Cafe Kuti is an area of the site where anyone who knew Swamiji and Angelika can share memories, stories, photos, poetry or art.
In this interview Helen and David speak about why this section of the site is important, and the origin of the name.
H: What is the point of Cafe Kuti?
D: From the moment we started talking about this website, I felt it was important that the site wasn’t completely serious.
There’s a lot of material here to read and listen to for anyone who wants to learn about yoga from a master. But Swamiji always spoke about how in everything there are the two parts.
Cafe Kuti is the part of the site where we can share personal stories and moments that weren’t necessarily about being taught, but about the love and warmth we experienced and the people we came to know. They’re both part of the experience.
So for example, this is the place where we can tell stories like the time during monsoon when Swamiji called me over to see the frog that was living in his desk. Or to share a set of pictures like these of our son Ben’s first meeting with Swamiji. Or to tell the story about the time he sent us to walk through the cow shed with bare feet!
They’re just personal stories and they may or may not hold any great life lessons. But I think those stories can throw light on the experience and the feeling of being around Swamiji and Angelika, and I think that’s valuable.
H: You’re going to have to explain the name Cafe Kuti.
D: I’m probably a bit different from the other people involved with Swamiji. I never really went to Kaivalyadhama to study yoga. I was the classic husband, getting dragged along by my wife.
I did join in with asana classes every day, and I did learn some techniques that have helped me long term with back pain, and I made good friends with people like Vivek (Tiwari, yoga teacher) and some of the students. But that first trip especially, I felt pretty out of place.
I used to go to the kuti for morning puja and sit there wondering what the deal was with everybody putting their fingers on their noses!
It was our friend Sharon who came up with the phrase “Cafe Kuti”. This was back in 2005. We were finding the ashram food pretty hard to stomach. The diet was restricted to say the least – it was before they gave you warm milk and jaggery with breakfast.
The little ration shop in the middle of the campus never seemed to be open, and it was raining 22 hours a day so the road out of campus was knee deep in water. We were basically stranded on an island.
So every morning we would go up for puja, and afterwards sit down next to Swamiji’s table, and Shyam or Madhu would make the most beautiful hot and sweet chai.
H: I couldn’t drink it…
D: But you never say no to a cup of tea, so guess who got the second cup!
Once we figured out Swamiji’s chai schedule I used to time my visits around it. The mid morning session, and the 3pm. They were the caffeine and sugar kick I needed to get through the day.
Slowly but surely, and in a way I could never have expected, tea became a vehicle for spiritual counselling.
These sessions at “Cafe Kuti” were my gateway drug to my whole experience of Swamiji and what I had to learn from him.
High level spiritual insights wrapped in a layer of warmth and sweetness. Just like the way he taught me, with a grin always threatening to break out across his face!
If you have stories, memories, photographs or any other creative work to share from your time with Swamiji or Angelika we would love to read and share them. There is no minimum or maximum length so feel free to express yourself!
For details about how to send in material please read Contributor Guidelines.