From left to right: Swami Brahmananda, Bishop Trevor Williamson and Marilyn Rossner
What does Easter mean for you and what specifically is the importance for those on the yogic path? Swami Brahmananda, the manager of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat; Bishop Trevor Williamson, Founding and Senior Pastor of the Trinity Full Baptist Church in Nassau, Bahamas; and Marilyn Rossner, long-time friend of the ashram, helped open our eyes and our hearts to the spirit of Easter.
Bishop Trevor preached on the pure compassion that Jesus had for all living beings, giving his life so that we could follow in his footsteps and be free, while his church choir sang soulfully about the life of Jesus and His ultimate sacrifice. The morning continued with Marilyn Rossner re-counting her miraculous story of Sister Leona’s near-fatal stroke and her complete speedy recovery — because of the power of Jesus. Swami Brahmananda read words from Swami Sivananda’s “Bliss Divine”. Swami Sivananda tells us:
Jesus Christ was crucified and yet he is living now. He has immortalized his name. None can silence his voice. His voice has been speaking through centuries. Jesus said: “Come into the Kingdom by selling all ye have and distributing it to the poor”. Men have not adhered to his message, but his voice has not been silenced.
Jesus was a perfect Yogi. He did many miracles. He stopped the waves of the ocean. He gave sight to blind people. He cured lepers by mere touch. He fed a large multitude with a small loaf of bread.
After Jesus was crucified, he was restored to life. The resurrection or the rising again from dead was, according to Jesus, and ineffable condition in which all bodily limitation was transcended. It was a condition of being perpetually in the presence of God.
Jesus was truly a fully developed Yogi and sage. He had no identification with the physical body. He identified himself with the Supreme Soul. He said: “I and my Father are one”. He modeled for us a life of divine perfection that we can strive to emulate and follow as we pursue our yogic path.
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Grace Van Berkum is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Sivananda Yoga Teacher, Certified Personal Trainer, and raw, vegan recipe creator. She is passionate about the healing powers of live foods, the power of Yoga and positive thinking, and the power of connecting to nature. This has influenced her to create Gracious Living Yoga Empowerment Retreats in Nicaragua, and around the world, inspiring people towards healthier lifestyles and living their best life possible. www.gracevanberkum.com
