I was told by my teacher at the time, Shivani Howe, I was going to do seva (service) at the Rikhia Peeth Ashram in Bihar, India. As well as do a chakra cleansing workshop taught by Swami Muktidharma for 7 days. I was like… no, I'm going to BurningMan. She was like …no, your going to India. Fine. I don't know how I will afford that. Don't worry, she says… (humph).
Well.. a lot of fabulous friends from a variety of communities came together and helped throw a fabulous fundraiser party for me to go to India, that with another windfall of cash I was able to go. ( shut up, lol)*(and to burning man as well;)
I did my time in the ashram which was lovely, I was initiated into the Shivananda/ Satyananda Divine life Society, as Maha Yogi, by Swami Satsangi and given a new mantra. (Maha means great, + yogi, together are another name of Shiva, or enlightenment). This new spiritual name is a reflection of the true and inner nature that is to be developed and realized by the individual. As well as to chant daily the mantra given to us.
With course ended, time at ashram finished, time to move on.
I asked Swami Mukti about what to practice and how should I pursue my path to being Maha Yogi, I told him about my feelings and thoughts. Swami Mukti's response was, it's not in my nature to do ashram work. But, rather to travel and learn from India herself, a life of a sadhu basically. The sadhu's are India's Holy men, they are revered and respected for the difficult life they lead as ascetics, renunciates and yogins doing mediation, mantra….etc. To become Maha Yogi, I will have to learn from the master(s), now to figure out which one is real. With my sadhana( practice) and Swami's final advice and warnings, I'm off.
some of Swami Mukti's final words were, "just be authentic and you will attract authentic"
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