Every Day Is ThanksGiving at Parmarth!!!

In the continuing theme of the world coming to Parmarth, during the middle of the month, we had an Indian classical musician and dancer who lives in Paris now entertain us during Ganga Aarti.  His name is Raghunath Manet.  

Continuing in the body theme--Kurt, a friend who is visiting from the States, gifted me with a full body massage at the ayurvedic center that we have on the grounds here at Parmarth. At one point I had two women working on me.  Yes, I was a bit sore the next day!  Lots of oil was used including one that drips oil from a vessel above your third eye.  You end up in a steam contraption that was REALLY hot.  You leave the oil in your hair and so I went to Ganga Aarti slathered in oil.  I had combed my hair a bit before I put it back up.  When I went back to my room later, I had a minor freak out when I discovered A LOT of ant like things on my comb, I guess from the oil.  Needless to say, I showered and washed my hair well.  I didn't want to wake up in the morning with my face covered with crawly things from the oil in my hair!

This same day folks from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation attended aarti as they had been meeting with Pujya Swamiji and Sadhviji about working together on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) projects in the future.  Amazing possibilities abound here!

The next day we had a PlanetSkool Concert here that featured a band from Estonia, Hansvi Tonk, an Indian dancer, and some of our own Rishikumars and girls that live at the ashram dancing.  

Around this time we had Niklas Rueffer arrive to do seva as a photographer to update our photos for the ashram.  He stayed with us for a couple of weeks.  How fortunate we've been to have him here!!!  He is a talented photographer who was called on to step up to the plate for situations that weren't necessarily familiar to him being someone who is more familiar with photographing models.  He is missed but his images will remain.  The below photos are of Niklas photographing the children at one of our schools in Rishikesh.  By the way, he noticed that Naomi Campbell was attending Ganga Aarti one night.  

On the 18th we celebrated the 50th Mahasamadhi (anniversary of the transition) of the founder of Parmarth NIketan, Swami Shukdevanandji.  There was a celebration that included a stage filled with many saints.  Here's a picture of some of them plus Rangoli--folk art made from flour and rice.  Another lesson about impermanence.  

And about this time I woke up feeling burned out for the first time since I arrived.  So, I tamped my energy level down a notch or two and was kind to myself.  Amazing how quickly things can change when we stop to acknowledge what's going on and honor ourselves.  

There are two foot/cycle bridges here in Rishikesh that allows us to cross Maa Ganga.  One is called Ram Jhula, which is closest to Parmarth and further away is Laxman Jhula.  I've walked over by Laxman Jhula area before but never had walked across before.  So, did that in the past week.  It is quite interesting but I really prefer the area around Parmarth.  Laxman Jhula area seems really touristy to me.  Following are some images from that area

Laxman Jhula

And then we had the U.S. Ambassador Richard Verma and his family plus his wife's sister and her family visit us here in the past few days.  Ambassador Verma has known Pujya Swamij for over 35 years.  One of the things that he did while he was here was lay the foundation for a bio-digester toilet at a girls inter-college here in Rishikesh. 

Ambassador Verma and Sadhviji

Some of our Rishikumars

And one of the sweeties from one of our schools--how cute is she?!

Passages

Wow - so much has happened since I last wrote that I haven't really been keeping many notes.  I think this posting may have more photos than anything but I don't want to overwhelm with an excess of photos either.  

So, I will cover the highlights! A friend, Kurt, from the States arrived on the 30th of October, along with the Danube Meets Ganga program.  This program consisted of 14 Austrian musicians, directed by the twice Grammy winning Vienna Boys Choir director, plus the Austrian ambassador to India and am actual ceremonial merging of the Danube River with Ganga.  Of course, this happened while the Austrian musicians played the Blue Danube Waltz in the background!

Danube Meets Ganga

Then the night of 31 October we had a group of Israeli and Arab musicians here as a part of UPLIFT performing Om, Shalom, Salaam, Amen.  This is a project of the heart from Bharat Mitra, one of the founders of Organic India and UPLIFT.  The musicians were here for several days taping what will become a music video to open our hearts so that we truly recognize that we are all ONE.  

On the way to Ramana's Garden

It was really fun to meet and host the folks who were here as a part of the UPLIFT program. Many of them hung out in my office due to the WiFi connectivity.  Such a talented and heart-centered group.  I'm especially happy because at least one of them is going to be moving to the ashram with his family and is such a huge help with us on our sound system, Internet connectivity and electrical wiring.  One of the highlights of this time was a visit to Ramana's Garden, which is an orphanage, school and restaurant near here.  Besides it being the best meal that I've had since arriving in Rishikesh, it was truly heartwarming to see what Prabhavati has created over the past 25 years.  Each child has a savings account.

