Namaste! I've had a wonderful time in Northern India enjoying the mountains and cool(er) air and now have made it all the way to the south to the state of Kerala. I'm on the southern most tip of the sub continent surrounded by the Arabain Sea and palm trees. I'm constantly reminded how lucky I am that I'm being able to experience WAY more of India than most Indians will ever be able to see. When I call "home" (to my Indian family in Jodphur), they always ask with such excitement... "what is it like?" "is it like Jodphur?", "how's the weather?", "what are you eating?". I dream of one day being able to take Anushree back to some of the places I've visited.
Well, now it's off to an Ashram! Being a student of yoga at home, I'm so excited about learning more in an authentic Indian ashram. I'll have no email access for the next 2 weeks, so this will be my last post. I'll be winging my way back to the states Aug 30th with a big smile, new perspective and plans to return to India again...
Thank you so much for allowing me to share my journey and for following along with such interest.
Here are some of the many lessons I've learned from my time in India. As my friends, family and much needed support group, I ask that upon my return, you help remind me of these lessons and hold me accountable to apply these learnings into my life stateside.
Some lessons learned:
1. Ask for help.
2. Rain is something to be celebrated.
3. I should wear more bright colors.
4. I can be ANYWHERE as long as I have a bottle of water and wet wipes.
5. "As you wish" are such sweet words to hear. (I want to hear them AND say them more often)
6. Patience is a great companion. It puts things in perspective, teaches you new things, and makes life A LOT easier.
7. You do not have to understand it to appreciate it. (whatever it is)
8. "Sure...why not?" is a fun attitude to have.
9. Plan less. Do more.
10. TRUST. Trust others. Trust myself. Trust the Universe (or whatever you call the Divine...God, Jesus, Allah, Shiva, etc. Supposedly, Hinduism has 330 million Gods)
11. "Sweat means your body is working properly."
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
a new friend
My time in Dharmasala gifted me with a special new friend, Lukdon.
Lukdon is a Buddhist monk who was in the conversational English group I taught. Thru our communication efforts and much laughter, I felt an immediate connection with Lukdon so I asked him if he’d show us around the Dalai Lama’s temple complex. Over the next 2 days my sweet new friend spent hours with us…showing us around the temples, explaining Buddhist philosophy, telling us about his life (up at 5, meditate for 1 hour, light breakfast, study, lunch, sleep, study, dinner, library time, sleep and then again…), sharing his story, shopping for mala beads (Buddhist prayer beads) and practicing English. Lukdon became a monk at the age of 13 (he’s now 27) and has been in India separated from his parents and 5 siblings (who are still in Tibet) for past 8 years. He has a dream of becoming an English-Tibetan translator so he’s very disciplined about practicing English. He even has Bill Clinton’s autobiography audio file on his cell phone so he can listen to English. It makes me giggle to think of Lukdon learning English with Clinton’s Louisiana drawl. Lukdon met us before we left Dharmasala to give us a blessing for a safe journey. My eyes filled up with tears as we said goodbye.
Lukdon is a “Buddha-ful” being. He puts a face on the Tibetan cause. He embodies generosity and happiness. He became my teacher and my new friend.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Dharmasala
Dharmasala feels very different than the rest of India I’ve seen. It is the capital-in-exile for Tibet so most of the people are Tibetan… they look different, dress different, speak a different language and practice Buddhism versus Hinduism. The cows have been replaced with monkeys, the honking dramatically reduced and green tea now substitutes for Indian sweet tea with lots of milk. It’s high in the mountains, lush and green, and is much, much cooler. Yippeee! It looks, feels, and smells a little like fall in the Smokey Mountains- except there are lots of Buddhist monks walking around in the their maroon robes with mustard colored sashes and little “purses”. It’s rained since we’ve been here so my experience of Dharmasala has been against a background of heavy fog and soundtrack of rain and thunder (very mystic). Although a little more “touristy” than I imagined, I’m very happy here.
Today I volunteered with a non-profit organization called LHA. Lha is a Tibetan word meaning “innate goodness in nature”. The organization’s mission is to provide meaningful social services to both Tibetan refugees and local residents. My volunteer assignment was teaching conversational English to a small group of 5 very enthusiastic and appreciative students. We sat in a circle on the floor and asked each other questions. Periodically, I would stop down and correct their pronunciation or provide a more appropriate word. We discussed family, food, HH the Dalai Lama, Barack Obama, life in Dharmasala and Tibet, etc. They asked me what I thought of Tibetans and in return, I asked them…”What do you think of Westerners?”
Young Buddhist monk: “Westerners focus on money. Asians focus on religion. Westerners have everything they need physically but may not be happy inside.”
