My Spiritual teacher (Guru), Dasaji frequently tells us "there are magic moments in life, portals that will open in front of you and that if you cross them your life will be transform forever"
For most humans that can be the birth of your child, a sunset, your wedding day, the day your boss gave you that big promotion, and also when you lose someone or when you realize there are things that you have very little control over.
I feel on the verge of one of those moments. Diwali is the festival of light in India and will be celebrated on Sunday at sunrise. At the same time a group of fellow seekers and I will be ordained in the Kriya Tradition as swamis (yogi priests.)
One friend asked me, -will I be able to see light coming out from your ears? -No I said. Another inquire, -will you be levitating and reading my mind? -Definitely no.
-So what is it and why are you doing this? another wanted to know.
Becoming a swami is very simple as I understand it. It is about taking a vow to serve
Life. For those with artistic talent, they will use this gift to share the beauty of life an rise awareness; for those who can teach, they will become teachers or writers; for those who can heal, they will counsel or heal the human body. In other words I will be doing what I am doing but with a conscious decision to be better.
As anyone who has studied the Eight Limbs of Yoga, should know this is not an easy feat but opens an amazing path to live one's life.
I foresee multiple attempts and falls and once in a while success.
So... my friends asked almost rising an eyebrow at the same time, there is nothing practical about becoming a Swami?
I smiled and said, there are couple of practical services in the community. Remember Yoga is not a religion and has no affiliation with any of them. Nevertheless some of the activities that a yogi priest offers to the community are: being able to marry people, blessing of a space, praying for a sick one, ritual of death and rebirth, baptism, and spiritual counseling to mention some.
The word swami means master of himself; in my case the commitment to master my mind, body and spirit for a higher purpose and connection with Life. I have no doubt that there will be a spark transmitted from the lineage at the moment of ordination but it is up to me to keep it alive and growing.
In light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar captures the essence of the commitment I am about to embark. It is important to mention that you don't need to take a vow to do that, it just helps to be supported by an ancient lineage and living flame in the search for truth.
Here are Iyengar's words:
"He who works selflessly for the welfare of others with love in his heart is thrice blessed. But the man who combines within his mortal frame knowledge, love and selfless service is holy and becomes a place of pilgrimage, like the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Saraswati and Jamnuna. Those who meet him become calm and purified.
Mind is the king of the senses. One who has conquered his mind, senses, passions, thought and reason is a king among men. He is fit for Raja Yoga, the royal union with the Universal Spirit. He has Inner light"
What a goal (the one that might take thousands of incarnations)!
But every journey starts with a simple step, and I am ready to take it!
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