Author: Mandala

Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama was recently transformed into a “Little Hungary.” Forty Hungarians called the ashram home for four weeks during February/March. Led by Anna Mezosi, the well-prepared group completed a very ambitious program, beginning with a ten day silence program. Twenty-eight people then attended the Meditation for Pain Management Conference while the others took excursions into the Himalayan mountains.

The last two weeks of their visit, the group participated in a special program of advanced training taught by senior teachers Maya, Swami Ritavan, Ma Radha, Peter, Ashutosh, Swami Nityamuktananda, Jagadananda and Vishnu. Each day began with an hour and a half breathing intensive. Deepening their meditation, asana practice and study of philosophy were also daily focuses. Vishnu led the group in fire offerings.Thirteen members of the group received personal mantra initiations and eight received Gayatri initiations.

The strength of the Hungarian group reflects the amazing growth of participation in the Himalayan Yoga Tradition programs in Hungary. At present, twenty-two students are in Level 3 of the Teacher Training Program (TTP) and another twenty-four are now in Level 2. Another group of students will begin Training once the Level 3 students complete their program. The number of students taking Teacher Training is a testament to the encouraging influence of Maya (Margo) Balog.

There are now sixteen books of Swami Rama and Swami Veda translated into Hungarian, with two more ready for printing. In addition, all the Level 1 and 2 TTP materials have been translated and are available on their web site. Emola Hollo is primarily responsible for the translation of Swami Veda’s lectures while Maya translates his meditations.

Swami Veda has been making yearly trips to Hungary since 2003. In that first year, 200 people attended his lectures. Last year, 2008, 350 people attended Swamiji’s lectures and forty were initiated. Swami Veda will again visit Hungary at the end of June 2009. He will lecture June 26-28 and follow with two days of initiations. The TTP will then be held.

We are looking forward to next year when the Hungarians will once again grace the ashram with their presence, once again making it their own home away from home.

Namaste Dear Readers,

We cannot say enough about the amazing group of people that participated in the Teacher Training Program this March. They came from countries spanning the globe’s circumference. It has been a joy to get to know them all. Some of them also attended the Meditation for Pain Management Conference which immediately preceded the TTP.

Our international group included the following participants. From “down under” (Australia) came Nina Pulaska (L2), a Polish student living in Australia. From the tropical island of Mauritius (in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar), came long-time initiate Geeta Curimjee. From the snowy northern hemisphere came Paavo Kavinen of Finland, our own French Canadian (now resident of SRSG) Pierre Lefebvre, and from Minnesota (USA) Drew Madson, an initiate of the Himalayan Tradition since birth (we are witnessing a growing “next “generation of youth at the ashram).  Pamela Khudan (L3), back for a second time in just three months, is from another beautiful sun-filled Island, Trinidad. We welcomed a group from Japan led by Iida Fukumi from Japan. Their names are: Takahashi Nanami, Kakizaki Akiko, Kakizaki Tomomi, Iwasaki Akiko, and Suzuki Tomoko. To complete our circumnavigation of the globe, Kalpana Garyali joined us from India’s capital city of Delhi.

I will close with comments from two of our teachers in training.

“As a practitioner I can only be grateful to having come in contact with teachers that share from their own experience. The group was small enough to allow personal guidance, and varied nationalities and background gave a spice to learning. The multitude of people in the ashram enriched the stay as well. Finally, the energies in the ashram supported self understanding by bringing into awareness the need for continuous self observance in working with my emotions. This was also a valuable experience for me.”

“For me this course proved to be very educational and enlightening. I enjoyed my stay here thoroughly. It has opened the doors to new dimensions of life for me.”

Submitted by Maryon Maass

To remember Raj Verma, such a beloved friend and fellow sadhaka, means at this time to acknowledge her passing on 19th February 2009. She left her body in an auspicious manner and location – upon finishing two of her three planned months of silence at Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama. Geeta Anand, Raj’s youngest sister and a resident of SRSG, was at her side during this last period.

Raj Verma, born in India, married a Punjabi man and lived in Singapore for over 50 years. Together they raised three children and had the pleasure of five grandchildren.  She came to Sadhana Mandir in 2000 and helped organize our 2002 dedication of Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama. Raj personally oversaw the outfitting of all the cottages at SRSG and remained very active in this community.  Swamiji requested her help with many tasks. She traveled not only to the ashram to serve and do her sadhana, but met him many times throughout his world travels.

Raj was noted for many things. She was a “master of silence” and undertook several periods of extended silence at SRSG. She was also highly successful in business and in her family and personal relationships. The way she conducted her life was an inspirational example of spiritual commitment.  When not in silence at SRSG, she counseled, taught English and served wonderful gourmet meals in cottage 9.  Her way was plain spoken but with warmth and humor.

There is much more to be said but our hearts in those depths of silence speak only of the love that connects us all.  She individually touched so many lives. Such was the sentiment expressed by so many of her friends and family.

