Well..... what an amazing experience. Life in the ashram was so peaceful, on the outside. lol
Which allowed for being able to witness all that would come up inside when triggered by situations encountered there. I met lots of great people and totally felt at home there and here in India in general. I was initiated into Satyananda Yoga as Maha Yogi. Meaning that, I have the potential in this lifetime to overcome the ego and duality, achieving enlightenment. Lots of work. Also the swami gave me the Sadhu sadhana, which intails traveling india and learning as I go. Renouncing and practicing as i go. I'm now in Varanasi in a beautiful guest house and will be putting into practice all I learned while in the ashram. It's so hard to document all that happens, you walk out the door and a new adventure begins. I love it here and don't want to leave. I've found my calling and my place in this life and am willing to give up all that doesn't fit with the goal.
Namo Narayan.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
So much adventure...
in such a little time so far.
first day in Mumbai, everyone is friendly and says hello on the street and just walk up and shake hand in passing. wow. So as I'm walking down the street I start talking to a young man about whatever and he decides to have me come home to meet his 3 brothers, grandmother and mom. He lives down a narrow busy little twisty and turny street lined with homes and businesses. It's an industrial area. kids, adults, animals, cars, bikes, trash , alters etc. so busy. His home is no bigger than my bachelor back home, and his whole family lives there. They were so hospitable, they treat guests like gods and roll out the best food to impress. considering they are pretty poor, that was very impressive. I've made new friends:)
The next day, totally different energy. I ran into a couple of rude people, got scratched by a child who was begging because I wouldn't give money. My friends baby pissed on me and then by the store a bird shit on me. Totally different energy that day. lol
Evening rolls around and I take a motorized rickshaw an hour through busy mumbai to train station. Only to get there to find my train is delayed by 8 hours:( Richshaw drivers trying to get me to take a ride to hotel, they say its too dangerous to stay there for so long at night. So driver takes me back across town to where I started, and says not to pay him till he comes back to pick me up and take me to the train station again at 2 am. When I thought he said he would arrive. Time comes, he's not there. I panick and take another rickshaw to train station. little over 1/4 of the way there, we stop for my driver to get directions from guys on corner. My driver calls and I can't understand him on the phone and I told him I left and was heading to train station, and hang up. Only to have the police start questioning me about whats going on, I tell them, its ok, I carry on. My new driver had decided he wasn't going to take me any further( I should have waited for the first one I guess) so he got me to jump on the back of a motorcycle that was going in that direction, CRAZY!!! So ya, thats what I do. He takes me almost all the way there, then says he can't go any further and stops and flags down another richshaw for me to jump into. Holy hot potato!! lol. Get to station, its dark and sketchy. My driver tries to rip me off, it doesn't work. I go into station and want to go take a piss, and an old man inside taking money from people grabs my hand and starts kissing it. While another couple of guys start talking to me about the driver I had earlier and said I have to settle up with him, we talk about this more as we are pissing beside each other. We finish and walk back out to parking lot, I meet my first driver and 5 of his friends( other drivers) We talk about it and realise it was a big misunderstanding and I pay him any ways. They thinks its honorable, they buy me tea and ask me to come waste my time with them while I wait for train. They take me over to hang with the other drivers off on the far edge of parking lot. They are sitting in a circle on the ground smoking and gambling ask me to join. I decline and chat instead. Time comes to catch train, they walk me there and carry my back pack, while making fun of me in hindi. They asked if I minded, and said no, boys will be boys. lol. They get me to my train and give me there phone numbers so I can call them when I get back to mumbai. They are my new personal drivers.
After 32 hours on a train, I'm in Kolkata now. I've met with my friends and we leave for the ashram at 6 am. I'm so tired... but this is the last time I can update for the next 16 days. The story is in the shortest form I can get it. Will give more deets in person:)
Not even here a week yet and sooooo much has happened.
Love from Mother India.
