DIGITAL & PRINT-ON-DEMAND ISSUE 21 SPRING 2016

NĀMARŪPACategories of Indian Thought THE NĀMARŪPA YATRA 2015 ASHTANGA SADHANA RETREAT TRIBUTE ISSUE

PARAMAGURU R. SHARATH JOIS NĀMARŪPA ISSUE 21 SPRING 2016 Categories of Indian Thought THE NĀMARŪPA YATRA 2015 ASHTANGA YOGA SADHANA RETREAT TRIBUTE ISSUE Publishers & Founding Editors Robert Moses & Eddie Stern NĀMARŪPA YATRA 2015 4 THE POSTER & ROUTE MAP Advisors Dr. Robert E. Svoboda GROUP PHOTOGRAPH 6 NĀMARŪPA YATRA 2015 Meenakshi Moses PALLAVI SHARMA DUFFY 8 WELCOME SPEECH Jocelyne Stern During the Folk Festival at Editors Vishnudevananda Tapovan Kuti Eddie Stern & Meenakshi Moses Design & Production Robert Moses PARAMAGURU 10 CONFERENCES AT TAPOVAN KUTI Proofreading & Transcription R. SHARATH JOIS Transcriptions of talks after class Meenakshi Moses Melanie Parker ROBERT MOSES 28 PHOTO ESSAY Megan Weaver Ashtanga Yoga Sadhana Retreat October 2015 Meneka Siddhu Seetharaman Website www.namarupa.org by BRAHMA VIDYA PEETH Roberto Maiocchi & Robert Moses ACHARYAS 48 TALKS ON INDIAN CULTURE All photographs in Issue 21 SWAMI SHARVANANDA Robert Moses except where noted. SWAMI HARIBRAMENDRANANDA Cover: R. Sharath Jois at Vishwanath Mandir, Uttarkashi, Himalayas. SWAMI MITRANANDA 58 NAVARATRI Back cover: Welcome sign at Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, Uttarkashi. SUAN LIN 62 FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHS October 13, 2015. Analog photography during Yatra 2015 MOSES DAŚĀVATĀRA ILLUSTRATIONS NĀMARŪPA Categories of Indian Thought, established in 2003, honors the many systems of knowledge, prac- tical and theoretical, that have origi- nated in India. Passed down through अ आ इ ई उ ऊ the ages, these systems have left tracks, a ā i ī u ū paths already traveled that can guide ए ऐ ओ औ us back to the Self—the source of all e ai o au names NĀMA and forms RŪPA. The ऋ ॠ ऌ ॡ अं अः publishers have created this journal ŗ ř ļ ĺ ał aģ out of a love for the knowledge that it reflects, and desire that its content be क ख ग घ ङ clear and inspirational, without any ka kha ga gha ńa particular agenda or sectarian bias. NĀMARŪPA is published in both NĀMARŪPA uses च छ ज झ ञ print-on-demand and digital versions. diacritical marks, ca cha ja jha ña NĀMARŪPA YATRA guides annual as per the chart, for ट ठ ड ढ ण pilgrimages to sacred places in India. the transliteration of ţa ţha ďa ďha ņa NĀMARŪPA BANDHĀVA helps raise all Sałskŗta words. त थ द ध न funds for the education of children in Many of the articles ta tha da dha na the Uttarkashi and Gangotri regions of do contain these the Himalayas. Learn more and donate. marks, but it is not a प फ ब भ म NĀMARŪPA is funded by sales & universal occurrence pa pha ba bha ma donations. Contributors have offered in the magazine. In य र ल व their work freely. Editorial and all those cases where ya ra la va production assistance is voluntary. authors have elected NĀMARŪPA LLC not to use diacritics, श ष स ह P.O.Box 271, Dublin, NH 03444 USA Sałskŗta words śa ša sa ha R. Sharath Jois [email protected] remain in their � � � Conference at Tapovan Kuti, www.namarupa.org romanized form. kša tra ña Uttarkashi,Uttarakhand, India. October 14, 2015 2 Issue 21 Spring 2016 3 NĀMARŪPA YĀTRĀ 2015

NĀMARŪPA MOUNTAINS YATRA YĀTRĀ 2015 An epic pilgrimage in two parts PLAINS YATRA Vrindavan from Varanasi to the Himalayas Taj Mahal various options during October 2015 & an opportunity to combine the yatra with a special ASHTANGA YOGA SADHANA RETREAT with SHRI R. SHARATH JOIS in Uttarkashi, Himalayas, India October 12 -17, 2015 presented by ASHTANGA & YOGA NEW YORK

The poster for the Nāmarūpa Yātrā 2015. During the summer 2014 Nāmarūpa Yātrā Divine, we stayed at Tapovan Kuti in Uttar- Page from the brochure for the Nāmarūpa Yātrā 2015. Although the highlight of the Yātrā was the Ashtanga Yoga Sadhana Retreat kashi, Himalayas and practiced morning asanas in their satsang hall. The energy of Swami Tapovanam, who had resided there for in Uttarkashi, there were actually nine different options for people to attend. The full program would last the whole month of October many years, inspired me to suggest to Eddie Stern that we have a retreat there. Eddie said that he had talked to Sharath often about and was divided into the Plains Yātrā, the Ashtanga Yoga Sadhana Retreat, and the Mountains Yātrā. The full itinerary included going to the Himalayas. Eddie asked Sharath if he would teach a week there and Sharath said yes. This set our Yātrā 2015 in mo- New Delhi, Varanasi, Vrindavana, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Uttarkashi, Guptakshi, Kedarnath, Tunganath, Triyuganarayan, Kali- tion. Over 150 people attended. Photo: Bhagirathi River at Chirbasa, en route from Gangotri to Gomukh, 2014. ©Robert Moses. math, Badrinath, Kartikswami, Rudraparayag, and Devprayag. Photo: Ganga Arati in Varanasi at Assighat, 2014. ©Robert Moses

4 Issue 21 Spring 2016 5

The poster for the Nāmarūpa Yātrā 2015. During the summer 2014 Nāmarūpa Yātrā Divine, we stayed at Tapovan Kuti in Uttarkashi, Himalayas, and practiced morning asanas in their satsang hall. The energy of Swami Tapovanam, who had resided there for many years, inspired me to suggest to Eddie Stern that we have a retreat there. Eddie said that he had talked to Sharath often about going to the Himalayas. Eddie asked Sharath if he would teach a week there, and Sharath replied yes. This set our 2015 Yātrā in motion. Over 150 people attended. Photo: Bhagirathi River at Chirbasa, en route from Gangotri to Gomukh, 2014. ©Robert Moses. Om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana yoga cittivritti nirodhah”, but how to asanas with breathing techniques, how shalakhaya chakshurunmilitam yena experience? It comes only through the we do vinyasa karma; tasmai sri gurave namah || teaching of a Guru, only a master can This is very important. When we do show you how to do that; only a master. vinyasa krama, our whole body gets his is first time for me in So he was looking for a master who purified, all our organs inside get TUttarakhand, it’s the first time I could teach him all the techniques, so he purified, and become stronger, and have ever come here. I know for many could get more clarity about yoga. So he your body will become stable, and your of you it is the first time, too. This went in search of a Guru, and someone mind also will become more focused. region of India is a very special place; it’s told him that you should go meet Rama For focusing the mind we use dristi. a holy place for , and we come Mohana Brahmachari, only he can You have to gaze in certain place while here to do lots’ of rituals. Many saints, teach you. So he went to find him, and in the asana, and that improves your many sadhus and many yogis have come Rama Mohana Brahmachari wouldn’t concentration or focus. So only the, here and done lots of tapas here, so it’s speak to him. He wanted to make sure once we master asanas, then we can go a very special place, especially for yoga that Krishnamacharya was a serious the other limbs – so this is the Ashantga practitioners. student – now in the Mysore shala, yoga method which Krishnamacharya As all of you know, what we are you make application, and you’ll be taught, and later on he passed it on to practicing is Ashtanga Yoga, which accepted; then there was no application. Guruji. Guruji is the one who carried it, came from this part of India. If the Guru accepts you, only then can who carried on his Guru’s teaching. So Krishnamacharya had travelled in this you learn from him. Rama Mohana this is the paramapara. region, and this is where he found a yogi Brahmachari said to Krishnamacharya, Without yama niyama this is not called as Rama Mohana Brahmachari. “No, you go, it’s not possible for you full, so then we have to think So Rama Mohana Brahmachari had to learn”, but Krishnamacharya was about yama niyama; ahimsa, satya, lived here somewhere in this region, very stubborn, and he said he sat there asteya, brahmacharya, aparigraha, but nobody knows where. We have only for two days, and then Rama Mohana shaucha, santosha, tapas, svadhyaya, heard it through Krishnamacharya, and Brahmachari came and started talking ishvarapranidhana. We will talk about I heard it from my Grandfather, Sri K to him. Krishnamcharya spoke to this on other days – so this is just a small Pattabhi Jois. So, this practice that we him in , and Rama Mohana talk on how this practice came – many are doing is an age-old practice; it has Brahmachari was impressed. He said of you know already how it came. So, come from paramapara, from the guru- to him, how long can you stay here? thank you all for coming. I would like shishya parampara – from Guru to his And Krishnamacharya said, “You have to thank Robert and Eddie – Eddie told shishyas, Guru to his students. When to tell me, however long you say, I me last year, in September, we should do a student become a master, they he will stay. I can stay here forever.” He something like this – there is Namarupa becomes Guru, and passes it on to his stayed for eight years learning with yatra, so in that yatra we can do four or students. Like this, the yoga knowledge him. So this method came because of five days of yoga class. I have never been has been passed on for generations. As Krishnamacharya, otherwise it would here so it was a good opportunity for me we know it in this form, of Ashtanga not have been with us, and we wouldn’t to come here and to do teach small class. Yoga, it has come from maybe 300 years have relished this practice. So we’ll see you again for four more – I don’t know how many generations So, why Ashtanga Yoga? As you all days. Keep practicing laughter. Keep this knowledge has been passed on in know it is eight steps: yama, niyama, practicing. See you tomorrow. total. asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, When Krishnamacharya came to this dhyana and . These are the eight region, he was already a very great limbs, or, steps. But in shastra it says Sanskrit scholar. He had studied many you have to do asana first (before yama Vedas, and had eight degrees. To get and niyama) - hathasya pratamangatvad one degree it takes twelve years – he had asana purvam uchyate kuryat tadasanam eight degrees. That doesn’t mean that sthairyam arogyam changalaghavam. you have to spend twelve years on each First we have to make the body stable, degree; once you do one it is easier to do and make the mind stable, then only is others. So he had eight degrees, so then it possible to go to the higher levels of he wanted to get practical experience, yoga, or other limbs. When your body he had all the book knowledge, theory itself is not stable, when your mind he knew, but he wanted a practical itself is not stable, how can you think of experience, because without practical about pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, experience you cannot know what yoga dhyana or Samadhi? It’s not possible. So is. Yoga is experiencing within you. to bring stability to your body and mind Group Photo. Tapovan Kuti, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, Himalayas. October 16, 2015 Anyone can read books and say, “Oh, first they say you have to do asanas;

