Looking back at the past month it’s become evident to me that when arriving here in Tapovan for the MTT, I had only been given very few pieces of the meditation-puzzle from my past meditation experiences. During the time here at Shree Mahesh Heritage Meditation School, I have been handed probably all, or at least most, of the remaining pieces belonging to the puzzle…I have specifically learned how each piece in the puzzle is constructed and what purpose it serves. And I have learned how to work with each individual piece isolated and make it fit my own needs and experiences. Added to this has been carefully handpicked wisdom, knowledge, and insights from the sacred texts. This is such a way, that each piece now when I work with it and get to understand it even better and deeper, slowly but steadily, becomes my own small piece of my own meditation-puzzle. Working with my meditation now and onwards from here, where the journey has just started, will allow me with dedication, effort and joy to build the complete puzzle and to finally see my own beautiful and complete picture in front of me – the beauty of yoga and meditation leading me towards the Ananda/Blizz and maybe even enlightenment. I feel happy with the process, and I have gained a lot of confidence in trusting the process, leaning into the practice and accept the experiences, learnings, and observations that I make during my journey. I have become a firm believer of this being a lifelong beneficial path for me, my well being, my happiness and my general joy and excitement towards life, people, the world and the universe. It’s a humble feeling of thankfulness within, to have been given the opportunity to pass through this learning in such a wonderful place and location. The people supporting this process, ensuring the proper learning, insights into the culture and the comfort of my stay are absolutely fantastic and I thank every one of you from the bottom of my heart to taking your time, giving your dedication, effort and sharing your knowledge, wisdom, and love with me. I am forever grateful. Thank you so much. Namaste. +

My understanding of meditation was very limited prior to coming to India. I was mainly familiar with yoga and more active practices. I honestly wasn’t quite sure what to expect, although I knew I would enjoy learning everything I could about it. It has been extremely informative, to say the least. I now know meditation is about emptying the mind, stopping the ceaseless chatter…It isn’t concentration, but the concentration is a way to get there. The tools for learning to focus, and control the breath will be invaluable assets for the rest of my life. I am excited to incorporate these things and share them with my friends. I live in a very hectic world, where people seldom slow down or take the time they need to breathe deeply and appreciate what is around them. I have started shifting my perspective to finding joy in any experience because ultimately we can choose to view things with non-judgment. I think the main thing I have learned is that there are meditation practices for all types of people, no one practice will work for everyone. There are such variety and diversity among the different meditation techniques that I think everyone can find one that will resonate with them. +

