Month: January 2025

Meditation has been a spiritual practice of the Himalayan sages for millennia. The practice has been handed down from time immemorial in a tradition through the guru-shishya (guru-disciple) lineage that spans thousands of years. The Himalayan Mountains of India have been the home of the enlightened sages for millennia and they have provided the perennial flow of their realized wisdom on the process, discipline and practices to those who are eager to learn and have sought their wisdom and guidance to continue the great tradition. These great sages lived the experiences of the great spiritual teachings and passed on their knowledge of the yogic teachings to their disciples who then became masters in the lineage. The wisdom and knowledge of the Himalayan masters are not the origin of any one individual. Thousands of years have passed since the divine inspired knowledge of the Rishis (our first human scientists) have graced our earth with their perfect knowledge of life, human existence, the cosmos, etc.

There are many spiritual paths and practices that have evolved over time due to the diversity, inclinations and particular emphasis of the masters. However, the Himalayan Yoga Tradition has preserved the unique system of combining the oral instructions and experiences of the long line of saints and yoga masters over the millennia, with the wisdom of Yoga’s classical text (the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali) and the Tantric philosophy and practices of the lineage. The tradition brings together these three streams of knowledge and practices in a unique and integral manner.

Significance of Full Moon

To understand the importance of full moon in Hindu spiritual and religious practices, it is important to understand the Hindu calendar, the planetary movements that occur during various times of the year and the influence of the moon on human behavior. The Hindu calendar follows the lunar month, and Amavasya, the new moon night, falls at the beginning of the new lunar month, which lasts for about 30 days.

The calculation of the years and months are based on the movements of the moon around the earth, and various festivals and religious holidays are celebrated based on these movements. The Hindu monthly cycle comprises two fortnights totaling 30 days, that is divided into two periods of 15 days each. One fortnight is called Shukla Paksha and the second is Krishna Paksha. The 15 days when the moon waxes (ascendancy of the moon) is called Shukla Paksha. The full moon appears as a perfect bright round disc on the 15^th day (called Purnima). This is then followed by 15 days of the waning of the moon called Krishna Paksha. The new moon appears on the 15^th day of Krishna Paksha and is called Amavasya. This night is actually the darkest night of the month and the moon will not be seen.

Hindus believe that human beings have always had a close link to nature, and that changes in nature influence human behavior. The fortnightly cycle of the moon exerts a great influence on the human anatomy, just as it affects the water bodies on earth in the form of cycles of tides. During a full moon, a person may display unusual behavior, such as a tendency to become restless, irritable and ill-tempered, showing signs of behavior that hints of ‘lunacy’ – a term derived from the Latin word for moon, “luna.” This perception of human behavior during the full moon is shared in many cultures around the world.

In Hindu practice, there are specific rituals for the new moon and full moon days. Purnima, the full moon day, is considered auspicious in the Hindu Calendar and many devotees practice fasting throughout the day, with some persons praying to the presiding deity, Lord Vishnu.

It is ideal to fast or take light food on full moon and new moon days, as it is said to reduce the acidic content in our system, slows down the metabolic rate and increases endurance. This restores the body and mind balance. Praying also helps in subduing the emotions and controls the outburst of temper.

For persons of the Hindu tradition, as well as in some other cultures, the day of the full moon is considered a sacred and sanctified one, in which prayers, meditation, the practice of silence and even fasting is done. In many countries (such as Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname and Guyana) where Hindus have settled over many years and they continue with the Hindu tradition, Hindu groups observe the day of the full moon by offering prayers and singing kirtans and songs in their mandirs (temples) in the evening. For these groups, the night of the full moon provides a fulfilling and everlasting impression of the richness of the tradition.

