Author: Divya - Administrator

Gurudeva Swami Rama’s Birth Centenary year was dedicated to the Guru-force by way of facilitating, organising, and conducting various special retreats at Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Ashram and worldwide. Each member of our global spiritual family took part in these events planned throughout this year where we shared our stories, learnings, experiences and most importantly how our lives have been transformed through the teachings of the Himalayan Tradition.

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Mantra and Purashcharana Retreat: 9 Feb – 1 Mar, 2025

In commemoration of the centennial of Gurudeva Swami Rama’s birth, a Mantra and Purashcharana Retreat convened over 60 initiates from 13 nations for 21 days. During the retreat, a purashcharana of 125,000 guru mantras was offered by each initiate individually, dedicated in the spirit of Guru prityartham—for the pleasure of the Guru.

Throughout the retreat, initiates received personal guidance from Swami Ritavan Bharati, Raghavendra Adiga ji, Yoong ji, and Rabindra ji to deepen their understanding of their mantra practice.

Culminating this immense offering of millions of mantras from all the devoted hearts, we felt immersed in love and gratitude for the Guru Lineage and offered flowers at the altar in the Swami Rama Hall, remembering the truth that the Guru is the boat that carries us across the ocean of creation.

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AHYMSIN New Sangha Mantra Practice for the year 2025-26: Akhanda-mandalakaram Mantra

Swami Ritavan Bharati, AHYMSIN’s Spiritual Guide, invited all initiates and students of the Himalayan Tradition to include the akhanda-mandalakaram mantra into their practices, in loving remembrance and homage to our dear Gurudeva Swami Rama. In his New Year letter to the AHYMSIN Sangha, Swami Ritavan announced that we will celebrate 2025 as the Centennial Year of our beloved Gurudeva, H.H. Swami Rama of the Himalayas.

अखण्ड-मण्डलाकारम् व्याप्तम् येन चराचरम्।
तत्पदम् दर्शितम् येन तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः॥

akhaṇḍa-maṇḍalākāram vyāptam yena carācaram
tat padam darśitam yena, tasmai śrī gurave namah

I pay obeisances to Sri Guru, who revealed to me That state, which pervades the entire unbroken circle (of creation), both moving and unmoving.

As a heartfelt tribute to our Gurudeva on His 100th Birth Anniversary, sangha members were lovingly invited to recite the akhanda-mandalakaram mantra silently in their hearts as a prayer or, if possible, offer one or more malas of the mantra. This practice was in addition to each initiate’s ongoing japa and meditation practices with their personal initiation mantra.

As a united Sangha, all initiates and students of the Himalayan Tradition collectively engaged in the practice of the akhanda-mandalakaram mantra for the whole year, leading up to the AHYMSIN Sangha Gathering in March 2026.

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25-Days Immersion into the Shri Lalita Sahasranaam: 13 Mar- 6 Apr, 2025

The Himalayan Tradition of Yoga Meditation is the tradition of the Divine Feminine. At our Maa Tara Temple, we chant the thousand names of the Divine Mother, Shri Lalita Sahasranaam every day. During special events such as the Navaratri (nine days and nights dedicated to the Mother Divine), we chant the Shri Lalita Sahasranaam non-stop for 24 hours throughout the 9 days.

The holy anushthan (undertaking) of 25-day immersion into the sacred Shri Lalita Sahasranaam, the thousand names of the Divine Mother was an excuse, more than an opportunity, to further strengthen our relationship with the Mother. For 25 days, we gathered at the yajnashala, our hearts overflowing with devotion, to offer havana (fire offerings) with the sacred 1000 names of Maa Lalita everyday. The ashram was then resonating with divine vibrations, each ‘Svaha’ an offering of our love, a blossoming of our hearts at the Mother’s feet.

The retreat commenced on the auspicious occasion of Holika Dahan, a festival that celebrates the triumph of purity over darkness, a radiant celebration of positivity, renewal and joy. As is the tradition in the ashram, the retreat began with prayers and pujas of Maa Tara, Lord Sadhakeshwara, and the Guru lineage, seeking their grace as we set forth on this sacred inward journey dedicated at the feet of Gurudeva Swami Rama in honour of his birth centenary.

The mornings and evenings sessions were dedicated to exploring the profound meanings of each of Maa Lalita’s names, guided by the insightful teachings of Rabindra Sahu. He lovingly unveiled the depths of each of the 1000 names, unveiling the Mother’s roopa and swaroopa (her appearance, her vision, her nature), allowing us to ‘feel’ her presence in every facet of our existence.

