Wow, this place is phenomenal.
Kutchi people are just incredible.
So giving and so warm.
Last night I ended up in village 2 hours from my hotel at 6pm. The sun was about to set and I would be driving alone on a moped through the desert. NOt ideal.
This was all discovered while sitting in the home Sufiya, a Mutwa woman, drinking chai. Her brother (english name is Aladdin) came in and learned of the predicament and started offering options...i was most welcome to stay there of course, or he would ride with me and come back that same night in his brothers car.
I opted for option 2 and we off into the desert. Me driving, Aladdin on the back.
As darkness fell, the wind started and a good ol desert sand storm whipped sand into our faces. Fat rain sporadically splatted down..at which point Aladdin stopped predicting what turns in the road would holdfor wind and weather because this was too unusual. Rain doesn't start until June here.
Needless to say I was sure glad not to be alone.
It was safe enough. Though there was lightening in the far distance, Aladdin was singing Kutchi folk songs into the night, so it eased all worries and made for a mystical, memorable night!
The wedding was also memorable. I was taken under the care of several rabari women for the whole night. WHOLE NIGHT> the wedding didn't start until about 11pm, then continued for many hours into the night. I was taken to a bed at one point...and gratefully took the chance to sleep a few hours.
I learned chapati rolling and had hindi/gujarati/kutchi lessons from a young girl who would tell me the name of my simply drawn picture..tree, flower, foot, house etc.
in the morning i was woken up by Vanka Rabari, the man that invited me, so I could watch the goodbye. After a night of ceremony in the woman's village, it was time for everyone she grew up with to say goodbye before she was taken with the men to her new husband's village where she will start a new life in his mother's home.
seems difficult to me.
and apparently for her too as the goodbye consisted of women singing constantly, I think verbal support for the bride who was hidden under a thiick black shawl the entire night, and the bride wailing in sadness as one by one her village said goodbye. Many women were crying also.
Not the 'happiest night of on'es life' like we hope for at home eh?
The correction I wanted to make from my last entry is about the rabari being nomadic. SOme are, but they are to the east of here...noted by men wearing all white, white turbans too , and women wearing all balck. Thesee rabari are settled in villages. The men wear white clothes but dark turbans (red for weddings). The women have elaborate embroidered tops and more colorful shawls over their black embroidered skirts.
Many memoreis from amazing Kutch. I must come back some day. But for now, onwards to Varanasi!
Avjo,
Lauren
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
There are No Doors in India
What an open, generous country this is. I realized the other day that there really are no doors in india. all the shops are open to the street closign only at night when a garage door comes down to lock them. If there is a door it's usually propped open (unless they have AC). Many guest houses have doors (of course) but often the windows don't have glass so it's all fresh air, or I sleep with the door open because it's just too hot.
so it feels like there are no doors.
no barriers.
everywhere and everyone open and welcoming.
Now i'm in bhuj, Gujarat, where this generosity has been multplied 3fold. I'm meeting the most hospitable people in all of india i'm sure. the owner of the hotel/restaurant i'm in (annapurna) named Vinod, is overwhelmingly giving. the first day i ate there i asked him some questions about travelling into the desert and meeting some villages etc. he gave me so much info and offered to lend me his moped within 5 minutes of talking. then he gave me a ride to his home where his family gave me tea and biscuits, lent me the moped so i could take myself to the police and get a village permit, came back an he took out the car and took me and his family to a neighbouring village where they sell handicrafts and embroidery. it's livelihood around here and quite a few fair trade projects exist...you MUST get in touch with these groups. the embroidery is exquisite and High Quality.
so that's the hospitality of Vinod. everyone at his hotel has been taking such good care of me, like family. amazing. today he lent me his moped again for the day saying i'm like family, like his child!
last night we were talking about shops and costs etc. and he mentioned how 1000Rs is alot for him (about 30 dollars), i said yes for me too while travelling. i have a tight budget!
immediately he said, if you have money troubles please tell me, i can lend you money and you send it to me from canada whenever you can. no problem.
wow my heart swelled with appreciation for this man.
