Dear Friend

It is with much sadness and deep regret that the Trustees of the Patanjali Centre for Classical Yoga are writing to let you know that our beloved Guru, Teacher and Friend, Swami Indrananda ji passed away peacefully on December 19th 2007.

Swami ji or Sri Indar Nath, as he was formerly known, had an interest in Yoga going back to his childhood, but it was only after he came to England from India in the 1950s that he developed his deep devotion to classical Yoga. In 1972 he founded the Yoga Centre of North London, later renamed the Patanjali Centre for Classical Yoga. In 1988 the Centre acquired a property on the outskirts of Battle, now known as Patanjali Kutir.

The Kutir (which means a small ashram) is in a most beautiful and scenic place where peace and tranquillity prevail. It is the intention of the Trustees to maintain this Ashram and to continue to develop its programme of classes, retreats and satsangs, under the leadership of Shirley Hately who will become our new Programme Director. Information can be found on the website at www.patanjali-centre.org.uk

Swami ji was a purist who believed in the classical teachings and our aim is to maintain this tradition in his honour. We welcome any enquiries from aspirants (email patanjalicentre@aol.com) who may be interested in understanding the classical way and hope that many of you will visit the Kutir and experience for yourselves the teachings and the centre that Swami ji has left for us.

Om shanti

Carole Lee

Publicity Officer
On behalf of the Trustees of the Patanjali Centre for Classical Yoga

Tel: 020 8761 3927
Email: carole.lee@londonbrandinnovations.com

The following was taken from a card published by the Vivekananda Institute of Human Excellence, Hyderabad, India.

Swami Vivekananda Ji on Divinity of Man”

Teach yourselves, teach everyone, his real nature, call upon the sleeping soul and see how it awakes. Power will come, glory will come, goodness will come, purity will come, and everything that is excellent will come, when this sleeping soul is roused to self-conscious activityIf the fisherman thinks that he is the Spirit, he will be a better fisherman; if the student thinks he is the Spirit, he will be a better student. If the lawyer thinks he is the Spirit, he will be a better lawyer.

My ideal indeed can be put into a few words and that is; to preach unto mankind their divinity, and how to make it manifest in every movement of life.

Manifest the divinity within you, and everything will be harmoniously arranged around it.

Religion is the manifestation of the Divinity already in man.

The more our bliss is within, the more spiritual we are. Let us not depend upon the world for pleasure.

This recipe was provided by Carol Ann Conneeley.

Ingredients:

1 kg grated carrot
1 piece of chopped white cabbage
1 chopped coxes apple
1 sliced Banana
A handful of raisins and almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts

Dressing:
Ratio 3:1 Cider Vinegar to EXtra Virgin Olive Oil
1 teaspoon demerara sugar

Optional
Grated cheese/Cottage cheese

To help to cleanse, eat once per day for 6 weeks

However, we would request and approach those Life Members and others who have not yet embarked on this route, would consider regularly donating, as much as they can afford, through Gift Aid using a standing order, which will undoubtedly increase our regular income.  If you will consider this, ask our Secretary or Membership Secretary to provide you with an appropriate form; thank you.  Please see contact details on last page of magazine.

Receipts for the ‘Donations’ are sent to all but in case we have missed it, we apologise to them but their money has been safely deposited to our Bank.

We pray to the Lord to bless all these noble souls
And shower upon them manifold.

Donations

TOTAL DONATIONS RECEIVED DURING MAY TO OCTOBER IS £1500.
THIS INCLUDES GURU PUJA DAY DONATIONS.

