Professional Documents
Culture Documents
WINTER
2000
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S I V A N A N D A
WINTER 2000
SIVANANDA ASHRAM PRISON PROJECT UPDATE 29 MAKING THE BODY ALL EYES 45
Phillip B. Zarrilli on kalarippayatu, the martial/meditation
MOUNT RUSHMORE SYNDROME 37 art of Kerala.
Eco-psychologist Allen D. Kanner discusses the modern outlook
- when Narcissism rules the earth. THOUGHTS ON A YOGIC LIFE 47
Published by
The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre
51 Felsham Road, The International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, founded by Swami Vishnu-devananda is
London, SW15 1AZ a non-profit organization whose purpose is to propagate the teachings of Yoga and Vedanta
England. Tel: 0181 780 0160
e-mail: YogaLife@sivananda.org as a means of achieving physical, mental and spiritual well-being and Self-realization.
Headquarters
Sivananda Ashram Yoga Camp The International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres has its Headquarters in Val Morin, Quebec, Canada,
Eighth Avenue, Val Morin, Quebec,
Canada, JOT 2RO. Tel: 819-322-3226
with centres and ashrams located around the world (see page 58/59 for addresses).
e-mail: hq@sivananda.org 1957
3
Sivananda:
Words of PEACE
any people are working You can elevate others only if you Peace is the happy, natural state of
S WA M I V I S H N U - D E VA N A N D A S P E A K S
A Question of
Suffering
M
any religions incorporate the
idea that a person must suffer
and be punished. For example
there is the idea of hell and
purgatory in the Catholic faith. Yoga
philosophy teaches the law of karma,
whereby each person suffers as a result of his
own bad actions. However, people truly
suffer by virtue of their own ignorance, their
inability to understand who they are and
why they exist. It seems that a person’s bad
actions result from this ignorance. Each
person appears to have come into existence
from a state of total ignorance and must
suffer. We suffer until we find the truth. Why
is this?
money, you’ll cry more, not for her, for the Cause contains effect, and effect contains God is somewhere else punishing you and
money. Then, just suppose she had an cause. The seed contains the tree. And the tree rewarding you. That cannot be a God who
accident and her lover is killed. Before you contains the seed. The tree’s the future cause. just punishes us because we don’t praise Him.
used to cry when she had suffering, now It is all how you look at it, you know. That’s He is a super dictator then! Read the
when she is suffering you laugh. The person is why we can never solve the problem of this question again.
the same. Your dream has changed. Now the universe by merely asking questions. Why God
mantra has changed from “I love you honey” created this world? If He created it, when did “Many religions incorporate the idea that
to “Go to hell honey”. This is also a dream. He create it? Then what was He doing before people must suffer, be punished e.g. the idea
From the cosmic point there is no suffering, He created it? The questions can go on and on. of hell, purgatory in the Catholic faith.”
no pain, only illusion. You identify with this The important thing is to understand that
perishable body; that is the ignorance which nothing comes without a cause. The seed of Swamiji: Okay, stop there. Many religions
you mentioned. your existence, there must be a cause. Why are believe in hell and heaven. The question is:
As long as you identify with the body there you all born in the country where everything who is responsible for the hell and heaven?
is a karma reaction. Just as in physics, every is in plenty? Why were you not born in Suppose I create a robot, Mr. Roboti. Who do
action has an equal and opposite reaction. Bangladesh or Rwanda or Ethiopia? Where you blame if the robot killed someone? The
This law applies everywhere. A rocket goes up millions and millions of babies are starving creator is it not? And suppose the robot
because it has an opposite thrust. If I throw a and dying. continues going around killing everybody
ball, the ball will bounce on me. If I give a glass The parents cannot even cry for their dying then you think that the man who created this
of water to some one who is dying, sacrifice babies. They know their babies are going to die must be a monster. So, God created Hitler. God
my comfort, then I will get water when I am in a few days or few weeks. They’re all like created Jesus also. What is the difference
in the most difficult situation. Or suppose I skeletons. I’ve seen it in Bangladesh. India between one creation and another? So does
stole water from some one who needs water. refused to give food to these people - about the blame go to God? And suppose you’re not
I drank, made him suffer, then sometime I 10 million refugees in a small area. There is no able to behave properly and you’re sent to hell
won’t be able to drink, even if the water is in water, no electricity, no food. Children are forever! Forever means how long? Infinite
my hand. Nothing happens without a cause. dead and dying, their bodies are lying with future you’re going to suffer because you live
Look at this plant. It came from a cause. There filth and flies everywhere. Some are dead, for one hundred years. Of the hundred years,
are two things: a cause and effect. Sometimes some are just dying, and their parents around fifty years you spend in sleeping. Childhood is
w e them are not crying. There are no tears gone like a dream. And then old age comes,
sitting in the wheelchair with intravenous
Suffering is just another illusion like a dream. This is feeding and senility, you can’t even say your
own name. In between a few years called
called maya in Sanskrit, but your real nature is sat, youthful life the hormones are very high, the
chit and ananda, existence absolute, knowledge blood pressure shoots up, that’s called life.
Because, in this short life span you can’t be
absolute and bliss absolute. There is no ignorance in very good and learn all of these ethical and
you because you are knowledge – each person is an moral lessons, so you’re punished forever? Is it
image of God. But you have forgotten this image and fair that God should do that? Then, if I don’t
worship Him, he’s going to send me to hell.
you start identifying with the dream. That’s like a dictator. He has every power in His
hand. So that’s not the right answer. God did
cannot see because there’s no not create anything. He Himself manifests,
the cause, but we can always see the effect. water to bring them even tears. But here the that is the difference. Now, the conclusion of
Here the effect is this beautiful plant and baby gets all the attention, why? God is this. Why people suffer. Suffering is just
these flowers. But we do not know who interested? another illusion like a dream. This is called
planted the cause, though we know If God created, why did God create so maya in Sanskrit, but your real nature is sat,
somebody must have done that. many millions of souls to suffer while some chit and ananda, existence absolute,
Cause and effect are one and the same. children are born in a castle with a silver knowledge absolute and bliss absolute. There is
Depends upon which point you are starting spoon in the mouth? What is the cause no ignorance in you because you are
from. Take an example. This glass is round. behind it? If God is the cause then we have to knowledge – each person is an image of God.
Now tell me, which is the beginning of this blame God for everything. But God is But you have forgotten this image and you
round glass? Let us assume there must be impartial, like the sun. The sun shines equally start identifying with the dream.
some beginning. So I say, this is the beginning, in all conditions. The sun shines on the rich I’ll give a simple example for you to
then where is the end? The beginning and end man’s swimming pool and in a gutter full of understand how this illusion works. I’m sure
are the same spot? Depending on how you are filth. It makes no difference between the all of you have seen at least one movie in your
looking. If you look clockwise the beginning swimming pool and the gutter water. It shines life. Some movies are frightening. For example
becomes the end, and if you’re looking equally. It is the same with Supreme Grace; several years ago I was in London. At that time
counter-clockwise the end becomes the the grace is everywhere. It is shining in all of “The Exorcist” was playing. I wanted to see
beginning. So what is called cause and effect our hearts. But we close our eyes and pretend how they make these films because when I
is only a matter of which came first, we haven’t seen Him. Not only pretending, we was young my uncle was a mantravadi, a real
depending on how you are interpreting it. believe He is not even in us. We believe that exorcist. In my home every new moon night
8
YO G A Life Winter 2000
my uncle chanted various mantras; he himself playing, never trying to identify with the Self. foxholes. It’s so boring, and suddenly a
had control over various spirits. Suddenly an That is the difference between a God-realized beautiful colored plane came and started
ordinary housewife becomes wild; it takes 5 to soul and an ordinary person. That is all; there throwing leaflets and they ran to pick them up.
10 people to hold her. She becomes so hungry is nothing else. A God-realized person can also Then we crossed into Egypt. They could
that she eats 12-15 people’s food in a few have this dream, but he is not participating; he have shot us; flights would not have been
minutes. I couldn’t understand all these is witnessing it, watching everything. allowed over the Suez Canal. We had about
things; I was young. I knew that food only So God has got two aspects: static and 100 miles to reach Cairo, and when we were
goes in one direction - through the mouth kinetic. Siva and Shakti are God in 50 or 60 miles from Cairo we called in the
and into the stomach, then through the small manifestation and its inherent nature. You usual pattern. “Please give us landing
intestine, colon etc. When she comes back, she can’t say why God creates or illusion exists, instructions”. There was an uproar. “Who gave
becomes a normal housewife. And after 15 because that ‘why’ question exists only in your you permission, you’re not allowed to come
minutes she will go and eat her normal dinner. mind. When you wake up from the dream here”. Then there were 3 or 4 jets, circling
That’s the thing that puzzled me. What there is no question. So when you wake up to around like in an old movie, like the wagon
happened to the food? Where did it disappear the fourth state, your dream vanishes, your train with the Indians riding around. We told
to? Lots of times I saw these things in my pain disappears. You realise, “I was never born, them, “Please call your jets back; please give us
childhood. There’s no way to explain it never created, I never existed. I’m always in the permission.” At last they agreed. As soon as we
scientifically or logically. transcendental state. I’m always in that landed we gave them flowers and tried to give
When I heard that this film is creating a supreme state”. them the peace leaflets. But they wouldn’t
sensation, I just wanted to know how do they So there is no ignorance nor hell nor take anything. They immediately brought a
do it. So we all jumped into a taxi and went to heaven. Hell and heaven are only in your jeep, asked us to get in. There were soldiers
see it. One girl, she’s from California, she said understanding. standing at attention everywhere. My God,
Swamiji I would like to come only if you’re Another simple example, I’ll just tell you what a reception we got!
going. I don’t want to see that alone. I asked our story. Bren and I both flew from Tel Aviv Then we saw pictures of Gadafi and Assad
her: what are you afraid of that. You’re not a to Cairo over the Suez Canal. I had lots of of Syria. What happened is that we came at
hillbilly, you know films are made in ammunition with me – that’s called marigold the wrong time, literally. Assad’s and Gadafi’s
Hollywood studios. The film is all light and flowers. We filed a flight plan to Nicosia. planes both were coming - and Sadat from
shadow, you know that it’s an illusion. So she When we had gone 50 miles off, suddenly we Egypt was there to meet them. So the
said, “Yes Swamiji it’s an reception was not for us.
illusion”. When we got into We were blindfolded and
the theatre she sat next
to me. The light went off Our real nature is sat, chit and ananda, existence absolute, driven somewhere for about
one hour. They brought us
and suddenly the knowledge absolute and bliss absolute. There is no into a small reception
screen becomes alive, ignorance in you because you are knowledge – each person room and removed the
people are throwing blindfolds. Then they
up pea soup, the is an image of God. But you have forgotten this image and separated the two of us
bed starts rocking you start identifying with the dream. and started the
and so forth. interrogation. The first
And this girl question was: “Where were you in Israel,
starts screaming. So I hit her with my whom did you see?” I said I met many people.
elbow. She closed her eyes and said “It’s an changed course. Suddenly the voice came, The night before we had about 400 people
illusion, it’s an illusion.” Then she opened her “please turn back onto your original course, coming for the lecture.
eyes and screamed again. She is an educated you’re in danger of being shot.” And I said, “Who did you meet?” Officials he means.
person. She knows everything intellectually “Please make for us a new flight plan to Egypt “I tried to meet Golda Meir; she was the
but still she cannot disassociate from the via Suez Canal. The Israelis said, “you can’t fly premier, but she was busy. At the time, the defence
illusion. She becomes part of the illusion. there directly, you’ll be shot.” So I said, “Many minister was Moshe Dayan, but he was busy too.”
So also this universe is an illusion! We are people died in the name of war, we two people Then he said, “We told you not to come here.”
playing this part. We are part of the cosmic are prepared to die in the name of peace.” “Yes, you told us, but I got another
illusion called maya. If an ordinary movie can Then I turned my radio off. So they send up command from another dimension.” And of
create so much problem, how much illusion a small jet which flew very close to our plane course they’re all taking notes and he is writing
the cosmic maya can create. That’s why so that we could see the pilot. It was the every bit of who I met - everything. And they
Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita: “Oh Arjuna, closest that I have ever flown with another asked a question about Bren Jacobson.
this cosmic illusion, is very difficult to conquer. plane. I can see this Israeli military plane “Do you trust him?”
Only he who surrenders to me, I will take him telling me, “Turn back, turn back.” “Sure I trust him.”
across.” You’ve got no power. Just like a person By that time we were close to the Suez “Do you know that he is a Jew.”
who’s crying in the dream. Only one way you Canal. Then there was a sudden explosion and “Yes, I know.”
can make him happy is by waking him up. the plane started going up and down and I In the Planet Earth Passport there are
Only God can wake us up from this cosmic lost control, “Oh my God, we have been shot, symbols of all religions including a cross and
dream. Our mind is also the maya, the Bren let us meditate.” I thought the plane was the Star of David. The symbol of Islam was also
individual maya and Siva is the Self. And so going to disintegrate, but after a few minutes there. They asked me why and I said, “I believe
the mind plays every day, projecting different it steadied. The pilot gave us a jet blast, then in all religions; everything is the same.”
things. You project a girl and you say she is he was gone. It took 2-3 hours. Then he asked me to
your wife. You play with that thought and you We were over the Suez Canal. We dropped sign at the bottom. And I just signed it without
play the husband. And the children come and leaflets and flowers. We ‘bombed’ them and reading.
you say oh, these are my children and you play then crossed to the other side. We saw the “Don’t you want to read it? Because you
with that thought. And so we just continue soldiers on both sides living in the desert, in will be prosecuted tomorrow. Please read
9
YO G A Life Winter 2000
Peace Festival
- a summing up, by Elizabeth Nathaniels
Swami Vishnu-devananda would have loved it - this summer’s Peace Festival.
