Ananda Yoga Conversations on Happiness with Swami Shri Harish Madhukar

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Mandakini Trivedi is the lineage bearer of Swami Shri Harish Madhukar's sampradaya. Swamiji initiated her into many spiritual practices of the Sri Vidya path, as she lived and learnt from him. But it was his philosophy of Ananda Yoga Integrated Happiness, which merged spirituality seamlessly with life-that had the greatest influence on her life and art.

The teaching method of Swamiji, or Babaji as he was lovingly known, could neither be called a 'method', nor could it be called 'teaching". He lived the teaching and the disciple learnt through direct experience & perception. Mandakini had the good fortune of spending a lot of time with The Master -travelling with him, reading with him, spending time at the ashram with him, watching his interactions with ordinary people, observing him go about routine chores in the most extraordinary ways, both cheerfully & mindfully. Each of these was a powerful learning experience that groomed her.

A dancer by profession, Mandakini found her true understanding of classical Indian Dance only after meeting Babaji. He seemed to embody all that was described in texts on Indian aesthetics, as the essence & purpose of the arts-JOY!

Spirituality & Art have come a full circle, becoming one with her persona. It is only due to the grace of Babaji, that Mandakini has been able to do pioneering work in the field of The Yoga of Indian Dance. She passes on this understanding to the next generation at the Nateshvari Dance Gurukul.

She has also authored "The Yoga of Indian Dance' & 'Sutras On Dance' to express her insights on the element of sadhana, in classical Indian Dance. In 2016, she was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her work in Mohuri Attam.

Before Babahi shed his mortal form, he founded the Shaktiygashrama Gurukul, appointing Mandakini as its chairperson. Under Mandakini's guidance, the ashram conducts residential programmes that integrate Spirituality, Ecology, Art, Wellness & Holistic Lifestyles to express the common thread of Yoga that runs through them. The ashram is also involved in rural, educational programmes.

Mandakini's life is devoted to fulfilling her gurus work & vision in the field of spirituality, art and education.

My little nephew was once asked-

What does this Babaji, who comes to your house, do?"

"Oh nothing", he quipped, "he simply sits and talks the whole day

These very 'talks' have shifted perceptions and shaped the lives of disciples. These simple exchanges have provided vital clues to spiritual sadhana. And these seemingly homely conversations have broken down the barriers between life and sadhana.

Disciples are often asked, "What was Babaji's method of teaching?" I think if there is any one single method that he used consistently and universally, with young and old, rich and poor, disciples and non-disciples, it was that of simple sharing through conversations, chatting, joking, commenting on practical problems and situations and turning them inside out, to reveal a whole new side to life. In a way, through these conversations, he taught us how to operate from another level of Consciousness while dealing with mundane life.

For me and for many others, the greatest learning has happened through simple conversations that we had with him, while doing the ordinary chores of life like chopping vegetables, cleaning the room, cooking, traveling by bus or train or simply discussing the day's events.