Although I have mentioned the figures above, I thought it would be useful to explain the significance of the word in case you have not yet come across it.  The Sanskrit word donation is “Daan”.  The book, “Practical Sanskrit Dictionary” by Arthur Anthony Macdonnell was presented to me in August 1983 when I was retiring from the Post Office as well as from the BT/PO HQ Yoga Club which I had started several years earlier.  The presentation was done by none other than our Brian Down who, along with other members of the Club, was dedicated to the cause of Yoga.
It will perhaps surprise you that in the dictionary this word has 3 different descriptions and carries about 10 to 12 meanings, as a number of other Sanskrit words do.  The first meaning givien in this dictionary is “giving away a daughter”.  Although the dictionary does not explain it, the Sanskrit words for this are “Kanya Daan”.  One can imagine how much sacrifice is being made by the parents by giving away their daughter to another party.  When a girl is born in the family, it is called the Goddess Lakshmi i.e. the Goddess of Wealth has arrived in their home.  Also, according to scriptures, every girl, when growing up, is looked upon as “Mother”, and is addressed accordingly by the saints, sages and others.
The word Daan is also known as “Daana Dharma” which carries several meanings – sacrifices, abandonment of life, gift, present, charity, generosity etc.  Any selfless work done for charitable organisations, temples and other religious places, come under ‘Daana’.
We must now know that any selfless action done by us, from time to time, comes under the category of ‘Daana’.  Hence it is our moral duty to continue donating physically, mentally and spiritually as much as we can afford and I quote, once more, the saying of the great Master, Swami Vivekananda Ji “the more we give for the right cause(s) we will get back many fold.
As you perhaps know that we do receive a number of donations from our members and friends from time to time or through ‘Deed of Covenants/Gift Aid’ which help the Ashram to provide facilities to those who visit us and stay here either for the courses or to be immersed in peace and tranquillity. They also participate in selfless work for the Ashram to give benefits to others who will visit after them.

We pray to the Lord to bless us, according to one of our hymns in our ‘Havan Yajna’ book which will soon be in circulation ; of course with the hard work of our several dedicated members; it says:
“O, Lord give me so much that I can feed my family, and any guest or stranger who will come to my door.”

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Om

Copies can be posted direct to you for an extra cost of £2 p&p, please contact Vanessa on vanessa@oshadhimediation.co.uk
Below is a chapter called ‘Being’ taken from her book:

I have had the great fortune recently to observe a young baby at close quarters. He was termed a miracle baby in that it took nine attempts at IVF to conceive him and on the final try when my brother and sister in law had given up hope it happened. I do not know if it was because he was so much wanted that inclined him to a delightful predisposition. He smiles and chuckles at anything and everyone. He spends most of his time in joyous contentment.
My guru had told me many times that a newborn baby is in bliss and that one could learn much by observing them and being in their presence. I paid lip service to this; I had brought up two children of my own and had cared for many others in my lifetime. Yes they were delightful, perfect, innocent, small human beings who have a charm all of their own but there were also the screams, dirty nappies, constant demands for food and attention. Caught up in the web of caring leaves little time to stand back and observe them objectively. They are loveable and mainly that is all that one sees. At the time when my children were very young, I did not understand what meditation was all about, let alone identify if they were indeed in a meditative state themselves.
Spending time with my nephew has aided my understanding of what the bliss of Being is in reality. At the time of writing he is six months old and sitting upright with support, his eyes take in everything he sees. He is fascinated by the way I eat and watches every movement I make. He constantly watches my reactions and is ever ready to catch my eye and make me smile. He really appreciates the attention I give him and he stares deeply into my eyes. There was one point when our eyes interlocked that I became aware that these were not just a young child’s eyes looking at me but something more. Big blue eyes but they contained a beckoning to what was beyond them; I sensed they were a window to Being or at the very least his soul. It was like the shutters were open, the window was open, the curtains were open and it was there for me to see - the space of eternity. I stumbled to find the right words to encompass it, as in Tao terms it is the unspoken of, when it is spoken of, it loses its essence, it is not meant to be captured in mere words.
This was a puzzle I had pondered over many times since I started on my spiritual journey. The words Being and consciousness were brought to me but if you have never experienced them for yourself how to you know what they mean. You just have to take them on good authority that they do exist and hope that one day they will be revealed to you. I took it on board in the vedic tradition that we were all part of a whole, that there was no separation between us and Being, we were all part of the same thing. To try and get it clear in my mind I likened it to a big teapot full of tea. Being was the tea and it got poured out into different cups, in our planet be it animals, flowers, humans etc. When each died the tea got returned to the big teapot and then it was repoured into something different. Being was changeless in its various forms. Although this is an over simplified example it has helped me grapple with this unknown quantity. It was all part of the whole and nothing was separate. Often God is separated from us and is perceived as something outside oneself to be worshipped. To be told you are God, God is you is a conundrum. It is the same as being told you are consciousness/Being and that you do not have to seek it, as you are it. I did question why I had not found it sooner if I had it all along. Why was it so elusive to find?
The mind-boggling even got larger when I was told that the world I lived in was not the real world but an illusory one called maya, that Being was in fact the reality. All I can say is that you sit tight and slowly all will be revealed. Just looking into the baby’s eyes, I could start to begin to understand what was being said. I knew from my mediation experiences that I was not my mind or body, that I was something beyond. In those same states I could feel myself disappear, there was no person called me. I did not need to breathe or have bodily functions as there was no actual body. I cannot say I was ether, it was more of a nothingness. It was not an empty nothingness but a space containing all. In this realm the mind does not exist so there is no thinking, no brain to grapple to try and understand it. Just acceptance of what was. I now have a clearer picture that this would be Reality (another word for Being or consciousness) and that what I see in my life is the unreal. Saying unreal does not mean that it is not real but that it is a manifestation of the Real. Trees, houses, people even furniture are all manifestations of Being. There are multifarious forms of Reality filled with the same Being.
Just when I get an inkling of what is said, I am presented with the image of an empty house, each room is an empty space, so if that house was demolished, what happens to the empty space where does it go? It does not go anywhere because the space is still there. So it is with Being, it is always there. We are surrounded by it, it is outside and within, there is no separation between the two. The Being that I have within myself is the same Being as the person next to you has, it is one of the same we are made of the same stuff. Our problems arise because we do not recognise or acknowledge that this is the case. We highlight individuality which focuses on our differences, when we do this conflict arises and disagreements occur which lead to disharmony. We seem to thrive on this environment even though it leads to great unhappiness. We alienate each other although underneath this lies a yearning to become whole with another. We pair in partners to ward off the feeling of isolation and disconnection, yet all the time the thing that would satisfy us most is right under our noses, if only we chose to look – unity.
I return to looking, looking into my young nephew’s eyes where a whole vista of understanding arose but that window of opportunity gets slowly obscured as a child develops. Not totally though, as you can catch a glimpse of it in any adult’s eye. My greatest joy is seeing that flicker still alive in an adult’s eye. It is a moment when you say ‘yes’ that’s what it is all about. I really saw it, it was really there. Such moments cast away the doubts and Being shines through, which helps to propel oneself further on the spiritual path. As with anything a spiritual journey has its ups and downs and it is never easy

I was the last to arrive at the Centre but I was just in time to join the group for the introductory session. I know from past experience just how important this first session is as it sets the theme for the whole of the retreat. The emphasis on this occasion was Guru Puja and the significance of the Havan Yajna. The group learnt to chant the introductory verses that precede the actual Havan Yajna ceremony (these are not normally chanted at the monthly Satsangs) and we were also shown how to purify the body before the sacred fire is lit.

As mentioned above this was the theme for the whole weekend so it was very spiritual and of course special. Jenny took the morning asana sessions and as Swamiji was unavailable for the first morning session on Saturday, the morning chanting was also led by Jenny.

After breakfast on Saturday Swamiji recapped on the previous evenings chants but although we didn’t light the sacred fire on this occasion we did chant all of the verses.

Throughout the whole of the retreat guests/members of the Centre also participated. Lynn Power (Life Member and Trustee) visited us on Saturday. The weather had cleared after breakfast and so when we returned from our walk it was lovely to see her. Premanand Ji also came that day and stayed for the rest of the retreat.

