AHYMSIN newsletter, Issue - September 2011

Strengthening the Ball of Light in the Heart

by Marylou Nunamaker

(Click for larger photo)

On September 10th, the Himalayan Yoga and Meditation Center located in Palatine, Illinois,presented Pandit Pattabhiram. His lecture to the 20 or so participants was exceptional. Anil Saigal, President of HYMC, introduced him and for the next three hours Pandit Pattabhiram talked of the importance of positive thoughts and how our thoughts affect our physical being.

We practiced inhaling 5X into our pains; then were advised to end the practice with one minute of relaxation breathing.

He spoke of our chakras, and devoted much time to our heart chakra, explaining that our heart has a ball of light and a beautiful ball of fire, a fire separate from our navel center. He advised us to strengthen the ball of light within our heart, to become aware of what kind of emotion we are putting into our heart; what you put in, what it receives, it gives.

He used the word IMPORTANT here: ‘as a seeker understand the path of light and the path of fire: what are the ingredients? That is what you eat …

prepare hurt – eat hurt
prepare greed – eat greed
prepare unconditional joy – eat unconditional joy

Thinking, brooding, attitude all create your life, not your eternal light. The eternal light is constant; nothing changes it.

When there is no light, there is no life. Every second we are creating our destiny; what are we writing each day?'

The one interesting practice, as Pandit Pattabhiram called it, was that of strengthening the ball of light. He led us in that practice, after which the workshop ended.

After the lecture, he made a plea for his school, Sadhana Vidyalaya, and showed us a photo book of the school. Sadhana Vidyalaya is a school for rural children and has a holistic vision. The school is growing at a steady pace. To fulfill the vision of creating strong and radiant children anchored upon spiritual value systems, Sadhana Vidyalaya needs to expand its facilities and resources. To learn more about this charitable activity, please use this link: http://sadhanasangamainternational.org/donate.php "Every child is a moving temple, full of divine fragrance. Build these temples to express this completely" – Swami Rama of the Himalayas.

Pandit Pattabhiram is a direct disciple of Swami Rama and lives in India. He has studied under great philosophers and yogis including J. Krishnamurthy, BKS.Iyengar and Swami Visnudevananda before becoming a disciple of Swami Rama. He is in America teaching until November 10th, 2011,at which time he will return to India.

From this class I was returning to our village to volunteer as a Lioness at our local festival. One Lioness introduced me to her friend, a doctor, and a very interesting person indeed. He had been diagnosed with spinal problems needing surgery. He refused surgery, learned of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and was taught the very breathing lessons I had just learned. He is amazingly healing himself; his doctors are very pleased with him and the powers he has awakened in himself. I asked him to check if his doctors know Pandit Pattabhiram and if they perhaps knew Swami Rama. While my excitement may not be evident in this reporting, please believe that this is the case. The respect that yoga is receiving in the medical profession can only be seen as a positive...for the patient and the doctor.

Reading Swami Rama's books on the Path of Fire and Light have taken on a more personal meaning to me. He must have used those words over and over again, and we are so fortunate to have his books to learn from.Yet I must admit they now hold a different feeling in me in having been in Pandit Pattabhiram's workshop.

Swami Rama taught us that we are the architect of our life. So remember:

Don't let your life terrify you. Enjoy it. You are the boss of your life. Your life is not the boss of you.

Editor’s Note:

Sri.Pattabhiram and Smt. Jyothi Pattabhiram are the mentors and teachers of Sadhana Sangama International. Both of them make annual visits to North America to conduct workshops and deliver lectures in different cities. They are the founders of parent organization Sadhana Sangama Trust based in Bangalore, India. Sadhana Sangama International is dedicated to and derives its inspiration from the great Himalayan Yogi of our times, H.H. Swami Rama of the Himalayas. The mission of SSI is to usher in a Healthy, Happy and Harmonious society by promoting concepts of holistic living based on the science of yoga. SSI organizes workshops, lectures, and seminars on spirituality, yoga, naturopathy, Indian culture and art forms. These are aimed at addressing the needs of individuals at the physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual levels. SSI offers all its workshops, lectures and seminars on a voluntary contribution basis. The funds raised are used to further its efforts in North America in conducting free public workshops and in addition to support various education and holistic health related projects in India, including Sadhana Vidyalaya (a school for rural children) and a holistic health centre. Please visit the website http://sadhanasangamainternational.org/index.php for more details.

Swami Rama’s books, Path of Fire and Light can be purchased at the online bookstore at The Meditation Center (http://www.themeditationcenter.org/jnana/). The bookstore ships both nationally and internationally. Those in Europe can also contact http://www.yogaineurope.eu/ regarding these books. In India, please inquire at ahymsinpublishers@gmail.com They can also be purchased through Amazon; Path of Fire and Light, Vol. 1 at http://www.amazon.com/Path-Fire-Light-Vol-Practices/dp/0893890979/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315770415&sr=1-1 and Path of Fire and Light, Vol. 2: A Practical Companion to Volume 1 at http://www.amazon.com/Path-Fire-Light-Vol-Practical/dp/0893891126/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315770415&sr=1-2

Himalayan Yoga and Meditation Center located in Palatine, Illinois, USA, is an AHYMSIN affiliate center. To learn more about them, please visit their website http://www.hymcillinois.com/ They will host a workshop with Dr. Stephen (Stoma) Parker on 1st October on “The Mystery of the Tantras as Taught by the Ancient Sages of the Himalayas” and a workshop with Anil Saigal on 15th October on “Upanishads: Katha and Isha.”