We could hear singing,
jeering, laughter coming from a happy crowd and were soon followed by a bunch
of students – who were also staying in the Ashram at the time – who started to
throw paint at us randomly, so it got everywhere, hair, clothes, face, neck
etc……..in a jovial manner.
Initially, we
were not amused and started to also throw our paint at them, but we asked them
to be a bit more gently which was accepted and so we ended up ‘painting each
others’ faces, necks, arms, hands……One can get a bit of an idea from the photo(s),
I hope; it made fantastic pictures. Jackie and Susanna in particular really
enjoyed themselves and it was great fun. Also, some of the students went around
all the accommodations with their instruments, making music, singing and
dancing and everybody joined in. Soon we were invited to one of the students’
houses for homemade cakes and sweets; that was a super treat and everything
tasted delicious! Alas, when some of the younger students started to throw
water bombs, and the powder paint mixed
with that really stuck onto you and dyed the hair, clothes etc……. the
only ‘remedy’ was either to go to the Ganges for a dip and swim and wash it all
off or call it a day. Jackie and Susanna and most of the students enjoyed their
walk to the Ganges and the swim; for days after, the dye was still visible in
the hair, but it did not bother anybody.
The day was
rounded up with a great bonfire at sunset, lit by Swami Veda and he, too joined in with applying some paint on to
our faces and vice versa! It was a great atmosphere, jolly, peaceful, happy and
we all linked hands and danced and sang until well into the pitch-dark
night. A memorable day, one of many
other quite amazing days during our stay. But that can wait until the next
newsletter……
Lisa Schlotmann
PANDIT RAJMANI TIGUNAIT VISITS BRUSSELS.
Pandit Rajmani Tigunait (the present spiritual
head of the Himalayan Institute USA) and his wife, Meera, visited Brussels in late
November 2009, to give lectures to yoga students about Tantra. They were hosted by Louise Abbott of the
Himalayan Institute who teaches yoga and Sanskrit. Many of her students work for the European Council. Louise writes about the event;
It was their first visit to Brussels. We had
the privilege of hosting them, and what an “electric” time it was. I was
somewhat nervous before they came. But it all went very well indeed, for I lost
my nervousness almost immediately as they walked into the arrival hall at the
airport, smiling broadly, seemingly not jet-lagged, pushing two carts loaded
with luggage.
After some
refreshments, we went straight to the European Council where Panditji gave his
first talk on Living Tantra to an audience of just over 40. Tantra was
for many who were present a new sound. Some had heard of Tantra but associated
it with the popular Western ideas of sensuality, sometimes even drugs or magic,
or a little bit of all of these. So, it was a challenging subject for many, but
I believe that they went home with a greater understanding of the energy that
Tantra is. Panditji explained with great patience the meaning of the word
Tantra. “Tan means: to expand, to extend, to spread, to be diffused
over, to manifest. It also means to weave,
like weaving cloth by putting together different threads, one thread over the
other, alongside the other, criss-crossed, etc. So. Tra means: to protect.” My question to him was: “does this mean that all the yoga-forms
emanate from Tantra?” He said yes, but
I am still somewhat mystified about it.
Next day,
Panditji and Meera left for New Delhi, from where they would be going to
Southern and Central India, eventually ending in Allahabad. Panditji seemed so grateful to be able to
break the long flight New York to Delhi in Brussels. He mentioned that H.I. is planning to set up a “centre of
study” in Central India and has secured a beautiful piece of land there.
On the way (to the airport) I told Meera that I hoped that our flat
was good enough for them, not in a physical sense but otherwise. She reassured
me that Panditji was able to do his practices, and that was important. Indeed,
he spent long times in his room. We knew his routine of getting up at 4am,
making his own big pot of chai and taking it to his room until he emerged for
breakfast, any time between 8 and 9. Meera is a wonderful person to have
around. She took all my concerns and anxiety away. I was totally at ease because she was there to look after
Panditji’s needs. She would also sit with him in the room, drawing or painting
quietly while he did his practices.
Panditji’s presence here had clearly shifted our energies. For example, my husband, for the first time
in a very long time, slept very well indeed during the visit. He looked rested, calm and the work-stress
that often grips him seemed to have gone completely – at least for the
moment. So, will they come back? We
hope so.
Louise Abbott
Pandit Rajmani is coming to London to talk to us about
Tantra in early October. Details to be circulated later.
Sacred
Journey – from The Kathopanishad
An old story is told about the beginning of time. The universe was in
the process of being created and not everything was yet in order or fully
functioning. Before the universe could be totally engaged, the Creator had one
final task to complete. To help him complete this task the Lord summoned an
angel. The angel came. The Creator told the angel that he, the Lord, had one
last job to do in the making of the universe.
“ I saved the best for last,” the Creator told the angel. “I have here
the real meaning of human life, the treasure of life, the purpose and goal of
all this that I have created. Because this treasure is valuable beyond
description,” the Creator continued, “ I want you to hide it. Hide this
treasure so well that human beings will know its value to be immeasurable.”
“ I will do so, Lord, “ said the angel. “ I will hide the treasure of
life on the highest mountain top.”
“ The treasure will be too easy to find there, “ said the Creator.
“Then,” said the angel, “ I will hide the treasure in the great desert
wilderness. Surely, the treasure will not be easily found there.”
“ No, too easy.”
“ In the vast reaches of the universe?” asked the angel. “That would
make a difficult search.”
No, the Creator said, pondering. Then his face showed a flash of
inspiration. “ I know. I have the place. Hide the treasure of life within the
human being. He will look there last and know how precious this treasure
is. Yes, hide the treasure there.”
Extract from ‘Sacred
Journey: Living purposefully and dying gracefully’ Chapter One
Swami Rama : HI Hospital Trust 2002
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