What is the role of Dharma in the face of survival?

“What is the role of Dharma
in the face of survival?”
– TKV Desikachar speaking with his
senior Western students London 1998

The Saṅga must be springing from a common source if we want it to live……

TKV Desikachar teaching at Gaunts House

“The Saṅga must be springing from a common source if we want it to live.
It’s not a question of legal status nor physical meetings.
It is not the doing that will make the Saṅga.”
TKV Desikachar speaking with his senior Western students London 1998

We have also to ask ourselves the question……

TKV Desikachar teaching at Gaunts House

“We have also to ask ourselves the question:
What do we want our (teacher training) students to be equipped to do?
– Personal Practice.
– Training Work.
– Supervision.”
TKV Desikachar speaking with his senior Western students London 1998

We need to find a balance between the demand and the capacity……

“We need to find a balance between the demand and the capacity.
It needs careful reflection if we want this great teaching to continue.
If we don’t want it to become another museum we have to check our work and care for the future.
Many organisations with a vertical structure have collapsed.
Our structure must not be vertical.”
TKV Desikachar speaking with his senior Western students London 1998

I don’t think any system, even though it has all the possibilities……

TKV_France_1999

“I don’t think any system, even though it has all the possibilities,
has all the answers, for all of the people, for all of the time.”
TKV Desikachar speaking with his senior Western students London 1998

Saṃkalpa is mainly the intention to do something……

samkalpa

Saṃkalpa is mainly the intention to do something,
to be serious about my goal; it is something I feel I must do.
Saṃkalpa must be on both parts: student and teacher,
like when we chant ‘saha nāvavatu…’.
Saṃskāra means the purification,
like cleaning a vessel before I use it for another purpose.
It’s a kind of Viyoga or separation.
It concerns how I prepare for the situation.
The Saṃskāra is an effort in both directions: student and teacher.
Saṃyoga means there is a good exchange;
something begins to happen, something is given and something is received.
The best teaching has all three of these.”
TKV Desikachar speaking with his senior Western students London 1998

Once I am very clear about what is to be known – Svadharma

TKV Desikachar teaching at Gaunts House

“Once I am very clear about what is to be known – Svadharma,
then I can be clear about what is universal Dharma.”
– TKV Desikachar speaking with his senior Western students London 1998

What is the measure of my Śraddhā……

TKV_France_1999

“What is the measure of my Śraddhā. For example,
When a student says these practices are not working?”
–  TKV Desikachar speaking with his senior Western students London 1998

The less the depth of Saṃkalpa, the less the depth of what follows.

samkalpa

Saṃkalpa is a serious intention between and both from teacher and student.
The less the depth of Saṃkalpa, the less the depth of what follows.
Once this is there what is required is Saṃskāra.
Saṃskāra is to remove the obstacles.
In a way it is Viyoga, so that certain things that get in the way are put aside.
Saṃskāra is like cleaning a vessel before you cook.
Saṃyoga is where something begins to happen.
The accumulation of what begins to happen between teacher and student is Saṃyoga.
Proportionate to the quality of the three, the output will be different”
TKV Desikachar speaking with his senior Western students London 1998

Sound is something that takes you in the direction of its origin……

mantra

“Sound is something that takes you in the direction of its origin.”
TKV Desikachar speaking with his senior Western students London 1998

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You must have teachers who will have supervision to respond in……

TKV Desikachar teaching at Gaunts House

“You must have teachers who will have supervision to respond in the following fields:
Health, Psychology and Spirituality.”
TKV Desikachar speaking with his senior Western students London 1998

If the Saṅga is at the Puruṣa level it will stay; if it is at the Prakṛti level it……

sanga

“If the Saṅga is at the Puruṣa level it will stay;
if it is at the Prakṛti level it will change.”
TKV Desikachar speaking with his senior Western students London 1998

The Indian culture says: ‘Dharma will protect the one who protects the Dharma’……

dharma

“The Indian culture says:
Dharma will protect the one who protects the Dharma‘.
If you serve something it will serve you.
The more I honour the other person
the better will be the response,
of course it may take some time.”
TKV Desikachar speaking with his senior Western students London 1998