The majority of us who embarked on the Prana Vidya course at Rikhia Peeth had already taken the Chakra Sadhana Course and thus were relatively acclimated to the ashram and the daily course schedule at that point. Although we were fewer participants on this course, we were still an international group, with people from Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. We had two days in between Chakra Sadhana and Prana Vidya during which we participated in seva and evening programs, but had some additional free time compared to the course schedule. While it was still hot, the heat and particularly the humidity had eased a bit, so those of us unaccustomed to the climate were not as challenged on that level.

On the first morning of the course, Swami Muktidharma explained that Chakra Sadhana was a preparation for Prana Vidya, as Prana Vidya is an advanced practice. He emphasized that before attempting to heal others energetically – as has become so common the world over with short courses on energetic healing –we need to learn to work with our own prana and heal ourselves. And that working with Prana Vidya was the work of a lifetime. (Or many lifetimes!) The best news about the course for many of us was that most of the practices were done lying down in shavasana! However Swami Muktidharma warned that we should only lie down if we could be sure not to fall asleep. Otherwise we should sit with our legs outstretched.

During our early morning asana classes, Swami Karma Karuna guided us in cultivating more subtle awareness of prana moving within us. She also taught ujjayi pranayama and kecheri mudra, which we also used in the Prana Vidya techniques taught by Swami Muktidharma.

Although the visualizations in the Prana Vidya techniques were often challenging, my experience of the practices was energizing. Often I would arrive at the afternoon sessions quite tired, but after a few minutes of the practice I would feel more awake. By the end of the practice I felt completely refreshed, even vibrant. Such a gift to learn how to effectively energize myself with a half-hour meditation!

Working with the subtle pranas is very powerful, and people’s responses to it varied. Several experienced fever and other minor illness during the course – many more than had during Chakra Sadhana. I was impressed how most people were able to witness their experiences and feel that they gained valuable knowledge about themselves even if they were stuck in bed.

This course seemed to bring up the most questions for people. Swami Muktidharma was very patient and generous with his time, answering questions both during our scheduled lectures and spending time with people individually to help them to understand both the practices and what the practices were bringing up for people.

For seva during the course, many of us participated in various preparations for the Sat Chandi Mahayajna upcoming at the end of November. I helped pack rice. Twenty-thousand kilos of rice had to be measured into one-kilo bags, then the bags sealed. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to be a part of the distribution aspect of the yajna even though I would not be there for the yajna itself that year.

The day after the Prana Vidya course finished was Diwali, a huge holiday in India. One Indian woman on the course told me it was the equivalent of Christmas in the West. Diwali is a festival of light, where the goddess Lakshmi blesses everyone with abundance. Traditionally people light many candles, give and wear new clothes, and celebrate with a feast and fireworks. We were blessed to be able to participate in the Diwali celebrations at Rikhia Peeth. As soon as our course finished, we were involved with chopping vegetables, cleaning and decorating – helping to prepare for the festivities the following day.

Diwali at Rikhia began with a sunrise havan led by Swami Satsangi at the Samadhi Stahl. We left our dormitory block a bit before 5 a.m. and walked 20 minutes through the misty pre-dawn to witness this ancient ceremony and participate in the chanting. The swamis chanted several mantras, one of which had 1,000 lines! Their focus and dedication was amazing. The energy was very subtle that morning, and I couldn’t stop thinking of how lucky I was to be there.

We had breakfast at 7 a.m., then headed to the new Kanya Kitchen for a Lakshmi and Ganesh Puja led by pundits and Swami Satsangi. The pundits chanted Vedic mantras and performed a ritual decorating statues of Lakshmi and Ganesh. Swami Satsangi also gave diksha to two members of our group at this time. When the puja finished, it was time to prepare for lunch. The ashram had made a feast for all the kanyas and batuks in the surrounding villages – more than 2,000 children! – as well as the elderly. The children were very excited about the meal and their energy was palpable. So much laughing and playing while they waited for their turn to eat. For seva many of us helped the children to wash their hands after the meal. The idea was to have them line up and use the sinks one by one. I bet you can imagine how well that worked! But we all had a wonderful time seeing so much joy, energy and enthusiasm in the children. The Kanya Kitchen has served meals to all the kanyas and batuks on special occasions during 2011, but in 2012 it will serve a meal to all the kanyas and batuks daily! This is the fulfillment of the sankalpa of Paramahamsa Satyananda, to feed all the children daily.

That evening there was celebration for Diwali, again at the Samadhi Stahl. First, though, thousands of candles had to be lit. I was part of the team that lit tea light candles throughout the Sarovar gardens. The energy was so special as we worked silently and as quickly as possible in the twilight to get all the candles lit before the crowds came through. When we were finished, people started walking single-file, again in silence, witnessing the beauty of Paramahamsaji’s garden and the receiving darshan before the house where Paramahamsaji took his Mahasamadhi.

We then all gathered in the Samadhi Stahl area. Kanyas led us in chanting, danced for us, led kirtan. Little candles everywhere and the pure joy of the event had everyone in an expansive mood. All the kanyas and batuks again were present, and they all received a new outfit from the ashram per the tradition of Diwali.

It seems fitting that Prana Vidya, a course dedicated to working with the internal prana, was followed by a festival of light. A huge thank you to Swami Satsangi and all the swamis at Rikhia Peeth for giving us the opportunity to share in their celebrations. And we cannot thank Swami Muktidharma and Swami Karma Karuna enough for donating their time and energy to lead this course on Prana Vidya. Assistants Yogamani, Shantachittam and Madhura again helped everything to flow smoothly. We finished our experience of Rikhia not only with more knowledge but with more jyoti within and without.