YL September 2022

Om Ganapathaye ! FIFTY THREE YEARS IN THE PROPAGATION OF CLASSICAL RISHICULTURE ASHTANGA YOGA This month's covers are extravagant in INTERNATIONAL colour as they depict amazing events happening MONTHLY here in Pondicherry. The historic inauguration of the Institute of Salutogenesis & Complementary Vol.53 No. 09, SEPTEMBER 2022 Medicine (ISCM) at Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry on 22 August 2022 finds pride of place CONTENTS - 02 as it may well be the first such institute in a medical - 04 setting globally. The illustrious Chief Guest of the YOGA ENABLES US TO MANIFEST OUR - 06 inaugural was Dr. Bhushan Patwardhan HUMANENESS (Chairman NAAC EC) who is a noble human being - 12 and living manifestation of “Swasth”. Heartfelt SACRED COWS! HOLY COWS! - 18 gratitude is due to the Chancellor of SBV Shri MK - 23 Rajagopalan, Vice Chancellor Prof. SC Parija, Dean AN AMAZING LEARNING EXPERIENCE AT of Faculty Prof N Ananthakrishnan and to the PONDICHERRY Former VC Prof KR Sethuraman who seeded the concept of Salutogenesis in all of us at SBV. Dr REFLECTIONS ON THE GITANANDA NADA YOGA Ananda has been chosen to lead the ISCM that will IMMERSION offer a wide variety of courses through its Schools of Yoga Therapy and Music Therapy. WHY THE DISCIPLE MUST TRY TO KILL THE GURU The wonderful educational visit by students of Loyola Marymount University's Master of Arts EXPERIENCING ATMAN PRANIDHANA in Yoga Studies, USA is depicted on the other cover pages as we share special moments from their YAKSHA PRASHNA: A SPIRITUAL EXAMINATION - 25 intensive 3-day Yoga Chikitsa program in the PAR EXCELLENCE ICYER of Ananda Ashram, CYTER of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth and at the Sri Kambaliswamy Madam. BENEFITS OF CHANTING - 28 Beautiful reflections on their learning at Pondicherry are shared by three of the visitors in the INAUGURATION OF INSTITUTE OF SALUTOGENESIS inner pages of this month's issue. AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE ISCM OF - 31 We also share two amazing articles from the SRI BALAJI VIDYAPEETH, PONDICHERRY pen of our beloved Ammaji and an elaborate yet poignant reflection by Jennifer Kanazawa, on her deep experiences during the Gitananda Nada Yoga Immersion with Yogacharini Sangeeta and Dr Ananda. May the Guru Parampara continue to bless us and may we be worthy of their loving grace. The official publication of Yoga Jivana Satsangha (International); Vishwa Yoga Samaj (Worldwide Yoga Congress); Sri Kambaliswamy Madam (Samadhi Site); SPARC (The Society for the Preservation of Ancient Rishi Culture); ICYER (International Centre for Yoga Education and Research) at Ananda Ashram, Tamil Nadu. Published from Ananda Ashram City Centre at Yoganjali Natyalayam, 25, II Cross, lyyanar Nagar, Pondicherry-605 013, India. Editor and Publisher : Ammaji Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani, Editor: (I/C) Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani. Phone: +91-0413-2241561. E-mail: [email protected]; Website: www.rishiculture.in Printers : Sarguru Printographs, Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, India. Subscription Rate: Indian Rs. 500/year; International 50 Euros/ year. Note: All subscribers will be sent e-copies of Yoga Life every month from January 2021 onwards and hence are requested to register their preferred e-mail at [email protected] to ensure uninterrupted receipt of the journal.

YOGA ENABLES US TO MANIFEST OUR HUMANENESS Yogacharya Dr ANANDA BALAYOGI BHAVANANI, Ashram Acharya and Chairman ICYER, Pondicherry, India. Animals just react. This is called their instinctive reactivity. It is at the level of the old brain, the reptilian and mammalian complexes. We humans, endowed with consciousness, should have the ability to respond - that is responsibility. This is part of the neocortex, the human complex in the brain. The ability to respond, think and execute — cuts the spinal cord mentality of reactivity out of an individual through the living of the Pancha Yama and enhances the conscious responsibility through the Pancha Niyama. For this, a gap, the gap of Vairagya, or dispassionate non-attachment is required. This is the objectivity needed for modern science as well as the ancient art and science of Yoga too. Attachment limits our objectivity as our perspective and vision gets limited, thus “missing the woods for the trees”. Objectivity about our subjective experiences is what the Yogic science is all about. It is often said that the gap of taking a deep breath and counting up to ten helps us to control our reactivity. This is actually the gap in which the stimulus gets an opportunity to travel upwards.. to the neocortex… and in fact while this is happening, the individual is able to elevate themselves to a higher altitude, and are hence blessed with an expanded vision, that further helps in detaching… and then they are able to consciously respond as per the need of the moment. Both Yogeshwar Sri Krishna as well as Maharishi Patanjali reiterate that Abhyasa and Vairagya are the premier tools to control the turbulent, restless, whirlpool-like mind. Vairagya is essential for us to live the Pancha Yama while Abhyasa enables us to follow the Pancha Niyama. Yoga views attachment or the flow towards that which attracts us, Chanuraga, as an important obstacle or hindrance that needs to be overcome for realizing higher Sadhana. Yoga aims at an inner journey and attachment is surely the anchor that keeps us bound to the external world and prevents us from going within ourselves. Most of our physical and mental as well as emotional problems stem from the five psychological afflictions (Pancha Kleshas). Ignorance (Avidya) is usually the Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 02

EDITORIAL start of most problems along with the ego (Asmita). Then, our sense of needing to survive at any cost (Abhinivesha) compounds it further. Abhinivesha can be said to be the ultimate in attachment towards the physical body and physical plane that wants to keep us alive in this plane at any cost. Both the attraction (Raaga) to external objects and the repulsion (Dwesha) to them need to be destroyed in order to attain tranquility and equanimity of mind. It is pertinent to understand the dictates of the Bhagavad Gita where many thousands of years ago, Yogeshwar Krishna taught us about the effect of stress on man and how through our attraction to worldly sensory objects we cause our own destruction. The description of the 'Path to Destruction' as mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita holds true to this modern age also. In chapter Two (Samkhya Yoga), in verse 62 and 63, the pattern of behavior (stress response) is given which ultimately leads to the destruction of man. Verse 62: “Brooding on the objects of the senses, man develops attachment to them. From attachment (Sanga) comes excessive desire (Kama) and from this unsatisfied desire, rage (Krodha) sprouts forth.” Verse 63: “From anger proceeds delusion (Moha); from delusion, confused memory (Smriti Vibramah); from confused memory the ruin of reason (Buddhi Naasha) and due to the ruin of reason he perishes.” In verse 64 of the second chapter, Lord Krishna also gives us a clue to equanimity of mind (Samatvam) and how to become a person settled in that equanimity (SthitaPrajna) who is not affected by the opposites (Dwandwas). He says, “But the disciplined Yogi, moving amongst the sensory objects with all senses under control and free from attraction (Raaga) and aversion (Dwesha), gains in tranquility.” Both the Bhagavad Gita as well as the Yoga Sutras emphasize that the key to success in Yoga (Chittavritti Nirodha) is Abhyasa (dedicated practice) and Vairagya (non-attachment-dispassion). Attachment is usually towards the objects of the senses and that which attracts us. Until and unless we can go beyond the senses, there is no real Yoga possible at all. This is because our senses are great liars and mainly feed us information about the unreal world and not the inner reality. The path is clear, but the effort is up to us, and us alone. Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 03