Vinod starts working in his restaurant at 7-9am and stays until closing at 11pm with one rest in teh day sometime when he goes to eat his wife's cooking and visit a bit.
i said, you must be tired Vinod! you work so hard! to which he replied quite seriously, it is hard work here because times are tough. my daughter requires medication every day costing 3000Rs per month., his wife had thyroid trouble. After the earthquake of 2001 (that flattened many villages around Bhuj and caused immense destruction in the city as well, killing upwards of 25 000 in all of Kutch area), they lost so much and had been recovering , as have many others, since then.
so he tells me this, how 1000rs is alot, how he must spend 3000 every month to keep his disabled daughter functioning, and then offers o lend me money while giving me a moped for the entirety of my stay.
this is generosity like none other i've experienced. such a kind man.
today i will be attending a rabari wedding. rabari are nomadic people that move with their herds of goat and sheep through the Great Rann desert/ salt flats. some have settled into villages now, but it's quite an honor to go to this wedding because where they happen depends on where the peopl are. and often weddings for many happen all one day, the birthday of Lord Krishna. It's becasue of Vinod taking me to that handicraft village that this invitation happened. So my thanks again to him.
EVeryone is helpful, everyone offers their mobile number in case i need some help ever. Many will leave what their doing and walk me to the place i'm asking directions for...no fear of strangers, no barriers, no doors.
This is truly a special place!
so it feels like there are no doors.
no barriers.
everywhere and everyone open and welcoming.
Now i'm in bhuj, Gujarat, where this generosity has been multplied 3fold. I'm meeting the most hospitable people in all of india i'm sure. the owner of the hotel/restaurant i'm in (annapurna) named Vinod, is overwhelmingly giving. the first day i ate there i asked him some questions about travelling into the desert and meeting some villages etc. he gave me so much info and offered to lend me his moped within 5 minutes of talking. then he gave me a ride to his home where his family gave me tea and biscuits, lent me the moped so i could take myself to the police and get a village permit, came back an he took out the car and took me and his family to a neighbouring village where they sell handicrafts and embroidery. it's livelihood around here and quite a few fair trade projects exist...you MUST get in touch with these groups. the embroidery is exquisite and High Quality.
so that's the hospitality of Vinod. everyone at his hotel has been taking such good care of me, like family. amazing. today he lent me his moped again for the day saying i'm like family, like his child!
last night we were talking about shops and costs etc. and he mentioned how 1000Rs is alot for him (about 30 dollars), i said yes for me too while travelling. i have a tight budget!
immediately he said, if you have money troubles please tell me, i can lend you money and you send it to me from canada whenever you can. no problem.
wow my heart swelled with appreciation for this man.
Vinod starts working in his restaurant at 7-9am and stays until closing at 11pm with one rest in teh day sometime when he goes to eat his wife's cooking and visit a bit.
i said, you must be tired Vinod! you work so hard! to which he replied quite seriously, it is hard work here because times are tough. my daughter requires medication every day costing 3000Rs per month., his wife had thyroid trouble. After the earthquake of 2001 (that flattened many villages around Bhuj and caused immense destruction in the city as well, killing upwards of 25 000 in all of Kutch area), they lost so much and had been recovering , as have many others, since then.
so he tells me this, how 1000rs is alot, how he must spend 3000 every month to keep his disabled daughter functioning, and then offers o lend me money while giving me a moped for the entirety of my stay.
this is generosity like none other i've experienced. such a kind man.
today i will be attending a rabari wedding. rabari are nomadic people that move with their herds of goat and sheep through the Great Rann desert/ salt flats. some have settled into villages now, but it's quite an honor to go to this wedding because where they happen depends on where the peopl are. and often weddings for many happen all one day, the birthday of Lord Krishna. It's becasue of Vinod taking me to that handicraft village that this invitation happened. So my thanks again to him.
EVeryone is helpful, everyone offers their mobile number in case i need some help ever. Many will leave what their doing and walk me to the place i'm asking directions for...no fear of strangers, no barriers, no doors.
This is truly a special place!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Get in the River!
I’m in and out of the flow you know.
When I’m in the flow, guided by the river, supported by the water, swimming with the fishies that nibble the dead skin off my toes...everything works so beautifully I can't even understand it.
