Let's see...the last time I wrote, we were headed to Kanyakumari on the southern tip of India to visit the Devi temples. We went to the Suchindrum temple which is devoted to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. This is an important site for devout Hindis. Brahama is the consciousness or creative force, Vishnu is the preserver and Shiva is the destroyer. Shiva and Vishnu and the other gods are not seen as separate from Brahma; they are different energetic manifestations or forms of the same energy of consciousness/creation which is Brahma. In addition, the female goddesses, the Devi, are again different manifestations of the same force: Shakti. Shakti means energy or feminine power/energy. The Suchindrum temple was constructed in the 17th century and took 6 years to build. Both the inside and the outside are immaculately ornate. The temple is made entirely of stone and Hindu gods are carved directly from the stone pillars. There were also columns of alloy that you could play; each column had a different pitch. We made offers of rose water to Hanuman, which represents the most devotional force of Brahman. Hanuman takes the form of a monkey. Each time one enters the temple, they are blessed with a dot of sandalwood on the forehead to represent one's prayers and three lines of chalk or powder to represent ash. The ash represents fire which symbolizes the ability to transform energy. Today the temple is used less frequently and for special celebrations but I tried to imagine what is was like to walk and worship in this temple long ago. It was so esoteric and almost golthic like.
After we worshiped, we sat at the convergence of the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea to watch the sunset.
The next day, we took the train to Varkala, a small tourist town on the west coast of Kerela. Varkala was interesting because it was a resort the appealed to the western traveler and the atmosphere was so different from the rest of India that I didn't feel like I was even in India! It was sort of a relief from the hectic-ness that is India and we were able to swim in the Arabian Ocean. The sun is so intense here; my poor moonbeam skin didn't stand a chance and I left Varkala with a sun burn. But it was so fun playing in the ocean! The surf was quite strong and pulled to both the right and left sides of the beach.
From Varkala, I took the train to Cochin and I LOVE Cochin! Cochin was colonized first by the Portuguese, then the Dutch and finally the British. There are numerous open fruit, vegetable and spice markets. Cochin is known for its spices, oils and Aruyvedic herbs. I went to the market that specializes in growing and harvesting herbs for making Aruyvedic medicine. Also, there once was a large Jewish population in Cochin and there is still a flourishing Jewish market.
Tonight, I am boarding the Patna Express, bound for Varinasi. I have a 60 hour, yes, that is correct, train ride to Varinasi. I plan to work at the Basic Human Needs school in Varanasi and I will see the Ganga as well as Boda Gaya. Boda Gaya is the primary Buddhist city in India.
Yes! So that is the catch up. I have a couple of other things to describe: the Poojas (spiritual offerings) I participated in at the Ashram as well as describing more of the Indian culture. It is sometimes hard to get to the internet.
I hope all is well. We chanted Om Namo Narayanaya at the Ashram and it is the mantra for world peace.
Om Namo Narayanaya.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Reflections from the Ashram
Om Namah Sivaya,
I am leaving the ashram tomorrow morning. I was planning to stay until Wednesday, but I have to catch a train from the city of Cochin, to Varinasi by Sat. Nov. 1. I wanted to spend some time in some of the other cities in Kerala before leaving. Tomorrow, I am heading for Kayakumari which is the most southernly city in India. Kanyakumari is a sacred Hindu city dedicated to the Devi goddesses. Also, the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean all converge in Kanyakumari.
Living in the ashram has been a transformational experience. It has been interesting to be both the participant and the observer of my experience, watching the mental, emotional, psychological and physical changes as they occur.
Initially, the solitude and the retreat provided by the ashram made me quite uncomfortable. I could feel my ego resisting the perceived confines of the circumstances. My ego was struggling to accept the separation from that which it is accustomed to using to establish its identity. The renunciation of the familiar provides the context for challenging and dissolving parts the ego. It is interesting how quickly you become aware of all that you are attached to! Chocolate, sugar, caffeine, TALKING, sleeping, hot water for the shower... But moving through this challenge was part of my intended experience and I am grateful for its teachings, even if initially I questioned why I was here and constructed a calendar to cross off the dates counting down the days I'd be at the ashram in an effort to ease the discomfort. I had to keep reassuring myself that I would adapt. In India there is a saying: Adapt, adjust, accommodate.
Through the yogic practice, my disposition began to shift. The discomfort was actually alleviated by the rigidity of the daily schedule. I observed the gains I was making daily in both flexibility and strength and my body was reflecting how important this practice is for the wellbeing of my body. This understanding through the physical body is what led my mind to a tangible and significant "reason" for my presence here. I felt my mind shift into a state of ease and I felt grateful for being here. In the 11 days I have been here, I have made recognizable gains in not only flexibility and strength, but also in my sitting posture. My hips are open enough and my back strong enough to support me comfortably through two hours of mediation each day. This alone is making my meditations more focused and more fruitful. This experience has been remarkably beneficial and truly wonderful.
My interpretations of the relationship between the union of body and mind.
In Sanskrit, yoga means to yolk or unify. The union is said to be two-fold: One, it is the union between the mind, body and spirit, and two, the highest truest meaning of yoga is the union between the individual self and the universal self or consciousness. In Hatha yoga, which is the form I am practicing here, the asanas and the pranayama is designed to balance the masculine and feminine energies of the body. In each asana there is relationship between expanding/stretching the muscle and relaxing the area being stretched. There are also two components: dynamic and static. Dynamic is getting into the posture while static is the holding of the posture. Asana in Sanskrit means steady posture. The breath is used to initiate and guide the movement of the posture and once in the static position, the inhalation is used to deepen the stretch, while the exhailation is used to relax the muscles and "sink down" into the stretch. This balance between expansion and relaxation oxygenates and detoxifies the muscles and removes tension to allow the body to stretch further. From what I have observed, the body and mind are mirrors for the same process. As the body expands and relaxes, the mind too is expanding, and stretching beyond levels of perceived comfort, beyond its limitations while letting go of tension, detoxifying and settling into deeper levels of concentration, calmness, clarity patience and peace.
