& 5 REVIEWS COMMENTS 5 Sri Sri Swami Bua Ji Maharaj, duism. ¶In this connection, we also pray our Almighty age 112, founder and head of God to give long and healthy, peaceful life to his the Indo-American Yoga- swamis, yogis and sadhakas for their kind services to Vedanta Society in New York, Hinduism by assisting Gurudeva in his Herculean task. teacher of Sanatana Dharma in South American and elsewhere H.H. Jagadguru Sri Fortunate will be those who read Balagangadharanatha Swamiji, President, Sri Adichunchanagiri and practice the principles of metaphysics explained Mahasamsthana Mutt; and simplified in this unique book, Merging with Bangalore, India Siva, based on the 50 years of practical experience and sadhana of Jagadacharya Sat guru Sivaya Sri Sat guru Sivaya Subramuni ya- Subra muniya swamigal of Kauai Aadheenam. In my swami has brought out this ex- opinion, this is God’s boon for modern society living traordinary book, Merging with Siva, presenting 365 in complexity and confusion. This book is a guiding daily lessons for Hindu families and their children to light which illuminates the path to peace, prosperity build character, understand the mind and strive for and happiness by integration and harmony of mind, God Realization. It is stated how wisdom, or the burst body and soul to lead towards the ultimate purpose of knowledge, begins to unfold and express itself. and goal of human life. I highly recommend the Such a burst of knowledge can happen only in the precious work, Merging with Siva, to every serious- lives of those who strive hard to tread the spiritual minded person. path. Those who seek the path of enlightenment will surely be benefi tted by these lessons. The spiritual ex- H.H. Sri La Sri Arunagirinatha periences narrated in this book will perhaps change Sri Gnanasambanda Desika one’s life forever. Merging with Siva will no doubt Paramacharya Swamigal, serve the cause of Global Hindu Renaissance. Aadheenakarthar and 292nd Guru Mahasannidhanam of H.H. Swami Tejomayananda Madurai Aadheenam; Spiritual Head of the Chinmaya Madurai, India Mission, the Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, and Sandeepany Sat guru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami has done an ex- Sadhanalayam, Mumbai, India cellent work in explaining yoga, meditation and mys- tical arts in a way accessible to the younger genera- The new book, Merging with tion as it has been written in a modern out-look. By Siva, has much information and reading 365 lessons in this book, seekers can achieve inspiration to offer to spiritual seekers around the good character, best concentration of mind, powerful world. H.H. Sat guru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami has endurance, best discipline and become good citizens. once more given a great gift to humanity: to Hindus, Hindu ideas are deeply explained to achieve the spiri- to know their heritage better and to non-Hindus, to tual way of life. The book is the best result of Swamiji’s appreciate the glory of the great Sanatana Dharma. vast experience in spreading Hinduism among the The voluminous work has rich theories and concrete public for the half century. Shortly speaking, the book practices. Based on his own personal experiences, on is an encyclopedia about Hinduism containing all the authentic texts of Hinduism in general and of the details of Hindu religion. This valuable book is to be Nandinatha Sampradaya (tradition) in particular, the made available to all Hindu families and to be read guidance here boosts the morale of any devotee on daily by them. We are proud to record our congratula- the path. May Lord Siva bless every reader with great tions to Gurudeva for his sincere works in writing this spiritual progress! book and for his other activities done by him for Hin- ixava saayaujyama< rptndhL rha[r;rpak; Second Edition Copyright © 2004 Himalayan Academy Merging with Íiva, Hinduism’s Contemporary Metaphysics was fi rst pub- lished by Himalayan Academy in 1998. All rights are reserved. Th is book may be used to share the Hindu Dharma with others on the spiritual path, but reproduced only with the prior written consent of the publisher. Designed, typeset and illustrated by the sannyâsin swâmîs of the Saiva Sid- dhanta Yoga Order and published by Himalayan Academy, 107 Kaholalele Road, Kapaa, Hawaii 96746‒9304 USA. www.himalayanacademy.com Published by Himalayan Academy India • USA printed in the usa by quad graphics Library of Congress Control Number 2002-103632 isbn: ---- (hardcover) ---- (ebook) Art Descriptions Cover Art: Artist S. Rajam depicts the soul’s merger with the divine, a vision in which Lord Íiva, in His loving grace, unites with a purifi ed yogî seated on a tiger skin in a