SACRED COWS! HOLY COWS! Pujya Ammaji, Yogacharini MEENAKSHI DEVI BHAVANANI Ashram Acharya and Director ICYER, Pondicherry, India. I think that I should never see A creature so sweet and lovely As an Indian cow meandering soft and slowly Through crowded streets so innocently. The cow is such an integral part of Indian life, one can hardly conceive of an existence without their ubiquitous presence. Docile and beautiful, they embody so many spiritual truths. They have so much practical use as well. They act as speed breakers on our city streets, forcing even wild youth to curtail their mad desire to roar down the road. The cows amble unexpectedly into sight, any time day or night, giving a quick check to the efficiency of the vehicle's brakes and the driver's reflexes. The cows are great garbage collectors and help re-cycle society's waste. They munch away on anything, and love to lie down right in the middle of a road. Democratic to the core, they will share their garbage bins with goats, dogs and crows and it is not unusual to see this motley crowd dining in great harmony together. I have fond memories of sitting for lunch in a remote Andhra Pradesh village decades ago, relishing the delicacies placed lovingly on my banana leaf, only to be startled out of my \"Jada Samadhi\" (body ecstasy) by a loud \"Mooo\" behind my left shoulder. A soft nudge was felt on my back as a cow poked its head through the window behind me as though asking me to \"hurry up and eat\" so she could have my banana leaf for her meal! I recall another moment at dinner in a wealthy Brahmin household in Bangalore, when again at table with the family, I saw coming through the living room door into the dining room a very large brown-white cow! The family members laughed and explained! \"Don't be alarmed! She is part of our family! She usually joins us at meal times!\" Indeed! Dining with cows in upper scale houses! Of course! Cows are sacred, holy cows, in this blessed land and the cows know this very well! The cow has been divine in Indian consciousness since Vedic times. Cows were wealth. Cows were glory. Cows were a symbol of the most divine motherly qualities. The cow was elevated to divinity in the Rig Veda. In Book VI, Hymn XXVIII attributed to Rishi Bhardwaja the virtue of the cow is extolled. In Atharvana Veda (Book X, Hymn X), the cow is formally designated as Lord Vishnu, and is said to preside over 'all that the Sun surveys'. Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 04

SACRED COWS! HOLY COWS! Indian society has addressed the cow as Gow Mata. Five divine Kamadhenus (wish fulfilling cows), viz, Nanda, Subhadra, Surabhi, Sushila, Bhula emerged in the churning of the ocean by the Asuras and Devas. This reverence for the cow is not just a foolish sentimentality. The cow has been a wonderful servant to humanity. The cow, according to the Vedas, provides four products for human use: (i) Godughda (cow milk): As per Ayurveda, cow milk has fat, carbohydrates, minerals and Vitamin B, and even a capacity to develop bodily resistance to radiation. Furthermore, milk is said to regenerate brain cells (obviously, the Vedic Rishis relished cow milk!). (ii) Goghruta (ghee): The best ghee is, as per Ayurveda, useful in many disorders. In Yajna, it purifies the air. (iii) Gomutra (urine): Eight types of urine are used for medicinal purposes now-a-days, among which cow urine is held to be the best. (Proof of its power is that the Americans are busy patenting it.) It has anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant properties. It has immune-modulator properties, which makes it useful for immune deficiency diseases. In classical religious literature there are many references to cow urine as a drug of choice. Lastly, (iv) Gomaya (cow dung) is considered as valuable as Gomutra and is used to purify the environment, as it has radium and checks radiation effects. Cow dung is formed into pancakes which are dried on the outer walls of houses. These dry cow dung cakes are used in Homas and as cooking fuel. Cow dung is also used to disinfect the threshold of the house. The effectiveness of these cow products is confirmed in modern times by the rush of commercial interests to patent their benefits. For example patents exist in the USA for cow urine distillate (Patent numbers 6410059 and 6896907). Even China has granted the distillate a patent as a DNA protector. A global patent has been granted for cow urine, neem and garlic as a pest repellent and for fungicidal and growth promoting properties for different crops (WHO 2004 / 087618A1). A US patent has been granted for strains from Sahiwal cow milk for plant growth promoter phytopathogenic fungi controlling activity, abiotic stress tolerating capability, phosphate solubilisation capability, etc. And CSIR has filed for a US patent for Amrit Pani, a mixture of cow dung, cow urine and jaggery, for soil health improvement properties. These claims were initially made in the Charaka Samhita,Sushrut, Vagbhata and Nighantu, Ratnakar, etc. They prove the utility of cow dung and urine for sustainable agriculture as well as for disease prevention. Holy cows! Sacred cows! The wealth of both ancient and contemporary India! Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 05

AN AMAZING LEARNING EXPERIENCE AT PONDICHERRY Reflections by Members of the LMU Team who visited in August 2022 Editor's note: We had a lovely time with a dedicated and determined team of students from Loyola Marymount University (LMU), USA who visited ICYER at Ananda Ashram, Sri Kambaliswamy Madam and the CYTER of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth in the first week of August. Here we share some beautiful reflections from members of the LMU team. Iyanna Newborn As I reflect on my time in Pondicherry, India with Dr. Ananda Bhavanani, my heart and spirit overflow with gratitude, as visiting the Ananda Ashram and presenting at the Indo-US Symposium on Yoga Chikitsa was a full circle moment. I was introduced to Dr. Ananda's teachings during CYTER's 2020 International Yoga Day virtual symposium. At the time, I was preparing to apply to the Yoga Studies Master of Arts program at Loyola Marymount University. The concept of Salutogenesis helped inform my scholarship's foundation in exploring how modern Yoga practices could encourage agency, empowerment, and wholeness for individuals in BIPOC communities. Breathe into Wholeness is a program that supports maternal health. I believe Yoga Chikitsa, Yoga therapy, can reduce the impact of chronic stress, and facilitate homeostasis in the body, thus encouraging body, mind, and spiritual resilience. I'm grateful for the opportunity to share with my peers and receive feedback from Dr. Ananda. Much of the information shared during our time at ICYER at Ananda Ashram affirmed and dove deeper into concepts we've learned under the tutelage of Dr Lori R Fazzio. Brahma Mudra, shared during our session, is one practice that resonated with me profoundly. Breath, sound vibration, and movement combine to expand one's perspective and awareness. Traveling to India, experiencing her through the senses, and studying under Dr. Ananda and other scholars fostered a similar expansion as I moved through lessons in patience and non-attachment. Now, when practicing Brahma Mudra at home, I'm reminded to extend grace to myself and others. Dr. Ananda, THANK YOU. Your prolific teachings will continue to live in my heart. Laura Liu I sincerely want to Thank Dr. Lori Rubenstein Fazzio for coordinating the Loyola Marymount University Graduate Yoga Therapy trip to India. Without her efforts I would not have had the opportunity to visit the ICYER at Ananda Ashram Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 06

AN AMAZING LEARNING EXPERIENCE AT PONDICHERRY in Pondicherry and meet Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani. Our group toured the Sir Kambaliswamy Madam and CYTER in Puducherry and experienced Puja and Bhajans rituals and participated in their Yoga practice. During our visit we also received some lectures on Yoga therapy education. We visited the Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute Hospital and sat in on more lectures on Yoga therapy and relaxation practice. The two aspects of my visit to the Ashram monastery that left the greatest impression on me were the early morning therapeutic Hatha Yoga sessions in the Rishiculture Gitananda lineage, and the Mantra and chanting that was incorporated into the activities. The Yoga sessions reinforced my belief in the power and effectiveness of simple and fundamental Yoga postures. I was also exposed to the power of my own voice through chanting and breathing. I can increase vitality by creating energy, achieve a sense of calm with more serene tones, improve my focus, and make so many other adjustments to my psyche by moderating my tone when chanting and using yoga breathing techniques. For me, meeting Dr. Ananda was the high point of our trip. His teaching was so interesting and never forced, there was no boredom and I never tired of his lessons. His teaching about “relaxation being one of the most important contributions to healing” truly resonated with me. I began using the techniques of breathing and chanting that he taught as soon as I returned to my room and immediately found them to be beneficial as they helped with my relaxation. This has been the main take away I got from our trip to India…Relaxation is Healing! Dr. Ananda, his family, and students teach from their hearts and their knowledge was most impressive to me. The passion and wisdom of Yoga therapy made Dr. Ananda and his group a delight to experience. His teaching is authentic and genius, melding his strong medical education, Yoga experiences and background, as well as philosophy. I also appreciate his wife and his students teaching the morning Hatha Yoga on the rooftop. Welcoming the sunrise is very inspiring and healing. I feel very blessed to have had this wonderful experience. Thank you Dr. Fazzio, Dr. Ananda and his lovely family and students. Jacqueline Ayrault My time studying with Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani at the Ananda Ashram/ICYER and CYTER was brief yet enlightening. I left yearning for more, but for now, am taking many nuggets of wisdom with me that are already changing the Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 07

