All Roads Do Lead to Rishikesh

Did you know that people eat on metal dishes here and drink out of metal glasses?  It's apparently more sanitary.  And of course, they never break!

Typical lunch or dinner at Parmarth

Sifting Rice at the Ashram

I had Sunday brunch a couple weeks ago at a restaurant that's just out the back of Parmarth called Little Italy.  I ordered the bruschetta, which was very nummy.  I eat fresh veggies and fruit whenever I can because most of the meals served at the ashram include all cooked veggies. And the pancake that accompanied it was interesting, since no eggs are allowed here, but it was still good.  And while the cappuccino wasn't as tasty as the Honey Hut, it was still a welcome treat.

Brunch at Little Italy

I went to the main market of Rishikesh across Ganga from Parmarth.  If one doesn't walk across Ram Jhula and take a taxi or rickshaw and travels by car, it takes a good 45 minutes to get to the main part of Rishikesh.  Oh, my gosh, the noise!  My senses were totally assaulted. Everyone honks, whether it's needed or not so the cacophony is overwhelming.  It really helped me to appreciate the relative peace and quiet that we have on this side of the Ganga, other than when there's a constant barrage of music as is going on right now in the room next to me right now. It's another religious celebration!

Looking across the Ganga from the Other Side of Rishikesh

Street Vendors

Street Scene in Rishikesh

Pooja was accompanying me and she needed to look for shoes and so we stopped at several shoe stores.  Who knew that Elvis was in the house?!

Elvis is in The House!  

We also stopped at every kitchen stall to ask if they had a French press for me.  No luck. 

I've reached that point in my stay where the rose coloured glasses have come off.  But having lived overseas before and in many different cities and states, the adjustment to that phase has passed pretty quickly.  I'm now more an observer and can think, "Isn't that interesting?"  One of the things I have become aware of though is how my judgements of others gets triggered. GREAT practice for me to come back within and out of my head!

Yoga Class Being Filmed for Documentary

And it seems every day there is one lesson or another for me, whether it be in learning the fine points about how the ashram runs, relationships, etc.  But isn't that true in any situation in life?Just because I'm now living in an ashram that doesn't remove the human equation.  Because of the spiritual energy here things may seem more pronounced but ultimately, it's all an opportunity for our continued return to source energy.

In Parmarth

Indian Pilgrims at Parmarth

Our office mouse made himself known to me the other day.  I have a plastic bag hanging by my desk for recyclables and I heard this crinkling.  I looked and there he was scurrying around in the bag.  So little and cute but I decided he needed to be out in his habitat and so I emptied the bag outside.  A little while later I noticed a cat around the corner.  Wonder if the mouse was a meal for the cat?

I hosted a Swiss TV crew that was here for a couple of days to interview Pujya Swamiji and Sadhviji.  Truly, the world does come by!  They are filming a documentary about 3 guru's in India and it will be shown on Swiss TV in December.  I sat in on their interviews and it was a delight to hear Pujya Swamiji talk about when he met his guru for the first time and the ensuing years. He was very animated and razor sharp.

Later in the day, I had my first one on one conversation with Swamiji,  It was interesting how that happened.  We were waiting around after satsang so that the crew could say farewell to Swamiji.  One of the pilgrims came up to me and said that she wanted to talk with Swamiji but was afraid.  Essentially I told her that when it was meant to happen, it would.  When I returned to my office, Sadhviji called to say that Swamiji was ready to talk with me.  I said that I hadn't asked to speak with him.  Anyway, I went and it was beautiful having the few minutes with him. Later when I was brushing my teeth in my room, I remembered the conversation that I'd had with the woman about talking with Swamiji.  Crossed signals or was she voicing a desire that I had?

Although we still have many hot and humid days, we are beginning to have more cool days with less humidity.  That is very welcome!

Ganga between Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula

Another sevak has returned.  His name is Siddharth.  He apparently does seva here about 8 months out of the year and then returns to Gujarat to work in his business the other 4 months. And of course, I know his cousin in America!  She is a Soul Coach as well, lives in DC and we met a few years ago.   

Aarti always has a different energy when Swamiji is not here.  The other night a major Bollywood singer  attended and performed.  Bollywood comes to Parmarth!  Then last night we had a special observance to encourage the implementation of the UN Global Goals that World Leaders will be signing today.  It was called #Light The Way and #Prayer for Everyone.  It was again an excellent opportunity for me to practice mindfulness when one of the ashram folks hijacked the mike and droned on for what seemed like an eternity!

Rishikumars Processing to Ganga Aarti

Prayer for Everyone and Light The Way 

Finally, The Camino comes to Parmarth!  This week I was given a heads up by my Facebook friend and fellow Camino alum, Marguerite Bennett, that Bill Bennett was coming to Rishikesh and that she wanted he and I to take a picture doing the Margie Leg--her signature pose.  I thought, hmmm, that name sounds familiar and sure enough, he and I had communicated about something else when I first came to Parmarth.  Long story short, we met, he and his wife were leading a tour group of 7 other Camino veterans and we spent the last couple of days meeting up at meals.  So, the Camino does continue to give and all roads do lead to Rishikesh!

Bill Bennett and I Doing the Margie Leg!

The Camino Comes to Parmarth!

13 Minutes of My Day

Here is a video that I shot yesterday that shows you my room, walk to my office and my office. 

I think it gives you a good flavor of a part of my life.  Enjoy!

I Just Killed a Lizard

Another reminder that I'm in India.  I just sat down at my desk and found that I had inadvertently smushed a baby lizard at some point, I'm guessing today, under a a small stack of paperwork that's sitting on my desk.  Poor thing.  I guess we're now inextricably intertwined.  We also have a mouse that I think resides in here as well.  