With a smile of my mind and a loving feeling in my heart, I acknowledge the passing of a great and dear friend.

Submitted by Peter

Since February 2007 our Community has undertaken a special practice of the Ity-uktaa mantra. The goal set by Swami Veda is: 500 people doing one mala (108 repetitions) per day for 3 years, to complete 50 million recitations in 3 years.

Three years of this mantra practice will be completed in February 2010. The sacred fire-offerings will take place 1– 12 February.

Swamiji encourages you to join us. “Those who have not practiced are also welcome; they will benefit immensely.”

At that time, the initiation for the next set of practices will be given. Be here in person to receive them!

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The following notes are from a lecture given by Swami Veda 26th February 2007 at Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama

Gurudeva Swami Rama started pretending to be absent ten years ago. For the past nine years we have undertaken special mantra practices for the entire initiate community.

First, for three years from 1997, we did the Saumya Mantra to give the mind a moonlike peace that was much needed at that time, and it is still needed.

Today we are completing what you all have been doing for the last three years, the Mrtunjaya mantra – Tryambhakam yajaamahe. That yajna, the sacred offering, has been your most beautiful gift to me. Now that you have granted me a longer life by Guru’s grace, the next step is stabilizing.

If the individual minds are not stabilized, the individual lives do not become stabilized. If there are instabilities in life, they are so, not because your circumstances are unstable, but because your minds are unstable. With a stable mind, you can stabilize all external circumstances.

So the chain is as follows:

• When you stabilize your personal mind,
• Your personal lives become stabilized.
• People thus stabilized become part of a larger mindfield,
• A mindfield thus stabilized is called a Spiritual Community or a sangha.

A community is a single mindfield in which the stabilized personal minds, the stabilized lives of individuals, are as soft, gentle ripples in the calm lake.

Our next task, our next undertaking, is stabilizing the mindfield of the Community, our sangha. The Community and its mission and its work will be stabilized.

So, for the next three years, today, we are embarking on a new mantra, the     Ity-uktaa mantra, for that purpose.

When you begin the practice, surrender the fruits of this particular practice that,

• May through this mantra, my mind be so stabilized,
• That my emotions and consequently the relationships be stabilized,
• Thereby the entire mindfield of my spiritual community becomes stabilized.

So surrender the fruits of the mantra to stabilize our spiritual community’s mindfield.

A mantra does not go by its literal meaning. It has a hidden power. It is the whole composition. It is the sound, and a deeper realization that comes from that mantra. Do read booklet titled “Special Mantras” and again the writings of Swami Rama and myself on the meaning of the mantra.

Although mantras do not go by literal translation, I will give you a literal translation anyway, word by word and then, we have to put it together.

To download and hear the correct pronounciation of this Mantra, click this audio link of Swami Veda.

For approximately one week the Gurukulum students took a small break from their own classroom studies to partake in some hands on teaching opportunities with young people. They travelled to fifty schools within about a one hour radius of the ashram. Their mission was to share a bit of the tradition with the youth and children in the community as part of India’s National Yoga Awareness Week.
On average, the Gurukulum students taught 2-4 hour sessions of yoga in both primary and secondary schools.  Lessons included basic asana and pranayama techniques . The children ranged in age from about 5 to 16 years old and class sizes were anywhere from 30 to 200 + students each. Over all it was a great experience for everyone who participated.

Holi is one of the most exuberant and joyous festivals in India. A rite of spring, Holi is celebrated with much enthusiasm during February/March (in the month of Phalguna according to the Hindu calendar). Celebrations vary depending on region and local traditions but the common part is the exchange of color. People use tools and tricks to spray, paint and drown friends and relatives in color. Here at SRSG, the peaceful, serious ashramites transformed into mischievous pranksters, gleefully smearing gifts of color on one and all. Enjoy the play!

Hari Om!!!

Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama is our spiritual home. I had traveled around India before I came here for TTP. When I arrived at Rishikesh, I felt in mother’s lap and all my pains that I got from traveling suddenly disappeared. I have met wonderful teachers and enjoyed every class. Every teaching inspired me with LOVE. It will lead me to be a teacher who shares our Tradition with others lovingly. I have got a lot of energy which I can give with. There is one thing that I feel sorry for. Our mother, Helen Chou (senior teacher), has not been with us during this retreat because she is in 40 days silence. Still we feel that she is always with us. I am going back to Korea with the fullness that our Guru lineage gives me.

Submitted by Mi Suk, Yoon

My first trip to Swami Rama’s Rishikesh Ashram took place early last year, a check out day trip. I had accompanied my Yoga teacher, to visit his Guru. One visit and I could not get the Ashram out of my mind for days. Within a few months of practicing meditation, I decided there was something in it that went “beyond.” There was a qualitative change; it was slowly opening my mind to a whole new world of spirituality. I made a “sankalpa” (resolve) to go in for Mantra initiation.