A couple of the dorms--how cool are these?!

Bharat Mitra, Israeli & Arab musicians and the kids from Ramana's Garden singing
Om, Shalom, Salaam, Amen!

Paulo has spent months at the Nepalese/India border trying to get much needed tents
to the folks of Nepal.

Faces of Ramana's Garden

This beautiful child fell asleep in Bharat Mitra's arms while everyone was singing!

On the 3rd of November I was able to participate in my first Antim Sanskara or Ash Immersion, which was truly an honor.  

From 4 November to 7 November, I, along with Kurt were invited at the last minute to attend a yatra by Pujya Swamiji to the first ever Yoga Festival in Jageshwar, a pilgrimage town about 343 kilometers east of here.  So an 8 hour train ride and 5+ hour bus ride later we arrived. However, when we woke up the next morning and saw the beautiful, sacred temples that had been built hundreds of years ago and the electrifying forests, it was well worth the time spent traveling.  It was fun to partake of the local culture that was presented in song and dance, along with the terrific food that they bestowed upon us.  Part of us spent the night in a Eco friendly hotel that had been built on top of a foothill of the Himalayas.  As you might imagine, the view the next morning was spectacular!  Even the 5+ hour delay on the way back, which found us sitting on the train tracks due to a derailment by a train in front of us, doesn't discourage me from returning!  Call me crazy!  

There were some 70 Chinese yoga students who met us at Jageshwar, who were here actually to attend our first ever Indo-China Yoga Week.  It truly is one event after another here!

And then we celebrated Diwali - The Festival of Light - yesterday, which is of course still being celebrated.  The special ceremony during Ganga Aarti was lovely and then there was a meditation afterward in Swamiji's garden.  I received many text messages from my new Parmarth family during the day wishing me a Happy Diwali plus I was invited to tea by Rameshji and Poonamji, also part of my Parmarth family.  And the sweets and gifts that I received throughout the day warmed my heart.  I could do without all the fireworks.  I see very little beautiful displays just a lot of incredibly loud noises.  I think many of the people here must be partially deaf after what I've heard!

Happy Diwali!

So, that's most of the recent activity that has been going on.  I know there's more that I've missed but let me just close by saying that while all this has been going on externally, whats been happening internally for me is equally rich.  So many wonderful teachers walk across my path on a daily basis which allows me to remember why we as human beings exist--to truly be in the moment and to love one another and recognize the divinity that connects us all.  

Welcome to the Land of Bodily Noises!

I don't know if it's because people don't realize that someone resides in my office or perhaps it's more that people in India have a different take on bodily noises than those in the West.  I think it's the second supposition because I've heard the same noises when I'm walking through the ashram or market.  Basically, people feel free to burp, spit, blow their noses without tissues and allow gas to escape from their butt cheeks.  It creates quite a cacophony of sounds on a daily basis!  Just keeping it real!  And I'm sure there's something spiritual in there.  

Moving on - these are some shots that I took around the ashram on October 16th.  

Laundry

More Laundry

Shiva and devotees

Maa Ganga

Shiva Temple

I was invited to attend a production of the Dead Poet's Society put on by the students of The Doon School in Dehradun, some 45 km from Rishikesh or 1.5 hour drive--yay roads!  The Doon School was celebrating their Founder's Week.  It's an all boys elite school and one must be Indian in order to attend, although daughters of staff can attend.  Gorgeous grounds.  I think that Hari, my driver, also got to broaden his horizons by attending the play with me.  A couple of observations from my outing was that there were cleaner streets in parts of Dehradun than I'd seen in Rishikesh and more Muslims.  Pipe was being laid along the side of the road between Rishikesh and Dehradun and like other construction, it was labor intensive.  Imagine seeing people laying pipe in the U.S. barefoot!

I celebrated my anniversary of arriving into the U.S. from Korea with Adrianna and Shaochen at Tip Top restaurant.  The Nutella crepe and Momo's were terrific!  I learned that there's also a Korean Indian connection.  "According to Sam Kuk Yusa, the ancient history of Korea, Queen Huh, wife of legendary King Suro, who founded the Karak Kingdom, was born in Ayodhya."

Had my first sampling of coconut chutney - yum!  

Two lizards were chasing each other on the wall's of my office.  Never a dull moment!

I notice that there are very few strollers here.  It would be kind of difficult to push them as sidewalks are limited.

On my walk to the German Bakery towards Laxman Jhula, I noticed a man knitting by his stand.  His name is Sudamaji and he has been knitting for the past 30 years.  I asked him how he started and he said that his mom taught him.  Nice man and beautiful items.

Sudamaji

Bansi - Has worked at the Ashram for 30 years

Shiva Monkeys!

Construction Monkeys

Sugar Cane Juice