1. Seeking Omanis
The story of the amazing journey into oneself
Sarnga Dharan Nambiar
“Entering into a pure stateof mental equilibrium – meditation –one obtainsan
all-penetrating insightleading to an awareness of the absoluteoneness of the
universe” : Aswaghosha, in The Awakening of Faith
We can choosethe journey. A journey that begins and ends at a particular
destination; or one that begins and never ends. There is yet another kind of
journey wherethe journey itself is the destination, and has no beginning or end.
This is a journey into oneself, and is one of the most subtle undertakings humans
could ever attempt. And the journey begins with, and progresses through,
meditation.
What inspired a group of seven young Omanis including four women to set out
for Mount Abu, an idyllic land in the western state of Rajasthan in India that
radiates rustic tranquility was a questto cultivate a meditative mind. A quest to
know oneself or, at a deeper level, one’s Self. At a height of 4000 ft. abovesea
level, what they explored over a period of seven days was notjustthe scenic
beauty of the place, but their own inner world as well, through a series of
meditations, discourses, workshops and teamactivities.
The one-week spiritualretreat organized by the Muscat-based Rajyoga Centrefor
Self Development in the firstweek of October at the famous hill-station was in
fact a guided tour of the deeper and quieter realms of one’s being – which holds
the key to transformthe seemingly chaotic world into a place of perfect harmony
and peace.
And, there they joined other self-seekers fromacross theworld to practice
Rajyoga, the ancient Eastern spiritual science of self-development. Can it be a

2. mere coincidence that Mount Abu, the highest peak of the Aravali mountain
range, is an energy centre that leads one to the peak of enlightenment as well?
With the world witnessing chilling cruelties inflicted by humans on fellow humans,
seemingly unending conflicts, wars, hostilities, intolerance and violence, a
peaceful and calm world has become the mostcherished dream of the entire
humanity today.
According to Global Peace Index, over 13% of global GDP is spent on costs related
to violence. A world drifting away frompeace and into conflict has wreaked havoc
on global economy with the costs touching $14.3tn (£9.21tn) lastyear alone,
according to a reportin The Guardian.
Againstthis depressing backdrop, theyoung Omani aspirants’ pursuitof peace
and self-developmentthrough connecting with the Self assumes greater
significance.
A significant point to note here is that, the Self is not a limited, individual entity;
rather, as Fritjof Capra said in The Tao of Physics, it is the mostimportant element
of the Eastern world view, pointing to the interdependency and inseparability of
the multitude of forms, things and events, which are nothing but infinite
manifestations of a cosmic whole. Surprisingly, this ancient view stressing the
essential oneness of everything finds its strongestendorsementin modern
physics. Quoting Capra again, the bootstrap philosophy of modern physics
stresses themutual interrelation and self-consistency of all phenomena, and
rejects the idea of fixed, separate fundamental entities.
If wecan comprehend the basic oneness of everything and everyone, how can
there be even a modicum of violence or hatred in our thoughts, let alone actions,
asks Soraya Kodja, an enlightened being, who had been the Omani seekers’
mentor and guide throughoutthe retreat at Mount Abu.
“At times, life is fraughtwith stress, tension, conflicts, challenges and despair.
Fighting violence with violence won’thelp. There is a better way to address such
issues, and that is self-knowledgeattained through meditation. Meditation is a
way of understanding oneself, of cultivating and using positivequalities that are

3. dormantin us for the common good. Itresults in developing beneficial attitudes
and right responseto life’s varied challenges,” says Soraya.
A Syrian by birth and an interior designer by profession, Soraya has been living in
the Sultanate for nearly three decades. A perpetual spiritualpilgrim, she had been
an associateof the Rajyoga Centre in Lebanon long back, beforemoving in to the
Sultanate. “Knowing one’s Self is not a mean task; even a lifetime of seeking may
reveal only a small dimension of the Self… However, seeking self-knowledgeis a
highly rewarding undertaking. Society can be transformed into a better one only
by transforming individuals. A single enlightened, compassionate, calm person
can effect tremendous positive changes in several people,” shesays, and goes on
to quote Mahatma Gandhi: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
She continues: “Mind, by nature, is extrovert and a chronic chatterbox, unless one
makes conscious efforts to know one’s being, its stillness, purity and potential.
Every human being is endowed with great possibilities for progress and
development. However, wescatter away the divine energy in negative and
unwanted pursuits. Meditation is a way to retain and enhance the pristine inner
energy and to use the samefor the betterment of not only oneself, but the
community, the nation, and the whole world.”
“Justas the body needs food to sustain and evolve, our minds too need food, and
that food is called meditation. When thoughts subsideand stillness is
experienced, you are at peace with yourself. And then you feel the connection
with the divine, and your life becomes blissfuland content. Evil tendencies just
fade away…,” Soraya sounds blissful.
It’s all about justbeing oneself, for Khamis Said al Alawi, an international youth
trainer, and a member of the Omanigroup that made the journey to Mount Abu.
“Verily an indescribable experience,” he says aboutthe spiritual retreat, “The
place itself is filled with peace and serenity, love and compassion. Atthe retreat
we were taught advanced techniques of self-discovery by masters. I emerged fully
recharged, stress-freeand filled with an ocean of peace. The meditations and
discourses broughtabouta huge transformation in my personality… I can now

