On the "Path of Peace"

Launching the Book “PATH OF PEACE”.
Raja Yoga Centre, Pointe-a-Pierre Road, San Fernando.
March 31^st, 2013 (Easter Sunday)
By Ariti Jankie

Tunapuna businessman Vijai Sadal, Ariti Jankie, Sister Hemlata and Sister Jasmine

My best friend, Phoolo Danny-Maharaj accompanied me to launch “Path of Peace.”

The hall was filled with Brahma Kumaris, all dressed in white cotton. Sister Hemlata was speaking as we entered the room. Brother Vijai Sadal took the boxes of books and quietly arranged a display near the entrance as Sister Hemlata paused to welcome me and Phoolo. She invited us to sit on the reserved seats in the front row while she continued her talk for another minute or two.

As head of the Raja Yoga in Trinidad, Sister Hemlata introduced “Path of Peace.”

She said the book was well written and flowed smoothly.

“I couldn’t put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed it,” she said.

Vijai introduced me and I reached out to touch the hearts of all those who sat before me. The yogis had come from the eight Centres in Trinidad and I asked them to blank their minds, sit back and like the days of old when stories were told to listen.

I began with the story of a young boy who began his career as a jeweler.

“Growing up in India, he reaches the top of his profession. He became a millionaire. At the same time, he made a spiritual breakthrough and when knowledge descended, the young man was able to restore the dignity of women and gave to man a greater opportunity to carve a worthy life. He became Brahma Baba and inspired a wave of supporters to abstain from meat and alcohol and embark on a life of celibacy in a quest for purity.”

I told my audience that the book was designed to tell stories of 15 outstanding members of the local Raja Yoga community.

“Path of Peace” is about a young girl who broke through many barriers to graduate from medical school. At the threshold of a medical career, she gave it all up. That young girl came to Trinidad from India to become a religious icon. Sister Hemlata built a bridge leading from the soul to the Supreme soul, from Trinidad to India, from light to darkness and through it all maintained a simplicity that speaks volumes of a rich, spiritual life.”

I carried the yogis a little further to a place called Iere Village near Princes Town where mandirs, mosques and churches catered to the villagers.

“Harry found the divinity he was searching for one day when he attended a lecture at Gandhi Ashram on Todd Street, San Fernando. He became Brother Harry, the Yogi. On the other side of the island in St Augustine, a young boy had just completed his GCE examinations. He switched on the television to find a lady in white calling out to him. Vijai Sadal explored Raja Yoga before deciding to dedicate his life to Brahma Baba’s teachings.”

Opening the 225-page book to Page 34, I told them about Rajyogi Khem who was the pride of the Raja Yoga Centre in the Caribbean.

“He enlarged on the philosophy of Raja Yoga by studying the scriptures of the world’s greatest religions to shed new light on age old traditions. He takes us through the corridors of the Brahma Kumari Raja Yoga World Spiritual University sharing the wisdom gained by years of intense study and devotion.”

Then we met a young lady so beautiful; she could have won a series of beauty competitions. “She was loved wherever she went which sparked a desire within her heart to be loved not by human being only but by God. On Page 52, Sister Jasmine tells readers she ‘pushed the biology book aside and watched two teardrops fall on the paper’ as she began to write. : “Dear God, I have tasted the love of people but I yearn to taste your love.” For Jasmine, It was the dawn of a greater spirituality.

Page 62 she introduces a courageous woman who took the teachings of peace into the state prison where she has been working with prisoners for the past 25 years. “Sister Kay Narinesingh tells us how she was heartbroken when her mother refused to allow her to go out with her older brothers.”

She said, “I went to my room and lay sobbing upon my bed. After some time, my eyes fell on the picture of Lord Shiva. I poured my heart out to him.” As we turn the pages, I said, “Kay becomes a friend, a mentor, a tower of strength and a credit to the Raja Yoga Centre while carrying forward the indomitable spirit of the Trinidadian woman.”

The book also speaks of Sister Indira who was born in an influential home.

“Life changed when she discovered the path of peace. On Page 76, she begins to share her life story.”

“Brother Anthony knew he was chosen. Several things pointed to it. He became a yogi while fulfilling all his childhood ambitions and dreams.

Sister Hansa and Brother Chandra took Baba’s teachings to Florida and now have two main centres in Ft Lauderdale while travelling throughout the United States spreading the knowledge of Raja Yoga.

Garfield King found a voice on radio through the murlis and penned the best seller “Motivational Minute”. He has been the inspiration behind many who have become yogis over the years.

Meet Sister Geeta, Uma, Chandra and Gloria. They discovered a life so precious, it enabled a little girl born in a poor agricultural village of Avocat to break barriers in achieving her dreams of being one with God.”

I told them about Silvereen Mangroo who stunned those close to her when she announced that she was going to become a Pundit. She chanced upon the Raja Yoga and danced in a drunken state to conquer her motherland India and neighbouring Venezuela where she manages several centres.

I told them that “Path of Peace” held hands with Sister Hemlata and it was she who brought the curtains down on the book.

I concluded by saying that “Path of Peace” was by no means the complete history of the Raja Yoga. It was aimed at Secondary School children and the ordinary man travelling on the bus and others who retire in their hammocks to read for the sheer joy of reading. It was a glimpse of another world designed to offer the greater world an alternative to the darkness, the chaos and corruption that surrounds them in today’s society.

President of the Trinidad Chapter of the Global Organization for People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Ena Maharaj walked in a little late after getting lost on the way to San Fernando. She recommended the book and said that the “Path of Peace” would light the way to lead our nation’s children out of the darkness unto the light.”

“It is a proud moment to stand up and take note of the pioneering work being done in contribution to the building of a better society,” she said.

Sister Jasmine, head of the Chaguanas Centre, Sister Uma who runs the Sangre Grande Centre and Silvereen Mangroo of the Venezuelan Centres also spoke.

The book was offered to Brahma Baba, spiritual leader of the Brahma Kumaris before it was declared officially launched.

The yogis were generous and gave me a moment held dearly in my heart of a long line waiting for autographed copies of the book. A delicious vegetarian feast was served. Phoolo took pictures and we lingered on to enjoy a wonderful morning with the Brahma Kumaris Raja Yogis.  

Practising yogis eager for autographed copies of the book that traces their local history