We felt as if we were in the womb of Divine Mother, embraced by her love, finding refuge in her sacred names, warmed by the sanctified yajna fire. Each name, a radiant reminder of her brilliance, beauty, and light. As the retreat concluded, a serene stillness enveloped us, and we prayed to merge in her divine glory.

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84- Days Intensive Sadhana Retreat within the Himalayan Tradition: 10 Jul – 1 Oct, 2025

With heartfelt and eternal gratitude towards Gurudeva Swami Rama for having shown us the path of the Himalayan Masters, on the most blessed occasion of His birth centennial celebration, this year a special 3-month program was offered at the ashram for the first time—84-day Intensive Sadhana Retreat, guided by Rabindra Sahu. The program commenced on the auspicious day of the Guru Purnima on 10th July 2025. What more auspicious day could there be to begin such a journey than on Guru Purnima itself.

We received 13 dedicated participants from all age groups, from many religions, from eight different countries, including Australia, Ecuador, Hungary, India, Italy, Norway, UK, and USA. There were beginners and long-term initiates in this group. While coming from such diverse life experiences, they all had one thing common—an intense longing for self-purification and self-transformation.

This retreat was a heartfelt offering, a small effort to honour the timeless teachings of the Himalayan Tradition and to share these sacred teachings with all who seek them.

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Throughout their lives, Gurudeva Swami Rama and Swami Veda Bharati both worked to serve those in need and alleviate their suffering. Following their footsteps, we continue our charitable efforts towards the larger benefit of humanity and in line with our mission. In 2025, we had several projects, including Sadhu Seva in Gangotri, sending disaster relief assistance during the Uttarkashi floods, offering free yoga classes in schools for underprivileged children, supporting educational efforts in underfunded rural schools, supporting Sanskrit education, distributing freely yoga meditation books by Swami Rama and Swami Veda Bharati in yoga universities, offering social and medical welfare for the most vulnerable and with extraordinary circumstances, providing support to gaushalas that work towards caring for rescued cattle, organising blood donation camp, etc.

Dr Swati Saharan, Operations Manager, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, shared a report on all the charitable initiatives undertaken by SRSG during 2025. If you would like to read the full report, you may do so here – SRSG Charity Initiatives at a Glance – 2025.

We vow to continue these efforts in the coming years in serving the larger society.

As we walk this path of self-purification together, our hearts are filled with gratitude, and we constantly seek the loving guidance and blessings from our revered Guru Lineage. We pray to the Sages of the Himalayan Tradition to continue to bless us with their boundless love and light.

In loving service,

Divya, AHYMSIN Office

When Gurudeva Swami Rama started traveling Westward on instructions from his Master to share the teachings of the Himalayan Tradition of Yoga Meditation worldwide, by the early 1970s, he also started training his initiates as teachers and guides within this living tradition of the Himalayan Sages to carry forward his Master’s wish.

Swami Rama and Swami Veda Bharati then offered a systematic path of learning yoga meditation within the Himalayan Tradition to dedicated initiates, so one day they can carry forward the teachings themselves. The purpose of such teacher trainings was and has always been to prepare yoga meditation teachers as such that they are not merely instructors of the techniques of hatha yoga, but that they become instruments of these timeless teachings.

What is the teacher’s purpose by the standard of these great Himalayan masters? As Swami Veda Bharati has said,

“So please understand what the goal, aim and purpose of yoga is. Please understand what your role as a teacher is. It is only and none other but leading suffering humanity to spiritual enlightenment.”

The teacher is not merely one who has knowledge of various postures or breathing techniques; a teacher becomes a loving presence in the students’ life. In today’s world of political, economic, environmental, and psychological upheavals, we all yearn for something that is grounding, nurturing, and nourishing to our hearts and minds. The teacher’s role, therefore, is to be that force that nurtures and facilitates inner peace and joy.

For several decades now, the Himalayan Yoga Tradition – Teacher Training Program has served sincere aspirants worldwide in their quest of seeking authentic knowledge of yoga meditation. Over the years, the program has trained and inspired hundreds of teachers across the world to share the wisdom of the Himalayan Tradition.

In Swami Veda’s own words “This program has been designed to pass on the essential principles and practices of the Tradition, which fosters personal development on all levels. For the aspiring as well as the experienced teacher, the program presents all aspects of yoga/meditation in a spiritually inspiring context…

Our practical, experiential approach to teacher training encourages students to incorporate these skills into their daily lives.”

