Mr. Yogi's School - By F.A.H. ( 'Hutch') Dalrymple

[chintamani yogi]

"Arise, Awake, Stop Not, Till the Goal is Reached !"

Once upon a time in a life, you have a day where you're overwhelmed with a love you never get over! I had such a day yesterday, when I was treated to the love of innocent faces, children gave me flowers, and I was asked questions about God, and the "true meaning" of the Bhagavad-Gita? I was treated with such respect as to feel unworthy.

Such a day I had at Mr. Yogi's school, the Hindu Vidyapeeth-Nepal school, of Balkumari (southeast Kathmandu). But, in some ways I'm not surprised, the love I felt from these children at this school in Nepal….manifested by its founder and principal, Mr. C.M. Yogi !

There's an expression, that 'saints always tiptoe across the earth'. Here's an example for one, who has toiled in the 'vineyards' for fourteen years, volunteering in the beginning because he felt so strongly about teaching children the right things! It's a testament to his work that most of them, when I asked want to be social workers (want to help other people)!

The 'motto' of the school is by Swami Vivekananda: "Arise, Awake ! Wake up yourselves and awaken others. Achieve the consummation of human life before you pass off ! Arise ! Awake! Stop not till the goal is reached !"

Every time I'm around Mr. Yogi, Swami Vivekananda's words echo in my mind: 'Arise ! Awake ! Stop not till the goal is reached !'

How can I convey the honor of being invited to Mr. Yogi's school, this place of learning, love and respect ? And to be given flowers by the children….

I stare at these flowers hours later in my room in Lazimpat, the gifts of little smiling gods, the bouquets made, with tiny hands… Like the school itself, first just a seed, a bud, a complex of building now, sprouting up, flowering to enlighten all those who can behold ! Arise ! Awake !'

Five years ago, there was only one building in a remote section of Patan, Balkumari ( south across the Bagmati River from central Kathmandu ). Now, one abandoned building is a hallowed place of learning.

But, the nine years before, this group wandered in a 'desert', like nomads, Mr. Yogi like Moses.

There is a sign now over the front door of this building which reads, 'Watch your head ! It should warn you to, watch your heart ! Arise ! Awake !'

I'm shown photographs on the wall of students, documenting their activities, like field trips, to remote villages, where they learn about rural, tribal life.

"We want students to get a well rounded education, and much of that comes from real-life experiences," explains Mr. Yogi.

The school has taken students to many parts of Nepal, with the aim of making them familiar with the different places, culture, traditions, and natural beauty of their own country.

They visited Karfok of Ilam, Biratnagar, Dhankuta, Hile, Dharan, Janakpur, Timkiya, and the India City, Darjeeling, last year.

And where they have gone the students have made the local inhabitants aware of their own nation and of their brotherhood through a variety of devices: plays, songs, speeches, and poetry.

Hanging on the wall in the original building there are many certificates of merit that these students have been awarded. This is no inter-city public school in America where remedial arithmetic is taught: Later during the assembly one of these students asks me how I know there is a God ? tell him I see God in their eyes !

'The students are good at poetry, language, writing, public speaking,' Mr. Yogi explains.

Some of the certificates/awards are (for the past academic year): 'First Position, Speech: National level competition organized by Reyukai, Nepal, 'essay competition: First Position, Organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation on the occasion of World Tourism Day Speech (colloquial) competition : Second position, valley Level Competition organized by the Nepal Children's Organization on the occasion of Children's Day, 'Quiz contest: first Position, organized by Nepal Television,' and there are many more….

All during this tour little people walk up hands clasped and greet me with, 'Namaste !' They 'salute' the God that brought me to this clean, organized, Spartan, yet heartfelt place of learning.

I am introduced to three young English women in red saris, 'volunteers' Mr. Yogi explains. Is the world and interesting place, or not…..? They are: ms. Julia crausay, Ms. Catherine Lusas, and Ms. Munira Blacking, all of the U.K. , come to help teach the children ! 'Arise! Awake ! Stop not 'till the goal is reached !''

I am introduced to Mr. Yogi' s teaching staff, the kinds of teachers I wish I'd had as a child….the kind that obviously cares, as their salary for a month, an American spends on dinner in a restaurant. I meet Mr. Om Bhakta Yogi, C.M.'s brother, Vishnu Bhakta Dangi, Ramesh Kumar Karki and chidananda Mahatman Yadav.

I wonder to myself if these children realize how lucky they are ….?

I know how lucky I am to have met Mr. Yogi, a practitioner of Bhakti Yoga and a devotee of one to the great Hindu wise men of India, Swami Vivekananda: 'Arise ! Awake!'

But, Mr. Yogi talks more about love and spirituality than religion, and about the need to empower girls, in a country where it's culturally acceptable to relegate females to the most menial of tasks (I see women street cleaners in saris sweeping the streets of Kathmandu all the time. ) I tell him he's the first man in all of Nepal, since I arrived, that's addressed this issue !

