Ahymsin Newsletter: Yoga is Samadhi
 

AHYMSIN
Association of Himalayan Yoga Meditation Societies International

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  AHYMSIN newsletter, Issue - December 2011  
 
   
 
   

“The Yoga Society” 40th Anniversary

by John Barry Stutt

Blessed by the Himalayan Tradition, Milwaukee’s center is thriving.

Swami Rama in 1971 created the center and asked Nina Johnson, depicted here with his Holiness, to become the first Director of The Yoga Society.

The Center was blessed with many lectures by Swami Rama at a variety of settings such as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the War Memorial Building, and the Shorewood Center as well as others.

Special events included weekends at Green Lake, Wisconsin, where Swami and Pandit Arya presented talks. Swami discussed meditation in action. He indicated that we should refrain from identifying with actions during the day. We should see our actions going by without emotional attachment.

Pandit Arya spoke on the 5th Yoga Sutra. He stated that it is not true teaching to say mind over matter because mind is matter, probably the refined part. Identification with the body is fruitless because body changes every minute. Body’s purpose is to serve as an instrument for providing for family, spouse and for teaching others. When mind is not preoccupied with the body, it will reflect Self. Always remember you are what you dwell on.

During the course of the Center’s history, the Center’s teachers have served the community in many ways. Nina Johnson, Ginny Lucktenberg, Wesley Van Linda, and Warren Garstecki have taught mediation classes to students at UWM. Dr. Kathleen McKeehan has taught yoga to students at University of Wisconsin-Waukesha. Teachers have provided classes in yoga, meditation and breathing practices at hospitals, a cardiovascular institute, massage therapy centers and a men’s state prison.

As part of its history, the Center is especially excited to have hosted the National Conference of Yoga Centers on the grounds of a seminary on the shores of Lake Michigan.

During the course of our contact with Swami Veda Bharati, he indicated that Swami Rama was a visionary who flew at the height of 35,000 feet or out in Space at 1,000,000 feet or beyond. Swamiji distributed his work to many different disciples.

The knowledge of yoga, the spiritual knowledge of the Tradition and the lineage has been passed on not so much in words, but more in transmission. Transmission called diksha. Many of us at the Milwaukee center experienced that diksha in the form of Swami Rama’s gaze.

The essence of our work at the center is in meditation, the intricacies of the various paths of meditation, transmission of Shakti, and the training of the future generations of that the teaching may continue in 2021, 2051 and beyond.

Swami Veda indicates: “From among those thus being taught, some will be true disciples to whom much greater Shakti will be granted from the Master and his grace.”

The Yoga Society currently is located on the East side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is in the planning stages of property acquisition that will expand its capacity to conduct classes. The Board of the Society is currently under the able leadership of Wesley Van Linda. Nina Johnson continues to be a mantra initiator and provides spiritual guidance, including talks. Here she is at the center, discussing daily practices conducive to our spiritual progress.

Swami Rama says: “Learn to cultivate discipline. Learn to say no to yourself, not to others. Say: I can do it. I will do it. I must do it. The key is to not accept any suggestion from others about yourself — negative or positive. These are false crutches.”

Any yogi learns to monitor and direct his sleep (awakening, dreaming & timing). Learn to get up by a certain hour.

Any yogi learns to improve his memory.

Learn the joy of non-action.

 

 

The Yoga Society of Milwaukee prays for the suffering, ignorant and oppressed of the world. May all Centers prosper and relieve such suffering, ignorance and oppression!


Editor’s Note:

We invite you to visit the website of The Yoga Society in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA: http://www.theyogasociety.com/

 

   
       
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