About the
Author
Barbara Pidgeon
grew up in Scotland but has spent much of her adult life in several countries around
the world. Throughout her international career, she always endeavoured
understand the diversity of the people she felt privileged to work and live
amongst and would seek firsthand experience in local cultural and spiritual
practices whenever possible. Her many enriching encounters over the years led
her to a rural spot in Jharkhand, India, where she met her guru, Swami Satyasangananda, whose story she had the great honour to
write about in this book.
Currently, she lives in London
researching how we are impacted by the way that we breathe, a fascinating topic
that we know so very little of, she argues, and one that she plans as the
subject of her next book.
Foreword
While it is essentially true that women have enormous potential and have even
been given the status of Devi in our land, Bharatvarsha, still the actual manifestation of this in the
world will only take place when women themselves realise this. At present
they don't. Women have tremendous power and compassion too. Women have inherent
wisdom and innate beauty. Women are soft and gentle, loving and kind. They are full of grace,
dignity and poise. They are tolerant, honest and obedient. Women are
ambassadors, carrying goodwill, charm, expertise and diplomacy wherever they
go. Women rise to the need of situations in a magnificent way however
difficult they maybe. They have hidden reserves which come to the surface when they are touched, moved or inspired.
This book is inspired by womanhood.
Written with the idea of celebrating the notion of women empowerment, it looks at the very
unique way of uplifting women that Rikhiapeeth offers. By elevating the
little girl child to the status of kanya here at Rikhiapeeth, revered Gurudev Pujya Paramhansa Saryananda, sowed the divine
seed of liberation for women.
The Vedas declare that devas, the divine illumined beings, do not visit
the place where women are not respected, adored and worshipped. This means that if our
land becomes bereft of the idea of women as kanya or devi then, in course of
time,
this
land will perish, decay and die. Thus, the idea of women empowerment is not just for women
alone but for the future of our land, our nation, our values, our
traditions and our very own identity.
This book is an effort to bring forth
this idea by showing the example of Rikhiapeeth where
this tradition of awakening for women is strongly establishing
its roots. It is unique as the author has succeeded in interweaving many aspects of Swami Satyananda's vision, not just for women, but for society at large.
Rikhiapeeth is Swami Satyananda's gift to society. His social vision. His sankalpa and its beautiful enactment.
I am happy that Barbara Pidgeon was inspired to
present his vision to all and congratulate her for her perceptive talent of
drawing out the essence of what Rikhiapeeth stands
for,
a
lesson in LOVE.
May Guru's grace shine brightly in her life.
Preface
In a slender but significant
work of rational faith, Barbara B. Pidgeon brings alive the universe of Rikhia, a karmabhoomi of Paramhansa Satyananda Saraswati and
Swami Satsangi. Barbara brings to us the narrative voice of a seeker after truth: in
many
a reader-friendly way, she renders legible some profound
and complex truths of yoga and bhakti. Of special importance is the last chapter where Satsangi
gives her first
interview concerning her life with Swamiji and at Rikhia from which we learn about the endless mission of Satyam (as I was privileged to call the Paramhansa).
Today, Rikhia is synonymous with
Swami Satsangi, and underlying her sweet persona is a life of
dedication to the Guru and the mission. In deft strokes, this work brings her persona alive for all, the initiates as well as laity. No one but Swami Satsangi could have completed Rikhia into the land of Satyam. The learned author's simple yet powerful statement compels: 'Behind Rikhia stands a story of enormous success and change. It is no longer the Rikhia that was "discovered"
In 1989, a period that now seems like a
distant past for the local community. And this has been achieved through the
unwavering commitment, dedication and devotion of Swami Satsangi.' The
transformation from abject poverty to collective self-reliance is
the saga of Satyam and Satsangi.
That commitment led by Swami Satsangi's endless - and it remains important to stress - non-violent 'war' against
patriarchy, even among the world's 'First Nations' peoples. Sat yam and Satsangi constantly worked away against a patriarchal
social order. And this work, even as it focuses on Swami Satsangi,
offers a vignette of some worthy women saintly predecessors. Swami Satsangi leads, in exemplary ways, the work of women
empowerment and gender justice.
