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This was my first impression of Paramahamsa Satyananda's Tyag Golden Jubilee Convention at the Bihar School of Yoga in Munger.
Overwhelmed by orange! During the week of the convention, I never stopped feeling overwhelmed, but by things much deeper than clothes, by the sincerity and integrity of the delegates, by the high quality of the lectures, by the down to earth accessibility, gentleness and humor of Swami Niranjan and by the darshan of Paramahamsa Satyananda.
The convention was attended by approximately 6,000 Indian delegates, and some 600 from overseas. Lectures were presented by Swamis who run BSY ashrams in such diverse countries as Greece, England, Sweden, Italy and Australia. Particularly moving was the speech of Swami Pragyamurti from London, recounting her experiences teaching yoga to AIDS patients, helping them to know themselves, to improve the physical health and also to die with clarity and calmness. It was clear that yoga is a vital and active force throughout the world, and that those affiliated with BSY are sincere and dedicated in their work, spiritual search and conviction that yoga is what the world needs now.
Many of the speeches focused on the importance of non-attachment and surrender. One of my favorite quotes from the conference was Swami Niranjan's statement that, "We expect miracles by trying to make God our slave and servant. In times of need we pray and try to impose our will on God's and when we get what we want we call it a miracle. The real miracle is when a person moves totally according to God's will." And everyone had an opportunity to see theory in practice when unexpected heavy rains on the first day virtually destroyed the convention tent, Swami Niranjan immediately began leading the crowd in kirtans, and calmly adapted the rest of the conference schedule to the circumstances, accepting the rains, the cancelled speeches and the soaking carpets as part of the divine will. (The following day he said, "Yesterday was a day of examination, and today is the day of accommodation and adjustment. Man proposes, God disposes".)
The day after the conference we travelled to Deoghar to have Paramahamsa Satyananda's darshan. For me it was an opportunity to experience a real Indian style pilgrimage with all the craziness that came with the journey itself, and the awe of seeing a holy man.
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