Guidance Comes at Any Time
Hari Om. I am Satchidananda. Glad to meet you. I’m the newest addition to the Yoga Academy board, but not new to YANA...
Fantastic things can come out of communication with the guru tattwa, in the external form or internal. My connection to YANA began during Swami Satyananda's mahasamadhi. Sri Swamiji had just left his body and Rikhiapeeth ashram was bustling with devotees arriving to pay their respects and humming with continuous spiritual observations to support Sri Swamiji's journey. Swami Niranjan and Swami Satsangi were giving personal time and attention to everyone. During a small group meeting Swamiji asked what plans I had. I told him I was returning to the U.S. to pursue becoming a science teacher. He laughed out loud as soon as the words left my mouth!
He said, "When you are there, visit Swami Atmarupa. Do seva at the Atma Center. Not work; seva." And so I did. Sw. Atmarupa welcomed me with her signature warmth, and I began to teach on Yogic Studies and Teacher Training courses. It was after one of these courses, while having dinner with Sw. Atmarupa, that she and another teacher began throwing lines at each other like "All your samskaras will be exploded." and "You will work from dawn to dusk." I asked what they were quoting from and she asked with surprise, "Haven't you heard? Munger is starting a 3-year sannyasa training course."
I had just returned from Munger. At the moment of my departure, one of the residents there had said I should consider coming back for a longer period, like 3 years, but I laughed at the suggestion as I walked out the gate. That was highly unlikely. I deeply wanted to live in the presence of the master at some point, but I had repeated a sankalpa for two years and it was manifesting exactly as hoped, intended, and imagined. Life was clear. Life was good. I was very happy for those fortunate participants, but “knew” it was not for me.
Three months later I was in front of the gates of Ganga Darshan ashram, again. I had quit my dream job, sold my new car, and left friends and family in a fair bit of confusion. The whole transition was a blur. For the first time in my life I found my heart making decisions and overriding my head. I could only watch and follow along.
That special time in the ashram and the years that followed changed the course of my life. In the same way and order of magnitude that my initial discovery of yoga had. I now live in Nepal; partly to fulfill a long held desire, and partly as guidance to do so.
I find I sorely miss the full ashram schedule, the multitude of projects always taking place, and the great number of like-minded and like-hearted people we get the opportunity to serve together with. During a period of nostalgia, I received word from Sw. Atmarupa there was space on the YANA board and felt an inner smile grow.
I've found that much of the advice guru gives keeps us connected. Connected to a source of guidance, to ourselves, to the path, and to the tradition. I have chosen not the follow given advice at times and it always seems to be a harder path. Not without its own lessons, but often expensive; not necessarily financially.
I join the YANA team in the spirit of gratitude to that conscious, beneficent energy which gives us opportuniies to grow and evolve, to express our strengths, and to serve a larger community. I am very excited to be a part of the YANA family at this time and I hope you are too. There are a lot of fresh ideas sprouting and plans in the works. If you are reading this and find yourself wanting to contribute your time, energy, knowledge, or experience in some way, get in touch! Let's do awesome things together in the spirit of seva!
Om Tat Sat,
Satchidananda Kaanchan Adhikary