Daily Life

Just checked the date of my last post... been slackin' on the bloggin'!
Guess it might be because nothing outstanding has taken place in the last few days. Well, by Rishikesh standards at least. I learned about conscious dreaming and how to be in control of what happens while you sleep. Those hours are no longer simply replenishment for the body... the things you can accomplish while you sleep are unbelievable! But that's just regular news in terms of Rishikesh. Nothing like Sanka Praksalana to report on today. Not surprisingly, that post got the most responses yet.
So, daily life... let's start with small-talk, the weather. I still wear two layers of pants and of long sleeves pretty much all the time (plus scarf, tuque, socks and shawl). When sitting in the sun for a few minutes, I'll occasionally remove one layer on top. Speaking of sun, it's almost always out. It hasn't rained since my first couple days here, and most afternoons are sunny. Had to buy a new shawl since giving mine away... I was constantly shivering in the mornings and evenings.
As for my daily schedule, pretty packed. The only time I've relaxed for more than an hour was yesterday, and only because, for the first time, I was a little physically sick (and maybe due to that, a tiny bit homesick for the first time). Tummy troubles. Felt it in the morning, went to class anyway but took it easy, then lay down in bed reading, writing cards and listening to music for almost 4 hours. Amazing. And it worked. Tummy healed, but I ended the day with a little cold and congestion. But again, it quickly passed, all better today. Sicknesses appear, and I just shoo them away! Back to schedule: class from 8-10am, brunch from 10-11, then alternating between Hindi classes (Mon-Wed-Fri) and satsang (Prem Baba or Shanti Mai, Tue-Thu) from 11-1. From 1-4, variety of things: errands, internet, snack, read class notes... class from 4-6, lecture from 6-8, dinner from 8-9, then bed around 10. Every day except Sunday, our day off from class.
Next, lodging. I've stayed in three different places since arriving in India (Delhi, Rishikesh on the other side of the river, and where I am now). But I've also moved three times in my current guesthouse, Sudesh. Started in a tiny, basic, cell-like room that received hardly any light or warmth through its one window, which never faced the sun. But it was clean and relatively comfy. I had described the mattresses at Om Karananda (first guesthouse across the river), as 1-inch thick, dense and futon-like. We actually use the same thing in our yoga hall to cover ourselves with during final relaxation. So you can imagine that a mattress which can also serve as a blanket isn't much of a mattress at all. At Sudesh, the mattresses are a bit thicker (maybe 2 inches) and squishier. But 2 inches of sqishiness means you pretty much sink down to the wooden plank bed base. But hey, plenty of Sadhus (wiki: Sadhus are sanyasi, or renunciates, who have left behind all material and sexual attachments and live in caves, forests and temples all over India and Nepal) from nearby ashrams sleep on concrete benches, so I really shouldn't complain. Anyhow, I asked for a room with more windows after three days, and the only one they had available was the "penthouse", best room in the place. It was a whopping $6/night  (previous room was $3). So I figured I'd splurge for a few nights to get some sunlight. When another big window room freed up two floors down, I moved there and it is my current home. Nicer and a bit bigger than my first room, but not as "luxurious" as the one I came from. Back to $3 a night. Colors leave much to be desired: fluorescent green walls (not very zen), with salmon colored blinds. Gorgeous. But, I've made myself at home there and don't think I'll move again till I leave. Which, by the way, will only be at the end of February, in time to meet Blaire (my cousin) in Mumbai on March 1st. Planned to stay here 2 weeks, turned into 4, and finally 6. Rishikesh does that to you. (And since I'm already often shivering here, with my warmest clothes, heading up to Dharamsala, my initial plan, didn't seem like a good idea. It goes below freezing at night, there's snow, and of course, there's not heating.)
My New Year's resolution was to wake up earlier to spend time meditating, and I'm pleased to report that my alarm, set for 7am, has only woken me up about 3 times since I've been in Rishikesh. Otherwise, I'm up between 6 and 7 in the dark. Gets light around 7. While I haven't done meditation on my own yet in the morning, I do start my day with two hours of yoga class... close enough! And when the course is done (I have one week left) I'll be able to spend more time on my personal practice. (If I don't do level 2, that is!)
Food here is fantastic, and I even started eating street food a couple weeks ago. (And brushing my teeth with tap water!) I've spent countless hours at Oasis Cafe, (thatch-roof hut, wood stove at the center, cushions and low tables around it) just a few steps from my guesthouse, savoring the delicious food and engaging in some of the most interesting and enlightening conversations I've ever had, usually with students from my class. Next post, I'll give more details about my class, the students, and teachers.
Electricity here goes on and off a few times a day as it pleases, but has never been out for more than about an hour. When it was out at night and I was in my room, I was very grateful to Chrystal who convinced me to buy a headlamp the day before I left for India, and... who gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy, Loic, about a week ago :)
Cost of living: I've paid between 3 and 11 dollars per night for lodging; morning chai is about 15 cents, post-class brunch is usually about $2, afternoon snack less than a dollar, dinner about $3; internet is 75 cents an hour; Hindi with Swati is $2 per class; satsangs are free. Those are my regular costs, plus my Trika yoga which was $210 for an intensive 24-day course. The Delhi travel agent was charging me $200 per week for the Rajastan trip, and let me repeat that I am sooooo happy to have ended up here instead!
That's it for now. I'll end with the English translation (we usually sing in Sanskrit) of one the chants we sang at our Friday Bhajans last night. Just reading it, however, doesn't do justice to the beauty of it when chanted in sanskrit as a group and with instruments (even had harmoniums last night). Maybe I can organize Bhajan evenings back home when I get back!
Oh lead us from the darkness to the light,
From the unreal to the real,
From the earth to the open sky,
From death to eternal life,
From death to eternal life.