‘VITA-RAGA CHITTAM’ – THE DISPASSIONATE MIND-FIELD OF GURU
In the Yoga Sutras, the meditation practice prescribed in I:37, guides the disciple to concentrate on “yoking” uniting his mind with that of a sage, saint (guru). This sutra of Patanjali offers an aspirant a methodical practice of purifying the mindfield by presenting a subtler object of concentration. The object of concentration is the mindfield of those free from desires (vita-raga chittam). Such a method of meditation is honored as Guru-dhyana.
The meaning of this sutra rests in the experience of deep contemplation on the guru-disciple relationship. It is a practice of concentration (ekagra-chittam) on the presence of divine grace as light, love, and bliss. Guru’s light of knowledge dispels the darkness of ignorance and transforms mind-energy (chitta-shakti) revealing the highest consciousness (chit-shakti) and one’s true nature.
By continual practice (abhyasa) and dispassion (vairagya), the aspirant concentrates on the progressively subtle and subtler relationship with the Guru. Thus, the dispassionate mind-field of the Guru, becomes the supportive factor in the aspirant’s meditation.
The personal (guru) mantra, as the seed of the guru’s mind, grows and replaces egotistical identity with a glimpse of the infinite cosmic mind. It is the “dispelling of darkness” (gu-ru). When the disciple, through constant and faithful practice, makes firm the ground of his meditative state (samadhi), the knowledge of that level of awareness in the Universal mind-field (samasthi-chitta), is at his disposal. All relativity is dissolved into the substratum of pure love, and the liberated disciple knows himself to be Pure Consciousness.
The disciple slowly refines the mantra through continuous, unbroken practice for a long time with deep sincerity (I:14). By cultivation and absorbing the meaning of mantra (I:28), he attains the realization of the inwardly conscious Self (I:29, II:26). At this stage, the mantra begins to lead the disciple through the increased power of the disciple’s own free volition. Upon refining the mantra through these stages of cognition: as idea and feeling, the disciple no longer repeats the mantra mentally. He hears the mantra with his whole being as though his whole being is an ear through which he listens. In this stage of ajapa-japa, the mantra starts absorbing all other content of mind. The highest level of mantra absorption (samapatti) is described by Swami Rama as “the mantra becomes an ocean of bliss in which the mind is floating.”
On the spectrum of progress in meditation, mind reflects the same light for the light of knowledge has never ceased. Knowledge is knowledge, enlightenment is always present. Only when the disciple is attached to and identifies with the objects reflected by the light does mind’s awareness recognize the ‘raga’ the spectrum of colors as impure mind. As one cultivates deeper states meditative awareness, a process unfolds from exterior to the interior self-identification of consciousness.
According to this meditation in the Himalayan Tradition, the disciple reaches the highest level of consciousness when the guru, disciple, and mantra become One. This level of unitary consciousness is identified by Swami Rama Tirtha as “I am You”, (Twam Aham), and evolves to “I Am” (Aham).
The bhakta poet Kabir describes this stage in the following verse:
“When I was, then you were not; when you are, then I cease to be. This lane of love my friend is very narrow, two cannot walk on it abreast.”
First of all, we appreciate Swamiji, Yoongji, Tuatyienji, Shiongji, and Rabindraji who came to share the teachings of Himalayan tradition. We also appreciate Hansaji, Dr. Choe, Dr. Lee and all members of AHYMSIN Korea. Hansaji and Dr. Choe are the mother and father of AHYMSIN Korean family. Dr. lee is the first Korean disciple of Swami Rama and he was the seed of Ahimshin Korea TTP. Specially Dr. Lee accompanied this journey all the way.
Dorothy Yeung and Quincy Leung from Hongkong and Tao Yan and Chu Yang from Beijing, thank them for the joining us. Special thanks to Quincy who was the official photographer at the Jeju Retreat.
Our journey in 2024 began on May 27 at 6 am with the arrival of Rabindraji from India. In the afternoon, Swami Ritavanji, Yoongji, and Tuetyienji arrived from the retreat in Taiwan. Voluntary service of Younggi, Seokwon, Doori and Kangju Jung allowed us to warmly welcome Teachers.
On May 28, we, Hansaji, Dr. Choe, Dr. Lee and some Korean TTP students gathered for lunch with the teachers at the Hansa Yoga Center inside Dr. Choe’s Cardiac Clinic in Wonju. In general, Koreans place a lot of importance on sharing food in relationships. This may not be unique to Koreans, but it can be said to be a bit more unusual. On this particular day, Hansaji’s first Korean TTP student, Myungja Kim who is 83 years old, made vegetarian dumplings with her love. We had a happy time with her, eating her delicious dumplings. However, on that day, Myungja underwent surgery for a brain hemorrhage, and she has not yet regained consciousness. Doctor says that it is difficult for her to regain consciousness. This is sad news, but we feel that she was deeply connected to our tradition as her last memory is of her beloved Swamiji, Hansaji, and the AHYMSIN Korea family preparing food by hand, eating it together, and having a good time. That day, under the guidance of Swami Ritavanji, we started Sankalpa and Maha Mrityujaya Mantra for her, and even today the AHYMSIN Korea family continues to do Maha Mrityujaya Mantra japa for her.