I realize that I need to start taking more pictures.  That probably means I need to get out of my office more or take pictures of things that I walk by every day.  

My health has been improving day by day.  And I've also made some decisions to get ahead of the usual cycle that I go through with this type of sickness so rather than let myself drag it out and then take action, I got on top of it this time.  Yay, me!  It really has made the rounds of the ashram though.

Last Saturday at this time, there was a huge Lord Krishna celebration going on in the ashram for about 4 hours. Here is a picture of one of the Rishikumars dressed up as Lord Krishna and a couple of others from the ashram dressed as a couple of his wives, I believe.  I used to know more about Hinduism than I remember now.  Time to study up on the finer points!

On the way back from purchasing material a week or so ago, Pooja, one of the people who takes care of me, showed me the back way to the ashram.  It was so pleasant--nice and quiet and not the hustle and bustle that usually represents the market.  

Since it had been a month from the time I acquired my Indian sim card for my phone, it was time to update the charges.  I went back to the market store where I had purchased it but the owner was back in his home town as his father had died.  Being the oldest son, he needed to return and take care of the arrangements, etc.  But I discovered that I can pay for whatever I need for my phone online!  It's really amazing to think that you can just choose whatever services you want and it immediately gets added to your phone.  As I've mentioned, the coverage is so inexpensive.  And so many people have cell phones but more than half of the country has no or limited access to toilets.  This is one of the major initiatives that Swamiji has embraced for several years.  

One of my favorite foods thus far is kofta!  They're really yummy.  They look like meatballs but are made from chickpeas and served with gravy.  More, please!!!  

I'm a happy camper.  I got my other cabinet for my room.  Now I can hang some of my clothes!!! So what if it only took about 3 weeks?!  I can now totally unpack.  

I've realized that it seems like the whole world ends up in Rishikesh, sooner or later.  I've met people from all over the world here.  When are you arriving?!  

One of my new outfits that cost me $3 to have sewn!  

Eclectic Observations

I just looked at my notes for the past week or so and again, it's an eclectic collection of observations.  I've now been in country 4 weeks.  And I have been hosting flu-like symptoms the past couple of days. Apparently, I'm not the only one.  I've been given a tea mixture that has honey and all sorts of herbs to drink a few times--I think it's called cara.  Plus, kitchari, the Indian equivalent to chicken noodle soup but without the chicken or noodles!

I definitely need to take pictures of every day things to post so that you get the full flavor and understanding.  For instance, whenever I shower, which right now, due to the heat, is a couple of times a day, I have to squeegee the bathroom floor because the shower has no dividing wall. Living in the U.S. definitely is easier in many respects!

You may or may not be aware but the symbol that many of us think of as the Nazi swastika actually is a holy Hindu, Buddhist, and Jainist symbol representing auspiciousness.   The first recorded use of the symbol dates back to 10,000 BCE in the Ukraine, thought to represent the sun or the 4 aspects of nature.  The reason I mention this is that I've noticed the symbol in various places and on shirts.  

Everything takes longer here it seems, whether it's getting my computer fixed, which has had numerous hiccups, getting a cooler removed from my room or getting another chest put into my room just to name a few things .  I still contend that the climate has a lot to do with the pace.  I also have noticed that just because someone tells you that something has been done, it doesn't mean it's so.  I'm not sure if it's to avoid conflict, which doesn't make sense because sooner or later, the truth becomes evident.  I'm also not saying this trait doesn't exist in the U.S. but it just seems more evident here.

I took my first dip in Maa Ganga!  It was really refreshing.  Although we're closer to the source here, it's still not recommended to swallow the water.  It definitely helps to cool off though on these hot, humid days!

I had my first cappuccino and chocolate treat at the Honey Hut.  I believe it's actually a chain but it's right outside the ashram in the market AND it has air conditioning!  Heaven!  I will definitely be going back.

This past week Raksha Bandhan was celebrated.  Its when a sister ties a rakhi--a sacred thread on her brother's wrist.  It symbolizes the love and prayers for her brother.  And he takes a lifelong vow to protect her.  It's always on the full moon--Shravan Poornima.  We celebrated here at the ashram by tying rakhi's on the Rishikumars--the young boys who attend the Gurukuhl on site.

I went out for brunch last Sunday at a hotel called Sanskriti.  It's across Ganga in Rishikesh proper.  So that meant that I walked across Ram Jhula, one of the bridges that crosses Ganga. I won't say I felt totally safe but people cross it all the time so what are ya gonna do?!  On the return trip, there were lots of baby monkeys crossing on the cables.  A really cute sight was one baby hanging onto its mama upside down!  And the brunch was delish!  I'm not a fan of cottage cheese but the cottage cheese and tofu omelet was great!  

Monkey right outside my office

Another first was eating Gujarati food here at the ashram.  There are many folks from the state of Gujarat who come for about a month and they set up their own kitchen.  My colleague took me there for lunch a couple of times.  Their food is a little more sweet.  And they just keep coming by and offering you more and more!

We have lots of intermittent power breaks.  Thank goodness most computer programs save things almost instantly otherwise, I'd be up a creek!  Or I'll go to my room during the day and will go to turn on the lights and nada.  This is a daily occurrence.  

I got my laptop reformatted for Rs500--that's about $7.70!  Was it perfect, no but for that price, I can deal.

One thing I've noticed since arriving is that many Westerners that I know will ask me how long I will be here.  Interestingly, none of the Indian people ask me that.  Time is such an interesting construct.  

And finally, I heard my first helicopter since leaving Washington, DC!  When it's noticeable, you know it's not common.  Now chanting--it's become almost like background sound.  Yes, I'm living in India at an ashram!

My new friend Ishika!

And the moon looks just the same!