19. Jk Jaganathan
19. Jk Jaganathan. JK started coming to The Samarya Center, probably for the primary series class, and ended up being on our board of directors, along with Vester Marshall, Nancy Figatner, James Hayden and others, but Vester and JK would often roll up in JK's Mercedes, SLK, with the Seahawks plates, which Sasha always took for his own, seeing as it had the same initials and all. Those were some very productive board days, and JK was really involved, suggesting and hosting movie nights, bringing financial reports to our meetings, and helping us to get some amazing fundraising donations - like a private tour of Bill Gates' home and then meeting Mr. Gates in his library. JK gave lots of sound financial advice, and showed so much dedication and passion, even briefly considering funding a second Samarya in Portland, before Unfold Yoga Studio was born.JK also came on our Samarya Yoga teacher training, and ended up teaching at the studio. His interest was, in part, bringing Sanskrit conversation back, and he would sometimes teach a primary series class all in Sanskrit.I had already known JK for many years when he invited me to join him in leading a tour to his beloved homeland of India. It was a dream of his to show off his country and his culture, and a dream of mine to visit India with someone who was born and raised there. We agreed to put together our first trip as Wander, Wonder, Wellness - an India pilgrimage in 2013 and traveled through the south of India for two weeks that winter. It was on that first trip that I really saw another aspect of JK, well, really one I had seen before but so amplified as it seemed on that trip, in that far away place. That is when I really first saw the deep tenderness that JK showed for his country and his fellow human, as well as the dedication to, and fruits of, his committed spiritual practice. He was so generous with all of us in sharing the customs of his country and so protective of the group in terms of any of our feelings of vulnerability within the experience. He could also be quietly fierce in his ability to awaken people in the times when we were being whiny or impatient, to remind us all of both the poverty and forbearance all around us, and that we had the ability to quiet our minds and be at peace in any moment.JK and I returned two years later, leading our second group, and I saw more of his kindness and generosity, his wealth of knowledge, and his heartfelt desire to share his country. I have relied on Jk many times over the years for information about India's culture and history, for questions about Sanskrit, Vedanta and mythology, and to reassure me when I become overwhelmed or anxious about my place in all of this spirituality, my "right" to be a teacher.But more than anything, JK specifically showed up on my list of influences because JK brought me to India, and brought me to an understanding and depth of experience that I don't know I could have found any other way. I hope to return to India with Jk (he can't make our 2017 trip), because I have fallen in love with his country, just like he intended. I know that my first experiences in India, and my ability to be at ease and fully immersed, were greatly informed by the heart and mind of my beloved friend. And in fact, India is now in my heart, and in my mind. Thank you for that, Jk.