NEPAL ASHRAM
I took a short trip to a Nepalese Ashram and returned with a bounty of experiences to carry for a lifetime. A moment relevant to my past, present, and future. It is impossible to express the myriad of meanings.
The ashram is headed by Guru Aama Radhika Bhattarai who is a recognized enlightened Nepales female guru. She is a leader in social endeavors championing the rights of women and tirelessly fighting human trafficking in Nepal. Guru Aama, is part of a team that stopped the trafficking of over 15,000 women at the border with India. Simultaneously she adopted 24 women to date as her own daughters when they escaped, were rescued and or abandoned from a life of exploitation.
It was honorable to be seated with Guru Aama in front of her elder students. This can only be dignified with what will be accomplished by Yoga with Perumal from this moment onward. Otherwise complacency takes root. What is achieved from within is paramount. Affirmation from a guru entrenches a responsibility to do and be more.
A red Khada scarf for protection was gifted by Guru Aama. It is only given from someone to another for special reasons comparable to the liking of a mother’s love. It was provided for my safe journeys and will remain with me on my path.
Guru Ama, believes that life is a regular encounter of moments and ours was not by chance. A revered guru being attentive was perplexing. She answered this thinking without my asking emboldening me to move forward. Guru Aama interpreted, “My Path Into Yoga” http://www.yogawithperumal.tv/my-path as an experience in Bhava Samadhi a stage of enlightenment. It is indicative of being on the right path with more work to continue. Complete enlightenment is a transformation of the self. She added that yoga teaching may only occur from spiritual experience.
Prakash Bhattarai, husband of Guru Aama is the administrator of a clinic conducting various ayurveda treatments. Over breakfast, while Guru Aama was making chapatis doing her wife duties as she put it, we talked. I told stories of my yoga experiences and expressed that regurgetating academic jargon and reading out of books is not my approach. Personal yoga/ spiritual experiences are my tools which I can not say to everyone. “So you are not a parrot”, he said. Such simplicity is their wisdom.
This handsom, progresive young man is Aadesh Bhattarai the son of Guru Aama and Prakash Bhattarai. He is the Nepalese Yoga Champion, childrens yoga teacher and spiritual singer. He took me to visit Pashupatinath Temple on his scooter.
Many gurus use indoctrinating language. This indoctrinating language is transmitted and heard regurgitationg through students and certainly children are not immune to it. In the middle of our time together I stopped for a moment and looked at him realizing, “I am not hearing it”. I was not looking for it. But when I began to see that he was given a true choice to be who he wanted to be in life it was clear that Guru Aama and Prakash Bhattarai are authentic. At the same time he expresses himself in spiritually based Nepalese rap music. Times are changing and so will the way spirituality be sung. He is an example.
Many gurus use indoctrinating language. This indoctrinating language is transmitted and heard regurgitationg through students and certainly children are not immune to it. In the middle of our time together I stopped for a moment and looked at him realizing, “I am not hearing it”. I was not looking for it. But when I began to see that he was given a true choice to be who he wanted to be in life it was clear that Guru Aama and Prakash Bhattarai are authentic. At the same time he expresses himself in spiritually based Nepalese rap music. Times are changing and so will the way spirituality be sung. He is an example.
After the morning class this was the group photo. Seen here are the regular followers of the Ashram that are mainly composed of elder mothers. They have been practicing for 20 years with Guru Aama. On my visit the morning yoga class began with Prakash Bhattarai the husband of Guru Aama before she took over. This was a class unlike most practiced.
YOGA RETREATS