Held at the Sivananda Yoga Camp in Val Morin, outside Montreal, the Festival carried
forward his vision with aplomb, a sense of abundance, loving welcome and joy. It was Elizabeth Nathaniels
a feast of ceremonies from different faiths, of multinational goodwill, a renewal of
good yoga practice, a stimulus to the mind and re-awakening of the spirit.
H
ow can we change into a more
peaceful society, prevent the
violence of war, or begin to tackle
some of the acute local and
global social problems of today?
Sceptics might smile at the idea of a group
of well-meaning people concentrating on
such awesome questions at a Yoga Peace
Festival. However, the Sivananda Yoga org-
anisation may well have embraced an idea
whose time has come. At the end of the 21st
century, there is a great deal of focus on
world peace - from the United Nations’
designation of the year 2000 as the International Panel discussion with invited guest speakers and workshop leaders.
Year for a Culture of Peace to the convening of
of the World Peace Prayer Society, Japan, Eirwen Northern Ireland with flowers in l971 –
the largest ever international gathering on the
Harbottle representing the Generals for Peace along with Peter Sellers in a Peter Max-
causes and solutions to war held at the Hague
from Britain, Soeur Nicole Fournier of painted Piper Apache plane.
earlier this year. For the Sivananda Yoga
L’Accueil Bonneau, Montreal and French-born The Festival began with a beautiful
organisation, it is significant that l999 saw the
natural health author, Daniele Starenkyj. Native American sunrise ceremony and
graduation of the ten thousandth yoga teacher
Most maintained that tools for world peace ended with a memorable, relaxed and
from the Teachers’ Training Course which Swami
could only be developed by building diverse multifaith ceremony in which the
individual, inner peace first. children won the day. Indeed, in the
“There was a feeling of oneness.” Swami Vishnu-devananda’s favourite tradition of Gandhi, and of yoga, the whole
- Kathleen Regan, New York analogy used to be that event was multifaith
of trying to change – an element which
fabric from cotton to silk. “The conference speakers represented a provided a sharp and
Vishnu-devananda established as his fund-
You have to do so by good cross-section of life experience and poignant edge and
amental building block for peace, exactly thirty
changing it thread by spiritual disciplines.” gave much food for
years ago, in 1969.
thread until the whole - Benoit Gauthier, Quebec thought. For instance,
Perhaps we should also remind our sceptics
piece has been trans- contrasting to our
that praying for peace is not a useless activity.
formed. So the fabric of western Christian idea of
Modern scientific experiments are now proving
society could be changed by individuals Paradise Lost was the all-pervading Native
the existence of many aspects of ancient
developing their own inner peace until the American sense that paradise was found - it is
spiritual knowledge. These range from demon-
whole of society is changed. Certainly, Swamiji’s here and now. This is the paradise of our earth,
strations of the power of thought on plants and
life’s work for peace was enlivened by our matrix of being, whose fecundity and beauty
people, to the healing effect of certain sounds
imaginative public demonstrations, ranging from are to be enjoyed, protected and revered. By
and music.
flying over the Berlin Wall in l983 to ‘bombing’ contrast, Rolph Fernandes with his com-
‘Physician heal thyself’ became the dominant
response of the week-long investigation into
these issues. Attended by nearly two hundred
participants from all over the world, this was the
central tenet of invited speakers, from Roshe
Bernie Glassman of the New York Zen
Community to Franciscan Rolph Fernandes of
Montreal. Other speakers included Palestinian
UN meditator, Mohammed Ramadan, Rabbi
Joseph Gelberman of New York; Masami Kondo Bob Bourdon Roshe Bernie Glassman Bren Jacobson Sant Venugopal Harlina Churn Dial
11
“ I N T O T H E 21 S T C E N T U R Y ” P E A C E F E S T I V A L
Jorge Alfano Masami Kondo Daniele Starenkyj Mohammed Ramadan Yolanda Rivera Ramadan Rolph Fernandes Swami Chaitanyananda Eirwen Harbottle Rabbi Joseph Gelberman
to do with repentance or forgetting, but should that of pure entertainment. His wife,
“The speakers emphasized practical
be experienced as a deep and profound spiritual founder/director of the Imani Dance Company,
peace on an individual level instead of
talking about the absence of war.” ‘letting go’ of the hurt. Harlina Churn Diallo also demonstrated the
As for peacemaking in everyday life, the way in which she is encouraging Afro-
- Narayani, New Mexico quietly charismatic New York Zen master, Bernie American children to take pride in the culture
Glassman advocated starting simply with of their ancestors.
passionate poem: “How Can I Speak of Peace” whatever ingredients there were to hand. The poignant and innocent tones of ancient
expressed the lost paradise of a war-scarred child Becoming over- South American pipes
in Sarajevo. Participants were reminded and whelmed was not “I came for a Yoga vacation - played by Jorge Alfano of the
stimulated by the playful, helpful but rather asanas and satsang. The speakers Sacred Sounds Institute, the
yet underlying seriousness simply starting from brought home the theme of the sonorous meditative ragas of
of the religious stories told where we are, with Festival - that peace starts within the renowned Indian flautist,
yourself. All this was a bonus to my Sachdev and ‘spiritual pop’
stay at the Ashram.” music of the newly-formed
- Damian, London, England London Sivananda Centre’s Prem
group all played their part in
enlivening the event.
The warm and generous welcome we
received will long remain with us. The
Sivananda Yoga Centres continue to emanate
an affection, a sense of family and the
satisfaction of Satsang – keeping company
with the wise, or at least, fellow-travellers, on
the spiritual path. Furthermore, we were
welcomed to a warm, light and plant-filled
lodge, all gleaming wood and white-plastered
straw bales, with grass on the roof – very
Left: Meditative Ragas ecologically correct. We were given magnificent
by G.S. Sachdev vegetarian feasts. We were treated to the stage
Above: African Music and set – designed by the London Centre – all large
Dance by YaYa Diallo and fat peace doves and gargantuan daisies, not to
whatever we have was his advice – a mention a cut-out of Swamiji’s peace plane. The
Harlina Churn Diallo central theme of his best-selling book: London Centre provided their own peace music
Zen: Instructions to the Cook. for the festival (now on CD and Tape), with the
Cultivate joy, rather than dwelling on anguish words largely of Swami Sivananda himself.
by the swamis and the voluptuous riot of colour suggested the ebullient 88-year old, broad- Participants certainly left the Ashram with a
and form in the South Indian sculpture in the minded Rabbi Joseph Gelberman. Although feeling of joy. The experience of the week-long
newly-built Subramanya/Ayyappa temple. Senior remembering tragedies from the Holocaust to festival was perhaps best expressed in the words
acharyas moderated the programme. Among Kosovo was a part of our humanity, nevertheless, and music of one of Prem’s songs “If you want to
some of the difficulties faced was the very real “to forgive the past and look forward toward the have peace in the world, you must have peace in
clash between two groups whose members had future with joy and excitement” was more your heart.” As for the power of positive thinking
suffered grievously. The underlying question important. In fact, Rabbi Gelberman claimed that and meditation, perhaps Masami Kondo should
was there: did different religions cause the proper exercise of religion and of peace was have the last word when she asks: “Do you know
conflict? Not so, it was claimed. It was rather attained by seeking joy, rather than happiness. what links us closest and fastest?” And the
that people used diverse beliefs as an excuse Happiness involved outside material things. Joy answer: “Thought waves. Thought waves are
“I like the international for violence. meant the development of inner peace, which for faster than sound or light. What we emit as
atmosphere and getting to meet Representing him – the personification of benevolence – thought instantly reaches everybody around the
people from different countries” the victims of exploded daily into a gratitude for life. He ended globe. To know this really helps us to understand
injustice and his presentation by leading participants in a the significance of praying for world peace.”
- Claude, New York
war were both stately song and dance to Shalom.
Jewish and Arab There was much to feed the mind. And as for
participants. Palestinian Mohammed body and spirit there were walks, canoe trips,
Ramadan who shared his people’s “The highlight for me was the reunion
yoga asanas, delicious feasts as well as the many with people that I’ve known over the
agony in the Middle East, made a forms of worship, meditation, music and dance.
strong case for forgiveness. This, he years and met in various Sivananda
Indeed, dance and music were integral to the Yoga Centers and Ashrams.”
claimed, is an important, if not essential event. Mali-born drummer YaYa Diallo author of
element for attaining inner peace. He - Bhavani, New York
The Healing Drum vividly demonstrated a more
llo pointed out that true forgiveness is not in-depth understanding of African music than
12
YO G A Life Winter 2000 YO G A Life Winter 2000
May Peace
Prevail On Earth
The keynote address of the “Into the 21st Century” Peace Festival
at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Camp in August,1999 was given
by Masami Kondo of the World Peace Prayer Society.
F
community and incorporate it into their own
here at the Sivananda Yoga Camp for
activities. As I said during the dedication
inviting us. As I heard the wonderful
ceremony, that was a most beautiful and
stories about your teacher, Swami
original peace pole that we planted today on
Vishnu-devananda, I recognized his joyful,
the peace trail.
happy spirit. It is easy to imagine him sitting
Another main activity that we do is the
here, because what the teacher transmits is
World Peace Prayer Ceremony. I hope that
carried on by the disciples. As soon as I came
everybody had a chance to participate in that
here I really felt like a part of the family, so
ceremony this afternoon. It was rather long but
thank you very much. if you think that we could visit all the countries
Of all the hospitalities I have experienced,
one by one and connect with the people there
this is one of the most exciting. It is a great joy
in just one hour it is not so bad.
to be able to sit here above the message ‘May
Personally I have had many wonderful
Peace Prevail on Earth.’ The mission of our
experiences through this World Peace Prayer
organization is to spread this simple message
Ceremony and I would like to share a few of
and prayer around the world. As an them with you. Once, when we were doing this
organization we are not very big. We have
ceremony in Central Park, an Israeli mother and
members and supporters around the world son came. The mother insisted that her son
from all nationalities, religions and different
carry the flag of Israel. So we fetched it, gave it
backgrounds who simply incorporate this to him and he proudly raised it. We all prayed,
message into their own traditions. and the mother was happy. When we went into
This was the idea of the founder of the
the circle, as we did today, you never know
World Peace Prayer Society, Japanese poet and
which flag you will carry because it just comes
philosopher Masahisa Goi. After the Second
around. Coincidentally, or not, the mother was
World War he witnessed the devastation and
given the Palestinian flag. She raised it, but I
wanted to turn that mood around. Because the
could see in her face that she was a bit stiff and
Japanese people had experienced the tragedy of
didn’t know how to feel or say the prayer. I was
the nuclear bomb he felt he had the mission to
wondering how she was feeling. Anyway she
turn this tragedy into a positive message and
did it. What was most moving was that a few
advocate world peace. days later the mother called me and asked “did
That is how it started, and now this message
you notice that I carried the Palestinian flag”. I
is spread through our Peace Pole Project.
said “yes I noticed”. She said that it really
Now there are 100,000 or more peace poles
changed something. She felt it was a very
around the world in almost every country. It is
important thing that she had done this with her
not that our staff go around the world and
son. I was very happy to hear this.
plant them everywhere. But those who see it A similar story involved an Iranian
and feel it is a good idea will take it back to their
gentleman. He came up to me in tears after a
ceremony and said that at first there were
Masami Kondo with the newly planted Peace Pole at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga some countries that he hated. But as he
Camp. The pole was lovingly carved in three pieces by Native American craftsmen prayed something started to change and
Roger Echaquan and Bob Bourdon. The pole itself represents the connection he really felt he could make friends with
between heaven and earth. The larger ‘puzzle piece’ represents the five continents. these countries. So the ceremony is all
about touching the heart and really sharing
The top (miniature) puzzle represents the future generations. All parts were ritually this love for peace. It is awakening what is
assembled during the Peace Pole dedication. (see Winter ‘99 issue of YogaLife for already within us; it is just a matter of
the description of how the tree itself was chosen and cut.)
13
“ I N T O T H E 21 S T C E N T U R Y ” P E A C E F E S T I V A L
May Peace
Prevail on Earth
Available on CD and tape
A wonderful musical
message of peace
Peace in
the World From “May Peace Prevail on Earth” album by Prem
If you want to have peace in the world To have peace in the world
You have to have peace in your heart There must be peace in your heart } x2
If you want to feel love in your life
You have to feel love in your heart It’s hard to find peace in the world
When we have no peace in our hearts
If we all try to love one another We feel that we are different to all
There won’t be any reason for war We feel that we are apart
See the goodness and light in each other
See the beauty of life in us all But if you look within yourself now
And feel this peace from within
It is hatred that separates man from man, You will rise above all these boundaries
Nation from nation And let the whole world in
All of life is the family of God
So love all God’s creation It is hatred that separates man.....
Miranda: What exactly is ‘Peace Child’? groups. Rather like a bush fire, it went
straight across the United States from east
Eirwen Harbottle: ‘Peace Child’ started off as to west.
a musical. In the 70s, there was a great gulf David and Rosie lived in the States for
between the ‘Peaceniks’ on one side and the over eight years doing this, mostly in
‘Establishment’ on the other. A lot of young Washington. They also spent a lot of time in
people wanted to talk about the nuclear California. In the Year of Youth, 1985, David
issue; they were frightened. Psychological took a group of American kids to Moscow
research had found that young people where he had organized a joint production
around the world did not believe that they of ‘Peace Child’ with Russian kids. This was
were going to die naturally in their beds. during the Cold War when people in
Many thought they were going to be blown America were encouraged to think that this
up in some huge nuclear explosion. was the “evil empire” on the other side of
My husband and I wanted to look at this the world. Anyone found talking to the
whole matter of disarmament, and arms in Eirwen Harbottle Russians was
particular. We had read a story about how thought to be a
children brought peace to the world, and communist, and
we had seen a most beautiful oratorio in must be a spy and
Coventry Cathedral. To cut a long story a traitor. For the
short, we suggested that it should come Russians, it was
together as a kids’ musical, and my son-in- absolutely
law and daughter David and Rose incredible to see a
(Wilcomb) should actually do the work. group of American
And so ‘Peace Child’ began. children, from the
A lot of what young people said was ‘evil side’, because
incorporated into the play. The script was they thought the
always being altered. After a rehearsal, same as Americans
David would drive kids home and they’d say: thought about
“You know, we wouldn’t say that! We’d say
this!” And he would alter the script.
