Warmth not here to stay after all... back to multiple layers and socks in flip-flops. But the sun does shine every single afternoon :) A few random tidbits for today's post...
- In the past week, I've recruited several people to Trika and Sudesh (guesthouse) during meal conversations. Really, I should be getting compensation for all this business. Wait, no. That's a very un-yogic thing to say. It's Karma yoga. And I can only hope that my recommendations lead to life changes in them as great as the ones I've experienced.
- As my course comes to an end, I'm finding a little more time for reading. Found The God of Small Things in the Trika hall library, a novel that came highly recommended by Cindy, my yoga teacher at home. I'm finding it a little hard to get into, but I'll persist. Anyone read it?
- I had mentioned earlier that there is no alcohol on any menus here since it's a sacred place, but I only recently noticed that there's no meat anywhere either. I guess non-vegetarians would have noticed much quicker! It's strange to have full menus to choose from everywhere I go, rather than a few select options on menus back home. It's fantastic, but sometimes time-consuming for an indecisive person like me.
- There's this lovely little fountain just outside my guesthouse that says "R/O (reverse osmosis) Drinking Water" above it, and for quite some time I didn't dare drink from it. But a couple weeks ago I started filling my water bottles there, and no problemo! Free water :) Spending my drinking money on tea instead... at least three cups a day (usually chai masala from the street stall in the morning, ginger lemon honey in afternoon, and jasmine in the evening... also sometimes have mint tea, ayurvedic tea, tulsi tea, warming tea... all wonderful). And they cost about a quarter a cup (actually, I should say glass... they have this strange habit of serving tea in water glasses, which are way too hot to hold!)
- Speaking of costs, I'm still living on about $15 a day :)
- As I walk to my afternoon class, the high school kids are on their way home. I smile at them in their various, neat uniforms, which all schools in India have.
- My walks home from evening lectures are helping me develop great night vision... very few street lights, so my eyes have to do a very good job of spotting dark cow dung in the dark alleys as I make my way home. Still have yet to step in a pile... knock on wood!
- I'm amazed to see how many families travel here with young children, it's great! The kids and parents all seem very happy.
- Here's a good one: When I told one of my yoga teachers about the sensations I was having during final relaxation (savasana), she told me it was very rare that first level students experience these things. She said I was probably an enlightened yogic guru in a past life. So... I went back to Prateek (astrologer) to ask him more about this. All I knew from the first meeting was that I lived in France. Here's what he told me: I lived in the mountains of Toulouse, had a very highly developed spirituality, spent my life healing people with herbal mixtures I made, and lived a very, very long life. Enlightened guru, maybe not, but not too far off... Next astrology meeting will hopefully be with Amodini, a woman who does much longer and more thorough readings than Prateek, and who is hard to find since she does not advertise in any way. After a couple weeks of searching, finally got a hold of her phone number... we'll see where it leads me...
- I've now written 60 pages in my India journal, about 40 pages of random notes in a smaller notebook, at least 100 pages of Trika course and lecture notes, 20 or so pages of Hindi lesson notes and 20 lengthy blog posts... Many people have commented on how much they enjoy reading the blog, and that it could even make a good memoir. Prateek also told me that I had great creativity in writing (without reading anything I've written, of course) and that I should use and develop it more... So, who knows... maybe all these pages are a book in the making...
- I went back to Shanti Mai last week, and she showed a very inspiring video. She often speaks of the amazing shift in consciousness that is presently taking place on earth, and about how 2012 is the beginning of a pretty incredible period in history. Check it out, it's sure to fill you with inspiration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1fiubmOqH4 As she ended the satsang, she said: "If you want life to be magical, it will... Humankind knows what to do!... The world is changing, this is 2012!... Figure out where you stand; I hope it is not in fear... I pray that you will find your beauty... I thank you with all my heart, for being exactly who you are..." Ya. Pretty uplifting huh? Best part is... it's true!
That's it for today. Let me end with a quote from Irati's (Trika teacher's) facebook page:
We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.
- In the past week, I've recruited several people to Trika and Sudesh (guesthouse) during meal conversations. Really, I should be getting compensation for all this business. Wait, no. That's a very un-yogic thing to say. It's Karma yoga. And I can only hope that my recommendations lead to life changes in them as great as the ones I've experienced.