6 Issue 21 Spring 2016 7 WELCOME SPEECH PALLAVI SHARMA DUFFY NĀMARŪPA YATRA 2015 IN UTTARKASHI, HIMALAYAS

ood evening, yogis. roads disappeared, and food and G supplies became extremely scarce. Most Thanks to technology, I have my of us lived through it and looked for a speech here on my mobile and not on brighter future. But, there was the long- a sheaf of papers for you to guess the term impact that few, if any, expected. length of the speech I am going to make, This was the dwindling of the so you will have to take my word that I pilgrims, or yatris as we call them, to the am going to be short and sweet. Just a chardhams. The entire economy of this short thanks and a background of why part of the Himalayas has for the past Namarupa Yatra 2015 and the presence few years been dependent on the influx of all of you wonderful people is so of yatris who come to visit the temples significant to us. I hope this is reassuring of Gangotri and Yamnotri in Uttarkashi Uttarkashi is beautiful, and Uttarkashi to most of you who hate formal speeches district. With the yatris scared of coming should be included in itineraries of as much as I do. Also, if you find me to Uttarkashi because of the stories and prospective yogis and travellers. looking at my mobile, I am just reading news coverage of the second flood, the It is not known how many of you this speech as I have not memorized it. livelihood of thousands of people in this would have come here on your own I promise I am not checking WhatsApp region was affected. if it were not for Namarupa Yatra or Facebook messages. The sleepy town that had grown in 2015 and the indomitable spirit of its As a representative of the residents of the last couple of decades into a busy organizers—Sri Robert Moses, Eddie Uttarkashi, I am a bit late in welcoming little hub for the yatris suddenly wore Narayan Stern, and Sri Sharath Jois, you, since you have already been here a deserted, sad look. The once bustling the wonderful guiding lights that led for a few days. Let me instead express bazaar had hardly any people in it. The you here to this beautiful area and the the greater sentiment of the people of impact was not just financial, it was also Yog Bhumi of Uttarkashi. I would like this little town by saying that it is a great emotional and psychological, which was to thank each one of you and our very pleasure to see you all here and I am sure reflected in the spirit of the people of own Swami Janardana for providing this the sentiment has been expressed in a Uttarkashi. platform to the residents of Uttarkashi multitude of ways everywhere you go Two years have passed since the deluge to express their heartfelt gratitude to and interact with people of Uttarkashi, washed our homes, businesses, and all of you who bring with you a sense from the smiles on the faces of the spirits away. For two years people have of hope and promise of better times to people you meet, to the ringing tills of been struggling to devise ways to keep come. the businesses that are blessed by your afloat, to pay off loans they took to build I have no clue as to what it took to presence. If you are wondering why we properties and businesses that are no persuade 150 of you from 36 different are so pleased to see you, this is why. longer there, two years of hopelessness countries to come together on this As some of you may already know, and despair that saw several amongst us Yatra. Later perhaps, I will have to ask Uttarkashi was dealt a double whammy committing suicide, unable to bear the the organizers for the secret of their by nature when we had two floods pressure of living a life that was devoid power of persuasion and organization, within ten months. The first flood of hope. Love and sympathy that had and implement it here in perpetuity to went unnoticed by most of the world, poured in from across the world in the get more people to visit Uttarkashi than as it was a local disaster affecting just wake of the flood had dwindled and ever before. Here, I would like to thank the district of Uttarkashi, but it had a the harsh realities of life were hard for all three of them for bringing all of you greater impact on us as it contributed a lot people to accept. The broken spirit and spreading the word around that to the destruction caused by the second found it hard to clutch on to slim hope Uttarkashi is still beautiful and worthy flood. The second flood got widespread and gave up. We lost many. of a visit. coverage and attention as it affected a Now, you have come to us as a ray of Thank you. much larger area and killed thousands hope. Yours is the largest group of people of people, and many are still missing. that has been to Uttarkashi since the The immediate impact of the floods floods. Your presence itself is a reason for Pallavi Sharma Duffy is a writer. She was that people lost their loved ones, many to rejoice, as it will send out the lives in the Himalayas observing nature land, property, and possessions. The word to others that Uttarkashi is safe, and life as it unfolds. Young girls of Uttarkashi wave a welcome.

8 Issue 21 Spring 2016 9 PARAMAGURU R. SHARATH JOIS CONFERENCES AT TAPOVAN KUTI, UTTARKASHI, HIMALAYAS, NORTH INDIA

FIRST DAY he had all the book knowledge—theory arogyam changalaghavam (Hatha Yoga he knew—but he wanted a practical Pradipika, 1.16). First we have to Om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana experience, because without practical make the body stable and make the shalakhaya chakshurunmilitam yena experience, you cannot know what mind stable, then only is it possible tasmai sri gurave namah yoga is. Yoga is experiencing within to go to the higher levels of yoga, the you. Anyone can read books and say, other limbs. When your body itself is his is first time for me in “Oh, cittavritti nirodhah”, but not stable, when your mind itself is TUttarakhand; it’s the first time I how do you experience that? It comes not stable, how can you think about have ever come here. I know, for many only through the teaching of a Guru; pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, of you it is the first time, too. This only a master can show you how to do dhyana or samadhi? It’s not possible. To region of India is a very special place; it’s that, only a master. So he was looking bring stability to your body and mind, a holy place for Hindus, and we come for a master who could teach him all the first they say you have to do asanas, here to do lots of rituals. Many saints, techniques so that he could get more asanas with breathing techniques, how many sadhus, and many yogis have clarity about yoga. He went in search we do vinyasa krama. come here and done lots of tapas here, of a Guru, and someone told him This is very important. When we so it’s a very special place, especially for that he should go meet Rama Mohana do vinyasa krama, our whole body yoga practitioners. Brahmachari, “Only he can teach you”. gets purified, all our organs inside get As all of you know, what we So he went to find him, and Rama purified and become stronger; your body are practicing is Ashtanga Yoga, Mohana Brahmachari wouldn’t speak will become stable and your mind also which came from this part of India. to him. He wanted to make sure that will become more focused. For focusing Krishnamacharya travelled in this Krishnamacharya was a serious student. the mind, we use dristi. You have to gaze region and this is where he found a yogi Now, in the Mysore shala, you make an in a certain place while doing asanas, called Rama Mohana Brahmachari. application and you’ll be accepted; then and that improves your concentration Rama Mohana Brahmachari lived there was no application. If the Guru or focus. Only once we master asanas, somewhere in this region, but nobody accepts you, only then can you learn can we then go to the other limbs. This knows where. We have only heard it from him. Rama Mohana Brahmachari is the Ashtanga yoga method which through Krishnamacharya, and I heard said to Krishnamacharya, “No, you go, Krishnamacharya taught; later on he it from my grandfather, Sri K. Pattabhi it’s not possible for you to learn”, but passed it on to Guruji. Guruji is the one Jois. This practice that we are doing is Krishnamacharya was very stubborn; he who carried on his Guru’s teaching. This an age-old practice; it has come from said he sat there for two days, and then is the parampara. parampara, from the guru-shishya Rama Mohana Brahmachari came and Without yama niyama, this is parampara—from Guru to his shishyas, started talking to him. Krishnamacharya not full, so then we have to think Guru to his students. When a student spoke to him in Sanskrit, and Rama about yama niyama: ahimsa, satya, becomes a master, then he becomes a Mohana Brahmachari was impressed. asteya, brahmacharya, aparigraha, Guru and passes his knowledge on to his He said to him, "How long can you stay saucha, santosha, tapas, svadhyaya, students. Like this, the yoga knowledge here?" And Krishnamacharya said, “You ishvarapranidhana. We will talk about has been passed on for generations. As have to tell me, however long you say, this on other days. This is just a small we know it in this form of Ashtanga I will stay. I can stay here forever.” He talk on how this practice came—many Yoga, it has come from maybe 300 stayed for eight years learning with Rama of you already know how it came. So, years ago—I don’t know for how many Mohana Brahmachari. So this method thank you all for coming. I would like generations this knowledge has been came because of Krishnamacharya; to thank Robert and Eddie—Eddie passed on. otherwise it would not be with us, and told me last year, in September, we When Krishnamacharya came to we wouldn’t be relishing this practice. should do something like this—there this region, he was already a very great So, why Ashtanga Yoga? As you all is Namarupa Yatra, so in that yatra we Sanskrit scholar. He had studied many know it is eight steps: yama, niyama, can do four or five days of yoga class. I Vedas and had eight degrees. To get one asana, pranayama, pratyahara, have never been here so it was a good degree it takes twelve years—he had dharana, dhyana, and samadhi. These opportunity for me to come here and eight degrees. That doesn’t mean that are the eight limbs, or steps. But in to teach a small class. So we’ll see he had to spend twelve years on each shastra it says you have to do asana you again for four more days. Keep degree; once you do one it is easier to first (before yama and niyama)— practicing. See you tomorrow. do others. So he had eight degrees, Then hathasya pratamangatvad asana purvam he wanted to get practical experience; uchyate kuryat tadasanam sthairyam

