2020 – A Year of Change and Equal Vision . . .

Sannyasi Amargeet

2020 seems to be a life changing year, not only in my life but a change for the entire world.

We never know what and how future or destiny unfolds, but there’s always a reason for how it unfolds. For life is a never-ending process, life always maintains its cycle of BIRTH-GROWTH-DEATH. I think the soul and life are two different powers. The soul is a divine spirit which supports the individual nature; whereas mind, life, body are the instruments for the manifestation of the nature.

When the true soul comes forward and begins first to influence and then govern the actions of the instrumental nature, then man begins to overcome desire and grow towards a divine nature. Life is a journey and the journey teaches us many things, develops understanding of one’s own self and helps overcome our break-downs and problems.

In the same manner, my life’s first trip came like an opportunity. Of course all thanks to my beloved ‘Swamiji’. Swami Niranjan has always been my guiding star, my companion in every phase of my life. My soul for sure had fallen in love with him from the moment I saw him. Swamiji’s flamboyant personality has always influenced me in every way. My deepest gratitude and Hari Om to him for letting me break my own shell of limitations.

My first trip to Colombia, South America, was also my first time out of India. I was excited and nervous at the same time. Excited to see the whole new world, and nervous about how I would face the change and challenges of cultures and society. I had never thought that the change would occur in such a manner.

My journey started from the ashram and I was accompanying Swami Prembhava. She came to India the same year I was born, in 1996. And since then she has been like a mother, a friend. At times we think so alike, speak and exchange the same thoughts as if we share the same genetic chain. It was such a beautiful and wonderful experience travelling with her.

For the first time I felt that this world is one and we are one family. As a family we stand together, we stand strong and we stand as one.

We had two seminars in Colombia, on the topic of yoga ecology. Swami Prembhava first spoke on yogic lifestyle, about how we can live a sattwic life in harmony with nature. In the second seminar, she spoke on water as an essential part of life and the necessity to safe every drop of it because water is life and life is nature.

We did chanting and sang lots of kirtans, showing others the current situation and how we can save it from destruction through the medium of music.

Our world is changing. Life has become so fast, changing every minute, innovation in every moment. I say innovation and development go hand in hand as it gives opportunity and motivation, but in the 21st century the human race has been under threat, not from the aliens but from among ourselves. With globalization man started neglecting Mother Nature. Nature who provides us with food, shelter, water, who nurtures us in every way. Mother Earth herself gives strength to protect and cherish her family. All we need to do is just take a step to cherish and respect every gift of Nature.

Colombia is a place growing under the watchful eyes of Mother Nature. The mountains, the valleys and rivers have such a powerful and positive effect on ‘Head, Heart and Hands’. When I visited the old mountain ranges, it felt like they have been standing there for ages looking over all living and non-living creation. They have witnessed era after era, century after century, asking nothing in return just being the drashta.

All we can do is offer our respect and prayers to them asking for their blessings and protection. I observed no matter where we went that nature speaks the same language. There might be many different species of trees and plants but their roots are the same. In the same manner, we humans might have or follow different castes, creeds, colours, religions and live in any corner of the world, but we all belong to one family, our own human family. We take in the same food, water and sunlight to stay alive. In this trip I also visited many old places like churches and museums, and learnt so many things about ancient history, how humans evolved with time and space.

While I was in Colombia one of the deadliest virus Covid-19 started spreading on a large scale. I never thought that this would reach to such a height affecting so many lives. It felt like Mother Nature is rebooting herself in her own ways and time. We humans have neglected her for so long that now we have to pay with the cost of life. All the boundaries of different countries started to shut down, we were scared yet keeping ourselves positive and motivated. Swamiji called us back home at the very right moment because it felt like it was now or never. Keeping guru in mind and heart we reached home safely.

Once again I would like to thank everyone on Earth and in space who had helped in putting up such a wonderful trip and programs. Special thanks to those where we couldn't go and had to cancel programs due to the emergency. And my love and prayers to everybody out there. Last but not the least, a few lines of inspiration:

Life is simple and precious at the same time. So, let us surrender everything to our Master. We should try to live yoga from moment to moment. A yogic lifestyle can help us to overcome all difficulties. By adopting a yogic lifestyle, we can live in harmony with nature.

Today the world is driving on the edge of a knife, so the change has to be now. We humans have to open our eyes and look up towards a new dawn, because tomorrow starts this very moment. Let us take a step, unite and make our world a better place for all of us and the entire human race.

Human Race

Into a hidden region of the heart, to face the difficulties,
To share the suffering and endure earth’s wounds.
This in us laughs and weeps, suffers the strokes,
Exults in victory, struggles for the crown;
Identified with the mind, body and life.
It takes on itself their anguish and defeat,
Bleeds with fate’s whips and hangs upon the cross,
Yet is the unwounded and immortal self
Supporting the actors in the human scene.
Mother Nature gives sympathy that partakes of others’ grief.
And the little strength, we have to help our race.
We who must fill the role of the universe
Acting itself out in a slight human shape.
And on our shoulders carry the struggling world,
To uplift from light to light, from power to power
Till on a heavenly peak it stands a self.
In its heart an invincible might,
It climbs stumbling, held up by an unseen hand,
A toiling Spirit in a mortal shape.