AN AMAZING LEARNING EXPERIENCE AT PONDICHERRY shape of my Yoga journey. Here are the top 10 things I am taking away from this experience, including quotes, or paraphrases from Dr. Bhavanani's lectures, along with my reflections: 1. The most important part of Yoga is to help the individual help themselves. I wholeheartedly agree with this, especially when thinking about Yoga therapy. What was interesting to me in Dr. Bhavanani's lecture was that he was referring to Yoga as a whole, rather than just Yoga therapy. As a student of Yoga and Yoga therapy, but also a Yoga teacher and practitioner, this was a good reminder for me. A reminder that no matter what I am doing with the teachings of Yoga, whether working with a yoga therapy client one-on-one; teaching a group Yogasana, Pranayama, or meditation class; or educating others on Yoga philosophy, I am merely a vessel of self-empowerment. I am aware of this 100% of the time when working individually with Yoga therapy clients; however, I cannot say that I always remember this in group classes. In fact, I have shied away from teaching group classes recently for many reasons, including a feeling that the impact in group classes could only be surface level. My thought was that there was no real empowerment happening because the yoga practices were not individualized. So, why teach group classes? However, if it were not for group classes, I would not be on this self-empowerment path that I am now on. In other words, group classes were and continue to be empowering for me as a Yoga practitioner, so why wouldn't they be for my students? Thank you for the reminder. 2. Yoga therapy is neither greater than nor separate from Yoga as a whole [it is merely one part of the larger “Yoga”]. Prior to studying at the Ananda Ashram, I had not thought of Yoga therapy vs. Yoga in this way…or seen a visual where Yoga therapy was such a small portion of Yoga as a whole. Maybe it is my Western Ego and my Humanitarian Dharma, but I was really hoping Yoga therapy was a much larger slice of the pie! I suppose that for me, I see Yoga therapy as using all of the teachings of Yoga to help empower individuals to a healthier and more purposeful life, and so I see it as next to or directly beneath Yoga (and close to the same size!), rather than a small piece of it. Perhaps I will change my mind as I continue my studies and contemplate this further. Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 08

AN AMAZING LEARNING EXPERIENCE AT PONDICHERRY 3. Being you at all times is energy efficient. And not being you is energy draining. Wow, how enlightening this is! I feel this in my soul and have only recently started to learn this on my own after leaving my corporate job and embarking on a deeper Yoga journey. I wish more people were aware of the importance of being themselves, and I mean really aware. Specifically, how hiding your true self even for just a moment can negatively impact your health and well-being. I will bring this with me as a reminder throughout my daily life and will do my best to spread the word as a Yoga practitioner, therapist and teacher. 4. Yoga Chikitsa helps individuals re-establish themselves in their personal Asana (i.e., state of ease). I had never thought of Asana as an overall state of ease, beyond any specific posture. I have, however, thought of Yoga therapy as a way to help others find a state of calm, ease, meaningfulness, etc. I find it interesting to tie asana directly to this state of ease. Of course, Patanjali has told us that Asana should be steady and comfortable, or perhaps easeful; so it is not necessarily a major deviation from Patanjali's teachings to think of Asana as an overall state of ease. I am not sure that I have fully developed thoughts on this concept as of yet; however, I do know that I like thinking of Yoga therapy and Asana in this way. This concept has certainly stuck with me since leaving Pondicherry, and as with the other nuggets of wisdom on this list, I will continue to ponder this as I move forward in my studies. 5. The more junk you put into yourself, the more you become a junkyard. I recently wrote a paper for my Yoga Philosophy class at Loyola Marymount University entitled: The Importance of Food for the Body, Karma, and Liberation in the Principal Upanishads. The purpose of the paper was twofold: 1. A personal interpretation of the Yogic body as discussed in the principal Upanishads, focusing on the Pancha Maya model, and the “food” for each layer, and 2. How “food” nourishes or negatively impacts each layer and therefore our karmic existence and our movement on the path of liberation. The following is a quote from the conclusion of my paper: “It is also important as practitioners and scholars of Yoga that we consider the food we consume, in its many forms, and its impact on the larger world in which we exist.” In essence, we must be careful of what we consume, lest we become a junkyard; and we do not need any more junkyards negatively impacting our world. Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 09

AN AMAZING LEARNING EXPERIENCE AT PONDICHERRY 6. To build on the last point, I also came away from this experience with more clarity on what I wanted to focus on as I continue my study of Yoga and yoga therapy: Nutrition and diet. Specifically, I hope to study and promote its importance to an individual's overall state of health and well-being, as well as gain a deeper understanding of the different ideas and implementations of nutrition and diet in various Yoga traditions. We only briefly discussed the importance of Ahara/diet or food habits as it pertains to yoga therapy during our time at the ashram; however, partaking in Prasadam at Sri Kambaliswamy Madam, which was very purposefully prepared and eaten, and seeing Ahara included as one of Swami Gitananda's twelve points of health evaluation for yoga therapy were enough to make me realize that food habits and nutrition are a clear passion of mine, and therefore the right focus for me moving forward. 7. We can't have a standardized Yoga therapy protocol because we do not have standardized individuals. This is of course not a new concept for me as a student of Yoga therapy; however, it is one that I continue to take comfort in hearing from my teachers and fellow Yoga therapy practitioners, so I had to include it here. I think we need to be louder with this sentiment in the western world. My hope is that we can be so loud as to impact western medical science. Too much of the medical world is focused on standardization of treatment, but time and time again I see this approach not working. 8. In the present moment, you can change what past memories mean to you. This hit home for me as a friend of mine is actively engaging in this in her life following a very difficult divorce. I will not go into details, to protect her privacy; however, it was not until Dr. Ananda's lecture on this that I realized exactly what she was doing and how healing it has the potential to be. I will bring this concept of revisiting negative memories physically or metaphorically to create new, positive memories in my own life as well as in my Yoga therapy practice. 9. A competent Yoga therapist must be willing to embark on a continuously expanding learning curve. Dr. Bhavanani gave us five characteristics of a competent Yoga therapist, this being the 5th. The others included intelligence and empathy, willingness to share, understanding limitations, and realizing that we are not perfect. “Continuously Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 10

AN AMAZING LEARNING EXPERIENCE AT PONDICHERRY expanding [the] learning curve” stood out to me the most, as I am often thinking about the fact that the deeper that I go into my studies, the more I realize that the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel” is just getting further and further away (i.e., not closer). Although, my love for Yoga, Yoga therapy and the benefits that they can provide to the world grows at each step I take on this journey and therefore my thirst for expanding my knowledge also continues. Perhaps a competent Yoga therapist can never consider themselves a true “expert” as they will always be learning; whether through official education or through working with their “non- standardized,” individual clients. 10. Yantra: I enjoyed learning about Yantra and one's pre-determined Dharma. I learned that I am in the middle of my Spiritual <7> Dharma stage, after an earlier Humanitarian <9> stage that I, unfortunately, did not fully realize. Instead, in the first 27 years of my life, I found myself chasing a career and corporate success, trying to leave that career multiple times in search of something more meaningful, but being repeatedly drawn back into said career. As a result, I did not fully feed the humanitarian dharma that continued to follow me early in life. When I did finally leave my corporate job and figure out my humanitarian path, I was already in the early stage of my spiritual Dharma. Therefore, I now find myself in a constant struggle between wanting to engage in humanitarian efforts to feed my earlier Dharma, while also wanting to go inward and “journey to the forest,” if you will, to fulfill this spiritual path that I am destined to travel at this stage of my life. I have left this lecture realizing that I have some deep personal reflecting to do, but overall, I am excited to do some additional study of Yantra so that I may better understand and follow my Dharma and also help clients find theirs. As is almost always the case when I am asked to write reflections, I fear that I have taken up too much space. Therefore, I shall close with an overwhelming THANK YOU to Dr. and Mrs. Bhavanani and the other students and staff of ICYER and CYTER that so graciously welcomed us and educated us on the practice of Yoga Chikitsa and Gitananda Yoga during our brief yet fulfilling time in Pondicherry. I will take this experience and the learning with me for a very long time. Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 11