Photographs of R. Sharath Jois talking to the group during conference after the morning asana 10 Issue 21 classes at Tapovan Kuti, Uttarkashi during the Ashtanga Yoga Sadhana Retreat, October 2015. Spring 2016 11 12 Issue 21 Spring 2016 13 SECOND DAY confusing for many people. Self- pranidhana is the last one. Swadhyaya This is what happens. By doing, by ma, you have first master an asana to do lungs very strong, it makes the organs study—"self”– many people think and ishwarapradidhana are almost practicing these eight limbs of yoga, that. You can't just hold breath and do. strong, it even makes the nervous system Om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana self-study means, "Oh, I don't need a the same. Swadhyaya says, svadhyayat by ashuddhikshyaye, impurities in the There are different variations in that. strong. So I worked with him for many shalakhaya chakshurunmilitam yena teacher. I don't need a guru. I can just ishta devata samprayogah.—[By swad- body and mind will be flushed out, First, you have to be stable. When months. What the doctors said that if tasmai sri gurave namah read books." Now there are lots of vid- hyaya, union with the desired deity is will be removed. Jnana diptihi. Jnana your body is not stable, can you sit in he breaths in the regular windpipe, then eos about yoga. Someone will teach brought about.] That is, once we try to means the true spiritual knowledge padmasana for half an hour? Suddenly the other windpipe will die. Then it esterday we talked about the you handstand. You see someone doing get attached to the divine—whichever will come to you. Once that spiritual you want to move, no? Now, in each worked. Now he is feeling much better, Yparampara—how this practice has handstand. That means he's a big yogi. god you believe in, get close to it, or knowledge comes, you become wiser asana, after five breaths you are wait- he doesn’t have any problem now. I have come from Rama Mohan Brahmachari. "Oh, I don't need a teacher. Oh, I'm get attached to it—that is when japa in the practice. This is the benefit of ing for me to count 5! Body stability never told this, because I don’t like to Ashtanga yoga is the real yoga. Why? doing swadhyaya." Long back I met a comes. Once you do japa with artha doing ashtanga. has to come. Mind stability. Everything say “Oh I did this, I did that” because Ashtanga yoga talks about yama niya- crazy person. She came to me and, "I and , that is good, with mean- should be stable. Then you do pranaya- it is the yoga that does it. Just applying ma. Yama has five sub-limbs: ahimsa, was a trained dancer," she said—and ing and with good intention. That is Questions & Answers (Selections) ma, it becomes easy for you. this thing we can cure many diseases. satya, asteya, brahmacharya, aparigraha. she was asking questions. To the an- also very important. Have you heard So I have been teaching this as a So this is why I started teaching these Ahimsa, non-violence. Satya, to be true, swers, "Oh, I know, I know, I know." of japa? Japa is to chant. Whichever o yesterday, I promised you, if therapy, I have seen many people cured breathing techniques, and it has helped to be true to yourself, to others. Asteya, If you know, then why are you coming deity you like, chanting that continu- Syou have any questions you can ask who have asthma, bronchitis, breathing so many people - not just four or five, non-stealing. Brahmacharya, celibacy. to me and asking questions? Then I was ously is called japa. Tajjapas tadartha me. I want to keep the promise. problems. For the past four years I have but many. Next, aparigraha. Not to hold. Not to very curious. I asked her, "Where did bhavanam—[To repeat the name of been working on some people. One dis- Good? Satisfied? [Laughter] steal. Not to take that which doesn't you learn yoga? Who's your teacher?" the divine, with reflection on its mean- Q: I wanted to ask something about trict commissioner of Mysore has come, In India we have a few plants which belong to you. This is niyama: saucha, "Oh, I don't have a teacher. I'm doing ing is a benefit.]—the proper meaning, pranayama. I wonder about the pran- he had severer asthma. He couldn’t even are not very good for breathing. One is santosha, tapas, swadhyaya, ishwara- swadhyaya," she said. “Swadhyaya, what meaningfully, you should do japa with ayama that Guruji used to teach. Do breath properly - I had to work with parthenium. Many people are allergic pranidhana. Saucha, to be clean, to be does swadhyaya mean?" I asked. "Oh, good bhavana. you practice this or teach this? him for 3 months, to some of these to that plant. Now it is getting less - it pure. There are two things in saucha. I'm watching videos. I'm reading books. Once we do this, this will help iswara- R. SHARATH JOIS: I teach. When breathing techniques. He was allergic to grows very quickly, but it is very bad for One is antar saucha, another is bahir And I'm learning yoga." I said, “Okay. pranidhana. Ishwarapranidhana means students are ready, I'll teach them. You so many things, he was allergic to dust, so many people. So this breathing tech- saucha. Antar saucha is to keep clean That's where your knowledge is only to surrender to the divine. Many people can't teach everything to everyone. Still, to plants, and you know in India there nique is good to get rid of all of these al- internally. Internally clean means to this much [gestures small amount]." in the West, it’s a different culture, when this is what the problem is. Everyone is a lot of pollution, so he was affected lergies. I have tried myself with so many cleanse our nervous system. That is why Swadhyaya means, whatever you someone says “Surrender”, get scared, wants to know everything, but they are by all these things. So once I tried for people, especially for the plants. we do so many asanas, to purify the ner- learn from your guru, you try to know they say, “Oh, I don’t want to surrender not ready to know that. So this is when three months and it cured him a lot. He Q: Can you explain the nadis, and vous system, to clean our nervous sys- and practice that. After this workshop, myself”. Indian culture is different. We the problem starts. When someone is started feeling better, he could breath how many there are, and how they tem. To have good thoughts is also to be whatever you have learned, to practice, surrender ourselves to guru. That is how ready to know it, then definitely I'll properly, and there was no asthma at- work? clean. Internal clean and external clean. and study that. To improve that in your the knowledge will come to us. If you teach it. We've been doing lots of pran- tacks like he used to have. His attacks RSJ: There are 72,000 nervous sys- External clean means to keep your daily life. And to read all the books. doubt your Guru, then the knowledge ayama classes in Mysore for senior stu- reduced. So I thought I should teach it tems in the body. The particular nadis, clothes clean, to keep your environment Not the modern books. Ancient books. will never come. dents, who are students who come every to all of my students, so I started teach- they are so particular it will take one clean. This is called as bahir saucha. Veda, Upanishads. Bhagavad Gita. Sam- So this is very important in our year, or more often, to Mysore. We do ing it to everyone. hour to explain everything. We can dis- Santosha, contentment, is to be hap- hitas. There are so many books.Patanja - ashtanga practice. Once we follow these pranayama. Pranayama should be done And there was one more boy who had cuss it one day. py with whatever you have. Some peo- li Yoga , Hatha Yoga Pradipika. limbs, while doing asanas. Just doing properly. two windpipes, have you heard? One Q: In the Yoga Makaranda, it says ple have everything. Still, they are not In Kannada, we have a saying, some asanas, just bending the body, is not was small, one was regular, and next to to hold with the fingers, catching toes. happy. Oh, we want that. Happy is not students are lazy, but the teacher never enough. It is not the final stages of yoga. Pranayamena yuktena it was a very small one. So what the doc- How does that, how does that connect, just smiling like this. Happiness comes forgets, the master never forgets. But if Doing asanas, it is to bring stability sarvarogakshayo bhavet | tors said was that he had to do lots of energetically-wise? from inside. So be happy with whatever student is lazy, he doesn’t even want to and strength, to purify the nervous sys- ayuktabhyasayogena breathing techniques, that you have to RSJ: Which one? you have. That is santosha. put effort to learn. So the teacher will tem. Everything happens while practic- sarvarogasamudbhava || take him to a master. So he came to our Q: Holding with the three fingers. Tapas. Tapas is also very important. never forget his knowledge, and the ing asanas. But that doesn't take you to Hatha Yoga Pradipika, 2.16 shala and I taught him many asanas and Like it says it Yoga Makaranda we must What is tapas? To lead a disciplined life lazy student will never learn. Once you higher levels. It is the foundation, but breathing techniques. This vinyasa are do it with the three fingers. What does is called tapas. Tapas is not only going read those books, you get more knowl- not the final levels. So when you prac- This is what Sastra says. By doing pra- very powerful. The vinyasa makes your that do? to the mountain and closing your eyes; edge about this practice. Practical ex- tice all this yama niyama while prac- nayama, we can get rid of many diseas- that needs lots of discipline. But also perience is also important. And phi- ticing asanas, then there'll be a differ- es. If you are not ready, if you don't do it to have discipline in daily life; every losophy is also very important. When ent meaning for your practice. So why properly, then you will invite unwanted day getting up at the same time, early both come together, only then can you ashtanga yoga? diseases. So this Sastra also says-- morning, and doing your own practice, find a meaning for your practice. So having food at this time, it's also a tapas. that is swadhyaya, study. The teacher yogaanga anushthanat ashuddhikshyaye tasmin swasa prasvasayor You can't go in the evenings and par- can teach you. But if you don't put in jnana diptih aviveka khyateh gati vicchedah pranayama ty till 2:00 am and come and practice the effort to know what it is, you will Yoga , 2.49 yoga. It's not possible. never learn. [By practicing the eight limbs of yoga So how to have discipline in our life? Only once we make the effort, that impurities are eliminated until Asanam sade —this means that That is also very important and tapas is the sadhana. Only once we make the rise of spiritual aspiration and once we have mastered an asana, then will take us to the higher levels of yoga. the effort to know what it is, then only knowledge culminates in the only you do pranayama. Especially kum- Swadhyaya, self-study. This is very can this yoga be understood. Ishwara- realization of one's true nature] bhaka pranayama. Kumbhaka pranaya-

14 Issue 21 Spring 2016 15 RSJ: What does that do? Means? hours? How long can you keep it there? blood will rush opposite. When you're keep hearing students saying, "Oh, this Here, if you want to learn some Q: Just – You can’t put your attention complete- going down also. If you go too fast, your guy has a good post." In that post, he knowledge, you have to surrender to RSJ: You can’t hold with your whole ly on your breath because your mind is blood will rush towards the brain. So says, "Oh, I've been to this teacher, this your guru. Surrender means from your hand, your toe is only this big (gestures) somewhere else. When you are practic- you have to be very careful when com- teacher, this teacher." Like, he's had fif- heart. Kayam manasa vacha—body, [laughter]. Each posture you hold like ing, you're putting attention towards ing up, when going down. Especially if teen teachers. And he's a crazy guy. He mind, speech. If your mind is not at- this, or like this, the energy flows. In your breath, to your posture, to gazing. you have blood pressure. doesn't know what he's doing, what tentive to what guru is saying, you will Maricyasana and other postures, don’t So there are so many things happening. Go slowly. And take a deep breath, he's teaching. miss so many things. Surrender means hold the hands like this (indicates jnana And you're not breathing normally; and come up. The vinyasa is very im- That's why in India, we always fol- with your senses, surrender your sens- ), this should only be done in when you're practicing, your breathing portant. While going down you should low one guru, one . Whichever es. Grasp what he's saying. Once the padmasana. Otherwise, Brahma, Vish- is longer than your normal breathing. If exhale, while coming up you have to in- lineage you feel is good, follow that guru is talking, a student who's very nu, Mahesvara, everything is one, there normally you breathe twice, when you're hale. When that circulation is not good, lineage. If you see advertisement, or attentive will grasp what he's saying. is no two - this is the meaning. You doing asana, it will be once. So you have if it doesn't happen properly, then you get someone is putting up lots of big, big And through his swadhyaya, his own should only hold the hand in a full grip extended the prana; you have extended dizzy. You have to come slowly up, slow- banners that say, Oh, they teach every- personal practice, he will improve. All life also. Your life is dependent on your ly down. You have to concentrate on the thing—yama niyama asana pranayama of it will grow within him. If a student number of breaths. Once you lengthen breath. And while coming up, also, you pratyahara dharana dhyana samadhi. is not attentive, if you go and listen your breath, your lifespan also will in- have to follow that inhalation, exhalation. Fifteen days teacher training course. Af- just to pass some time, and you like his crease. Until now, doctors used to say, "Don't ter fifteen days teacher training course, jokes, you'll listen and come away and So, many “Why?”s do not have an- do asanas for blood pressure. It's not they take you to samadhi. "How can I forget what he has told you. You just swers — you have do it like this, or that, good." Now doctors says, "You practice tell?" They give you a certificate; you're go there for fun, that's all. Just to hang because the energy will flow. It just hap- asana." Twenty years back, some students in samadhi now. If you do 200 hours, around, or there's lots of people, it's pens. used to come to Mysore, to our shala. 500 hours, you can reach samadhi with- nice place to gossip. Q: What is the minimum amount They had some body ache, or some fever, out any sadhana. You want to do that? When there is a spiritual satsang, a of time that you can do asana practice or something. They used go to a doctor. After doing that, you'll come to know, guru is explaining something to you. to get the benefit during the day, if you Doctor says, "What are you doing in "Oh, this was only for money." If your attention is somewhere else, can't do your full practice? Mysore practicing yoga with Pattabhi Q: You talked about the need to sur- you're not listening to what he's saying; RSJ: You do half an hour, forty min- Jois? Oh, yoga. Don't practice. It's not render to your teacher. Why do you you're not surrendering to him. You're utes. Half an hour of asana, forty min- good for you." Now doctors say it's good think somebody would be scared of tak- not grasping what he's saying. In India, utes of asana is very good for you. The for you. Now they're writing prescrip- ing that step and surrendering? we have a story. There'll be a talk on whole day will be refreshed. But yoga tion, they write, "Go to Sharath." RSJ: They have some problem Ramayana. Ramayana is a big epic, the should happen twenty-four hours. Long Robert Moses: One doctor consulta- [laughter]. It depends on culture, also. story of Rama. All night this guy is ex- ago, someone asked, "How many hours tion, two doctors prescription, three doc- You're brought up in different way. plaining about Rama, Sita, everything. Jnana mudra in padmasana is your yoga practice?" I said, "Twen- tors, cremation. I'm brought up in different way. From In the early morning, five am, one guy in the asanas, then your body becomes ty-four hours." He said, "Twenty-four RSJ: Yes, my grandfather always used childhood, I've been hearing about spir- who's been sitting the whole night gets stable. hours? How it is possible to do Twen- to say: vaidya dvaiyam, rogi nipadahetu. ituality, about guru parampara, all those up and he says, "Oh, what is the rela- When you hold the toe like this, see ty-four hours?" What they think is, asa- It means, "Two doctors will kill one pa- things. In India, we are all spiritual by tionship between Rama and Sita?" He how much grip is there. Your body be- na is all, asana is the only yoga. They tient." One doctor, consultation. Two birth. was sitting there. He was not attentive. comes more stable, steady. When your think if you practice asana, that means doctors, prescription. Three doctors, At a young age, they teach you small, He just slept. In early morning, he's ask- body is steady, stable, then the breathing you are doing yoga. Asana practice is for cremation. You have a problem, One small chants. They'll teach you about ing, "What is the relationship between happens, the cycle of breathing, inhala- three hours. But the yoga practice is for doctor writes one prescription. He says, guru, how guru is important in your Rama and Sita?" tion, exhalation, inhalation, exhalation. twenty-four hours. "Take these tablets." You go to another family. You see, each and every fami- Some people are scared. They think, Internal energy is generated. When you Every day, early morning, if you do doctor, who sees the prescription and ly in India has a guru. A family guru. Something will happen if I surrender." are doing vinyasa, when you are doing Brahma muhurta, then it is very good. says, 'Oh, you don't want this one. That Whatever they want to do, they'll take But, this is a very holy place. How this practice, there's internal energy that The whole day will be very good, very doctor's not good. So come to me." a suggestion from the guru. If they has this come over the generations? is generating. When you're breathing fresh. After practice, you'll become en- And he writes you a different prescrip- want to do some , they'll go to the There's so much vibration here, so more consciously, the energy also will ergetic. You can just straightaway feel tion." You are confused. The patient is guru. This is not there in the Western much positive energy here. That is flow inside. We are already doing pra- that. One more question. confused. He doesn't know what to do, culture, Now you are just coming to because of all the swamis who surren- nayama in asanas. What is pranayama? Q: Until today, in the standing deep to take this medicine or that medicine. know what guru is. Your parents nev- dered themselves to their guru, and To extend the prana. forward bends, even though I'm prac- Then he ends up taking both the medi- er taught you. They always taught you, did their own sadhana. Otherwise this Normally when we are breathing, in- ticing vinyasa and the breathing, when cines. Then he will die. "Don't surrender to anyone. You have kind of energy wouldn't be here. Ut- halation and exhalation, 21,600 times a I come up, I feel dizzy, or I lose my So Guruji, my grandfather, used to to stand up and fight with everyone." tarkashi is a very special place, because day. When you concentrate on the breath balance. Is there a technique, internal- say, "Two doctors, the patient is dead." For you surrendering has a different many, many yogis have done lots of more, when you consciously breathe, ly, that I'm missing, that I can use so I It's the same with the gurus. You go to meaning. Someone will put you down, sadhana here. That is why it's very then, it is pranayama. Can you put your don't get that dizziness? this guru, he says one thing; another beat you up - that is surrender - if you special. attention on your breath, everyday, for RSJ: While coming up, when you're guru says something else. If you go on get beaten by someone, that means Are you satisfied with that? Okay. how long? How many of you can keep doing forward bend, suddenly when Facebook—I've never been. I'm not in you have surrendered. Here, surrender Thank you so much. your attention on your breath for many you come up, your blood will rush. Your Facebook; I'm not in anywhere—but I means to offer everything. See you tomorrow.