The first production of ‘Peace Child’ was
in London’s Albert Hall in 1981. The second “Soon the kids were talking, singing
was in Washington DC at the Kennedy and dancing together about peace
Center; ‘Peace Child’ worked with the Duke and how they could bring peace to
Ellington School for the Arts. It was a the world. How could they live in
phenomenal success; there wasn’t a single
seat available. The Russian ambassador was harmony, in joy, with mutual respect?
there; it was absolutely incredible. Then It was an extraordinary event.”
‘Peace Child’ continued with different
groups, different cities, different peace
17
“ I N T O T H E 21 S T C E N T U R Y ” P E A C E F E S T I V A L
them. Soon the kids were talking, singing and dancing together began a huge editorial process by young people between 13 and 23.
about peace and how they could bring peace to the world, how they They extracted what they felt was the best of what had been submitted.
could live in harmony, in joy, with mutual respect. It was an extra- Then they arranged it under a different groupings like: The Human
ordinary event. There was a black singer from Washington. She Condition, The Natural Condition, things like that. They rearranged the
wasn’t professional, but she had a sweet, sweet voice. She sang with material in a way that was attractive, logical and very understandable.
one of the ballad singers from a pop group.They sang a number Then they sent the draft to all the groups who had been working on it.
which had especially been written for ‘Peace Child.’ It was “I have a Of course, a lot of comments came back saying we’d like it this way or
Vision, I have a Dream.” It was about Martin Luther King Jnr’s vision that way. Then the UN Agencies came in and said “Don’t forget this or
for peace. This went out over the television; 120 million Russian people that,” or, “That’s not quite correct.” Eventually it was finalized, published
heard this song by a black American and a young Russian singer. and it has sold over 300,000 copies and been translated into 18
Incredible effect it had on them! different languages. During the recent Peace Festival, YaYa Diallo was
Then David got the pop singers to go to the United States with a talking about the absence of fish, how we are killing the planet and how
group of kids from Russia to take part in ‘Peace Child’. The band we’re cutting down all the trees; this is what the children are talking
played the music and the singer’s wife was the storyteller. They about.
started in Vancouver; then they went down to California and worked So that’s how ‘Peace Child’ has grown. From a stage production to
their way across to the East Coast. In time the story switched from writing books. If anyone wants to do it, the play is there to be done. It’s
concentrating on disarmament to looking at the state of the planet, an inspiration to gather young people and perform it. People ask, “When
which of course included disarmament. is Peace Child coming to my city?” And we say: “It’s not coming to your
David sent out a letter through the international network, asking, city unless you want to perform it! It’s YOUR tool. YOU get YOUR kids to
“What do you think about the state of the planet, the environment?” show their vision of how they want to see their lives in twenty-five
He got two thousand letters back from young people saying, “Where years”. Every time it’s put on a different way because each group has
have the birds gone? Why can’t we swim in the river?” different dreams, a different way of thinking how to go about achieving
Sometimes even, “Where has the river gone? It’s dried up. What’s their dreams. The basic story is about getting from now to then (in the
happening?” And he got an editorial team of young people together future).
and they extracted the main There’s quite a large selection of songs and
points from those two music now that are applicable to anyone
thousand letters. Using anywhere. We don’t say: “Oh, you can only
poetry, pictures and all the use these songs.” If you want to write another
things that came out of those song yourself, do so. It’s your vision; that’s the
two-thousand letters they put message we want to put across. So we don’t
together a gorgeous book charge royalties for putting this on, like an
called, ‘The Children’s State of ordinary play. It’s a tool, that anyone can
the Planet Handbook.’ This was use. I think that’s the best way of
ready for the Rio Conference in describing it.
1995. David took these books to It’s the most exciting thing I could
Rio and Dr Noel Brown, Head of dream of being involved with
the UN Environment Program, because we have young people
said, “ My gosh! This is a beautiful from all over the world who come
book. You know, we’ve got Agenda to England, to the headquarters of
21. It’s forty chapters, six hundred Peace Child. They come from
pages and who on earth is going Africa, Asia, Europe, America,
to read all that? Could you get Japan – you name the country,
your children to do the same there’s likely to be a young
thing for Agenda 21?” representative. It’s rather like
There were four UN Agencies: the dancing that Harlina
UNESCA, UNICEF, UNDP and and Ya Ya have been
UNEP who asked the world’s teaching us. To throw
children to reinterpret Agenda your whole body and
21. Ten thousand kids were in- soul into what you are
volved; it was an extraord- doing is an amazing
inary achievement. Two discipline, isn’t it? To get
hundred schools and youth your feet, your heart and
groups were given your chest doing
chapters and asked: “What different things at the
does it say? What’s really same time is an enormous
important?” And back discipline. But once you’ve
came a lot of stuff, poetry, done it, you’re so pleased
pictures and all the rest with the freedom that you
of it, looking at the state have to reach out to
of the rainforests, the others
climate, everything that
is mentioned in
Agenda 21. Then
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YO G A Life Winter 2000
Developing Our
Spiritual Eyes
By Rabbi Joseph Gelberman
mountain. As they saw each other they to learn in order to cleave unto the Lord in
understood what had happened. They got off just one lifetime? I don’t think so.
their wagons and embraced and kissed each It makes a certain kind of sense that the
other. According to the Midrashic sages, God soul continues and returns to live another
saw this genuine love between brothers and lifetime, perhaps countless lifetimes. Into
said, “This is the place where I want my each earth-life we are born once, but this
temple to be built.” birth is repeated again and again. To grow in
To love Thee more dearly spiritual understanding through each
means exactly lifetime is the voyage and purpose of life. The
that: to care. To purpose of this cycle is purification and
love means to perfection, the growing nearer to God with
care, not only each turn of the upward spiral. Reincarnation
here and now is one of the basic teachings of Kabbalah.
but with eyes In the book of Genesis, each day as God
toward the created the universe He said, “Kitov” (it is
future. good). The Kabbalist sees God’s repeated
The third concept, pronouncement as proof that the universe
dveikut, is at once is good.
the most simple These lessons proved immensely valuable
and the most to me as a young immigrant in America. I had
complex. To left my wife and child in Hungary, expecting
become one with they would join me later in this country. I
“But knowing that God said “It is God means simply to be at peace within, as is later learned they were killed in the
Good!” helps me to transform my achieved through such practices as Holocaust, along with my parents, most of
grief to purpose. For the sake of meditation, where we become quiet and my brothers and sisters, my uncles and aunts,
listen to what God wants us to do. most of the people I had known as a child. At
God, for the sake of humanity, and Yet there is more to it than that. Kabbalah that time I couldn’t see how anyone could
for my own sake. My soul still has teaches us to have the courage to leave the say, “It is good.”
things to do in this life.” known security and move into the unknown. Yet meditation brought me an answer. I
It is with such courage that we learn to truly heard God say, “I still insist, Kitov. The overall
“cleave unto the Lord.” picture of life is good. There is enough beauty,
Before we move on I should like to say a goodness and joy in life. Now it’s up to you
wife or children. My brother needs more word about reincarnation. The great to concentrate on it.”
than I do.” That night he couldn’t sleep. He Kabbalists believed in reincarnation. They
got up in the middle of the night, loaded his were careful not to fall into the same traps This Kabbalistic teaching helped me
wagon and drove to the other side of the they had known in previous lifetimes. overcome the terror, the horror, the pain of
mountain to where his brother lived. He I sometimes wonder why my modern the Holocaust. I still feel my grief. On Yom
quietly left a portion of the harvest there and colleagues have such a hard time accepting Kippur, I practically fall apart during the
returned home. this concept. Go to any funeral today, Jewish memorial service. But knowing that God said
The married brother couldn’t sleep that or non-Jewish, and you will hear the same “Ki Tov!” helps me to transform that grief to
night either. He said to himself, “Sure I have a thing: the body is laid to rest but the soul purpose. For the sake of God, for the sake of
family and I need more now, but my brother goes up. Goes up to where? Does it simply humanity, and for my own sake. My soul still
is alone. When he gets old, who will take care disappear? Why? Can one learn all one needs has things to do in this life
of him? When my children grow up they can
work and help their parents, but my brother
will have no one to help. He needs protection
for his old age”.
ABOUT RABBI JOSEPH GELBERMAN
So he got up in the middle of the night, Rabbi Joseph Gelberman was born and educated as a rabbi in
loaded his wagon and drove to his brother’s
house. He quietly left a portion of the harvest Hungary. A graduate of the City University of New York and
and returned home. Yeshiva University, he presently serves as rabbi of The New
The next morning each brother awoke and Synagogue and is president of The New
found that he still had his half of the harvest.
Puzzled, they again loaded their wagons and Seminary in New York City. Through his
secretly left part of their harvest in each teachings and ministry, Rabbi Gelberman
other’s granaries on the second night. has dedicated his life to furthering
They again awoke to find the same understanding and co-operation among the
amount of harvest in their granaries. So they
again loaded their wagons and left a portion world’s faiths. He is a long-time friend and
of their harvests. Again the amount of grain colleague of Swami Vishnu-devananda.
was unchanged. This article an excerpt from Rabbi
Then, on the fourth night, the two
brothers met on the road in the middle of the Gelberman’s book Kabbalah As I See It.
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YO G A Life Winter 2000
water as sisters. He had a special love for brother Sun and also for ‘our the other to express, to share friendship and it may also be an essential
Sister, Mother Earth’ because the Sun, he considered as a symbol, part of growth. We may ask ourselves, ‘who do we ‘hang out’ or
image of God and the Earth because she not only supports us, but she associate with the most and why?’
sustains us by the food and the medicine, plants, flowers etc. Is it possible then in this world where people of a variety of races and
When we consider life on earth, and the perspective of St. Francis, we religions live and work in such close city areas (like they were in
see that there is so much for us to learn from his spirituality in our Sarajevo) that in spite of their proximity, they are still strangers? For
work towards peace. As part of the living creatures on this planet, so this to change, I wonder if coming together in a space like an ashram
much of our very existence depends on things we take for granted. is not an essential factor contributing to peace and growth and mutual
Making peace is essential to our existence and also we owe this to the understanding between peoples.
children for the millennium to come. Each human being has the duty St. Francis said that we are all brothers and sisters. Vedanta tells us that
to perform some small action to link and bridge we are all One. I pray for the day when both the readers and writers
gaps for peace. The earth and the elements can live this eternally! In the meantime we must do as in the beautiful
have for too long been witnesses to human song which was composed and sung during the festival:
violence. We can by our peace allow the
earth, the fire, air and water to be ‘Pray for the world. Pray for our lives. Pray for the children.
witnesses to our comings, our gathering Pray for Peace, Love and Harmony’.
St. Francis From the song ‘Pray’, written and sung by Shakti Ray on the album ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth’.
of Assisi for peace.
Swami Vishnu-devananda’s ashram,
thanks to the efforts of Swamiji, has
been a meeting place for peace
gatherings. It has set an example for “I wonder if coming
North America. I hope and pray that together in a space like an
these efforts began here may spread
all over the continent. One of the
ashram is not an essential
most important human values is factor contributing to
that of respect. To enter into dialogue with people of other cultures peace and growth and
and religions, demands that we can be able to give the ‘other’ a chance mutual understanding
to express while we respectfully listen. This aspect is elementary in between peoples.”
sincere dialogue and is an essential step in building understanding,
acceptance, which leads to peace. During the Peace Assembly
organized by the Ashram in Val Morin, we were able to witness and
to take part in this process. I
must extend my gratitude to
the organizers for this oppor- I was asked to say a few words of peace and while
tunity which was given to us. I reflecting on it, an image, a memory came back to
must also express how we me. I was in Sarajevo a few years ago attending an
appreciated the efforts which International Congress for Peace, when a child of
were used to create this week about 12 years old asked (with his eyes filled with
of peace. hate) “why do you want to make peace?” I wrote Rolph Fernandes
Coming together for an evening of this for today: is a native of Trinidad who
prayers offered for peace by people migrated to Montreal in
of different traditions is wonderful. “The Children of Peace”
Coming together to even sit in
1956, joined the Franciscans
silence may also be excellent, but How can I talk about peace when I remember the boy in 1957 and was appointed as
there is yet another store-house of crying in Sarajevo. His eyes filled with hate the Inter-faith officer of the
“The soldiers” he said, “killed my father. Order. He initiated the Inter-
grace to be able to take the time to
And my mother: they raped”
live, work, eat and sleep under the
“How can you talk about peace when the marks
faith Peace Prayer in the Spirit
same roof for a longer period of of Assisi in Montreal in 1987.
of their guns are still on my feet?”
days and for even a week. There How can I, when we have taken away peace A member of the Montreal
was a tradition held by the Native from the children? Inter-Faith Council, Rolph
Americans of the past. It was the How can I talk of peace when an African child dies
‘meeting place’. In those days
visited India on several
for she has no food to eat. occasions and spent a year in
Indians of different tribes came How can I talk of peace?
together in a neutral territory and How can I when in China a child of nine is in prison....
