr. Ian Gawler, Prof. Marc Cohen, Dr. Sanjay Raghav, Dr Vicki Kotsirilos, and our founder of VKY Shri Rajendra.

Our distinguished guests shared some amazing incidents and learnings from their personal and professional lives that demonstrated the benefits of Alternative medicine and Yoga.

The theme for our conference was Illness to Wellness – and Rajendra ji very aptly introduced the concept of Wellness through Yoga. A healthy society is a happy society and a lesser burden on Medicare system. The essence of Illness to Wellness is to move from I to We – think as a group or community, share our learnings with the society, act for the wellbeing of the society and we will all move towards wellness. And Dr. Gawler is a living examples of moving from Illness to Wellness – he has successfully kept cancer at bay for close to 40 years, which is more than half his life! He lost his leg to cancer, but not his determination!

Rajendra’s students range from 4 years old to 80 years old. And the audience witnessed some Yoga asanas both from kids as well as 80 year old student (Nerghis ji). It was quite heartening to see the 84 year old mother (Eva Cohen) of Prof. Cohen sportively come on stage and share her gains from Yoga and demonstrate a few asanas. Yoga is indeed the recipe to stay young and healthy at all times.

 


We also celebrated the International Day of Yoga at the Victorian Parliament, Durga Temple in Rockbank and Sri Venkata Krishna Brundavana in Murrumbeena.

Vasudeva Kriya Yoga’s motto is Jeevema Sharadarshatam! Let us all live healthily in body, ming and soul for 100 years! We urge you to practice Yoga and share this message of wellness with your family and friends. You can find more details about our classes below.

Report by Sanjiv Kulkarni

We are proud to announce our New Centre in Malvern from February 4th 2017. Please find all the details in the flyer below.