“If you find humility, that is a sign of a Yogi, and he must be compassionate. His heart should melt like butter when he sees the sufferings of others. If he finds a starving man, and if he has got a tumbler of milk, he will run to him and give it to him. Of all the qualities that are enumerated in the Gita, humility and compassion are the most important. He who possesses these qualities is a Yogi of the first order. These are the test of a Jivanmukta. So, we all pray for his health, long life, peace and prosperity. Such a person is a rare jewel on this earth. He who is not free from selfishness is a burden on earth, but when he becomes selfless and works for relieving the human suffering, when he has dedicated his life for the service of humanity, he is a divine being on earth.” Our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda was paying tribute to Pujya Swami Sahajananda on 10 April 1956, on the auspicious occasion of Pujya Swamiji’s initiation into the holy order of Sannyas. This message will go down as one of the keynote messages in the history of the Society.

And now, 64 years later, on 10 July 2020, as we celebrate Pujya Swamiji’s 95th Birth Anniversary via online audio Satsang, we reflect upon these qualities that the Master had enumerated and pray that we too, will one day imbibe these divine qualities. Pujya Swamiji was an exceptional Being. The great faith and devotion that he had in the Divine Master, was second to none. He did not question the Master but carried out his instructions implicitly. It is this faith, devotion and obedience that contributed to the growth and development of the Society. It is this faith, devotion and obedience that we should all aspire for.

Divine Life Society of South Africa partnered with the Divine Health Forum to establish the Sivananda Wentworth Hospital Flu Clinic to assist in the control and spread of Covid 19. The clinic is operational and is playing a pivotal role in the health care of patients at the hospital. We express gratitude and appreciation to our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda and Pujya Swami Sahajananda for the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the control of the coronavirus pandemic. 

The Society urges all devotees, well-wishers and patrons to participate in our online Satsang programmes during this most auspicious Guru Purnima period. Please find below, a schedule of special Satsangs in July (Table A), as well as a Suggested Home Satsang Programme (Table B) which can be used by devotees for home Satsangs.

Om Namo Bhagavade Sivanandaya! Our Youth Day was celebrated online on Tuesday, 16 June 2020. The Programme was compiled and directed by our youth with the view to giving them the opportunity to develop and share ideas. As future leaders of our Society and the community at large, investing in the moral and spiritual education and training of the youth to enable them to assume responsible positions to lead the nation in a spirit of selflessness is imperative. There are right now 1.8 billion youngsters between the ages of 10 and 24 on the planet. This is the biggest youth populace ever. Youth symbolises high vitality and energy and if guided properly, they will offer much to the world. The youth at Divine Life Society of S.A. have shown that they are capable of selfless and silent leadership, which is one of the core teachings of our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda and Pujya Swami Sahajananda.