Born on the 8th September, 1887, in the illustrious

family of Sage Appayya Dikshitar and several other

renowned saints and savants, Sri Swami Sivananda had
a natural flair for a life devoted to the study and practice
of Vedanta. Added to this was an inborn eagerness to
serve all and an innate feeling of unitywith all mankind.
His passion for service drew him to the medical
career; and soon he gravitated to where he thought that
his service was most needed. Malaya claimed him. He
had earlier been editing a health journal and wrote
extensively on health problems. He discovered that
people needed right knowledge most of all; dissemination
of that knowledge he espoused as his own mission.
It was divine dispensation and the blessing of God
upon mankind that the doctor of body and mind
renounced his career and took to a life of renunciation to
qualify for ministering to the soul of man. He settled
down at Rishikesh in 1924, practised intense austerities
and shone as a great Yogi, saint, sage and Jivanmukta.
In 7932 Swami Sivananda started the
Sivanandashram. In 1936 was born The Divine Life
Society. In 1948 the Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy was
organised. Dissemination of spiritual knowledge and
training of people in Yoga and Vedanta were their aim
and object. In 1950 Swamiji undertook a lightning tour of
India and Ceylon. In 1953 Swamiji convened a lMorld
Parliament of Religions'. Swamiji is the author of over
300 volumes and has disciples all over the world,
belonging to all nationalities, religions and creeds. To
read Swamiji's works is to drink at the Fountain of
Wisdom Supreme. On 14th July, 1963 Swamiji entered
Mahasamadhi.
PUBLISHERS'NOTE
The reading public is too well aware that a distinct
feature of Sri Swami Sivanandaji's forceful writings is
that he does not merely write on a subject but primarily
writes about it directly to the reader. His interest in a
subject is mainly with regard to its practical implications
in connection with man. He is the saint and awakener
and as such he makes a study of man his foremost
concern. This work, "Ethical Teachingsr" more than
ever testifies to this. The reader will find that this volume
is not merely of a definitional and informative character
but treats of ethics as specially practically manifest in
the daily conduct of everyone.
Works on ethics there have been. More often than
not they dealt purely with the theoretical aspect of it,
various types of ethical theory, evolution of ethical
thought in the course of history, etc. What man today
urgently needs is to know how exactly he ought to act
and live his life if he were to conform to the basic
principles of goodness and virtue. This need, the present
volume, most eminently fulfils.
A glance at the contents will reveal how no aspect of
the subject has been left untouched. Extremely valuable
instructions are given to the students, householders,
retired men and ascetics alike. The section headed
'Domestic Ethics'contains the most precious teachings
to ladies in particular. The Lawyer, Doctor, Trader,
Industrialist and Politician will find sagely advice from
the pen of a saint who has known the very essence of true
Dharma. The final Chapter, bearing the name of the
book, is averitable treasure-house wherein is to be found
a wealth of the most precious gems of teachings. And as
is invariably the case, the revered author has dealt with
all doubts and difficulties that are likely to arise in the
(7)
actual following of these precepts. We have the greatest
pleasure in putting this invaluable work before the
public, for we feel perfectly confident that it is going to be
of utmost, and immense help in making the human
nature grow into the Divine and in ushering in a blessed
new era in the land.
THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY

various types of ethical theory, evolution of ethical

thought in the course of history, etc. What man today
urgently needs is to know how exactly he ought to act
and live his life if he were to conform to the basic
principles of goodness and virtue. This need, the present
volume, most eminently fulfils.
A glance at the contents will reveal how no aspect of
the subject has been left untouched. Extremely valuable
instructions are given to the students, householders left untouched. Extremely a
wealth of the most precious gems of teachings. And as
is invariably the case, the revered author has dealt with
all doubts and difficulties that are likely to arise in the
(7)
actual following of these precepts. We have the greatest
pleasure in putting this invaluable work before the
public, for we feel perfectly confident that it is going to be
of utmost, and immense help in making the human
nature grow into the Divine and in ushering in a blessed
new era in the land.
THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY

various types of ethical theory, evolution of ethical

thought in the course of history, etc. What man today
urgently needs is to know how exactly he ought to act
and live his life if he were to conform to the basic
principles of goodness and virtue. This need, the present of that knowledge he espoused
as his own mission.
It was divine dispensation and the blessing of God
upon mankind that the doctor of body and mind
renounced his career and took to a life of renunciation to
qualify for ministering to the soul of man. He settled
down at Rishikesh in 1924, practised intense austerities
and shone as a great Yogi, saint, sage and Jivanmukta.
In 7932 Swami Sivananda started the
Sivanandashram. In 1936 was born The Divine Life
Society. In 1948 the Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy was
organised. Dissemination of spiritual knowledge and
training of people in Yoga and Vedanta were their aim
and object. In 1950 Swamiji undertook a lightning tour of
India and Ceylon. In 1953 Swamiji convened a lMorld
Parliament of Religions'. Swamiji is the author of over
300 volumes and has disciples all over the world,
belonging to all nationalities, religions and creeds. To
read Swamiji's works is to drink at the Fountain of
Wisdom Supreme. On 14th July, 1963 Swamiji entered
Mahasamadhi.
PUBLISHERS'NOTE
The reading public is too well aware that a distinct
feature of Sri Swami Sivanandaji's forceful writings is
that he does not merely write on a subject but primarily
writes about it directly to the reader. His interest in a
subject is mainly with regard to its practical implications
in connection with man. He is the saint and awakener Born on the 8th September,
1887, in the illustrious
family of Sage Appayya Dikshitar and several other
renowned saints and savants, Sri Swami Sivananda had
a natural flair for a life devoted to the study and practice
of Vedanta. Added to this was an inborn eagerness to
serve all and an innate feeling of unitywith all mankind.
His passion for service drew him to the medical
career; and soon he gravitated to where he thought that
his service was most needed. Malaya claimed him. He
had earlier been editing a health journal and wrote
extensively on health problems. He discovered that
people needed right knowledge most of all; dissemination
of that knowledge he espoused as his own mission.