My meditation journey started a few years ago after a life incident. I felt the need to have more mindfulness and silence in my life. I wanted to understand myself better. In the beginning, I did read a little bit but soon realized that I will have to find and commit to a practice and find a rhythm that will suit my own life. Following a book just did not work for me… I didn’t even start with a lot of interest or understanding of a sitting posture. My only desperate desire was to find out who I was and why there was so much suffering in my life and in the world. The more I sat with myself in silence and really did nothing but observe and focus, my life started to change. Over the years I have had so many benefits from being silent within. My practice also deepened. As time went by I started to spend more and more time in meditation and my desire to be there became more. A lot of understanding and experience came into my awareness and my soul felt awakened. The Universe opened my path to travel and brought different people into my life and every one taught me some wisdom for my path. And slowly I learned more ways to practice and I understood deeper. The things that started to change was for instance that my body felt the need for more a stable sitting position. I travel to Dharmsala where a Buddhist monk showed me exercises to train my body to do padmasana pose. My body felt good as I committed myself to the practice and overall I felt great benefits. I also felt the need to be more mindful in my daily life. So I started practicing this. I always just allowed my psyche and body to lead me into what I felt ready for, with no measure to right and wrong. Through the years I started losing anger, and being present with any emotion became a deep practice for me and forgiving became easier. My life became calm and clear. I felt that the physical world started to become thinner and less important to me. I experienced so many moments of bliss in my meditation daily. I was deeply drawn to this course here at Shree Mahesh. I did not understand why. I booked it and just came, trusting that the Universe must have a reason for me to do this. The first week I experienced a lot of resistance within myself. All the physical exercise was hard and it was hard for me to be present in meditation while being all the time focused on outside energies and movement. In one of the letters, you said: ” We have to surrender and just go with the flow and see where it will lead us”. Well, then I saw all the resistance and I could let it go. I could spend time doing this on our first Sunday off. I just gave it all to the River Ganga. I started the second week much more positive. I started to surrender and I knew that the Universe does not make mistakes, there is a reason that I am here. The surrendering process allowed me to open myself up for learning. During the second week, I still had questions about my silent practice versus this “new” (for me) Hatha yoga practice. But then learning about lifestyle approaches and the different forms of yoga answered all my questions. I understood that there is no right or wrong way but that I could implement more healthy practices into my own practice. I learned too much. My soul feels full and satisfied. I think that I will definitely implement certain aspects of hatha yoga into my daily practice because I see the benefits of the Shatkarma techniques and the pranayama and even the locks. I understand much more about the birth and the heart of meditation and I loved to learn about that. This makes what I do rich. I understand that I am a lifestyle meditation practitioner maybe a bit RaJa yoga. But the concept of surrender and acceptance of Bhakti yoga resonated deeply with me. I think one of the reasons I had to come here was to learn more about surrender and letting go and even acceptance. This will also be something I will not want to lose as I feel the calm and clarity that comes when I just lie back and surrender. This has helped me grow during the course. The chanting and the deep vibration within myself is also something that changed me forever and I will be chanting often. Thank you for teaching me to chant. My meditation is not just a practice for me, it is a deeply engraved soul path that has flowed through the years into every corner of my life and this course has deepened my understanding and broaden my horizons. There are truly no words enough to say the thank you that I feel for all the staff here that is so fully committed in teaching us. I bow to each of you. Om Shaanti, Shaanti, Shaanti.I feel that my life has been deepened and enriched. I have broken some barriers within myself and I have learned a lot about myself, my limitations and my strengths. I am ready to take this learning with me in the future. Thank you, warm blessings. +

Hello Dear Ram Gupta and Dear Teachers, Once I realized that I would like to deepen my knowledge in meditation, there was no doubt that India was the place to go. I didn’t have a location in mind and have never heard of Rishikesh… However this city kept popping in my browser as well as this school. After reading the website multiple times, doing more research, I was confident this would be a could place to come to. I had zero experience with meditation until a year ago when I started teaching. I was surprised that my past life memories in India and some knowledge about energy could become such a beautiful practice that I want to pursue as a career. Coming here I was able to learn all about the breathing techniques, which was the part I lacked the most. At the same time deepen some techniques I have already practiced in my classes, visualization, Chakras, bijas, Mudras. And of course, learn different techniques that otherwise I wouldn’t have experienced. I have learned so much about my self… as cliche as this sounds, it’s profound to me. One month improved my posture, created the awareness of having a balanced routine of physical exercise and meditation, created the environment for me to be within, introspective and more present. It’s clear that India is one of the dearest counties and cultures to me. But you did not only thought me about India and meditation. You are here, with open hearts, but with discipline, with patience, with content to give. I always felt safe, and cared for, in a clean place, and I appreciate the food in every single bite every day. +