As we all know, this year has been very significant for our global family, marked by two sacred events:

• Birth Centenary of Gurudeva Swami Rama, whose life was and continues to be an inspiration for all of us.
• 10th Mahasamadhi of our beloved Swami Veda Bharati, whose love and gentle guidance continues to flow and guide us each day.

As these sacred events unfold, we are delighted to share that the teacher training program is entering a new phase of renewal. At the heart of this new beginning is Swami Veda’s long-cherished vision. Swami Ritavan Bharati, AHYMSIN’s Spiritual Guide and Ashram Pramukha, has shared that it was Swami Veda’s wish to offer this program from Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Ashram in Rishikesh, as the global headquarters of AHYMSIN and the spiritual home of the global sangha. And we are very happy that during Swami Veda’s 10th Mahasamadhi year, that vision has been actualised.

Announcing this joyful news to the global sangha during Swami Rama’s Birth Centenary Celebrations on 25 October 2025, Swami Ritavan said,

“How are the teachings of the tradition carried on? Very early Swami Rama set up a theme in our teachings. He said, you teach. Meaning, we couldn’t just sit and enjoy doing our asana and our pranayama or meditation. He said, now, how do you teach those joints and glands to the elderly, to the children in their schools, to those that are in the throngs of addiction? How do you help them come out to form new habit patterns? How do you go into the prisons to which he sent me to one and I was petrified, “what to do in such a place.” You just sit down and allow the grace to flow.

The teaching as taught by Gurudeva Swami Rama and Swami Veda has been carrying on for 55 years. We are starting another era of the teacher training program here at our ashram starting in April 2026. It will be a month-long intensive residency that will be full days of all aspects of training yoga teachers. Not so much for the purpose of that they will do research, not for the purpose that they will go out and teach the philosophy, but that they will practice, and they will teach from their experience of practicing.”

As Swami Veda said,

“If you have come to learn from the tradition of Swami Rama and all the sages of the past going back to Patañjali and you have learned something from these great teachers who have been serving you day and night, then you will go back and you will not teach yoga at the level of a certificate. You will not teach yoga on the strength of a certificate. You will teach yoga on the strength of your spiritual personality. Your magnetism that comes from meditation. The meditative magnetism is far stronger than any other type of magnetism. It is because of that that you are drawn to this ashram. It is the specialty of this ashram, that magical meditational magnetism.”

We will share more details about the new program soon with the global family.

With humility and dedication, we move forward in the light of the Masters who continue to inspire and bless our path.

In loving service of the Sages of the Himalayas,

AHYMSIN Office

Nestled in the serene beauty of the Valais Alps, near Martigny, AHYMSIN Switzerland held its very first Meditation and Silence retreat. The proximity of the majestic mountains and tranquil forests made everyone feel uplifted and supported by nature’s presence. Our home for the retreat was a 200-year-old guesthouse, where stillness seemed to emanate from the very walls. Its spacious, quiet seminar hall provided the perfect setting for our sessions. Each day, the family who runs the hotel lovingly prepared fresh, delicious organic vegetarian meals, adding a nourishing touch to our retreat experience.

The retreat unfolded over four days. The first full day was devoted to an introduction to the core practices of the Himalayan Yoga Tradition, while the second became a full immersion into silence. The daily rhythm resembled that of the ashram—intense and structured, yet deeply nourishing. Meals were recommended to be taken in silence, and during the opening evening, participants were reminded to listen to their own capacities and allow themselves moments of rest whenever needed.

Each day began at 5:30 a.m. and concluded at 9:30 p.m., framed by the sacred chanting of our ashram prayers. To our delight, nearly all participants chose to join both morning and evening chantings, engaging in their own ways—some reading, some listening, others chanting with heart. Gentle Hatha Yoga classes in the mornings and evenings, guided by Anna and Maria, invited breath awareness and prepared body, breath, and mind for meditation. Morning meditations were teacher-guided, while evenings meditations were experienced in silence.

On Friday morning, John offered an insightful philosophy class, exploring the purpose and practice of mantras in meditation within our Tradition. To those who asked about the “meaning” of the So-Ham mantra, he shared that a mantra cannot be reduced to a translation into words: its true meaning is the state of consciousness it leads us into—something to be experienced, through the practice.

John also introduced the Four Brahma Viharas, describing them as “emotional postures”: Maitri (friendliness), Karuna (compassion), Mudita (joy in the personal and spiritual progress of others), and Upeksha (the capacity to choose not to become involved in the negativity of others). These are not merely outward behaviors but ways of being, which can naturally express themselves in our actions.

