I took a free 1/2 hour yoga class at the Limon summer dance workshop at Purchase, offered by one of the teachers, Carlos. At the end of the workshop I asked him where could I continue and he directed me to Dharma Mittra. When I got back to NY, I went to his noon class and never stopped going. I was immediately captivated.

In the “old” days, Sri Dharma’s classes were as structured as they are now. He has an uncanny ability to come into a room and know what the students need. Dharma changes his class as the times and the students change. He can make a class challenging or simpler depending on the student population and mindset. He has always talked about being vegan.

But in those days we also had small sessions with him for psychic development and mediation practices at about 8pm to 9pm. I really loved those! In one of those meditation sessions “I” seemed to have disappeared. I got scared and in my mind, I said: “Dharma, are you there?” And I heard a reply in my head, “Yes”. At which point I immediately opened my eyes to see if anyone was actually speaking. But everyone still had their eyes closed, including Dharma!

One of the teacher training workshops in those days we had to be at the center for 4 or 5 am for mediation practice with Dharma. We would leave at 7am to get to our jobs on time. I would do it again if it was offered.

I try to watch Dharma closely as he teaches, to see how he approaches a student or what he corrects, and what is he focusing on currently. Every now and then, he will change what he talks to us about so one has to listen very carefully for these changes. They may not come again for a long time. 

What sets Dharma’s method apart form other styles is that he is enlightened. One can’t help but feel absolutely free, happy and energized in a guru’s presence. One’s mind becomes clear of worry and questions, energized without knowing why, and can do poses one didn’t think possible because of the far reach of the guru’s energetic field. At one of our camp retreats, as we were sitting for lunch, Sri Dharma said “Why is everyone sitting around me? You can go to the tables and out in the grass to eat.” No one moved.  With a twinkle in his eye, he then said: “I know, you’re sucking up my energy.” We all laughed.

Sri Dharma says, “There’s a teacher for each type of student.” I believe that – all ages of souls are being born on earth, so teachers for all these various ages of souls will be available. That’s what’s really happening. The transition to subtler energies has begun and those who are ready for more spiritual things will have a teacher appear to help them when they are ready.

So we should not worry about the yoga scene. As the souls age with each rebirth, their teachers will be there to help and guide them along the path to enlightenment.

Here are the little things Dharma has passed on to me in the time I’ve been around him:

“Everywhere has it’s garbage.” I learnt along the way there will be nothing that is perfect in this world of Maya, so don’t expect it to be. It is a world of fulfilling our Karmic consequences.

Don’t go looking everywhere for the answers to your questions – they are inside of you!

“You can’t have more than one master”. Try your best to be loyal to your guru. Don’t go seeking advice and answers from every new fad guru who comes on the scene. 

“It’s all in your mind”. If you have many, many questions, keep trying to realize it’s all mind stuff. The answer is to become quiet, then the answers come. 

Dharma would always say “Think of God.” Then he would say “How can you?” And he would laugh a little. I always thought “How can we think of God if God has no form, no name, really, and is omnipresent and omniscient, Infinite?” Dharma recently answered this question for me, although I didn’t ask him. Recently he said “Think of God. How to think of God? Clear your mind.” I read once that God can only come to you if your mind is clear because then there’s space for God to come and silence for you to listen to what God has to say, if anything, of course. Now I think I understand, at least in theory. Still working on clearing my mind! 🙂

This post was written by Penelope Kalloo
Dharma Yoga LOAY