REFLECTIONS ON THE GITANANDA NADA YOGA IMMERSION JENNIFER KANAZAWA, Member Gitananda Nada Yoga Immersion 2021-22 Hello from the Naramata Village, my name is Jennifer. I am a single parent with two very bright and active children who absolutely light up my life. Presently I teach Gentle Hatha, Yin Yoga and Yoga for children. My first yoga teacher training experience was with SOYA, in 2016. Asana was very uplifting for me as I was experiencing depression at the time. After taking more training with Mugs, I began teaching, as I felt that Yoga should be shared. Honestly, I was hesitant to start at first, why would I teach when there are already so many amazing teachers? Then I realized that each beautifully gifted instructor is different, and valued, and this was the direction I chose. Learning about Yoga was helping me in so many ways and for me to keep these beautiful teachings all to myself just didn't feel right. During these times was when I needed to separate from my husband. I am very grateful that I found the courage to do this because the toxic nature of my living environment was extremely unhealthy. I proceeded to get counselling and I was also seeking medical advice as I had developed some physical reactions from my body that were very alarming. My wrists had extreme pain and my fingers lost dexterity. I was struggling to hold a pen, as well as the steering wheel of my car. This was very difficult for me to accept as I am a production potter as well. In sharing this I hope to offer clarity towards my perspective with regards to the Nada Yoga Immersion. The blessing of the teachings which we have received from this immersion had an iceberg effect, I had no idea of the vast amount of information that was unseen below the surface! I have learned that I have been dealing with chronic stress issues, and perhaps some genetic arthritis as well. I now have a greater understanding of how to support myself through my practice. As well, I am so very happy to have had the opportunity to relearn a lot of the teachings that I had forgotten due to the trauma that I had chosen to endure, as it had affected my memory. Some of the most important learning moments for me were everything. I believe that every moment of learning was important as all the teachings were relevant to Nada Yoga, cherished and sacred. The lessons were clear and concise, and I was able to understand some very complex practices. There is a teaching that I felt I should take in when I am ready, as it was not within my grasp at this time and that's okay. This was the Mantra Laya. I received the information and when I'm ready to come back to it I will, with a senior instructor. If I could choose two aspects Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 12

REFLECTIONS ON THE GITANANDA NADA YOGA IMMERSION that really touched my heart, it was learning more about biorhythms, and the Ganamrutha Bodhini! The study of biorhythms is referred to as Chronobiology, the science of how our biorhythms are in tune with the universe. Biorhythms are the essence of Nada Yoga, attuning ourselves to be a part of the wholesome experience of the universe with a sense of unity and ease. Biorhythms were deciphered by the great Rishis from time immemorial by tuning into the frequency of universal sound, aligning themselves spiritually with the Infinite Divine and receiving these transmissions of Nada in a 'Nada-Bindu-Kala' state of receptivity. Hatha signifies a state of balance between the bipolar energies of the universe, the sun and the moon, the positive and negative fluxes of energy, ultimately creating a harmonious equilibrium. It is the physical science of balancing equal and opposite energies for optimal well-being. We are not separate from the universe. We are all one. Some of the practices that support connection to the frequencies of Chronobiology and universal sound are Pranayama, Pranava AUM, and Japa. Spiritual healing is often thought of as religious healing, which is a misconception. Spiritual healing contains religious healing, which is optional for some. As 'spirit' means to breathe, anything that relates to the care and sharing of the enchanted allure of the breath is spiritual in nature. The Divine Universe comes into us with every in- breath, and with every- out breath our individuality unites with it. The 'Japa of the Breath', unites with the 'Japa of the Heart', naturally harmonious biorhythms of deep spiritual connection. The So- Hum mantra, this beautiful natural rhythm that flows through us from our first, to our last breath, So (This/That) Hum (I am). We take in the inspiration, nutrients, flora of our atmosphere, solar system, galaxy. We exhale the uniqueness of the Self becoming one with the Cosmic Vibration through our breath. When we breathe mindfully as we are meant to, we manifest and utilize every part of the lungs. The vibration can be used to communicate with ourselves, with others, and the cosmos as these practices support mutual harmonious coexistence, spreading peace and harmony in both the internal and external environment. Dr. Rev Mare Venter, Anjali School of Yoga on The Spirituality of Pranayama: '…The more I breathe and the more I partake of this conscious and mindful practice, the more I have the Divine Light, which will automatically guide and protect me and lead me into greater insights and wisdom. (…) Thus, with every breath, this Divine Potential is manifested within me, and as the Light of the Cosmic Consciousness is Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 13

REFLECTIONS ON THE GITANANDA NADA YOGA IMMERSION flooding through me, I would be instrumental (by the mere act of breathing) in blessing humanity and the world I'm living in.' Mantra enables us to understand connectivity, we connect with others, and we connect with the universe itself. Chanting creates a beautiful sense of rhythm in the heart. The heartbeat is the Japa of the Heart, and contemplation of the heart center will start to attune us to the Anahata Nada. The Anahata Nada is the original causal vibration, beyond expression, the causeless vibration, the unmade sound that has no maker. It is a vibration that exists without cause as it is eternal, helping us to tame the mind. Japa helps us discover that rhythm within us, the rhythm of the universe that comes to us in our biorhythms, physically, physiologically, mentally, psychically, spiritually with the cosmos. In the harmony of that process, we grow into the wholesomeness of the experience. We are all a part of the Japa of Humanity. Maharishi Patanjali enlightened us with the knowledge that the vibration of Purusha is the Pranava. When the Pranava is performed a signal is sent up from the individual to the cosmos described as 'I wish to vibrate at the causal frequency of the universe itself'. It is an experience that retraces our roots back to the source, from Sthula, through the Sukshma, to the Karana Sharira. Pranava is the vibrational essence of your consciousness that lies behind everything. Tasya Vacakah Pranava (of that world vibration Om / the vibration of the Divine is Pranava). Expressing Akara is at the level of Jagrat Avastha, communicating at an audible level in the wakeful state of consciousness, which is where the Sthula Sharira operates and the Vaikhari-Vak is manifested. Expression of Ukara is at the level of Swapna Avastha, sound becomes mental communication in the dream state as the mind is still active, which is where the Sukshma Sharira operates and the Madhyama-Vak is manifested. Makara is expressed at the level of Sushupti Avastha, the deep sleep state where one taps into the collective unconscious of the Karana Sharira. It is within the realm of consciousness of the deep sleep state that the seed body operates and through this body and realm of consciousness that the Pashyanti-Vak is manifested. The Para-Vak is manifested in the Turiya state of consciousness as AUM becomes transcendental, creating a ripple effect of transcendence. Nasal twang empowers the Ahata Nada to move into the Anahata Nada. The nasal twang moves as if you are going up into your brain and out the top of the head creating the closing sound of the syllable followed by silence. Movement from Vaikari Nada, to Pashyanti, to Para, moving from Dharana, to Dhyana, to Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 14

REFLECTIONS ON THE GITANANDA NADA YOGA IMMERSION Samadhi, moving from intra to trans-personal communication with the cosmos itself. Attuning ourselves to the universe creating a sense of peaceful harmony within. When we allow ourselves to receive the teachings through the vibration, a deeper understanding will resonate. As we surrender to the vibration with pure intention, trust and humility, everything will fall into place. Attuning ourselves to the universe we create a sense of oneness, unity, and ease. We don't lose who we are through integration. Our differences help us to understand what connects us. Through Einstein and the Rishis before him, we understand that what connects us is vibration. We are connected through vibratory fields. The nature of these frequencies can be very healing in nature, what we choose to listen to, the words we utter, the sound of the breath, the sound of the heart. I was very drawn to the Ganamrutha Bodhini from the start. I am pulled to it through the sound, the rhythm, and the melodies. Practising this brings me huge joy and great satisfaction. Knowing that the feelings which I experience relate to the stimulation which is occurring through the correlation of the Swaras to the psychic energy centers is profound. The Raga being like a Goddess with so much depth and detail, I appreciate this description given by Yogacharini Dr. Sangeeta Laura Biagi because a Goddess is so multifaceted and mysterious, hauntingly beautiful. Tuning into the notes, so much awakens within me. I have learned this is the progression towards finding Jiva, and I am moving towards the essential Self. Expanding in perspective with depth of Sadhana. Energy flows through the body beginning at the Manipura, then with Bhavana and Bhakti flowing through the heart, to the throat with expression, and the tongue where each Swara is modulated, ascending upward with resonance in the nose, nurturing growth in spirit. The internal experience of this introspective journey helps me rise to my potential. Filling the gap of empty space I feel within to help reveal all the components of who I am, as they are brought into realization. The sanctity of the experience flows throughout every aspect of my being, creating a sacred space for Divine existence to manifest. Passed down from the Rishis and the Rig Veda, the oldest literature of humanity, the Swaras make the petals of the energy vortices shake and quiver with stimulation. I become the vehicle for the Nada to flow through. In this state of Sattvic surrender I am able to attain the state from where the music comes from. Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 15