Dear Ramji, Here it is my journey! My journey to meditation As a yoga teacher it took me a while to come to India, and one of the reasons is that I was always worried about how to find a real good teacher here? I Mean, there is definitely amazing teachers here, but I was just afraid to come and don’t really learn meaningful things from them… And this last year was really a year of coming back to my essence in yoga. And be here just was the greatest thing it could happen. I felt that this was the moment to start to seek for a real and deeper path in Yoga. Here I could dedicate time for my personal practice, and finally take the understanding of lots of techniques that I already knew, but seemed disconnected from the yoga practice that I was teaching / practicing. But definitely you was the special thing! Learning from somebody with your background, who really have the yoga in your blood since so early in life, was just what I was looking for. As you know, I did 3 times vipassana, and I really had some great experiences there, but I was struggling in my life with so much reaction pattern and anger in my mind… Vipassana did a great job to teach me how to seat and also give me a technique. But because of the restricted way (meditate one hour twice a Day), I couldn’t keep it for so long. And although yoga and meditation are just so related, as a yoga teacher I could not really feel how to run a meditation by my own. Here I could learn a way to use it in my daily life, and also make a meditation class in my Studio! I’m really excited to come back home and keep both things happening – stick with a cleansing / meditation routine and share with my students so many amazing things that I’ve learned here! I enjoyed the different techniques, approaches, and really felt in my heart that now I can do my meditation on my own and with a lot of resources! I’m already thinking on my return to India on next year, because I really want to improve my inner journey through the heart to yoga and meditation! Thank you for being such a great yogi and share with us all your knowledge and experience! I’m Just sad because definitely I’d Love to have more classes with you! With my deepest reverence. +

Hello Ram, My meditation journey this month I could describe as uplifting, expansive and inspiring. I have learnt a structured framework for delivering a meditation session and so feel my understanding of how to prepare someone to meditate has expanded greatly. I have clear focus on structural factors such as pranayama to focus on… The chanting has greatly increased my repertoire of chants and several of them have made their way into my heart. Chanting has caused vibration in my body, which is uplifting and i seek to explore this further. My sleep this month has improved dramatically compared to anytime before. This i have a recorded measure from my CPAP machine, so i know factually my sleep has actually improved by 3-4 hours a night. This cannot be overstated in value to me and i feel i have tasted the effect a dedicated regime of yoga can have. I feel inspired to work towards a full vipassana. Indeed the course has greatly expanded my knowledge of techniques of meditation and i feel it very interesting indeed to find several methods new to me that i responded well to. There is no one right way and my approach to meditation is more unique than before. I feel more unique in approach to meditation now. My spiritual support group has expanded in the most wonderful way 🙂 Many thanks for taking my journey giant steps ahead. I have a roadmap to see where my future practice can go – i am curious how things will develop +

My Journey to Meditation began when I was young, although I didn’t realize it at the time. I loved observing nature and experiencing quietness in the loud, chaotic world around me. I remember seeing a spider on a tree branch and gazing onto the creature, entranced by its stillness and seemingly aloof nature… I wondered how close I could get to it before it would react. My mother chuckled at my fascination with the creature and beckoned me to follow her, instead. Through the various meditation practices I’ve taken part in from that moment up through my time at Shree Mahesh Heritage, I now understand that I am that spider I gazed upon, I am the tree I found it in, and I am my laughing mother. I am people I have never met before, I am my enemy, and I am my friends. I have a deeper understanding of what it means to love your neighbor as yourself and how simple it is to forgive once you realize that we’re all connected in very meaningful ways. The next step of my journey is to continue to be mindful of this learning and not to forget the profound effect it created within me. In remembering this learning, I will more effectively express my gratitude to others, be patient with others, and demonstrate compassion and forgiveness. +