I am leaving the ashram tomorrow morning. I was planning to stay until Wednesday, but I have to catch a train from the city of Cochin, to Varinasi by Sat. Nov. 1. I wanted to spend some time in some of the other cities in Kerala before leaving. Tomorrow, I am heading for Kayakumari which is the most southernly city in India. Kanyakumari is a sacred Hindu city dedicated to the Devi goddesses. Also, the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean all converge in Kanyakumari.
Living in the ashram has been a transformational experience. It has been interesting to be both the participant and the observer of my experience, watching the mental, emotional, psychological and physical changes as they occur.
Initially, the solitude and the retreat provided by the ashram made me quite uncomfortable. I could feel my ego resisting the perceived confines of the circumstances. My ego was struggling to accept the separation from that which it is accustomed to using to establish its identity. The renunciation of the familiar provides the context for challenging and dissolving parts the ego. It is interesting how quickly you become aware of all that you are attached to! Chocolate, sugar, caffeine, TALKING, sleeping, hot water for the shower... But moving through this challenge was part of my intended experience and I am grateful for its teachings, even if initially I questioned why I was here and constructed a calendar to cross off the dates counting down the days I'd be at the ashram in an effort to ease the discomfort. I had to keep reassuring myself that I would adapt. In India there is a saying: Adapt, adjust, accommodate.
Through the yogic practice, my disposition began to shift. The discomfort was actually alleviated by the rigidity of the daily schedule. I observed the gains I was making daily in both flexibility and strength and my body was reflecting how important this practice is for the wellbeing of my body. This understanding through the physical body is what led my mind to a tangible and significant "reason" for my presence here. I felt my mind shift into a state of ease and I felt grateful for being here. In the 11 days I have been here, I have made recognizable gains in not only flexibility and strength, but also in my sitting posture. My hips are open enough and my back strong enough to support me comfortably through two hours of mediation each day. This alone is making my meditations more focused and more fruitful. This experience has been remarkably beneficial and truly wonderful.
My interpretations of the relationship between the union of body and mind.
In Sanskrit, yoga means to yolk or unify. The union is said to be two-fold: One, it is the union between the mind, body and spirit, and two, the highest truest meaning of yoga is the union between the individual self and the universal self or consciousness. In Hatha yoga, which is the form I am practicing here, the asanas and the pranayama is designed to balance the masculine and feminine energies of the body. In each asana there is relationship between expanding/stretching the muscle and relaxing the area being stretched. There are also two components: dynamic and static. Dynamic is getting into the posture while static is the holding of the posture. Asana in Sanskrit means steady posture. The breath is used to initiate and guide the movement of the posture and once in the static position, the inhalation is used to deepen the stretch, while the exhailation is used to relax the muscles and "sink down" into the stretch. This balance between expansion and relaxation oxygenates and detoxifies the muscles and removes tension to allow the body to stretch further. From what I have observed, the body and mind are mirrors for the same process. As the body expands and relaxes, the mind too is expanding, and stretching beyond levels of perceived comfort, beyond its limitations while letting go of tension, detoxifying and settling into deeper levels of concentration, calmness, clarity patience and peace.
Friday, October 17, 2008
All Thoughts Are Prayers
After crossing the international date line, gaining a day, and over 20 hours of airplane travel, I am at the Sivananda Ashram in Neyyar Dam, Trivandrum District, Kerala India. The climate is tropical and balmby. October is a month where the monsoon rains return, but only every few days and for a few of hours. The Ahsram is beautiful; surrounded by rich palm-treed forests, tall hillsides and a lake. I walked to the town center to use the internet. The people in Neyyar Dam have close ties with the ashram and are friendly and welcoming. The ashram provides jobs for some residents and the ashram grows trees to contrtibute to one of Trivandrum's primary exports: rubber. Trivandrum has a 90% education rate and there are many Aruyvedic schools and clinics here as well an artisian culture. Aruyvedic medicine has flurished here in Kerela for over 2000 years. The pace of life here feels more relaxed. There is a very regimented schedule at the Ashram that includes mediatation, satsung (chanting/prayer), lecture and two asana classes (yogic postures) each day. We start at 5:30 am with mediatation and end with satsung at 9:30. In the mornings during meditation, I can hear the lions, yes, lions roaring from the near-by animal sanctuary. Not to worry though, the lions are confined to cages. There are so many interesting animal sounds! I haven't seen much wildlife, but I can hear a variety of birds and monkeys. Apparently, there are crocodiles in the lake near the Ashram. There are two meals each day and we eat with our hands. We all participate in Karma yoga (daily chores) to keep the ashram clean. Yesterday, while eating the morning meal, I remarked at how grateful I am to be here! This is an incredible experience. Most of the other ashram folks are from abroad: The UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Australia, Eastern Europe and differernt parts of India. There are only a handful of Americans. The internet at the Ashram is not working so I may not be able to post again for about a week or longer. After my stay at the Ashram, I am headed by train to Varinasi (Northern India), where the great Ganga River flows.
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