A simple yet profound reminder was offered: “Be a mother to yourself.” Just as a mother lovingly wipes the soup from her child’s face, while the little one is still learning to eat, we too must meet ourselves with patience and tenderness on this journey of self-transformation.

That same day, Anna guided a foundation class for newcomers, emphasizing the importance of breath and posture—not only for meditation, but as fundamental pillars in daily life.

Saturday, our day of silence, was marked by subtle body practices including tension-relaxation and 61-points relaxation with John, and an introduction to contemplative walking with Maria, who invited participants to explore the practice in their own way with gentle awareness of body and breath.

Of especially beautiful significance was the presence of our dear friend Axel Bayer, who was kind enough to provide an evening session expanding upon Christian meditation from an ancient text of Saint John the Solitary.

Some words we contemplated together:

“Do not imagine, brother, that prayer consists solely of words, or that it can be learnt by means of words. No, the truth of the matter, you should understand, is that spiritual prayer does not reach fullness as a result of either learning or the repetition of words. For it is not a man that you are praying, before whom you can repeat a well-composed speech: it is to Him who is Spirit that you are directing the movements of your prayer. You should pray therefore in spirit, seeing that He is Spirit.”

“Thus there is a silence of the tongue, there is a silence of the whole body, there is the silence of the soul, there is the silence of the mind, and there is the silence of the spirit. The silence of the tongue is merely when it is not incited to evil speech; the silence of the entire body is when all its senses are unoccupied; the silence of the soul is when there are no ugly thoughts bursting forth within it; the silence of the mind is when it is not reflecting on any harmful knowledge or wisdom; the silence of the spirit is when the mind ceases even from stirrings caused by created spiritual beings and all its movements are stirred solely by Being, at the wondrous awe of the silence which surrounds Being.” – John The Solitary

Seventeen seekers joined us, traveling from Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. They came without knowing each other—some experienced practitioners, others first-timers—yet quickly formed a circle of harmonious companionship. As the days unfolded, we witnessed their attentiveness, openness, and quietude deepen. The calm and loving presence of Lea and Alan offered all participants a sense of warmth and support, while little Jim and Lea brought smiles to our faces with their playful cheerfulness, reminding us of the importance of not taking ourselves too seriously even while practicing silence.

Each, in their own way, played a fundamental role in the retreat and carried home a sense of serenity and stillness.

We are profoundly grateful to the Guru lineage of the Tradition, for giving us the opportunity to offer this retreat. Without their guidance and inspiration, none of this would have been possible.

On behalf of AHYMSIN Switzerland
Association of Himalayan Yoga Meditation
ahymsinch@gmail.com
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A New Book by Swami Veda Bharati – INNER HEALING

On the sacred day of Navami (October 1, 2025) during the recent Navaratri celebrations, our hearts turned in devotion to Maa Siddhidatri, the radiant ninth form of the Mother Divine. Her very name means the One who bestows Siddhis. She represents the pinnacle of spiritual journey: the blissful moment where the seeker dissolves into the sought, and all perfections are attained.

In this spirit of divine culmination, we joyfully announce the release of a new offering from the timeless teachings of Swami Veda Bharati: “Inner Healing”.

In this book, Swamiji guides us to conquest over both our internal and external conflicts, leading to lasting harmony. Various aspects of the body, mind, senses and spirit are seamlessly interwoven into a composite whole offering a unique perspective and a definite guidance for well-being. This is not just a book; it is a powerful tool to the most essential siddhi of all: spiritual liberation.

Yoga therapy is not a new concept; however, certain practices have been lost through the ages. Swamiji has taught extensively on the topic of ‘Yoga Therapy as Transcendental Science’ over the past many decades. This is the first book in a series of many to come. In this book, Swamiji talks about how by understanding the origin of disease and shifting our attitude towards illness are essential to the healing process. The emphasis is thereby on a spiritual approach to illness and liberation. Swamiji says, “All sickness, physical or mental is a lack of balance.”

We invite you to embrace this luminous tool for your soul’s journey, released on the most auspicious day of Maa Siddhidatri.

We are very grateful to the entire Himalayan Yoga Publications Trust (HYPT) team for bringing out this beautiful book. Our profound gratitude goes out to Rajini Prakash, the editor for this book, for her selfless effort and dedication in bringing Swami Ji’s teachings to life.

Find your copy of “Inner Healing” and begin your journey today. You may contact the Bharati Bookstore at hyptbooks@gmail.com

In devotional service of the Himalayan Tradition,

Rabindra Sahu, on behalf of HYPT

May all be blessed in the boundless grace of Maa Siddhidatri!

