TravelStream™ news feed for member jagadish on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/jagadish en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:34:39 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1193223300/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1193223300/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1193223300/tpod.html Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:34:39 -0400 Journey to India

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New Delhi, India

October 11th through October 21st:

On the way to Karunamayi's ashram from Gudur it just started getting dark. We drove and drove down a road in a poor rural area in the Indian country. The stars were amazing and all most as clear as in in Kainchi Dham. In about two hours we came to the ashram. There were Christmas lights everywhere (decorated for Navaratri). It was so beautiful. In behind the ashram there are these amazing mountains and jungle. I saw this clearer the next morning. I walked into the ashram and someone pointed me to the dormitories. I passed a murti of Gayatri Devi and Durga Ma on the way. It was a very peaceful place I picked that up quick. I was surprised to see that at the dorm area Karunamayi had installed a small replica Statue of Liberty. I found this really funny. I dropped off my stuff and made my way to the main temple dedicaded to "Sri Lalita Paramaswara" who is the divine mother in the form of she who plays. There are also a Laxsmi and Saraswati murti, The Goddess's of wealth and knowledge. The temple was so amazing. By far one of the nicer temples I'd seen here in India. They were doing puja to the deities when I arrived. It was really nice. Afterwards I had some delicious food and met up with my roomates. A friend "Ram Das" (from Asheville too) and another man "Vira" from Demark were my roomates. They both are really awesome people. We had a good time interacting.
The next couple of days were very intense. On a general the days were filled with Sadhana (spiritual practice and meditation). First thing in the morning at 5:30a.m. they would perform Abishaka a ritual intailing the washing of the deities with sacrad material i.e. honey, kum kum, tumeric, and water etc. After that there would be a short break and you could get coffee or tea. However, there would always be sadhana going on. The temple preist who were brought from all over India would be doing Yagna's starting at 3a.m. and other rituals filled the day until 11p.m. We were also instructed by Karunamayi to do sixteen Samputita Sri Suktam's (Laxsmi puja) which took about 12 minutes at a fast pase. I did them the first few days while also matching them with Hanuman Chalisa's but started slacking after that. By the end I'd gotten back into it. They rest of the day we did a Lilita Yagna (1000 names) along with the preist who offered the grains. We also did another Lilita and Devi Kadga Mala twice a day. The evening Arathi (waving of camphor in honor of the deities) done by Karunmayi's Swami was intense. They'd have Devi face painted a differn't color every day, The preist who were all so talented beat drums and bell's. It was like traveling back in time to the Satya Yuga for arathi. The Satya Yuga was the Golden age . We now live in the Kali Yuga which is the dark age. Right after arathi the preist and some female devotees sang some bhjans and played the flute and beat drums. It was amazing stuff. They also chanted memorized vedic hymes that were impressive. Oh yes, right before arathi we (Indias and westereners) would parade around with Karunmayi around the ashram carrying Devi on giant wood logs. We did this every night. It is considered a great honor to carry the divine Mother because she carries us in this world. Without her we're lifeless. She is our shakti. While doing this Devi was on a differn't animal with represntation every night. Karunamayi would do the the arathi with the preist to the deities scattered around the ashram. Everyone was yelling and cheering it was a riot. The whole retreat was a celebration of the divine. Karunamayi said we were burning off lifetimes just from being there and that's what it felt like. I was struggling a lot but it was so purifying I felt so much love and grace. I feel more determined and free of my ego after being there. My most biggest realization was that life isn't fun anymore with out that connection to my higher power. It is primary and everything else secondary. The funny thing is that when you put God or whatever label you give peace, love, and true happiness first everything flows smoothly in life. Most people are lost in thought and completely identified with mind patterns. The only way to see a whole new reality is through meditation and spiritual practice. The only remedy for one of the deadliest dieseases drugs/alcohol, is sadhana. In fact I think sadhana is the only remedy for any problem in life. We got it all backwords and the name God has been so abused. God is Life-we are life. There is only life. There is only oneness, love, and grace. We see with such limited perspective. You would not know the true taste of honey no matter how much one explained it to you until you tried it for the first time. This is how sadhana works, You will never know what you are missing until you take that vital turn in your life. Life is short, but you live eternally and the idea is to relize your eternal before the game ends. Who knows where you'll be next time around. The life that this form takes goes quickly. When we identify with this form and temporal things we stick ourselves in prison. We have the key within us and the opportunity arises every second and it alway's arises right now. We can start our day over every second and decide to choose peace again and again. There is something that likes the suffering in us and that is the ego. We need to befriend this ego and coax it in with love and forgiveness. The ego loves when you feed on hate, guilt, judgment and worry. That is the food for the ego. Negativity does no good and is never the solution. I hope that I can stay true to the words I speak. I do not know what life has in store for me but I'm sure it is exactly what I need. It's been fun blogging this trip and I may continue to post. I will definetly post my new travels. Thanks for joining me. ALL LOVE ALL PEACE ALL TO YOU ALL NOW