temple compound, right hand in the gesture of consciousness, chinmudrâ, left arm resting on a yoga da∫∂a. Ga∫eßa Dancing: Famed Indian artist Indra Sharma paints a gleefully dancing Lord Ga∫eßa accompanied by two temple drummers to bless the book’s opening, mimicking in earth tones the stone carved images found on temple walls throughout India. Half Title Page: S. Rajam takes us high into the Himalayas, where Lord Íiva performs tapas, covered by frozen ice, with Parvatî and sons Ga∫eßa and Murugan. Devas, humans and vari- ous creatures have climbed to Íiva’s feet to worship, dance, sing, off er music and seek His grace. Hinduism’s Contemporary Metaphysics ixava saayaujya< ihnduDama* samak[alaIna Aitaiva$anaivad¥ rptndhL rha[r;rpak; ,e;J rkaj;jpd; jw;fhy bka;”hdk;; Sat guru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami AUTHOR’S DEDICATION v Dedication Samarpa∫am samapa*Nama< O WHOM SHALL WE DEDICATE MERGING WITH ÍIVA? TO ÍIVA HIMSELF? WELL, ÍIVA IS WITHIN EVERYONE. ACTUALLY, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR HIM TO WITH- DRAW HIMSELF FROM US. SO, MERGING WITH ÍIVA TRULY MUST BE DEDICATED TO SADÅÍIVA IN THE form of my sat guru, Siva Yoga swami of Sri Lanka, and to all whom I have encountered on the path through this and my many past lives. This dedication honors those mature souls who have guided me into what to do, how to live, think and feel, and those not-so-evolved souls who have taught me by their example, words and actions how not to live for a productive, joyous life. Yes, “All are our teachers: some teach us what to do, others teach us what not to do.” The decision as to which of these two paths to follow is ours and ours alone. It is to all who have influenced my life that Merging with Íiva is dedicated, especially to my sat guru, 161st preceptor of the Nandinâtha Sampradâya’s K ailâsa Paramparâ. He and his mystical followers lived the extraordinary story of un fold ment you are about to read. ¶In this birth I have experienced a rare time on Earth. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. All in a few decades, the age of the farmer merged into the age of the technician, then into the age of space exploration, and now the information age. We have seen religion give way to science and now science giving way to religion—just a little, but it’s a good omen. Hopefully, a new breed of souls will mature on this planet who, inspired by the eternal Vedic truths, will blend the best of science with the best of religion. Indra Sharma paints a radiant portrait of Sat guru Siva Yoga swami of Jaffna, Sri Lanka (1872– 1964). On his forehead is the tripu∫∂ra, three lines of holy ash that signify a worshiper of Lord Íiva; around his shoulders is the hand-woven, unsewn shawl that he always wore. TABLE OF CONTENTS vii Contents Vishayasûchî ivaSayasaUcaI Dedication—Samarpa∫am ...............................v Author’s Introduction—Granthakâra Bhûmikâ ............ xi The Master Course—Pradhâna Pâ†hyakrama˙ ........... xxxvii The Self God—Paraßiva˙ .............................. xliii PART ONE: DANCING IN THE LIGHT chapter ................................................................... page 1 How to Realize God .......................................... 3 2 All Knowing Is Within You .................................. 13 3 The Purpose of Life .......................................... 23 4 The River of Life ............................................. 33 5 The Story of Awareness ......................................43 6 Wisdom’s Path ............................................... 55 7 Willpower ...................................................65 8 The Clear White Light ....................................... 77 9 Lotus of the Heart ...........................................89 10 From Darkness to Light......................................99 11 The Power of Affirmation .................................. 111 12 Beginning to Meditate ...................................... 121 13 Five Steps to Enlightenment ................................ 131 14 Life, the Great Experience ................................... 141 15 Facing Life’s Tests ........................................... 153 16 I’m All Right, Right Now ................................... 165 17 The Eternal Now............................................ 177 18 Love Is the Sum of the Law ................................. 187 PART TWO: LIVING IN THE NOW 19 Love of the Gods ...........................................201 20 The Esoterics of Worship ................................... 213 21 Total Surrender .............................................225 22 The Path of Egoity ..........................................239 23 The Yoga of Incantation .................................... 253