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Editor’s Note:

You may watch a live video of he book release on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/reel/1499974171040933

The recent AHYMSIN-Americas Sangha/Silence Gathering in Minnesota was an enriching time, guided with care by Swami Ritavan Bharati and Swami Radha Bharati. This inspiring event celebrated the lineage, legacies, and teachings of our beloved Himalayan yoga masters, Swami Rama and Swami Veda, and was enhanced by personal reflections from senior leaders, teachers and sadhakas in the Himalayan Yoga Meditation Tradition.

Over the course of four days, participants immersed themselves in a carefully curated program. Sessions included “Re-imagining Our Meditation Communities,” and two sessions where special guests shared their insights on the profound influences of Swami Rama and Swami Veda within their lives. An interactive session, “Building Bridges to New Students,” fostered collaboration and innovative ideas for advancing the Himalayan Tradition into the future.

The agenda was enriched with delicious, authentic vegetarian Indian cuisine, hatha yoga sessions, and spiritually uplifting addresses from Swami Ritavan. His talks, including “Solving Uncertainty through Meditation,” “The Path of Fire and Light as the Himalayan Way,” and “Illuminating the Guru Within,” provided profound insights and helped enrich our meditative practices. The gathering was further uplifted by a lively kirtan led by Shakti and Bhakti one evening, and a sacred fire puja ceremony on the night of the full moon.

Concluding this reflective Sangha Gathering, participants traveled to the serene setting of Dunrovin Retreat Center, in Marine on St. Croix for a five-day period of Silence. This dedicated time allowed attendees to delve into deeper levels of being, highlighted by a 24-hour Akhanda (non-stop) Japa—a transformative observation that revealed the profound depth of Silence and its connection to our tradition.

We experienced guided meditations, subtle body exercises, and ample time for self-reflection, japa, walking and rest. We enjoyed sessions led by our beloved Swamis and leaders where we opened our hearts to the messages shared on our journey of Self discovery.

Together, this gathering was a powerful reminder of the gifts of our masters, fostering community, connection, and a reawakening of spiritual practice within the Himalayan Yoga Meditation tradition.

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Testimonials from the 2025 Sangha Gathering:

“It was such a gift to be able to share space with the compassionate and wonderful members of the Himalayan Yoga and Meditation Tradition” ~ Melanie

“I feel so fortunate and blessed to connect in person with our AHYMSIN-Americas family. What an inspiring group of kalyana mitras (noble friends) on the path.” ~ Lori

Two participants from the  84-Days Intensive Sadhana Retreat held at the Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama from 10 July – 1 October 2025 shared their experiences. Both the participants are initiates within the Himalayan Tradition.

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Experience Sharing by Carter Michaud

84 days is more than just a number — it’s a powerful window of transformation. In that time, you could launch a passion project, build lasting habits of fitness and healthy eating, master a new skill or craft, complete a certification or course, or even save and invest a meaningful sum of money. However, these things are all the results of what you direct your actions toward, and if we do not have the inner strength to follow through with them, we won’t see them come to fruition—how many times have we tried to get ourselves to go to the gym, only to give up after a couple of weeks? With inner strength, we have the ability to accomplish whatever we intend to pursue. We might say, “I want to eat healthy” or “I want to learn a new language,” and instead of giving in when the mind says, “I’m bored of this. I’m going to stop,” we have the strength to choose to continue anyway. This cultivation of inner strength is just a fraction of what I have developed throughout the 84-day retreat.

Through Hatha Yoga, I’ve developed physical discipline—learning how to calm my mind while my body is in discomfort. If I can tell myself to keep pushing despite my mind telling me that this is uncomfortable, then I’ve successfully won the battle with my mind and followed through with the intention to hold the posture or continue with the exercise even when my mind is complaining.

Through Karma Yoga, I’ve learned to break through the idea of doing all of my actions for my own sake. Will I do something for someone else with 100% effort, knowing that I won’t get any benefit or recognition from it? Can I tell myself to do it anyway, even when my mind doesn’t see the reward? This is yet another reason why inner strength is important.

Through Bhakti Yoga, I learned surrender. As someone who has historically been uncomfortable with any mention of God, chanting the morning and evening prayers was difficult for me at the start of the retreat. Day by day, prayer by prayer, I slowly eased up to the idea. I reminded myself that immediately rejecting Bhakti Yoga simply because I didn’t understand what people were praying for would only have prevented me from learning what “that” is for myself. I exercised inner strength by not listening to my mind saying, “This is ridiculous, what’s the point?” Without any of the teachers imposing their beliefs on me or requiring me to change mine, I changed my beliefs—not because of what I’d heard from others, but because once I stopped resisting and trusted what I was learning, the direct experience of seeing the universe respond to the prayers was enough to show me what I hadn’t previously understood.