Sunday followed a similar pattern to Saturday but this time Swamiji led the early morning chanting. As this was a very auspicious occasion Swamiji asked us to forgo our breakfast porridge (we all ate this just before we were about to depart for home) and just to eat fruit. Our numbers swelled significantly as Shirley brought two guests and other members of the Centre also came to participate in the event. Phil and Premanand Ji each provided musical recitations. The retreat concluded with a short question and answer session followed by a meditation.

I really enjoyed every moment of my stay at the Centre and particularly on this very auspicious occasion as it more than fulfilled my highest expectations. I hope that this short report has whetted your appetite and that you will come and support Swami Indrananda in any future retreats/courses that are being held at the Ashram.

Internationally renowned spiritual teacher and ambassador of world peace, Sri Chinmoy, passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning, October 11th, 2007, at his home in the small suburb of Jamaica, Queens, New York. The cause of death was a heart attack.
Respected and loved worldwide, Sri Chinmoy manifested his philosophy for world peace through a wide array of activities, including literature, art, sports, music, drawings and paintings, and most recently, weightlifting. The universal nature of his philosophy embraced people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities, inspiring them to work together for a more harmonious world.
Hailed as a modern-day renaissance man, Sri Chinmoy wrote over 1500 books of prose, questions and answers, plays, humour, tales and poetry, and interviews with luminaries and personalities around the world. He composed nearly 21,000 pieces of music, and offered more than 750 Peace Concerts worldwide – all free of charge – in venues like the Royal Albert Hall in London, and New York’s Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. He was an avid runner and tennis player, and in recent years, a champion weightlifter.
President Mikhail Gorbachev wrote in his condolence letter: “My long-time close friend Sri Chinmoy has passed away,” adding, “this is a heavy loss for the whole world. In our hearts, he will forever remain a man who dedicated his whole life to peace.”
Sri Chinmoy propounded the philosophy of Self-Transcendence: Going, beyond, beyond, into the ever-transcending beyond. For him nothing was static. We could always do more; life was a continuous trend of growth and newness. Old age was simply a new page and that there was always more room for Self-transcendence. We compete, not for the sake of defeating others, but for the continuation of our own growth, our own inner progress. Many of Sri Chinmoy’s students have swum the English Channel, climbed mountains, done triathlons and other enduring feats in the spirit of this philosophy. Ashrita Furman, one of his students, holds the Guinness Book of Records own record for having the most number of Records as an individual.
Sri Chinmoy also founded the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, which is a leading promoter of races, ranging from The Sri Chinmoy Runners are Smilers two-mile races, to the Self-Transcendence two-mile races and ultra-distance races, sponsoring events to include marathons, 24hr races, and the world’s longest footrace, a 3100-mile run.
Sri Chinmoy’s humanitarian service organisation, The Oneness-Heart-Tears and Smiles, has to date collected and distributed millions of dollars’ worth of medical, surgical, pharmaceutical, school and other technological supplies throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. Dedicated to service, alleviating suffering, and inspiring others to a more abiding and inwardly fulfilling life, Sri Chinmoy once wrote, “My Lord, do give me the capacity to wipe every tear from every heart.”
Sri Chinmoy was born on August 27, 1931 in a small village called Shakpura, in Bengal, India. Orphaned at the age of 11, he went with his six brothers and sisters to a spiritual community in South India, where he spent the next 20 years in intense prayer and meditation. Heeding an inner call, he travelled to the United States where he arrived on April 13th, 1964, and began to work at the Indian Consulate. Others who very quickly realized that he had a spiritual message to offer encouraged him. He consequently made New York City his home, while serving other truth-seekers on an international scale.
In the 43 years since his arrival in the West, Sri Chinmoy became a model of the potential of humankind, opening Sri Chinmoy Centres throughout the world for inner peace. This he did by incorporating a programme of prayer, meditation, spiritual practices and selfless and soulful service to humanity at large. He himself tirelessly travelled the globe to share his inspiration and goodwill.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu wrote of Sri Chinmoy’s passing: “Sri Chinmoy was a great man. God is smiling to know the immense good he has accomplished and encouraged in others. In a world of suspicion, hostility and conflict, he worked tirelessly to bring the different faiths together and inspired many to emulate.”
A champion of interfaith harmony, Sri Chinmoy was beloved by religious leaders of all denominations. Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama celebrated Sri Chinmoy as a true servant of God. “I am so pleased with all the good work you are doing for world peace and for people in so many countries,” wrote Mother Teresa. “May we continue to work together and share together, all for the glory of God and for the good of man.” Sri Chinmoy was invited to open the Council For a Parliament of World religions (CAPR) in Chicago in 1993, and again in Barcelona in 2004.
Sri Chinmoy was an ardent supporter of the United Nations. Since 1970 he served as the Leader of the Peace Meditation at the United Nations, an association of delegates and staff he founded with the support of the third UN Secretary-General, U Thant. “The outer message of the United Nations is peace. The inner message of the United Nations is love. The inmost message of the United Nations is oneness,” said Sri Chinmoy.
Javier Perez de Cuellar, the fifth UN Secretary-General, said in 2005, “I am receiving the inspiration of Sri Chinmoy, who is actually, I would say, the Heart of the United Nations. In all the years I was Secretary-General, and even before I was Secretary-General, he was always with us.”
Sri Chinmoy has always used all practical channels at his disposal, as a medium of manifesting God’s light here on Earth. To him, it was not the physical, but the inner Light working in and through the physical, and the physical became an instrument of this Higher Source. “In my case, he said, everything I do is 100% God’s grace and God’s compassion”.
“I have learned from Sri Chinmoy that the size of the arm does not make the man; the size of the heart makes the man,” said five-time Mr. Universe and Best Built Man of the 20th Century, Bill Pearl. “Nobody on earth has done what Sri Chinmoy has done.”
Just before his passing, Sri Chinmoy read out the following aphorism: “My physical death is not the end of my life. I am an eternal journey.” A man of God who lived and died with what he called Love, Devotion and Surrender to God, it is only fitting that this Eulogy ends with these words:

“My Lord Beloved Supreme,
You took the responsibility of my life,
And now You will be taking the responsibility of my death.
In life and death You give me the shelter at Your Feet”.

For more information, contact Sri Chinmoy Centre, London. 0208 876 6049 or 0207 222 1314

This obituary was forwarded by Manatita for inclusion in the magazine.

Brother Daniel Faivre 1929 – 2007

Sadly died following a heart attack on September 10th 2007. He was the founder of the Westminster Interfaith movement in 1986. He worked tirelessly for integration amongst the faiths and for peace. He arranged many activities; the most prominent being the yearly Pilgrimage, attended by members from all over Britain.

Neville Lindsell-Stewart

We have heard from his wife Monica, that Neville died on 5th March 2007. Her letter says that he was 87 and suffering from a blood disorder which was only helped by regular transfusions. He was not making white blood cells so he inevitably went down hill with any infections. He valued all of his friends in yoga and talked of them to her. Last year, Neville gave his life long collection of yoga and spiritual books to the ashram. These were gratefully received and are available for visitors to read.

Mrs Vera Williams

Avril Kirk has let us know that her auntie and Godmother, Mrs Vera Williams died peacefully in her sleep, aged 90, on 22nd June 2007. She had been admitted into Kings Lynn hospital in April. Unfortunately her body deteriorated and she succumbed to pneumonia.

MAY THEIR SOULS REST IN PEACE.AND PRAY TO THE LORD TO GIVE STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO THE MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES TO GO THROUGH THE PAIN AND SEPARATION.

OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTI OM

According to the producer, the first day audience of this programme on TV, was watched by 0.9m on various BBC channels. In all the number had risen later to 1.8m. So we can safely say that our message of Yoga should have reached the most interested Yoga lovers.