This book is an unceasing elaboration of Satyam's own words: 'Perfect the unbroken awareness of your guru
mantra with every breath and beat of the heart. This is your mission now.
Satsangi continues the
mission and in the process transforms the lives of the sadly impoverished
millions of scheduled tribes in and around Rikhia,
and in building a world community of devotion and service for the 'wretched of
the earth'. Expressed in terms of historic time rather than the timeless eternal,
Swami Satsangi luminously follows the old even when
ushering us into the new.
Introduction
Life is a journey, a labyrinth of
paths well trodden, sometimes a benign cycle of virtuous, enriching events, all
too often a vicious cycle of disappointments and shattered dreams. Throughout
the centuries, human beings have continued to live in similar patterns, repeating mistakes of the
past over and over
again. Our evolution has taken us technologically to a realm beyond our
wildest imagining. Yet, emotionally, our basic, animal instincts all too readily come to the fore as we go on harming
each other, and even ourselves, in the most unimaginably sophisticated ways. The
First World War - and all the wars to follow - is a true testament to the
ability of humankind to destroy one another with ever more efficient 'weapons of
mass destruction', a term now common in our vocabularies. As supposedly superior and
intelligent beings, we are not even emotionally developed to the point where most of us
can adequately manage our basic of human needs; for example, the record
numbers of illnesses attributed to our inability to even maintain a nutritional balance
in our daily diets speaks volumes about us. A few people, however, throughout the ages have taken us by surprise by their positivity. They are role models that we can
readily Identify with but somehow cannot
emulate.
In the tiny village of Rikhia in the eastern state of Jharkhand, India, there is a
small group of people who have managed to succeed in controlling their emotional
states of mind. Here are a few who have understood the futility of the lives that most
of us
currently lead. These brave
souls were not satisfied with simply treading the same old paths that most of us tend to continuously
do. A life of wish-fulfilling events, they realised, would not
ultimately satisfy their need to understand life on a 'different level'. Quite
unexpectedly in this remote area, this group of people has given up the
repetitive journey of roller-coaster emotions. They have stopped
the ever-running treadmill of life, stepping away to look within themselves and to serve others.
They
have
chosen to live in a state of harmony and equanimity and, in so
doing, are unselfishly also making an incredible difference in the lives of many impoverished, downtrodden people
in this corner of rural India.
It is somewhat surreal to me that I
find myself sitting today in Chennai, writing about a remarkable story of
rejuvenation in a rural area in the east of India, a brief account about an extraordinary woman at the
heart of these events. That I have had the most incredible privilege to meet
and interact with this woman is quite astonishing to me.
I began my life in a
small village in Scotland, my upbringing not extravagant by any stretch of
imagination, but in a world far removed from the poverty-ridden rural, often
forgotten, communities across the globe. Various events in my childhood, some
traumatic, followed by a marriage in my teens and a divorce in my twenties saw
me on my own with three very young children and no real clue about what to do next.
Blessed with a sharp brain and a tough, determined character, however, I was
able to turn these difficult circumstances to my advantage. Fiercely protective
of my small family, only wishing them a better life than mine, I worked ceaselessly to
create a professional career that has taken us on an incredible journey.
After some years, I found myself living in
Muscat, my children by then university students, our Omani home their holiday
refuge. I was working hard but loving the expatriate life, a beautiful
home overlooking the Arabian Sea and an active calendar of social events.
Physical fitness was a big feature of our lives, the searing summers not a
deterrent to outdoor pursuits. Life was idyllic, a comfortable situation that I
had no desire to change. Due to unforeseen events, however, quite suddenly one day,
things began to change. After four hours of mountain biking in the searing heat
of the afternoon desert sun, a regular and usually uneventful pursuit, I became severely dehydrated and
ended the day in hospital, close to death. Recovered and
relatively
unperturbed, just two weeks later, while mountain biking again in the same
terrain, a fall left me unable to stand without support and in acute pain. Quite
literally and unexpectedly knocked out of my comfort zone, I began to
question my life and whether I was really growing as a person.