In the philosophy classes, we learn something new every day that gives us ample opportunities to reflect on our own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. I’ve been repeatedly referring to inner strength, but depending on the individual, what needs to be worked on may not be discipline—it may be breath, relaxation, surrender, or ego. We are often unaware of many of our own problems. By being exposed to different concepts, we expand our capacity to recognize what we don’t realize we’re doing wrong and to accept new ways of thinking for our own benefit. The classes were the perfect avenue to understand how what you’re learning fits into the bigger picture. Whatever you’re currently struggling with, there is always at least one thing in every lesson you can take away to help with it.

As far as meditation goes, I’ve learned that it is simply a byproduct of living the practices mentioned above. As I have become more selfless, more relaxed, and more disciplined by sticking with these practices, the mental restlessness and frequency of thoughts and emotions gradually decreased. This, in addition to improving my posture through the Hatha Yoga classes, allowed me to sit in meditation for longer, with fewer disturbances, and in a deeper state of mind.

I’ve personally found that what can change in 84 days is much more significant than what can happen in two weeks. Two weeks into the retreat, I was more relaxed, and my mood was much lighter, but it didn’t feel as if that would bring lasting change after I left. It was only after a couple of months passed by—when I was used to the routine and the novelty had worn off—that the real growth began. It is at this point that many people decide to give up their pursuits, but if we understand this and push through anyway, that is where the lasting change lies. This is what has worked for me. I’ve found that when I pushed through this phase of boredom and complacency, I started to develop more confidence and discipline than I’ve ever had in my life (and really feel as if the change is not temporary).

The connections I’ve made at SRSG have been among the most life-changing aspects of this retreat. Being surrounded by a community where everyone shares the same goal of self-transformation, where compassion and selflessness are practiced daily—that kind of love is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. From teachers to friends, it is the presence of these beautiful souls within the ashram that truly makes it feel like home. Living alongside the other sadhakas for three months—attending classes, conversing at meals, and exploring the city together—allowed my relationships to grow far deeper than I had expected. These connections have profoundly influenced my spiritual growth. I’ve been constantly inspired to do more good.

Whenever someone did something kind for me or encouraged me to help someone else, they opened my eyes to new ways of being selfless. They helped me expand my mind and think not only for myself but for others, showing me how and when to look for opportunities to give. The friends I’ve made at SRSG have made me a better person.

So while 84 days in the ashram might seem like a long time (and it is), it is enough time to build resilience, establish connections, change your perspective on reality, show you how to become selfless (and enjoy it), and allow yourself to let go, surrender, and relax. If you show up with sincerity and determination, the ashram—no, you—will bring change to every facet of your life.

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Experience Sharing by Radha Bhojraj

Writing about the 84-day retreat feels almost impossible. The experience can only truly be lived, as for each person it reveals itself differently—shaped by what is most needed at that moment in their lives. I hope to be able to put in words reflections of my time here.

I had come in with certain expectations and a picture in my mind of how I wanted the retreat to be. I thought I knew how I should conduct myself and imagined the journey would follow that script. But as the days unfolded, it became clear that the retreat had its own way of working on me, often in ways I could not have anticipated.

My introduction to this path has been gradual, with lessons scattered over the years. Yet, there was a certain naivety in how I had approached these teachings. Over these months, something shifted more deeply. The rigid ideas I had carried began to loosen, and an inner restructuring quietly unfolded.

One of the clearest realisations was the deep interconnection of body, breath, and mind. In the beginning, yoga and meditation were both limited to the physical alone. Here, they began to take on a new meaning. They were no longer about discipline and correctness, but slowly became tools to observe, to become aware, and to understand my state of being in a more holistic way.

The retreat slowly shifted my perspective. I had once asked myself: What more can I add? What else should I do or practice to become better? That list grew so long that it became impossible to keep up with it. Over time, the question itself changed—from “What should I do?” to “How should I be?” How could I make these teachings and tools my own? How could I live a life fulfilling my duties, yet with more inclusiveness, more centeredness, and a steadier way of showing up each day?

The transformation wasn’t so much about adding or achieving, but about softening. It was less about the external and more about the internal—shifting from the restless urge to catch up, to a more mindful way of moving through each moment. What I carry out of the retreat is not an ending, but a foundation—an opening into living with greater balance, awareness, and trust in the path ahead.

