from Paul Zehrer
In commemoration of BYD’s 25th year
30.06.2024
The commemoration of BYD’s 25th year happens to align with my own 25th year celebration of meeting my great and dear teacher, Dr. Shankaranarayana Jois (Acharya). It was the most important day of my life when Acharya accepted to teach me as a western student. I came to him with a longing in my heart that I did not fully understand at the time. I came to him full of humility and disillusioned with what western, and eastern teachers, had taught me about yoga. I was hungry for something more: something more authentic and true — more meaningful and life changing. From the time I was a child, I felt a connection with the metaphysical world. My mother inspired me with her devotion, though she lacked the proper knowledge and wisdom to satisfy my craving young heart. But divine Grace would bring me all the way from America to India. There I was led to the feet of Acharya and the rest, as they say, is “history”, or rather, the past 25 years of my life!
Acharya has been a teacher unlike any teacher I have ever encountered. His gift to convey the essence of yoga, the jnana that is essential for one’s quest, is matched by his love and compassionate heart. He has never failed to offer me the most sincere and astute guidance — even when my inquiry may have been confused. Like a father, he patiently and compassionately welcomes me back year after year and always, always instills a longing in me to reach my higher purpose — to strive for true Realization and Liberation. Towards this end, he repeatedly offers keen and nuanced insights into scriptures such as The Yoga Sutras, The Bhagavad Gita, Gurunda Samitha, and others. He unfolds the depth and meaning of the original Samskrita like someone opening a closed lotus bud layer after layer, until a full bloom is revealed in all its splendor. A man like no other, he walks with one foot in ancient India and another in today’s modern world. Traversing these two worlds, he brings the knowledge and wisdom of the ancient Maharishis to nourish our ailing, contemporary body and soul. For this and more, I am forever grateful.
BYD was in its infancy as an institution when I first arrived in India. Since then, I have had the honor and delight to watch it grow over these past 25 years. Small boys and girls, curious at my strange western clothes and manners, have now matured into beautiful and compassionate adults, wise and dedicated teachers, keen and observant researchers and, above all, honorable and faithful disciples devoted to Acharya’s vision of preserving the ancient wisdom of Bharat for future generations. I have seen barren ground transform into flowering gardens and tin sheds become majestic buildings with great purpose that will last for generations. I imagine my son returning to BYD long after I am gone to sit quietly under a peepal tree recalling the many gifts he, his mother, and father received from Acharya and BYD over these many years.
In closing, I wish to also express my heartfelt gratitude and commemoration to Mother India, and all the Maharishis who have sought to convey the teachings of yoga for our benefit. Much has been lost over the millennia and much is now misunderstood in this age of Kali Yuga. I consider myself and my family immensely blessed to have come into contact of such a noble and great teacher capable of transmitting true jnana. On this special 25th year commemoration of BYD — one of Acharya’s great contributions to global humanity — I acknowledge this blessing and the grace from which it has come. I pray it continues to strengthen my own determination to reach the ultimate goal of Yoga, the great Light from which all of this has been made manifest.
My sincere pranams to Acharya and all those who have allowed BYD to flourish over these past 25 years.
Paul Zehrer