I was having fun yes, my family was happy, but
where was it all leading to? And it was then that I was introduced to Shiva, my adi guru, my first yoga master and the man who would help me to propel my life in
different directions.
A Keralite, my newly acquired yoga instructor
had been living in Muscat for a number of years before we met. I was one among a
contingent of eager yoga students demanding his attention. But for me initially, and for some
time onwards, he was one of the most infuriating men I had ever met. My remedial 'treatment' was to sit for
twenty
minutes a day watching
my breath. Simple enough I thought, but as I attempted to put his instructions
into practice, seemingly impossible. Pins and needles and agonising discomfort were the overriding sensations I
felt.
I
regularly questioned him about the efficacy of this numbing
practice. My complaints, however, fell on deaf ears as he more or less
ignored me and advised me to get on with it. Somehow, despite my rising impatience
and our regular quarrels, I managed to persevere with what seemed such a useless practice.
Then at last, after one full year, I eventually mastered the task that I had been given. After what seemed like an
age, I could actually sit comfortably for the allotted twenty
minutes - the pain gradually and quietly subsided, finally slipping away, unnoticed.
Contents
Foreword |
ix |
Preface |
xi |
Introduction |
1 |
A Silent Revolution |
13 |
Finding Rikhia |
23 |
Swami Satsangi |
37 |
Gender Disparity |
49 |
Rikhia Beginnings |
56 |
Neighbours' Needs |
68 |
Catalyst for Change |
81 |
Rikhia of Today |
93 |
Swami's Beginning |
102 |
Shakti Manifest |
117 |
Samadhi |
124 |
Paramhansa |
130 |
Search for Freedom |
139 |
Moving On |
151 |
Postscript |
181 |
Acknowledgements |
185 |
References |
187 |
About the
Author
Barbara Pidgeon
grew up in Scotland but has spent much of her adult life in several countries around
the world. Throughout her international career, she always endeavoured
understand the diversity of the people she felt privileged to work and live
amongst and would seek firsthand experience in local cultural and spiritual
practices whenever possible. Her many enriching encounters over the years led
her to a rural spot in Jharkhand, India, where she met her guru, Swami Satyasangananda, whose story she had the great honour to
write about in this book.
Currently, she lives in London
researching how we are impacted by the way that we breathe, a fascinating topic
that we know so very little of, she argues, and one that she plans as the
subject of her next book.
Foreword
While it is essentially true that women have enormous potential and have even
been given the status of Devi in our land, Bharatvarsha, still the actual manifestation of this in the
world will only take place when women themselves realise this. At present
they don't. Women have tremendous power and compassion too. Women have inherent
wisdom and innate beauty. Women are soft and gentle, loving and kind. They are full of grace,
dignity and poise. They are tolerant, honest and obedient. Women are
ambassadors, carrying goodwill, charm, expertise and diplomacy wherever they
go. Women rise to the need of situations in a magnificent way however
difficult they maybe. They have hidden reserves which come to the surface when they are touched, moved or inspired.
This book is inspired by womanhood.
Written with the idea of celebrating the notion of women empowerment, it looks at the very
unique way of uplifting women that Rikhiapeeth offers. By elevating the
little girl child to the status of kanya here at Rikhiapeeth, revered Gurudev Pujya Paramhansa Saryananda, sowed the divine
seed of liberation for women.
The Vedas declare that devas, the divine illumined beings, do not visit
the place where women are not respected, adored and worshipped. This means that if our
land becomes bereft of the idea of women as kanya or devi then, in course of
time,
this
land will perish, decay and die. Thus, the idea of women empowerment is not just for women
alone but for the future of our land, our nation, our values, our
traditions and our very own identity.