Three participants from the Silence Retreat in the Netherlands held at the Beukenhof (former) Monastery, The Netherlands from 19- 26 September 2025 shared their experiences. All the participants are initiates within the Himalayan Tradition.

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Experience Sharing by Dirk Gysels – It was an experiment….but it was needed.

In our hectic lives, 4 or 5 days of silence was too brief. Our bodies and minds need more.

So the bold decision was made to extent the silence to a full week.

And it was such a relief to allow oneself to go inside, to shut down the outward senses of cognition and action for an extended period. We all have our stories why it felt so good. Mine is not the most inspiring. I booked the week at a time not knowing that my karma would visit me at the end of June with a full-blown infarct. I am well again, but the scars are there, not in the least on an emotional and energetic level.

But the deep healing happened. It seemed that all the poses, the relaxations, the meditations, akhanda japa, Yoga Nidra… were the things my body-mind needed right now.

It felt that my body ‘knew’ that it had a full week to go into deeper healing. So a lot came up: sadness, fear, anger, loneliness, behavioral traits that do not serve my awakening into what I really am, insights… I tried to talk to my mind in a friendly way when things became too confronting….

By the end of the week, I felt a new light, a deeper strength shining through….The turning point was the akhanda japa and the long yoga nidra right before the start.
And magic happened. So grateful to all who made it happen!

I was also asked to share an anecdote i told in the closing circle in the end of the retreat:

I shared the following memory:

In the spring of 2003, Swami Veda came to Holland for a retreat of about 5 days. On a certain day he introduced silence. But after the silence of the first day and Swamiji’s evening-satsang, a few of us stayed on. Then the joking began. We had great fun. After about half an hour, footsteps could be heard on the staircase. In came Swami Veda in his pyjama’s, followed by Pandit Ananta (Swami Ritavan).

Swamiji was not angry but his words cut like a knife. ‘I cannot be angry at the new ones here, they do not know better. But you (Swamiji pointing at someone who later became a well-known Swami in the tradition), you should know better!….

This was the end of the fun.

I will be back…

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Experience Sharing by Jane Cox

Jane Cox read in the closing circle from her journal writings: Confession

I’ve never been able to retain song lyrics; even my eight-syllable mantra took nearly a year to settle into memory. However hard I try, I’m terrible at learning mantra. Maybe it’s my age, but what emerges is more word salad than sacred chant—a jumble of good intentions hopelessly out of order.

So, after an early morning session of Akhanda Japa, I neither felt inclined – nor, to be honest, wanted – to do another.

Instead, I took a contemplative walk, then a long one, then a brisk one, before retreating to the safety of my bedroom. And, as often happens when a holiday draws to a close, my mind drifted toward home: train times and the inevitable empty fridge.

I decided to check in our flights and–oops–like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole, I found myself on a magical mystery tour of social media.

The evening japa became an alarming combination of the scrambled mantra colliding with a thought explosion of algorithms: Gaza, ginger root recipes, Trump blaming pregnant women for autism–and, layered on top, an inner debate with Pierre about the moral and ethical dilemma of remaining silent, of accepting this seemingly unjust world as purnam.

It reminded me of the experiment of giving different drugs–marijuana, speed, coke–to spiders and seeing the effect of their web-making skills. It was messy.

So I apologise if, energetically, there was a noisy mosquito buzzing in the japa room last night.

And yet, it was a valuable experiment. I’m deeply grateful to the wise and wonderful tutors and the compassionate, gentle group who have created this special, playful space. I learnt that mantra is an anchor the minefield of my distracted thoughts.

And thank you, Ma Tripura. Your beautiful meditation this morning brought me back to stillness.

It’s only when you lose it that you realise how precious it truly is.

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Experience Sharing by Riemke de Groot

During our retreat last week, I was asked this question by Pierre Lefebvre, and given the microphone, to share my experience with the group. The question came unexpected, but the words that came out of the mouth for an answer surprised me even more. When I wanted to tell about many years of yoga retreats, I suddenly realized something different. And this was my answer:

I practiced silence from a very early age, every Sunday for a minute or so, in the church services I was attending with my parents and siblings. After chanting the first hymn, the reverend would say: “Let us become silent before the Lord, our God.” And we stood… still… eyes closed, hands folded. I somehow felt that the moment was sacred. It was also mysterious, exciting, weird. And sometimes hilarious when someone coughed, a hymnbook fell to the floor or someone came in late, and all turned to see what happened. But most of all I remember the sacredness of the spoken formula and the following silence, that seemed always too short to my taste. And in the moment I gave this answer, I realized that these early silence practice is the fundament of all silence retreats that followed.