Shantivanam Ashram with
spent time sharing in peace. This his only ‘crime’ is because of his Buddhism Fr. Bede Griffiths.
was of vital importance for the How can I talk about peace when in New York a child with AIDS A participant of many Inter-
mutual understanding, for sharing is thrown out in the streets. faith conferences, he con-
and celebration of life. In modern How can I when we have taken away the peace of the children? tinues to work in Interfaith
terms, we may say that they took How can I talk about peace?
dialogue. Rolph has retired
the time to ‘hang out together’. Om Shanti, Om Shanti, Oh Shanti, Om from the Franciscan
‘Hanging out’ may seen at first to
be just a waste of time but for – Rolph Fernandes, Val Morin, 8th August 1999 community for health reasons
many it is a means of ‘being with’
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YO G A Life Winter 2000
arihwa began with a Mi’kmag song to thank the Great had taken from the bottom of the ocean. All the animals were
resolve problems about humans, animals and the environment. There was no the secret society of priests or initiates that has preserved and kept rituals
chief to whom a mandate was given. The women had the function of teaching that would have been lost if they hadn’t been there. These were things that
health, agriculture, and were also responsible for all the departments that were unknown to the white people, that are starting to come to light today.
would affect the life of the community. Men were responsible for hunting, This wampum is from a shell that comes from the Atlantic ocean; it’s a small
international relations and diplomacy, and war. The wars we inherited – shell that has turned. This type of wampum is the oldest wampum in
mostly those being fought in Europe that were transported to the new world. existence; this one is an exact replica of the original, made under the
Nations became allied with the French or the English. Since we had never supervision of the elders. It’s a wampum that was used in the counsels.
developed arms of mass destruction and did not have an immune system We have the teachings of the creator: the different ceremonies (such as
that was strong enough to resist the sicknesses that came from other the sweat-lodge), how to use tobacco, the drum, medicinal plants, how to say
continents, our people became martyrs for peace on this continent. thank you for the creation of the world. Everything that we have learnt from
Our history as peace-makers dates from 1701 when Kondiaronk, of the the Great Spirit is in this three-strand wampum. The small strand represents
same heritage as the Great Pacifier, made peace in Montreal for all the North the children: all the children in a family, but also all the children of the world.
American Indian nations. Others included Pontiac, who fought and gave his The middle strand is women: grandmothers, cousins, aunts, sisters. And that
life for his people, and Tecumseh a Shawnee who was allied with the English last one is men - and we are all bound together spiritually and equally. The
against the Americans trying to expand further north in 1812. After that there wampum invokes a social and a moral code; we learn how to respect
were the Metis, composed of the Europeans and the Indian nations, many of children, so that they are not abused. It also teaches us how to respect
whom died or were deported to the west side of the Mississippi in an exodus women, women’s role, the role and responsibilities of men and also the
called the Trail of Tears. That’s why we have families from Illinois who are in respect for other humans. It also teaches us our spiritual place in the great
Oklahoma. Oklahoma became the dumping ground of all Indian nations – circle of life; that if we abuse one element of creation, we break the circle.
they were marched through the winter, into the Oklahoma state. The arms And if we break the circle it is guaranteed that we will abuse our brothers,
that were used for mass destruction in the First World War were tested on sisters, children and wives. It also teaches us that in countries where there is
the Indian nations there. That’s why that we like to think that we helped save pollution there is abuse, and where there is abuse there will always be war. In
the world a second time. The first time was when we shared our joy, our food, a country where there are no more wolves and no more bears, there will be
our medicine, with the first Europeans; the second time was the First World war. And in countries where there are no free rivers, there will be war. And the
War. The third time was at the beginning of the Second World War, because elders also teach us that once the earth cannot support the pollution
it was here that the world learnt the democratic principles that they now anymore, there will be great ecological disasters - and we are almost there.
know. That is why we Indians are not bitter; we know the contributions that That is why we must return to the old teachings of the creator. Because the
our peoples have given to the world. There is also another episode in our creator never gave anything explicitly to one human. It’s like tobacco, it was
contribution to world peace. There was an old man from this area who with given to us here in North America but it was given to us so we would share
many other natives created the North American-Indian it. Tobacco abuse is not
nation government. In 1947-48, this man, Jules Sioui, good. If we learnt how
secretary of the nation at that time, presented the When we talk about peace we have to have a to respect these
secret of world peace to the General Assembly of the sacred things, we
United Nations. At that time the only intervention a
wider definition of peace, it’s not just peace could learn how
country could do to another sovereign state, was to amongst humanity. In the word peace there is to take care of
declare war. That was an international right. We respect. In the great circle of peace is peace and to
proposed that states conserve it.
should abdicate a everything that surrounds us. We always pray to
certain amount of the four directions. The
sovereignity to the profit of east is vision, represented
a world-wide organisation, by the colour red. Vision is an ideal; it’s a primary objective - it is like
which would be the mandate to a direction guide. We thank the spirit of the east for giving us our
establish peace and regional conflicts. It vision every morning. And we thank the south for
was too early at that time but we are living it giving us heat, clearness, the colour yellow,
at the present time. comprehension and intelligence. We thank the
As nations who have always been orientated or driven by spirit of the west, which is represented by the
peace, we have developed peace instruments. For us peace is something that colour black or dark blue. That is the direction of
we cherish but something that we must also nourish. It’s very hard to talk expression: maturity, beauty and truth. We thank the north for giving us
about peace and to understand peace without invoking its contrary, which is purity, force and spiritual guidance. And we thank our grandparents who are
war. Peace is health, war is sickness. In our belief we don’t have a word for at the north. The four grandparents that are there are the common ancestors
the devil or hell. If we had to describe something terrible like hell, it would be of all of humanity. We thank the Great Spirit, our grandmother, and the earth.
to describe war. That’s why our shamans, our prophets and our elders, always Those are the four directions. The elders also teach us the four qualities we
taught us in healing. Earlier we offered tobacco. We learnt from the creator must develop: respect, honesty, love and sharing. The elders tell us that
that tobacco was given to us not to smoke as a cigarette, but for transporting love is the base of everything – especially in troubled times when respect
our wishes, our intentions, our prayers, up towards the Great Spirit. And we is not enough.
can purify ourselves with those herbs. We purify ourselves with sweet-grass The use of the eagle feather was given to us by the creator. When we have
and sage. We even ask the wind to smoke when it’s a storm. We say to the the eagle feather we are forced to tell the truth. Not only do we have to tell
wind, “sit down, smoke with us and rest”. When we completed a treaty, since the truth; we are not allowed to lie. And we must have the courage to speak
we had no writing, we would write literally in the sky, by smoking it and for those that are voiceless: the animals, the trees, the mountains, the rivers.
conclude the peace. We have many peace objects: the eagle feather, in which That’s why not only should we tell the truth and not tell lies, but have the
there is great importance and truth; the talking stick, which ensures peace in courage to speak the truth.
a counsel, ensuring that everyone will have their turn, their right to speak, When we talk about peace we have to have a wider definition of peace,
and also the power of being heard. It’s a great power to have words and to it’s not just peace amongst humanity. In the word peace there is respect. In
say them, but the talking stick is the one that gives it to us. We have the drum; the great circle of peace is everything that surrounds us. We can’t have global
and we have the wampum. (Holding up a strand of shells): This is the first peace if we are abusing another part of creation. And the fate of the world
wampum and it’s called the path, a three-strand wampum. This comes from will be decided in the next little while
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YO G A Life Winter 2000
BearingWitness
forPeace
by Bernie Glassman
M
y name is Bernie. I was born in
Brooklyn, New York, a little over sixty
years ago, into a Jewish tradition - but
my parents and family were quite left
wing, socialists, so religion wasn’t a strong part of
my upbringing. At the age of ten, something
compelled me to look for God, so I started to read
and explore. Then when I was at college, I read
about Buddhism, in particular Zen Buddhism. There
was one page on Zen Buddhism and it felt like my
life so I started to meditate and practice on my
own. A few years later I went to Israel to experience
living there, but came back. That’s when I met my
Zen teacher who was at that time a young monk.
That was 1963. By 1970 I had ordained into the Zen
tradition. My root teaching is in the Japanese Soto-
Zen tradition, which emphasizes daily life as the
learning place.
In 1980 I went back to New York to start a Zen Bernie Glassman
community there. I’d had an experience in which I
felt the hungry spirits of the earth and I had made the highest rate of homelessness and of AIDS in the
a vow to feed them. I think that was one of the United States. Someone else is now in charge of
most important moments of my life because it put that centre and it has about a hundred and fifty
me on a track of wanting to work with people in all people working in connection with it.
aspects of life and to learn how to make the meal After that was established I felt that I needed to do
that’s appropriate in each of those aspects of life, something else in my life. I needed to take another
using the ingredients that are present now, instead step. Before this I had a practice of bringing people plunge into the wholeness of life. When we try to
of waiting for future ingredients to come. So using who were going to work in homelessness to live on understand it, it is not a plunge, but to do it, is. To
the ingredients that I had, I tried to find a way to the streets, so that they could taste the experience live on the streets is a plunge.
feed all these hungry spirits of which there are so of living on the streets first-hand, though not of I wanted to know what to do next and I decided
many. When I moved to New York I decided to work homelessness as they knew they would go back to do a week-long retreat – I felt the place I wanted
in different areas. I made my center an interfaith home. This way they could learn from the people to go would be the center of the United States in
center; we had a Rabbi, a Catholic priest, Buddhist that they were going to work for and to serve. That some sense so I chose the White House. I did it as
services, Jewish services, and Christian services – I was very important. For me it was a combination of a birthday present to myself and I invited some
was hoping to build a mystical city of practice. It the two methods in which I was trained: the Rinsi people to join me for my party – we just sat there.
didn’t quite work. I also wanted to work in areas of method of having stories where you could bite into I was born on 18th January and if you look at the
right-livelihood and social action so we formed a what you were trying to understand, (who am I? papers from this day in 1994, you’ll see that it was
broad base, a Mandala, in the area that we were what is life? stories you can’t study, but only the coldest day in Washington for fifty years! We
living. We worked with people who were homeless experience) and the Soto tradition of using daily life sat outside in a circle covered in snow, but at night
– there was inadequate housing, childcare, jobs – as the training vessel for the monks. we slept indoors in a homeless shelter that’s only a
and we helped to bring those who wanted to, out I called it ‘plunges‚’ using the word plunge to few blocks from the White House. It is the largest
of homelessness. I liked that life, but most don’t. mean putting ourselves into a situation where our shelter in the United States; it has one to two
Then AIDS became a major issue, so we built intellect is of no value. We are thrown into thousand beds. It was run by a friend of mine,
housing and a clinic for people with HIV. That was something that we don’t understand and the only Mitch Snider, who actually committed suicide
in a place called Yonkers, which at that time had way is to experience it. I think meditation is a there. We slept in this dining hall which is about
25
“ I N T O T H E 21 S T C E N T U R Y ” P E A C E F E S T I V A L
doing it was an affront to somebody else. So when Questions: Bernie: I ask myself that each time I look at a pool
the rabbi started to dance it was an affront to so and I ask myself am I going to jump in or not? I
Q: You mentioned that in the concentration camps
many people. Some Orthodox people were there don’t care how you prepare for it, but there will be
you have created a healing process amongst those
and said but this is what we do. But not everybody a plunge with that thin line again. You are going to
who have been either victimised or presented
does that. What I said to the people was that this face that question over and over – you may answer
themselves in shame of what has been done. Is the
place, Auschwitz-Birkenau, is the place that was it this time but the next time you walk past
sort of healing procedure you are talking about
meant to get rid of differences. This place was built someone with cholera you are going to be at that
indigenous healing? Is it people on the same level
to kill all of those who weren’t Aryans, who weren’t thin line again. I don’t know the answer. I think we
healing each other?
of that one type. To kill the Jews, Catholics, gypsies, can keep expanding our boundaries but we are
gays – to kill everybody who was different. Bernie: I don’t think so. That is certainly part of it, always going to be at some boundary. I think that
Whereas our retreat was to recognise the diversity but I really don’t know where this healing is coming if you practice, whatever practice you are doing, it’s
of each of us, and we bore witness to that for five from. I feel it is different in different places. I hate going to open up. I’m a funny person – I look for
days, with the million souls, remembering them. to say it’s just this and here is the method. When those places, that’s how I try to grow. What parts of
What happened in that retreat, which was a we go to Auschwitz-Birkenhau I feel that the me am I afraid of? I feel that the part of myself that
surprise for all of us, was that a healing arose and healing is coming from the place itself. There are I am rejecting is the part of society that I am
we became one people. So we would like the places that have energy that heal, and I know it’s rejecting. I try to find out how to go past that. I had
interfaith peace order to be houses of one an experience in Switzerland. There’s an
people – places where there is some area in Zurich called the Letten – it was an
thought given, where as a result of what experiment by the government, it’s been
we are doing, we become one people shut down now – it was the largest
without differences. So those three tenets gathering place for addicts. There is a river
were really very alive at Auschwitz. that feeds into Lake Zurich and the Letten is
During the first year I felt I had to do on the banks of this river, two blocks away
this and we didn’t know whether we from one of the richest areas in the world –
would continue. I’d like to share some of the banks of Zurich. Before they shut it
the issues that came up because it down they were giving out 16,000 needles
demonstrates what can happen when one each day. Can you imagine that?