16 Issue 21 Spring 2016 17 THIRD DAY Questions & Answers land China. I was just curious wheth- It's always difficult for the first time upset. So like that, you should be in in the night. By the time they come come out. When you practice asanas, (Selections) er there was any difference in terms of to go to a country and teach something your karma also. Karma is what your home, they'll be exhausted. When can when the pores are open, it's easy for stressing the spiritual side of the prac- spiritual. As I was born in India, I know duty is. he practice yoga? the toxins to come out through sweat. Om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana tice, or whether it was more difficult to how spiritual it is, this practice. Also, If you're an engineer, your duty is to Work is not everything. You have to Q: I think I heard once that we're shalakhaya chakshurunmilitam yena talk about the spiritual side of the prac- what spirituality means. If you just read build a nice building, and to make sure make some space for everything. This is not supposed to talk about our yoga so tasmai sri gurave namah tice, and it was just primarily focused on the whole Bhagavad Gita, you don't be- that the building is very good. You know why tapas is very important. You have much. I mean, obviously not in this sit- the physical side. come spiritual. You have to adopt what all those things. A doctor has to treat his to work. But you have to make some uation with our guru. But – oday, I'll give you all a chance RSJ: Did I have any difficulty -ex Bhagavad Gita says, you have to adopt patients properly and make sure that time for your own personal sadhana. RSJ: Talk about yoga? Tto start the conference through plaining to them? that in your life. he's giving great medicine. Every day That is also very important. Q: Talk about our practice. your questions. Today will be the last Q: Yes. Because of the position of the When Krishna says, "I'm everything, you can be a doctor for maybe twelve If you keep on working only, these RSJ: Who told you? conference. Tomorrow there is no con- government on religion and spirituality. so just surrender to me," then you have hours, thirteen hours, fourteen hours. people, they get stressed. They get, with- Q: I mean spiritual experiences, like, ference. Next time, in Mysore. RSJ: Actually, this whole conference to surrender to him. Then only will you You can't do it for twenty-four hours. in twenty-five years, thirty years, they internal experiences. was organized by the Chinese govern- have that spiritual knowledge. Spiritual You have to take rest. You have to. get blood pressure, they get asthma, di- RSJ: Without talk, how can you Q: If you have pain in your wrist, how ment. China, Indochina Yoga Sum- knowledge should come within you, as Part of this karma is also your asana abetes. They get everything; everything learn? If I'm silent, I can't help. can you do utpluthih with modification? mit, it was called. Indochina—India I told you yesterday. Everything should practice. In that also, you should be lim- comes to them. They have not managed Eddie Stern: Sharath, I think the RSJ: Utpluthih modification? Change and China. The embassy of India got grow within you. It's very difficult to ited. Only one practice in the morning. themselves. You have to be careful with question was that we're not supposed to the position of your thumb, or put some together with the mayors of Chengdu make someone understand these things, Two hours or three hours. Whatever, all these things. I don't know from talk about our personal practices. "Oh, wrist band, so that it supports your Province. They organized this. who doesn't know anything about yoga. however much your guru has taught where to where I went. But it's good? I have knee pain." "Oh, I did this pose wrist. With utpluthih, it is very import- Yoga is very new in China. So many Yoga is very new in China. They you, your teacher has taught you, you Are you satisfied with the answer? No? so well." ant to employ your bandhas. Once the people think yoga has come from Amer- think they already know, but I think should practice that. That is enough. Are you satisfied? RSJ: Like that? Yeah. That is not mula bandha comes, your whole body ica. They don't even know. Well, some they don't know. Even your sleep should be limit- Q: Extremely. good. You shouldn't compare to any- becomes very light. And you get the teachers go to China and they teach But there are many good students ed. You can't sleep for eighteen hours. RSJ: Thanks. one. Many people, they discuss, oh, ka- strength also. them how to do handstand, and how to also. I have lots of Chinese students who You're not a wildcat. A wildcat sleeps potasana. They'll have a huge discussion The bandhas are very important in jump back, you know. There's so much come regularly. They practice. But still, eighteen hours. It is meant to sleep eigh- Q: I had a question about oil bath about kapotasana. In Mysore, when I certain asanas. When we are doing ut- about the physical aspect of yoga; they it is very new. Now it is getting popular teen hours, because if it doesn't sleep and purification. Can you elaborate a give a posture to one student, they'll go katasana, for example, you have to lift have concentrated only on that. They've China, Korea. It'll take time for them to eighteen hours, it'll start killing every- little bit on the importance of the oil to the coconut stand and discuss it the up and then jump back, after finishing not taken yoga as whole. It is. Definite- know what it is. Yoga is like a knife. You one. So that's why God has given the bath? whole day. utkatasana. Only when you have the ly, it's difficult for someone to teach can kill someone or you can kill yourself wildcats eighteen hours sleep. RSJ: Oil bath is taken just to take In Durga Bhavan, a famous hotel bandhas, is it easy. You'll be like a feath- who doesn't know about yoga. And with a knife, or you can cut an apple For you, he has given eight hours soreness from the body. When we do in Mysore, where all the students go, er. You can just fly. I'll show you. I've again, it's they're trying to brand yoga. and eat. Relish the apple. sleep, so that in rest of the day—the asana practice, we generate lots of in- they'll have a huge discussion. "Oh, shown this many times. I like to show Like in the U.S. U.S. is the first place If you keep on doing asanas from sixteen hours—you can be more cre- ternal heat. Sometimes the overheat how you should do this." Millions of off sometimes. [Laughter] When you do where yoga went. morning till evening, you will kill your- ative, and you can put everything to- will be there in the body. So some- opinions about how to do one asana. utkatasana, after you come down, then In 1893, Swami Vivekananda went self. I've seen some people doing asanas wards knowing the divine. That's why, times it is important to cool your Whatever opinion you take, it'll come straightaway lift up like this. [Demon- and preached about yoga. He taught morning, afternoon, evening. They go for your own personal sadhana, he's body. So that is why you take oil bath. when it has to come. Just keep on do- stration of transition out of Utkatasana] yoga for the first time in the United to the beach, they do asanas. They do given sixteen hours, to be spiritual— And when you're doing six days of ing it, without any thoughts. Then it'll So without bandhas it's very difficult to States. That is when yoga went there. early morning class. Then they go to a to know. Some people, they think just practice, your body gets sore. Many come. do that. It's not about strength. Many Then later on, other gurus went. They swimming pool. They do handstand. work is their life. "Oh, I have to go. I asanas are difficult. You're working I never went and discussed about any people have strength, still they can't do taught yoga, and the physical aspect They do all these crazy things. Again, in have to work." "I have to work morn- hard. Especially when you're trying asana with any student. And my grand- this. Because of this, utpluthih is very of yoga became so popular. Everyone the evening, they do asanas crazy. That ing till evening." You work so you to do these difficult asanas, your body father said, "You do it, it'll come." Okay. important. That's why I make you stay thinks if you put your leg behind the will make you crazy. earn money just for you to be, so that gets sore. Just to remove that slight- Gurubhyo namah. Finished. Guru's sug- for a longer time, so that you strengthen head, that means it's yoga. That means you get food, you get a place to live. ly, just take oil bath. You can use any gestion is the final one. Finished. There your lower abdomen, and you get mula you are a big yogi. They don't care about yuktaharaaviharasya You don't need too much money; you oil. Castor oil is very good for the is no discussion, or Facebook. Crazy. bandha. yamas niyamas. They don't care about yuktacestasya karmasu | won't have peace of mind. You won't body, but castor oil is very difficult Facebook is good for some things, any other aspects of yoga. They think yuktasvapnaavabodhasya have anything. to remove. So just use sesame oil or but not for everything. All day: "Oh, Q: Between navasana, do you recom- that is yoga. The physical thing is very yogo bhavati duhkhah || I have few friends who used to work almond oil. Almond oil is too expen- takatakataka [blahblahblahblah]." "I mend that you alternate the right leg on important, but that is not the final stage. at these big software companies. At 6:00 sive; if you can afford it, can just use did kapotasana!" "Sharath told me top, or the left? You know, sometimes it's very difficult Those who are temperate in eating and they get up. They don't exercise. They it. Even olive oil is very good for your this." "What's your opinion?" There's RSJ: Navasana? to make people understand. People who recreation, balanced in work, don't do puja. Nothing. They get up, body. You need to take a weekly oil hundreds of millions of opinions. Why Q: Yes. don't know. For example, take your own and regulated in sleep, can mitigate all take bath, have breakfast very quickly. bath, when you are resting your body. do you need them. They're unneces- RSJ: Right leg on top. parents. Your own parents, how many sorrows by practicing yoga. And they run to the office. By 8:00 they The day when you're not practicing, sary. You are wasting your time, wast- Q: Always? of them wanted to practice yoga? And Bhagavad Gita, 6.17 have to be in the office. They all live in that day, take oil bath and take hot ing energy. You are distracting your RSJ: Yeah. do they understand what yoga is? They Bangalore. Bangalore is too crowded. shower. That'll take all the soreness mind. If you have a focused mind, if Q: Okay. don't know. If they had done it when Everything should be limited. You From 6:00 am, there'll be lots of traffic. away from the body. And it makes it comes in this life, you enjoy it. If it they were younger, if they had learned should be limited in your food. You So it takes two hours for them to get your skin very good. It opens all the doesn't come, you wait till next life. In Q: If I'm not mistaken, you were in a from an Indian master, then they would can't eat too much. If you eat Indian to work, to get to the office. And they pores in your skin, and when the India, we have many lives. If this asa- yoga conference this summer in main- have some knowledge about yoga. thali three times, your stomach will get work from 8:00 in the morning till 8:00 pores are open, all the poison also will na comes in this life, okay. If it doesn't