When I get impatient and fight the way things are moving, the frustration escalates, nothing works, I wait forever for nothing to happen, I feel alone and annoyed.
So get back in the river!
That’s what I keep telling myself.
The other day I was walking through the streets of Bangalore singing to myself. I was singing part of a chant that Fede the Argentinean from Sadhana taught me. When he sings it, eyes closed, beautiful voice, by the 4 and final line a peaceful contented smile comes over his face before he swings back to the beginning of the song.
Now I feel that contentment when I sing it...because it's beautiful and because it has so many memories attached…people who sing it, places we sang it….
So I was singing to myself and feeling utter peace and happiness. Singing keeps an incredible lightness in each step. Feels like a ball of positive light around me.
‘Madam, what do you want?’
‘I want to be happy! Mai kush hu!’
‘Oh wonderful madam! Hindi speaking!’
‘no no, tota tota!’
Such a pleasing interaction. SO uplifting. Break through the selling relationship. Their faces both went SO Bright! Eyes came alive... bursting out of the mundane.
Everyday this must happen. All The Time!
Don’t answer with the expected.
Don’t ask the expected. Cut to the core.
What else is there? What else is important?
Perhaps I will go home and meet friends again for the first time. What do you dream about? What do you long for? What makes you happy?
How awesome to ask, What makes you happy friend? And Really want to know the answer!
I think without realizing it I’ve been finding myself every day on this trip. On a search for truth and happiness…I’m finding it.
Always learning. Always teaching. All of us.
Everyone is a student and everyone is a teacher. Every ‘social position’. Every age. Every religion. Every person.
And that feels incredibly satisfying to breathe every day.
After the singing walk I sat in the train station with Assaf bubbling about the experience. Listening to his walk and his thoughts (we had separated for an hour or so). Learning and teaching.
I got up to go to the train and a woman radiantly called me over by the name Ranjeeta. It took me a few minutes of broken English/Hindi to understand that she was giving me an India name, beaming smiles the whole time. Ranjeeta means smiling face, she said. Or open flower.
Wow. What a treasure moment.
What I put out into the world I get back. Actions are asking the universe for reaction and answers. Exude positive light and I too will be bathed in it.
I still find frustrations and extreme challenges of patience. But it’s all part of the experience. And so far, there has always been someone special to whisk me out of the heavy mood, back to the newly appreciated light mood!
Get in the river. It’s such a great way to live!
Open
Trusting
Ready to find a lesson in every teacher around you
And confident, trusting that you are a teacher too.
So much love
Lauren
When I’m in the flow, guided by the river, supported by the water, swimming with the fishies that nibble the dead skin off my toes...everything works so beautifully I can't even understand it.
When I get impatient and fight the way things are moving, the frustration escalates, nothing works, I wait forever for nothing to happen, I feel alone and annoyed.
So get back in the river!
That’s what I keep telling myself.
The other day I was walking through the streets of Bangalore singing to myself. I was singing part of a chant that Fede the Argentinean from Sadhana taught me. When he sings it, eyes closed, beautiful voice, by the 4 and final line a peaceful contented smile comes over his face before he swings back to the beginning of the song.
Now I feel that contentment when I sing it...because it's beautiful and because it has so many memories attached…people who sing it, places we sang it….
So I was singing to myself and feeling utter peace and happiness. Singing keeps an incredible lightness in each step. Feels like a ball of positive light around me.
‘Madam, what do you want?’
‘I want to be happy! Mai kush hu!’
‘Oh wonderful madam! Hindi speaking!’
‘no no, tota tota!’
Such a pleasing interaction. SO uplifting. Break through the selling relationship. Their faces both went SO Bright! Eyes came alive... bursting out of the mundane.
Everyday this must happen. All The Time!
Don’t answer with the expected.
Don’t ask the expected. Cut to the core.
What else is there? What else is important?
Perhaps I will go home and meet friends again for the first time. What do you dream about? What do you long for? What makes you happy?
How awesome to ask, What makes you happy friend? And Really want to know the answer!
I think without realizing it I’ve been finding myself every day on this trip. On a search for truth and happiness…I’m finding it.
Always learning. Always teaching. All of us.