First of all I’m very grateful to be here to have this opportunity in my life to learn Meditation at Shree Mahesh. Although I got sick I did received the benefits and I have learnt a lot which was even beyond my expectations. Before I came here I had no idea what Meditation really was although I was doing some Mindfulness practises in my life which I didn’t even know it was Meditation itself… Now that I have experienced different kinds of Meditation techniques and purifications, I can say that yes I know what Meditation is. I’m going to continue what I learnt here with full dedication when I go back Home. I look forward to teach my own family and close friends the purification’s method, Asanas, Pranayamas, Mantras and some different Meditation techniques. In future I would like to teach everybody else but first I need a few months of practise on my own to feel and experience before I start teaching it to others. Trataka, Visualization, Osho’s, Pulse and Mindfulness Meditations are among my favourites. But Life Style approach to Meditation (Bhagavad Gita) has really inspired me and I’m willing to follow this approach with full devotion. I was already a little bit spiritual and I came here seeking for more. I’m glad I have achieved what I was searching for thanks to you. Now I sincerely know which path to follow in my life. I still have a long way to go but deep from my heart I know I will reach there. I also enjoyed the possibility of teaching for the first time here although I was a little bit shy in the beginning but after that I was a little bit more confident of myself. The Theory classes was very important which had help me alot in my practices and also gave me some good knowledge of Yoga. The Aryuvedic food cooked with love is so delicious. The room is very spacious and comfortable. All the teachers are great. Everything has made my experience so good and smooth here. Your wife and you has taken good care of me while being sick which I appreciate from the bottom of my heart. I will definitely come back to India to an Ashram in future. Finally but not least I would like to add that I have understand myself more while being here. I now have a clear idea where all my pain and sorrows came from which I was struggling alot in my life. Really, my spiritual Journey has just began. Once again, thank you very much. HARI OM!!! Namaste! +

My Meditation Journey, I began my journey towards Meditation two years ago when I was planning my first long trip to the other side of the planet. A friend sent me a message with a link to the Vipassna Meditation Center in New Zealand to see if I was interested in knowing more about it since I would be in that country during the time it would be presented… I read all about the 10 days there and decided it would be a good experience for me. My greatest fear was that I would have difficulty remaining quiet for such a long time. But, once I began, it was not that difficult to be silent. What did become very difficult was the long periods of sitting in one place. Also, the food was not what I was used to which made eating enough each day very unsettling and I lost weight. But, once again, I was surprised to discover that the problems I had carried with me for the previous 10 years left me on the second, or third day. I was free in a way I had not been in such a long time. Also, I learned that everything is Impermanent and if I waited long enough, then whatever situation I was in would change. A final part was how I did not feel the negative emotions like fear, worry, stress, or the actions of the past and the coming acts of the future. I was free.The second part of this assignment is my purpose. After returning home, many of my friends asked me about Meditation. But, because I only experienced it and didn’t learn it, I had nothing more than just memories to tell them about. I was hungry to tell others how Meditation could help them have peace in their lives and how their lives would be more fulfilled, but I was like an empty cup with nothing to pour into them. I knew there was a great void of knowledge in my mind that needed to be filled. I also knew in order to fill this I would have to find a place where this wisdom was being taught in order to give everyone the answers they were needing. I more than likely could have found a Meditation class or school in the United States, but I did not want to study with any teacher who did not have the first hand knowledge and teaching which originally come from India. My friend who lives in India for much of the year suggested I come to Rishikesh and study where Yoga originated from. I found Shree Mahesh Heritage Meditation School on the Internet and was very satisfied with the instruction they offered, plus the rooms seemed excellent, and the Instructors appeared very well qualified to teach me what I was hungry to learn. Once I return to my home I will begin to teach others who like me want to learn the traditional methods of Yoga Meditation I am learning here at Shree Mahesh Heritage Meditation school. I will begin with just a few students at first, then hopefully there will be more who have the same burning desire I had, but had no one to teach them. Finally, what have I learned here at Shree Mahesh Heritage School. I have learned there is much more to Meditation than just sitting in one position and chanting Om. During the first week I learned about Ushapan and Neti. I now know how important cleansing practices help my practice of Meditation by being able to breathe better. Next, was the techniques of breathing such as Kapalbhati, Ujjayi, Bhastrika, and Bhramari which helps me to energize my Nadis and Chakras. The best part has been learning the different Meditation techniques. I have found there are many to learn and have enjoyed experiencing them all. My favorites so far have been Yoga Nidra, Laughter (Hasya), and using Trataka to help me with concentration. I also like Sahaj YogDhya since I feel many of my future students will be looking for a way to use forgiveness to others, and especially themselves. Last, I learned the Universe sent a group of people to study and learn with me who were just as hungry as I was which made the last month here at Shree Mahesh Heritage Meditation School a great place to learn the traditional skills I will need to return home confident that I can pass on all the knowledge I was given. +