 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
| AHYMSIN newsletter, issue - July 2011 | ||||||||
|
||||||||
Lithuania Silence Retreat10 June 2011by Darius Plikynas, PhDOn the day of arrival Swami Nitya, Stoma and Jelle landed with the same flight in Vilnius, though, they departed from the different places around the globe (England, USA and India). This small detail showed a lot about inherited discipline and coherence of the Himalayan yoga tradition for those who have never met it before. Straight after arrival Swami Nitya gave an interview for the local journal titled “Women”, and Stoma was eager to learn more about those initiated a year ago. Meanwhile, younger Lithuanian fellows were excited to see Jelle – a very young guy who came to teach Joints & Glands instead of Ashutosh. The yoga camp took place in the nice historical vicinity, where ancient cultures lived since IX millennium BC (see photo) and, indeed, it felt like we were in the silent spiritual heart of the country. As if blessed from the skies, during the whole retreat program we enjoyed sunny and beautiful weather. Early around 5 am every morning and during the day time we enjoyed swimming in the lake. The silence retreat program started with an introduction to the Himalayan yoga and meditation tradition. Teachings were alive and easy to comprehend. So everything went smoothly and nicely. People at once got interested to know more and to dive deeper into yoga science. Even certified Shivanada teachers were surprised to find out some simple and universal truths concerning everyday yoga practices, meditation and philosophy. Some of them were interested to get personal mantras later on. I served others translating teachings for almost 6 hours every day. It was amazing to practice inner peace and silence while being verbally active. It felt like Guru’s grace is helping to concentrate the mind, using it as a channel to transfer universal truths. Sometimes our minds were harmonized in such a way that different speakers and listeners were absorbed into one and the same Oneself, which enjoys expression of Itself. Teachings went almost spontaneously, without a preplanned strict schedule. But it felt like a well balanced continuous stream of consciousness, harmoniously carried out by the Guru Lineage represented by Swami Nitya, Stoma and Jelle, who complemented each other very nicely. People were very happy, feeling no distance between themselves and the teachers, who shared love and respect for all. Some people were more attracted by Swami Nitya’s lightness, heartiness, playfulness, practicality and depth at the same time. While others enjoyed Stoma’s deep wisdom, grace and sincerity. Meanwhile, Jelle also surprised everybody as a teacher who can stand alongside others. Evidently his life is already happening in yoga (conscious union), not yoga happens in his life. At the end of the silence retreat everything was apparent from the joyful and watery eyes of the participating people, which expressed harmony, gratitude and feeling of the inner silence, which just started. People even wished to stay longer in the state of dawning grace of the inner silence and peace… Editor’s note:Stoma, Swami NItyamutkananda, and Jelle were hosted by the Soham Yoga Center http://www.soham.lt/ in Lithuania. |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