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1193158620/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1193158620/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1193158620/tpod.html Tue, 23 Oct 2007 15:24:14 -0400 Journey to India

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Gudur, India

Om Namah Shivaya,

I am back in the USA. It was an amazing trip to say the least. It has been said to me that you end the same place you began and in my case it seemed so true. My flight out of Channai connected to New Delhi and from New Delhi I took a bus to the International airport. The trip flashed before my eyes like a dream and the stench of Delhi with the smell of cow dung, sewage and the dusty unclean air brought me right back to the beginning of the trip and the initial shock of arrival. I found it interesting that my connecting flight from Channai to Delhi was # 108 (for those who don't know 108 is auspicious in Hinduism). I was sad leaving India. I felt like I was leaving home sweet home. India is a paradox and life as well is a paradox it is just that everything is magnified and really pronounced in India. Someone told me before I left that whatever you weaknesses are India with bring them out so you can see them clearly and thus was the case for me. I would now like to go back in time even though it is now and finish the days I missed journal because they were a vital part of my trip.

October 10th: The day before I left Ramanashram was really interesting. My last time of the Internet before I went to the Navaratri retreat I was sitting next to an American sanyasi (renunciate/monk). I decided to ask him about circulating Arunachula and the proper way that one should approach this ritual. He happened to have been living in India for the 30 years and was a devotee to Ananadamayi Ma and had spent much time with her. He told me that she laid the cornerstone for Ramana Maharshi's MahaSamadhi temple. He said that it was said that she was the only one in all of India who could do it. Ananadamayi Ma was a saint who has now Left the body who was an incarnation of Divine Mother. Her name means "The Blissful Mother" and you can by her photo she was exactly that. Anyway, This Sanyasi told me that a lot of people make pilgrimages here (Arunachula) and circuambulate the sacred hill and never visit the holy temple Arunachuleswara. When Ramana Maharshi first came here he stayed at this temple and meditated for a long time before ascending the hill where he made his permanent residence. The Sanyasi said that one should pay respects to the Deity of the temple before doing circuambulation of Arunachula. He said many people didn't know but thats what Ramana would say. I don't know but it seemed to make sense to me at the time. Off to the temple I would go. In the morning I would do circuambulation, or so I thought. I figured I needed eat and Ramana temple served food promptly at 7:30pm. I couldn't miss my last good meal at the temple so I had to act fast. Arunachulaeswara temple opened at 6:00pm. I jumped on a auto-rickshaw and headed for the temple. When I arrived it was chaotic and people were everywhere. The energy of the temple was incredible. There are four main towers of the temple and the main temple facing Arunachula is a Shiva and Parvati temple and also represents the "pole of fire" which is Arunachula. My goal was to get darshan of Parvati and Shiva and get out. I walked up to the main entrance and immediately a pujari grabbed me and bypassed the 20 rupee entrance fee. He took me past a long meandering line, that would of taken for ever, and took me straight to the Shiva deity. I was amazed and not sure what to think, actually I didn't think much at all. I just followed him. When I got to Shiva I bowed and remembered what the Sanyasi had told me about seeing the deity as being a real flesh and blood God and honoring it as such. I bowed my head and he asked my name. Then he did a puja just for me in front of Shiva. Then we went straight to Parvati and the same thing occurred. Afterward he took me to the side and put a garland of flowers on me and gave me prasad. It was awesome. Of course I was expected to donate some rupees which at first I was reluctant but then realized the immense blessing that had just happened so I put 100 rupees on the tray. and left. I got to Ramanshram in plenty of time for dinner and everything was perfect.