18 Issue 21 Spring 2016 19 come, you wait. Next life. There'll be people, how many students have come practice and what it changes within you. you're loosening your body. You're loos- get up many times, he used to climb all bringing focus, what we call a drishti— a reason for you to take . To do here to practice? This has generated lots That is really important. If you practice ening your hips, you're loosening your these big, big chairs to put garlands to just to put your mind in one place. But kapotasana! If you learn everything, if of energy here. That is also very import- for that, then there is no limit. You can knees. Everything becomes flexible. Sankaracharya, and he fell two, three dhyana is withdrawal of all your sens- you get everything in this life, then you ant. Sometimes when you're practicing just enjoy this practice. You relish this Those other things tighten your body, times; he used to fall, and then he used es; nothing external affects you. That is won't come next life. alone, then two days you'll do, three practice, more than getting a certificate. tighten your muscles, tighten your to get up and smile. He used to laugh. dhyana. Many things are lost in transla- days you'll do, fourth day you'll feel joints; everything gets tightened. Many times, he's fallen on scooter— tion. When they put in the translation, Q: What are a few of the most com- like, "Oh, today, I'll just skip." When Q: I notice that every day, my body So if you practice asana, then you he learned scooter when he was 78 years "mediation" for dhyana, meditation can mon mistakes you see among students there are lots of students, it'll motivate is a little different. Sometimes I have should just keep doing that. That's all. old. He bought this new Bajaj scooter, be just focusing. Trying to focus your in the asana practice, and maybe not you to do the practice. But everyone's pain here, sometimes there. Specifically You can't do two things; that'll break which has four gears. This one student, mind in one place can be meditation. even in the asana practice, but – mindset should be the same. Everyone's for me, I know sometimes my knees get your body. When I was a teenager, a very devoted student—he was not that Some real masters, they say, "Dhyana is RSJ: Generally? mindset should be towards seeking the irritated because my hips are not open. all my friends used to jog, run. I said, good at asanas, but he was devoted to not meditation. Dhyana can't be trans- Q: Yeah. spirituality, towards knowing what is And so when I come here, you know, "Oh, I should do that too." And we it—he was our relative also. He used to lated." There are many things like that, RSJ: That Facebook thing. [Laughter] spirituality. If everyone has that kind of there's one energy. I get warm. And also used to bicycle from Gokulam to a take him near the university, and teach which can't be translated. You lose so One mistake people make is following mentality, then it creates more energy. naturally I want to do deeper asana. So huge lake in Mysore called Kukkarahalli him how to ride a scooter. So every day, many things. too many teachers. If someone just comes, "Oh, I don't I go deeper. But then I have more knee Lake. So we used to bicycle there. Two he used to give a lesson. One day, he has As you know, as I told you, following care about what the system is. I want a pain. Then the next day, it's difficult for of my friends, they were training for a lifted his leg to sit behind Guruji—Gu- Q: Which do you think are better one parampara, following one system, is certificate, that's all, to put in my house, me to practice. And I know that for me, Republic Day parade. So they had to ruji is gone. Guruji is going on his own. translations, then, of the Gita into En- always better for learning, seeking. So if in my shala.—See, I've been certified. it'll take some time. I'm not trying to go through severe training. They had to Enjoying. And his student, his name is glish? someone goes here, there, here, there, I've been authorized.'" It's a bad energy, push. But what is the best way for me run, they have to jog, they have to do so Sudi, he stopped another guy who was RSJ: There are many. Ramakrishna then they get confused. They don't that one. You should practice yoga for to communicate? Because I know what many things. I did half of it—they used going on scooter. He said, "Oh, my Gu- Ashram has beautiful translations. And know what to listen to. It's the common your own transformation. Then it has a my knee issue is. What's the best way to run for twelve kilometers, and I ran ruji has gone on scooter. Can you just Chinmaya Mission has some beautiful mistake, generally. In asana, mistakes totally different meaning. Your under- to indicate that to a teacher? Because for six kilometers. After this was when follow him?" He said, "Yeah, okay." books. They have written very nicely. will be there, that you will learn, it needs standing towards yoga will be totally I also want to respect the teacher, and I moved from Lakshmipuram to Goku- And he sat in the back, and they fol- Read one or two. It's very difficult to lots of practice. You need to come more. different. When we started, we didn't surrender. At the same time I want to lam. And when I went back to practice lowed Guruji. And then he said, "Gu- understand if you just read one. You You have to take more classes. Once you want it. I didn't want to become fa- listen to my body. And so sometimes I yoga, I had to struggle a lot. The most I ruji, stop! Stop!" And Guruji said, "Oh, have to keep on reading it. Don't say, follow this shala, you will learn. That is mous. I didn't want to have millions of feel confused, caught. struggled was in eka pada. That is where you're there." He was so excited about "Oh, I've read the Bhagavad Gita. I've not a problem. students. I didn't want anything. There RSJ: There are two things. First, you I got stuck for many months. Because the scooter, he just went. But he learned done, finished." It's not like that. You You have to understand that he yoga was no desire. I just learned because I have to know why you're getting that I did so much running for those two scooter very late. And many times he have to keep on reading it. itself is a very sacred practice. You don't wanted to know. knee pain. What you are doing other years, all the joints got so stiff. There used to fall. But he never used to tell Each time you get deeper in Bhaga- have to go and discuss this with anyone, From when I was small, I was always than asanas. What are you doing? It is was so much pain. When you're young, my grandmother. Otherwise she will vad Gita, you get to know better things. taking different opinions. It's not neces- fascinated by spirituality. I always used causing you that knee pain. Just stop it's okay. You don't feel that much. scold. So he used to bring the scooter. You will have better understanding, sary. Yoga practice is very personal prac- to go and watch Ramayana. There was a that. That's all. Second thing is you When you get little older, say around We had a small ramp. We had, like, five more clarity. You'll get all these things. tice. It is for your own transformation. theater called Ganesha Theater near my have to know your limitation. I can do thirty-five, forty, then you have to slow steps. And in the middle, in the old That's why you should always keep this Having debate is different. When there house, and for two months, they had back-bending; I can catch my ankles. down. shala, there was a ramp where you can reading as a habit. That is very import- are two scholars and debate, that is to Ramayana movie there. So almost every That doesn't mean everyone can catch. Bicycling or running or lifting take your scooter or anything inside. ant. Don't read all the modern books. bring more clarity within the system, to- week, I used to go and see. Because I You have to know your limitations. By weights —it's not good. Later on, your Only when he's taking the scooter on Someone writes about yoga; don't read wards the spiritual practice. When there liked Hanuman. Oh, Hanuman was so practice you can change your body, but joints will become very stiff and your the ramp, then only my grandmother it. There's nothing spiritual in that. are two scholars, they sit. Their debate, devoted to Rama. How he did seva. I you have to give your body the time to muscles will become very stiff. They'll used to come to know that he's fallen. Only read the real masters, true masters. if you listen, is totally different. They was so motivated by that, I wanted to change. It doesn't change in one day. It get arthritis and get all the problems, Otherwise he never used to say. He nev- There are lots, like Chinmayananda, don't talk about asanas. They talk about become more spiritual. That is why. But takes a long time. Even for me, it took a so you can't move. You'll have to sit in er used to tell anyone. One day he had Ramakrishna—their books. Sankara- what this shastra is, what that shastra is, the only thing is, my mother is the one long time for my body to change, to get one place. So yoga is the only practice, a huge cut. But he never told. When charya. He explains amazingly. There's how this should be applied, how that who pushed me in that. I was little lazy. flexible. When I was younger, I used to asanas especially, which makes you flex- he was putting the scooter inside, my so much knowledge in his books. San- should be applied. I thought, I’ll go tomorrow, I'll go next get up every day at 2:30 in the morning. ible and strong for long time. Even if grandmother saw his dhoti was dirty. karacharya explains about all the yogic week. She's the one who pushed me. 2:00, 2:30, getting up, going to Laksh- you're eighty years old, you'll be very And there was lots of blood there. He methods. Of course he doesn't tell you Q: As students, we get a chance to Said, "Go." So from that I started. mipuram to learn yoga. There was lots active. Because all your muscles are was such a tough man. about how to do handstand, or those practice together, and we get a lot of en- When my mother was teaching, she of hard work; it didn't come that easily. strong and flexible. All your joints are types of asanas. The true knowledge, the ergy from each other too. Do you ever had only seven, eight students. She used And I didn't do anything else. I didn't strong and flexible. Q: What is lost in translating the spirituality knowledge, comes through have a chance to practice with other to travel from Lakshmipuram to near bicycle. I didn't run. I didn't hike. I My grandfather, when he was ninety, Upanishads from Sanskrit in to English, Sankaracharya. He talks about bandhas. people? Or do you always have to prac- Gokulam. She used to travel alone. A didn't do anything. Only yoga, that's he used to sit like this straight. And I for those of us that just read English? He talks about so many other things tice yourself? And do you wish that you lady traveling alone. Then Mysore was all. Once you practice yoga, you don't never saw him sitting slouched. When RSJ: I mean, you have to see which which will help you improve your own could practice in a group, so you can get very small. There were not that many need to do anything else. There's lots of he passed away, we had to bury him. translation. Some are really good. But personal sadhana. So read one or two. that energy? people. And she used to walk every day. exercises happening here. So we took him where we burned him. many times, there is no exact meaning Read two or three translations, so that RSJ: You have to practice together. She used to go on her scooter every And you have to give time for the And after, his backbone was not burned. for so many things. For example, dhya- you can get the proper meaning. You have to practice alone. You should day. Sometimes on the local bus. She body to change. If you do jogging, He had fallen so many times, we were na is not meditation exactly. Dhyana is There are so many books. You start be comfortable with both. Sometimes used to commute every day. It was the running, all those things, your body wondering, I and my mother. Nothing withdrawal of all the senses. You know with one book. Start with Bhagavad what happens is satsang. See how many passion; it was that love towards the becomes stiff. Here, in asana practice, used to happen for Guruji. He used to what I mean? Meditation can be just Gita. If you want real spirituality,

20 Issue 21 Spring 2016 21 there is no book like Bhagavad Gita: gita-sugita kartavya. Gita is the real, true knowledge, which comes direct- ly from Krishna, from the god. Ev- erything to keep us sane. Just read Bhagavad Gita. The true knowledge of yoga is in Bhagavad Gita, so start there. If you keep reading it, you'll get so much knowledge through that. All eighteen chapters talk about yoga. Then there are lots of other books, once you read that. There'sYoga Sutras. There's Hatha Yoga Pradipika. There's Upanishads, Samhitas, so many. San- karacharya has done so many books. Aparokshanubhuti, Yoga Taravali. There are so many other books. But if you buy all the books, you won't read them. Just start with one book, Bhagavad Gita. Maybe it will take you two years to understand. It's a lifelong practice. Yoga is lifelong practice. It's not one or two days' practice. Life- long. You should keep reading; you should learn. Once you think, "I've learned everything," that is the end of your learning; you have not learned anything. Once you think, "I know, but I don't know everything," that is how you seek. That is how you learn. That is when the knowledge will come to you. Okay. Thank you very much.

Voices: Thank you.

Saraswathi Jois: Keep practice.

RSJ: Thank you very much. God bless you all with lots of happiness—in- ner happiness, not material happiness. Inner happiness. And keep practicing. This is the true knowledge. Keep prac- ticing. Don't worry if you get asana or not. Being there is very important. Prac- ticing every day is very important. See you next time. I don't know where or when. But I'll be in your thoughts, Gu- ruji will be in your thoughts, my moth- er will be in your thoughts. So keep practicing. God bless you all.

22 Issue 21 Spring 2016 23 Guru Ma Saraswathi Jois Paramaguru R. Sharath Jois 24 Issue 21 Spring 2016 25 he Guru tradition is one of practice all these yoga practices, Vedan- Saraswathi Jois: With all credit going Tthe oldest foundations of the Hin- ta practices, and whatever is connected to Pattabhi Jois. du tradition. The Upanishads and Epics to the shad darshanam, in Kasi. That are filled with instructions, dialogues, is a place of shravanan, listening and RSJ: Thank you so much for giv- and teachings of the great Gurus, Sages learning. After learning for a very long ing this place for us to practice and and Rishis. These teachings have been period of time—because it takes good for me to teach. There couldn't be a passed down to us over thousands of time to learn from the teacher properly better thing in my life. I've experi- years. Holy places such as Banaras, —then we are supposed to practice on enced something different here. Swa- Haridwar, Rishikesh, Uttarkashi, and our own, mananam. For mananam, the mi Chinmayananda and the sadhus beyond, have been the dwelling places disciple who really wants to practice on and sannyasis who've done tapas here, of these revered teachers where in yoga's his own now comes from Kasi to Harid- their tapas has brought this energy. long past they performed tapas. To be war and Rishikesh and stays there. He They leave everything behind. They able to perform sadhana in the same does alot of contemplation on whatever leave everything. They leave the whole places where they did is considered to he's been learning. He starts studying samsara. They come here and do tapas. be a blessing. by himself and he becomes master over It is not a small thing. You need lots of It is widely known that a Guru nev- the teaching. Once he becomes master, courage. You need lots of dedication, er calls himself a Guru—it is a title be- he travels to Himalayas, to Uttarkashi. devotion, and determination to leave stowed by his or her disciples. The Guru He stays here; he rests in his knowl- everything and come here and do sad- has no desire for fame, or for being re- edge, nidhidhyasana. This is the place of hana. That is what I've seen here. I've vered; a Guru only has the desire to per- nidhidhyasana. Whatever he has learnt seen all the sadhus; they've done so form service to humanity, to teach the in Banaras (Kashi), and contemplated much sadhana here. knowledge that is related to liberation, in Rishikesh and Haridwar, when he I'm really thankful for all the sadhus, to be devoted to the removal of suffer- sannyasis, and other rishis who gave me ing, and nothing else. But sometimes these blessings to come here and teach the disciples of such a teacher wish to you all. I would like to come back again, call him or her by a special name, and whenever time permits. not simply by their given name. It is for this reason that we sought SJ:: Yes. There is more energy here in out the counsel of the elder Sannyasis this place. Everything is nice. and Sadhus of Uttarkashi, who also agreed that it was time for Sharathji RSJ: [to students]: You have wealth, and Saraswathiji to be formally be- you have book knowledge. You have stowed with titles, and who, after everything. If you don't put your mind conferring among themselves, decid- towards adhyatama, your heart towards ed upon an honorific title for each of spirituality, towards jnana, it's no use them. It is an of respect, of having this life, having everything. love, and of gratitude. Guru is very important. Guru is the one Brahmachari Dev Chaitanya, on comes here, he lives it, he becomes a who teaches, who will take us towards Brahmachari Dev Chaitanya, head of Tapovan Kuti, honors Sharath and Saraswathi and presents beautiful Uttarkashi shawls. behalf of all of the Sadhus and San- yogi. Until then, he's a student. If you that jnana which is the true knowledge. Marīcāsana B nyasis of Uttarkashi, will now explain come here and stay amongst the sadhus, He removes all the obstacles in us and to you the significance of the holiness then you take upadhi of a real yogi. he removes all the pollution in us. He of Uttarkashi, and bestow the titles [To Sharath] Now we consider you gives us the true knowledge, jnana. upon Sharathji and Saraswathiji. It is as one of us. That you now can become It has touched my heart deeply, all the a special occasion, and we offer this a leader, and lead us. Because you have love and affection everyone has given. moment to Sharathji and Saraswathiji properly understood whatever has been Thank you so much. See you again. with great humility and appreciation. taught by parampara. We are very hap- SJ: Thank you very much. py to have Sharath here, who has taken Dev Chaitanya: I'll tell you first what Ut- part in the parampara itself. *The title conferred upon R. Sharath tarkashi is. You should know that when From today onwards, we call this up- Jois by the Sannyasis and Sadhus of you have come here to Uttarkashi, you adhi, Amma, as Guru Ma. And Sharath- Uttarkashi was Mahayogi. When this are bringing your practice here, right? ji as Mahayogi* R. Sharath Jois. Now, article was first published,Namarupa This, whatever you are practicing, is not from today onwards, there’s a bigger had the title as Paramaguru.This title an ordinary thing. It is taking you some- responsibility of leading the world on- came later on and was not bestowed by where—knowingly or unknowingly. wards on the path of yoga. the Uttarkashi swamis. There is a place called Kasi. Have you heard about it? All the rishis used to RSJ: Thank you.

