India 2018

I’m late in finishing and sending this! Also, warning, It’s a bit lengthy and I didn’t proof it well.  XO 

Feb. 28th - The last 3 weeks have flown by! Waking up at 5:15am most days for an hour of meditation followed by 1.5 hours of yoga. Afternoons we had class on a variety of subjects. Before bed another 30 mins of meditation.

The travel this year was slightly different in that we went to Varanasi. Varanasi is a very traditional old city, one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.  There were some western tourists, of course, but the real life of India can very much still be seen. The clothing never ceases to delight me. My favorite thing is making eye contact with curious woman and exchanging a sincere smile that crosses all language and cultural barriers. I hope to return and spend a little more time there.

If you’re sensitive to death skip this part- 

Varanasi is said to be one of the 7 most sacred places in India.  It is the place of the burning ghats. Families pilgrimage to this part of the Ganges river to burn/cremate their dead. The burning appears to continue day and night. The class system is present even in the segregation of the burning area. Poor people burn their family members directly on the banks, then there are different levels stepping up the bank where raised platforms of sorts are provided dependably on your social status.  There are no woman to be seen during the burning or in the area in general. The bodies are wrapped in gauze and then covered with layers of beautiful ornate fabrics. The upper class are burned in these fabrics but the lower classes remove the fabric prior to burning leaving just the gauze.  

Many people go to varinassi to die. It is considered a great honor to be there and many people believe that dying there leads to moksha sooner. Moksha, means liberation.  In simple terms is the end to the cycle of life and rebirth, the ultimate enlightenment.  It is a powerful thing to witness and contemplate these things, I feel very fortunate.

We visited Navdanya, an organic seed saving farm. They are fighting mono-crops and genetically engineered farming from the ground up. Providing seeds,  training and support to farmers in India. To learn more about them see the following: http://www.navdanya.org/site/

We had a last minute invite to a school. Of course I wasn’t excited or interested in going but went with an openness assuming there would be something interesting to see. I imagined a bunch of snotty nosed kids running around screaming. But thankfully I was not in the USA so that was not the case! We were greeted as royalty! All the children, teachers and admin lined up to welcome us, with songs and traditional blessings. We were served tea and snacks followed by a performance of poems, plays, and dance. The children pulled us up to dance with them. Although I was very embarrassed I was also filled with joy and laughter. My cheeks hurt at the end from smiling so much. The children were so happy to share with us. Before they served us lunch we prayed in a large circle with the children and after they hugged us and some older boys showed respect by reaching down to touch my feet. This took me by surprise as I had never experienced such treatment.  

The school is a non profit and takes in students that have challenges both financial and developmental.  It was amazing to see the work being done, such as a teen who couldn’t talk before arriving there performing a skit he wrote. There were deaf and mute children performing in the dances and plays along side the rest of the kids.  If you are interested in knowing more about this school check here: https://m.facebook.com/NanhiDunya/

Rishikesh was wonderful as well.  The highlight there of course the Ganges river as it flows through the middle of the town with two bridges that I love to cross! Cows, motorbikes, people and monkeys! It’s an amazing river.  Yes I did dunk myself 3 times and then swim around.  It’s cold but I think I am prepared after many years of swimming in snow run-off rivers. :). 

Rishikesh is also home to the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, AKA the Beatles ashram.  I would have loved to have meditated along side them when it was in it’s heyday.  The ruins were beautiful and are now part of a tiger and elephant sanctuary.

These trips always go so quickly and I always want to stay longer. Especially, given that I was just sweating in the sun and am now headed back to London where apparently some Siberian wind situation is causing snow and freezing weather. 

March 13 - I arrived in London on my return trip on March 1st.  There was a snow storm (very little snow but they weren’t prepared) and cold weather delaying my flight out of India by a few hours.  It also took me quite a bit longer to reach Frank and Betty’s place due to the slow moving train/metro service (they do not call it metro).  Once resettled there I was able to meet up with my Almost Monday haiku ex coworker and his family!  It was great to see them after at least 6 years.  I also enjoyed my first High Tea in London!  Such cute little sandwiches with the crust cut off!  

I arrived in Portland on March 5th and the jet lag was something to contend with this time! It’s past my bedtime but I wanted to send this off.  I was told today that some people assume I’m not home until I send a “I’m sitting in the airport” recap email.  :}. 

Love and Kisses if appropriate,

Serena