October 11th: I had to leave this day for the town of Gudur from which there I would catch a taxi to Penisulia where Karunamayi's Ashram is. Since I really wanted to circuambulate Arunachula and had to catch a taxi by 10a.m. I had to get up early. In fact after talking with an American Ramana Maharshi devotee who been coming o the ashram for 30 years. I had decided to climb the sacred hill. After all I heard that Shiva's feet were at the top. The devotee of Ramana that I'd talked too said that I could just spin around clockwise at the top and consider it my circuambulation. It sounded good to me. I woke up at 4:30a.m and off I was. It was dark but luckily I had a pin light. I started the trek. As I walked up the sacred path up the mountain in the dark I heard strange sounds all around me. It is said many sacred entities live on this hill along with some sadhu's (holy men). I also heard monkeys screeching and monkeying around in the trees. By the time I got to the main area where I really needed to follow white arrows on the rocks and climb it was starting to become slightly light. I could see the town and temple below with all the lights. It was nice. I stared hiking up the mountain and I climbed and climbed. It was really tiring but after a long climb I made it. It was foggy at the top and I couldn't see below. I found a tent at the top where I later heard a Sadhu used to live. I think the tent was constructed for the yearly ceremony of putting a big Bonn fire on the top in honor of Shiva. I could see the black soot all over the huge rock at the very tip of the mountain. It was very peaceful at the top and so silent. I saw hundreds of dragonflies zooming around too. I sat down and set up my puja (worship) kit with photos of Ramana, Amma, Neem Karoli and Karunamayi. Then I chanted the Thousand names of Lalita (Devi/Divine Mother and this was particularly auspicious because it was the first day of Navaratri which is the ten day celebration of the divine Mother). After I finished 45 minutes later I did arathi (waving of camphor) by emptying and whole packet of camphor on the rock and setting it a fire. I then stood up and spun in a circle three times saying "Om Parashaktiyia Namaha" which is an mantra saluting the divine primordial shakthi (energy, typically of the divine mother). On the last turn I jumped back because of what I saw. It was a deformed monkey eating the prasad I'd offered to my Guru's. It actually started to run at me so I grabbed more food and through it down the side of the mountain and he ran after it. I know these monkey's could be rabid and definitely can kick some ass so I was a little intimidated. I took it as a sign and started the descent at a rather quick pace, and with rock in my hand just in case. when descending the mountain I got off course and ended up three kilometers away from where I started. I was exhausted and my legs were like jello. I caught a auto-rickshaw to Ramanashram took my shower packed my stuff and caught my taxi in perfect time. What was interesting is that when the cab driver started our destination he went counterclockwise around the mountain to about just the same spot I'd descended and then he turned around and drove clockwise backtracking. I figured this counted as my circuambutaion I had failed to complete maybe. Who knows? I was headed for Tirupati a sacred pilgrimage site and supposedly one of the most incredible temple for Vishnu (Preserver of the Universe) in India. I heard that Tirupati was the turning point in one's life for whatever that means. Unfortunately I didn't have the time to make it too the Temple and had to catch a train but at least I touched the ground there. Good enough for me for now. I made it to Gudur safe and a cab driver immediately approached me asking if I was going to Karunamayi's ashram. I said yes and off I was. Little did I know what was in store for me next. Until my next blog........Jai Ma!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1191943500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1191943500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1191943500/tpod.html Wed, 10 Oct 2007 01:06:09 -0400 Journey to India