xoxoxoxoxox
first day in Mumbai, everyone is friendly and says hello on the street and just walk up and shake hand in passing. wow. So as I'm walking down the street I start talking to a young man about whatever and he decides to have me come home to meet his 3 brothers, grandmother and mom. He lives down a narrow busy little twisty and turny street lined with homes and businesses. It's an industrial area. kids, adults, animals, cars, bikes, trash , alters etc. so busy. His home is no bigger than my bachelor back home, and his whole family lives there. They were so hospitable, they treat guests like gods and roll out the best food to impress. considering they are pretty poor, that was very impressive. I've made new friends:)
The next day, totally different energy. I ran into a couple of rude people, got scratched by a child who was begging because I wouldn't give money. My friends baby pissed on me and then by the store a bird shit on me. Totally different energy that day. lol
Evening rolls around and I take a motorized rickshaw an hour through busy mumbai to train station. Only to get there to find my train is delayed by 8 hours:( Richshaw drivers trying to get me to take a ride to hotel, they say its too dangerous to stay there for so long at night. So driver takes me back across town to where I started, and says not to pay him till he comes back to pick me up and take me to the train station again at 2 am. When I thought he said he would arrive. Time comes, he's not there. I panick and take another rickshaw to train station. little over 1/4 of the way there, we stop for my driver to get directions from guys on corner. My driver calls and I can't understand him on the phone and I told him I left and was heading to train station, and hang up. Only to have the police start questioning me about whats going on, I tell them, its ok, I carry on. My new driver had decided he wasn't going to take me any further( I should have waited for the first one I guess) so he got me to jump on the back of a motorcycle that was going in that direction, CRAZY!!! So ya, thats what I do. He takes me almost all the way there, then says he can't go any further and stops and flags down another richshaw for me to jump into. Holy hot potato!! lol. Get to station, its dark and sketchy. My driver tries to rip me off, it doesn't work. I go into station and want to go take a piss, and an old man inside taking money from people grabs my hand and starts kissing it. While another couple of guys start talking to me about the driver I had earlier and said I have to settle up with him, we talk about this more as we are pissing beside each other. We finish and walk back out to parking lot, I meet my first driver and 5 of his friends( other drivers) We talk about it and realise it was a big misunderstanding and I pay him any ways. They thinks its honorable, they buy me tea and ask me to come waste my time with them while I wait for train. They take me over to hang with the other drivers off on the far edge of parking lot. They are sitting in a circle on the ground smoking and gambling ask me to join. I decline and chat instead. Time comes to catch train, they walk me there and carry my back pack, while making fun of me in hindi. They asked if I minded, and said no, boys will be boys. lol. They get me to my train and give me there phone numbers so I can call them when I get back to mumbai. They are my new personal drivers.
After 32 hours on a train, I'm in Kolkata now. I've met with my friends and we leave for the ashram at 6 am. I'm so tired... but this is the last time I can update for the next 16 days. The story is in the shortest form I can get it. Will give more deets in person:)
Not even here a week yet and sooooo much has happened.
Love from Mother India.
xoxoxoxoxox
Friday, October 15, 2010
India is Burning Man on steroids!!
Over 10,000 kms and 40 = hours of travel, I made it to Mumbai safe and sound. I love it here!!!! It has it challenges that I will get used to for sure. It's mostly to do with the dispensing of money, what a trip.
Today is my first real day here, I was walking down the street and most everyone wants to smile and make eye contact. I feel so comfortable here. I met a lovely young man who took me home to meet his mom, grandmother and 3 brothers. AMAZING, peoples hospitality is second to none. They treat you like your a god and share tons of food with you. They all live in a flat smaller than my bachelor pad. The homes are side by side and on real narrow streets. All the women were out this morning washing clothes on the street together. They are such a tight knit community!! I'm envious for sure. I love it here, it feels like home.
I think India has plans of its own for people who visit, it has it's own time schedule. My driver this morning had me sit and wait while he had tea and then took me back to my hotel, lol!!
I've now arrived at the home of friends from the west and meeting their new baby, sooooo cute!!
Thats it for now, I'm learning lessons on service and humility left, right and center. I'm tired must go rest for a bit.
Love from the home land, xoxoxox
Monday, October 4, 2010
Non-attachment
Well, its less than 10 days till departure and the lessons are already beginning. My IMAC G5 and Iphone both died, leaving me feeling really angry, disconnected, powerless and out of control. Learning to let go is difficult for me, I have a lot of defense mechanisms protecting my soft heart.
I've had a chance to reflect tonight and look at things differently, and have realized that maybe the ashram life will be able to contain all that I am. So that I may be able to let down my defenses and truly be. An absolute surrender to something greater than me. I love to be apart of a community and serving, having a place and a reason for being. Supported and nurtured to grow,heal and expand. Having faith in the outcome and acceptance of the journey. I will be ok, I don't need to fight anymore, and I will open my heart.
I've had a chance to reflect tonight and look at things differently, and have realized that maybe the ashram life will be able to contain all that I am. So that I may be able to let down my defenses and truly be. An absolute surrender to something greater than me. I love to be apart of a community and serving, having a place and a reason for being. Supported and nurtured to grow,heal and expand. Having faith in the outcome and acceptance of the journey. I will be ok, I don't need to fight anymore, and I will open my heart.
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