from Teresa Caetano
To Ācārya:
My first personal meeting with Ācārya was on October 11, 2017, the day my Father would have turned 87. The ripples from this meeting are still spreading in my mind and in my life, and I believe they will never stop.
I had formally joined the Jivana program in Sintra in January that same year after having participated in two Ayurvedic cooking workshops, the first one of which was casually gifted to me by a brother-in-law. I don’t think either of us could foresee how meaningful this gift would turn out, and I am very grateful that he was inspired to make it.
The 2017 October retreat was the first one on the Bhagavad Gita. So, I had the fortune to be introduced to the Gita by Ācārya. It was the most wonderful introduction anyone could wish for: slowly building up over several sessions, gradually disclosing the greatness of the poem, patiently setting the scene and laying a foundation worthy of the precious subject. I was delighted to hear him, and all the teachings stayed with me.
Meeting Ācārya was like the sight of a lighthouse when one has been sailing the ocean away from port, enduring the waves, the wind, the dark depths and what may dwell in them.
For a sailor, lighthouses are crucial.
Finding a true lighthouse is a blessing.
When I think of Ācārya, I feel:
A great joy for having found him and for knowing he is there
A great comfort in the Light that is constantly, unwaveringly, tirelessly emitted
A great trust that I will be helped to keep my vessel on the right course
A huge gratitude for the patient, generous way in which his guidance is given to all
A huge respect for the resilience and physical stamina his mission entails
A great love for all his goodness
Ācārya is my Teacher.
To Sadvidya and BYD:
The knowledge of Ācārya’s existence came to me through other sailors who made it their mission to spread the word about his Lineage and Teachings. My heartfelt gratitude to all who passed on the word about Acharya to other fellow travellers, mainly to the pilots through whom this knowledge came to me in Sintra, Portugal.
Wishing great success and good luck to all involved with Sadvidya and BYD. May your work continue to grow and be fruitful.
Namaste,
Teresa
