I happened upon these moving notes while looking around NY Yoga Instructor Jordan Mallah’s website last week.  Jordan, now 32, wrote these notes while he was training in India at the age of 21.   Even though they are just notes, to me they read like a riveting spiritual poem.  You can just feel this young man blossoming into the joys of traditional Yoga.  See if you agree.  (See also  Yoga Heals in Rwanda, with photos and video.)  –Bob W.

May 6th, 2000: 21 Years Old – Teacher Training, Swami Vivekananda
Kendra Yoga Ashram, Southern India

Reflection
Difficult mind expanding work
Intensive meditation, the unbroken flow of thought towards the object of concentration
Examination of Karma Yoga, realization of divinity through selfless action

Yuj: To join two entities of the same nature, cosmic self and individual self
Culture in body
Fluid motion
Poses –Yogasanas- Stretch my being

Guru lectures so profound
Provoking extensive self-study/ thought
Sensation of pulsation

4:00 AM rising before the sun
Active through 11:00 PM
MANY concentrated hours daily
Spent chanting Sanskrit mantras from the Bhagavad-Gita
Study of Brahman, the Atman, Sri Krishna philosophy
Struggle for mind poised in a state of equilibrium
Mystification submersed in Indian Ashram life

Two hundred plus people
Three foreigners total
Israel 1, Japan 1, Me 1
Culture all embracing

Alert of all actions
Knowledge through calming the mind
Examining the inner I self
OM
Holistic healing
Body heart soul search

Empty water fasting stomach for eight days and seven nights
Cleansed being
Water Lifeline
No hunger for food or physical nourishment
Stimulated senses feed body plentiful

Nature divine connection  Internal and external manifestations
By work, worship, psychic control, philosophy
Exploring the concept and notion of freedom, will, reincarnation and previous lives

Doing what you like is freedom, liking what you do is happiness
Stories of/from Gurus, Yogi masters, Swamis, Pranayama (Breathing) practice control
Complacency

Dear Family and friends, brothers and sisters,

I am sure all is well as the change of seasons occurs in America and the weather
brightens our days! Life here in Southern India is interesting, and hot, to say the least.
After an extremely intense teacher training experience, I am ready to relax a bit and
gather my thoughts! Vivekananda Trashanti Kuteerah Ashram has taken my
understanding of Yoga as a total way of living to a new elevation. The whole spectrum of
the human mind is Yoga, and my knowledge of this ancient practice has increased
tremendously. Now, I am on my way to explore the many Tibetan refugee settlements in
the rolling hills of Mysore!

With love and Peace of Mind,
Jordan

I leave you with some words from the great Swami Vivekananda:
“Even the least work done for others awakens the power within!”