Who Has Robbed The Swami's Honey?

An episode in the life of Swami Chidananda - Yogi extraordinaire.

- Harry Sequiera

The year is 1976.

Place - Raoche area (where the super rich Arabs lived), of Beirut, a stronghold of the Rightists. Situation is grim. Civil war has devastated Beirut in particular, and Lebanon in general. My Centre de Yoga, (now in the Leftists hand), is shattered by a direct missile hit. Yoga teacher Shantha has requested me to take care of her Sivananda Centre in the Raoche area. I am alone in the Centre. Swami Chidananda was to come down in a week’s time for his talks on the Yoga Sutra in this centre.

There is no food, all grocery shops are shattered and closed. The street vendors are frightened to their wits, what with bombs falling helter skelter all over the place. Water is scarce. Some canned food is available, unfortunately it was all food for dogs and cats, but starving people still ate it. There is nothing to eat in the centre. There was one honey bottle but I am asked not to touch it. I break my promise and have a spoonful of honey, just to survive the intense hunger.