After lunch, we traveled to Woljeongsa, Buddhist Temple in Pyeongchang. Dorothy and Quincy joined us from Hong Kong. We enjoyed the simple food and the tranquility of the temple in the mountains. With a monk, Hyungi who had a relationship with Swamiji almost 10 years ago, we had a tea time and took walks in the forest trail.
On Friday, May 31, we traveled to Seoul for a workshop at Wonkwang Digital University. The Department of Yoga and Meditation at Wonkwang Digital University is 20 years old and is the first yoga and meditation department in Korea. The department’s professor, Jongsoon Seo, used to travel with his students to India for training in the Himalayan tradition and has a deep connection to Raghavendra Adigaji. In addition, Mikyoung, a senior faculty member at Ahimsin Korea TTP, teaches in the department. As a result of these connections, Ahimsin Korea TTP now has a steady stream of graduates and current students from this department. The workshop was organized with the serevice of Soonkyu, Kyungmin, Bo-seo, and Hee-ra, who are all Ahimsin Korea TTP students and graduates or current students of the department. The workshop was held on the weekend of June 1 and 2, with the theme of Practical application of Yoga Sutra by Patanjali, and was attended by more than 120 alumni and current students of this Department. The workshop classes began with Swami Ritavanji’s J&G Exercises. For me personally, it was the first time since Swami Ritavanji, then Anataji, guided us through J&G Exercises at the Yoga Cultural Center in Seoul, 2005, and it was a rare class. In this particular class, some participants, who were new to the Himalayan tradition, seemed to have a heightened interest and focus in the teachings of the Himalayan tradition, as they were guided through subtle movements that were different from the hatha yoga they were used to.
Other classes included Digestive Breathing, Hatha Yoga practice, guided Relaxation and Meditation practices, and lectures on Rabindraji’s Yoga Sutra and You, Yoongji’s Relaxation of Effort, and Swamiji’s Yoga Sutra & Self Transformation. Each day, before returning home after the lectures, many students hugged Professor Seo, who organized the workshop, with gratitude, love and happiness. Without going into the details of the lectures, these attitudes and behaviors of the participants explain how the teachings of the Himalayan tradition impacted them.
During the workshop, we were treated to a hearty meal.
On June 3, we traveled to Jeju Island. Dr. Lee, Younggi, Seokwon from Seoul, and Swami Atma Bodhi Shriji, Younae, Haesun, and Eunsuk from Changwon, joined. Until the morning of the 6th, when the retreat began, we stayed at a resort close to the Jeju Olle Trail and the sea in Pyoseon-myeon, Seogwipo-si. We had a quiet and peaceful time with a great view of the ocean and a walk along the Olle Trail. Haesun, Younae, and Eunsuk prepared three meals with love for us every day.
On the evening of the 5th, Shihongji came from Beijing after giving Yoga Sutra classes, accompanied by Tao and Chu. Soonhong, Youngmi, Miran, and Eunhee warmly welcomed them at Jeju Airport.
On June 6, AHYMSIN Korea held a three-day retreat at MG Jeju Training Center. The theme was Bhakti Yoga. The retreat was announced in November last year, with the theme:The teachings of Himalayan Yoga Meditation. At that time the theme seems to be wide and not specified, but many people registered to participate. The theme was then finalized in February this year after visiting SRSG and meeting Swamiji. The theme plays an important role in any event, as it often determines whether people attend or not. However, most of the participants at the AHYMSIN Korea retreat were more interested in being together in the teachings of Himalayan tradition than in the theme. Some realize that even if it’s the same theme, it sounds like new lectures when they hear them again.
The retreat began with greetings from the teachers and a short-guided meditation by Swami Ritavanji. Although it was a short meditation, the participants were ready to dive into the teachings of the Himalayan tradition. Hatha yoga classes, guided meditation and lectures on bhakti yoga followed, drawing from the teachers’ experiences. The very presences of the teachers, who were willing to travel a long way to share their valuable experiences, was the examples of Bhakti Yoga.
In the early morning hours of June 9, Shihongji, Tao, and Chu returned to Hong Kong. In the afternoon we attended the Jeju Yoga Festival, to which Swamiji and Rabindraji were invited. Before the event, Swamiji distributed fruits as prasad to the organizers and yoga teachers. Some of them were happy as children with the fruits Swamiji gave them. Swamiji gave the opening remarks, and Rabindraji, led a short Hatha Yoga class with other Hatha Yoga teachers. Centering, the introductory part of Hatha yoga, was given. The yoga festival was a fairly active event, with lively music and asanas, unlike events in our tradition. In the midst of such festivities, Swamiji’s short talk and Rabindraji’s Makarasana guidance helped the yoga teachers and participants, who were practicing Hata Yoga-centered yoga, experience that there is more to yoga than physical movement.
After all this, we returned to Seoul on June 10th. Gisuk, Miryang, and Miryang’s grand nephews were at the airport to greet us. As usual, Gisuk drove the teachers to the hotel near Incheon Airport, and in the evening, Dr. Won and her students visited Swamiji.
This is the Journey with the Teachers of the Himalayan tradition in Korea
Not everything went as planned during the journey. But even when things didn’t go according to plan, they happened more naturally and smoothly than we could have ever prepared for. We should prepare, but we don’t have to worry too much. There is an invisible force helping us. We just need to have faith in it.