REFLECTIONS ON THE GITANANDA NADA YOGA IMMERSION With regards to the Nada Yoga Immersion, I will need to take time to absorb what I have learned. When I am confident that I can instill specific teachings in a clear and concise manner, only then will I share it with those who are ready to receive it. Always with respectful acknowledgment to the source of this great abundance being given to the Gitananda lineage. There is a wealth of important guidelines to apply when helping others on their life journey in Yoga, some of these standards are as follows. Making a commitment to myself to be healthy creates positive aspects of thinking and emoting. In doing so I lead by example, and I will inspire others to do the same. Yoga is unlimited, infinite, universal divinity. It is a blessing to receive these teachings and sharing this knowledge must be done in a very mindful way. It is important to be aware of what the students need to learn and when, as it will help them on their journey. Moving too fast into teachings that they're not ready for would be a great disservice to their progress. The teacher- student relationships are based upon love and understanding. Guidance is given with great care for the involutary journey of ascension towards Universal Consciousness. Clearing away ignorance and doubt to enable Universal Consciousness and thoughts to flow freely, attuning students to the infinite potential that resides within all of us. Pranayama helps us remove ignorance and doubt, and when practised correctly can offer greater understanding of the Abhinivesha Klesha. The collective conscience of mankind is reflected in the deterioration of Mother Earth. Like Surya Namaskar, the unity between the internal and external environment is reflected upon and we realize that we are one, unified in creation, and not separate from it. When we are aware of our connectivity to one another through divine creation we realize that we are not alone. This gives us strength which dissolves our fear based need to survive at any cost, and the ego driven habitual tendencies of survival mode as our perspective has expanded. When sharing the knowledge of Pranayama, it is helpful to touch on the benefits of the practice. In short, Pranayama helps control and balance the emotions and strengthen the mind, resulting in expansion of consciousness and awareness, as well as enhancement of memory, intelligence, and creativity. A shift occurs from dwelling within the mundane reptilian reactionary mindset to that of the expansive and responsive perspective that comes with holding space within the Buddhi. This Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 16

REFLECTIONS ON THE GITANANDA NADA YOGA IMMERSION shift into the higher mind results in complete physical, emotional, energetic, and spiritual transformation. Pranayama is one of the most effective wholistic forms of self-care, health care and naturopathy. When you connect with one another from the heart, a seed of love begins to flourish within the heart. If this relationship is nurtured with care, with time this love will begin to circulate through them on every level. Instructors with gratitude towards humanity, life and the universe create this nurturing environment for divine light to shine. An aspect of my teaching practice that I am very proud of is my focus towards gentle Hatha. I modify for wrist sensitivity, which helps me understand the emotions involved with having to learn to flow through physical sensitivities and perception-based obstacles. Helping students learn to modify postures that they find out of their comfort zone or physical capability, as there is always a different approach to create a similar, if not the same desired experience. The flow is slower than most classes which creates a harmonious approach to each asana as slower transitioning between postures is emotionally supportive for many who are modifying and will benefit from the confidence that is built within themselves as a result. I would like to share that I deeply appreciated the online format that the immersion was offered. Having the zoom recordings was very helpful as class for me would have been at 6am, and I hold yoga class on the same morning, so the recording was very supportive. As busy as my family is I wouldn't have been able to participate otherwise. I was able to apply myself when I could, and this was ideal for our family. I am also very excited to dive right back into my lessons to further familiarize myself with the abundance of absolutely beautiful teachings. Nada Yoga is the rhythm of life. Listen to your heart, your breath, the sound of your voice and the words you choose, the harmonious level of your thoughts. Tune in to the Shabda of the creatures of our natural world who swim, crawl, walk and fly. Notice when the wind, water, fire, rock, metal, and trees speak. We share a bond of natural biorhythmic connection to Universal Creation, like water flows through the rivers of the earth, and Pranic energy flows through the Nadis, we are connected to each other. Through this connectivity the beauty of our cultural features can be celebrated. In the nurturing environment of this communion seeds of peacefulness and harmony flourish. The Sadhana of Nada Yoga gives us the ability to perceive the reality of oneness and vibrational connectivity between each and every human being and all aspects of Divine Creation. Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 17

WHY THE DISCIPLE MUST TRY TO KILL THE GURU Pujya Ammaji, Yogacharini MEENAKSHI DEVI BHAVANANI Ashram Acharya and Director ICYER, Pondicherry, India. The Ninjas are a secret ferocious militant sect in Japanese history, part myth, part real and lionized in modern martial arts films and literature. Once I read an account in a novel, of the strange relationship which developed between the Ninja Master and his disciple. When the disciple had achieved the highest level of proficiency in the combat tactics of his Guru, it was traditional at that point of high competency, that the disciple attempt to kill his own Guru. The novel I was reading (supposedly based on much historical fact) told the tale of one such relationship and how the Master was able to foil every cunning attempt of his disciple to destroy him. Somehow this idea has stuck in my mind for many, many years as I have seen it as a pattern in Guru-Chela relationships around me. Not in such a violent, militant manner, of course, but in more subtle expressions. Not only the Guru-Chela relationship follows this pattern, but also it is often played out in the lives of persons who have trained others from scratch, brought up unknowns into the limelight, made zeros into heroes, and later been turned upon by their own protégés and harmed in multiple ways. Sri Aurobindo himself, that great Bengali Yogi of the 19th - 20th century settled in Pondicherry, once wrote: \"Beware of the desire to help another ''. How often does one see the \"helped '' turn viciously against the \"helper\" in politics, art, business, social work, sports, education - in fact, in every field of human endeavor, even in so-called spiritual and religious organizations. As usual the Rishis of India were well aware of this behavioral pattern and examined and explored it in many stories and situations. One such story comes readily to mind. A Rishi meditating deep in a jungle hermitage was approached by a scraggly, half-dead, mangy dog. The dog folded its paws in Namaskar, bowed its head and said, \"Revered Sir!\" I am the most miserable of all creatures. Every animal in the forest has the ability to destroy me. You are a Yogi of great powers. Please transform me into a tiger so I may be able to defend myself and live peacefully. The Rishi felt compassion towards the animal and changed the dog into a tiger. How proudly the Tiger-Dog pranced and roared in its new body, bowing to the Guru and saying, \"I am very grateful to you Sir\"! Some weeks later, the Tiger-Dog was back looking quite forlorn. The Guru inquired as to his state of mind. \"Revered Sir! The elephant is able to defeat me! I am still victimized. Please make me an elephant so I may live in safety!\" The kind Guru Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 18

WHY THE DISCIPLE MUST TRY TO KILL THE GURU fulfilled the creature's desire and the Dog-Tiger-Elephant lifted its trunk and saluted the Guru with a mighty trumpeting roar! But after some weeks the Dog-Tiger-Elephant returned looking wretched! \"O! Great Sir! I am in constant battle with other elephants! Kindly turn me into the King of the Jungle, the mighty Sharaba (Griffin) (half eagle / half lion). None can prevail against that strength and I will be safe at last!\" The Guru fulfilled the beast's request and suddenly the mighty Griffin stood before him, a creature whom none dared challenge! The Dog-Tiger-Elephant-Griffin pondered his situation with pride and arrogance. \"At last I stand here as the greatest, most powerful animal in the Jungle, a griffin. I, a mere dog in origin, have reached such a splendid height\". But then, the negative evil impulses lurking in the primordial mind of the dog surged forward and the now mighty Sharaba (griffin) thought: \"It is true, I am now a Griffin and all will fear and respect me! But this Rishi, this Yogi, he is the only one who knows my secret past, what I was, my original nature. He alone knows that I am merely a lowly dog by birth. Therefore, he is my mortal enemy! I must slay him!\" Thinking thus, the Sharaba pounced on the meditating Rishi intending to tear the Guru to bits with its sharp teeth and claws. But the Rishi, a true Master, discerned the creature's intentions and with his Yoga Maya transformed the Sharaba back to its original form as a dog. \"O ungrateful creature!\" the Rishi shouted. \"Out of compassion I gave you a chance to accelerate your evolution. But you were unable to transform your base dog-like nature! Now, you must go and live out your own Karma at your own capacity!\" Hearing these words, the dog slunk away, back to the jungles, sadder and perhaps (but not for certain) wiser. When one helps another to rise from a lower to a higher state of being, one risks facing the consequences of the ignorant impulses and base nature of the recipient of one's good-hearted aid. Perhaps this is why the Gurus of old did not give their teachings easily or freely. They saw that empowering a low-minded, base personality would enable that person to intensify the destructive ignorant impulses not yet purified from his/her psyche. In such a situation the dog must bite the hand that feeds it. So many stories warn against this behavioral pattern, this drama which has been enacted over and over again through the ages, following (as it were) a set script. Remember Julius Caesar's anguished cry, as he fell to the knife of his friend and protégé, \"Et Tu Brute?\" Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 19