Everyone is a student and everyone is a teacher. Every ‘social position’. Every age. Every religion. Every person.
And that feels incredibly satisfying to breathe every day.
After the singing walk I sat in the train station with Assaf bubbling about the experience. Listening to his walk and his thoughts (we had separated for an hour or so). Learning and teaching.
I got up to go to the train and a woman radiantly called me over by the name Ranjeeta. It took me a few minutes of broken English/Hindi to understand that she was giving me an India name, beaming smiles the whole time. Ranjeeta means smiling face, she said. Or open flower.
Wow. What a treasure moment.
What I put out into the world I get back. Actions are asking the universe for reaction and answers. Exude positive light and I too will be bathed in it.
I still find frustrations and extreme challenges of patience. But it’s all part of the experience. And so far, there has always been someone special to whisk me out of the heavy mood, back to the newly appreciated light mood!
Get in the river. It’s such a great way to live!
Open
Trusting
Ready to find a lesson in every teacher around you
And confident, trusting that you are a teacher too.
So much love
Lauren
Saturday, February 16, 2008
"May there always be forests to grow people!"
I've settled into a comfortable community life in a place called Sadhana FOrest where I'm wwoofing for 2-3weeks. here are 50 volunteers here and everyone an inspiring, musical, intentional, wonderful human being!
the project here is located outside Pondicherry, part of a village called AUroville. Auroville is an international community, kind of an experiment started in the 60s by a woman referred to as the Mother. It's a strange place, i'm not yet sure how i feel about it (2thirds foreigners, 1third indian). But the forest is exactly what i wanted!
\this area once had a tropical dry evergreen forest covering it. The forest was important for local medicines, sustenance, and preventing erosion (soil with lots of roots is held together beautifully in strong rains). WHen the British came, they clear cut the area and started cash crops like cashews. trees gone, roots gone = monsoon rains start to erode the topsoil making it difficult to grow anything (like cashews) and thus many pesticides started to be used. Furthermore,all the water from the monsoons started to runoff directly into the ocean, making this already dry place even drier and threatening the water source.
4 years ago Aviram and Yorit started to fulfill their dream here. THere was not a single tree except for the 3 that were left standing around an old temple (the british realized that if they cut the temple trees they'd really have a riot on hand). Now I write to you from 70Km2 of beautiful native forest trees4 years ago there was not a single bird to be heard, now they counted 25 species in the last bird count!
another major part of the project is water conservation. so our work right now (in the non monsoon season) is going to the forest to dig holes that catch monsoon rains and allow the rain to sink into the depleted water table. we use the dug up soil to build 'bunds' or small walls that help contain the water as well and guide it to the holes. In just 4 years they have raised the water table 6 meters!
this is seen very positively by the local villagers who can now access water through wells again.
Aviram and Yorit believe strongly in maintaining friendships and involvement in the local community. they go to to every wedding they are invited to, they get local children to help plant trees and take care of them, adding a sense of responsibility in the larger community.
there are no fences anywhere and in this way it is everyone's land and for everyone to use and enjoy.
so i'm quite pleased to learn from this incredible Israeli couple
another positive experience is that after just 5 days in this community, Yorit gave birth to their second daughter! it really brought everyone together as we sang and felt an incredible energy vibrate in the air all around us.
so it has been especially fulfilling. Aviram, Yorit, Osher and new Shalev are certainly enhancing the growth of amazing people in this forest.
i hope to do a radio feature on them when i'm home. They have no income and are always open to donations to keep the place growing and comfortable. Aviram says with his next donation they will build a grass roof on the kitchen hut. This roof will last for 22 years, it's completely sustainable and made from all native plants in the area. Some of the huts already have this type of roof (the rest are banana leaves woven together), but it takes several a hundred dollars to fund it.
So i'm thinking of ways to fund raise a bit for them when i get home. But i'm realizing that right now might be an opportunity to ask if anyone has a few dollars to spare. If yes, please email me with the amount and I will donate it before I leave, and hope that your amount will get to my bank account somehow!
i am leaving in 3 days i think, so please act fast!
\there is no obligation to donate, i think it's most valuable that you simply know incredible projects are happening in the world.