This book is an effort to bring forth
this idea by showing the example of Rikhiapeeth where
this tradition of awakening for women is strongly establishing
its roots. It is unique as the author has succeeded in interweaving many aspects of Swami Satyananda's vision, not just for women, but for society at large.
Rikhiapeeth is Swami Satyananda's gift to society. His social vision. His sankalpa and its beautiful enactment.
I am happy that Barbara Pidgeon was inspired to
present his vision to all and congratulate her for her perceptive talent of
drawing out the essence of what Rikhiapeeth stands
for,
a
lesson in LOVE.
May Guru's grace shine brightly in her life.
Preface
In a slender but significant
work of rational faith, Barbara B. Pidgeon brings alive the universe of Rikhia, a karmabhoomi of Paramhansa Satyananda Saraswati and
Swami Satsangi. Barbara brings to us the narrative voice of a seeker after truth: in
many
a reader-friendly way, she renders legible some profound
and complex truths of yoga and bhakti. Of special importance is the last chapter where Satsangi
gives her first
interview concerning her life with Swamiji and at Rikhia from which we learn about the endless mission of Satyam (as I was privileged to call the Paramhansa).
Today, Rikhia is synonymous with
Swami Satsangi, and underlying her sweet persona is a life of
dedication to the Guru and the mission. In deft strokes, this work brings her persona alive for all, the initiates as well as laity. No one but Swami Satsangi could have completed Rikhia into the land of Satyam. The learned author's simple yet powerful statement compels: 'Behind Rikhia stands a story of enormous success and change. It is no longer the Rikhia that was "discovered"
In 1989, a period that now seems like a
distant past for the local community. And this has been achieved through the
unwavering commitment, dedication and devotion of Swami Satsangi.' The
transformation from abject poverty to collective self-reliance is
the saga of Satyam and Satsangi.
That commitment led by Swami Satsangi's endless - and it remains important to stress - non-violent 'war' against
patriarchy, even among the world's 'First Nations' peoples. Sat yam and Satsangi constantly worked away against a patriarchal
social order. And this work, even as it focuses on Swami Satsangi,
offers a vignette of some worthy women saintly predecessors. Swami Satsangi leads, in exemplary ways, the work of women
empowerment and gender justice.
This book is an unceasing elaboration of Satyam's own words: 'Perfect the unbroken awareness of your guru
mantra with every breath and beat of the heart. This is your mission now.
Satsangi continues the
mission and in the process transforms the lives of the sadly impoverished
millions of scheduled tribes in and around Rikhia,
and in building a world community of devotion and service for the 'wretched of
the earth'. Expressed in terms of historic time rather than the timeless eternal,
Swami Satsangi luminously follows the old even when
ushering us into the new.
Introduction
Life is a journey, a labyrinth of
paths well trodden, sometimes a benign cycle of virtuous, enriching events, all
too often a vicious cycle of disappointments and shattered dreams. Throughout
the centuries, human beings have continued to live in similar patterns, repeating mistakes of the
past over and over
again. Our evolution has taken us technologically to a realm beyond our
wildest imagining. Yet, emotionally, our basic, animal instincts all too readily come to the fore as we go on harming
each other, and even ourselves, in the most unimaginably sophisticated ways. The
First World War - and all the wars to follow - is a true testament to the
ability of humankind to destroy one another with ever more efficient 'weapons of
mass destruction', a term now common in our vocabularies. As supposedly superior and
intelligent beings, we are not even emotionally developed to the point where most of us
can adequately manage our basic of human needs; for example, the record
numbers of illnesses attributed to our inability to even maintain a nutritional balance
in our daily diets speaks volumes about us. A few people, however, throughout the ages have taken us by surprise by their positivity. They are role models that we can
readily Identify with but somehow cannot
emulate.