WHY THE DISCIPLE MUST TRY TO KILL THE GURU Another famous story tells the incident of a Rishi bathing in a river, who saw a scorpion dragged in the river's current and being drowned. The Rishi in an instinctive act of compassion, reached out, picked up the huge scorpion and carried it to the shore. Whereupon the scorpion promptly stung the Rishi with its venomous tail. The Rishi, with his dying breath, called out, \"O brother scorpion! I have saved your life! Why have you taken mine?\" \"I am sorry Master,\" replied the scorpion. \"I could not help myself. It is my nature to sting!\" Even Lord Shiva himself fell prey to the foolishness of the desire to help a being of undeveloped bestial nature. A great Asura (devil) did Tapasya for eons to obtain a boon from Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva appeared before him and said, \"I am pleased with your Tapasya. Ask any boon, I shall give it!\" The Asura (called Bhasmasura) said, \"I wish this boon: Whenever I lay my hand upon any creature's head, that creature should turn to ash\". (This itself is a warning! When given a chance to obtain a boon, the low-minded will choose the power to cause harm to others!) Shiva granted the boon. And Bhasmasura promptly began to chase Lord Shiva himself all over the earth, seeking to lay his hand on the head of Lord Shiva. The ungrateful Asura wanted to turn the Lord himself to ash! (Shiva escaped, but that is yet another story). What is the meaning behind all these stories? What is the lesson to be learned in this particular pattern of relationship? Why should the \"helped\" have a tendency to wish to destroy the one who helps? Why does the disciple wish to eliminate the Guru? The answer lies in the same place that it always lies, in spiritual dilemmas - the nature of the ego, the Ahamkara, the sense of self or individuality. Maharishi Patanjali lists Asmita (Ego – Ahamkara) as the second hindrance out of five in the soul's movement towards Moksha, Freedom. There comes a crucial point in the spiritual unfolding of every Jiva when the Ego, the Asmita, the Ahamkara reaches its full maturity, vigour and power. Spiritual development includes the empowerment of ego, up to a point. One must cultivate a strong sense of self- worth, before one can transcend it. The ego-sense, like all other senses, must be satisfied - fully satisfied. The Jiva must experience fulfillment in the ego's desires: recognition, power, skill, acclaim, accomplishment, dominance, possessiveness, etc. When the Jiva reaches that height of egotistic power, it is presented with a situation similar to that faced by the Dog-Tiger-Elephant-Griffin. The ego must at that crucial point realize that it has reached the zenith, not by its own inherent talent or skill, but by the grace of God or Guru, a higher force, far beyond itself. The ego then must bend and touch the feet Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 20

WHY THE DISCIPLE MUST TRY TO KILL THE GURU of its benefactor, surrendering all its glory to the one who created it. This act of grateful, loving surrender to the source of all one's accomplishments is called by Maharishi Patanjali as \"Ishvara Pranidhana\". It is the fifth and ultimate observance, the last of the five Niyamas. It is the Niyama so highly valued by Maharishi Patanjali that he says perfection in Ishvara Pranidhana results in the ultimate spiritual attainment of Samadhi, Cosmic Consciousness, Universal Union, Absolute Dissolution of the Ego in the Ultimate Divinity. It is in that act of surrender that the ego can dissolve in the heat of immense gratitude and transcendent states can be achieved. But at that pinnacle of creative evolution, there is another choice open to the ego. This is the one taken by the griffin which chose to destroy the very source of its power. The Christian religion speaks of a similar idea using the story of the last temptation of Christ, when Christ was taken by the Devil to a high mountain top and shown the world in all its glory, power, beauty and immense sensual appeal. \"All this can be yours,\" said the cunning Lucifer, \"if you give your soul to me\". The devil in all of us is this powerfully developed ego which seeks to bring all the world under its own control. The ego wishes to absorb all the world into itself so to speak. All the dictators of history have taken up the offer of this devil. Succumbing to the promise of the Devil (ego) they literally sold their souls! The ego's desire to make everyone instruments of its own will and to obtain all, possess all, imprison all within the confines of its own self is the pitfall to watch out for. The Dog-turned-Griffin had such a desire, to be king of the jungle and to hold all the creatures therein under its thrall. But there was one fly in the ointment. That fly was the Guru, for the Guru knew the sheer impotency of the ego, the miserable dog which was its essential nature. Therefore if the Dog-Griffin wanted to achieve its goal, it had to destroy the Guru. Had the griffin made the first choice, of realizing that all it had attained was not of its own doing, in fact, that none of its powers in truth belonged to it, the story would have had a different ending. Had the Griffin saluted the Guru with true reverence and gratitude, bowing at his Master's feet and saying, like the Christ Master himself, \"Not my but thy will be done\" then the creature would have enjoyed a sublime existence, perhaps even obtaining Moksha in its powerful body itself. In trying to destroy the Guru, the Sharaba destroyed itself. In trying to assume the role of God Himself and Ultimate Power, the ego breaks itself to bits. The ego must then spend several lifetimes putting itself together again. In another lifetime the ego, when fully empowered again, will face the same crucial point of choice, and Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 21

WHY THE DISCIPLE MUST TRY TO KILL THE GURU hopefully, being older and wiser, will make better decisions that next time around. The wise Guru is well aware of the nature of his/her disciple and watches carefully for the maturation of this crisis point in relationship. The Guru has really no choice, because the Ahamkara must be developed in all his/her Chelas. It is a necessary stage of evolution, like the lowly caterpillar which must transform into the butterfly. A highly skilled Guru will carefully monitor this development and know when to \"cut and prune\" along the way, all the time allowing space and time for the maturation process. Discussing, debating, guiding, teaching, seeding high principles of conduct into the Chela's personality is part of the Guru's work as a skillful gardener. But at the same time, sometimes even a wise Guru is blinded by affection or attachment and misses the cues that indicate the Chela has wandered off the path. When the crucial moment surfaces, the Sharaba attacks or the scorpion stings. That is the moment of truth for both the Guru and the Chela. The Guru, of course, in all this must be a true Guru, or he will lack the power to turn the Sharaba back to a dog. In that case, the undeveloped Guru will fall to the attack of his own disciple and be destroyed in the process. This is also Karmic justice for the Guru must be Master of his/her own ego impulses to play his role skillfully and correctly. If the Guru has been foolish, he perishes. If the Chela is outwitted, he forfeits the game. In either case, from the Cosmic perspective, the whole drama is but a ripple in the ocean waters. The forms rise, the forms fall. The drama will be enacted again and again until all the players in the drama learn what they must learn, make the choices they must make. Then, and only then, will the final curtain fall. The sign board will signal \"The End\". And the bliss of Cosmic Union will permeate the space where all these fantastic dreams once held sway. I asked my mentor in our happy hours the ins and outs of this life and far beyond he said your salvation is on the way when you try to take people's pain away. – Rumi, from Dancing the Flame by Nader Khalili, p. 99 Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 22