43 year old woman who works in woolen clothing shop (we worked on her pronunciation of “woolen” for a while): “Westerners are independent, they don’t need anyone. When I see women traveling alone, I think she has guts. I couldn’t do that. I also think westerners are crazy.”
Me: “Crazy? Why?”
Response: “Because they all want to go to the top of mountains. Why? What is there to see?”
Me: Hmmmm (not knowing really how to reply)
A shy girl in her early 20’s, a refugee from Tibet who has lived in India for only 3 years: “I think westerners are kind.”
Another refugee in her early 20s. Not shy. Lived in India for 7 years. Misses her family and speaks to them via phone 1 month. Whenever she didn’t understand a word, she’d type it into her cell phone and ask me if correct: “I think westerners are cheerful ‘because they have no problems.”
Me: “ Westerners have problems. They might be different problems than Indians or Tibetans but they have problems too.”
Group response acting like some big connection was just made: “Ohhhhh….”
A giggly twenty something girl who wrote all the new words I taught her on her hand: “I think Westerners smell good.”
Me: “Thank you.”
And we all laughed!
Today I volunteered with a non-profit organization called LHA. Lha is a Tibetan word meaning “innate goodness in nature”. The organization’s mission is to provide meaningful social services to both Tibetan refugees and local residents. My volunteer assignment was teaching conversational English to a small group of 5 very enthusiastic and appreciative students. We sat in a circle on the floor and asked each other questions. Periodically, I would stop down and correct their pronunciation or provide a more appropriate word. We discussed family, food, HH the Dalai Lama, Barack Obama, life in Dharmasala and Tibet, etc. They asked me what I thought of Tibetans and in return, I asked them…”What do you think of Westerners?”
Young Buddhist monk: “Westerners focus on money. Asians focus on religion. Westerners have everything they need physically but may not be happy inside.”
43 year old woman who works in woolen clothing shop (we worked on her pronunciation of “woolen” for a while): “Westerners are independent, they don’t need anyone. When I see women traveling alone, I think she has guts. I couldn’t do that. I also think westerners are crazy.”
Me: “Crazy? Why?”
Response: “Because they all want to go to the top of mountains. Why? What is there to see?”
Me: Hmmmm (not knowing really how to reply)
A shy girl in her early 20’s, a refugee from Tibet who has lived in India for only 3 years: “I think westerners are kind.”
Another refugee in her early 20s. Not shy. Lived in India for 7 years. Misses her family and speaks to them via phone 1 month. Whenever she didn’t understand a word, she’d type it into her cell phone and ask me if correct: “I think westerners are cheerful ‘because they have no problems.”
Me: “ Westerners have problems. They might be different problems than Indians or Tibetans but they have problems too.”
Group response acting like some big connection was just made: “Ohhhhh….”
A giggly twenty something girl who wrote all the new words I taught her on her hand: “I think Westerners smell good.”
Me: “Thank you.”
And we all laughed!
It's a small world
I left Amritsar headed to Dharmasala on Wednesday via a pit stop in Phagwara, Punjab to visit with Ron’s family. Ron Singh (I didn’t know his last name before but now I do because he’s Sikh and all Sihks have the last name of Singh…however not all Singhs are Sikh!) is the owner of one of my favorite Indian restaurants in Nashville- Bombay Palace. When Ron found out I was coming to India he INSISTED that I visit his family and since I ended up being only 2 hours away in Amritsar… I did!
I arrived at 9AM to the warmest greeting!! Even though we had never met…and that I really don’t even know Ron except from chatting with him as he takes my order at Bombay Palace…there were hugs all around. I meet his 2 daughters, his 18 month old granddaughter, his daughter’s husband and in-laws, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and neighbors. In the span of the 3 hour visit, we looked at wedding photos, played with the baby, ate a yummy Indian “brunch”, and fielded calls from Ron at home in Nashville (he was soooo happy that we were all together and wanted me to stay for 15 days, go see his father’s house 90 km away, try the finest restaurant in Phagwara, etc) all while sitting/laying on the master bedroom bed! They insisted in holding camp in the bedroom because it was the coolest room with AC and a fan. It was so kind! They even gave us gifts.
A parade of about 12 people walked us to the car to send us off. It was such a wonderful (and very typical) Indian experience!! There is an Indian saying that guests are gods and therefore you should treat them as such…Ron and his beautiful family are wonderful examples of putting those words in action.
I’m so thankful that I said yes to Ron’s invitation and went out of the way or off the direct route to have this special experience. What a wonderful lesson to remember.
Nashville, Tennessee to Phagwara, Punjab. Indian restaurant acquaintance to having a bed picnic brunch with family and friends. It’s a small world.
