DAYAMRITA SWAMIJI'S TALK AT AYNY
Transcribed and edited by
RACHAEL STARK

Flowers everywhere. Roses. Garlands. A large and beautiful photograph of Amma seated in a flowing white robe, her presence at once serene and majestic, fills Ashtanga Yoga New York and Broome Street Temple while outside the sounds of spring and a busy New York City night are slowly being hushed. Devotees of Amma, known to many as the “hugging saint,” have gathered to hear her spiritual emissary in America, Dayamrita Swami. The eager audience includes yogis, students, and a vast array of practitioners from diverse spiritual paths. The anticipatory murmurs soon come to silence as Dayamrita Swami takes his seat beside the portrait of his guru and gazes out into the audience. His voice, when he speaks, is a deep baritone and his rapport with those who have filled the room is instant.

Dayamrita Swami:
[Chanting Om.] We will begin with a short meditation.
Sit straight. Try to relax, slowly close your eyes. Imagine all your tensions, all your regrets from the past and your expectations for the future dissipating. Be present right now and slowly shift your attention and breathe normally. Try to expand the chest and abdomen and let the breath ease from the body. Feel the contraction of the abdomen on the exhale…[silence…then the collective sound of breathing.] Now, we will chant Om three times…As we chant the sound of Om feel it rise from the navel up through the throat area…Now take a deep breath, Om, Om, Om. Now, once again, visualize the peace and silence of Om. Now chant the syllable Ma to yourself when you breathe in and Om when you breathe out.

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