Dancing with Siva

Dancing with Siva Youth Course
By Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

www.himalayanacademy.com/books/dws_youth/

UPANISHAD ONE: ETERNAL TRUTHS

Self Realization:

Sloka 1

Who Am I? Where Did I Come From?

We are not our body, mind or emotions. We are immortal souls on a spiritual journey. We came from God. We live in God. And we are growing into oneness with God.

Sloka 2

Where Am I Going? What Is My Path?

We are all growing toward God. We learn through experience. So, experience is the path. Experience teaches us not to be angry, not to fight and not to be afraid. Someday we will experience union in God.

Sloka 3

What Is Meant by "Dancing with Siva"?

The whole universe is involved in action and change. This constant flow of movement is Siva's dance. We, too, are part of this dance. We are dancing with Siva. And He is dancing with us.

Sloka 4

How Can We Learn to Dance with Siva?

Dance is movement. A disciplined dance is the best dance. Hindu spiritual practices, such as self-understanding, devotion, meditation and yoga, are like disciplined dance. They bring us closer to God.

Sloka 5

What Is the Ultimate Goal Of Earthly Life?

The ultimate goal of life on Earth is to realize the Self. Each soul discovers its perfect essence in deep meditation. This essence is the timeless, formless, spaceless Self God within.

Sloka 6

What Are Hinduism's Main Sects?

Hinduism is also called Sanatana Dharma, the "eternal faith." It is a family of religions that accept the authority of the Vedas. The four main sects are Saivism, Saktism, Vaishnavism and Smartism.

Sloka 8

What Is the Magic And Power of Saktism?

Saktas worship the Supreme as the Divine Mother, Sakti or Devi. She has many forms. Some are gentle. Some are fierce. Saktas use chants, real magic, holy diagrams, yoga and rituals to call forth cosmic forces and awaken the great power within the spine.

Sloka 9

What Is the Devotional Vaishnava Sect?

Vaishnavites worship the Supreme as Lord Vishnu and His incarnations, especially Krishna and Rama. Vaishnavites are mainly dualistic. They are deeply devotional and rich in saints, temples and scriptures.


Sloka 10

What Is the Universalistic Smarta Sect?

Smartas worship the Supreme in one of six forms: Ganesha, Siva, Sakti, Vishnu, Surya and Skanda. Because they accept all the major Hindu Gods, they are known as liberal Hindus. They follow a philosophical, meditative path, emphasizing man's oneness with God through understanding.