कुम्भ मेला 2010

Are you ready for this? Today is a holiday! A quadruply auspicious one, called Somvati Amavasya. It's one of the eleven bathing days during the Kumbha Mela, and it's a major one.. hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Indians have flooded the area, and they all seem to want a photo..

Not only is there no moon today (already a traditionally auspicious occasion), but for the first time in 740 years, the sun and the moon are occupying the same zodiac sign. And, it's Monday, which is Shiva day, and this is a Shiva town. And it's Maha Kumbha Mela. And..well, every day is a holiday, of course.

. . . . .

Some people need a coffee or a cigarette to help them pass a bowel movement, but for me the telephone works best. So for many years I have had the habit of talking on the telephone while using the toilet (to the dismay of some).

Earlier this week I was doing just this, chatting away with my dear grandmother in the toilet at Parmarth Niketan Ashram, when the unthinkable happened; my mobile slipped from my hands and was mercilessly swallowed up by the revolting sewage system under Ram Jhulla.

Once again it's easy come, easy go. My reaction? I laughed myself silly, of course. Then I got a new one. And this time my mobile number has lots of sevens, so I imagine it was a good thing in the end..

The Divine Play Called Lila

Anything can and does happen at any time here in the Kesh. Last Sunday evening I had just stepped into the main street of Lakshman Jhulla when a jeep full of locals appeared from nowhere and stopped directly in front of me. Did I want to join them for an elephant safari? But, yes!

Wild elephants roam the hills above Ram Jhulla, as evidenced by the fresh elephant poops dotting the area. As we cruised along the dark, twisting mountain roads, laughing and joking with the music turned up, I had a moment of nostalgia for the shenanigans of my high school days. And even though we didn't get to see any wild elephants, we did see five rabbits, two wild dogs, a raccoon-looking creature and one fresh elephant poop. All in all I'd say it was a rather successful safari adventure.

My days of sewa (service) at Ved Niketan continue and the irony is unmistakable; seven years ago I was running around like a maniac in "service" to The Honorable Congressman Bob Filner (Hi Bob!), and today I am doing nearly the same tasks, at the same speed, for my dear Swamiji. Politics is politics, only this time there are no pantyhose and no cocktail parties..

There are more than a few similarities between Bob and Swamiji. Both have a somewhat grumpy disposition, both dislike socialising with people and both are fond of sweets, among other things. When Swamiji scolds me, I have flashbacks to my days with Bob ("Don't kiss Victor Carillo! Get information from him!") All that time I thought my political work was a misdirected enterprise, but today I see that my skills of discretion and diplomacy are turning out to quite useful.

Since last week, Operation Bring Swamiji To America has been in full swing, and now that the terms of agreement have been successfully negotiated, all that remains is the footwork, not the least of which is the visa application process. Soon I will accompany Swamiji to Delhi for a one-on-one with the folks at the US Embassy, and with a little help from God, the visa will be granted and Swamiji will be heading to Denver, Colorado, hopefully in April.

And I will be released - at least temporarily - from my service, free to return to Deutschland to pursue the next exciting chapter in my life...!

And should any of my friends or family in the San Diego area be interested, Swamiji will be making a side trip to Encinitas to meet with Dayamata, the current head of the Self-Realization Fellowship (the ashram founded by Parmahansa Yogananda), and I'm quite sure a meeting can be arranged...

. . . . .

That's all the musing I can muster for now, dear friends. Spring is here, and that means all the many creatures of the world are emerging once again. Already I have a number of new roommates, and at the moment a tiny mouse is roaming around under my table...let the fun begin!

Sending my love and best wishes to all,
Until next time...Om Narayana,
LMA