Sarojini Asgarally’s : ‘Discovering your True Self’

Jean Marie Le Clezio launched the book written by Sarojini Bissessur Asgarally ‘Discovering Your True Self’ at Hennessy Park Hotel on 22 June 2017. Sarojini is a Yoga Teacher certified from the Himalayan Yoga Tradition. She was initiated by Swami Veda Bharati and obtained her certificate at Rishikesh. In his speech at the launching, the Nobel Prize for Literature told the gathering that the author progresses with modesty and conviction as she discovers the two worlds – the exterior and the interior. It is only the practice of yoga which can realise the junction between the two forces. It also reveals the paradox that miscarries the new age-postures and impostures mimicked by false prophets and false gurus.

How the book came into existence?
This little book has come into existence when my Mentor, Sonia Van Nispen from the Netherlands, persuaded me to write as she found very interesting, one of my reflections on a sequence of Yoga called Surya Namaskar, “Sun Salutations”. The publication of my paper on Surya Namaskar in the worldwide circulated newsletter of AHYMSIN, triggered the writing of this book.’

On the other hand I wished to share with the readers a few glimpses of the vast Himalayan wisdom. Especially, at a time when moral aggression is constraining human beings to surrender to weird ways of life, when people are experiencing immense suffering through a social structure. And, when we stand baffled and confused in front of a future with no light to guide us, then our inner light, the soul or the Ātman becomes our only shelter. The soul is a reservoir of love, compassion and healing. It is the source of our strength, potential and creativity. If one day we resolve to be governed by it, the human race will embark upon its most glorious era. This can be called a spiritual renaissance where neither hatred, greed, jealousy, nor power game of possession and domination will reign. However, at the present time, we are light years from such an era. The humble aim of this little book is to shed some light on the way to fathom out this ideal of perfection.

After 30 years of search, when finally I met with my Guru, Swami Veda Bharati, in the vicinity of the Himalayas, he initiated me into the Himalayan tradition and instructed me to teach yoga meditation. To my dubitative mind, he answered: ‘You have always been a meditating person.’

Since my teenage years, I have been attracted by the mystery of the great Himalayan mountains and now when I go in the abode of the enchanting land of the Rishis and Sages, I am overwhelmed by the beauty, the timeless grandeur and the depth of the ancient wisdom of Vedic civilisation which is more than ever relevant and crucial in today’s world.

Through the book, I would like to share my experience with all those who desire to tread the path to unveil the true nature of their self and who aspire to be in touch with their own inner spiritual strength and creativity. When we will come to understand our true being, which is ever-pure, ever-wise and ever-free, we will better comprehend better the laws of Nature and the Universe.

In some inspired moments, we may sense a feeling of an inner motion surging up in us. This is the inner call or the inner voice whispering from within to tell us to be aware of that Reality, that gladness which is buried deep inside each individual. But we are so busy running in the outer world of agitation and competition that we do not have time to attend to the inner call and we remain deluded with a relatively superficial reality in the outer world. We are ever in search of peace and love in the outer world, and contrarily, that missing cord, that reservoir of happiness is not found in the outer world but it is confined deep inside us. And we do not know how to access that inner self. Yoga-meditation paves the way to that powerful strength within us which has its affinity with the infinite, the principle of perfection residing in our soul.

This little book may be a guide to Sadhana, to simple spiritual practices, and it may inspire anyone to lift the veil of ignorance and expand his or her consciousness.”

We should go over there to be happy?
Happiness is a misunderstood word, and yet we search for this intangible state in our whole life. For example, when we crave for an object in the material world and we obtain it, we are happy. But we never examine from where the happiness comes. If we reflect deeply upon our experience, we can comprehend that the happiness we seemingly attain by the fulfilment of our desires does not really emanate from the objects of our desires themselves but from deep within us. The longing for joy and peace comes from our deepest level, from our true nature because happiness is our real nature, it is actually our birthright.’

In this book, one can also discover the philosophy of life through Advaita Vedanta or the non-dual, which is one of the six classical schools of Indian philosophy.”

Tell us about the book!
This little book may be a guide to Sadhana, to simple spiritual practices, and it may inspire anyone to lift the veil of ignorance and expand his or her consciousness. It can be a practical path leading towards the true self. On this path, all boundaries of religion, caste or creed get dissolved and one can discover harmony and connection with all in the universe. In today's world, we have a dire need for the ancient wisdoms to heal our wounds in the struggle of life, to restore love, and re-establish confidence more than ever.

One can find the practical way to harness the negative emotions like hatred, greed, envy, anger and jealousy into positive ones which bring pleasantness to the mind and this process in Sanskrit, is called “pratipakshabhavana”.

From the small practices on this spiritual journey, we learn not to judge others but at the same time not to judge ourselves too. When we choose to judge others and ourselves, our heart closes and we get stuck in our ego-minded wounded-self. We are cut off from the gifts of Spirit, whereas compassion opens our heart. To be compassionate towards others is not enough; we also need to be compassionate with ourselves, with our own feelings, our own wounds, our own mistakes and shortcomings. When our mind is open to learning about truth and loving action towards ourselves and others, we are open to receiving the love, truth, peace and joy of the Spirit.

In this book, one can also discover the philosophy of life through Advaita Vedanta or the non-dual, which is one of the six classical schools of Indian philosophy.

Maharishi Patanjali summed up the yoga as “yogaha: samadhi”, meaning yoga that leads to liberation or yoga is liberation. Today, there is a great misconception in the world about yoga. Many people think that yoga is meant for health or beauty cult. Of course physical postures of yoga improve health but this is only part of a whole. Health or a beautiful physical body is not all in life. A healthy body is important because the body is the vehicle or the temple of the soul. Yoga and the advaita Vedanta expound the philosophy of life and answer the very fundamental purpose of life.