Mr. Yogi explains to me what their long-term goals are, what they're trying to accomplish at Hindu Vidyapeeth-Nepal:

"HVP, as it's called, is operated by MSS (Matribhumi Sevak Sahgh), a socio-cultural organization with a non-profit motive. It provides residential and day-scholar facilities with round-the –clock supervision by a residential staff. It aims at producing academically brilliant students that have a full understanding of their own culture and traditional values.

"MSS intends to propagate such an ideal education that its demand will spread to all of Nepal. Accordingly, two braches have already been added, one in the eastern part of Kathamdu and one in Dang, in the far west.

" Our plans are to extend HVP's education all the way to the 10 + 2 level; even to University level eventually.

"MSS has also planned to set up a comprehensive center where there will be, in addition to a school, a hospital, nursery, a home for retired people, and agricultural center as well. And finally an international Peace Center where spiritual discourse can take place.

In the meantime, they build at Balkumari, and from one building and a tenuous start, there are now three buildings, including a hostel (for boys), with one building under construction. All this, the vision of one person, yet the work and contributions of many people! 'Arise ! Awake ! Stop not 'till the goal is reached !

The new building under construction has a deep, strong foundation, I'm told, by Mr. Ghanashyam Yogi, who is 'nurturing' is to life, evidence of the 'mental groundwork,' Mr. Yogi' laid' fourteen-years ago. All of this beginning to 'bloom,' like the flowers l've been given !

They've spent already, 2-million rupees on the foundation and first floor of this building. Mr. G. Y. Yogi, also makes a point to explain that the construction is going so well that they need to continue, that it's difficult to start and stop, raising money as they go along. How well I know from personal experience.

I look at the flowers the children have given me, all red and green with life, the remembrance of a day I'll never forget ! I stay a silent prayer that this group may continue to grow and 'blossom !'

I feel so alive in Nepal ! so happy ! it's hard to explain….it's like this is the culmination of my bodily life filled with new blessings every day, and filled with glories I only had inkling existed !

In America it's a material existence, filled with artificial distractions (all the wrong gods ) that keep you in a suspended limbo (maya). There's no real, loving life ! Certainly, no 'Namastes' , from loving, polite, respectful children…

How can I explain to the assembled student body when later I'm asked the differences between America and Nepal… One is rich with $, the other rich in heart and soul ! can they understand ?

The love I feel in Nepal I've never felt anywhere before ….And I wouldn't trade it for fame, nor fortune, nor all the 'Oscars' and 'Emmys' there is to acquire! I wouldn't trade this life of 'poverty,' for all the gold in a country that's grow 'cold,' soulless to me from over-materialization, money having become the God worshipped !

But, how do I explain this to most of the Nepalese I meet, who are 'dying' to go to America… 'All that glitters, is not gold ! ' I tell them ! And how do I explain that I don't want to go back to America, yet can because I have an America passport ? How do I explain, when they're 'dying 'to go, but can't get a visa ?

How do I explain the soul that once was has abandoned America and now resides in places like Nepal, where they have so little in the way of material things (thank God), but so much in the way of loving hearts and souls. Can they possibly understand this …?

I have deduced in my 58-years of traveling, seeking that there aren't Americans and Nepalese, only types of people. The kind that want to be there and the king that want to be here! You can have 'there," I'll be 'here !'

Like the Buddha, 2,500 years ago, I've tasted all the 'fruits of paradise,' and behold they left a sour taste in my mouth ! 'All that glitters is not gold !' my mother once told me.

I look at the flowers in my room, picked , arranged with little, loving hands. 'Namaste!' they chorus !

In the assembly room, packed with children, they sing songs, give speeches, recite poetry, and ask questions of me. They honor me ! They ask me difficult questions….'Why do I say these things about America, when it is my motherland ?'

They are the hope of Nepal these, Mr. Yogi's children ! They are the hearts and minds of the future ! They are 'my children in a way ! They are 'your 'children too ! They are the sons and daughters of all of us !

Why should I have children of my own, when I'm already blessed with a 'family' of children all over the world ?

Several children walk up to me after the assembly and grasp my hand, and ask me when I'm going to return… These are my children !

I smell the raw life in the flowers they have given me, picked for me, given with love….i smile all ' alone ' in my room….'Arise awake !'

They (Mr.Yogi ) have renewed my spirit, my soul, and I shall always be grateful ! Grateful that on May 13, 1998, Wednesday, in Kathmandu , Nepal, that I visited Mr. Yogi's school !

'Arise, awake, wake up yourselves and awaken others ! Achieve the consummation of human life before you pall off ! Arise, awake, stop not 'till the goal is reached !' Swami Vivekananda.

I don't intend to stop !