Beata Barnard

Sivananda Bahamas

Dear Friends, In 1969, as Swami Vishnudevananda sat in deep meditation in front of the altar at the Yoga Retreat temple, he experienced a powerful vision. In his vision, the whole planet Earth was engulfed in fire forcing everyone to run. As people tried to escape, they broke loose of their barriers: physical barriers, mental barriers, spiritual barriers, gender barriers, religious barriers, and racial barriers. All those barriers that we artificially restrict ourselves with suddenly became meaningless in the presence of that fire. Swamiji awoke from this vision trembling for he thought that a great calamity was imminent. Then he had a sudden insight. Swamiji realized that by transcending their barriers in order to escape this fire, humanity had actually become united. He saw our world progressing to a greater and brighter future even though the vision itself was terrifying. All of this turmoil in the world today is due to transformation. We are going through a time of transformation that will lead us toward a bright and wonderful future. Yet this transition period, just like any other transition, is by its very nature, chaotic. If we resist this transformation, we will suffer. If we understand it for what it truly is and choose the right path, then humanity will have a hopeful future. I invite you to join us this year at the ashram, to reconnect with your inner spiritual strength and to become a spiritual shelter for others upon your return. Om Shanti, Om Peace