AHYMS of the Regional Meeting Dunrovin,
“My main concern is the continuation of Swami Rama’s teachings.” Swami Veda Bharati’s statement set the tone for the recent AHYMS of the ’s meeting. He said that the lazy way to do it was to say “The Guru will do it.” “Then why did the Guru put us here?” he asked. Swamiji explained that AHYMSIN was formed for the continuation of pure teachings after we are dead.
“We are living in the most prosperous and peaceful time in history. We are not aware of this. Everything is conducive to spreading these spiritual teachings,” Swamiji continued, “Yoga is very popular now, but it is about body, body, body. We have nothing glamorous to offer, but our Tradition has much to offer. It is comprehensive and includes every area of life.” He mentioned the 2 Minute Meditation, the Full Moon Meditation, the Silence Programs, and Yoga Nidra as four things for which we are becoming known.
He went on to express the desire for close relations to develop between initiates within cities and among centers and said, “You create the mechanism for doing this through constant communication.”
Swamiji brought up the idea of annual regional retreats that would take the place of his traveling to individual centers, an effort which is becoming increasingly difficult because of health. In this meeting filled with camaraderie, the participants went on to define the practical vision of AHYMS of the as: “To embody a sustainable community to ensure the continuation and expansion of the Himalayan Yoga Tradition as taught by His Holiness Sri Swami Rama, fulfilling the constitution of AHYMSIN while uplifting humanity and relieving suffering.” Every initiate and center in the
Group ideas were later brought to focus by Swamiji when he said, “If the collective sadhana of the members increases, the centers will prosper. This will create the feeling of a sangha.” He mentioned increasing the sadhana within your center, preparing people for initiation, explaining what mantra is from your own experience, and not having insecurity in your own life. He reminded us that initiation is “where the link is.”
“When a student comes into your presence, it is your presence that is the teacher. You have all the tools in the Tradition. Everything falls in place when you are in place. Make your mind a pleasant stable place.”
“Identify teachers who are teaching in their own centers,” Swamiji urged, “Bring these people in by inviting them and their students to regional retreats. Encourage them to introduce the idea of sadhana to students and let them know guidance is available. Encourage retreat attendance. Encourage silence retreat attendance. Encourage the practice of akhanda japa.”
We were reminded that “What is it that we have in our Tradition? There is no end to our resources. It is only our minds that say, ‘No, I cannot.’ So if we can open ourselves to it, surrender.”
Paul Scheele, AHYMSIN Vice President of Public Relations, organized a series of brainstorming exercises, during which participants worked in small groups on defining visions and developing ideas for the implementation of these visions.
From the group brainstorming, three main categories of ideas emerged. Under the main categories, subtopics were created. Participants divided into working groups of three and developed ideas and priorities for each of the subtopics. The first category was, “Toward the Expansion of the Sangha while Maintaining Authenticity,” with subtopics of media and production, authenticity of teaching, and member expansion and outreach.
The second category was, “Toward the Empowered Continuation of the Himalayan Yoga Tradition,” with subtopics of financial abundance and deepening sadhana with the support of the community. The third category was, “Toward the Fulfillment of the Sangha’s Vision,” with subtopics of resource sharing, improved communication, public relations and marketing.
“We have moved forward,” Rajah Indran, AHYMSIN Vice President of Regional AHYMSINS, summed up. He had traveled all the way from to attend the meeting, and is now in the process of working on a similar meeting for the region of Asia to be held in .
Everyone expressed their feelings about what a good experience this meeting had been. As one participant put it, there was “so much love and honor. It was beautiful. It went so smoothly.”
“We have moved forward,” Rajah Indran, AHYMSIN Vice President of Regional AHYMSINS, summed up. He had traveled all the way from to attend the meeting, and is now in the process of working on a similar meeting for the region of Asia to be held in .
Everyone expressed their feelings about what a good experience this meeting had been. As participant Janice Englund expressed, “So much love and honor. It was beautiful. It went so smoothly.” Submitted by Carolyn Hume
