A month ago there were hardly any leaves on those two Golden Shower trees (Cassia fistula) standing side by side in front of the Yogashala building. Covered by bunches of yellow flowers with light green buds demarcated by the black long pods will steal an eye of any passerby. They bloom in abundance in mid summer proclaiming the arrival of the new year as per the solar calendar. In kerala it is been celebrated as ‘Vishu’ and this flower being the state flower of kerala decorates a prime position in the festival ingredients, locally known as ‘Kanikkonna’.
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| Yogashala |
They are not known for their fragrance but the whole surrounding had the unique fragrance from the adjacent Bakul trees (Mimusops elengi) with its small white flowers. A usual member in the temple compounds of Kerala. Here these trees are decorating the compound of the ‘Patanjali Temple’ in Madanapalle in the southern end of Andhra Pradesh. The credits for the background score goes to the Cicadas, they perch on to the Golden Shower trees in groups making that loud, shrill droning noise by vibrating two membranes on its abdomen. It is difficult to spot them as they brilliantly mimic the bark of those trees. The lone winds often swept the atmosphere dry and hot and the temperature was quite palpable.
It was the practical exam day, bringing down the curtain for the one month long yoga teacher training course. In the background of those fallen golden shower flowers, inside the Patanjali temple keeping the diety of Patanjali as the witness the external examiner asked me “What have you prepared for your two minutes speech?” I replied “My ticket to Yoga”. She couldn’t hide that astonishment on her face and replied “Make it short, we don’t have much time”.
One of the shloka from Shankaracharyar’s ‘Bajagovindam’ was the opening statement.
naliniidalagata jalamatitaralaM
tadvajjiivitamatishayachapalam .
viddhi vyaadhyabhimaanagrastaM
lokaM shokahataM cha samastam
The life of a man is as uncertain as rain drops trembling on a lotus leaf. Know that the whole world remains a prey to disease, ego and grief.
It extols the impermanence of a human life. When one has slightly relieved from the clutches of the five senses and when one readies himself to explore further, then yoga becomes a path for him. With suppressed sensual longings it would be difficult to advance in the path of yoga.
The other pre requisite would be the complete understanding on one’s own capabilities, that nothing happens within his capacities rather he is been acting as an instrument for the higher power to establish through him. Surrendering to a teacher becomes imperative in this path of yoga.
As Arjuna says to Krishna in the second chapter of Bhagavad Gita:
karpanya-doshopahata-svabhavah
prichchhami tvam dharma-sammudha-chetah
yach-chhreyah syannishchitam bruhi tanme
shishyaste ’ham shadhi mam tvam prapannam
I am confused about my duty, and am besieged with anxiety and faintheartedness. I am your disciple, and am surrendered to you. Please instruct me for certain what is best for me.
When one is completely surrendered then as Patanjali starts the yoga sutras saying ‘Atha yoga anushasanam’. Atha=Now, begins the discipline of yoga. That now one is ready to advance in the path of yoga.
Yoga: is union. It cannot be achieved through any transaction, and certainly not violence to ourself. It is the very practice of unity.
Anushasanam: A life in yoga is a life in celebration; a path willingly embraced.
By then the examiner’s face was all lighted up and she was waving a big thump’s up. She concluded by wishing me all success with my Yoga endeavours.
Till I successfully completed the one month long TTC course I never considered Yoga as something for me. My whole intention was to be in the presence of my Guru, I was pretty sure that he would be in the Ashram for the whole one month since it was the Covid time. To experience the days of Gurukul when the aspirant get to live with his Guru and learn directly from his mouth. I thought it would be ‘once in a life time’ opportunity.
I don’t know whether I can take the whole credit to myself for becoming a part of this course, as majority of the things were not under my control. I would rather say some supreme power shepherded me to undergo the whole process.
It was the third day in the holy month of Ramzan when the course started by mid April. A month long stories of sacrifices! it was indeed a holy month. The month progressed with the waxing crescent, watching it set on the other side of the hills, which stood as a boundary to the whole compound. It attained the completeness by becoming the enchanting full moon. One would stay mesmerised watching the yogashala decorated with the golden shower flowers in the backdrop of the full moon. I was confused weather that beauty was outside or was it within myself!
Those days I would wake up with the birds during the brahmamuhurth, collecting the fallen flowers to decorate the Patanjali Murthi at the Yogashala. Waking the security guard before 5 o clock and making him open the premises so I could offer those flowers and light the lamp there. I would finish off my morning meditation at the Babaji’s room and proceed with the walk watching the early rays of sun peeping through the Gulmohar flowers and the bougainvillea trees.