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Tiruvannamalai, India

Om Namah Shivaya,

I made it to Arunachula after all. I guess Amma wanted to fulfill my desire to come here. My last darshan with her was very nice. She went until 3:00a.m. and said she wasn't going to give westerner's darshan. I was heart broken, but decided it was okay and connected with another westerner and in the meantime came to find she had changed her mind. How sweet. I then got one or two hours of sleep, woke up did the ashram archana (Thousand names etc.) one last time, did my morning recycle seva, cleaned my room, packed and left catching an auto rickshaw to the train station. Then I: Caught train, slept, arrived at 3:00a.m a Katpadi junction, grabbed another auto rickshaw and he chased down a bus that was coming here too Arunachula, flagging it down I hopped on and it was around 5a.m. I knew at Amma's ashram they were doing Archana so I decided to join in and follow along with my MP3 player. It was a really bumpy ride. I'm surprised I didn't get sick reading for an hour. I felt Amma just set that all up. It was perfect and not stressful. Things like this happen when you hang out with these beings. Life is always smooth and worry free with their grace. It makes me wonder how much am I really doing. The best I can ever do is just get out of the way and let them work their magic. Life is magic when this small "I" is surrendered. It takes patients and perseverance as most of us know and struggle with. We do what we can and then realize we're not doing anything and that it's all grace. What a cosmic joke. It is a good joke if you get it, but when your stuck in it...I know it can suck, but then again when you wake up to it again the peace acquired is well worth it. In fact, we are that peace. Our nature is absolute freedom and love. It just gets deeper on it's own accord after that realization, or not. The sooner I let go and surrender the sooner the peace is there. I guess if there is free will it is to surrender or not. Amma says the only thing God did not create is the ego (which isn't real anyway). That makes everything God. How could it be otherwise?
After walking through Ramanashram's main gate I immediately felt a deep peace consume me for about a minute or two only. Then the mind started thinking again, "What is the next thing to do"-future creeps in. I went to the office and set down my bags that now weighed about 70lbs all together. I gave the ashram my letter of invitation that he wrote me in reply to a friend of friend who stays here often. The letter was an invitation for Sept. 16th, a little late, but hey it is India after all. He approved my two day stay and gave me my room key. First I had breakfast, it was now 7:30a.m. The food at the ashram is magnificent. My friend Advait told me this and he was right.
Eating at temples and ashrams is the best. Besides being clean, the food has a powerful vibrational energy. It is all offered to God chanted over with mantra's and served to the guest who is seen as God. Then you eat it and your eating God.
After eating and finding my room I took a tour of the ashram temple and inner sanctum. The stone carved pillars and walls were so amazing and the energy here is pure Shiva (Shanthi-Peace). Everyone here seems to circulambulate everything. Which means honor by walking in a clockwise fashion around deities, arunachula (takes four hours, which I hopefully will do today), and the temple. When in Rome...you know. I had the opportunity to hike to to the small shrine where Ramana spent his earlier days on the slopes of the mountain. It took about 40 minutes. It was very serene. I felt waves of peace at time and got to sit in the shrine and meditate along with some other Westerners. I then started thinking of my plans again and of booking my train ticket for the next destination, and on the story goes. I left the shrine and made my way back down the slopes. There was a man named Raman on the hill who was carving deities vigorously out of stone. He was doing some nice work and the prices were good. I wish I had more room in my bags. I may get a small thing or two.
I went to the ashram office and inquired about the next town I was heading to, for a retreat with Karunamayi. Lucky for me a man in the ashram store lived in that town and knew Karunamayi. He helped me figure out my next set of plans. I thenhad an excellent temple meal and sat for some meditation in the inner sanctum where the Veda's (ancient Hindu scriptures) were being chanted alternately by the male's and female's who were separated on both sides. In behind them sat a stone statue of Sri Ramana that many devotees circuambulated. I joined in. Afterward I read a big sign describing Ramana Maharshi's simulated death experience at the age of sixteen which freed him from identification with mind permanently. Some of which went like this: Ramana Maharshi had a spontaneous awakening at the age of 16. Gripped by the fear of death, he stretched out like a corpse, stiffened his body, and said to himself, "Well, my body is dead. I see it. It will soon be cremated. But who is it that dies?" His intense inquiry into this question resulted in the realization that the body dies, but Self-Awareness never decays. This Self-Awareness, he later said, "is unrelated to anything. It is also self-luminous. Even if this body is burned, it will not be affected. Hence He realized, that "I" was that Awareness."
I then sat for a peaceful meditation in the temple.
I don't know what this last day will bring here in Arunachula but one things for sure, it'll bring what it'll bring. Ha ha. Be in touch soon.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1191561300/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1191561300/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1191561300/tpod.html Fri, 05 Oct 2007 01:39:17 -0400 Journey to India

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Kerala, India

Hey all! Things are good. Amma is staying at Ashram because the England tour got postponed. As suggested by a friend here I am staying a little longer and unfortunately cutting the trip to Ramanashram out of the plans. I need to be here with Amma. She has been taking me on a wild ride. I have been suffering, blissful, confused, happy, all loving, completely at peace, and sometimes all at the same time. I am being purged of and worked hard-it's great! I must the pain is so worth the peaceful and blissful moments. I've been doing recycling seva everyday with an India named Prabu. I get up at 4:30a.m. take a quick cold shower and mosey my way to the main hall for the 1000 names of the Divine Mother, 108 names of Amma, and the Mahasharamardini strotrom. Then I drink 3 or 4 cups of Chai and got to the dirty shed and put on dirty gloves and dig through recycling and trash for 2 hours. Thats my main seva I usually do something in the afternoon or night also depending on how I feel. There have been a few sleepless nights and nerve stuff but I know it's all it's purification. It is rather annoying if I think about it though. Which happens frequently. Then I'll talk to some sweet soul or have Amma's darshan and be completely peaceful. Being in Amma's presence and the most healing place on the earth. She radiates peace love like the sun radiates heat and light. Some of you know some of you still need to see for yourselves. Anyway, I also have been doing a little yoga (I need to get on the ball with that), IM meditation (slacking a little on that too) and the Hanuman Chalisa. Amma has proved again and again that she is well aware of my relationship with Neem KAroli Baba. She really brings him too me. Then sometimes I just see her as the Divine Mother and feel so much love for her. It's all the same. Anyway, Amma is about to give satsang. I hope all is well with everyone. I am sending you all so many blessings-expect a miracle. Love you Om Jai Ma!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1191391800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1191391800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1191391800/tpod.html Fri, 05 Oct 2007 01:17:17 -0400 Journey to India