EXPERIENCING ATMAN PRANIDHANA RACHAEL HILL, Om Yoga Studio, UK Atman Pranidhana is also known as Isvara Pranidhana. Isvara, meaning God. Gitananda describes this as listening to the Inner Voice or the Quiet. One might say it is dedication to the Lord by becoming humble internally. Those wishing to seek Atman Pranidhana will not have a big ego, or be drunk on power or pride. Man will not be selfish or be addicted to any kind of opiate. When the senses are addicted to pleasures and they crave them (Moha) and then become greedy in wanting more (Lobha). When this need is not met, sorrow happens (Shoka). The term 'Isvara Pranidhana' is made up of two words: Isvara, which translates as 'Supreme Being', 'God', 'Brahman', 'Ultimate Reality' or 'True Self' and Pranidhana, which means 'fixing'. In most translations of this Niyama, we're advised to 'surrender' to this Supreme Being or higher self, which in essence means cultivating a deep and trusting relationship with the universe, and making each action an offering to something bigger than us. 'God' is a very tricky word to work with. There are a lot of people who find even discussing the concept of a God (or as in the Hindu tradition – many Gods!) uncomfortable. Yoga in no way forces the idea of God or religion upon anyone, not in any classes I have attended before. However, there is an element of it that suggests there is a greater power out there, something more profound and pure that exists beyond anything that we could ever imagine. Isvara Pranidhana could be seen to mean offering our actions up to 'the divine' and humanity, because as we've all heard many times before – we are in fact all one. The word Isvara means 'a state of collective consciousness', which tells us – in this sense – that there isn't a Godlike figure we are supposed to worship or devote our actions to at all; rather 'God' represents this collective consciousness, and therefore represents all of us too. Dr Bhavanani states that when Isvara Pranidhana is carried out consistently and correctly along with the other Sutras, it can be seen as a shortcut to Samadhi. Dr Bhavanani also suggests that Isvara Pranidhana is a state of wisdom. That we are broken from the chains that humans carry and we have surrendered to a higher being and accepted it with joy and happiness. Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 23

EXPERIENCING ATMAN PRANIDHANA Some may say that the word 'surrender' is used to describe weakness but to carry this out within Isvara Pranidhana, I believe it requires preparation, strength, courage, complete devotion and trust. So it is not a weakness in this case, in actual fact it requires the highest of strengths and concentrations. Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 24

YAKSHA PRASHNA: A SPIRITUAL EXAMINATION PAR EXCELLENCE Editor's note: A most beautiful spiritual teaching contained in the Mahabharata is the portion called the Yaksha Prasna. \"Prasna\" means \"a question\" and \"Yaksha\" is a celestial being. Yudhisthira was the eldest of the five Pandavas, and was known for his wisdom and his extreme affability or friendliness. In fact, he was also called \"Ajatasatru\", \"one whose enemy is yet to be born\" (It also can mean, by implication, one who has conquered all of his enemies). At one point during their exile incognito in the forests, all four of his younger brothers had fallen \"dead\" having drunk waters from an \"enchanted, poisoned lake\". The Yaksha appeared before Yudhisthira and promised him he would restore his brothers to life, if he could give satisfactory answers to the questions which were put to him. Yudhisthira agreed. Hundreds of questions were asked by the Yaksha, who was greatly pleased with Yudhisthira's wisdom and restored his brothers to life. A few of those questions and answers are printed here for the enlightenment of our readers. - Ed's Note. Q: Which is the most fruitful Dharma? Which is the highest? A: That enjoined by the Vedas is the most fruitful. Kindness towards all is the highest Dharma. Q: Which ensures freedom from grief? A: Perfect mind-control. (Not for nothing has mind been compared to a crazy, drunken, possessed monkey). Q: Which is the perfect unbreakable association? A: Association with the virtuous (Sat Sangam). Q: What should be given up to become most lovable? A: One's useless pride (Ego-Mamaakaram). Q: What should be given up to ensure freedom from sorrow? A: One's anger. (e.g., He is a fool who cannot be angry; he is wise who will not). Q: What, if given up, ensures untold wealth? A: One's desires (Desire is the root of all evil). Q: What, if given up, ensures supreme happiness? A: Greed. Q: Why should you make gifts to Brahmins? A: To perpetuate Dharma (righteousness). Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 25

YAKSHA PRASHNA: A SPIRITUAL EXAMINATION PAR EXCELLENCE Q: Why are presents given to actors and dancers? A: For name and fame. Q: Why do you give presents to servants? A: For their livelihood and sustenance. Q: Why do you give presents to kings? A: Out of fear of reprisal. Q: What engulfs this world? A: Sheer ignorance (Ajnana or Avidya). Q: What is that which hinders light? A: Darkness. Q: Why are friends given up? A: Avarice. When one is greedy his greed makes him give up even his dear friends. Q: Why does one not go to heaven? A: Attachment to mundane objects and desires prevents this. Q: Which man, though alive, is considered dead? A: One who suffers from abject poverty. (e.g. Thirukkural). Q: Which is a non-existent kingdom? A: That which is governed improperly. Q: When is 'Sraddha' (Ceremony for Pithrus!) useless? A: When the officiating priest is not well-versed in Vedas. Q: When is a 'Yajna' (Vedic sacrifice) useless? A: When the officiating priests are not suitably recompensed. Q: What is the 'way'? Who constitutes it? A: The performance of good deeds is 'the way'. Those who do good deeds constitute it. Q: Which is referred to as water? A: Space (Akaasa) Q: What constitutes food? A: The cow with its milk. Q: What is poison? A: One's wants. www.rishiculture.in 26 Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022

YAKSHA PRASHNA: A SPIRITUAL EXAMINATION PAR EXCELLENCE Q: What is 'Tapas'? A: Performance of one's own duties (Dharma) is 'tapas'. Q: What is 'Shame' (Hree)? A: That which makes one desist from erroneous behavior. Q: What is knowledge? A: Realization of truth and one's self is knowledge. Q: What is the highest form of compassion? A: Desire for universal happiness - Viswa Shanti. Q: Which desire can never be appeased? A: Desire for belongings of others. Q: What is goodness? What is bad? A: To secure the happiness of all (Sarvejanahsukhinobhavanthu) should be the universal prayer. Absence of fellow feelings is bad. Q: What is Maya (Delusion)? A: Ignorance of Dharma (righteousness) causes delusion. Q: What is pride? A: Excessive ego-centric behavior. Q: What is laziness? A: Failure to perform one's assigned duties. Q: What is courage? A: Sensory control. Q: What is Dhana (Charity)? A: Ensuring protection to all creatures. Q: Who is a scholar? A: The one who knows his Dharma. Q: Who is a fool? Who is an atheist? A: An atheist is a fool! One who is foolish enough not to believe in God! Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 27

BENEFITS OF CHANTING MAITREYA DADASHREEJI, FOUNDER AND GUIDE OF THE MAITRI BODH PARIVAAR https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/benefits-of-chanting-on-mind-heart What are the effects of chanting on our mind? How does it connect with our heart? Every aspect of the universe affects you and everything around. Sound is one of the elements. When you hear it, you experience corresponding emotional and mental changes. Depending on the type of sound, you may feel good or get disturbed. You experience it in your regular conversations with people. When someone encourages you, it generates positive emotions. Similarly, when your colleague criticizes your work, you get angry or feel disheartened. So, if you could observe it, you will notice that your inner-being continuously changes depending on the kinds of words exchanged between the two of you. Now, are these changes occurring only due to words? If you apply this understanding to the kind of music we listen to, you will see a similar impact. You are very well aware of this as there are ample studies available on the effect of music on the human body and mind. Good music elevates your mood. It keeps you happy and positive. To share some examples, the Indian classical Raga, 'Ahir-Bhairav' directly influences your Heart Chakra and facilitates its activation. You may listen to it in the morning hours. Similarly, the frequency '528 Hz' is known as the 'love frequency'. It helps in awakening the love within and around. If the human body and mind can experience change through words and music, can it not experience it through a set Divine mantra? Mantras are powered, and energised sound frequencies created to uplift human consciousness, at various levels of its spiritual journey. One may chant these mantras depending upon the need of the seeker. People usually refer to their religious scriptures to chant the divine mantras or hymns. One is allowed to do so, but at the same time, one should know that one shouldn't practice certain mantras without proper guidance. Some mantras are mild (Soumya) in nature, and some are intense (Rudra). Hence, decide accordingly! Your conscience will guide you. Apart from mantras from the scriptures, your Master or Deity may directly give you mantras to chant. These mantras are now energized and more powerful. The reason is that these are as per your current life situation. They easily blend with nature, and most importantly these are energized by the Master for you. That means that when you receive and practise the mantras, they are already charged with the power. Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 28

