Swami Sivananda

Adversity

Adversity is a divine blessing in disguise. Adversity develops the power of endurance and will force, fortitude, and forbearance. All the prophets, saints, fakirs, bhaktas and yogins of yore had to struggle hard against adverse circumstances. The Almighty Lord puts His devotees under severe tests and rigorous trials.

Every soul on earth is being tested by God for his or her sincerity and patience. He puts the aspirants into various kinds of trouble. He will make man utterly hopeless and helpless and watch and see whether one has a real devotion to Him or not in such straitened circumstances. We cannot say exactly what form these trials will take. But the sincere devotee is never afraid of such kinds of tests. Swami Sivananda

The Divine Mother
Sakti may be termed as that by which we live and have our being in this universe. In this world, all the wants of the child are provided by the mother. The child's growth, development, and sustenance are looked after by the mother. Even so, all the necessities of life and its activities in this world, and the energy needed for it, depend upon Sakti or the Universal Mother. The human mother is a manifestation of the Universal Mother. All women are forms of the Divine Mother. - Swami Sivananda "BLISS DIVINE"

What Is Karma?
From Divine Life Society Publication
PRACTICE OF KARMA YOGA
By Sri Swami Sivananda Maharaj

Karma means work or action. According to Rishi Jaimini, rituals like Agnihotra, Yajnas, etc., are termed Karmas. There is a hidden power in Karma termed ‘Adrishta’, which brings in fruits of Karmas for the individual. Karma is all in all for Jaimini. Karma is everything for a student of the Mimamsic school of thought. Jaimini is the founder of Poorva Mimamsa. He was a student of Maharishi Vyasa, the founder of Uttara Mimamsa or Vedanta. The Mimamsa school denies the existence of Ishvara, who awards the fruits of works. According to the Gita, any action is a Karma. Charity, sacrifice and Tapas are all Karmas. In a philosophical sense, even breathing, seeing, hearing, tasting, feeling, smelling, walking, talking, etc., are all Karmas. Thinking is the real Karma. Raga-dvesha (likes and dislikes) constitute real Karma.