In the retreat, during the meditations afterwards, I let this realization sink deep into my mind and started every meditation by inviting my mind: “Let’s become silent for the Lord, our God.” And a reservoir of silence, hidden deep inside, seemed to open up, The word ksetrikavat from the Yoga Sutras (4.3) came to my mind. The verse of the farmer who does nothing new or different, but just breakes the dyke so the water that is already there can flow free. In this way I felt a flood of silence flowing through me. My meditation got to a new depth.

Then I also remembered the words that were always spoken in church after the silence, holding just as much sacredness as the silence:
“Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124: 8)
Who remains faithful forever, (Psalm 146: 6)
And does not abandon the work of His hands.” (Psalm 138: 8)

Different Tradition, different words, different symbolism – but the Bhava, the sentiment is the same: Our lives are held by THAT, by Guru’s grace, full of fullness, always and everywhere, beyond place and time. Amen. AUM.

The Yoga Studies Program at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles has become one of the top programs in the United States for gaining a broad understanding of yoga, through its Yoga Philosophy Certificate program and its Master of Arts degree in Yoga Studies. For the past several years, teachers from the Himalayan Tradition have been invited to conduct workshops for LMU Yoga Studies students. Charles and Carol Crenshaw—longtime disciples and teachers of the Tradition— were the latest to share the teachings of the Himalayan Tradition on Saturday, September 27, 2025.  

According to Dr. Christopher Chapple, the founder and Director of the Yoga Studies program, “It was a superb event…About 25 students showed up for the daylong workshop. It covered everything: Samkhya, the Kosas, Astanga (Patanjali, not Patabhi), and more. The afternoon came to a close with wonderful group chanting of the Devi Mantra, with Charles as song leader, also playing the harmonium.” 

Dr. Chapple spent time with Swami Veda Bharati both in India and in the USA. He has visited Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama. 

Rabindra ji shared what he had learned about the spiritual significance and esoteric meanings on the occasion of the festival of Dusshera –

Lord Shri Rama is the Paramatma—the supreme soul, divine spirit—the true embodiment of the light, absolute purity, righteousness, and boundless love within. He is the eternal king of the city of Ayodhya (the city without conflicts)—a heart untouched by desires and fears.

Mother Sita is the jivatma, the individual soul, though radiant and virtuous, has now been abducted in the realm of worldly experiences (Lanka) by Ravana (the ten-headed demon king).

Ravana holds her captive, alienating her from her true source of bliss—Lord Rama. He is not just a ten-headed demon, but is a manifestation of our own ego and inner distortions. The five senses of cognition (jnana-indriyas) and the five senses of action (karma-indriyas), which when dominated by the ego, can become our greatest obstacle. His ten heads represent the ten vices that tempt and command our thoughts, emotions, and actions.

This Ravana resides not in the golden Lanka, but in the inaccessible fortress of our own minds, built by the insatiable desires and deep-rooted conditionings (vasanas and samskaras) of countless lifetimes.

The construction of the bridge (Rama-setu) by the devoted monkey army to Lanka is a concentrated, patient effort to cultivate sadhana with wisdom. Each stone laid in the bridge is a mark of immense courage and fearlessness to cross the ocean of illusion and to reach the fortress of our own ego.

The final battle is a fierce and concentrated effort to re-cognise our own Ravana within—to see the head of anger rise and to fell it with the arrow of selfless love, to see the head of greed appear and to cut it off with the sword of contentment.

Lord Shri Rama’s victory over Ravana is the dawn of self-realization. This is the moment when the ego is subdued, the senses are mastered, and the individual soul (Sita) is reunited with the absolute Supreme Being (Lord Rama). It is the return to Ayodhya—a state of inner peace and harmony.

This Dussehra, may we dare to light the pyre of the Ravana within us. May we offer its ten heads to the sacred fire of knowledge (jnana-agni). May the light emanating from this fire reveal the eternal Rama, the divine King, seated in a tranquil splendour within our hearts.

May our minds become a true Ayodhya—the abode of divine order, love, and unwavering light. May the victory of your inner light be ever-lasting and absolute, enabling us to LOVE, SERVE, REMEMBER.

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Editor’s Note:

The festival of Dusshera is celebrated annually, on the tenth day of the fall Navaratri and 20 days before the festival of light – Deepawali or Diwali. In 2025, it was celebrated on 2 October 2025.