A moment with Swami Ram Dev

Bishnu Prasad Aryal

Kathmandu, April 3

It was the regular day I am living in this world. But it was not the same as other days. I prepared myself to attend a meeting with Yoga Guru Swami Ram Dev, who was in Nepal for a yoga camp. He was to leave Nepal today and I left my apartment at 07:07 AM. It was told another day Swami will meet us at 7:45 at Sant Niwas, the residence of Dr Upendra Mahato, former president of Non-Resident Nepalis. I was curious to visit him and listen to his words.

However, he could not come in time as he could not avoid meeting President Dr Ram Baran Yadav before leaving Nepal. It was his urgent appointment. Before meeting President, Swami had devoted him to teach the  armed police force personnel yoga at its Headquarters. He arrived at the scheduled at about 9 AM. And he started talking to media persons. In course of talks, he said all people are different from each other but some are more different than others. "But I am unable to cure their disease of blaming others."

He felicitated the journalists wrapping with shawls for covering news about Yoga. I was one of them. It was the first time I was felicitated. I was not the only person to be hounoured. I was among all the journalists, about two dozens, who were thanked in this way. This was new experience for me that remained a moment of being myself a sage inside me spiritually. I, who belong to The Himalayan Times, did not write any word offending Swami but I cannot say about others.

He was disheartened by an article published in the Kantipur daily--"Swami is above President...". This allusion was related to the stage where Swami was on his posture at his place and President was on the other side. "I honour and respect President. It was not my fault that place was made to address people and teach them yoga. I am touched with this misinterpretation," he said.

Ram Dev Baba is really a sage and totally a humanitarian person but not a shrewd, selfish and dishonest politician. He is kind enough for humanity and dedicated to help people get rid of ailments through yoga practices. His intention to teach Patanjali Yog is crystal clear. Nobody knows mystery inside a person but an enlightened person is said to understand others. This is the problem that I don't have to solve it.