Paris 29.7. 2020
A dedicated German Swamy and his unique center for ‘Yoga
Vidya’(Understanding harmony in living) at Meinberg in Germany.
Kriya Yoga co-ordinator in Germany Mr. Bernd Prokop has been inviting Shibendu
Lahiri (Great grand son of Internationally revered house-holder yogi Shyama Charan
Lahiri Mahahsay, 1828-1895) to initiate Germans in the original teachings and
practices of the science of Kriya Yoga (in 3-day programs) for the last six years, with
popularity and participation growing more and more every year.
This year Bernd has requested me to write a Message on this well-known Yoga center
headed by Swami Sukhdevananda, who had stayed in the holy Pilgrimage-place of
India, known as Rishikesh, in the Ashram of Swami Shivananda. The word ‘Swami’
means a person who is not a victim of the vulgar activities of the myth ‘mind’ and the
illusion ‘I’. ‘Mind-I’ is not real, but valid. It gives functional value for performing our
daily tasks as also useful for our passports, driving licenses and credit cards. At the
entrance of Yoga-Center, there is a big Hindu Deity —- Ganesha with a rat at the feet !
This is a fascinating symbol. The rat represents thought.
Always , an aggressive and frightened rat (thought) runs in persons’ heads keeping
them always in ache, agony, agitation and disturbance and thus much wastage of
energy. The thought (rat) may remain at the feet for performing practical duties. Then
the head is empty. Emptiness is holiness, the whole-ness — full of energy of an
elephant in joyful existence —- calm and quiet in meditative & holistic awareness.
There is also a big statue of another Hindu Deity Hanuman in the campus. He is the
symbol of tremendous speed, strength and devotion par excellence to Divinity
(represented by ‘Ram’).
Swamy Sukhdevananda is simple and unassuming. There are many other swamys
coming and going —- with quite a lot of pomp and splendor.
Swamy Sukhdevananda became a householder subsequently. His partner lady very
devotedly takes care of him to keep him healthy and efficient. My pranams to both of
them.
Jai Yoga-Vidya Center