Be inspired,
act local,
think global
and challenge yourself to a bucket shower (when it gets a little warmer!) to see how much water you can save.
lots of love from the forest
Lauren
the project here is located outside Pondicherry, part of a village called AUroville. Auroville is an international community, kind of an experiment started in the 60s by a woman referred to as the Mother. It's a strange place, i'm not yet sure how i feel about it (2thirds foreigners, 1third indian). But the forest is exactly what i wanted!
\this area once had a tropical dry evergreen forest covering it. The forest was important for local medicines, sustenance, and preventing erosion (soil with lots of roots is held together beautifully in strong rains). WHen the British came, they clear cut the area and started cash crops like cashews. trees gone, roots gone = monsoon rains start to erode the topsoil making it difficult to grow anything (like cashews) and thus many pesticides started to be used. Furthermore,all the water from the monsoons started to runoff directly into the ocean, making this already dry place even drier and threatening the water source.
4 years ago Aviram and Yorit started to fulfill their dream here. THere was not a single tree except for the 3 that were left standing around an old temple (the british realized that if they cut the temple trees they'd really have a riot on hand). Now I write to you from 70Km2 of beautiful native forest trees4 years ago there was not a single bird to be heard, now they counted 25 species in the last bird count!
another major part of the project is water conservation. so our work right now (in the non monsoon season) is going to the forest to dig holes that catch monsoon rains and allow the rain to sink into the depleted water table. we use the dug up soil to build 'bunds' or small walls that help contain the water as well and guide it to the holes. In just 4 years they have raised the water table 6 meters!
this is seen very positively by the local villagers who can now access water through wells again.
Aviram and Yorit believe strongly in maintaining friendships and involvement in the local community. they go to to every wedding they are invited to, they get local children to help plant trees and take care of them, adding a sense of responsibility in the larger community.
there are no fences anywhere and in this way it is everyone's land and for everyone to use and enjoy.
so i'm quite pleased to learn from this incredible Israeli couple
another positive experience is that after just 5 days in this community, Yorit gave birth to their second daughter! it really brought everyone together as we sang and felt an incredible energy vibrate in the air all around us.
so it has been especially fulfilling. Aviram, Yorit, Osher and new Shalev are certainly enhancing the growth of amazing people in this forest.
i hope to do a radio feature on them when i'm home. They have no income and are always open to donations to keep the place growing and comfortable. Aviram says with his next donation they will build a grass roof on the kitchen hut. This roof will last for 22 years, it's completely sustainable and made from all native plants in the area. Some of the huts already have this type of roof (the rest are banana leaves woven together), but it takes several a hundred dollars to fund it.
So i'm thinking of ways to fund raise a bit for them when i get home. But i'm realizing that right now might be an opportunity to ask if anyone has a few dollars to spare. If yes, please email me with the amount and I will donate it before I leave, and hope that your amount will get to my bank account somehow!
i am leaving in 3 days i think, so please act fast!
\there is no obligation to donate, i think it's most valuable that you simply know incredible projects are happening in the world.
Be inspired,
act local,
think global
and challenge yourself to a bucket shower (when it gets a little warmer!) to see how much water you can save.
lots of love from the forest
Lauren
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Backtrack- A few from the beach
I'm battling the computer to get some photos online to share with everyone...so here are just a few more. These ones were taken in the state of Orissa, mostly in Puri where Dylan and I spent New Years. It was really a nice break! We met up with some Kolkata friends for a few days, made friends with some young fishers and even found some macaroni and cheese! How exciting that was!
This is the 'Empty Beach'as it's called. At first it seemed beautiful and wonderful, but aftera few days of roaming around, the garbage became more apparent and the feces (dog and human) definetly took away form the environment. These became particularly noticeable after a dead turtle (caught in the big industry fishing nets {from the big cities, not so much the local fishers}) washed up on shore beside us.
Nonetheless, it was a nice place to get away from the crowds for some sun and swimming!
Sideways, sorry! This is how we brought in the new year! Dancing on the street of Puri with about 20 young men! It was hilarious and so much fun! Indian men really have some incredible dance moves!
At another section of the beach I sat alone and watched people for awhile. This man was selling chapati with a dal or something veggie like and delicious, and samosas.
