Icon Show: Interviews
Raj Kamal
Photo by Gisele |
BiographyRaj Kamal first met Swami Shyam at the age of 7 in 1965, when Swami Shyam was still known as Shyam Shrivastava. Raj Kamal recalls that Shyam had a similar kind of dynamic energy, then as now, and was full of life! Twenty years later his father accidentally met Swami Shyam again, and encouraged Raj Kamal to go and see him as well. Raj Kamal was duly impressed, but he was encouraged by Swami Shyam to finish his Ph.D. in Mathematics first, before coming to Kullu full-time. In addition to his spiritual practise, Raj Kamal teaches mathematics and Hindi, and is an amateur photographer. Raj Kamal took most of the photographs in this project, under my guidance. He is a delightful, witty, and generous being. Written by Gisele Beaupre |
Interview
Gisele: Raj, how was your second meeting with Swami Shyam?
Raj Kamal: It was great. We were sitting under the tree, and I asked him if he could teach me to meditate. He said,"You don't need meditation at this time; you need to finish your education. I don't need uneducated yogis. I need intelligent yogis, who can swell the world with goodness." So he didn't encourage me to make meditation my life just yet, but gave me some books on meditation. I later finished my Master's Degree and started my P.h.D. in mathematics at Kanpur University.
Gisele: So there must have been another meeting with Swamiji?
Raj Kamal: Yes, Swamiji came to Kanpur to address a group of 50,000 people. We had a dinner and Swamiji was going back to his hotel when I just jumped into his cab. This was very unusual for me, because I was very shy normally, but something happened from beyond that pushed me to want to sit beside Swamiji. We were passing my professor's house, who was so surprised that a saint would visit him. It was a big house, the living room was very large and open and there were two sofa sets that were at opposite ends of the room. Swamiji was so free that he immediately arranged the sofa set to make a cozy corner. My professor, who was a Dean of Mathematics, had great respect for Swami's action and appreciated what he did.
Gisele: What were you feeling at the time?
Raj Kamal: Just listening to him, I could feel that something was unfolding, like a seed growing towards the sun....his way of teaching was so simple. You don't have to give up anything, you just add meditation. His method of making you aware of the highest reality was so simple, even more logical than science! Step by step he takes you there, from the form to the subtlest levels! There is no separation between form and source! All is linked and that is one reality! Flower, root, earth, water, air, energy, fire, Aakaash, pure consciousness...you are that. In the language of my country, this truth is expressed in the phrase, "Tat Twam Asi, " which means, "That thou Art; You are that God now."
Transcribed by Gisele Beaupre