Letter from B.K.S. Iyengar to Manouso for his 50th Birthday

"It is kind of you to have asked me that you are all so happy to celebrate the fifty-first birthday...(Mark:"Fiftieth") Fiftieth, but it is, Manouso is completing his fifty years so it is called (Mark:  "Yes") fiftieth birthday.

And it is a good gesture from all students to think in having a special program on this occasion.  He's no doubt not only a very good teacher but an adorable person who goes out of his way to help people when they are in need.

I think you are all fortunate to have yoga teachers like Manouso, who expresses compassion and love and goes beyond his capacity to help those who need his help, for betterment of health and happiness.  Since I've known him, I knew that he would be a wonderful teacher who will be liked by one and all, as time grows, and he has proved that what I had in my mind has become a fact now.  While he has served the brothers and sisters of America for very many years and the most important thing-that he considers all his students as his family members which is really a rare thing to see these days, particularly in the western countries-that unity.

I am proud of him and I'm sure you should be all proud of having such a wonderful teacher around you all.  Only I wish that he caries the message of yoga with a double vigor, as after fifty years they say the man matures more.  I hope the wisdom dawns more on him and this dawning of wisdom may help you all to learn yoga at a faster speed than what you are achieving up to now.  And your love with affection and gratitude.  (Mark:  "Thank you, Guruji")

I wish him all, and hope he also celebrates his golden jubilee after twenty five years or so and maintains the same spirit of human affection.

God Bless you and God Bless him"

--recorded 2001 by Mark Harelik at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune, India