The Genesis of Yogoda ①

Having experienced our fateful encounter with Niraamaya, I would now like to unfold the narrative behind the actual birth and establishment of "Yogoda LLC."

After leaving the Niraamaya headquarters, we visited Mumbai as the final destination of our Indian journey. The very last place we set foot in was the "Global Pagoda," where a colossal, radiant golden dome pierces the sky.

Meditating in that sacred space, enveloped in a profound silence and immutable peace, our journey through India came to its quiet closing. Wandering through various regions of Asia, touching its living spirituality with our own skin, and spending those dedicated days inside the ashram became a monumental, life-altering turning point for my wife and me.

At the ashram where we stayed, there was a Swamiji (venerated master) who had endured twenty years of rigorous ascetic training in the profound heights of the Himalayas. A Swamiji is a spiritual master who imparts sacred teachings within Indian temples and ashrams. While the term shares similarities with "teacher" or "monk," a Swamiji is far more than a mere instructor. They embody the life of a true renunciate, living completely free from worldly possessions. While bestowing timeless wisdom upon the people, they serve as a living embodiment of the continuous pursuit of ultimate Truth. He possessed a fiercely grounded, unshakeable core, yet simultaneously exuded a warm, enveloping gentleness and a playful wit that would effortlessly make everyone laugh. Driven by an insatiable curiosity to absorb even a fraction of his wisdom, I attended his daily lectures with a heart full of pure excitement.

At the ashram, there was a beautiful daily ritual where everyone would gather at a pavilion during tea time. Students from every corner of the globe would converse in English, while wild monkeys residing around the ashram grounds would occasionally peek in—it was a space where time flowed both serenely and vibrantly.

Swamiji always sat at the very center of this circle, weaving tales of his own lived experiences and answering the spontaneous questions of the students. Captivated by his presence, my wife and I would naturally rain questions upon him. We asked about the intricate inner workings of managing an ashram, and about his own harrowing, awe-inspiring experiences in the isolated Himalayas... That fleeting 30-minute tea time beneath the pavilion quickly became one of the most anticipated moments of our daily life.

Then came a specific afternoon. As we were conversing with Swamiji, a new student wandered over and joined our circle. Just as we were about to exchange introductions with this newcomer, Swamiji suddenly introduced us with these exact words: "They are the ones who are going to build an ashram in Japan."

It was spoken with such effortless nonchalance that one could have easily missed its weight in the moment. Yet later, when my wife and I were finally alone, those words began to reverberate deeply within our consciousness, and we looked at each other in silent recognition. Living within the sublime harmony of the ashram, the whisper of a vision—"When we return to Japan, we want to manifest an environment just like this"—had been growing stronger inside us day by day.

On our voyage back from India, we reflected upon the breathtaking vistas, the exquisite flavors, and the beautiful souls we had encountered across Asia. Amidst all those treasures, two distinct crystallizations remained—things we knew we had to carry back to Japan and breathe into physical form.

The first was "to deliver Niraamaya’s organic cotton yoga mats to Japan." The second was "the prophecy bestowed upon us by Swamiji: to build an ashram."

With these twin visions burning in our hearts, we crossed the oceans and finally returned to the land where we dwell—Hase, Ina City, Nagano Prefecture.