Early Life.
Sajana Godar was born in the small City of Pokhara, Nepal in 1980. Her parents, Goma and Devendra, were hard working, and operated a number of small businesses in the area, including a photography studio, and a restaurant named Lily’s. They had already suffered 5 miscarriages before Sajana was born, and so they rejoiced at her arrival. Her name means “loved one”. In those days, Pokhara was mostly jungle, with some humble development beginning due to tourism around the beautiful Fewa lake. After Sajana was born, Goma went on to birth 4 more children. These 5 children and the small town of Pokhara grew together, and developed quickly. Many foreign tourists would pass through the restaurant, a few of which became close family friends who would time to time stay with the family. In this way, the Godars became aware of other cultures, foreign foods, and a wide world full of unique people.
Mother and daughter
A young Sajana
A new existance begins
Goma, Devendra, and Sajana in front of the Lily Restaurant, lakeside 1983
Baby Sajana
The five Godar children
Sajana on her wedding day
Awakening.
As a child, Sajana was known to be quiet, friendly, and keen on cleaning. She remembers that people would often come to her and share their problems, and she would listen quietly. She had many friends and school and remembers having positive relationships with all. She describes her childhood as “basically painless”, “I don’t remember even crying.” Her parents had created a unconditional environment of love, and the siblings all seemed to match, sharing and caring each other. When Sajana turned 17, her family began the process of getting her married. After finding a suitable proposal, she was married. Just 3 days after her marriage however, she fell ill. She remembers a “sensation of being on fire”. For about a month, she was in and out of consciousness as her family took her to a plethora of doctors and healers - all unable to recognize the problem or the solution. Ultimately her relatives convened for what the doctor’s said was likely to be her last day. On this day Sajana remembers lying in bed in a room of 40-50 people, and feeling strongly inside a voice saying “you are not going to die!”. This voice told her that her purpose is to serve others, and she has lots of karma to do before her life is over. She remembers seeing a vast and white light, which vividly took over her field of vision, and while looking around at others was not able to recognize distinct faces, seeing Buddha after Buddha after Buddha in each figure. She understood at that moment, that separation is an illusion, that all beings are part of a oneness which she calls love. Universal Love. This love, she says, is the very essence and building block of the Universe.
When she was fit enough be discharged from the hospital, the transformations continued on. She told her siblings “I want to meditate.” And the five of them sat together on the floor of her room. She nor any member of her family had ever meditated before, nor had been taught the meaning or the practice of meditation. During this moment she experienced a man coming to her, and smilingly telling her “I am your guru”. His face also, was totally unknown to her at the time, and only later after seeing a photograph in a local shop did she understand that it was Dalai Lama who she had seen. Other transmissions continued to come to her in the following months. While walking across the city she crossed the river, and upon crossing one river she lost her ability to speak Nepali language, but instead found herself fluent in a unfamiliar dialect which she later discovered was Sanskrit. Only after a handful of hours did she begin to remember Nepali language. As word spread in Pokhara of her story, many people came to see her, study her, and test her. Scholars came are marveled at her unprecedented knowledge of Hindu scriptures and rituals. Normally one learns only the rituals of their particular caste, or sect, but she was accustomed to all the Hindu and Buddhist rituals with pinpoint precision. She also discovered an innate knowledge of Tibetan dialect. She recalls a trip her family took to a Monastery, which to her felt like home, and her heart was telling her to just stay there. For some context, these transitions all took place at the same time as she was also transitioning into her husbands home and learning the duties of being a house maker. After an arranged marriage, it’s typical in her caste that the woman goes to live in the husband’s family’s house. So as her spiritual life began, so did her life as a housewife, with the multiple responsibilities of cooking and cleaning. Luckily, she has a understanding and compassionate husband who encouraged her healing work, and also participated heavily in creating and facilitating the healing environment.
Sajana with her brother
Sajana in prayer
Sajana in her chair
Sajana with Lama and disciple
Sajana with her brother
Sajana in Lama dress
The Birth of Non-Separation.
Later on she would be taken to Kathmandu for an audience in the Kagyupa lineage, where she was again tested in a multitude of ways, specific to that lineage for vetting out a real Rinpoche, which translates to mean “precious reincarnated one”. She was certified as a Rinpoche by the Kagyupa priests, and offered to live in the Monestary as a lama. However at this moment, she felt that she didn’t want to don the robes of any lineage as it might create separation to others. She so was clear in her conviction of pervading oneness beneath all of our layers, and she didn’t want anyone to feel that this oneness was in anyway “beyond”, or external, or requiring of “spiritual” practice. As she began to fulfill her societal duties as a woman, she also began her life’s purpose of serving and healing. Lines would form from early morning until midnight which wrapped around the block. People from the whole of Pokhara valley and beyond would travel to seek time with her, and gain relief from their ailments, ill luck, or spiritual disturbances. Her family describe her during this period as being sort of “consumed” with her healing work. She was so busy with each day’s cue, that she would often skip drinking water or eating any food until the day was finished. Working out of a small room at the top of a house, and making use of fire frequently in her rituals, she breathed in so much smoke that the doctor’s told her it was the equivalent of smoking 4 packs of cigarettes a day, and urged her to stop. Even so she carried on healing, birthing three children, and finishing her masters in university. Her, her husband, and her family had a unique method of healing. They would allow the patient to live with them together in their home. Their treatment would be going on in the background, which Sajana was also busy meeting new patients, and while her husband was also busy teaching in university. Together with her siblings, they healed many this way. The cases which they healed range greatly in ailment, and stretch to the most extreme cases of mental illness. Patients who were going to be dropped in the mental hospital, were taken in, and after 3 months were able to rejoin society, raises families, and flourish. This was the furnace of her method of unconditional love, in which she creates a suitable environment for the patient, where they are accepted in their current state and cared for. Sajana says she is always able to see the various layers of disturbance or trauma, and knows to the day how long it will take them to build a foundation of healing, and be able to live on their own again. The rituals she performs depend on the patient, and solely what is needed for them, based on their temperament.
Sajana with new born Shrina
Holi with the children
21 Taras Temple, Ulleri
Ritual for new baby
Christmas with the children
Sajana and Jorn
Great Mother.
In 2010, a german traveler named Jorn heard of her and came to visit. He would become a close friend to the family, and begin spreading news of her beyond Nepal, to Europe and America, where she would later travel, giving talks and hosting workshops, sharing what she has seen, felt, and learned since her transformation at age 17. Her teachings rest on a foundation of unconditional love, non-separation, and the healing power of nature. She sees the living essence of nature, and says that “they” are “non judgmental compassionate beings” who offer unconditional love to everyone. She also stresses the importance of doing karma - or taking action in life. From healing countless cases personally, she knows how essential it is that the person themself take up duties, responsibilities, and healthy routines in order to overcome their ailments. In 2013, herself Jorn and her husband Shiva, founded a children home in Pokhara. They took in 13 children from the street and began their rehabilitation. Sajana said that for the first two years, they allowed the kids to eat endlessly. Whatever was their desire, she didn’t halt them from eating as much as they wanted, so they could feel what an unconditional environment and love was. Jorn founded a non-profit in Germany to support the Children home financially, and Shiva managed everything on the ground in Pokhara, giving them schooling, and domestic training, with an all-around foundational base. Now the home has successfully rehabilitated 26 children, some have gone off to marry and start families, some have relocated abroad, some are living and working in Pokhara, all healthy, skillful, and multitalented.