From Puriu we rented a scooter and scooted over to Konark for the day. Konrak is home to the Sun Temple, a World Heritage Site . DIP enjoyed it too...had to!
ANd one of the main reasons we ended up going south to Orissa from Kolkata was to visit a dinosaur museum in Bhubaneswar! not quite what we were expecting, more of a physics and math science centre, but there certainly was a giant T-Rex model!
I've run out of patience for uploads, but I have some delightful photos form the ashrams i just spent 2 weeks at. They'll be up next I hope!
hugs and more hugs
lauren
This is the 'Empty Beach'as it's called. At first it seemed beautiful and wonderful, but aftera few days of roaming around, the garbage became more apparent and the feces (dog and human) definetly took away form the environment. These became particularly noticeable after a dead turtle (caught in the big industry fishing nets {from the big cities, not so much the local fishers}) washed up on shore beside us.Nonetheless, it was a nice place to get away from the crowds for some sun and swimming!
Sideways, sorry! This is how we brought in the new year! Dancing on the street of Puri with about 20 young men! It was hilarious and so much fun! Indian men really have some incredible dance moves!
At another section of the beach I sat alone and watched people for awhile. This man was selling chapati with a dal or something veggie like and delicious, and samosas.
From Puriu we rented a scooter and scooted over to Konark for the day. Konrak is home to the Sun Temple, a World Heritage Site . DIP enjoyed it too...had to!
ANd one of the main reasons we ended up going south to Orissa from Kolkata was to visit a dinosaur museum in Bhubaneswar! not quite what we were expecting, more of a physics and math science centre, but there certainly was a giant T-Rex model!I've run out of patience for uploads, but I have some delightful photos form the ashrams i just spent 2 weeks at. They'll be up next I hope!
hugs and more hugs
lauren
Thursday, January 17, 2008
ashram amazements
am learning so much with every conversation in this community i've found.
Ashrams
i suppose it could be called an intentional spiritual community. something like a monastery. many of them following a different schedule and philosophy.
I am in the middle of India moving between Gandhi's Ashram in Sevagram, and Vinoba Bhave's Ashram in Paunar. Both incredible places full of amazing people.
I first went to the Vinoba Ashram in Paunar. It is run by 30 women who practice rural sustainability, non-violence, daily prayer, and a consensus community. Following the philosophy of Vinoba Bhave.
Vinoba was a brilliant man who is known for starting the Bhoodan Movement. Bhoo means Land, dan means gift. the Land-Gift Movement.
He walked all of India for 14 years asking rich people to give a sixth of their land to the poor. In total he, along with many others who walked with him, got 4.5million acres of land donated. THis benefitted 1.5 million poor families.
It's amazing to be at the ashram and meet women (and one man) who walked with Vinoba for 7, 10, 13 years,
It's humbling.
Here are some journal thoughts after conversations with various sisters:
*After dinner Sheila took me to talk and watch the sun set over the river where Vinoba was cremated. Wise woman.
Letting og of the ego, Seeing self as part of god. she described bowls of water reflecting the moon. we are the bowls reflecting god..but no so much reflecting as beaing part of god. i like the imagery of Self as bowl of water holding and reflecting that which draws near.
Our outer body is not us. This hair, fancy glasses, eyes, even ideas and thoughts are the the true me. When looking in a mirror to see the reflection it might be dirty and we must wipe it cean to see properly., The mind is like this (the mind being true self). we must wash it clean to properly see ourselves. How? By letting go of the physical that shadows sight. By being in direct communication with god, which means with yourself, as we are all part of this god and god is part of us.
And get rid of the ego.
Thoughts and ideas change. Must find the person beneath all that. Who am I if not defned by my values and thoughts? Where else do I look?
*We are all one with each other and with everything around us. Because ultimately when we're put in the ground the same thing happens to all of us. We are part of the same cell they say. An imporatnt philosophy for respecting our impact in the world.
*When one bends to touch the feet of their guru or god, it is an ext of removing the ego.
* I am enjoying having routine and a discipline to follow. Christianity certainly encourages one to be a better person, love they neighbour as yourself etc. but it doesn't instruct clearly on how to deepen personal awareness. No intention in action. No routine or practice. (not in my christiantiy anyway).
