I AM SIVA

SIVANANDA DAILY READING FOR 4 OCTOBER

I am Siva, the life and soul of all. I am the substratum for all the
forms of the world. I am the substratum for the mind, prana (life)
and senses. I am the energy in the atoms and the elements. I am the
effulgence of the sun, moon and stars. I am the beauty of beauties. I
am the charm and beauty in women. I am the life of all youth. I am
the intelligence in all scientists, educationalists, culturists,
research scholars and philosophers.

I am the foundation of the world. I am the wisdom of the sages. I am
the siddhis (powers) in yogis. I am the life of the cyclones,
earthquakes and volcanoes. I am the energy in dynamos. I am the
energy in all germs and microbes. I am the power in herbs, minerals
and tonics. I am goodness, truth, success and prosperity. I am Siva,
the life and soul of all.

Lumbago and rheumatism shake my body. All diseases are my guests. Let
them stay. What is that to me? I welcome them cordially. I always
sing: "I am not this body, not this mind. Chidananda rupah sivoham
Sivoham". I defy, deny diseases. What is it to be if the body
perishes? I am anamaya (diseaseless) atman (self). I am the life of
this cosmic play.

I have burnt up all duality. I am sat­chidananda. I have drunk the cup
of pure knowledge ­ it is all sweet nectar. There are neither vrttis
(thought-­waves) nor vasanas (tendencies) in the absolute. There is
neither thought nor world here. I have experienced this supreme
state ­ it is neither dual nor non­dual. It is only keval asti (pure
being). It is pure consciousness or supreme essence.

KNOW THE ATMAN: If atmic reality is cognised then all differences
between trees, mountains, clothes and `others', will vanish. With
them, sankalpas (thoughts) will also be swept away. The only way out
of grief and delusion is the inner realisation of the unity of the
individual soul with Brahman (the absolute). The atman is to be
known ­ there is no attainment higher than that. One fears not death
who has realised Brahman, who is serene, ageless, self­-luminous,
desireless, firm, immortal and self­-existent.