A couple of days ago, I had the privilege to share Ayurveda at an event that attracted people from all corners of the world — A Kriya Yoga Retreat hosted once per year by The Assisi Institute.
Now, when it comes to sharing the profound and vast science of ‘How to Live’, the knowledge of Ayurveda,
here is what trial and error have shown me:
The more personal I can make it,
the better chance it has to resonate.
Being that I had my own parents there – all the way from Brasil,
I was inspired to share a sentiment experienced from around fifty years ago this time. Talk about being to transported back in time!
When I was just a little peanut, mom was a school teacher at an orphanage. Since I wasn’t old enough to attend school,
I got to tag along with her.
Those children at the orphanage felt like my own siblings, even though I was the only one who got to go home at the end of the day. I longed to bring them, and I remember tirelessly negotiating with my mom about it.
What stands out the most in my mind is that school play day.
In my remembrance of that moment, performing for my sibs as ‘the elephant’ (btw. a super cool costume, I also recall)
There I had my first remembered encounter with joy.
At that moment, it became clear that my family at the orphanage knew they were truly and unconditionally loved.
All right, how does any of this tie in with Ayurveda?
Glad you asked!
You see, deep within my being, I’ve always yearned for a stronger connection to the unwavering love that surrounds every one of us. I searched for this far and deep and when I discovered Ayurveda at age 29, I knew I’d found the hand that would generously, clearly and steadily hold me in this path.
One that would provide greater access to reminders of how deeply loved each of us truly is.
Now, here was my way of expressing that paragraph above
at my talk:
I took the next hour or so to discuss some of the fundamental, practical, and wholesome ways in which Ayurveda can support us on the remarkable path of well-being, self-discovery, and, of course JOY.
It feels fitting to include something I shared with the graduating class at The California College of Ayurveda in 2007.
Well, this is the polished and very much edited version of it:
From the soil of my soul,
my helping hand is uncovered….
As I co-create with nature’s infinitely gracious and generous intelligence,
her order is revealed, and my sense of wholeness renewed.
Ayurveda illuminates the path to my innermost compass…
Intimate with my True Nature, I walk in ease.
PS: My parents and I decided to treat ourselves to a delicious Greek meal at Sinbad’s on Park Avenue, after that talk a couple of days. We got to sit outside, the luxury reserved only for Summer in Rochester, New York. Over dinner, a few things became clear.
First, my persistence paid off at one point,
and the kids from the orphanage would come to stay with us at our tiny apartment in Rio on weekends. And second, that memorable elephant performance of mine took place during my birthday party, leading to many more similar theater events.