From Elane Conway

From Elane Conway introducing herself by email before visiting the ashram for the first time:
I am a mature student in the third year of a religious studies degree course. I have a great love and fascination with the Hindu philosophical traditions, in particular the more traditional, classical schools and have massively enjoyed the ‘Hindu Religious Thought’ module I just completed at Kent University.
Although we have studied right through to the present day, I left my heart with Patanjali part way through the course and was just delighted while researching on the internet, to come across your website. I am not ‘a Hindu’, nor have I ever practiced any form of Hinduism, although I would love to see and be part of it. My immediate interest is in your library and the possibility of learning some basic Sanskrit, as I would like to do an MA in 2010.
I did a module last year entitled ‘Gurus and Disciples’ and as well as studying the traditional relationship, we also looked at new religious groups and I would just like to assure you that I am not researching you or your ashram. My intention is only to learn from you and your books. Please let me know if this is all ok and if there is a convenient time for me to come to Battle. I am very excited about it.

And her letter after her first visit to the ashram for April satsang:

Dear Shirley and all at the Patanjali Yoga Centre,

I wanted to write to thank you all for the wonderful day we spent together at the Havan Yajna, and for making me feel so welcome and comfortable in an atmosphere which was quite unfamiliar to me.  It was just lovely to see the way each of you contributed to the day in your own individual and unique ways, and the opportunity to sit, Indian style, by the visiting Swami as he taught straight from the Bhagavad-Gita was an experience of great value to me.
I felt very shy and awkward approaching the ashram for the first time, and was almost tempted to steal off into the woods to spend the day with the trees rather than knock on the door.  The grounds are so natural and peaceful, and the whole ashram is still saturated by the presence of the guru.  His absence, and your own longing, was palpable as I sat with you all.  My very sincere condolences.
The yajna was wonderful, having absorbed so much of its spirituality and philosophy at University and from books, seeing it actually ‘happen’ was truly a revelation.  While the spiritual significance of ghee in Indian thought is highly important to me, feeling it in my fingers for the first time was something I just can’t describe.  Did I really play a tiny part in sustaining the cosmic order of the universe?  Perhaps, but if I did, it certainly wasn’t due to my mantra chanting skills.  Sorry about that.  Still, in spite of me, the resonance in the room created by the Aum sound was quite beautiful and strangely moving.
Of course the time with you was quite wonderful for me and I am so very grateful. From the ghee to the guru, I loved it all and am looking forward very much to coming back in May. I am also hoping to get a yoga class or two in on Monday nights before that.

Warm regards,
Elane Conway xox (Om)