Inset: Sharath at Guptakashi, after having visited Badrinath in the Himalayas 26 Issue 21 Spring 2016 27 ASHTANGA YOGA SADHANA RETREAT NĀMARŪPA YATRA 2015 IN UTTARKASHI, HIMALAYAS PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBERT MOSES

Most of the group, outside Sri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir in Uttarkashi. Everyone had just bathed the temple swayambu lingam while chanting Om Namah Sivaya , then 28 gathered outside forIssue this 21 photo. October 14, 2015 Spring 2016 29 Jānuśīršāsana Śīršāsana

30 Issue 21 Spring 2016 31 Nāvāsana

32 Issue 21 Spring 2016 33 Pañca

34 Issue 21 Spring 2016 35 Saraswathi

36 Issue 21 Spring 2016 37 Uttānapādāsana

38 Issue 21 Spring 2016 39 Pañca

40 Issue 21 Spring 2016 41 Halāsana

42 Issue 21 Spring 2016 43 Padmāsana

44 Issue 21 Spring 2016 45 A conference held alongside the Bhagirathi, one of two head streams of the Ganga. This is the place where H.H. Sri Swami Vishnudevananda's body was cast into the waters on November 10, 1993, after he attained Mahasamadhi on the previous day in South India. Photograph ©Tejas Moses 46 Issue 21 Spring 2016 47 INDIAN CULTURE SWAMI SHARVANANDA NĀMARŪPA YATRA 2015 IN UTTARKASHI, HIMALAYAS

ntroduction by Prostrations again and again at the feet know how to walk, how to eat, how to ISwami Hariomananda: of Bhagavan Sankara, the storehouse sit, how to talk, how to talk to a senior of scriptures—shruti, smriti and man. Gradually, as we grow up, we can Swami Sharvanandaji studied with puranas—who is also a storehouse of understand. This is called the gradual Swami Chaitanyananda Maharaj. As compassion, who confers happiness development of the culture. the eldest one amongst us Swamis here, and prosperity, who has written Similarly, you have to inculcate in he is a lovely elder brother. Swamiji is the commentary on the sutras and belongs yourself that culture which will lead leading support for the Sadhu Samaj here. in the lineage of the guru parampara of you towards the Supreme God. That Sadhus in this area, if they need any help, Keshava, Badarayana. is an additional quality that you have come running to him because they are to inculcate in yourself. It is already sure he is somebody who supports them. ihwaro gururatmeti murti bheda there, but we have not paid attention At present we have the practice of reading vibhagine, vyomavad vyapta dehaya to that side in human life. India is all the Upanishads, Brahmasutra, and dakshinamurataye namah the land of spirituality; we start from Bhagavad Gita. We read, we chant, and religion and end in spirituality. So this it takes about six to eight hours every day. There is no difference between the is the land where you can understand Then every evening we have discussions Guru, Self, and God. Obeisance to what spiritualism is. And this culture and lectures about one topic. Swamiji Lord Dakshinamurthy who is the you have to inculcate in yourself. You initiated this and we took it up. personification of the Supreme Self have to give scope for that. Connect that permeates through space. your mind, body, and intellect with Swami Sharavananda chants ... the Supreme entity. Which is already there. Now we simply pay attention to shruti smriti puranam Om Shanti Shanti Shantih. our body, mind, and intellect, but what alayam karunalayam is the thing which is giving existence, namami bhagavadpadam et us chant for the next five consciousness ? shankaram lokashankaram Lminutes: What is that consciousness? And how can we take our mind towards it? Yoga I salute the compassionate abode Madhur Madhur Naam teaches us that if you can sit constantly of the Vedas, Smritis and Puranas Sita Ram Sita Ram for three to four hours in the same asana, known as Shankara Bhagavatpada, Madhur Madhur Naam if you can keep your mind constant on who makes the world auspicious. Radhe Shyam Radhe Shyam a particular subject, or particular object, then gradually you will understand the shankaram shankaracharyam This is all Indian culture that we love. all pervading entity which is already keshavam badarayanam We dance, we sing the name of the Lord! existing in you. sutrabhashya kritou vande This is the best thing in India: we love Veda shows us this thing. Right from bhagavantau punah punah to dance, to sing the name of the Lord! the beginning of the life. Our first Guru shruti smriti purananam And what does this culture mean? is our father and mother; from them alayam karunalayam From our very infancy, we don't know alone we understand how to eat, etc. namami bhagavat pada how to eat, how to sit, how to stand, Wherever you are born is immaterial. shankaram lokashankaram but gradually we grow up, we come to The language of your parents and other Swami Sharvananda, Acharya and Vice-President of Adi Shankara Brahma-vidya Peeth, Uttarkashi. 48 Issue 21 Spring 2016 49 surrounding people will automatically do this sacrifice, with proper rules and ith yoga and meditation, by causes pain, similarly, the worldly garment, because I am wearing it, I one thing is there, that is God. God come. Afterwards, by virtue of your own regulation, it will rain." Wcleaning out the internal dirt, we pleasures will cause pain. Now the am observing it—I am the 'See-er'— is eternal; only through God, you get quality or intellectual capacity, you can become transparent and light reflects worldly pleasures give you pleasure, similarly, I am the observer of the eternal happiness. learn so many other languages. But first pratyaksenanumityd vu in the transparent self. Antahkarana is but when you feel that this pleasure is body. In any other type of body, you Make your mind firm. Truly speaking, your mother tongue will come to you; yastupayo na budhyate like a glass. It is covered with the dirt of more pain, then you try to run away will not have the same facility. A cow, with the experience of my life, if you that language is in the environment you desires, but if you can keep your mind from that! If it happens in the early a dog, cannot go to the temple; a cow want really eternal happiness then take were brought up in. Where there is no way you can know steady and constantly on the Lord, then part of your life, then you take the cannot do meditation. This human your mind to happiness. If you try, God After that, you have to go to school, directly, and you cannot know by it will be clean. It will reflect the real Sannyas path. body is the best garment given to you. will help you. God helps those who help to learn the external knowledge, the anumana (inference by association) or nature of the object. As in the rear view This is the Hindu lifestyle or spiritual Utilize it properly. How to utilize? Do themselves. Isn't it? Whoever is asking objective sciences. In India, in the by logic, then you have to resort to mirror of a car, you can see behind— lifestyle. First you go to the Guru, learn yoga, do meditation, think of God, anything from God, God satisfies you Gurukul system, which is a type of something. That is Veda. how far the other car is or how fast it the Vedas, read the scriptures, then you chant on God, sing. In India, we love, in that. If you want from God worldly school where, especially in olden times, is going—so seeing the virtual image, enter into Grihastasam, and spend the we dance, we sing, in the name of pleasures. He will be happy to give they used to teach the Vedas—Vedic pratyaksenanumityd vu yastupayo na you can understand about the object. Grihastasam on the path of religion: God. Gradually, God will infuse your them to you. Because a mother is busy . Then there are sixVedanga — budhyate etam vidanti vedena Similarly, while seeing the reflection in , artha, kama. Still keeping mind. in her household work, when the child "limbs of the Veda"—that are tasmid vedasya vedata your Antakarana, you will be able to yourself on the religious path, you earn is crying for milk, the mother doesn't traditionally associated with the study really understand "Who Am I?" money and fulfil your desire. These dadami -yogam tam give milk; what will she do. The child and understanding of the Vedas. These Ved means knowledge. Why is it The Veda tells, first you go to the are the three Purusartha. The fourth yena mam upayanti te is crying, "Mummy, I want you only!" are: Shiksha: phonetics, phonology knowledge? Because in the general way Gurukul. Study Vedas and practice Purusartha is Moksha. Dharma (right Then she will be bound to give the milk. and morphophonology; : of knowing, we cannot find the means Brahmacharya —maintaining celibacy action), Artha (prosperity, material To those who are constantly devoted Similarly, I pray to God that after ritual; Vyakarana: grammar; Nirukta: to reach that goal. But the Vedas tell the and control of the mind and the sense well-being), Kama (pleasure, love), and worship Me with love, coming to Uttarkashi, you must have etymology; Chandas: meter; and way to reach the goal. A person doesn’t organs. If you do this, the first step and Moksha (liberation), these four are I give the understanding this mental strength in you, that you Jyotisha: time measurement, forecasting have a son. If he fails by doing all the of your life is completed. Then, if the goals of human life. I should have by which they can come to Me. want this and this is the way to reach the planetary movement, astronomy. medical treatments, scriptures say there you want, you can enter family life, money, I should have a wife, wealth, goal. I may walk a little slow, you may The four Vedas and six Vedanga. is a way. You do putrashtila, you will get Grihasthasta, then Vanaprasta, and like this. It's okay. In Grihastasam, I will give you Buddhi (intellect), so that walk a little fast. Some variation may be Without the anga (limbs), you cannot a son. And it will not fail; it will never finally Sannyasa. have money, have wealth, but be on you will realise the self—this is the way there, but we reach the goal. I pray that learn Vedas completely. So, in the first fail because it was told by the scripture, These are the four stages of life the religious path. Perform the rites of the utilisation of the human life. you will be happy in your life—come to stage of the life, people used to go to the and it has been tested by the saints and which have been described in the and rituals, worship the Gods, wealth I pray to God that everyone should Uttarkashi again! Gurukul. In present days, you see people the sages in their lives. If you want to Vedas. Generally it is told in the Veda will ultimately come to you. Spend come to Uttarkashi and get this facility. go to school, but they are learning the reach some goal and you are not finding that the ayurvedpurusha, a man, has the money for society. Progress on the First you have to make this your Om puurnnam-adah puurnnam-idam objective science. All the sciences are a proper method for that, then Veda age 100 years of life. For the first 25 religious path. After Grihastasam we goal—What is it I am longing for? For puurnnaat-purnnam-udacyate there in the Vedas, but also the inquiry shows us the proper path to reach that years, we are given the time to practice come to Vanaprastasa where gradually what am I searching? Everybody has a puurnnashya puurnnam-aadaaya "Who Am I?" You see, you are not the goal. the Vedas in the Gurukula. After that you renounce worldly things and try common desire: to live in peace. I want puurnnam-eva-avashissyate object; you are the enlightener of the If I want to become a mathematician, 25 years, we enter into Grihasthasa. to keep yourself concentrated on godly happiness, permanent happiness. If I object. That is spiritualism: "Who am I? if I want to become an economist, then In Grihasthasa, we maintain family thoughts: How can I realise my self, be tell you that I have three tablets—one Om shaanti shaanti shaantih! Where have I come from?" This type of the method is taught in school and life, not for the sensual enjoyment, unified with the God, because there is will give you peace for ten years, one for inquiry starts. college. But if I want to realise God, if I but to further continue the progeny. nothing but one only. After spending twenty years, and one for thirty years, Om, That is Full, This also is Full, Where do you start working on this want to realise the Self, then I study the You allow your progeny to grow up a few days in Vipasana, meditation, which will you want? All three! If you From Fullness comes Fullness, part, on the spiritual side? We start with Vedas. How can I know the method? according to his own nature. When then the mind becomes concentrated. want all three, this means you want to Taking Fullness from Fullness, religion. Why do we start with religion? That is taught in the Vedas. That is he enters Grihasthasa, you take Then if you listen, you can understand live in happiness forever. Isn't it? Now, Fullness indeed remains. As we grow naturally, first we learn how taught by our spiritual tradition and Vanaprasta. This means you leave the Tat Tvam Asi (That thou art), you can you search the whole universe, you to eat, how to sit, how to talk. When we teachers—that this is the way to reach responsibility on your son and his realize. Then you are free from all the have the opportunity to travel around Om Peace, Peace, Peace! go to school, then we learn how to sit, the goal. wife—you give the responsibility of world. the whole world. Is there anything that how to speak with elderly people, how the house to them—and you isolate This is the course of life. Each will give you eternal happiness? Only to behave with your same age people. yourself to think about God and stage is a garment you are wearing. Swami Sharvananda is Vice-President Then comes the religious part. Suppose the Self. That is called Vanaprastasa. When you change this garment, you of Adi Shankara Brahma Vidya Peeth, a man does cultivation. Generally the Vanaprastasa is mainly upashchana, will be the same man. What garment Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, Himalayas, rains come but some years there is no meaning meditation. In Vanaprastasa, will you wear? That, you yourself will India (www.somashram.in) and resides rain. Now when there is no rain, he there are few rites and rituals. After decide. According to your activity and at Pranav Dham, Uttarkashi. thinks "What to do? There is no rain, Vanaprastasa, when Sannyasa life thoughts, you will get a new garment. how can I keep my family?" Suddenly comes, then there is no duty other With that new garment again you he sees one person going to the temple. than: "How can I know my self?" The will work and again you will create He says to that person, "There is no rain day this inquiry starts, even if it starts some samskarams. When this garment Kurma avatar this year. Is there any way that the rain early in the life, you can renounce the becomes old, we are throwing it away. in Satya yuga can come?" This other person knows worldly world. There is no injunction In the same way, our body will become the Vedas, so he says, "Yes, there is a for that. You have to wait. It’s like old and a new body will come. This is Matsya avatar way. There is a daan, a sacrifice. If you when a pointed thing pierces you and also a garment. So, as I cannot be the in Satya yuga