I arrived at 9AM to the warmest greeting!! Even though we had never met…and that I really don’t even know Ron except from chatting with him as he takes my order at Bombay Palace…there were hugs all around. I meet his 2 daughters, his 18 month old granddaughter, his daughter’s husband and in-laws, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and neighbors. In the span of the 3 hour visit, we looked at wedding photos, played with the baby, ate a yummy Indian “brunch”, and fielded calls from Ron at home in Nashville (he was soooo happy that we were all together and wanted me to stay for 15 days, go see his father’s house 90 km away, try the finest restaurant in Phagwara, etc) all while sitting/laying on the master bedroom bed! They insisted in holding camp in the bedroom because it was the coolest room with AC and a fan. It was so kind! They even gave us gifts.
A parade of about 12 people walked us to the car to send us off. It was such a wonderful (and very typical) Indian experience!! There is an Indian saying that guests are gods and therefore you should treat them as such…Ron and his beautiful family are wonderful examples of putting those words in action.
I’m so thankful that I said yes to Ron’s invitation and went out of the way or off the direct route to have this special experience. What a wonderful lesson to remember.
Nashville, Tennessee to Phagwara, Punjab. Indian restaurant acquaintance to having a bed picnic brunch with family and friends. It’s a small world.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Varanasi
Varanasi is one of the holiest sites for Hindus and is known as the city of learning and burning. Home of Shiva, the river Ganges or Mother Ganga is where pilgrims come to wash away their sins. It is also one of the holiest crossing places where mortals can cross over to the divine so all Hindu ashes will be set free in the water of the Ganges. It's not for the faint of heart. The sites and smells of the numerous crematoriums and then the blotted bodies floating in the river are difficult. There is an earie quiet on the Ganges...an interesting mixture of life and death. Devotees joyfully bathing, swimming, spalshing, drinking, washing (their body, hair and laundry) in the holy water while fires burn and bodies are being cremated near by. For some reason, "holy men" or sadhus are not cremated and their bodies are just put in the Ganga. I read that an estimated 45,000 uncremated corpses are disposed in the river every year. (We had the "priviledge" of seeing about 5 human corpses and lots of animals during our boat rides.) The sacredness of the place is palable. No words can describe the experience. I'm glad I had the opportunity to witness. I will never forget.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Monsoon
This blog was supposed posted on July 27th. It's old news now.
A typical Indian experience….or why I love this country.
Monday night in Delhi and decided to go for a casual South Indian dinner within walking distance of the hotel. As we were walking out of the hotel, the concierge recommended that we take an umbrella cause the “rains are coming”. It started as a sprinkle and by the time we got to the restaurant we were officially drenched. We had a nice dinner and started chatting with a sweet Indian family sitting next to us. They were so excited about the rains finally reaching Delhi. They offered us to try their food as college age girl and the mother shared their best shopping tips. We said our farewells and Bruce and I started our odyssey home.
It had rained HARD the whole time we were in the restaurant and the rain was still coming down. The roads were flooded. Picture the most rains you can imagine. We were stuck! For about 40 minutes we tried to figure out how to cross the street, find an auto, or build boat. We were now more than drenched. Picture fell in a pool with all your clothes on kind of soaking wet. I jokingly said….we need our little Indian family to come and take us home, and just then out of nowhere a car slowed down which I thought was a taxi… the window rolled down and there they were… our family, true Monsoon Angels!! The six of us jammed into their tiny car and we started the journey to our hotel amidst lots of laughter and thank yous. Once we reached the hotel, we couldn’t get out of the car because the water was up to the car door (“knee deep”). “Papa” finally was able to back up into the driveway so we could get out without flooding his car. So now, we were standing outside (with the hotel umbrella) trying to figure out how to cross the lake to get into the hotel when a hotel SVR (the only thing that could make it thru) pulled up and drove us the 20 remaining feet into the hotel.
It was such an adventure! The rain and flooding were unbelievable…but the beautiful, kind friendship shown by the family was totally expected…it’s the Indian way!
The news just reported “the entire city collapsed due to unrelenting rain”. As I sit, dry, safe and sound in the hotel watching TV, my thoughts and prayers are with the hundreds of thousands of Delhites who are living on the street or in tent cities. God bless them.
A typical Indian experience….or why I love this country.
Monday night in Delhi and decided to go for a casual South Indian dinner within walking distance of the hotel. As we were walking out of the hotel, the concierge recommended that we take an umbrella cause the “rains are coming”. It started as a sprinkle and by the time we got to the restaurant we were officially drenched. We had a nice dinner and started chatting with a sweet Indian family sitting next to us. They were so excited about the rains finally reaching Delhi. They offered us to try their food as college age girl and the mother shared their best shopping tips. We said our farewells and Bruce and I started our odyssey home.
