In between Haridwar and Rishikesh is the little town of Raiwala. Surrounded by the forests of the Rajaji National Park, it is quiet and serene. When we got down from our train there we found an army officer standing with a placard bearing our name and to our surprise he spoke to us in Malayalam! Raiwala is home to a section of the artillery – most of the units which are stationed there are from the south, so we found lots of Malayalees there. A unit from Punjab was also stationed there.

In almost all the classes, there were people who had acquired some knowledge of yoga from TV!  And as most people in our society are not very knowledgeable about spirituality or the depth of our culture, they take TV to be the last word on these subjects. But as the class progressed, we found a marked change in them – when the peace and stillness no longer remained a theoretical concept talked about on TV, when they experienced it for themselves.

Some may ask – Do you think that the classes are going to bring about a change in people? Do you think that they will practice the meditation? How can this small package deliver anything of value?

I personally do not think that the class is going to change people overnight. Nor do I believe that all the people who learn will practice the meditation – some will and some will not. But to a person living in darkness it is a ray of light! It is a hope of something more – more than the material world, more than the mundane. It engenders a respect for our culture and it shows them that there is something of value out there. And most of all it brings them in touch with Amma – they get to read about Amma, to see Her. And that does bring about a change!

When we finished showing the video of Amma’s activities (they had a regular theatre) one Sardarji approached us and asked us, “Please, may I have a copy of the cd?” Then there was another and then another asking for the cd! Amma had reached out and touched them.

— Nijamrita