One of the remarkable practices of the Himalayan Yoga Tradition, as taught by Swami Rama and Swami Veda is the practice of meditating on full moon’s day. Disciples and followers of the Tradition, wherever they are around the world, sit at specific times on full moon day to meditate for at least one hour. Regular practice of meditation on this day takes an individual out from any situation of their life and kindles the divine qualities within the person. The meditation stabilizes the personal mind and the personal life of the individual. The constant meditation practice is an inward journey to the innermost cave of the self, providing a solid base for kindling the divine flame and spiritual upliftment over time. When individuals who are stabilized sit at the same time in different parts of the world, with the same intention and purpose on full moon day, they become part of a larger mindfield whose vibrations multiply manyfold, spreading the subtle message of peace, harmony and joy.

On the 21^st of December 2024, on the day that was officially declared World Meditation Day by the United Nations, the founding of our non-profit Association of Himalayan Yoga Meditation (AHYMSIN) Switzerland was made public. We organised an online group meditation and introduced ourselves and our vision for the future. The event was supported by the blessings of Swami Ritavan Bharati and generated a lot of interest among participants from various countries. This was a beautiful reminder for us being part of a global AHYMSIN family and gave us a lot of inspiration.

It will be our mission to spread the teachings of the tradition and to bring people together in and around Switzerland. The committee consists at present of Anna Devigili, Maria Miguel Ribeiro, Alan Richard, Lea Sellinger and John Sellinger.

We plan to hold guided full moon meditations, regular online workshops as well as retreats in the Swiss mountains.

   

It was our long-held dream to bring the various people connected to the tradition in Switzerland together and to further deepen the relationships as well as to inspire new people. Yet it wasn’t until 2024 this finally happened and Ahymsin Switzerland took shape.

With Anna returning to Zurich full of enthusiasm from a year deeply immersed in studying at the Swami Rama Dhyana Gurukulam at Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Ashram, we knew we could do it. Anna had been sharing the teachings of the tradition by running classes and workshops in Zurich.

Over the past years, regular classes as well as various workshops and retreats haven been held in Basel, Geneva, Luzern and Zurich. In 2017 John was given the opportunity to lead a teacher training program in Basel over the course of 2 years. There he was able to impart some of the content of the Himalayan tradition to a group of enthusiastic students. The program was very well received, long lasting friendships formed and some of the former students became initiates.

In Geneva, Alan and Maria, both former Gurukulam students at SRSG established a small centre and are running various programs and regular classes. They were part of the fortunate group of the last Gurukulam students, that got to learn directly from Swami Veda Bharati. They both taught various classes at the ashram and served in many other ways. In one of her last meetings with Swami Veda, Maria was asked to become a teacher of the tradition and share what she has learned with others.

In October 2024 in the beautiful setting of the Chandolin Alps we came together for our very first Ahymsin Switzerland meeting. We were all taken aback by the beauty of the unique landscape and the 200-year-old mountain village with its compact ancient wooden houses on stilts nestled on the steep slope of the mountain side. The village is located at over 2000 m above sea level and the breathtaking landscape reminded us very much of the Himalayan mountains. Meeting for the first time in such a serene setting felt like a very auspicious sign of Guru’s presence among us.

For 2025 we are planning a silence retreat in August somewhere in the Swiss Alps. From February we will start with philosophy classes initially held by John. Furthermore, we are planning online morning hatha classes and we will hold regular full moon meditations.

If you would like to connect with us and for further information, please contact us under ahymsinch@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

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We heard from Divya that December 21st was designated as World Meditation Day, and we set two goals: to make it widely known that December 21st was designated as World Meditation Day and to have AHYMSIN Family members, like at Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Ashram (SRSG), meditate continuously for 24 hours.

We prepared posters and banner designs for the first goal and distributed them to AHYMSIN members who run the yoga centers.

They installed posters and banners inside and outside the centers to make it widely known.

For the second goal, to continue meditation for 24 hours, we did it from 10:30 AM on the 21st to 11:30 AM on the 22nd, the same time as the Indian Ashram. From 10:30 AM to 9:30 PM on the 21st, the yoga centers set a time for meditation in a relay, and from 9:30 PM on the 21st, we put a meditation schedule centered around AHYMSIN Korea Faculty members so that meditation would not be interrupted.