does something like this, not just in I went there once. A friend asked my wife
Auschwitz but anywhere. We have a list of and I if we would like to see the area. You
twenty or thirty places where we’ve been have to walk down to the river and along
asked to do these retreats now: in Ireland, Our retreat was to the river bank. Up above – two blocks away
Israel, the United States, Japanese camps. from where the world banks are, which are
In putting the retreat together we worked recognise the diversity of each of us, laundering addict money – were Swiss
for two years involving local groups. On the first and we bore witness to that for five police. The police were keeping the addicts
day of that first year there were about thirty people down below almost like shepherds with
from Poland who had really wanted to come, but
days, with the million souls, their sheep. It was an area about the size of
during the first couple of nights they were up all remembering them. a football field, packed with people
night talking, saying why are we here, this is not shooting up. We had to force our way
our business? This is for the Jews and the Germans, through people. As we walked, there were
we have nothing to do with this – they just came funny to say that Auschwitz could be such a place, people stoned out, in drug ecstasies, people
into our country. But by the third or fourth day they but my own personal feeling is that it is, because swimming in the river. And the dealers selling the
were saying, this is about us. By the end of the I’m sure that for all of us involved it had a healing drugs had knives, guns and money – they were
retreat people were asking whether we would do effect. The word for peace in Hebrew is shalom and angry with strangers walking through. For me, this
the retreat again next year, so I said only if the Poles the root is shalem, which means to make whole. I was such a metaphor for our society. The dealers
became the host. We’d help them to organize it but think remembering is making whole. To re-member were making money from the addicts, but so were
they would have to host it. As a result they became means to take the members of the body and put the banks two blocks away. The banks were actually
involved in a lot of social action programs and them back together again. At Auschwitz we did a making more money. Dealers from all around the
various other things, whereas until that time they lot of making whole again so the remembering was world came. They actually closed it because it was
had always complained that they could not do a big part of the healing process, as was the bearing getting bigger and bigger and out-of-hand.
anything because the Germans and the Russians witness, the needing to stay together with all these A lot of the messengers didn’t even know where
were in charge. The second year the big issue came differences. When people go there, it is so they were. They’d been sent from all parts of the
from the Germans – they felt so guilty. We had horrendous that they don’t want to stay. But we world, from places where the drugs come from,
name-tags with our name and country on and the have to stay for five days, which is bad enough, and given tickets, flew, were picked up by a limousine,
Germans all took them off. They were ashamed and we have to sit there with people that we don’t like. driven to the Letten to sell their stuff and then
embarrassed to say that they came from Germany. But for me the strongest healing aspect is the place limousined back home. They had to build extra
There were a lot of tears and they couldn’t really itself. What I feel is that if we start with not prisons when they closed the area, because all of
talk to us. So, the third year I asked the Germans knowing and bear witness then the healing will these people. My wife was petrified. The man we
and the Poles to host the retreat together. So each arise. It’s almost our job to look at it and say how were with said would you like to walk back through
year a new issue arises and we’ll keep moving with did it arise this time? And not to necessarily try to it, or another way to the car and she said, “No, let’s
the ingredients, looking at how to heal ourselves bring that to the next place. That’s the principle that not walk back through it” It was one of those thin
and then others. That’s a little overview but what I I use in my social action work. lines and I felt I had to sit there to find out what
really wanted to do was to get questions from you, was going on, to bear witness to it. I knew if I could
because we’ve never met each other. I have no idea Q: What would you say is the fine line that gets one do this, something would arise and I would have a
what you are interested in, and I would love to to go from the fear of the plunge to taking the better understanding of what to do. Or not a better
speak to you about your issues. But I felt I had to plunge? Where does courage come from? Are we understanding, but I would do something that
give you a little taste of who I am. born with it, is it experience, is it achieved by made more sense. So I’m not looking for
developmental needs?
27
BEARING WITNESS FOR PEACE
understandings, but I’m looking to plunge into have our own ingredients. It is a cook book – it’s overcomes negative. So bearing witness means
experience and I know from my previous cooking the supreme meal, which is your life. being there as a human being, in a positive way, and
experiences that this forces me into directions that praying with one’s own being – trying to release the
are healthier for myself and for others. Swami Mahedevananda: In the beginning you suffering that is still there - that takes a lot of
mentioned that when you first went to Auschwitz, courage. Because it’s not a place that you can joke
Q: I was wondering whether you would share with us you were overwhelmed by a feeling of the hunger of about: there was death, millions of people died,
some of the methods or practices used during the the souls. I was intrigued by that and was wondering suffered and were tortured – it is still there. That can
retreat at Auschwitz, that were successful at dealing if that was the initiative that led to your compassion. be released with powerful positive energy. But this is
with the very sensitive conflicts between the Could you say something about that? not easy – it takes a lot of energy from positive
polarised groups of people that were present at the people. That’s what we felt in west Berlin, next to the
retreat? Or put more simply how did you get these Bernie: The experience I had of the hungry spirits
was way before that, in the years before I was a Wall. We could touch the Wall. What Swami
groups who were having conflicts with each other, to Sivananda said on that particular night, was that a
feel love towards each other by the end of the retreat? teacher, and that formed this direction of my life. At
Auschwitz certainly I could also feel all the souls. It lot of souls were released. An Ashram is a place
Bernie: Again, I don’t know if I did anything. I think was an immediate feeling – I don’t think anyone where the earthbound spirits or suffering souls
the biggest thing was that we bore witness to each can walk on Birkenau and not feel those souls – come – the chanting, prayers and positive vibrations
other. We stayed in that conflict; we sat together in crying to be remembered, so that they could go are like fresh water in the desert for them. When you
a circle; we didn’t run from each other; we lived home. As you read Holocaust literature, the theme really concentrate hard some of them are released
with each other for those five days – that was the is to remember the story, don’t forget me. There from their suffering. In a place like Auschwitz there’s
biggest part. Each morning we had small groups was one man who was very young, and whose a very negative energy, but the positive energy can
and did counsel work. In this each person talks, you father was very old, and he wanted to give his food be released.
can’t do cross-talking, you’re not answering to his father, but his father said “No, you have to Bernie: Coming back to my student, in former
somebody; and each person is speaking from their eat it, because somebody has to live, to tell our Yugoslavia, as he and some friends were walking,
heart, and we are all supposed to listen from our story”. That’s in a book by Berta Lome – one of the together with a lot of anti-war people, they walked
heart. When we talk we talk from our heart about survivors. You could feel all that, before I read all by a group of soldiers. There was a man on guard
what we feel; we’re not responding to what these books, just walking in Birkenau. I went there with his bicycle; everyone wanted to walk the other
somebody else has said – that’s the basic principle by accident about seven years ago. A student of way. But Claude went up, introduced himself and
of the counsel. We do this each morning and we’ve mine, who was a disaster of the Vietnam War, said “how are you? How are you sleeping at night?”,
found over the years that this is very important. In becoming homeless after the war and an addict for and then the man knew that Claude was also a
the evening we have a big group like this, and that many years, now looks after casualties of war, soldier. He said “I’m not sleeping so well.” Claude
was also very important, more the first year than though he’ll never be fully healed and he still can’t was a gunner on a helicopter; by his eighteenth
last year – the dynamics are changing, and we are sleep at night. He was going on a walk organized by birthday he had killed 200 men, women and
looking at how to do things differently. First is to a Japanese-Buddhist group that walks for peace. It children – they took body counts in Vietnam. Not
bring the differences into the same mandala. was a nine-month walk from Auschwitz to only that, but when they went out in the morning
Normally we don’t do that. It’s not that we think, Hiroshima and they were going to walk through they would do lotteries on who would kill the most.
and say we’re not going to bring differences in, but Vietnam. So I went to Auschwitz to do a lay He had a nervous breakdown, then wound up on
because of the very nature of how we set things up, ordination for him and we did it at a crematorium. the streets doing drugs. When I did the lay
it excludes so many. We put a lot of energy into I was so overwhelmed that all this work followed. ordination I gave Claude a mala. The soldier saw the
thinking about how we can bring people of mala and said “what is that?” Claude explained, and
different persuasions together. First it’s to bring Swami Mahadevananda: We had a similar
experience when Swamiji flew over the Berlin Wall. he said “I’ll trade it for your rifle”. The soldier said “I
them to the same place, and second it’s to bear can’t do that”. Claude said “I’ll trade it for the bullet
witness to the differences, and to share them. To We went to an area just on the American/English
side of the wall, a place called Templedrome, and in the chamber”, and he said “I can do that”. So for
hear somebody say “I can’t stand the fact that the rest of his walk Claude had a bullet in his pocket
somebody is laughing here on these grounds – this there we celebrated puja because both Swamiji and
Marilyn Rossner, who is a reputed clairvoyant from and the soldier had a mala. That’s what can happen.
is not a place to laugh”. And to just listen, not
answer it – just to hear that this person is in pain Montreal, said that there were people still fighting Q: When talking about this man who was in
because somebody is laughing. Another person is against each other there from the Second World Vietnam and who couldn’t sleep at night, you chose
in pain because nobody is laughing. We heard all of War. It was in the heart of Berlin. One side was the the words “he will never be healed”. I thought that
these things and we stayed together. I think that bunker where Hitler took his life. The whole area was was very interesting and it made me think about
those are the things that we did that are not always flattened during the war. Swamiji said we had to the limitations of people to heal themselves,
done: bringing so many differences together, pray. So possibly when there are good people with especially if they’ve been in horrific circumstances.
sitting with them for so long, and then sharing our good hearts they can go to a place where people I’m sure you think about this as well when you deal
feelings about our pain and suffering, what was have suffered, and pass positive energy that helps with the homeless. At what point do you say I can’t
hurting or disturbing us, getting us angry, and just the spirits to leave the place. I heard about a similar do any more? Or better yet, how do you come to
listening to it all. incident in the Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh. One terms with that?
night, as Swami Sivananda started to chant Jaya
Q: I loved your book Instructions to the Cook. It’s Ganesha, he came to the point of Hare Rama and Bernie: I never say I can’t do, any more. You can
one of the best things I’ve ever read – a kind of guide went on, chanting Hare Rama Hare Rama Hare always do more. I don’t have any expectations of
for everyday living and right livelihood. Are you Rama, for five minutes, ten minutes, one hour, two what will happen, but I always do my best. That’s
going to be developing any ideas from that at all, hours, then all night. Everybody was saying what is one of the principles in that book Instructions to
tomorrow perhaps, or whenever? going on? In the morning he said thank God, the air the Cook: use the ingredients you have and make
is very clear. Everybody laughed, everybody was very the best meal you can. And if it’s not so tasty, it’s
Bernie: Yes, I guess in the workshop. We’ll make happy. Highly spiritual people feel a certain not so tasty. Make another meal, use the
some meals. As it says in the title it’s not the giving presence and due to their own personality, their own ingredients you have, make the best meal you can,
of recipes, but learning how to be a cook. Then each saintliness, their own positive approach, they are and serve it. If you don’t make the meal, nobody is
of us can make our own meals with our own able to change and release positive energy that will going to come and eat. So make the meal. If you
recipes with our own ingredients, because we all overcome negative energy. In the end, positive look in the refrigerator and say oh I don’t have the
28
right ingredients, so I’m not going to make the new meals. Use them, change your menu. I’m not through all of our practice, to experience that
meal, it’s of no value. See what you have and make saying it’s not difficult to have people not loving oneness. It was a very beautiful practical
the best meal you can. I don’t think about an end. you or showing anger to you, it is difficult. experience.
Q: In your work with the Auschwitz counsels did Q: After the Vietnam War, there was a lot of talk Bernie: It seems to me a natural unfolding as you
you ever have to deal with people who denied the about how to heal veterans who felt they were to practice, if you really see the oneness of all. If my
holocaust or who minimised it saying not so blame and out of that came a lot of healing for hand bleeds I can’t just sit and watch it bleed – I do
many people? victims and survivors of abuse. One of the very first something. I can’t say I don’t have the right things,
principles of that is that blaming the victim is a way the right band-aids. I have what I have, so I could
Bernie: Yes. We had principles of no cross-talk. We to keep people in their suffering situation and in take out my handkerchief, or take off my shirt, or
listened to everyone and we listened from the their exploited situation. Have you been able to work hold it in my mouth – but I do something because
heart. The issue was more that we had children with that? it is me. So as our practice unfolds, and everything
whose parents were saying “It doesn’t exist”. We is me, it’s natural and we don’t have to think about
had people who came, from Germany generally, Bernie: I would say that most of us are involved in it. If there’s something bleeding we take care of it,
whose parents had told them “What are you doing this blaming issue. I think that the society we are in if there’s something hurting I don’t just ignore it. I
going there? That’s all a lie. It was built after the creates oppressors and creates victims. It’s like may not have the proper things to take care of the
war, nothing ever happened there”. They shared this Claude walking down and seeing a soldier, and hurt; I may not understand why I am hurting, but I
with us. Then they went home and talked with their everybody else leaving and blaming that soldier. do something about it with whatever I have – it just
parents about what they saw. The other kind of Claude killed two hundred people and he really seems very natural
denial that is very common is that people would thought he was doing it for his country and for
come and talk about their work somewhere else – democracy, and then he was torn apart by what he
they couldn’t talk about what was happening to had done. So now he goes and talks with people –
them there. In this situation we do try to insist that he does as much work with oppressors as with
you talk about what’s happening here. There are victims – because it’s the whole system that has to
some documentaries, made by Polish, English, change. How are we creating these oppressors? I’m
Germans, in which a lot of these people are talking, not trying to say one work is better than another –
some for the very first time, about what had you have to work with it and blaming is one of the
happened to them. There was a woman who came big issues. For many people in the second year of
from Holland and she talked for the first time about Auschwitz, the big issue that came up for them was
her experience when she was a little child. Her “the other” and how everybody creates an “other”
parents told her that they were going to leave and and blames that. I certainly agree with you, we
that she was going to go with some friends – her can’t be blaming.
