சன்மார்க்க சங்கத்தின் முக்கிய கொள்கைகள் கடவுள்

• கடவுள் ஒருவரே; அவர் ஒளிவடிவினர். அவரை அருட்பெருஞ்ஜோதி ஆண்டவர் என்க.
• சிறு தெய்வ வழிபாடு கூடாது; உயிர்ப்பலியிடுதலும் விலக்குக.
• சாதி, சமய, மத, இன, மொழி, நாடு பாகுபாடுகள் அனுசரித்தல் வேண்டாம்.
• எல்லா உயிர்களையும் தன்னுயிர்போல் எண்ணும் ஆன்மநேய ஒருமைப்பாட்டுரிமையைக் கைக்கொள்க.
• துன்புறும் உயிர்களுக்கு உதவுவதே இறைவழிபாடு.
• உயிர் இரக்கம் ஒன்றே இறைவனின் பேரருளைப் பெற வழிகோலும்.
• பசித்தோரின் பசியாற்றுதல் என்னும் ஜீவகாருண்யமே பேரின்ப வீட்டின் திறவுகோல்.
• புலால் உண்ணுதல் வேண்டாம். ஏனெனில், எல்லா உயிர்களிலும் கடவுள் விளங்குகிறார்.
• வேதம், ஆகமம், புராணம், இதிகாசம் ஆகியவற்றில் இலட்சியம் வைக்க வேண்டாம்.
• கண்மூடிப் பழக்கவழக்கங்களைக் கைவிடவேண்டும்.காது, மூக்கு குத்துதல் வேண்டாம்.
• ஆண்களைப் போலவே பெண்களுக்கும் யோகம் முதலிய சாதனங்கள் கற்பிக்க வேண்டும். பேதமற்று, படிப்பு முதலியவையும் சொல்லிக்கொடுக்க வேண்டும்.
• கணவன் இறந்தால் மனைவியிடம் தாலி வாங்குதல் கூடாது.
  மனைவி இறந்தால் கணவன் மறுமணம் செய்யற்க.
• இறந்தவர்களைப் புதைக்கவேண்டும்; எரிக்கக்கூடாது.
  
• கருமாதி, திதி முதலிய சடங்குகள் செய்யாதீர்; மாறாக, உயிர்நீத்தவர் நினைவில் அன்னதானம் செய்தல் வேண்டும்.
• மக்கள் எல்லோர்க்கும் பொதுவான வழிபாடு ஜோதிவழிபாடே!
  
• உண்மை அன்பால் கடவுள் வழிபாடு செய்து கடவுள் ஒளியை நமக்குள் காண்க.
  
• பசித்திரு, தனித்திரு, விழித்திரு.
  
• இந்திரிய, கரண, ஜீவ, ஆன்ம, நித்திய ஜீவகாருண்ய ஒழுக்கங்களைக் கடைப்பிடிக்க.
  
• ஜீவகாருண்ய ஒழுக்கங்களைக் கடைப்பிடிக்க ஏமசித்தி, சாகாக்கல்வி, தத்துவ நிக்கிரகம் செய்தல், கடவுள்நிலை அறிந்து அம்மயம் ஆதல் ஆகிய நான்கு பேறுகள் கிடைத்து, மரணமிலாப் பெருவாழ்வு பெறுதல் கூடும்.
  
• எல்லா உயிர்களும் இன்புற்று வாழ வேண்டுதல் வேண்டும்.
  எதிலும் பொதுநோக்கம் வேண்டும்.

So remember, don't miss out on a blessing because itisn't packaged the way that you expect.Take notice of the blessings around you.

Paramhansa Yogananda

Paramhansa YoganandaBorn: January 5, 1893, Gorakhpur, IndiaDied: March 7, 1952, Los Angeles, California USA
Paramahansa Yogananda was born Mukunda Lal Ghosh on January 5, 1893, in Gorakhpur, India, into a devout and well-to-do Bengali family. From his earliest years, it was evident to those around him that the depth of his awareness and experience of the spiritual was far beyond the ordinary. In his youth he sought out many of India's sages and saints, hoping to find an illumined teacher to guide him in his spiritual quest.

Swami Vivekanand

Swami VivekanandBorn: 1863, CalcuttaDied: July 4, 1902During his short life Swami Vivekanand travelled India and the world tirelessly. His mission was to promote peace and tolerance based on the spiritual foundation of the Vedantic Oneness of existence. He lectured in America, Japan and Europe. He wrote books, composed poetry and guided those who came to him for instruction. He founded the Ramakrishna Order of monks, still an important religious organisation in India. "The Christian is not to become a Hindu or a Buddhist, nor a Hindu or a Buddhist to become a Christian. Each must assimilate the spirit of other religions and yet preserve their own individuality and follow their own law of growth."