50 Issue 21 Spring 2016 51 Varaha avatar in Satya yuga

Swami Janardanananda chanting kirtan with sadhus on the occasion of 'Sunday Prayers' held at Tapovan Kuti. Chanting was followed by distribution of dakshina and prasad to the assembled sadhus of Uttarkashi by members of the Yatra. Swamiji is General Secretary of Adi Shankara Brahma Vidya Peeth, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, Himalayas, India (www.somashram.in) and resides at Vishnudevananda Tapovanam, Uttarkashi, Himalayas, India.

52 Issue 21 Spring 2016 53 INDIAN CULTURE SWAMI HARIBRAHMENDRANANDA NĀMARŪPA YATRA 2015 UTTARKASHI, HIMALAYAS

ntroduction by ISwami Hariomananda: Om Om Om! Om Namah Sivaya! I hope you enjoy Uttarkashi Himalaya! Today I want to introduce you to Swami Haribrahmendrananda. He is an acharya of Adi Shankar Brahma Vidya Peeth. Today Swamiji is going to talk to you about Indian culture so you will have some introduction. Swamiji Haribrahmendrananda came here to Uttarkashi in 1994, when he was just 13 or 14 years old. He did regular studies in the school only up to the 9th standard. He had some inquiries of his own and he couldn’t find genuine answers in the school syllabus or from his school teachers. He had to continue his journey to find the answer. So he came here and studied with Swami Chaitanyanandji who was a guru bhai of our guru Swami Vishnudevananda. In 2003, Swami Chaitanyaji passed away. Then Swami Haribrahmendranandaji continued his classes. Uttarkashi is known for study. Traditionally we don’t have many rituals or those sorts of things. Here the main stream of activity is traditional study and contemplation.

Narasimha avatar Swami Haribrahmendrananda, Acharya and in Satya yuga Secretary of Adi Shankara Brahma-vidya Peeth, Uttarkashi.

54 Issue 21 Spring 2016 55 Swami Haribrahmendrananda karmas are the only means to purify he know this? How can he be correct? comes. So he is very happy! Now you practice some other meditation which understand what the object is all about, chants ... our body and mind. When we try to So when somebody suggests something, see what happened: the farmer's desire is related to yoga. Yoga meditations like then the Vedanta works. For that, understand the reality, we should be well we ask him for his 'certificate'. For was for rain but he was unable to bring trataka, etc. In the Upanishads there is you need concentration. You have to Om prepared. We should purify ourselves. example, if somebody is trying to teach that, so he tried through this priest. meditation on the sun, the moon, water, regulate your desires. You have to know Om tana jala dhara rujaya For that, the Vedas give this method of yoga or he starts a new yoga center, we The priest did some rituals and, after air, sky, etc. After these meditations, what is happening in your mind. You gopavedhuti dukula chauraya karma yoga. Without practicing karma, enter his office and ask: "Where did you that, the rains came. So now, whatever the mind is concentrated and purified. have to know how the mind works, how tasmai krishnaya namah we cannot go beyond. In Indian culture learn? Who is your guru?" Everything the priest says, the farmer is ready to For a concentrated mind, we have to you think, understand—then you can samsarameyerihasya beejaya we say that these Vedas include each and should be certified! In the same way we believe. Ready to follow. Why? Because control our desires. When I use control, know the truth of an object. chotamani krita vidhur every person, every common man. The ask, what do the Vedas say about our now he understood. What I cannot do, it is not control by others, it is control vanayekrita vasukihe Vedas give a method or lifestyle to each life and desires, and is it correct? Can the priest can. How does the priest do by myself. When we are driving a car, his universe—what we see is bhavo bhavatu bhavyaye and every person who is trying to fulfil we follow or not? It is very difficult to this? He has some knowledge of rituals we are controlling the steering wheel. Tfrom Brahman, only Brahman is neelaa tandava pandita his life, gives him suggestions, sadhanas, make somebody believe that which that are described in the Vedas and the It is not like that. This concentration is there. Brahman is the truth. When we and some rules and regulations. There we cannot see through our eyes. If a Shastras. So slowly, the common man, whatever is happening inside the mind, understand the universe as Brahman, Om Shanti Shanti Shantih! are many methods of sadhana. common man is trying to achieve his like this farmer, when he practices these and we are controlling the mind. When with that we understand our self. When The problem starts from the life desire, like the farmer, for example, rituals, he comes to believe. we ourselves control the mind, that we inquire, "Who Am I?" When I say "I Om Namah Shivaya Om Namah we lead. We have so many desires. Of because in Indian culture, farming When we have a disease or a problem, control is actually not control. If it is am thinking," "I do," "I understand," "I Shivaya Om Namah Shivaya course, to lead life we have to have some was the main source of livelihood. So we do yoga and pranayama to get controlled by some other, it is control. eat," "I work," who is this "I"? We don't desires. There are so many desires that a farmer makes his fields ready for his the benefits. We believe in yoga and This controlling is actually to regulate. know. Without knowing this "I", we do hen we think about Indian are unnecessary from the view point farming but unfortunately, sometimes, we practice pranayama, we practice The concentration starts by regulating everything. You know how we do this? Wculture, it is very difficult to of life. The first thing the Shastras or if there is no rain, then he cannot do meditation. the thoughts. We slowly try to regulate For the sake of our life, we understand summarize it. There are so many the Vedas try to say: You have to try to his farming. He is in trouble. Whatever Now slowly the farmer will practice all the number of thoughts that we have. "I" as this body. We never inquired, what variations, so many different methods, understand which desire you need for he knows, he does—cleaning the farm, that the priest tells him to. This becomes When we do it ourselves, we feel happy. is this "I"? Without inquiring, without different practices, different gods and life, which is necessary and which is keeping the seeds. Everything is ready, the life. Desire is there, needs are there, If someone else tries to control you by knowing, we just think that this body goddesses; so when we talk about India, unnecessary. It is very difficult for us to but the rain is not in his control. He and we have to maintain our life, but saying, "Think like this. Sit like this," is "I"—in some conditions. In other or the lifestyle of India—the religion of decide. cannot bring rain. He faces difficulty. So we can find a method, a regulation then concentration cannot happen. conditions, the mind is "I". Within India, we cannot say one single word— Which is necessary—how do we he goes to a priest and asks him "Can for that—that is what the Shastras say. Here is what we have to understand: yet another condition, the intellect is that this one word contains the religion decide? We don’t know how to decide. you help me by bringing the rain? Do These 80,000 mantras which tell you this meditation—these Upasanas—it "I". Ultimately, what we think is that of India. I will try to explain something What is needful? We don't know. The you have some method?" The priest about karmas, all are about desires. The is happening in our own mind, in our the Ego is "I". So Vedanta lifts you of the variations that we, the differences Vedas say what desires you need, what thinks, "Yes, the farmer is now inquiring fruits of those karmas are achieving own intellect. It is an understanding beyond these conditions. When we say that we see in religion, how they develop you require to live—food, shelter, our about something that he cannot the desires. Like this farmer—he was of the mind. When this happens, we this body is "I", Vedanta says, try to and then try to understand how the maintenance—and what you can leave. achieve, that is beyond his capacity. He weeding the farm for his fruits, slowly can concentrate on any object and understand what this body is. Then you philosophy thinks about that. To achieve those things we need, we is asking for that." This is an important he achieves that and slowly he learns to understand the truth of that object, will understand that this body is not "I". Vedo akhila dharma moolam. The find so many ways, so many methods. point. We think that we do everything understand and believe in God. God the reality of that object. This is what When you say the mind is "I", Vedanta Vedas are the basic philosophy of our We work in offices, or in the fields, and for ourselves. That is our common means that which is out of our sight. We the Yoga Sutras say. Now, when you try says, try to understand what this mind life. Religion is based on Vedas. There use so many other methods to fulfil understanding. We do everything we don’t see. We do what we can see, but to understand the reality of an object, is. If you know the mind, then you are four Vedas. When we try to study those desires. So the shastra gives some want to, because we work hard, earn bringing the rains, this we can't do—it there come the Vedas. Till now, there is will understand that this mind is not Vedas, the difficulty is the language. The methods—rules and regulations—to money, and we enjoy our life. If we means there is God. So he believes in no hope for Vedas. Why? You have to "I". The mind is an instrument I use Vedas are in Sanskrit. Do you know how achieve those desires and live a happy don’t work, we don’t get money so we that and slowly he turns to this life of remember that farmer. He wasn't trying for my thinking process, thinking and many mantras there are in the Vedas? life. can’t enjoy! When we think that we do Shastras. This is the basic method of our to know how the paddy comes out, or understanding. This is an instrument. One lakh (one hundred thousand). We When somebody claims something, everything for ourselves, then we are not Indian culture. what this paddy is, what this mud is, So slowly, you go beyond ego. Then we say the of Vedas is Vedanta; we we ask if what he says is right or wrong. believing in God or anything beyond the We enter into this Karma Kanda (the what this water is, what this rain is— know what we are. This is the short and study Vedanta. Vedanta has only 4000 A question arises in the mind. How does world. Now this farmer, he is in trouble, ritual portion of the Vedas), practice he wasn't looking like that. Then, the summarised form of our culture, karma mantras. And what about the other so he is thinking about something karma yoga, and so many rituals, Veda doesn't work. When you try to yoga, and Vedas, and how this life is 96,000 mantras? 80,000 are related beyond his capacity and beyond the meditation, Sandhyavandanam, puja, connected to Vedas. to karma or karma yoga. 80,000! The world. So he asks the priest and the Sahasranama. So many different Gods 16,000 left are related to upasana, or priest says, "Yes, there is a method. I are there. We believe in that, we pray Swami Haribrahmendrananda is different types of meditation. So there will tell you the method. What I say you to them. Then everything comes. When Acharya and Additional Secretary of are 4000 in Vedanta. Now we see how have to follow. Are you ready?" So he desires and the mind are calm and quiet, Adi Shankara Brahma-vidya Peeth, the Vedas bring the common man to an says, "I am ready." The priest tells him, we sit and think about that God which Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, Himalayas, enlightened soul—jivanmukta. These "Tomorrow you bring some milk, some has given everything and is fulfilling our India (www.somashram.in) and resides 4000 mantras are talking about the curd, some rice, and some ghee for the desires. Thus comes the meditation. at Somashram, Adi Shankara Brahma ultimate truth which is to be experienced Puja. We will do something and after Vidya Peeth, Uttarkashi, Himalayas, by a sadhaka in his life. Ultimate reality one week there will be rain." The farmer here are so many types of India. is what we want to experience. is very happy! He brings these things meditation in the Upanishads Vamana avatar T 80,000 mantras discuss the different for the ceremony and the priest does a which are not practiced now because Parusharama avatar in Treta yuga types of karma yoga, or karma. The small Puja and after one week the rain they are a little difficult to practice. We in Treta yuga