- As my course comes to an end, I'm finding a little more time for reading. Found The God of Small Things in the Trika hall library, a novel that came highly recommended by Cindy, my yoga teacher at home. I'm finding it a little hard to get into, but I'll persist. Anyone read it?
- I had mentioned earlier that there is no alcohol on any menus here since it's a sacred place, but I only recently noticed that there's no meat anywhere either. I guess non-vegetarians would have noticed much quicker! It's strange to have full menus to choose from everywhere I go, rather than a few select options on menus back home. It's fantastic, but sometimes time-consuming for an indecisive person like me.
- There's this lovely little fountain just outside my guesthouse that says "R/O (reverse osmosis) Drinking Water" above it, and for quite some time I didn't dare drink from it. But a couple weeks ago I started filling my water bottles there, and no problemo! Free water :) Spending my drinking money on tea instead... at least three cups a day (usually chai masala from the street stall in the morning, ginger lemon honey in afternoon, and jasmine in the evening... also sometimes have mint tea, ayurvedic tea, tulsi tea, warming tea... all wonderful). And they cost about a quarter a cup (actually, I should say glass... they have this strange habit of serving tea in water glasses, which are way too hot to hold!)
- Speaking of costs, I'm still living on about $15 a day :)
- As I walk to my afternoon class, the high school kids are on their way home. I smile at them in their various, neat uniforms, which all schools in India have.
- My walks home from evening lectures are helping me develop great night vision... very few street lights, so my eyes have to do a very good job of spotting dark cow dung in the dark alleys as I make my way home. Still have yet to step in a pile... knock on wood!
- I'm amazed to see how many families travel here with young children, it's great! The kids and parents all seem very happy.
- Here's a good one: When I told one of my yoga teachers about the sensations I was having during final relaxation (savasana), she told me it was very rare that first level students experience these things. She said I was probably an enlightened yogic guru in a past life. So... I went back to Prateek (astrologer) to ask him more about this. All I knew from the first meeting was that I lived in France. Here's what he told me: I lived in the mountains of Toulouse, had a very highly developed spirituality, spent my life healing people with herbal mixtures I made, and lived a very, very long life. Enlightened guru, maybe not, but not too far off... Next astrology meeting will hopefully be with Amodini, a woman who does much longer and more thorough readings than Prateek, and who is hard to find since she does not advertise in any way. After a couple weeks of searching, finally got a hold of her phone number... we'll see where it leads me...
- I've now written 60 pages in my India journal, about 40 pages of random notes in a smaller notebook, at least 100 pages of Trika course and lecture notes, 20 or so pages of Hindi lesson notes and 20 lengthy blog posts... Many people have commented on how much they enjoy reading the blog, and that it could even make a good memoir. Prateek also told me that I had great creativity in writing (without reading anything I've written, of course) and that I should use and develop it more... So, who knows... maybe all these pages are a book in the making...
- I went back to Shanti Mai last week, and she showed a very inspiring video. She often speaks of the amazing shift in consciousness that is presently taking place on earth, and about how 2012 is the beginning of a pretty incredible period in history. Check it out, it's sure to fill you with inspiration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1fiubmOqH4 As she ended the satsang, she said: "If you want life to be magical, it will... Humankind knows what to do!... The world is changing, this is 2012!... Figure out where you stand; I hope it is not in fear... I pray that you will find your beauty... I thank you with all my heart, for being exactly who you are..." Ya. Pretty uplifting huh? Best part is... it's true!
That's it for today. Let me end with a quote from Irati's (Trika teacher's) facebook page:
We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.
For sure I will say make sure these pages become a book in making.
ReplyDeleteI am reading a book
THE HIDDEN POWER OF YOUR PAST LIFE By Sandra anne Taylor
Sounds interesting... past life analysis is something I've only just begun to find interest in...
ReplyDeleteHi! Do you still have the number of amodini? Or could you explain to me how to get to her place? I'm in Rishikesh and I SO want to see her! Thanks :)))
ReplyDeleteHi Kali! It was a surprise to get a comment on this blog from almost two years ago! Yes, I still have Amodini's number: 09411111968. If you call her she will give you directions to get to her place. Hope you're enjoying Rishikesh :)
Delete