Prashant’s Birthday Celebration

Today was Prashant’s birthday. He taught his usual 7am class, and afterwards, we were all invited for a small celebration for him. There was a lady who sang a beautiful Indian Bhajan (Song). There were some ladies singing some chants with Indian chimes. They changed the words to apply to Prashantji (the ji is added at the end as a term of endearment )and his teachings. It was all in Hindi, but we caught the gist of it, and it was funny. Two gentlemen got up, one who has studied over 30 years with Prashantji, and spoke kind words about him. Then I got up with my Colombian friend, Sofia, to sing the Mexican birthday song (Las Mañanitas) to him. I forgot some verses, but I think he got the point, and the blessings and love intended that came along with it, as he was smiling. Some Mexicans in the audience sang along with us. I also spoke about Guruji’s 80th birthday celebration. He spoke about how his classes were like the United Nations. (He also said he was doing a better job!) I also commented about that, as looking around, there are many nationalities, many languages spoken, but we all understand when Prashantji smiles. This bring us all together. This spirit of Maitri, friendliness is very much alive here at the institute. 


Prior to the celebration, Prashantji spoke about us not always doing the poses. The teachers not always giving every little instruction about what to do to students who are experienced. The beginners need the steps and need to be told what to do, but the intermediate students already know how to get into the pose. We need to learn to be in the pose without always doing and doing. And that is how we must teach. But the reason we teach this way is because we practice this way, and this is wrong. He compared us with Guruji. We are doing and doing, and nothing happens. He did very little, and many things happened. We must be in the pose and be like a superintendent. Let the body do, let the mind do, let the breath do, and we just observe. If the superintendent is always doing, he can’t see what all his workers are doing. We must be the observer. 

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