Honeymoon is Over

My first six weeks in Rishikesh flew by. I met all kinds of wonderful people from all over the world and I was greatly inspired by several remarkable souls in particular. Now most of the people I connected with have moved on, as travelers tend to do, and their departure has left me feeling depleted. Another cherished wave of friends is leaving this weekend and their familiar presence will be greatly missed. Such is the nature of life on the move; connections are made, relationships are formed, and goodbyes are said. For the less evolved it could seem frustrating, but for those who understand that these connections never go away, it is a beautiful opportunity, if also a difficult one.

The end of any one phase is really just the beginning of another. Now that the honeymoon is over, a new phase of silence and solitude looms ahead. Now that I have regained the ability to read and write, I have committed myself to a six-week lecture course given by the Swami Dharmananda in my ashram, which he refers to as “Yoga Kindergarten” and sometimes “Yogi Mother Factory,” depending on his subject. Swamiji is a very knowledgeable and articulate teacher who can be prickly at times but is well worth any headaches he may provoke.

During this next phase my challenge is clear: to follow a prescribed daily regimen including breathing exercises, chanting, regular Ayurvedic meals, yoga asanas, and Ganga baths, all techniques designed to address my longstanding health issues by relaxing my body, detoxifying my mind and healing my soul. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Twenty-nine years of wrong living will take much time to correct. For this reason I am preparing for an extended healing process, likely to take years of dedicated pursuit.

Coming Home

Turns out, the ancient tradition and teachings of yoga and Indian medicine make such perfect, intuitive sense to me that I feel like I’ve finally come home. The best and simplest example is the Doctrine of Karma (a.k.a. Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion for you non-hippie types in the west). In physical terms, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. In philosophical terms, the intentions behind your thoughts, words, and actions will always come back to you. Negative thoughts, words, and actions increase your storehouse of negative karma, ensuring additional lifetimes of pain and suffering for the soul. Conversely, positive thoughts, words and actions done without expectation of a particular result increase the goodwill you will receive now and in future lives.

The most beautiful thing about this law of cause and effect is that is a simple and perfect system of natural justice. It prescribes that each and every one of us is responsible for everything we do, without exception, whether we pay for it now or later. The Law of Karma shows us that it is unnecessary and useless to judge the actions of others.

The Doctrine of Karma is just one of many ideas that correlate naturally with my intuitive understanding of the workings of the universe. What an exhilarating experience to realize that the ideas I cultivated from my understanding of modern physics, and all the ideas I have been slowly developing on my own, in the dark, over the last six years, are systematically and comprehensively supported by the ancient sciences of Yoga and Ayurveda! Eureka! In yogic philosophy there is no such thing as coincidence. When a young person seeks spirituality, it is because the seeds of spiritual pursuit had already been cultivated in a previous life (Sanskaras). Clearly, I have been drawn to India for the purpose of continuing along this spiritual path.

The Heat is On

The heat is chasing all the westerners north and each day there are fewer and fewer around. The last few days have been relentlessly humid, a small hint of the monsoon on its way. I am curious to witness the monsoon on the Ganga, and am entertaining the idea of enduring the ungodly heat for the next three months. When Dr. Vishnu talks about the viral diseases that take hold after 42 degrees (Celsius), I am intrigued. Viral disease in 42 degrees of humid heat sounds remarkably miserable. To live through this would indeed be a testament to mental strength.

Anyone close to me knows that I believe in the inherent adaptability of human beings. This explains my insistence on enduring extreme heat as well as my persistent efforts to appreciate Marmite ™, and my conviction that toilet paper is optional.

The moon has been gone for the last week, and without it I feel lost. Last night we finally had some thunder, rain and incredible lightning. The power continues to go on and off randomly in true India fashion. It’s a beautiful thing to witness Swargashram go completely dark, especially from the rooftop of one of the cafes overlooking the Ganga. It’s quite another to lose your ceiling fan in my room in the midst of a sweltering afternoon. Sweat dripping down the forehead, even at rest!

My body continues to adapt to the conditions; My feet are toughening up, my nails are nearly gone, my skin darker and my face wilder. The heat has made it impossible to choose clothing. I need a creative dressing strategy to deal with the coming summer season; clothes must be cool but body must also be completely covered. I have a sari, but five meters of cloth is unappealing, even if I could tie it correctly.

Quintessential India

When I arrived, I realized I needed a time-telling device. I purchased a small clock in the market for 50 rupees. Within days it fell on the floor and stopped. So I purchased another one for another 50 rupees. This one stops and starts randomly, with no apparent motivation. Thus I am constantly uncertain whether the time on my clock is accurate or not. At first I felt frustrated. What time is it?? But then I began to realize that my poorly functioning clock had much to teach me about faith and the relativity of time. I could just alter my perspective, trust that all my engagements would work out okay, and choose to be satisfied with only an approximation of the time. Turns out I can usually make an educated guess about the time based on the clock and the position of the sun, and this seems to be good enough.

When I reflect back on the depths of misery I experienced in Our Nation’s Fine Capital City, I feel deep gratitude. Without this experience to test the depth and strength of my spirit, I could not now experience the overwhelming joy and appreciation now in my heart. Every day I am thankful for each turn in the path of my life, including all the warts and scars. I’m grateful for the people who have faced the trials and tribulations of life by my side and for those who have offered unconditioned love and support. Our spirits are all interconnected, whether we are aware of it or not.

BIG hugs and kisses,
With much love and light to all,
From the holy city of Rishikesh,
LMA

PS. Food is medicine. Food is life. Food is sacred. Please never forget to appreciate it!

“Oh Lord,
Bless this food
Let it nourish our souls and bring vitality to our spirits
That we may continue to seek the path of light and love
Oh Lord
Let no one go without
This sacred source of Life
That we are so blessed to share together now
Amen”

PPS. There are so many great resources here..please feel free to convey questions and I will research them!!