To me, writing is synonymous with yoga as both denote the value of now – Interview with Ben Rakidzija

Ben Rakidzija is a writer, philosopher and a yoga teacher. He frequently travels to different countries such as Costa Rica, Germany, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland and Croatia to conduct workshops and private yoga lessons to many enthusiasts. His most famous sessions are YogaHolidays that happen during summers and winters. Although he has been teaching since 2007, he considers himself still a constant learner because he believes each session brings out new experiences and lessons for him through his students. 

Yet, yoga was not his first love. Born in Ludwigsburg, Ben wanted to become a writer from the very beginning of his career. But for that to achieve, he had to be much more aware and coherent. In this pursuit of a clear mind and able body, he was drawn towards yoga and meditation where he found the path and purpose. He writes poetry and short books and has already published 2 books in German – Prošelnikov &  Andere Erzählungen and Briefe aus meinem Garten. His new book, “Das Buch der kleinen Wahrheiten” is coming out in June 2020 and Vivamost wanted to learn this effusive writer/yoga teacher’s journey into truth, spiritualism and more. 

Vivamost: Explain to us your journey from a yoga teacher to a writer. What made you a writer? Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice? 

Ben Rakidzija: Actually both ways I can’t decide. I studied Philosophy and knew early on that I wanna become a writer. Later, after finishing university, I got in contact with a Zen Master and practised for many years Yoga, in a remote place. The decision to become a Yoga teacher was not my own decision. I felt, after my experiences in Meditation and Yoga, I must give back what I experienced. It was natural that I can do it only as a Yoga teacher. One day, while in a monastic garden I thought: “Could I be both: Writer and Yoga teacher?“ Why not! Meditation is not so much about being calm in your mind; it`s about being present in this moment. Writing, a good form of writing, is the practice of being present. Therefore, to me, there is no difference between writing and teaching or practising Yoga.

V: Tell us about your books? And, why are they necessary in our current world? 

BR: I will publish in June 2020 a collection of 500 aphorisms I wrote when I lived in Sibenik/ Croatia, in the year 2012. It took 8 years until a publisher recognized the book. The book is in the tradition of other western aphorism-books; like the “Maximes” of La Rochefaucauld or the early sentences (“Sententiae“) of Publilius Syrus. Also here I must say: I didn`t decide it. It happened that over a period of days those sentences came out of me. Short sentences, not complicated to read or understand; about daily life and, what germans call “Lebenswelt“. You can use the aphorisms each day; it might give you a little inspiration, a feeling of security, maybe just an entertainment since some aphorisms come with a good sense of humour. Especially in these days, when times are insecure, humour and warm-heartedness are good values to spread.  The other books I wrote (three novels, many short stories, poems …) are still in my drawer waiting to be explored. Maybe this will take another 8 years (Laughs). But no matter what, I keep on writing and at the moment I am working on my fourth novel.

V: What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?

BR: The goal of the writing process was to be present in the moment. Another goal was to open the hearts of my readers with simple truths of life; and a third one was: To create a book that has the chance to last over a hundred years. Too many books we forget after reading. This book, I hope, will go in a dialogue with people who are not born yet. Time will decide whether this last goal can be achieved. It`s not on me but on the energy of life.

V: Who are your first readers and critics? How have they helped you in making The book of Little Truths to its present state? 

BR: Indeed, you can`t make a book just by yourself. My first readers were my Professor of Philosophy, Mr Andreas Luckner; also my father (who died some years ago) and Zen Master Paul Shepherd among others. Recently I had a nice conversation with my editor of Karl Rauch publishing house (the publishing house of “The little prince“), Mr Alexander Löwen. Because of him, I found sentences in the book that I had to change, for a good reason and to make them stronger. If you travel with your book in another century, your book must have light baggage. Too many books we see today in bookstores have 500 pages and more. The books, unfortunately, will be soon forgotten. In a way, all people I have met, the critics, helped me to make my book lighter, easier to read; putting off all the things from my baggage that are not necessary. But of course, a book is a continuous process. If I`m still alive in ten years, I will edit the book again to make it even lighter for the present and the future readers.

V: Tell us about your quarantine experience and has it any impact on your spiritual journey?

BR: I have been teaching Yoga in Arosa/ Switzerland when Corona started. My Yoga-weeks in Austria and Italy were cancelled, from April to June. Now we must see how things will develop. As a practitioner of Zazen or Zen Meditation, I`m used to be alone with myself so there was not a big change in my routine. Usually I visit each year a Buddhist monastery for a 5 or 7 days at Sesshin. This year it`s not possible. So I did a little digital session with Ryushin Paul Haller, six days long, over the last week. A new form of practice which helped to stay in present and meeting a fine online community.

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