father told her that they couldn’t go together, Swami Saradananda: When you were speaking I
because Germans were going to be coming. They was thinking of an experience that we had, just
thought of hiding and the father told his daughter, after the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. Our own
aged about eight, “we can’t hide because you’ll be teacher Swami Vishnu-devananda had to go to
too loud – we’ll be back soon”. The SS came and she East Germany; after that he took us to Tel-Aviv. He
never saw her parents again, so she was left with was giving some programs in Tel-Aviv and one day
her father saying “you can’t be with me because he said we are going to Calcillia. There was one
you are too loud”. The Auschwitz retreat was the village on the West Bank, where the Interfada was
first time she had ever talked about it, and it was so going on. We all got in the car and Swamiji took
important for her. So almost everybody that comes books and flowers and we drove there. He said we
has some kind of denial – then the place opens you are going to go there and chant for peace. When we
up. Only if you stay there – I don’t think that got out of the car, everyone was shaking. I remember
happens if you just visit and run. That’s why Swamiji just walking down the street and people
bearing witness is so important, it’s our meditation. just looking at us in amazement. One by one they
You can’t just sit for a second and say oh I’ve tasted started coming up to us and asking us questions.
it – you’ve got to sit. Swamiji sent me back to the car to get some
magazines. I was walking, thinking any minute
Q: Thinking “love thy neighbor as thyself” what do
someone is going to shoot me in the back. As I was
you do about friends, relatives, associates who either
walking some Palestinian women came up to me.
irk you, bother you or take your energy away when
They said they were afraid to walk up to the group,
they are around you – how do you deal with this?
but since I was a woman alone they felt that they
Bernie: I just accept it. I don’t expect everybody to could approach me. They said they just wanted
love me. Again, those are ingredients and I try to do someone to talk to them, to hear about what was
my best meal. I don’t have any pat answers as to happening and so I took them to Swamiji. They just
what to do. There’s a practice in Japan in which sat there and talked for a long time. It was a really
every morning the monks in the monastery go out beautiful experience for all of us just being there
with big bowls and people put things into the with Swamiji. At one point he started talking to one
bowls. The practice is one of accepting what is man – he didn’t speak any English – it was just
given and you wear a hat so you can’t see who is talking by eyes. I think that everyone who was there,
giving it to you. The bigger practice is when people thirty or forty people, will never forget it. It was such
give you anger or throw water on you. You have to a heart-opening experience, and it’s only a person
accept everything; it doesn’t mean to just ignore who really has no fear for himself, who really sees
them – you can’t do that. You have to say, what do the oneness in all, who is able to do something like
I do with this? You’ve got new ingredients to make that. I think that is what we are really trying for,
29
PRISON PROJECT
W
rarely has visitors, he was as
the 1,000 mark in excited as a child. This meeting project are gratefully received. Please
letters received. was extremely important for send them to: Sivananda Prison Project
Our Prison Web both of us. Over the years, he Sivananda Ashram Yoga Ranch
page has been extended and had written over 1,000 letters to P.O. Box 195, Budd Road,
includes many inspiring letters. various organizations, including Woodbourne, NY 12788
The rate of incoming mail has Swami Padmapadananda Bharat Gajjar in Delaware, who
increased dramatically and introduced him to the
more help is needed to deal with this. If Sivananda teachings. When we Right
n
you would like to share in this work, we mentioned the din, he replied that was an as ow, I am
sistan
would be glad to hear from you. Below is only one quarter of the noise in his instru t
c
an account of a visit I made to one of our dormitory! To overcome this dis- two ‘Y tor for
o
prisoners and samples of some of the advantage, he rises at 4am for sadhana. classe ga’
s per
many letters we have received from When the weather permits, he does The so week.
u
Comp rce for my
inmates touched by the project. asanas outside on the courtyard track, le
Yoga” te Illustrat lass is “Th
c
under menacing guns pointed from . I find ed Bo e
In the spring I had opportunity to visit a stude it o
watchtowers. Beside his bed Emilio has an nts do very usefu k of
few of the prisoners involved in the Prison exercis seem l and
th
Project in Virginia. This prison is the last altar with pictures of Master, Swamiji and Specia es as well. I to really en e
li h jo
prison stop for these inmates before Krishna. Since our visit Emilio has too en st who ove ave an Act y the
jo r iv
intensified his sadhana ardently studying run an ys how we sees the cla ities
release. Nothing may be brought inside; d is m ll the s
Bliss Divine, Bhagavad Gita and YOGALife. one dil ore of c lass is s. She
after much persuasion the guard agreed e a
be able mma at ha participan being
to pass on a folder containing photo- He writes to me weekly. He is hoping to be n t
paroled this fall and I ask anyone reading dilemm to assist m d! Perhaps !! I have
y
copies of some of Swami Sivananda’s
this to please say a prayer for him. When partic a is this: ea e in some w ou may
ip c a
essays. space ants and o h class ha y! My
After being frisked we were led into a released, he is planning to spend some is on t ur only s 25
gym .. he har availa
time at the Yoga Ranch. .
large room dotted with tables and chairs, moan all I hear ar dwood floor ble
s and e the in the
filled with a deafening din. We spent two – Swami Padmapadananda - M. T. grunt s
s and ounds of
Coordinator, Sivananda Yoga Prison Project Reid Jr. g roans
hours with Emilio, one of the most serious , Ches ...
ter, PA
people in the Prison Project. Since Emilio
Pilgrimage used, in tune with the yogic principles of ‘simple living The Itinerary
and high thinking’ ‘adapt, adjust, accommodate’ Bunk
A pilgrimage involves challenges. It can be physically The pilgrimage began at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga
beds were installed to sleep eight adults – plenty of
demanding, logistically difficult, materially challenging, and Farm in Grass Valley, California. Our idea was to retrace
opportunities to practice tapas (austerities performed
psychologically annihilating. One must let go of Swami Vishnu-devananda’s footsteps in North America,
in order to control the mind and senses ). From the
expectations and comfort zones, learning to journey in visit Sivananda Yoga Centers, past and present, and
tiny kitchen we produced wonderful ayurvedic meals
the moment and respond appropriately when integrate other spiritual places including Yellowstone
twice a day – important for creating good energy and
everything around is changing. Pilgrimage is an intricate National Park, The Black Hills and Mount Rushmore;
keeping the mind positive. This trip was about peace –
business of receiving and giving. Receiving blessings from Val Morin, Quebec (Into the 21st Century. Peace
including peace of body and mind. We attempted to
Mother Nature, earth, air, sun, water, atmosphere, local Festival), a Benedictine Monastery in Denver, Colorado;
maintain a sattvic, yogic lifestyle. A long trip can cause
people, and other travellers. A pilgrim who is open and Canyon lands in Utah; and the Grand Canyon. In total,
ungroundedness, anxiety, instability, and separation with
ready, is nourished abundantly by all encounters, gaining we covered almost 10,000 miles in five weeks.
reality. We could not afford to have this happen. We
the chance to commune with God, through the
were dealing not only with motion, but our emotions
medium of a beautiful landscape, a chance encounter A challenging trip, it offered plenty of opportunities for
as well. Living in close quarters all day long with a group
or a perfect moment when there is no thought. The tapas, was inspiring, eye-opening and purifying. All feel
of people is challenging. Each pilgrim was asked to have
idea behind the Mobile Ashram was to go on a Peace acutely that the Peace Pilgrimage continues. In the
a topic of study, maintain a general attitude of
Pilgrimage through America with a spiritual destination words of Master Sivananda, We are here as passing
friendship, avoid personal conflicts and tune to a
and routine. Following is an account of an idea that pilgrims. Our destination is God. Our quest is for the
common wavelength. The Shanti Bus was to be a
turned into a 10,000 mile odyssey, beginning with a lost inheritance, the forgotten heritage. Our central aim
model community, traveling through the world, bringing
donated 1987 RV (mobile home). in life is the coming into a conscious realization of our
light and love – exposed and yet shielded from
negative influences. Painted beige, the Shanti Bus bore oneness with God. Life has no meaning as a separate
Preparations the words, in royal blue, ”Yoga for Peace – Health is life. It has meaning only when it becomes full or whole.
The vehicle carried a 100 gallon diesel tank, large water wealth, Peace of mind is happiness, Yoga shows the way. Life is a voyage in the infinite ocean of time where
tank, generator, kitchen, and an airplane-size bathroom. – Swami Vishnu-devananda.” scenes are perpetually changing. Life is a journey from
It was self contained. Every little space in the RV was impurity to purity, from hatred to cosmic love.
31
“ I N T O T H E 21 S T C E N T U R Y ” P E A C E F E S T I V A L
in aMobile Ashram
Journal 1999
The Journey
July 20th August 9
We skip Glacier National Park and cut down to On the return trip, Bren Jacobson, who flew with Swamiji in
Yellowstone National Park; it is magnificent. We spend two his Peace Plane in 1970, is with us. Now, almost 30 years
days in this immense park visiting various formations of later, he and son Jess are helping to pilot the Shanti Bus. In
terrain, white crust terraces, vast blue and orange fields Toronto we visit a powerful Ganesha Hindu temple outside
of living bacteria surviving in waters of different of the city, established by the Sankaracharya of Kanchi.
temperatures, mud volcano, geysers of different sizes The shrines are beautiful, and we are immersed in the
especially the huge Old Faithful, a variety of hot springs, vibrations of Holy India.
bubbling pools, rivers and forests, canyons and cascades,
and a huge lake. We see elk and bison, and hear a bear
near to our RV at night. This pilgrimage allows us to see
August 10
the marvels of the many names and forms of nature. We An intense day with the contemplation of one of the jewels
realize how immense this country is, and how beautiful. of the world, Niagara Falls, followed by a twelve-hour
drive to the Vivekananda Monastery in Ganges, Michigan.
July 24 We spend the day in sadhana during the solar eclipse.
For program and dates of other Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center Peace Pilgrimages for 2000, see pp
29/32 and www.sivananda.org/peace.htm or write to: peace@sivananda.org
32
YO G A Life Winter 2000 PLANET EARTH PASSPORT EXCERPTS
Thought Power
orld Peace
for Inner Peace - W of
Caused by the vibration
Thought is a living force. is the
the mental substance it
psychic vital energy on sts in the
power that exi
most subtle and irresistible
universe. in
t, the more effective it is
The stronger the though wo rld through
You can move the
accomplishing its work. ts of gre at sag es and
rful though
thought-force. The powe the Ak asi c rec ord s.
orded in
rishis of yore are still rec you r tho ughts.
ome. Be careful of
As you think, so you bec com es bac k to you.
of your mind,
Whatever you send out ano the r, hat e wil l com e
red for
If your mind is full of hat bac k to
others, love will come
back to you. If you love
you. ry to
the thinker by doing inju
A negative thought harms or
, it attacks the person
his mental body. Secondly iates
it is directed. And lastly, it rad
persons against whom iro nm ent , and
mental env
out, poisons the general
neg ativity in the world.
promotes .
for po sitive or negative purposes
Thought can be used we ll as wo rld pea ce,
peace, as
Promote your own inner
by rad iating ou t lov ing thoughts.
1. Reg Gui
condit larity of tim de to
u
io
delay. ns the mind place and
e, Me
ts practic ditat
Control your Though 2. The
m
to slo
w down e are
its act most imp
ion
charge ost effectiv
through Meditation ies wit ortant. Re
d et iv it
and u with specia imes are da ham g
inimu ularity
nruffle l spirit wn an m of
3. Ha d by a ual for d dusk
control. It is an c c
Meditation is really thought
ve tivit e. In th ,w
associa a place for ies of the d ese qu hen the at
ich removes all pains, t
times ions. Power editation, fr .
m ay iet hou m
rs, the osphere is
indescribable experience wh mind
tion destroys the causes of stre ful vib ee fro is clea
sufferings and sorrow. Medita 4. Sit ss, you ration m oth r
in ca sw er v
of unity and induces a erect a comforta n sit and e ill be lodge ibrations a
of all sorrow. It gives a vision but no ble cr xperie d in th nd
helps the aspirant to soar conce t tens o
e. This ss-legged p ce comfort
n e room
sense of oneness. Meditation nt
5. Bef ration. helps osition and re and, in
l bliss, everlasting peace or to ste ,
ady th with spine ef.
li
high into the realm of eterna length e beginning e min and n
grow jasmine and roses, of tim , com d , eck
and undying joy. Just as you prayer. e. For m
get th and the min
a nd en
coura held
thoughts of love, mercy, e past d ges
so also you should cultivate
6. Co , prese to b
nsc
abdom iously regu nt and e quiet for
virtues in the vast garden of a
kindness, purity, and other in
down al breathin te the brea
la fu ture. B s
egin w cific
pe
. to g th. Be
your heart through meditation
ith a
7. Foc an imperc to bring ox gin w
e cross-legg ed position. Repeat 'OM' us
menta on an upli tible rate.
ep ygen t
o the
ith fiv
em
Sit in a comfortabl lly, an fting o brain. inutes of d
and withdraw it from d co-o bject o Then
slow t eep
mentally. Quieten the mind
person rdin r sy
a
scles and nerves. Ease the 8. Beg l Mantra, O ate it with mbol. If us he bre
ath
worldly objects. Relax the mu gradu
in the
p
M ma
y b
the br
eath. If
ing a
M a
d. Silence the thoughts. ally in ractice of m e used. you do ntra, repea
brain. Still the bubbling min If you cre
medita ase to one ditation wit
e not ha t it
ost recess of your heart ve a
Plunge deep into the innerm te
streng daily, you w ur.
ho h twe
nty m
. Mysterious is this Silence. th. Me ill be a inute
and enjoy the great Silence d
tonic. itation is th ble to face li
period
nce. Become that Silence.
s;
Enter into it. Know that Sile
It open e mos fe with
s th t p o p
OM in Silence and attain realms e door to w erful m e a ce and
Hear the sound of soundless of
and ste eternal blis intuitive kno ntal and ne piritual
e s
that Passeth all ady. s. The w rv
peace. This is the "Peace mind b ledge and e
ecome
Understanding". s calm
33
S I V A N A N D A
MILLENNIUM
WORLD PEACEP I L G R I M A G E
The International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres
I
n 1969 Swami Vishnu-
devananda had a vision of the
world being destroyed by fire.