In the tiny village of Rikhia in the eastern state of Jharkhand, India, there is a
small group of people who have managed to succeed in controlling their emotional
states of mind. Here are a few who have understood the futility of the lives that most
of us
currently lead. These brave
souls were not satisfied with simply treading the same old paths that most of us tend to continuously
do. A life of wish-fulfilling events, they realised, would not
ultimately satisfy their need to understand life on a 'different level'. Quite
unexpectedly in this remote area, this group of people has given up the
repetitive journey of roller-coaster emotions. They have stopped
the ever-running treadmill of life, stepping away to look within themselves and to serve others.
They
have
chosen to live in a state of harmony and equanimity and, in so
doing, are unselfishly also making an incredible difference in the lives of many impoverished, downtrodden people
in this corner of rural India.
It is somewhat surreal to me that I
find myself sitting today in Chennai, writing about a remarkable story of
rejuvenation in a rural area in the east of India, a brief account about an extraordinary woman at the
heart of these events. That I have had the most incredible privilege to meet
and interact with this woman is quite astonishing to me.
I began my life in a
small village in Scotland, my upbringing not extravagant by any stretch of
imagination, but in a world far removed from the poverty-ridden rural, often
forgotten, communities across the globe. Various events in my childhood, some
traumatic, followed by a marriage in my teens and a divorce in my twenties saw
me on my own with three very young children and no real clue about what to do next.
Blessed with a sharp brain and a tough, determined character, however, I was
able to turn these difficult circumstances to my advantage. Fiercely protective
of my small family, only wishing them a better life than mine, I worked ceaselessly to
create a professional career that has taken us on an incredible journey.
After some years, I found myself living in
Muscat, my children by then university students, our Omani home their holiday
refuge. I was working hard but loving the expatriate life, a beautiful
home overlooking the Arabian Sea and an active calendar of social events.
Physical fitness was a big feature of our lives, the searing summers not a
deterrent to outdoor pursuits. Life was idyllic, a comfortable situation that I
had no desire to change. Due to unforeseen events, however, quite suddenly one day,
things began to change. After four hours of mountain biking in the searing heat
of the afternoon desert sun, a regular and usually uneventful pursuit, I became severely dehydrated and
ended the day in hospital, close to death. Recovered and
relatively
unperturbed, just two weeks later, while mountain biking again in the same
terrain, a fall left me unable to stand without support and in acute pain. Quite
literally and unexpectedly knocked out of my comfort zone, I began to
question my life and whether I was really growing as a person.
I was having fun yes, my family was happy, but
where was it all leading to? And it was then that I was introduced to Shiva, my adi guru, my first yoga master and the man who would help me to propel my life in
different directions.
A Keralite, my newly acquired yoga instructor
had been living in Muscat for a number of years before we met. I was one among a
contingent of eager yoga students demanding his attention. But for me initially, and for some
time onwards, he was one of the most infuriating men I had ever met. My remedial 'treatment' was to sit for
twenty
minutes a day watching
my breath. Simple enough I thought, but as I attempted to put his instructions
into practice, seemingly impossible. Pins and needles and agonising discomfort were the overriding sensations I
felt.
I
regularly questioned him about the efficacy of this numbing
practice. My complaints, however, fell on deaf ears as he more or less
ignored me and advised me to get on with it. Somehow, despite my rising impatience
and our regular quarrels, I managed to persevere with what seemed such a useless practice.
Then at last, after one full year, I eventually mastered the task that I had been given. After what seemed like an
age, I could actually sit comfortably for the allotted twenty
minutes - the pain gradually and quietly subsided, finally slipping away, unnoticed.
Contents
Foreword |
ix |
Preface |
xi |
Introduction |
1 |
A Silent Revolution |
13 |
Finding Rikhia |
23 |
Swami Satsangi |
37 |
Gender Disparity |
49 |
Rikhia Beginnings |
56 |
Neighbours' Needs |
68 |
Catalyst for Change |
81 |
Rikhia of Today |
93 |
Swami's Beginning |
102 |
Shakti Manifest |
117 |
Samadhi |
124 |
Paramhansa |
130 |
Search for Freedom |
139 |
Moving On |
151 |
Postscript |
181 |
Acknowledgements |
185 |
References |
187 |