4. appreciate everything in my life, the big and the small, the significant and the
insignificant, the nature, the people….”
An earnestmeditator, he has been exploring the self for the pastfive years. His
days begin at four in the morning with deep meditation, in his house, at the beach
or any quiet place…. and the majestic beauty and purity of life reveals itself
before him. Interestingly his young college-going daughter too meditates daily.
“Contemplating on one’s core being, called as the soul, is important. It’s an
infinite sourceof positiveenergy and peace. Meditation helps you realise your
true potential. A meditative mind knows no hatred or violence, as we come to
know that all individual beings or souls are one and the same. Such a person’s
entire inner energy is available to undertakepositive, beneficial tasks that make
others, and oneself, happy,” Khamis says, echoing Fritjof Capra’s observations.
For Mahfoodha Rashid al Mashikari, who works atthe Sultanate’s Ministry of
Education, the trip to Mount Abu offered rareglimpses into an inner world of
peace, calm and compassion. “Your inner peace naturally spreads out into the
world around you, so it’s important to cultivate a mind that is peaceful and quiet
to ensure a harmonious and benevolent world order,” she said. “Mount Abu
offered the perfect setting to explore my inner world. Because of the
meditativeness of the environment, even the villagers there werequite peaceful,
selfless and helpful.”
After a series of meditation sessions, Mahfoodha could seethings in the proper
perspective. She experienced a deep feeling of being one with the nature, and
that no one is an outsider and everything is interconnected.
Coming back fromthe retreat at Mount Abu, realization dawned on her how
precious and blessed has been the Sultanate’s fabulous environment, which is
generally taken for granted… “The trees, the flowers, the wadis, the mountains,
the birds, the breeze, the sea and beaches…..all are nothing but an extension of
myself. How can I ever think of harming them,” she asks, again resonating with
Eastern mysticism.

5. Of course, sheis a regular meditator. “Meditation empowers you to take the right
decisions with a clear mind, as it busts tension and stress. Ithelped me organize
myself in a better way. And shehas big plans to sharethe benevolent aspects of
meditation with fellow beings. “I’m working on a proposalto include meditation
in school academics. If the ministry approves I will launch a pilot project in a
select schoolsoon,” shesays.
“My message to my friends is ‘Practice meditation as a daily routine.’ There are
severalverses in the holy Quran, as well as a number of hadiths that extoll the
virtues of self-reflection or meditation. It’s always better to learn the art of
meditation froma younger age,” shecommented.
According to Khadija al Mahrouqi, a self-developmenttrainer from Muscat, “At
Mount Abu, we meditated for half hour daily at the crack of dawn, at around 4
am, which was followed by various discourses on techniques and concepts all of
which helped us better connect with the divine power.”
“Itis worth noting that Islam, meaning the peace, urges believers to know and
reflect on oneself, and lead a peaceful life. Our prophets used to meditate, and by
meditating we can feel the presenceof god in our lives,” Khadija said.
“Meditation brings out the best in you; and one becomes aware of one’s
responsibilities and commitments. Justimagine a society where everyone
discharges their duties in a responsibleway, ever willing to help and supporteach
other…,” she noted, and didn’tforget to add, “Meditation is the key, no doubt.”
The seven enterprising Omanis who went to Mount Abu as self-seekers represent
a growing number of Omanis who subscribeto the self-development techniques
fromthe Rajyoga Centre for Self Development. For instance a group of 17 Omanis
attended a five-day retreat at the Rajyoga Oxford-London centrein June; while a
12-member Omaniteam went to Rajyoga Bahrain centre in February to
participate in an inner awakening program.
According to Sister Gayathri, the guiding light at the Rajyoga Centre for Self
Development-Muscat, the Centre has been quietly working to bring about a major
transformation among the people, especially the youths of the Sultanate over the

6. years, helping them know their inner potential and tap into the reservoir of
beneficial positive energy.
Significantly, all the courses, meditation retreats and self-developmentprograms
offered at Rajyoga Centre are absolutely free.
Rajyoga Centre has a youth leadership development programcalled Choose,
Change & Become. Last year more than 100 young Omanis learnt the spiritual
strategy of developing leadership and bringing about a positive change in their
communities through two such leadership retreats. The programis supported by
the National Youth Commission of Oman. According to Sister Gayathri, the youth
leadership program is designed to “bring young Omani leaders to the forefrontof
society by harnessing their inner potential and fostering leadership qualities for
the development of self and society.”
The next youth leadership retreat is tentatively scheduled for March 2016.
Rajyoga Centre’s subliminal efforts at social transformation through individual
transformation arewell appreciated in the Sultanate. Ithra CEO HH Sayyid Faisal
bin Turki al Said, a patron of the Choose, Change & Become program, in his
messageto the Youth Retreat said: “Programs focusing on developing inner
capacities as a means to empowering individuals to stay true to their values and
principles is something we are not quite familiar with. Rajyoga’s leadership
retreat provides such a rare opportunity.”
According to Rajyoga philosophy, everyonehas the right to connect with divinity
through proper meditation, which helps one to disconnect fromdamaging habits
of thoughts, feelings and reactions. A conscious, positiverelease of energy takes
place which improves the quality of one’s attitude, actions, and interactions with
others and the environment.
At the Rajyoga Centre, meditation is the means to transform self-awarenessinto
self–realization. Meditation leads to a mind that is still, and an intellect that is
blessed with amazing insights into the divine principles of harmony and love. In
particular Rajyoga meditation helps connect with the purestenergy and highest
consciousness.

7. After all, a crop of young and enthusiastic leaders and individuals well trained to
appreciate and establish the peace, and equipped with the right skills and
techniques to unravelhidden individual potential to achieve growth and
development is the best bet to script a different world order that is free of hatred
and violence.
For many the inner journey is yet to begin; for others the journey is on. But once
you commence this lone journey, thereis no coming back. You keep moving
deeper and deeper into yourself, untilyou become one with “others”.