Laws and rules governing what you eat -I used to think them to be overly strict and depriving ones enjoyment in life. But now I see that they put intention in every part of your day. It alerts your belief system everytime you 're hungry or see food. It teaches control. THe ability to say no. Mastering the mind.
*The Gita describes 7 powers immanent in women:
Kirti - honour
Shri - fortune
Vak - speech
Smriti - recollection
Madha - prudence
Dhriti - firmness
kshama- forgiveness
* AFter speaking with Gautam, a brother
Science is material. Science for the sake of science has no directio. it cannot determine righ from wrong. Good from bad. THis is thus potentially dangerous. It needs to be paired with spirituality to give direction. It's like an auto. The accelerator without a steering wheel is dangerous. Science is the accelerator. Spirituality the steering wheel.
Those are some thoughts from the first cuople days.
It's long, so i'll write other learnings later.
Breath with intention and think about where your food comes from. Who grew it? who made it? how far did it travel? is it worth it?
lots of love
lauren
Ashrams
i suppose it could be called an intentional spiritual community. something like a monastery. many of them following a different schedule and philosophy.
I am in the middle of India moving between Gandhi's Ashram in Sevagram, and Vinoba Bhave's Ashram in Paunar. Both incredible places full of amazing people.
I first went to the Vinoba Ashram in Paunar. It is run by 30 women who practice rural sustainability, non-violence, daily prayer, and a consensus community. Following the philosophy of Vinoba Bhave.
Vinoba was a brilliant man who is known for starting the Bhoodan Movement. Bhoo means Land, dan means gift. the Land-Gift Movement.
He walked all of India for 14 years asking rich people to give a sixth of their land to the poor. In total he, along with many others who walked with him, got 4.5million acres of land donated. THis benefitted 1.5 million poor families.
It's amazing to be at the ashram and meet women (and one man) who walked with Vinoba for 7, 10, 13 years,
It's humbling.
Here are some journal thoughts after conversations with various sisters:
*After dinner Sheila took me to talk and watch the sun set over the river where Vinoba was cremated. Wise woman.
Letting og of the ego, Seeing self as part of god. she described bowls of water reflecting the moon. we are the bowls reflecting god..but no so much reflecting as beaing part of god. i like the imagery of Self as bowl of water holding and reflecting that which draws near.
Our outer body is not us. This hair, fancy glasses, eyes, even ideas and thoughts are the the true me. When looking in a mirror to see the reflection it might be dirty and we must wipe it cean to see properly., The mind is like this (the mind being true self). we must wash it clean to properly see ourselves. How? By letting go of the physical that shadows sight. By being in direct communication with god, which means with yourself, as we are all part of this god and god is part of us.
And get rid of the ego.
Thoughts and ideas change. Must find the person beneath all that. Who am I if not defned by my values and thoughts? Where else do I look?
*We are all one with each other and with everything around us. Because ultimately when we're put in the ground the same thing happens to all of us. We are part of the same cell they say. An imporatnt philosophy for respecting our impact in the world.
*When one bends to touch the feet of their guru or god, it is an ext of removing the ego.
* I am enjoying having routine and a discipline to follow. Christianity certainly encourages one to be a better person, love they neighbour as yourself etc. but it doesn't instruct clearly on how to deepen personal awareness. No intention in action. No routine or practice. (not in my christiantiy anyway).
Laws and rules governing what you eat -I used to think them to be overly strict and depriving ones enjoyment in life. But now I see that they put intention in every part of your day. It alerts your belief system everytime you 're hungry or see food. It teaches control. THe ability to say no. Mastering the mind.
*The Gita describes 7 powers immanent in women:
Kirti - honour
Shri - fortune
Vak - speech
Smriti - recollection
Madha - prudence
Dhriti - firmness
kshama- forgiveness
* AFter speaking with Gautam, a brother
Science is material. Science for the sake of science has no directio. it cannot determine righ from wrong. Good from bad. THis is thus potentially dangerous. It needs to be paired with spirituality to give direction. It's like an auto. The accelerator without a steering wheel is dangerous. Science is the accelerator. Spirituality the steering wheel.