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Kerala, India


It's been a rough time at Amritapuri. I just really finally connected with Amma. I have been having minor physical ailments and emotional stuff come up. Amma turned up her heat of purification, but she is finally getting through a little.
I was walking on the beach the other night feeling sad and disconnected. As I returned to the Ashram it was dusk and Bhajan's (music) was about to start in the main hall. I happened to notice the main temple door was open and the Kali Murti (Statue of divine mother in fierce form representing Birth, death and preservation. Her name Kali meaning "Devourer of time", everything withers away with time, except the God in you, the Love, the formless substratum of all existence, or soul in Christian terms-whatever you want to call it) was exposed with some burning lamps lit around her. Feeling compelled and drawn in. I approached her and renamed (bowed). I sat for several minutes meditating on her and would say "How can I do anything? How am I too try to surrender? I cannot not breath a breath without the grace of God! I am helpless without your love" I went on for sometime with a few occasional tears. That was a break for me. This devotion that Amma graced me with just opened my heart. All my "So called problems/troubles" in that minute dissolved in her love and I remembered why I came here. I renamed again and hearing Amma's beautiful voice in the background from the main hall... I was drawn like a moth into the flame. I went into the main hall and renamed to Amma on stage and sat while her voice and music of her associates (musicians and Swamis) filled me with love and peace. I thought of all those I know and how we all suffer and glimpsed just a little of what Amma naturally perceives. That we all are ALL ONE. On family-one heart-One Love. This separation is illusion. But, since we're here on this earthly realm, where suffering is everywhere and quite natural, maybe that's the point of suffering, so we can have compassion for the others who suffer. Amma's says to see God in everything-accept everything as if it were just how it was supposed to be. But, at the same time fill our hearts with love and try see yourself (True Self- the eternal) in everyone, and serve others as you would yourself. Anyway, a tall order, but I know Amma knows and lives this. I am not a saint. I am often confused and suffer just like everyone else, but when I glimpse that love that truth through grace alone. I can honestly say it's all perfect and everything is going to be okay. No matter who or where you are on your path, it's okay. Be easy on yourself. Love your self. I've spent years of my life chasing drugs and other pains of the world. I've worried myself to death. I have felt guilt and anguish. There are so many who live in this pain now and too a much more extreme extent. The best message I've got from Amma, friends, and saints is "Be were you are because that's exactly where the universe wants you, but yearn to love that which is love-the eternal-God-Jesus-Buddha-Whatever you want to call it, because this life is short a blink of an eye. I say don't feel guilty if you do not yearn for this. Just accepting and watching your thoughts is a way out too. You are not your thought's. This is a powerful and liberating realization. We are so much more then we could ever "think" about. This is true for everyone and everything. All One-All Now. Sorry to preach I've just been touched by Amma and she is grace itself. Love you all. Jai Ma!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1191050280/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1191050280/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1191050280/tpod.html Sat, 29 Sep 2007 04:16:07 -0400 Journey to India