56 Issue 21 Spring 2016 57 of beastly traits, he has to be destroyed. Papa Don’t Preach to Ray of Light, Ma- Gurudev Chinmayanandaji, he called NAVARATRI There are similar traits within us. These donna went through a kind of transfor- them professional listeners. Retreat af- SWAMI MITRANANDA are powerful. I need something more mation. In Ray of Light there’s that song ter retreat, they will go listen, afterwards powerful to overcome tamas, ignorance, where she says, "I’ve been told to have asking "When is the next camp? We NĀMARŪPA YATRA 2015 IN UTTARKASHI, HIMALAYAS the beastly traits. To transcend them we but not to hold." She’s talking vedanta. would like to come." He used to joke, need goddess Durga’s strength. It’s an art to have but not to hold. That saying, "I know this guy. He always On the second three days of Na- is sannyas. Sannyas is dispassion; you sits in the seventh row, eighth bench." hen we look at the shastras, me do this again." "Why?" "I am so To discuss the significance of Na- varatri, we worship goddess Lakshmi. have it but you’re not holding onto it. We invoke Goddess Saraswati to bring Wthe number three has a very deep restless." "So what did you do?" "I was varatri, we need to understand these We invoke the goddess of prosperity. In Anything we have—all the prosperities knowledge. Saraswati is sattva and tran- significance. For example, we say there shifting furniture, taking it from one three: tamas, rajas, and sattva. Navar- our culture, we say there are four things which are there—we can have, but don’t scends sattva. are three states of the mind: waking, corner to another." tri: nava means nine, ratri means night. one needs in life: dharma, artha, kama, hold. Seek prosperity, invoke goddess We invoke Durga to transcend tamas; dream, and deep sleep. We have three In the twenty-four hours, maybe you There are nine nights and days of cel- moksha. Dharma is righteousness, your Lakshmi, but at the same time don’t to transcend rajas, we invoke Lakshmi; different obstacles: obstacles are from can sleep ten hours. For fourteen hours ebration. One has kirtan, puja, getting responsibilities and duties. Artha means possess it. So the second three days are finally, we invoke Saraswati to transcend the known, obstacles from the un- you still need to be with yourself. Be- up early—you know that program. The prosperity in one’s life, wealth. Kama dedicated to goddess Lakshmi to get even sattva. Beyond these three traits is known, and obstacles within. For a seek- ing with yourself is so difficult We need first three days of Navaratri are dedicat- means to enjoy life. Life gives us dif- prosperity, but we must hold onto Vish- the truth. After nine days of sadhana, er there can be unknown obstacles com- something 'other' to escape from our- ed to overcoming tamas. There is tamas ferent aspects of celebration. Festival is nu, not Lakshmi. Invoke Lakshmi but the tenth day is called Vijaya Dasami. ing from far away, from forces which selves. You don’t mind listening to the in us, ignorance and lethargy. The beast- one, tirtha yatra is one. Life offers many, realize that the intention should be with Dasami means tenth day; vijay is victory. cannot be changed. And then there are same music again and again, reading ly traits in us have to be overcome. Ig- many, many ways to celebrate. Enjoy Narayan, it should be with the truth. To Victory on the tenth day. We transcend obstacles from the known, and then the same magazine again and again. norance has to be overcome. For this, life. What’s the point, if one lives and get there it’s not easy. For that we need the three gunas, we go beyond, we expe- there are obstacles from within. When But just being yourself, doing nothing. you need a mighty power. is not able to celebrate life? So dharma, upanishadic wisdom. To enter prosperi- rience that which is always within. we invoke the lord we say shanti thrice: "Oh, that’s so boring." Who is boring? artha, kama. But that’s not all. Don’t ty but not to be entangled by it we need In Ramayana, Ram goes to fight Ra- shanti shanti shanti. Shanti means be I’ve seen people sit and watch a mov- he story goes that long ago get stuck here. Go to the next level, wisdom. vanna. Ravan is called dasamukha—a at peace. Let the obstacles which are far ie which is absolutely boring. They say, Tthere was an . Asura means called moksha. Moksha is absolute lib- person with ten heads. So Ram fights a away, unknown, be at peace. Let the "This movie’s so boring." There is no un-divine: sura, divine, a sura, un-divine. eration—liberation from all limitation, he last three days of Navaratri ten-headed monster. The ten heads rep- known obstacles be at peace. Let me be compulsion; you can get up and walk This asura was a mighty person, very liberation even from the identification Tare dedicated to Saraswati, goddess resent the five karmindriya—organs of at peace within, let me progress toward away. Why are you watching it? "I powerful. He was misusing his power. with the body. I need to understand of wisdom and knowledge—sattva. First perception: eyes, ears, nose, taste, and the divine. would be more bored without this mov- Power should be in the hands of the that this body which I thought was me we transcend tamas, then we meander touch, and the five jnanindriya—organs So you have three mind states, you ie, with myself." People who are abso- capable. Power should be in the hands is only a tool. To help recognize the di- with rajas and go beyond it, then we of action: hands, legs, etc. We need to go have three obstacles. You also have three lutely active, you ask them to sit quietly of people who have wisdom. If power vine. establish ourselves in sattva. In the four- beyond these to have everlasting victory. bodies: Shtula, Shuksma, and Karana: and meditate, they find it difficult. The is not with wise people, then the power teenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita That victory is within us; that victory gross body, subtle body, and causal mode of action is called rajas. can be misused. Please remember, Al- harma, artha, aama, moksha. which talks about rajas, tamas, and sat- should be ours: “I have transcended the body. And there are three gunas: sattva, And then there is serene, pleasant, bert Einstein was responsible for atomic DThe second part of Navaratri is tva, Krishna says to Arjuna that a tama- ten senses. I have transcended the three rajas, tamas. All of us have these three. calm, quiet; that is called sattva. Three energy. He took the initiative. As long as dedicated to goddess Lakshmi, the god- sic person is attached to ignorance—he gunas, I have overcome the human, and I will give you the their easiest trans- modes: tamas, rajas, sattva. that knowledge was with him, it was ab- dess of prosperity. Let us prosper. Let revels in ignorance, lethargy; a rajasic I am now divine.” The day that happens lations. Tamas is highly lethargic, lazy, All the thoughts that we have in our solutely fine, safe. When it reached the the whole world be happy. Lokah sa- person is attached to activity; a sattvic is the victorious day, Vijaya Dasami. In postponing, procrastinating. "Want heads can be classified according to hands of power and very rajasic, greedy mastah sukhino bhavantu. Not just me. person gets attached to knowledge. We Ramayana, the battle between Ram and to do something?" "No. Tomorrow or these three: tamas, rajas, and sattva. All people, then it became a bomb. So the Let the whole world be happy. That is need to be careful because knowledge Ravan happened over nine days. On the maybe the day after." In the tamasic the thoughts. Whatever the thought, it responsibilities of power should favor the universal prayer that the rishis have can be a kind of addiction. There is a tenth day, Ravan was destroyed. mode I don’t want to do anything ac- is either predominantly tamasic (lethar- the people of highly sattvic natures. The given us. They have not given it to one possibility that people will get attached tive even though I am capable. I simply gic), rajasic (restless), or serene, quiet, beastly power of this asura became very particular community or to one par- to knowledge, not internalizing it but hat is how this beautiful while away the time. calm, pleasant (sattvic). All the thoughts strong; he was so mighty and nothing ticular geographical area. The whole just feeling good about it. My master, Tfestival of Navaratri is celebrated, Then there is rajas, which is rest- will fall into these categories. The rishis could be done. Therefore people had to universe was in their vision. They said, invoking the goddess for three days lessness. You can’t sit quietly even for found this classification. invoke the goddess and Durga came for- let the entire world be happy. That be- to overcome tamas, for three days to a few moments, you are very restless. ward to kill this asura. Basically we have comes a normal daily prayer: Let there overcome rajas, for three days to over- We have a youth empowerment pro- to invoke the divine power of Durga the be progress; let there be prosperity. At come sattva. On the tenth day we are gram. The young people give one year goddess. "O Mother, Help me to tran- the same time, I should not be attached victorious; we experience the divine. for service, community service. They scend the beastly traits in me." Because I to prosperity. I should have it but not Our victory in life is when human tran- go to spiritual and cultural leadership want to move toward the divine. You see be attached to it. That’s the secret. All scends human and becomes divine. Not trainings. In one of the programs we it's normal that we live as humans but who can manage this in life take a long becomes, recognizes. Because we are di- put them alone in a room. Nothing the beauty of life is when human evolves stride toward evolution. You are allowed vine even now but we don’t recognize it. is in the room, no phones, no music, to divine. The success of our life is: born to have but not to possess. Do you Recognition is the victory. nothing. Just be alone for twenty four human, become divine. Success has to know who said this? You are allowed to hours. Oh, they go crazy. It’s so hard to be measured that way. If I have evolved, have but not to possess? Want to take Swami Mitrananda is a adventurer spend twenty four hours just by your- if I have experienced divinity, realized a guess?…Madonna. In the album Ray disciple of H.H. Swami Chinmayananda self. Why is it so hard? One guy, he divinity, than I’m successful. The pur- of Light, not "Papa Don’t Preach." Ma- and is Director of All India Chinmaya came out, "Swamiji please don’t make Rama avatar pose is fulfilled. This asura was so full donna was a confused woman. From Krishna avatar Yuva Kendra. Learn more here. in Treta yuga in Dwapara yuga

58 Issue 21 Spring 2016 59 Balarama avatar in Dwapara yuga

Trishul of Shakti at Sri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, Uttarkashi. Shakti is worshiped here as this giant Trishul, estimated to be over 1500 years old, 26 feet high, of metal with Tibetan inscriptions on it. When one applies the slightest force to it with one's fingertips, it sways gently in its narrow base, It is said to be the weapon the Goddess hurled at the Asuras. Her temple was undergoing reconstruction during our yatra and so the roof had been removed, affording a view of the huge trident not usually seen.

Kalki avatar in Kali yuga

The illustrations portraying daśāvatāra (ten descents) of Lord Vishnu in this article on Indian culture were created by Satya Moses. He is currently investigating the mystical mythical origins of the universe via pen and ink illustrations.

60 Issue 21 Spring 2016 61 Suan Lin is a ceramic artist FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHS and photographer SUAN LIN • DURING THE NĀMARŪPA YATRA 2015 based in New York City. Her pictures are about people and signs of humanity. She is a member of Film Shooters Collec- tive. More of her work can be seen at: http://suanlin. photoshelter.com/ and https://ello.co/ suanlin

Suan brought her old black paint LeicaMP, an all manual rangefinder film camera, on the yatra and shot these beautiful images. She used Kodak Portra 400 film and a rare Konica Hexanon 60mm f1.2 lens.

Vrindavan Night

62 Issue 21 Spring 2016 63 Vrindavan Night

64 Issue 21 Spring 2016 65 Portrait of India

66 Issue 21 Spring 2016 67 Discover Life

68 Issue 21 Spring 2016 69 Discover Life Rishikesh

70 Issue 21 Spring 2016 71 Behind the curtain. Uttarkashi

72 Issue 21 Spring 2016 73 Best chai in India. Kalimath, Himalayas

74 Issue 21 Spring 2016 75 Portrait of India. Triyuga Narayan, Himalayas

76 Issue 21 Spring 2016 77 Portrait of India. Devprayag, Himalayas

78 Issue 21 Spring 2016 79 Vrindavan Night

80 Issue 21 Spring 2016 81 Address Label