"Mata Amritanandamayi "

"Mata Amritanandamayi "
Born: 1953, Kerala

Mata Amritanandamayi rose from a god-intoxicated village girl to celebrity guru. She teaches compassion as the foundation for self-realization, believing that selfless service leads to ultimate liberation. To her, God is the expression of Love, not Truth. Millions respond to her and find solace in her presence. She hugs and caresses her followers and listens to their troubles. She says: 'The language of a religion is the language of love - a language the modern world has forgotten. Today, we know only of selfish love. Reformation of this 'limited love' into divine love is any religion's aim. Within the fulness of true love, blossoms the fragrant flower of compassion.'"

Mira Alfassa "The Mother"

Mira Alfassa "The Mother"Born: 1878, FranceDied: 1973Her mother was Egyptian and her father was Turkish. She had divine visions in her childhood. She had travelled and met her collaborator and guru Sri Aurobindo in 1904. After spending some years in Japan and China she settled in Pondicherry and created and managed the Aurobindo Ashram. Together with Aurobindo they outlined a form of yoga called 'Consciousness Evolution' and 'Spiritual Supramental Transformation'. This idea revolves around an advanced stage of human evolution which is seen as a transformation into a higher 'Supramental' state of existence. The community striving for this goal is located in Auroville.

Sri Aurobindo

Sri AurobindoBorn: 1872Died: 1950Educated in England. Turned from militant nationalist into a mystic while in the Alipur jai. Wrote over 60 brilliantly erudite books in four years. It is said that these books were channelled to him and none required revision. After that he never wrote again and rarely spoke. Gandhi offered Aurobindo the leadership of the Congress party but Aurobindo refused to meet Gandhi. His texts on the Vedas are considered unsurpassed. Declaring French born Mira Alfassa (The Mother) his equal partner was a provocation to conservative India as was opening his ashram to women. His ideas are kept alive in Auroville, a community dedicated to Human Unity.

Sri Swami Sivananda

Sri Swami SivanandaBorn: 1897, TamraparaniDied: 1989, ShivanandanagarHe was the founder of The Divine Life Society and 'Serve, love, give, purify, meditate, realise' was his motto. Initially he worked as a doctor in Malaya. Went back to India and had a vision at Benares. After a while he was initiated into Sannyas order. Spent many years as a monk on long pilgrimages. Sivananda founded the Society in 1936 in very humble cirscumstances. He also promoted ayurvedic healing. His 'Yoga of Synthesis' offers an integral development and education of all aspects of a person: 'heart, intellect, and hand'. Sivananda toured extensively throughout India inspiring people to practise yoga and lead a 'divine' life.

Guru Maharaji

Guru Maharaji(Prem Pal Singh Rawat)Born: 1957, HardwarHis father founded the Divine Light Mission in the 1920s. After his father's death, Guru Maharaji took over at the age of 8. He called himself 'the perfect master.' Travelled to the US and started the American DLM in Colorado. The movement grew world-wide but lost many followers after financial controversies. Guru Maharaji married an American. As a result his mother returned to India. In 1983 the ashrams were closed and DLM became 'Elan Vital'. Guru Maharaji teaches 'Knowledge Meditation' which focuses on the individual experience. 'God is within you, the divinity is within, as the power that gives your existence.

Bhagwan Rajneesh - Osho

Bhagwan Rajneesh - OshoBorn: 1931 in Kuchwara, India. Mahasamathi: 1990 in Poona, India Professor of Philosophy, declares his enlightenment in 1960. Opens first ashram in Bombay (1970). Moves to Oregon, USA from 1981 to 1985 and then to Poona. Believes that different people need different methods to find inner peace. Human beings are reflections of God and their behaviour is corrupted by social and personal repression. A large range of techniques, including chanting, dancing, primal screaming, various meditations and free love are used to overcome this repression and release the ego from attachments that stand in the way of enlightenment.

Ramana Maharshi

Ramana Maharshi Born: 1879, Tamilnadu, India Enlightenment in : April, 1950, TiruvannamalaiRamana went through an experience of altered consciousness in which he seems to have left his physical body. Following his intuition he travelled to Tiruvannamalai at the age of 17 and spent ten years in silence and meditation. Became famous as teacher. His central investigation is into the question 'Who am I?'. Recommends renunciation and nonattachment. Only someone who is nonattached to mental and physical pleasures can ultimately experience a state of oneness with the self and the universe. Today Ramana is still regarded as one of the ten great spiritual souls of the 19th century.