August 22, 2026
Finally, after months of heatwaves and extreme droughts there was rain. The thirsty soil absorbed the moisture avidly. Plants raised their tired leaves and grasses started to sprout again on the Naarden estate where the ITC is situated, but we all know it is not enough to slake the soil’s thirst. It also rained inside Besant Hall. Ricardo Lindemann PhD poured his wisdom into our thirsty souls during the very first School of the Wisdom Naarden (SOWN).
It all started on Monday afternoon, when Erica Georgiadis, director of SOWN, opened the week with a short history of the School of the Wisdom, founded in Adyar. Some thirty odd people from all over the world attended and the evening was spent getting (re)acquainted.
For three days Ricardo took us on a journey through only eight of Patanjali’s sutras. From chapter 1: 32 to 39. As there are 202 sutras, it only shows that there is a lot more behind each sutra than meets the eye. He not only wrote his thesis on the Yoga-Sutras of Patanjali, but he is also very well versed in comparative philosophies. He regularly dived into his ample suit pockets to retrieve either a clove to soften his voice, or Krishnamurti’s At the feet of the Master, or Occult chemistry, to elaborate a point. He gave humorous examples from his everyday life, explained and digressed but then there was Erica asking pointed questions and reminding him of the time. Each session ended with Q&A. Thursday afternoon there was a workshop to discuss the eight techniques he had explained, in groups.
In the evenings we had some lighter material to digest. A movie from 1979: Being there. A silent walk around the power spots on the estate, a Tai Chi lesson (thank you Wei-Wei) and a documentary on re-incarnation.
During these three intensive days Ricardo showed us eight techniques (he called them eight limbs) to overcome the obstacles we encounter that hinder us to rein in our outwardly orientated mind. It is for us to pick one or more techniques and practice this in yoga so we will be able to start meditating on Patanjali’s sutras from chapter two.
Not only was the mental food we received during the day nourishing, but our bodies were also treated to the most delicious vegan meals.
Thank you, Tim Boyd, for initiating the SOWN, thank you Erica for organizing it, thank you Ricardo for the lectures and thank you ITC for the warm welcome we received. May this mental rain nourish our thirst for insight of Self-Knowledge.
Margreet Mantel
