Marco’s purpose in life is to heal, and that purpose led him to discover Indic Knowledge Systems and Veda recitation.
By Sophia Ann French
Marco Escareal may have been born in the Philippines, but he feels that in his past life, he was Indian, and that informed his love for India and Indian culture in his present life. Being a healer was an early part of Marco’s life, and he started his journey by studying to become a doctor. Marco is a qualified Physician, an Āyurveda Life Consultant and a Veda Recitation Teacher. “I’ve been working in private organisations related to health and wellness. I’ve always looked at myself as a healer and studied to become a physician. When the pandemic hit, I realised people needed to be healthy in a holistic way. This is when I discovered Āyurveda.
I just saw it online and researched to understand what this is all about. I signed up for courses with Dr David Frawley. Along the way, I discovered scriptures and the Bhagavad Gīta. The Gīta is what I had been looking for my entire life in terms of spirituality. That’s when I started looking for a teacher and guidance, and found Christopher Wallis (scholar-practitioner of Classical Tantra), so I studied with him for some time and felt inclined towards Kashmir Śaivism — I fell in love with Lord Śiva. This inspired me to learn the Rudram, and I found Veda Studies and Shantala when I was looking for a teacher with whom I could study Rudram,” says Marco.
The Veda Effect
Marco discovered Āyurveda around five years ago and has been exploring Indic Knowledge Systems since. I asked him how Veda recitation enhanced his understanding of Indic Knowledge Systems and if he felt any palpable benefits of Veda recitation. “It has impacted my mental health the most. I have been stressed my entire life and was feeling lost and helpless. When I started reading about Āyurveda, Tantra…and when I recite Veda, I feel a deep sense of peace within me. Reciting the Veda is a way to express my love for the divine. Earlier, I didn’t know how to express myself to the divine, but these mantras and the deities we address enable me to express myself to the divine. I have a deity for each day, and that is the reason why I keep learning from Shantala,” explains Marco. He was even able to adapt to Sanskrit phonetics with ease, as 20% of Filipino words have their roots in Sanskrit. “We have a long history with India, and around 20% of Filipino words are of Sanskrit origin. So I didn’t struggle too much with the sounds, but having said that, there are more complexities to Sanskrit, so Filipino is like a hyper-simplified form. What was more challenging for me was not to sing (laughs). Our language is very flow-y so I sounded like I was singing (laughs).”
Indica Veda Studies Teacher Training Programme
“It was heaven!” says Marco. “I didn’t even imagine that I would fall in love with this ancient tradition and then be a part of this teacher training. I couldn’t join many of the live classes because of the time difference, but I was committed to completing the course. I also love all the theory we learn in the Teacher Training, and the focus on the Sanskrit meanings. I feel that my devotion increases when I know what I’m reciting in Sanskrit.”
Bhārata Ma
I started this interview alluding the Marco’s past life in India, and the Indophile’s entire face lit up when I asked him what India meant to him. “Bhārata Ma. I look at her as a mother. Christopher Wallis used to jokingly tell me, ‘you likely have a past life or a set of past lives in India, but for some reason, you were born in the Philippines in this life. But, you’re trying to claw your way back.’ That’s exactly how I feel,” says Marco. His understanding of spirituality comes from Indic systems, and he feels, “Spirituality is being one with the divine. We already are divine, but how do we experience the divine within us? For me, this experience comes from studying Advaita Vedānta, Tantra and now, reciting Veda. These practices help me to remember and solidify my knowledge that the divine is within me.”
Words of Advice
“Veda recitation is not for the faint-hearted,” laughs Marco. It requires practice, commitment and effort, and most students and teachers from the Veda Studies community will agree. “My friends think I’m crazy. (laughs). But seriously, I think one needs to be beckoned to recite Veda. In my case, it was my way to express to the divine. My strong urge to study Rudram led me to find a teacher. I would suggest that if you are inclined to it, study the Foundation Course to begin. I know once you start, you’re not going to stop.”
Get in touch with Marco at [email protected]