21st December 2008

Most Adorable Souls,

I hope you have had a meaningful Thanksgiving weekend and are preparing for the holy times ahead. I am currently on my fellowship tour of Houston for a series of holiday lectures. I arrived back from yet another Himālayan odyssey during the Thanksgiving weekend. During my journey, I trekked to the tranquil Kurmachalam terrain of the Himālayan Mountains and also pilgrimaged to several sites among India’s myriad cradles of spirituality.

The meditative ambience of the mountains was aided by a chilled silence. I was, of course, looking forward to immersing myself in the deep silence but not quite ready for the low temperatures even in early October. As before, I bear many testimonials of wondering and wandering. At every reflective pause during my trekking, I was taken backwards through the labyrinth of time. The treks were filled with frequent stops in villages where I often sat and took meals with the most unassuming seekers on my way to remote caves and altars. I offered my prayers at each such site, recognizing the silent blessings flowing forth from these living shrines.

The entire Himālayan range spans about 3000 km and has three layers of mountains acting as a receptacle for a number of glaciers and lakes. The lower Himālayan ranges hold more vegetation and rare medicinal herbs which survive the wintry conditions of somewhat lower altitudes. Himālaya literally translates as the abode of the snow, but has been called the heart and soul of the gods (Devatātma) by the famous Sanskrit poet Kālidasa. Well known for its mystical tradition, it is home to a number of yoga lineages. Most of the distinct mountains have names and are revered as entities each embodying a stream of knowledge. Traditionally, a spiritual lineage of masters is connected with a distinct mountain and a particular esoteric heritage.

The vast body of glaciers and lakes (such as the Mānasarovar next to Mount Kailāsh) represent the sublime knowledge. And the melted snow that forms their waters captures the essence of divine grace bestowed from the mountaintops. Therein, the glaciers are adored as the body of knowledge frozen and preserved for a timed release. The abundant spree of rivers and rivulets represent the streams of knowledge reaching out to the parched lands to quench thirsty souls. Himālaya is thus considered to be the disseminator of spiritual knowledge and divine inspiration, precipitating the higher knowledge from the yonder abodes for genuine seekers. The mountain villagers view Himālaya with awe as the father of the great shakti and holy mother, Pārvati, who is the venerable consort of the auspicious Lord, Shiva. Himālaya continues to beckon truth seekers and meditators to its abode. Its rarefied atmosphere thins out worldly distractions, and the enchanting holiness makes the seeker adapt to the austere terrain.

I will be in reclusive study and personal silence for the first three months of 2009 to hone in on my freshly assimilated Himālayan techniques and will become more readily available in time for the summer retreats and nationwide programs in the USA. This first quarter will allow me to deeply cultivate the esoteric practices of our lineage, prepare me for the next round of direct teachings and help me put the spirit out there. I share with you the peace of the serene Himālaya as you gather with your families for the holy days ahead.

With my sublime divine affection,

Swami Vidyadhishananda