People were running in all directions
trying to get shelter. He ‘saw’ that
national boundaries, such as those of
France-Spain-Germany, USA-Canada,
India-Pakistan are only mental
creations. Birds fly over without a
passport and human beings should be as free. Realizing that
humanity must learn to live together, Swamiji embarked on ‘peace missions’ around the
world. He flew over such trouble spots as the Suez Canal and Belfast, dropping flowers and
leaflets calling for peace. In the 21st century, with our increased nuclear potential there will
be no victor, no vanquished.
da
ace Pole
kamekw
37
YO G A Life Winter 2000
Mount Rushmore
Syndrome
When Narcissism Rules the Earth
by Allen D. Kanner, Ph.D.
Allen D. Kanner proposes a theory in which the urban-industrial
society’s stance towards the natural world is likened to the mythical
Narcissus who became so absorbed by his reflection in a pool of water
that he fell in love with himself and, forgetting the greater universe
around him, pined away. Kanner draws a parallel between the myth
and the western attitude that humans are superior to nature, destined
to dominate it, and entitled to exploit its resources. Kanner terms this
the ‘Mount Rushmore Syndrome’. An impressive monument, Mount
Rushmore features the heads of four American presidents carved out
of the South Dakota hills - a symbol of human domination over
nature. As with Narcissus there is the danger that one can become so
absorbed by the sculpture that the trees, the hills, the cliffs and even
the surrounding sky are all reduced to a backdrop for human grandeur
without thought for the social and ecological disintegration of the
society that such self-absorption may cause.
The following discussion of Mount Rushmore Syndrome emerges
from a new field, ecopsychology, that is concerned with the
psychological processes that bring people closer to, or alienate them
from, the natural world. Although there are many historical, political,
and economic trends that contribute to this global tragedy, a
narcissistic thread runs through them all.
Students of the Sivananda
Domination of nature Yoga Centres pose in front
At the core of Mount Rushmore Syndrome is the belief that begins with the of Mount Rushmore
humanity is superior to all else on the planet. This notion is so deeply identification of a during the recent Shanti
ingrained in the Western psyche that for many it is self-evident and characteristic that
irrefutable. Yet it is worth recalling that thousands of indigenous qualitatively dist- Bus Peace Pilgrimage
cultures, both past and present, have not held this view. It is not ‘natural’ inguishes homo-
for human societies to assume they are above nature. Even within the sapiens from all
Judeo-Christian tradition, as many environmentalists have pointed out, other species. Common candidates include intelligence, creativity,
a hierarchy has existed consisting of God, angels, humans, animals, culture, self-awareness, technology, and adaptive flexibility. The
plants, and inanimate objects. Modern science has continued this significance of this characteristic is then traced throughout human pre-
tradition, but with God and the angels removed. history and history, with an emphasis on how it has been responsible for
The obsession with human superiority is reflected in a common human ascendancy on the planet. By the end of the story, the impression
discussion found in scientific textbooks and the popular media, a is given that this feature confers far more than an adaptive advantage.
discussion that has become a kind of short story or parable. The story It makes human beings more worthwhile, more intrinsically valuable,
38
MOUNT RUSHMORE SYNDROME
than all other forms of life. The parable concludes that as the only species
powerful technology is often used as proof of its innate superiority,
with high intelligence, self-awareness or advanced culture and which in turn justifies its attempts to conquer the world. In fact, a whole
technology, in its own unbiased opinion humanity is inherently superior
philosophy or Utopian vision has emerged based on the belief that
to all the rest. paradise can be constructed through the proper application of science
The grandiosity does not stop here. Implicit, and sometimes explicit,
and engineering, an ideal that flies under the banner of ‘technological
in these stories is the sense that the purpose of the planet, the apex of
progress’.
four and a half billion years of evolution, has been the creation of the The narcissistic mind-set that underlies technological progress spawns
human race. The destinies of the Earth and of the human species have a type of technology that upsets the ecological balance of the planet. It is
converged and are now one and the same. no coincidence that the more powerful the inventions of urban-industrial
Of course, this is bad evolutionary theory. Every species that nowsociety, the more pollution and environmental damage they generate.
exists is the current endpoint of its own evolutionary path; there is no
These inventions are based on the premise that nature can be fully
“crown of creation.” Scientists do not believe that evolution has a controlled and tamed. Each time such technology backfires, modern
purpose or goal. science and industry propose even more drastic attempts at control. Now
we have bioengineeering as the next miraculous ‘solution’ to world
Denial of responsibility hunger, even though this gene-altering technology could reek far more
Other forms of grandiosity are evident in Mount Rushmore Syndrome. environmental havoc than the chemical pollutants that are its
There is the tendency among narcissistic individuals to deny their predecessor. This is akin to a dictator approaching every national problem
responsibility when things go awry and instead to by further subjugating the populace.
blame others. In these instances they can become Elsewhere, I have discussed an alternative called technological
paranoid and accuse other wisdom, that is based on co-operation with the natural world.
people Technological wisdom recognizes that people are always in a
two-way relationship with their inventions that they can
neither fully control nor predict. It includes a healthy
respect for technology’s ability to remodel its creators
The destinies of the Earth and of the human in directions the creators did not intend. The
contrasting idea that technology is neutral, that
species have converged and are now one its effect is entirely a consequence of the manner
and the same. in which people use it, is an example of human
hubris.
Of course, this is bad evolutionary theory. Every When guided by technological wisdom, each major
species that now exists is the current endpoint invention is introduced slowly, on a modest scale, to
of its own evolutionary path; there is no determine its spiritual, psychological, political, and
environmental effects. Such an approach would
“crown of creation.” Scientists do not believe certainly lead to creative new technologies, but ones
that evolution has a purpose or goal. different from those that emerge from an urgent desire
to conquer the cosmos.
Narcissistic individuals are well-known for their sense of as an urge to go to the mall.
entitlement, their belief that the universe owes them pleasure and
gratification with little effort put forth on their part. We can certainly Beyond Rushmore
see from the previous discussion that most Westerners feel entitled to Mount Rushmore Syndrome is
exploit the natural world as fully as possible. Now I would like to focus especially toxic for the planet when it
on an aspect of modern life that has a huge impact developmentally occurs among the rich, for on a per
and emotionally, yet receives scant attention in mainstream capita basis their consumer habits lead
psychology: corporate advertising. them to use up the Earth’s resources far
more extensively than their poorer counterparts. The wealthiest people
Corporate advertising and consumption in the world, the corporate elite, pose the greatest threat to the Earth’s
First World consumer habits are responsible for vast amounts of viability. These individuals are acting very much like that avaricious
environmental destruction. These habits are generated in large part by narcissist of old, King Midas, who turned everything he touched into
the enormous amount of advertising produced by corporate marketing gold (or in today’s language, into marketable products). Soon his entire
departments, with most of us being exposed to up to 3,000 ads a day. environment was valuable beyond belief and completely unlivable.
Commercials are psychologically quite sophisticated, manipulating Moving beyond the Mount Rushmore Syndrome means tearing our
human desire, weakness, need, and fantasy all in the direction of greater gaze away from the image carved on the rocks and paying attention to
consumption. the trees, the hills, the cliffs and the sky that surrounds us. Perhaps what
Advertisers narcissistically wound their audiences by convincing we encounter may be painful and may make it more difficult to
them that they are inadequate or inferior if they do not purchase an participate in mainstream society. To deepen our connection to nature in
unending array of new products. The typical consumer alternates this day and age is to share in both its beauty and tragedy. Encounters
between feeling momentarily satisfied when a purchase is made and with the natural world often promote feelings of interconnection and
used, but relatively quickly slipping back to a state of dissatisfaction and belonging that soften narcissistic defenses.
material want as new products are advertised and the novelty of the old Ecopsychology proposes a broad but humble picture of the human
wears off. This state of dissatisfaction is absolutely necessary if condition, one in which the planet has provided our species a home but
corporations are to keep people in a buying state of mind. not a throne. When we see past our own reflection, we realize we are not
Since love, companionship, esteem, peace of mind, spiritual alone. The mountain is still there
equanimity, and other non-materialistic requirements of the psyche A longer version of this article first appeared the The Humanistic
and soul cannot be met exclusively through consuming, the return to Psychologist, 1999, volume 26, nos. 1 and 2.
consumerism is thus guaranteed.
Advertising encourages people from a very young age to neglect
and even disdain those parts of themselves that require non-
materialistic nourishment. When advertisers claim that people’s Alan Kanner is a practicing ecopsychologist in Berkeley, California and
greatest needs can be fully met by purchasing the right products, they co-author, with Theodore Roszak and Mary Gomer, of Ecopsychology:
convince people to misinterpret the more subtle stirrings of the psyche Restoring the Earth, Healing the Mind.
Shop Internet
Online Yoga
Store SIVANANDA YOGA
VEDANTA CENTERS
■ Numerous Yoga Books
■ Yoga Instruction, Audio and Video
■ Spiritual Music
In U.S., 800-731-2522
www.sivananda.org/YogaStore
40
YO G A Life Winter 2000
SANTOSH
Contentment
By Swami Saradananda
experiences, new tastes in food or new acquisitions that I didn’t Santosh means never looking back, being content in the present
really need. On account of this, I could feel myself being burned and striving to improve the future. As I began to develop this
by an internal fire that was consuming my prana slowly but virtue, I realised how much time and energy I had wasted in
surely. Although I was diligently doing my yoga practice, I reprimanding myself for mistakes that I had made last year, last
frequently found myself exhausted without knowing why. Often week or yesterday. Some days a vast portion of my energy would
I found that that I put out more energy into obtaining things be consumed by the thought that I shouldn’t have done
than I received in return. It was not unusual to find myself something, or I should have done it in a different way. It seemed
dissatisfied with my own behavior and that of others. The relish that I regretted so much and, instead of learning from my mistakes
with which I surrounded myself with things didn’t seem to last. and moving on, I was letting them devour me.
Santosh came as a powerful antidote for the poison of greed. It Through my daily meditation and introspection, I began to
seemed like I had been for a long, hard walk in the hot sun and was intuitively understand that past is past; no one can change it. Even
suddenly refreshed by a delicious plunge one split second after an action has taken place, it cannot be
in the Ganga. Then I read in a book by undone. Once something is said,
Swami Sivananda that ‘There are it can never be unsaid.
four sentinels who guard the “Past is past; no one can change it. Even one Even the present, that
domain of Moksha (liberation). fleeting instant when the
They are Shanti (peace), Santosha, split second after an action has taken place, future becomes the past,
Satsanga (company of the wise) cannot be changed. By the
and Vichara (right inquiry). By it cannot be undone. Once something is said, time you realise what is
encouraging myself to befriend one it can never be unsaid.” happening, it has happened
of these guards, I found myself in and is in the past. But I found
the company of his colleagues. My life that this was not a depressing
and sadhana took an upward turn. train of thought. In fact the understanding and
The wonder is that although we all know that contentment is a practice of Santosh was quite a liberating experience. It helped me to
virtue that gives peace of mind, few of us try to develop it. It seems learn the true meaning of contentment. It showed me a practical
that the increasing speed of modern life has caused many of us to method to stop wasting precious energy on which I could not
lose our powers of discrimination. Our understanding gets clouded, change. It enabled me to focus on positive improvements in my life,
intellect perverted and memory gets confused by greed, as well as on how I could best use my energies.
its accompanying passion. On account of this we find it increasingly More and more I began to realise that by my present effort, I could
difficult to develop the basic virtue of contentment - or even change the future. I could do so with increased vigour because my
understand it. energy was not being drained.