It had rained HARD the whole time we were in the restaurant and the rain was still coming down. The roads were flooded. Picture the most rains you can imagine. We were stuck! For about 40 minutes we tried to figure out how to cross the street, find an auto, or build boat. We were now more than drenched. Picture fell in a pool with all your clothes on kind of soaking wet. I jokingly said….we need our little Indian family to come and take us home, and just then out of nowhere a car slowed down which I thought was a taxi… the window rolled down and there they were… our family, true Monsoon Angels!! The six of us jammed into their tiny car and we started the journey to our hotel amidst lots of laughter and thank yous. Once we reached the hotel, we couldn’t get out of the car because the water was up to the car door (“knee deep”). “Papa” finally was able to back up into the driveway so we could get out without flooding his car. So now, we were standing outside (with the hotel umbrella) trying to figure out how to cross the lake to get into the hotel when a hotel SVR (the only thing that could make it thru) pulled up and drove us the 20 remaining feet into the hotel.
It was such an adventure! The rain and flooding were unbelievable…but the beautiful, kind friendship shown by the family was totally expected…it’s the Indian way!
The news just reported “the entire city collapsed due to unrelenting rain”. As I sit, dry, safe and sound in the hotel watching TV, my thoughts and prayers are with the hundreds of thousands of Delhites who are living on the street or in tent cities. God bless them.
Gandhi Ji
Gandhi ji: “My life is my message”
Visited the Gandhi memorial in Delhi. Housed in a big park, it’s a simple black marble memorial with an eternal flame, some flowers and 3 men chanting along side. It seems to be an appropriate tribute to Gandhi ji.
Like many in India, I’m a big fan of Gandhi and what he stood for. (Gandhi’s sweet face is on all rupee notes) I’m currently reading Gandhi’s autobiography, Experiments with Truth and marvel at his true authentic leadership style. Gandhi has given us many great quotes to ponder and learn from such as “Truth is the highest religion” and “Be the change you want to see in the world.” My new favorite Gandhi quote is…“My life is my message.” Here’s a little story that illustrates his integrity as he constantly pursued Truth…
A mother brought her son who had a sugar addiction to Gandhi and asked Gandhi ji to speak to the young boy get him to stop consuming so much sugar. Gandhi told her that he’d be happy to speak with her son, but they needed to come back in 2 weeks. Confused and reluctant, the mother left with her son. They returned in 2 weeks and Gandhi met with them. He explained all the harmful affects of sugar and addiction and pleaded with the boy to quit the sugar. In awe of Gandhi’s powerful presence, they boy agreed. The mother was appreciative of Gandhi’s help but questioned why they had to wait 2 weeks for this simple message. Gandhi replied…”Madam, When you came to me 2 weeks ago, I too consumed too much sugar. I could never ask your son to quit something that I myself was addicted to. It took me 2 weeks to quit my sugar habit...only then, could I ask your son to do the same.”
Hope you all are well.
Visited the Gandhi memorial in Delhi. Housed in a big park, it’s a simple black marble memorial with an eternal flame, some flowers and 3 men chanting along side. It seems to be an appropriate tribute to Gandhi ji.
Like many in India, I’m a big fan of Gandhi and what he stood for. (Gandhi’s sweet face is on all rupee notes) I’m currently reading Gandhi’s autobiography, Experiments with Truth and marvel at his true authentic leadership style. Gandhi has given us many great quotes to ponder and learn from such as “Truth is the highest religion” and “Be the change you want to see in the world.” My new favorite Gandhi quote is…“My life is my message.” Here’s a little story that illustrates his integrity as he constantly pursued Truth…
A mother brought her son who had a sugar addiction to Gandhi and asked Gandhi ji to speak to the young boy get him to stop consuming so much sugar. Gandhi told her that he’d be happy to speak with her son, but they needed to come back in 2 weeks. Confused and reluctant, the mother left with her son. They returned in 2 weeks and Gandhi met with them. He explained all the harmful affects of sugar and addiction and pleaded with the boy to quit the sugar. In awe of Gandhi’s powerful presence, they boy agreed. The mother was appreciative of Gandhi’s help but questioned why they had to wait 2 weeks for this simple message. Gandhi replied…”Madam, When you came to me 2 weeks ago, I too consumed too much sugar. I could never ask your son to quit something that I myself was addicted to. It took me 2 weeks to quit my sugar habit...only then, could I ask your son to do the same.”
Hope you all are well.
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