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Kerala, India

Namaste,

I've finally got the chance to make a new entry. I was having a gosh awful time with the computers here. Last night I wrote a two hour entry and lost it! India, what can one do? Amma's birthday celebration was intense, there were over One-hundred thousand people from all over India. It was quite chaotic and stressful at times. Westerners did not get darshan. Amma's body looked so worn down. She gave darshan from early afternoon on the 27th until 7 or 8a.m the next day. The only real peace found was in seva and being on stage with her. I still cannot comprehend how in the mist of utter chaos and pandemonium that once you sit near her all the suffering and thoughts wash away. It is undeniable that she radiates divine energy from her physical body. Even if non-believers watch her they can't help but be in awe of her amazing ability to never stop giving darshan hours upon hours-no bathroom breaks-no water (except when devotee's beg her to drink a sip or two.) She is so profound and so full of selfless love. She never thinks for a second of her self or her needs. She will console the most minor needs of those who come to her with the utmost compassion and caring. She will wipe their tears and listen to any problem. She never stops smiling and her body must hurt unceasingly. Any religious leaders, saints, and holy men would not dare say she is not the real deal. She is a walking example of the highest love and truth, She walks her talk. She will do physical work with the lowest class and see's everyone will equal vision. She manifest the love of Christ right for everyone to see, and her humility is unbounded. She takes nothing for herself and gives everything. Amma may sleep an hour or two a night and the rest of the time is reading devotees grievances and troubles. No matter what your faith or religion this one we call Amma (mother) is truly the most remarkable thing this planet knows. Her name and glory will be recognized for thousands of years. If there is such a thing as God's unconditional love on earth, Amma is the embodiment of that. I have through direct experience felt her love. I have never felt any thing so great in my life. We are so lucky to know her. She is here now and has come to show us what love and life are. They are one and the same. I've been inspired as usual and my words come from my heart. If you have not met Amma. Take this short time in your precious human birth to experience her presence. I go by what my feelings are in life and I tell you that just being around her I have never felt so much peace and love. Don't take my word for it. Just be with her. It's free, and she gives you the opportunity to see who and what you really are. I can sometimes not judge and occasionally be loving, but around Amma I see only people full of love, and I want to love. Words do no justice.
On my birthday I was a little disappointed that she stopped giving darshan after the Indians went (Indians go first because they come a long distance). My ego took a little chop, but I look forward to having darshan soon. I will be sure I send part of my blessing to all of you friends and family that I care so much for. Thanks for being there. In Amma's heart. Love Jagadish
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1190806440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1190806440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1190806440/tpod.html Wed, 26 Sep 2007 09:34:23 -0400 Journey to India

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Kerala, India

Namaste (means that which is divine in me honors that which is
divine in you, in that place there is only one of us,. This is the
typical way of greeting each other in India. a constant reminder of
the unity and love that are our very nature-We are all brothers,
sisters, mothers, and fathers-one big family. We need to stop thinking
that we're different and try to see how we are the same. Suffering is a
condition of human life and we should cultivate compassion and love for
one another as if we were family and friends. True love is irresistible.
Not even the (greatest evil or ego, as it were, can withstand it's
glory). As Baba would say "Love is The strongest medicine", there is
nothing it can't cure. The sooner we see each other as being an
extension of ourselves, the sooner the compassion will come. Don't
forget to forgive others all the time, and perhaps even more so
yourself. Love yourself! You are stuck with you your whole life. If you
can't befriend yourself how can you befriend others. I've been put
through the ringer here in India. I've seen how self-centered and
unaware I can be. Laziness creeps in around every corner and I have to
surrender or suffer-no two ways about it. It's been quite the roller
coaster ride. UP -DOWN-UP-DOWN. Yet I know everything I get is exactly
what I need. Neem Karoli keeps popping up here at Amritapuri. I've
randomly ran into devotees. I don't socialize too much, but when I do
Neem Karoli pops up in the conversation. He is a sneaky baba. I've met
two people who were thinking of going to Kainchi and couldn't make up
their mind until I told them I was just there. I told them my
experience and then they made up their mind. Do you think Baba was
involved? Not much of a question for me.