Hence my six day trip to Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, a meditator’s paradise. There is such an overall feeling of calm and clean, beauty and bliss, a method and educative atmosphere. One is transported to a different world, unaffected, away from chaos. The architecture is in line with the philosophy: ultimate, earthy and purely Indian. The layout gives a feeling of a commune with little cottages and walkways in between. What stands out are the natural looking lawns adorned with a variety of colourful flowers amidst healthy shrub. It all blends into such a harmonious picture giving the feeling that God Lives Here.

Day breaks at 5:30 am, and it’s time for a rejuvenating session of intense hatha yoga. This is followed by a light breakfast and the its meditation time. Everyone on campus gathers at the spacious hall for a one hour session, all in pin drop silence. A novice like me could sit through making her efforts in and out of meditation. The rest of the day is tailor made to fit your requirements: lectures, video recordings, “contemplative walk,” or other activities. The only commercial feature is a bookshop with a good selection of spiritual literature. A lot goes to discipline you, and you don’t want to miss the boat.

The staff, students and volunteers are all equally warm and positively helpful. There is a certain spirit of commitment. They ensure you are put to comfort, and as in my case, I had a lot of curious questions. I came back convinced and much wiser. Compared to metros, like is slower, but then as a resident told me, they want you to get away from the rush of life.

And then came my Mantra initiation day. Again, it is a simple practice devoid of rituals. Interestingly, I was asked to go through two days of silence and direct myself to Mantra and introspection. It’s not as easy as it sounds, but by the end of it you want to do it again! All in all, the mantra has brought in a fresh breath: it has made me positive (despite the recession), and of course, stepped up my practice. It’s challenging and testing. But somehow it affects you. The key word to all this is practice.

The trip ended will with a last minute meeting with Swami Veda, force behind the organization. It was remarkable how he lit up when relating an anecdote about his Guru, Swami Rama. It speaks of the in-depth Guru-student relationship, an inherent Indian tradition. My too short a trip came to an end, and I had at least set on a sacred voyage.

Submitted by Rashmi Kaura

Pain is a Teacher, sometimes a very tough teacher, but effective. Pain is an Ever-present Guide, whether physical, mental, or emotional, big or small—it offers many lessons if we are willing to learn from it. Since I had enjoyed good health prior to 2001, I was looking for a theme to what seemed to be random failures of the body. The theme emerged as, Pain as Teacher.

Pain teaches me, repeatedly, that it is made up of individual sensations. If the sensations are clumped together, they become unbearable, overwhelming, well, painful. If they are experienced as individual sensations, they break up into more manageable waves. For me, there are two main steps in working with pain. First, is to Be as fully present to each sensation as possible, to accept it, to pour focus into it. To acknowledge what is, not to deny pain in any way. This is Be-ing. The next task is to ride those waves of sensation into Stillness. Of course, no one wants to be in pain, this is where our preferences of how we think things ought to be, are released. Step two is the act of Surrendering. Surrender and Be. In some of the most pain-filled moments, Pain Teacher shows up and teaches me to pray from a pool of stillness—to experience Self as not this, not this. (not the pain, not the body, not the mind.)

The past eight years, have been undeniably challenging, unimaginably physically painful, disruptive, frustrating and isolating at times. The gifts within those same subjective experiences are rich beyond description and as I write this I find a smile spreading across my face. I would not be smiling, nor experiencing the richness, were it not for the teachings and teachers of the Himalayan Tradition and Grace that flows.

May there be some value in reading how a even beginning meditator can reduce the experience of pain through the practical application of meditative technique and increase satisfaction on the spiritual journey, simultaneously.

May you always surrender and never give up,

Veena

Veena met Swami Veda in 1985. She lived at his Ashram in Minneapolis on two occasions. It is there she married her husband, Jon, 20 years ago. She has served on the Board of Directors of The Meditation Center for the last eight years, the last few as President. She currently resides in Minnesota with Jon and their son, Kai.

Regarding the evolution of this article of her reflections about living with pain, Veena writes the following explanation.

I was asked, more than once, and by more than one person, to write about my experiences with pain for the Meditation and Pain Management Conference. I was surprised each time and wondered, “Why are they asking me, what do I know about this topic?” I had not viewed the past eight years of one of pain, though objectively speaking there have been three major medical events, multiple surgeries, and a couple close scrapes with death. Our son was born seven years ago, so the adventures of the body all took place while simultaneously raising a child-the duties of which add to the challenge, the joys of which sustained me.

I came to objectively recognize these years as pain-filled. However, subjectively, they are something quite different to me. Reflecting on these experiences, there was simply too much to write. So, I meditated, entered stillness and listened for the essence of those experiences. The haiku Pain-Teacher manifested and this is what I submitted to the conference organizers as my “article on pain.”