The classes starts at 6:30, two hours of workout and asanas session followed by a brief meditation session. The training was quite hectic that by the end of meditation idly, pongal or dosa would start appearing in the eyebrow centre. At times one would definitely yearn for the 8:30 bell for the breakfast.
Before the sweetness of the tea fades away from the tongue and before the fragrance of desi ghee gets wiped off from the lips one should be all set for the karma yoga activities. In the Goshala or in the campus or in the kitchen or wherever we could be of any help. Working for the work’s sake. It was a wonderful exercise to understand our minds better, to keep a tab on our ego, a blow to our reward and appreciation seeking habit and to get a taste of selfless work.
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| Karma Yoga |
Until 12 it would be time for some theory sessions. All through out my life attending classes was more out of force and for grades but here I was enjoying the whole process. All I was doing was keeping the vessel empty and receptive. Classes were mostly interactive and often Krishna and Arjuna would end up in long hours of debates. On some blessed days Guruji himself came as Krishna and removed the doubts which where getting clouded in our minds. One would feel that chillness after a heavy rain when he walks out of the class with the folded hands.
One evening we really went lucky to taste the real feel of Gurukul when Guruji took one session under the peepal tree. He not only addressed our concerns but to those trees and birds as well especially to those cuckoos. How could one stay aloof from their beautiful chirping through out the day! while the owls took their turns on some nights.
12 to 1 is the time to learn some new practices especially the asanas. By the end of the session one would be completely ready to fill in every other item served for lunch. The kitchen and Katyayani Maam (Agi baa) taught us how to become a ‘Bhogi’. How could one resist when food gets made and served with that unconditional love. On some days Sir’s special recipes were also got served. The Kanji, Payar, Chammanthi and pappadam was the highlight. First time I had raw jackfruit Biriyani on the day of Eid ul fitr with the topping of some kheer.
2 to 3 is the reading hour, I thoroughly utilised this time exploring some rare gems in the library. Reading the works of Aurobindo Gosh and Satyanada Saraswati. The book “Four chapters on freedom” is worth mentioning and to get a grip on Patanjali Yoga sutras.
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| The Hostel Room |
Till 5 it would be theory classes, every other teacher was a synonym for humility. They succeeded in eliciting that spark in every one of us. They stood as the live examples that one get to learn from their characters and personalities. They have been often assisted by the volunteers. Being a volunteer is a great learning experience. I often wondered how they kept their ego at bay and served every other one without showing a figment of tiredness.
From 5 it was the practical time until 7 with the array of asanas. At times I felt it as quite hectic and giving up, but seeing the two senior students in my class who were 82 and 78 old would make me push myself further. At that age they were a real inspiration. Never missed a class, surprisingly flexible and the front runners….hats off to you guys. Not just them every other batch mate was an epitome of one or the other human qualities. So much of learning from every interaction. They belonged to different age groups as young as early twenties, I wondered how one acquires so much of vairagya (detachment) at this tender age. Strange and unique Guruji’s approach to every other disciple.
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| A trek to the hillside |
After the elaborate dinner, by 8 everybody assembles at the Yogashala for some activity session like Keerthans, bajans, story telling, videos or self study. I went lucky couple of times to sing and chant in the presence of Patanjali and that too a Ram Keerthan on the eve of Ram navami. I utilised the self study time to walk around the campus, those alleys which I had always looked forward walking. The allies frequented quite often by one’s Guru, trying walking his footsteps.
The long eventful and productive days and short nights proved that sleep was definitely a disturbance of the mind. But yoga is not for the one who goes to the extremes, it is more about keeping a balance and moderation in life. I was quite adamant to have everything in a single go that I was exerting myself beyond the limits. It manifested as a big boil on my upper lip close to my nose. Though I had a few painful days It paved ways to have close interaction with Guruji, definitely pain keeps him close to me lol... The cherry on the cake moment happened towards the end when I could perform in front of Guruji whatever little I could learn in that short period. It was the real awarding ceremony, I was in fact living a dream.
That was a life changing event, an eye opener….opening the wider vistas in front of me, polishing various planes of my consciousness, working on every other human qualities and making me to bloom to its fullness just like those Golden shower flowers.
If at all there would be two souls on this earth who will get saddened because of my ticket to yoga would be my parents, for them I would still be an outcast…..a ‘Kafir’.
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| Early morning view |