I was disappointed that on my birthday that Amma all of a
sudden decided not to give darshan to westerners that night. I
was a bit angry I might say. I thought she knows it's my birthday, and
she cut me off from darshan. I at least did prasad seva and touched her
had as she left. Just another chop at my ego-me me me-right? It's not
as if she never sleeps, barley eats and sacrifices every bit of her
time for selfless service for the devotees and poor. Man, why does she
deserve a break? HA! Anyway, we went on a field trip to a town in
Kollum about two hours away yesterday and they were celebrating a great
saint of Kerala who died a couple of hundred years ago. He is pretty
big here and has a big Math (order of renunciate's) There were thousands
of sanyassis there and it was inspiring. Amma was invited to give a
speech (of course it wasn't ranslated and kind of boring, but the
devotional erergy and food were sweet). It was a rather
bumpy and uncomfortable bus ride there though, standing room only for
many). I was exsausted upon returen to the ashram and rested. I slept a
long time again and was upset I missed the 4:30am archana. I seemed to
have forgot to get an alarm clock. I will have to investigate that one.
I had an aryuvedic consultaion for my stomach problem and was given
some stuff that cleaned me out big time. I havn't eaten today per
instruction and am looking forward to some food later. I am also eager
for Amma's darshan. The normal ashram sceduel it messed up do to the
preperatipn for her birthday. So everything is up in the air. A darshan
soon would sure be nice. I really got to feel her on stage the other
night for the first time in India. It was that radiant warn blanket
feeling, as some of you know. It is amazing how it eminates directly
from her physical body anywhere from 10 too 20 feet it is unmistakable.
It's like being in the womb again (even though I can't remeber that
feeling I'm sure that's what it feels like-a peace unlike any other
I've ever felt. Drugs and alcohol don't even compare. It is a radiant
love and peace that Mahatma's (great souls) have. You have to be there
to see what I mean, and if some of you have not gone I suggest you see
for youself someday, don't take my word for it. Get the first hand
experience for yourself. I may have lied in my life before, but I
assure you this I would not lie about. It it peace beyond anything you
will ever know. You feel like your home for the first time. Om Namah Amma

Hopefully after her birthday celebration on the 27th and things calm down I will
pehaps take a boat trip through the backwaters of Kerala, it is
supposed to be unbeivalbe in beauty. There is a beach you can swim at
around 20km aways too I'd like to check out. A lillte vaction from
ashram life may be nice, although nature is just a spiritual to me as
everything else. Be well my dear friend's and I'll be in touch LOVE
PEACE

P.S. HAPPAY BIRTHDAY MOM (Maternal Mother) She has the same B-day as
Amma-imagine that! LOve you and ENJOY your trip in South Africa. Miss
you LOVE JEFF a.k.a JAgadish
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1190525220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1190525220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1190525220/tpod.html Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:57:58 -0400 Journey to India

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Kerala, India

Om Naoma Shiva ya all,
I arrived at Emma's ashram two days ago. I slept about 28 hours and am feeling much better. I woke up at 4a.m today just in time for 1000 names and Erato. Imagine that. I should have Emma's Dasha today and it's my birthday. We are on time limit here with the Internet and unfortunately after writing emails I'm out of time. I will come back later and fill you in. It's crazy with people here now because of Emma's birthday in a few days. Love you All JAI MA JAI MA!!!

I'm back for a few minutes at least. The computer that I'm on won't let me upload pictures. I may not get a chance to upload until after I leave here. I will probably stay here a week or two. Amma leaves in early October probably around the same time I'll check out. It is pretty cool weather here. There has been lots of rain, having caught the tail end of monsoon season. I got Darshan my first day here. Amma gave me a short but powerful Darshan. She seemed extremely strong. She pulled me into her lap with so much strength. I'll take any kind of attention she wants to give me. She is very Kali in India, but at the same time sweet. She demands and yells here. I've never seen her so open with that kind of energy. I signed up for veggie chopping seva today at 2p.m. and will get Darshan sometime tonight, mentioning of course that it is my birthday. Her birthday is the 27th of this month and it is apparently going to be a big deal. She will be having it at the institute across the backwaters. There is an estimated One-hundred thousand people coming. I've signed up for seva (service work, for those who don't know) for all three days. They will apparently need a lot of extra help to make it run smooth. I am sharing a room with two French guys now, but they may move another into the room for her birthday, and I felt it was cramped now! That's India for you especially ashram life. There is an amazing view from the floor I'm on (15th floor). You can see the ocean and the backwaters. Amritapuri (Amma's ashram) is on a small strip of land between. They just caught the aftermath of the Tsunami. If they had caught it full on there would be no ashram. Got to go I will be in touch. Jai Ma!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1190116260/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1190116260/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1190116260/tpod.html Tue, 18 Sep 2007 08:23:00 -0400 Journey to India

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Sarnath, India

I'm still in Varanasi and had some time to kill before I catch the train. I just returned from Sarnath where Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment. There was a musem and garden there. The musem had artitcts
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1190092140/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1190092140/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jagadish/new_delhi-2007/1190092140/tpod.html Tue, 18 Sep 2007 01:43:30 -0400 Journey to India