In this way, AHYMSIN Korea celebrated the first UN World Meditation Day with many initiates and non-initiates. Those who participated were very happy and grateful that this day was designated. They said that their meditation practice became deeper through this day.

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And here is the The First UN World Meditation Day experienced by Woo Jeehyun.

She was initiated by Swami Ma Ratha in 2020. She is currently studying at AHYMSIN Korea TTP and runs Orn Yoga Center in Seoul.

“It has been a joyful experience preparing for the first World Meditation Day with Ahymsin. I have been happily contemplating how to commemorate this day with the yoga center members while deeply embedding the significance of meditation into our daily lives—aiming for a tone that is neither too heavy nor too light.

First, I promoted the UN-designated World Meditation Day during the week before the classes. Even if they are busy on that day, I encouraged members to stop by the yoga center, even if just for a moment, to close their eyes and focus on their calm breathing, enjoying the collective energy of meditation shared worldwide.

Our yoga center’s training approach emphasizes relaxed classes focused on asanas and breath awareness. Members who have experienced the joy of relaxation through our Yoga Nidra sessions on Fridays expressed their eagerness to participate and join in.

From 2 PM to 6 PM, we kept the lights of the yoga center on, inviting anyone to come by for 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or even more than an hour. A total of 17 members registered to share their availability to participate.”

At 2 o’clock, I took care of the seating for the first member who arrived on time.”

Meditation Sequence

1. Roll up the mat from the back (and place a cushion or blanket on it if needed), then sit comfortably with your sit bones resting on top.
2. Align your head, neck, and torso in a straight line.
3. Feel the breath in your nostrils and relax your entire body.
4. Observe your breathing calmly, and if thoughts arise, simply watch them come and go.
5. Silently chant “So” as you inhale and “Ham” as you exhale.
6. Meditate for as long as feels comfortable.

I suggested following this meditation sequence. Then, I played Swami Rama’s meditation guide video and read aloud the Korean translation alongside his voice as a 10-minute meditation guide. Afterward, participants continued meditating on their own for over 30 minutes.

As she left, she smiled brightly with a relaxed expression, holding the prepared rice cakes and meditation booklets in her hands. She mentioned that the meditation guide was helpful and that it was a wonderful experience.

At 3:30 PM, Professor Kim, MeeKyung and Instructor Seol, Mira from AHYMSIN Korea visited the yoga center and participated in the meditation session until the very end. Perhaps because they generously shared AHYMSIN’s energy, some members who joined afterward remarked that they had never experienced a group meditation that was so serene and allowed for such deep concentration.

We laid out our mats, and between 2 PM and 6 PM, a total of 14 members participated in meditation at their own preferred times. They meditated for durations ranging from 20 minutes to as long as an hour. When asked about their experiences, one member shared that living in a shared house made it rare to have such a quiet, prolonged moment of stillness, and it brought her a sense of peace and happiness. Another member, who described herself as having many thoughts, mentioned that during meditation, more thoughts initially surfaced, making her realize how much she thinks. However, after repeatedly focusing their awareness on the flow of breath between her nostrils and her navel, she started to feel a gradual clearing of their thoughts. Another participant mentioned experiencing a blank state—not quite sleep, not fully awake—but a sense of comfort and happiness that they couldn’t quite define.

These reflections made me realize that rather than providing extensive explanations or instructions about meditation, allowing individuals to participate and have their own experiences is indeed the best approach.

Since taking photos during meditation is not possible, I took a few pictures whenever participants who planned to join came for practice the day before. When I mentioned that the photos would be shared with the association, they kindly smiled and willingly posed for the pictures.

The morning after World Meditation Day, I proposed setting aside a short period of silent meditation—ranging from 2 to 5 minutes—at the end of each practice session during this week, accompanied by a banner. Everyone gladly embraced the idea and took the time to face their inner stillness. Moving forward, The Orn Yoga practice will incorporate more silent meditation into sessions, working with regular members to learn and explore the true meaning of yoga meditation through practice. I am grateful to Ahymsin for giving us this opportunity to participate in ‘The first UN World Meditation Day’.