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| AHYMSIN NEWSLETTER, ISSUE - November 2020 | ||||||||
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AHYMSIN Board Meeting December 2020Reported by Rajini PrakashSwami Ritavan blessed the AHYMSIN Board meeting in December with a rendition of Guru Mantra and Saumya Tara Mantra. Thereafter, Swami Ritavan addressed the meeting with the following words of blessing: ‘Blessings of the Lineage to you all. As we are drawn together in this year-ending month, we would all agree 2020 has been special; agree in the sense of bringing our minds, our compassionate hearts, to understand that sphere of influence from each of you provided for your family, loved ones, friends, and the hardship they experienced during this past year. Yet, let us be assured that sphere of influence of a meditator is one of a purity of mind, and a compassion of heart. ‘I have thought about this extensively and tonight I’d like to share the two words that have come to mind, resilience and silence. And I call this resilience and re-silence returning to the single “I”. For when you drop the “I” of ego, out of the silence of resilience, you find that you are in silence. In that single presence. For all of us around the globe this year has been truly a stress-test of resilience and returning again and again to silence. And as we have removed the “I” of ego in resilience, our ability to change and flow with that change, we have found the quiet moments, and have returned to silence. Thus, this re-silencing again and again throughout your day. This resilience and re-silence are two sides of the coin of personality and transformation. Let our meditations be a pause in the constant efforts, and thereby, practice resilience and return to the single “I” of silence in the stillness of your being. ‘Tat Tvam Asi ‘Let me invite that we simply speak from our hearts on what this past year has been, what it has been for us individually, and our sadhana, and our own understanding of how the changes of life have provided opportunities for resilience. Also, my compassion, my condolence to those that have lost dear ones. I would like to share that and bring some thoughts together that we bring a vision to the new year that over the next three months, until we meet again in March, we will give this focus, re-focussing back to our collective efforts towards the mission and the presence of the guru in our lives; that in addition to carrying that year forward into the next, whereby we begin focussing on our Sangha right away at this point that in some way, somehow, we are bringing ourselves together once again in February 2022.’ Fourteen members of the spiritual family came together at the Board meeting to discuss ways in which to carry forward the Guru’s mission in these challenging times. A primary topic of discussion was – offering support to all by way of teachings of the Tradition. Members shared their experiences of teaching through various media. Programmes: Attention was drawn to the programmes offered by the SRSG team, through Zoom, in English and Hindi. Sadhana Panchakam, has drawn sadhakas from 28 countries who are participating in the programme. A programme on Hatha Yoga Abhyasa and an intensive programme on Atma Bodha are offered in December 2020 and January 2021. Narada Bhakti Sutras is scheduled for February 2021. Programmes are announced on AHYMSIN Facebook pages, and on the web page:
Should you wish to participate, please register with ahymsin@ahymsin.org Publications: Publications was another topic of discussions.
An effort to archiving and preserving all of Swami Veda’s work for posterity has gained fresh momentum. There is also an acknowledgement this work requires close attention and dedication over a long period of time. The project is breaking new ground as it is being taken forward. Website: Work on the new AHYMSIN website has progressed tremendously, and we await to share the announcement of a new website soon. Sangha Gathering 2022: The AHYMSIN Sangha Gathering that takes place every three years is scheduled for 2022. The dates will be announced soon. Swami Ritavan closed the meeting with the following guidance: ‘As we do with our meditation, going into the meditation and the coming out of meditation are both unique steps and stages of the change, an internal change, a change of consciousness, of awareness and as we begin to return to our breath rhythm, and before you retire at the day’s end, as you sit for your next meditation, I would just like to remind you of that special way of coming out of meditation.’ The gathering listened to the words of Swami Veda: ‘…resolve in your mind at what time you will sit in meditation again. Resolve that between now and then that you will practice mindfulness, control of desires and purification of emotions. Resolve that you seek no benefits from this meditation. If any benefits, may they accrue to the countless myriad living beings who are in ignorance and in suffering. May they be enlightened; may their suffering be alleviated. As to yourselves, say, thy will be done and not mine. Having thus unburdened yourself of all the claims of ego, be aware of your breath and your mantram. Remaining aware of your breath and your mantram, gently cup your eyes within your palms. Maintaining the same awareness, you may slowly open your eyes to your palms, remaining inwardly tuned, gently bring your hands down. I join my hands before my heart and bow my head with all the love of the heart, with all the power of action, I give you my love. And I worship the deity enthroned in your heart. May God and the Guru bless us all.’ Swami Ritavan continued: ‘May that blessing be with you throughout the coming celebration of the Hanukkah, of the Christmas time, of the New Year. Stay safe and be well, and remember as you go into meditation, come out of meditation with those sentiments that again, Swamiji has reminded us of. And may God and Guru bless us all. OM.’
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