As a yoga teacher, I have found that many people actually fear This is, of course, an understanding and acceptance of the law of
contentment, as I did. They worry that it will make them lethargic and Karma. The knowledge that I myself was the author and creator of
lazy. Without it they see themselves as exerting and energetic. my present situation taught me how I could guide my future. It gave
However, contentment can never make anyone idle. It is a sattvic me solace, peace and strength. It helped me to solve my own
virtue that propels the individual towards peace. It gives strength of difficulties and problems in life. I began to understand that Santosh
mind and checks unnecessary and selfish exertions. It calms the mind is bliss, the divine nectar that brings peace and happiness in life.
and opens the inner eye of intuition. The contented person is able to
work energetically and peacefully, with a one-pointed mind. All the Loka Somasta Sukhino Bhavantu
dissipated rays of the mind are collected and available for use. May the Whole World Attain Peace and Happiness
stilling of the mind. It is the ultimate in holy days. With the timing of a pro, she for this TTC. He is extremely focused, yet
retreat. Awareness of the body disappears communicates the lessons to be learned. childlike and whimsical. He loves to laugh
along with all sense of time and space. One’s She shares a bit of herself and why she loves and enjoys poking fun at himself. He is a
heightened involvement becomes a the Gita so much. “It’s about a war that skilled yogi and teacher. “You all are gaining
communion with that which never changes every person alive fights at one time or experience as teachers and are much more
-the soul. As the mind begins to reconnect another. It is the dynamic tension between confident today. Can you feel it? The benefit
with its body and the eyes slowly open, the the higher self and the lower self. The of yoga comes from breathing, relaxing, and
air smells sweeter, colors are even more answers are all in this book.” A quick experiencing the proper position of the
vibrant, and appreciation prevails - for the shower, a nap and a trip to the laundry asana. Remember to teach mostly with
class, for the transformed sensations, and room. Hassles, joys, sorrows, frustration, all words, and make very few adjustments -
for brunch. Soups, salads, rice, casseroles, there for the taking. At 1.45pm Laurie rings especially with beginners. Let me show you.”
tea and cookies. All vegetarian, all organic the bell. The hour break leads into the He wishes to demonstrate the form of an
and mostly all delicious. Enough, always, for 2.00pm lecture given by Swami advanced position and finds that he is not
an army of seekers. The food is fresh and Swaroopananda. “Today we are going to talk able to extend as fully as he would like. He
prepared in selfless service by the loving about the three Gunas. Rajas consists of asks a volunteer to go into the pose. By
hands of guests, students, staff and culinary restless creative energy. Sattva consists of permitting himself to be seen as imperfect
guru, Ben. While Laurie’s ‘karma’ yoga is bell invigorated yet peaceful energy. Tamas is in the process, humility, a subtle and
ringing, others are assigned work in the lazy and resistant to change and is attached powerful value of the Sivananda yoga
kitchen, chopping, serving, or washing to illusion. We all bring to any situation all practice, is conveyed. The dinner bell has
dishes. An enormous circle is formed around three of these qualities in varying degrees. echoed. Another feast, no doubt. A crowd
the dining room, hands are held, and a Each veils the truth. Are you with me?” His gathers around Swami Sivadasananda,
blessing of the food is enthusiastically sung. lecture is dense and intellectual. He wastes each hoping to have a question answered or
The view from the large picnic tables is no time. His love for learning and a comment heard. Others make their way
panoramic. The mountains and ever- knowledge is profound and his standard, as down the path, through the huge
revealing sky provide an inspiring backdrop. a teacher, is inspiring and demanding. Most evergreens, into the clearing that leads to
Friendships are sealed through lively the lodge where dinner is served. The
conversation - laughter, tears, hearty musicians gather around the piano to sing
hugs. For many the bonds become Broadway favorites. The food line moves
rooted, tested and strengthened Hassles, joys, sorrows, frustration, fast. It is difficult not to overeat. The
during meals and karma yoga. At all there for the taking. boutique is filled with browsers searching
11.00am sharp, a crew of twenty through CDs, spiritual books, clothing from
pile into a pickup truck headed India and assorted Sivananda yoga wear.
for the mountain top to help The adjacent snack shop has remedies for a
complete a timber staircase that realize that he teaches the Advanced sweet tooth, as well as fruits, chips and
winds its way back down to main Camp. Teachers’ Training Course and is a key smoothies. The after-dinner line is long and
Some scrub floors, windows and toilets. motivator for taking the additional month- the two couches are already occupied. An
Others tend to gardens, work in reception or long program. “The rajasic student is willing art portfolio is shared. An original poem is
complete a variety of other chores. Karma to discuss any subject without personal recited. A tearful teenager is consoled by a
yoga is at the heart of the Camp and a experience. Rajasic religions claim “My God caring friend, a foot is massaged over an
foundation of the Sivananda philosophy. By is best, my religion is best, and my belief is arm of the couch and a carefree child
offering selfless service one discovers best”; much like believing the tulips to be chants joyfully. The Sivananda community
limitless opportunities to learn a skill while supreme over all other flowers in the is a collage of people from all over the
observing and tweaking one’s own garden. The sattvic student wants spiritual world. It is ageless, heart-centered, hard
attitudes. Chris, a TTC student from London experience, not only theories. The sattvic working and remarkably simple. This
says, “The real challenge for me is to religions appreciate beauty in all religions. community was the vision of Swami
maintain a positive attitude - to stay open The tamasic student makes the teacher’s life Sivananda, an Indian medical doctor who
and connected to what I’m doing and to the miserable, loving to argue only for the sake devoted his life to the teachings of classical
people I’m with. For me, an hour of hard of argument. The tamasic person’s religious yoga. He established his first Ashram in
work everyday is a real test because every life is impure and destructive.” Laurie runs to Rishikesh, India in 1924. Twenty-five years
button gets pushed.” Laurie rings the bell ring the 3.45pm bell in preparation for the later he inspired Swami Vishnu-devananda,
at 11.45am. Time to take a quick refreshing 4.00pm asana class. Today two students in his disciple, to go to the United States and
swim, fill the water jug and get back to the each group of six teach the class. Some Canada, exposing the western mind to yoga.
yoga hall for lessons from the Bhagavad teach with notes in hand, some with Wasting no time and with no money, Swami
Gita. Swami Durgananda has a mischievous unusually hushed voices, still others with Vishnu-devananda convinced a Canadian
smile and a twinkle in her eyes. The scholar- long explanations. All are eager to be their bank to loan him enough to purchase six
turned-comedienne pokes fun at our own personal best, which means, in the hundred acres of land north of Montreal, in
intense and full schedule, comparing it to a Sivananda tradition, consciously putting the Laurentian mountains. This is now the
spa and assuring us that we’ll be missing it one’s ego aside, acknowledging one’s Sivananda Ashram Yoga Camp at Val Morin.
when we get home. Obviously sensitive to teachers and serving as their instrument. Swami Vishnu-devananda was the force
the energy level of her audience, she fills the This cornerstone creates an environment behind centers opening in Montreal, New
room with fun, laughter and sincerity. It is a free of competition and openness to York, the Bahamas and most major cities
much-recognized and appreciated break feedback, whether from a peer or from throughout the western world. He was a
from the fierce note-taking of previous Swami Sivadasananda, the asana teacher holy man, a writer, adventurer, innovator,
44
YO G A Life Winter 2000
NN
MAKING THE BODY ALL EYES
By Phillip B. Zarrilli
Practicing kalarippayattu,
the martial/meditation art of
Kerala, South India
n the well-known Bhagavad-Gita
I
Thiruvananthapuram, and C.Mohammed Through the psychophysiological forms of
section of the Mahabharata, Krishna Sherif of Kannur, I have learned and daily practice, the martial artist grad-
elaborates a view of duty and action absorbed a style of traditional ually discovers and controls the inner
intended to convince Arjuna that, as a kalarippayattu which emphasizes, like energy/breath (prana-vayu), gains mental
member of the warrior caste, he must Arjuna, the active, energetic means of power (manasakti), manifests one-point
overcome all his doubts and take up arms disciplining and "harnessing" (yuj, the root focus and complete doubtlessness,
even against his relatives. As anyone of yoga) both one's body and mind, i.e., I discovers and raises the inner
familiar with India's epics knows, martial have learned and absorbed kalarippayattu energy/power of kundalini sakti, and is able
arts have existed on the South Asian as a form of moving meditation. As to channel and use this energy and power
subcontinent since antiquity. Both epics are comparative religions scholar Mircea Eliade for healing in massage therapies, or for
filled with scenes describing how the explains, "One always finds a form of yoga harming an opponent in combat. As in
princely heroes obtain and use their whenever there is a question of traditional yoga practice, knowledge of the
humanly or divinely acquired skills and experiencing the sacred or arriving at bodymind begins with the physical or gross
powers to defeat their enemies: by training complete mastery of oneself..." Drawing on body (sthula-sarira), discovered
in martial techniques under the tutelage of both the antique systems of Tamil through exercises and massage.
great gurus like the brahmin master Drona, (Dravidian) martial culture, as well as the The exercises include a vast array
by practicing austerities and meditation Sanskritic Dhanur Vedic tradition,
techniques which give access to subtle kalarippayattu had emerged with its
powers, and/or by receiving a divine gift or distinctive basic forms and traditions by
boon. The ideal heroic warrior is the the 12th century A.D. Like the
"unsurpassable" Arjuna. He was trained ancient warriors trained in
both in martial techniques as well as Dhanur Veda, the kalarippayattu
practicing severe austerities to obtain practitioner who has mastered
access to single-point focus and subtle the basic psychophysiological
powers. Along with Manipuri thang-ta, forms of his discipline thereby
Kerala's kalarippayattu is one of two concentrates his "mind,
complete systems of martial practice still eyes, and inner vision,"
extant and practiced in South Asia today. thereby "conquering
For the past twenty three years I have even the god of
trained, practiced, and taught this fluid, death."
dynamic, and powerful form of martial art
which is based on both a yogic
understanding of the body and bodymind,
as well as on Ayurveda's complementary
understanding of them as well. Primarily
under the tutelage of Gurukkal
Govindankutty Nayar of the CVN Kalari,
N
46
MAKING THE B O DY A L L E Y E S
of poses, steps, jumps, kicks, and leg movements performed in the fluid grace of the gymnastic forms is the strength and power of
increasingly complex combinations back and forth across the floor of movement which can, when necessary, be applied with lightning-fast
the training space (a kalari or pit dug in the earth). Collectively these
speed and precision in potentially deadly attacks, or for healing.
exercises are considered a "body art". Individual body exercise "Hidden" within all the preliminary exercises and basic poses are
sequences (meippayattu) are taught one by one, and every student complex combinations of offensive and defensive applications which
N
masters basic forms before moving on to more complex and difficult are eventually learned through constant practice. Students are
sequences. Most important is mastery of the basic poses (vadivu), eventually introduced to weapons’ training, beginning with the long-
named after animals and comparable to basic asanas of yoga, and staff, and continuing with a short stick, daggers, swords and shields,
mastery of steps (cuvadu) by which one moves into and out of the spears, maces, and then empty-hand combat. Eventually a student
poses. The body exercise sequences are linked combinations of basic should begin to manifest physical, mental, and behavioral signs
body movements including poses, steps, kicks, a variety of jumps and resulting from practice. At first the exercises are "that which is
turns, and coordinated hand/arm movements performed in external." But like hatha yoga, daily practice of the forms leads to
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increasingly complex and swift succession back and forth across the extraordinary physical control, and eventually inward – the exercises
kalari. Gurukkal P.K. Balan explained to me the importance of the become "that which is internal." One master explained that "first are
animal poses: "When any animal fights, it uses its whole body. This the outer forms, then the inner secrets." Exercises and weapons’ forms
must also be true in kalarippayattu. For example, the horse is an animal
are repeated until the student sufficiently embodies the "inner life"
which concentrates all its powers centrally, and it can run fast by (bhava) of the technique, i.e., until the correct form gets "inside" the
jumping up. The same pause, preparation for jumping, and forward student's bodymind. Once the forms are "effortless," one experiences
movement that are in a horse are in the 'horse pose' in kalarippayattu."
the "inner action" behind the external form. Even though
The vigorous practice of basic exercises, combined with the complete kalarippayattu "from the outside" looks very much like a dynamic and
system of full-body massage given with the master's feet as well as very physically demanding physical form of training/practice, as my
hands, renders the body supple, flexible, balanced, and controlled. In
primary teacher, Gurukkal Govindankutty Nayar explained,
daily practice, "the sweat of the students are the water to wash the "kalarippayattu is 80% mental and only the remainder is physical." The
kalari floor!" Chirakkal T. Balakrishnan describes the results of 80% mental is further developed through a variety of forms of
practicing one form (pakarcakkal) as "like a bee circling a flower. While
meditation including everything from simple vratam – sitting and
doing this sequence a person first moves forward and back, and then focusing one's mind on a deity, name chanting, or focusing on one's
again forward and back. It should be done like a spider weaving its own breath – to more complex forms of moving or stationary
meditation. Ideally, the practice of kalarippayattu gives physical health
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as well as balancing the body's three humors. The mental calm
resulting from practice gives one "mental courage" (manodhairyam),
i.e., the power to face anything that is dangerous to my health or
mind. In Kerala, there is a folk expression which summarizes the
martial art's ideal state of accomplishment – a state where
the "body becomes all eyes." In this state the bodymind
Like the ancient warriors trained in Dhanur responds intuitively to the sensory environment. It is the
Veda, the kalarippayattu practitioner who has animal-bodymind in which there is unmediated,
mastered the basic psychophysiological forms of uncensored, immediate responsivity to stimuli.
Like Brahma, the "thousand-eyed," the
his discipline thereby concentrates his "mind, practitioner who is accomplished can "see"
eyes, and inner vision," thereby "conquering everywhere around him, and respond. In my own
even the god of death." teaching and practice of kalarippayattu, I emphasize all
of these traditional elements and concepts which inform
this unique, yoga/Ayurveda-based system of bodymind work
from Kerala, India. I invite you to consider taking this training as
web!" Repetitious practice a complement to the practice of yoga and Ayurveda either
of these outer forms eventually renders in one of my intensive workshops or weekly training
the external body flexible (in London or at my West Wales
(meivalakkam), and, as one kalari/studio). As I complete writing this
master said, "flowing like a short essay, I hope to open my own
river." As master Achuthan traditional kalari in Llanarth, West Wales
Gurukkal explained, "one- during this year where traditional
point focus is developed by training and massage will take place on
constant practice of correct an earth floor
form in exercises." "Correct
form" includes directing
one's external focus to a specific point at Contact information:
the opposite end of the training space, P. Zarrilli
and eventually internalizing that focus 57B Herne Hill Rd., London SE24 0AX
so that it becomes "internal" as well as Tel: 0171-326 5196
external. Once the physical eye is
steadied, the student begins to discover Tyn-y-parc, Llanarth SA4 70PB
the "inner eye" of practice, a state of Tel: 01545-580376
inner connection to practice. Behind email: P.Zarrilli@surrey.ac.uk
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YO G A Life Winter 2000
Detachment - true and false have seen better ones”. I was arrogant and ignorant. I had already seen
f we do not practice meditation, no many teachers. The day I met Swamiji, he was very tired. He had just