BENEFITS OF CHANTING Today, there aren't many Masters who can create a new mantra and infuse it with Divine power. You may notice three primary effects of mantra chanting. The effects are not limited to the points mentioned here. 1. Wish Fulfillment: The seeker may opt to chant specific mantras to fulfill his or her needs. The requirement may be spiritual or material. Irrespective of this, one may continue to practice the chanting for the prescribed number of days. Through the power of the mantra, it becomes easy to translate your wish into a language the Divine can understand and respond to. The mantra helps to transmit your prayer to the universe with a particular frequency. Whenever you do anything with pure intent and dedication, your wish is bound to come true with the will of the Divine. The time for its fulfillment is not under your control. Let the Divine decide that! If you offer your prayer with great honesty, its fulfillment is inevitable and will occur when the time is right. 2. Purification: The regular chanting of mantras will purify your inner-world. It will first clean the consciousness and then start purifying the inner layers one by one. The process is biological and may take years. The level of purification directly depends on the state of the physical Master you are following. The awakened Master knows the way and the time of spiritual fruition. 3. Tuning the self: The profound spiritual change one would experience is tuning the self with the Divine. As you keep chanting the mantra, you keep evolving spiritually and start marinating in the Divine Nectar. The mantra heals the body, purifies the mind and elevates one's spiritual state. The spiritual vibrations penetrate deep within the layers of the consciousness from the physical body (Sthula Sharira) to the astral body (Sukshma Sharira). With regular practice, the body particles, molecules vibrate at a higher frequency which gradually turns into the 'divine body'. When the mind receives the calming divine vibrations, it too starts getting attuned with the sacred sound. Past blocks, traumas and unwanted memories start disintegrating. It empowers the seeker with guiding intuitions, productive creativity and improved cognitive abilities. The root of the mind is in the heart. And the heart is the place where your Inner Divine resides. Your body and mind get connected to the heart, the Divine abode. You receive direct guidance from the Inner Divine. The connection reveals the deep mystical and ethereal knowledge. The Divine expresses its qualities with Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 29

BENEFITS OF CHANTING no inhibitions or blocks through you. The divine mantra smoothly and surely keeps trickling deep into the subtle layers until you become the mantra itself. Be prepared! One may choose to chant the mantra at a specific time for a few days depending on your need. Once you complete your Sadhana, you should leave it to the Divine to grant the boon. For the devotee, there is no such specific time or limiting days to chant the mantra. The devotee keeps chanting the mantra day and night. With each breath, the devotee ceaselessly takes the name of the Lord. It is done sometimes internally and sometimes verbally. When the breath becomes the Lord, and the Lord becomes the breath, the divine union of the Two manifests. Your destiny (Prarabdha) ends, you get freed from Karma, and a new divine chapter begins, far beyond what your mind can imagine. “Dharma\" is a classical Sanskrit word for \"conscious responsibility, producing spiritual virtue\". The terms \"Dharma kick\" and \"Dharma bum\" are popular terms for anyone in modern times who thinks it necessary to be responsible or virtuous. The terms \"responsibility\" and \"virtue\" should not be given any mundane value, rather, the most universal possible. Shri Krishna in BHAGAVAD GITA is quoted as saying, \"Where Dharma is established, Truth flourishes.\" We have had a few dynamic people in this age, who have thought it \"right to do right\" like Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Schweitzer, Martin Luther King, and others less known. Their acts we would consider Dharmic or righteous, in that it was the \"right-use of action\". Look around you. Read your periodicals. Listen to popular leaders. What you observe and hear is adharmic, because the gains are short-term gains for individuals or pressure groups and not really for mankind as a whole. It is hard to live for others. But, I think a good man or a woman, as a father and mother, know something about living for others, if only their children. It is Dharmic to fill your life with responsibilities of a family, but actions may be adharmic if one turns to corrupt practices and an immoral way of earning a living, or living at the expense of others. My Ashram is flooded with Adharmic students each year. One or two each year get the message of Dharma and alter their lives. Most resist change, particularly because they are earning their living by unrighteous methods, and to change would mean to upset all of their previous conditioning. If it is difficult for a so-called Yoga student to change his thought and way of living, then how much more difficult for the common man who has not even heard the high message of righteousness (right-use-ness) and union (Yoga). Teachers of Yoga have a monumental task if they are going to help their students in reality, and must themselves become leaders with high moral and ethical standards. Many of the present Yoga leaders are living immoral sexual lives, using alcohol, smoking tobacco and hashish, and involved in all sorts of adharmic activity. Articles appear in leading Yoga journals suggesting that students do not have to change their ways, simply follow this Guru or that, and get saved. Possibly it is just my age, but I have become more concerned with Dharma than with Karma, and am now pursuing relentlessly the concepts of a virtuous spiritual life in the world. – Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri, Frankly Speaking, pp. 303-304 Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 30

INAUGURATION OF INSTITUTE OF SALUTOGENESIS AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE ISCM OF SRI BALAJI VIDYAPEETH, PONDICHERRY Dr.Bhushan Patwardhan, Chairman, Executive Committee, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and Former Vice Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC) recently inaugurated the Institute of Salutogenesis and Complementary Medicine (ISCM) at Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (SBV), Deemed to be University, Pondicherry accredited by NAAC with A ++ Grade. SBV has been providing Complementary Medicine Services since 2007 in the form of Music Medicine Intervention and from 2010 Yoga in addition. Both of these were converted to centres, namely Centre for Music Therapy Education & Research and Centre for Yoga Therapy Education and Research. SBV's intention is to provide facilities of yoga and music intervention to target specific diseases, but in combination with modern medicine. In his opening remarks, Dr. Patwardhan drew reference to the statistics provided by World Health Organization (WHO) that nearly 80 percent of the global population utilizes Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM). Despite the rapid advances made in medical sciences and therapeutics, mention must be made of the fact that several challenges do exist with reference to accessibility and affordability. It is in the fitness of things that we need to abide by the principle elaborated in Ayurveda “Swasthasya Swasthya Rakshanam” which means there must be holistic involvement of the physical, mental, social and spiritual dimensions. Salutogenesis or wellness has been seamlessly integrated at Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, with the essential principles of complementary medicine and allopathy. It is indeed noteworthy that SBV has taken the lead in the country by starting ISCM. Dr. Patwardhan stressed the need for integration of traditional complementary systems of medicine with the modern medical approach for the benefit of our society. He said, \"We need a paradigm shift from patient-disease- drug-treatment based curative approach to person-health-wellness-prevention based holistic approach for dealing especially with non-communicable, behavioral, lifestyle, and metabolic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and many others. Immunity and Inflammation have come on the centre stage during the Covid-19 pandemic. As of now, other than symptomatic treatment and vaccines there is nothing much for its prevention and management. Admittedly, current conventional medicine and therapeutic approaches are grossly inadequate to address present problems\". Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 31

INAUGURATION OF ISCM He appreciated the extraordinary services from the Center for Yoga Therapy Education and Research and Center for Music Therapy over the past decade. Integration of such drugless therapies with cutting-edge medical advances augurs well with our cultural traditions. He congratulated Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth for upgrading these centers into an Institute of Salutogenesis and Complementary Medicine (ISCM). Appreciating the vision of the Chancellor Shri MK Rajagopalan and the Vice Chancellor Prof. SC Parija in taking efforts to showcase the cultural heritage of India through the medical perspective, he said\", This will truly be the historic establishment of a unique and holistic institute within a modern medical institution\". He congratulated Prof. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani who has been chosen to lead this initiative of integrative medicine where the antiquity of tradition and modernity of science will come together for the sake of humanity. \"Pondicherry is well-known as a city of the Great Siddha Yogis and I am honored to be present in such a spiritual ambience\". Prof. Subhash Chandra Parija, Vice Chancellor, SBV informed the august gathering about the initiatives undertaken in the realms of Yoga Therapy and Music Therapy ever since the inception of SBV. An impressive volume of evidence has been generated through research publications in high impact journals. Several thousands of people have been the beneficiaries from outreach services. Considering this, it was decided to upgrade the facilities into the ISCM, with the aim of providing Salutogenesis and wellness for all. It must be mentioned that academic courses and programs including certificates, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters and Doctoral Programs in Music and Yoga Therapy are in vogue. Prof. Ananthakrishnan N., Dean of Faculty, SBV noted that Yoga and Music would strive in promoting wellness when combined with the standard Health Care. The concept of Salutogenesis has been integrated into modern medicine and thus the noble contribution of SBV to the world community, especially during the post pandemic period. Prof. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, Director, ISCM remarked that the upgrading of Yoga and Music Therapy centres into ISCM would go a long way in promoting Salutogenesis besides addressing several disorders of lifestyle, metabolism, endocrine and nervous systems. Prof. A.R. Srinivasan, Registrar, SBV rendered a musical felicitation on the occasion. Prof. Madanmohan Trakroo and Prof. Sumathy Sundar were feted for their significant contributions towards Salutogenesis at SBV. Vol.53 No. 09, September 2022 www.rishiculture.in 32