Divine Light Invocation
The Divine Light Invocation is a standing meditation that combines the body, breath, and mind in a concise practice of visualizing and invoking the universal Light of Divine healing and wisdom. This practice is intended to elevate the consciousness of an individual at the cellular body and etheric body levels. Once cultivated individually, one can learn to share this Light with other. It is an ancient yogic practice that was taught to Swami Sivananda Radha, of the Saraswati lineage in Rishikesh India, by The INDIAN saint Mahavatar Babaji.
History of the Divine Light Invocation
In the fall of 1955, Sylvia Hellman journeyed from Montreal, Canada, to visit spiritual master Swami Sivananda Saraswati, at his ashram in Rishikesh, India, located in the foothills of the Himalayas. Mrs. Hellman had had a visionary experience of Swami Sivanada while practicing meditation in Montreal. One year prior to her departure for India, she also had her first visionary experience of Mahavatar Babaji. When she arrived at Sivananda Ashram, Swami Sivananda immediately filled her time with numerous spiritual practices, in preparation for her initiation into the sacred order of sanyas. On February 2nd, 1956. Sylvia Hellman received her new name as a disciple of the Saraswati lineage: Swami Sivananda Radha. Radha is The Embodiment of Cosmic Love.
The day after her initiation, on February 3rd, 1956, Swami Radha was walking outside the grounds of Sivananda Ashram to contemplate the new vows she had taken, and soon came across the ruins of an old temple. She felt an immediate familiarity with this location. Amidst the rubble, she came across a cave-like shelter and sat down to meditate. Within moments of her meditation she could feel a presence near her, upon opening her eyes she saw there was a man standing before her. Swami Radha recognized him as being Babaji, a famous North Indian figure who has appeared to a number of spiritual aspirants over the last two centuries, including Paramahansa Yogananda. Swami Radha's second vision of Babaji had been in India on the banks of the Ganges while washing her clothes. He appeared before her and proceeded to wash her garments. When she recognized him then, he started to drift across the water and up into the air.
At the temple ruins, and being the third time she had recognized this spiritual figure, Swami Radha felt immediately at peace. It was dusk, and no sooner did Babaji yell: "Tiger!" Surprised and terrified, Swami Radha's muscles tensed, her breath bated, and her senses became very acute. Babaji then told her to relax, and proceeded to explain that when ones concentration is at its height, two things happen: the muscles tense and the breath is suspended. He had produced this state by inducing fear in her. Babaji then showed and explained the Divine Light Invocation'' to Swami Radha, followed by theDivine Light Invocation Mantra'' for this practice.
When she first performed the Light Invocation, she could see the Light flowing into her, though her eyes were closed. Babaji explained that this practice was to aid people in breaking the habit of thinking that as humans we are either the mind or the body, and that she should teach this practice to others. Upon opening her eyes, she could see the flow of Cosmic Light that had been entering her body, now streaming out of the rocks of the Himalayas. With this awe-inspiring vision, Swami Radha accounts that her consciousness was swept up and her experience was indescribable.
Identification and Imagination
The purpose of the practice of the Divine Light Invocationis to become attuned to the Higher Self. Drawing from the essence of non-dualism, we are asked to investigate how it is that we come to believe that we are separate from Source, or our Divine nature."What do we mean by terms such as God, cosmic energy, soul or Higher Self? Most of the time we use these words to refer to something outside ourselves. We are conditioned to accept separateness. We do not realize that we are always one with the Divine."'' It is from this false sense of separation that suffering ensues. TheDivine Light Invocation'' is a vehicle for shifting the mind, body, and emotions from an identity of separation, to one of wholeness and unification with the Divine Source.