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Aatma Photo by Raj Kamal

Biography During her teenage years, Aatma observed that meditation had a beneficial effect on a close friend and immediate family, who were dealing with the issue of death and dying. Aatma was so encouraged by what she found in her friend's philosophy and behavior, that at 17 years of age she wanted to learn to meditate too. Aatma has continued to meditate regularly for the last 20 years. Aatma met Swami Shyam in her early twenties. He encouraged her to finish a degree in Comparative Religions, before coming to live in Kullu on a more permanent basis. Aatma finished her degree and has been studying with Swami Shyam for the past 14 years in Kullu. Aatma is a great and knowledgeable speaker, is kind, warm and loving, has a wonderful singing voice, and teaches the Bhagavad Gita as well. Written by Gisele Beaupre

Interview

Gisele: How did you meet Swami Shyam or come to know about him?

Aatma: I was going regularly to the group meditation sessions at the Shyam ashram in Montreal and taking Hath yoga classes, and started to hear more about their teacher. I began listening to some of his audio tapes and read some of his books. I was so struck by the philosophy. He was always talking about how the soul is forever free and always blissful, and how it is only the body that dies and only the mind that changes. There is always someone there watching and knowing all these changes, someone who is uninvolved and forever free, and that is who you are. When I would read or hear these words, something inside was saying, "Yes, Yes, that's who I am. I know it, but I want to experience it." It wasn't enough to have a sense of it, I wanted it to have an effect in my daily life, so that I wouldn't suffer, so that I feel complete and fulfilled, which at the time was not my direct experience. So all of this inspired me to keep on meditating.

Gisele: When did you meet Swami Shyam?

Aatma: First I wrote to him and he answered my letters. I remember the first letter I got from him. I got a sense that he really knew me. I had written only a poem. I didn't say anything about myself, and he wrote me back two paragraphs which filled me with a sense that he was totally one with me. I had never felt that way before. I ended up coming to Kullu one and a half years later to meet him personally.

Gisele: What did you feel?

Aatma: I felt that I was meeting a being who was full of delight and love. All I knew was that when I was in his presence, I experienced myself in that way. He so clearly made it known that it wasn't just a state that he possessed, but that it was possible for everyone to unfold it in themselves, if they meditated. He immediately gave me a practical technique which he assured me would unfold perfect happiness from inside my being. He never created a sense that I had to be dependent on him, but rather inspired me by his example to adopt his technique of meditation, if I desired to live and radiate the state of total love and peace which I recognized in him. He continues to be a total inspiration and ideal for me. I witness my self awareness daily expanding, and along with it, a sense of well-being, which is a direct experience of my true nature.

Transcribed by Gisele Beaupre

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