Spotlight on Belgium

Hari Om!

This is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and what is happening in all the corners of Integral Yoga in Europe.

This month we go to Belgium to visit with Ramakrishna, a humble and devoted Soul who lives to serve. I asked him a few questions -and you will see his answers in his own heartfelt form of words.

This photo is of Ramakrishna singing "Salve Regina" during the puja at the last Euro Re-union in Portugal- all who were there will remember how moving it was and his beautiful voice.

pp: Would you give us an outline of your spiritual biography?

RK : I don´t know wher to begin. I startet to study the sciptures long ago when i was a teenager. Some times i forgot the importance of this and then it came back in to my live.

So when i was 33 i made a tour trough the Nord of India. It was ther that my live turned for good. When i came back i meet my wife who was study yoga and she let my in to the spirituale world.

I thit not study yoga on that time, but was intrestet in the sciptures of the Theosofic Society. It was after that i was devorced that i came very cloos to the study of the Theosofic Society.

The first to works that i was study wher " The Divine Plan" from the author G. Barborka and " The Yoga Sutras from Patanjali." from the author Dr.I.K.Taimni.

It hit my all so much that i hat to withdraw myself . I went on a pelgrimage to Santiago de Compostella. I spent three and a half month to go ther and i can tell you it wher the most intensely hapy months of that time. But i thit not came home, i am still a pelgrim, thil i came in contact whit yoga three years later.

pp: How did you first come into contact with the teachings of Sri Swami Satchidananda?

RK: It was when i came in the house of a friend of my wher i first lookt to a picture of Swami Satchidananda. I found it very intressting but thit not go deeper in to that.

A year later i came to Spain to baby sit on a spiritual center for three months. The first yoga lesson in that place was given by Padma Prya. The lesson was going verry deep in to my soul. Ther was a littel altar and on that altar ther he was again and i felt myself attract to Him. It was from that moment that i followt the lessons from Swami Satchidananda through the soul of Padma Prya.

pp: Can you tell us a little about your Integral Yoga Centre near Antwerp in Belgium?

RK: Well after finisht the first half of the TT cource that i followt in Spain with Padma, i went back to Belgium and just startet to give lesson.

First the lessons wher given in a house in Turnhout. It wher the longest lessons that i have given. The people wher verry entousiast about it. They got three hours yoga for the price of 5 euros. It was fun to do.

Later the group growt and we mouved to a hall above a cafe. We hat to clean up the room and moving the tables and chairs to have a place to do yoga. When the lesson was finisht we hat to put every thing back on the same place becouse the next morning people having ther breakfirst ther. I think they not only eat ther breakfirst but wher showert whit the energy that was still in that room.

The group growt and we went to a public hall. On that moment i startert a second class in Wiekevorst. I was searching for a good hall and lookt every wher but could not find one.

One day a friend of me calt me up and said to my that ther was a hall in my street. It was just acrosse my door. We opent that second class and the first slowly deserted. It was a time from ups and downs but we did not stopt.

On the moment now we have five yoga classes in diferent places. It is fun to see how they all grow and have ther own nature. This is all whit the help of our beloved Gurudev. He is doing every thing and has great fun here.

pp: You have been translating the Living Gita and are now working on the Yoga Sutras. Can you tell us something about that work?

RK: Well the translation from the Living Gita was a long work that much time confiscate. It was verry intens and I felt the help of Swamiji all the way through. Some times it was gowing like a train and on other moments it was verry hard work. Why? becouse i was going through my own process. On this moment we are setting every thing in correct Dutch. The Yoga Sutras is the next work that we are going to do. The first two sutras are translatet and in the free time that i have i am doing this whit all the pleasure. It is in fact not working at all. Hahaha

pp: Do you have any Yoga events coming up in Belgium this year?

RK: Yes in March 7 and 8 we have a first a great fair in Leuven. On this fair we give a Hatha Yoga Class and a Partner Yoga Class. I am also giving a talk about Mantra Yoga and Raja Yoga. You can find all the information about this fair on http://www.eco-therapeutica.be/.

The next Sunday the 15 of March we giving a Open Yoga day in Veltem Bijsem in a place cald La Riposa. The day start at 10am whit a Hatha Yogaclass. After this class we have lunch. At 13.00 we start again whit a partner yoga class. We end the day whit chanting mantras. The price of this day is 10 euro for the holl day.You can find all the information on the site http://www.lariposa.be/.

The weekend of 20,21 and 22 of March we have a Yoga Retraite in the Ardennen in a small place called Heyd. We are going to celebrate the spring inversion together. Whit a lot of yoga, meditation, singing, walking and laughting. This weekend costs 150 euro. You can see the location on the site http://users.skynet.be/boda.

The weekend from 19, 20 and 21 of June we are going on a Camping Yoga Weekend in Wechelterzande. This is a special weekend becouse we are staying in two teepee tents - in the biggest we can sleep 15 people and in the other we will sleep 7 persons. We will celebrate summer solstice whit a big campfire, singing and dance , stillness and meditation. The cost will be the same as the other weekend.

Every first Saterday of the month ther is a mantra recitation in the Theosofic Society of Antwerp. It is starting at 14.00uur and ends at 17.00uur. Ther ar no costs for this.

pp: Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

RK: Yes it is beautifull to be an instrument of Gurudev in this times. Ther is so much to do, and it is don with all the love that is. We should never think on the losts or profit in this world. Ther is always the benifit of all that commes first and if that mean that we have to melt in to God we have to do it whit all the joy that is. May be this is all we have to do. Thank you for all the Love and Joy. Always Your Ramakrishna.