Swami Krishnananda Shashtyabdapurti Mahotsava Commemoration Volume
A Souvenir released on Swami Krishnananda's 60th Birthday
Some Teachings of His Holiness
by K.B. Chellaramani
We migrated from Pakistan to India and came to Sivananda Ashram to have the blessings of His Holiness Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj before commencing a new life in India. At that time, Swami Krishnananda was only about twenty-six years of age. We stayed in the Ashram for about three months. In between we went to the Sri Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines. At that time I had ample leisure to move about in the Ashram from place to place and meet many Swamis of different temperaments staying in the Ashram. As I was anxious to acquire spiritual knowledge, I got in touch with Swami Krishnanandaji, whose way of spiritual discoursing appealed to me. Therefore I used to go to his Kutir almost every day to hear his elevating spiritual instructions, which brought a perceptible transformation in my life. Up to this time, whenever I go to the Ashram, I try to spend as much time as possible in Swamiji's company.
He is of a reserved nature, quiet and not mixing. But he possesses a vast spiritual knowledge. He says God is here and not in the heavens above. Simplicity and honesty is the form of God. He is also the embodiment of simplicity and honesty. Whatever he says he does. He is a real personification of Life Divine. He has removed the doubts of many aspirants who want to lead the Divine Life. He says that Divine Life is one of satisfaction and not of depression and that to the extent you are able to be satisfied, you are leading the Divine Life.
At another place Sri Swamiji says that both the good and the pleasant present themselves to each person. But, the good is one thing and the pleasant is another. They have different aims. They drag a person from different directions. Out of these two, who chooses the good obtains blessedness, but he who chooses the pleasant falls from his aim. The good path is that which leads to God. It gives the freedom of Moksha or liberation from Samsara. It is not pleasant, because it is against body-consciousness; hence, it is rather painful. The pleasant, on the other hand, is intimately connected with the body and prevents a person from choosing good.
About Yoga, Sri Swamiji says: “It is a process of rejoicing. It is a move through happiness. From one state of we move to another state of joy". To practise Yoga, we have to wean ourselves from desires gradually. I have benefitted much in my life from the teachings of His Holiness for which I shall remain grateful. May this spiritual sun continue to shine for many more years, shedding light on the path to God-realisation, enbling seekers the world over to tread the path safely and wisely. That is my earnest prayer.