Those are some thoughts from the first cuople days.
It's long, so i'll write other learnings later.
Breath with intention and think about where your food comes from. Who grew it? who made it? how far did it travel? is it worth it?
lots of love
lauren
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Delhi Belly
Sometimes it's important to delay travel plans when there is a new relationship to pursue. That's the beauty of living in the moment, and travelling without a set itinerary.
I wish this new relationship was as romantic as I would imagine it to be upon reading that sentence..unfortunately it is a relationship with the squat toilet like I have yet experienced on this trip. Suffice to say it is sure nice to have a travel companion who graciously seeks water and crackers and abandons his own plans to stay an extra day in Raipur keeping a weak stomached Lauren company. Thank you Hayden!
Raipur is a bustling little city in the state of Chhattisgarh, same state as the last town of Jagdalpur. It is an area that seldom sees foreign travellers we have discovered. Apparently Jagdalpur had only 200 of us in the whole 2007 year! For this reason everyone is extremely friendly, that is if they can bring themselves to talk to us. As our young friend on the bus ride (another Santos) said, most are too shy to try their english on us because they never get a chance to use it here! So they are either too shy or simply stunned by us walking by and not sure how to react. Those that do approach us have been nothing but helpful and hospitable...eager to ask questions and answer any of ours. Santos spoke about the mysteries of the caste system here, marriage, relationships between muslims and Hindus, different laws for each and much more. very interesting.
The typical questions asked of us are: hello what is your name? from what country to you belong? you are married? no? when will you be married? (usually i'm with a male traveller)
not everyone asks these questions, but of those that are asking, these commonly come up.
And the english used by many is so delightful! A man in a Kolkata market had a stream of smiling, smile inducing sentences during his attempted sale interaction ..."oh but madam it would be my pleasure for you to buy this kulta"..."no this is not just pink, this is dirty rose and it is most becoming on you".
The woman's voice on the train station intercom was equally polite when announcing a delayed train.."The inconvenience caused is deeply regretted". These are a few examples, but they are everywhere everyday.
Tomorrow, assuming sound bowels, I"m headed to an ashram that is focused on rural sustainability and run by about 33 women. Then, perhaps, I will actually be going south, as I've been meaning to do for a month now!
Cheeriloo!
I wish this new relationship was as romantic as I would imagine it to be upon reading that sentence..unfortunately it is a relationship with the squat toilet like I have yet experienced on this trip. Suffice to say it is sure nice to have a travel companion who graciously seeks water and crackers and abandons his own plans to stay an extra day in Raipur keeping a weak stomached Lauren company. Thank you Hayden!
Raipur is a bustling little city in the state of Chhattisgarh, same state as the last town of Jagdalpur. It is an area that seldom sees foreign travellers we have discovered. Apparently Jagdalpur had only 200 of us in the whole 2007 year! For this reason everyone is extremely friendly, that is if they can bring themselves to talk to us. As our young friend on the bus ride (another Santos) said, most are too shy to try their english on us because they never get a chance to use it here! So they are either too shy or simply stunned by us walking by and not sure how to react. Those that do approach us have been nothing but helpful and hospitable...eager to ask questions and answer any of ours. Santos spoke about the mysteries of the caste system here, marriage, relationships between muslims and Hindus, different laws for each and much more. very interesting.
The typical questions asked of us are: hello what is your name? from what country to you belong? you are married? no? when will you be married? (usually i'm with a male traveller)
not everyone asks these questions, but of those that are asking, these commonly come up.
And the english used by many is so delightful! A man in a Kolkata market had a stream of smiling, smile inducing sentences during his attempted sale interaction ..."oh but madam it would be my pleasure for you to buy this kulta"..."no this is not just pink, this is dirty rose and it is most becoming on you".
The woman's voice on the train station intercom was equally polite when announcing a delayed train.."The inconvenience caused is deeply regretted". These are a few examples, but they are everywhere everyday.
Tomorrow, assuming sound bowels, I"m headed to an ashram that is focused on rural sustainability and run by about 33 women. Then, perhaps, I will actually be going south, as I've been meaning to do for a month now!
Cheeriloo!
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