August 8, 2025
Without entering into conflict with conflicting theories, our master Swami Sivananda sought the subtle middle path which reconciled them and brought into healthy use their beneficent principles. Hence, in the practice of yoga asanas, his commandment was: "Perfection, without strain," and in the practice of pranayama, "Inhale, retain, exhale, as long as is comfortable."
The wise student of yoga neither forces the body nor leaves it alone: he educates the body, and gently guides indwelling intelligence to receive the hidden potentialities. This may often (not always) be achieved by a repetition of the particular posture, instead of holding it for a considerable time; and every subsequent repetition improves the ease with which the posture is executed, for the intelligence within discovers (and thus removes) the obstacle. There is no pain in this process; therefore there is no resistance at all. The will-force is not used. There is an inner awareness which detects the obstacles and removes them — whether these obstacles are sluggish, dis-used muscles and joints, or tension brought about by the wrong habits of living and thinking.
Once this is done, it is a joy to hold the posture "as long as it is comfortable," in the words of Swami Sivananda. The 'comfort' must induce and inspire the body to hold it 'long'.
All this is discipline, which is the characteristic of the disciple. It is up to the disciple to study his own mind (which is what discipline means) and see for himself how it throws up doubts and distractions. The light for such self-study is viveka or vigilance. Such vigilance keeps the distractions away and the doubting intellect at bay, so that the heart may be open to the guru. The guru is everywhere at all times, for he is the light of God and his grace is freely available to all at all times.
This wisdom filled every aspect of Gurudev Swami Sivananda's teachings. Non-violence is neither violence nor its true opposite which is total inertness or passivity. It is an inexpressible 'something' which eludes your grasp and description! May His grace lead you into its discovery.