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Varanasi, India

Om Namah Shivaya,

It has been a interesting journey in Varanasi, now it's time to leave.I have had her darshan and touched her waters. Today I awoke to see two hawks circumabulating the main temple here "Kashi Viswanath", which is easily seen from my balcony. It seems that every thing here is sacred, and yet there seems to be a dark underworld previlant. I have spent more money here then elsewhere on my trip. The amount of hassel it is dealing with the poor kids who want to guide and help you (so they say), it is easier to throw a few rupees their way just so they'll stop following you. It has occured more then once that I go to eat and these kids wait outside the resturaunt for me. They wait at the bottom of the hotel for me to awake. You get quite jaded after a while, "Jaoing and Cheloing them". It seems that they take it personel, as if you disgraced their family. I try not to act as if I am better than but try to be resonable. I give sometimes and sometimes not. I may let one guide me too a good place to buy a Hanuman murti, as I did yesterday, and then tip for the guidance. It is important for me to remember that we're all brothers/sisters no matter cast or crede. I have realized that it's hard to notice sometimes how easy it is for the mind to discriminate and label people, places, and things. Once again awarness is the key.
Last night was trying for me. I had a little stomach trouble, but feel a little beter today. It has been a problem I carried with me from America. It is not dysentary. I do not have dierria but the opposite problem assails me. I ate an awesome Panner the other day with some Germans (they were all studying to be doctors, nice guys) which may have been a bad choice. It was really rich, but so good. The best food I've had in India. Once again the senses overtake common senese. Today just porriage and chai for me. I have booked a three day train ride from Varanasi to Kerala and I know that will be rough, but so great it will be to be with Amma on my birthday and her birthday. It was a desicion that was tough to make. I was almost going to return to Kainchi Dham or Vrindavan to be with Siddhi Ma. She touched me so deeply that I have felt her and Baba in a most powerful way here in Varanasi. I ate her prasad and sang the Hanuman Chalisa for releif several times here. I got to have Darshan of the Tulsi Manas Mandii and the long awaited Sankata Mochan temple (Hanuman's name as the Releiver of Suffering). When I showed a picture of Neem Karoli to a local Sadhu he said "This is the big boss of Sankata Mochan". So much leela has occured with Hanuman for me here. Most Sadhus and holy men will yell at me me "Jai Sita Ram, or Ram Ram",and it is mostly a common thing to say "Om Namah Shivaya or Jai Mahadev", as Shiva is the presiding deity here. Well, Hanuman is a form of Shiva from some aspects, and he is the eternal servant of Sita and Rama. It was quite a trip entering Sankata Mochan and having real monkey's surround you. Hanuman was a Monkey as most of you know. I was invited by that one man at the burning Ghat to go into Kashi Viswanath temple. Most westerners don't enter this temple. I was surprised at his offering. Was he lying? He never met me when he said he would. I saw him later that night and he said "We go now to the Golden Temple" (another name), and I said "No" I was in route for the hotel and tired. I wondered if I had passed up a chance of the lifetime or was being smart and cautious. It always comes down to faith. I have faith that I am protected, but at the same time try to be cautious. I'll never know. Tonight before I catch my train I will go to Saranath where Buddha preached his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. I here it is a real special place. I have to check out by 12pm, but the folks here are kind and will hold my belongings free of charge.
My last boat ride here was interesting. I asked if I could go across to the other side of the river. There is a giant sand marsh over there. When we got close to bank I saw quite a horrifying scene (from one perspective). There were two dead bodies on the bank and a dog was eating one. The smell was most intenese and unappealing to say the least. These are every day occurances here. Nobody seems astonished. When asking about how much it cost to be burned at Manikarnika Ghat I was told three things: It cost 350 rupees, it is free if you're poor, and that it cost 3000 rupees. I don't know which is true. I think the 3000 is right. The boatmen who have lived here their entire life told me this. The poor people who can't afford to buy their death at Manikarnika just throw their loved ones in the river. This is also done with babies and holy men, from what I here. It makes sense to me that the river being as impure as can be by a scientific perspective at the same time purifies everything that touches it. Shiva is a also know as the one who holds posion in his throat ( Neelkantha, or "Blue throated one") and is not affected by the posion. I feel as if he holds all the pollution and death that is thrown into the river in a simular way. Keeping those who believe safe and at the same time washes their sins away. I felt cleansed after I swam in the river, I actually felt quite amazing. The locals called me Baba after I got out. Who knows? Once again faith is everything. The people of Varanasi live off the water here. They drink, bath, and worship it on a continuous basis. It is the most amazing thing to see. They look happy what can I say.
I love you all and will be in touch in a few days from Kerala. I will let you know how my darshan of Saranath went. Om Namah Shivaya.
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