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Let People Know Us by How We Love
Published: 14 September 2024 | Written by Ilaria Sarri
A new big circle, a new big party: thus ended the fourth year of the Italian TTP, in the presence of Pt Ashutosh Sharma.
“Cultivating our selfless love and compassion for other beings is the most important thing we can do. Even Jesus said it to his disciples: Let people know us by how we love”. “Let people know us by how we love them in teaching”, “This is just the beginning of our sadhana! Bringing the heart of this lineage to all people, bringing it out, is the most beautiful thing we can do!”. (Dr Stephen Parker – Stoma ji, connected from Minneapolis, opening the final sharing of the Italian TTP).
“We are blessed with the love and light of our guru-guided path through those words: Love, Serve, Remember. We remain steadfast to continue on the path of light serving selflessly as our expression of gratitude”. (Part of Swami Ritavan Bharati’s message to all attending the final session of Training on the Path of Giving, Sharing, and Loving).
With these inspiring thoughts and words we opened one of the most powerful moments of the final Italian TTP Retreat.
Love, fragility, family, acceptance, harmony, openness, mission, caring, sharing, transformation, freedom, motivation, emotional independence, healing were just few of the many wonderful words that accompanied and warmed the intimate and sacred space of the sangha, united in listening and embracing the other.
It was not a conclusion, but a true celebration: the beginning of a new journey! A spiritual family that over the past four years has matured together, honouring its path of growth and supporting each other with love and mutual respect, even in difficulties. Kalyana mitras truly together and close in joy and sorrow, aware that darkness doesn’t exist: it is only an absence of light.
Strong and intense connections, that will remain forever, beyond time and space; strong and intense connections with no more roles, but only Love, that divine force that allows the light, within each of us, to shine.
It was a time for listening and rediscovery, a time for understanding and compassion, a time for trust and surrender.
“When you surrender, you are there … and something bigger happens.” Ashutosh reminded us.
He reminded us of the importance of remaining humble, of remaining students because once we become teachers we stop learning. “If we want to learn, we have to remain students”.
As he reminded us of the beauty of being ourselves and he did it, as always, through a story Swami Veda often told “In Iran, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, they make the most beautiful carpets in the world. The art of making carpets is part of their history and there is not a mistake in the weaving. So what do they do? Always voluntarily and consciously, they leave a knot, which interrupts the perfection of the carpet. Only God is perfect. Human beings are not perfect and, therefore, they voluntarily and consciously destroy the perfection of the carpet with a small knot in the weave”.
“The real certificate will be given to you by your students when they feel loved in your presence” (Swami Veda Bharati).
With Love and Gratitude to the Lineage,
Om shantih
Editor’s Note:
For more information, please email the Himalayan Yoga Institute in Florence, Italy at info@himalayanyogainstitute.it