I am as far south as it gets. In India. I today saw a statue that withstood the tsunami due to the mystical Vedic powers of engineering, and a footprint of Pavarti, a famous goddess. She was waiting for Siva, her love standing on one foot.
Next up is the Hannuman temple. Apparently monkeys, in devotion to Rama, made stones float with their devotion to their god. There's a lot to be inspired about!~
And, me and ashram friends will be soon attending a festival with many elephants. Before which, Periyar Wildlife reserve, where i will get to tend to and ride elephants, and hope to see some tigers. It's getting wild in here..
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Today is a holiday in the district of Kerala, India where I am. It's also the last day of classes at the ashram for this teacher training course. So this morning, we had a special surprise... (tho we were given a little advance notice)
Usually the first wake up bell goes off around 5:20am. This morning a lady came in and woke up me and 6 girls sleeping in beds nearby, instructing us not to open our eyes, but get out of bed. We were led in a human chain, holding hands down the steps of the dorm, across the ashram to the temple. When it was my turn, I heard one of my yoga teachers tell me to kneel down and put my head on the pillow in front of me, so I did. When he told me to sit up, I was looking at the most amazing display of fruit and flowers, and Krishna playing his flute, arranged around a gorgeous, ornate mirror. I took a good look at the new me in this Kerala Indian new year. The holiday's name is Vishu, and it's Vishnu's birthday.
I was given a "yogi name," as were many students. It's Radha. For the purposes of this course, I have enjoyed it. Radha is the lover/beloved of Krishna, the avatar God. She is self realized, and represents the bliss aspect of Satchitananda (Absolute Truth, Absolute Knowledge, Absolute Bliss). Krishna projected her into the human world so he could enjoy bliss as humans do. She is denoted for her unshakable devotion to her man (Krisha).
Lunch today was very special, served on a banana leaf instead of a tray. I can't believe it's almost the end. I have so many more stories to tell about this experience. Tomorrow is a day off to study, then we come back to write our exam on Saturday. There is a LOT of material to think over, and a lot of sanskrit words to memorize! It's hard to put words to this experience yet, and I have been in awe of it. But i'm really eager to finish and go look around at India! This has really been an other-worldly kind of experience.
Usually the first wake up bell goes off around 5:20am. This morning a lady came in and woke up me and 6 girls sleeping in beds nearby, instructing us not to open our eyes, but get out of bed. We were led in a human chain, holding hands down the steps of the dorm, across the ashram to the temple. When it was my turn, I heard one of my yoga teachers tell me to kneel down and put my head on the pillow in front of me, so I did. When he told me to sit up, I was looking at the most amazing display of fruit and flowers, and Krishna playing his flute, arranged around a gorgeous, ornate mirror. I took a good look at the new me in this Kerala Indian new year. The holiday's name is Vishu, and it's Vishnu's birthday.
I was given a "yogi name," as were many students. It's Radha. For the purposes of this course, I have enjoyed it. Radha is the lover/beloved of Krishna, the avatar God. She is self realized, and represents the bliss aspect of Satchitananda (Absolute Truth, Absolute Knowledge, Absolute Bliss). Krishna projected her into the human world so he could enjoy bliss as humans do. She is denoted for her unshakable devotion to her man (Krisha).
Lunch today was very special, served on a banana leaf instead of a tray. I can't believe it's almost the end. I have so many more stories to tell about this experience. Tomorrow is a day off to study, then we come back to write our exam on Saturday. There is a LOT of material to think over, and a lot of sanskrit words to memorize! It's hard to put words to this experience yet, and I have been in awe of it. But i'm really eager to finish and go look around at India! This has really been an other-worldly kind of experience.
Friday, April 9, 2010
At Long Last, I write!~
Hello, world out there.
So, I've been on the go for about a month and a half now, and this is my first entry since then. There is no possible way I'm going to catch up all that time that has sailed by me, but I will give you this:
One week in Bejing, One week in Sri Lanka - arrival, Trivandrum, Southern India. Sivananda Neyyar Dam Yoga Ashram.
It is a cell, practically shut out from the world, where soul transformation is attempted. Very intensive, one-month yoga teacher training course. I can't comment on whether one can become a yoga teacher in a month; people are drawn here for many reasons, but certainly it's liable to do SOMETHING to us..
I am already in the third week. Every Friday, we have a day off, and most of us come to the nearby beach, in Kovalom. I have been studying yoga theories and Sanskit words on the balcony of a cafe, with the other yogis, but wanted to write a little something about what it has been like thus far. (Before I take a dive into the waves... :-) ~ ~~~ ~
The wake-up bells start at 5:20am, and our first class at 6a.m. - SATSANG - japa (Mantra chanting), with bells, drums, shakers, and a short meditation preceding. There are about 120 of us in the course, as well as other people living at the ashram for various reasons. After Satsang, tea, then we have ASANA (yoga postures/exercise) for two hours, where we either practice, or learn how to teach Asana. At 10a.m is breakfast. We sit in lines on the floor in a hall, eating sattvic vegetarian Indian food. We eat with our hands, and are *supposed* to eat in silence. Which we don't really do, but sort of. Then we are meant to have karma yoga from 11a.m. to 12p.m. My karma yoga is to serve dinner, so I have this time off. I usually do homework, wash my clothes (i wear the same few outfits every day, and they are sweeeeaty!!) or wash me (>.<), nap,or just sit like a zombie, trying to absorb everything. 12a.m. Chanting/Bhagavad Gita studies, 2p.m. main lecture, on various premises of yoga. 4.p.m. afternoon ASANA class, 6p.m. dinner, 8p.m. evening Satsang, Every day is so packed! So hectic and intense. I want to explain the experience in more detail, but am processing it now. Every day lights are out at 10:30a.m., and I usually sleep like I die each night and am reborn in the morning. It's sooooo hot here!
So, I've been on the go for about a month and a half now, and this is my first entry since then. There is no possible way I'm going to catch up all that time that has sailed by me, but I will give you this:
One week in Bejing, One week in Sri Lanka - arrival, Trivandrum, Southern India. Sivananda Neyyar Dam Yoga Ashram.
It is a cell, practically shut out from the world, where soul transformation is attempted. Very intensive, one-month yoga teacher training course. I can't comment on whether one can become a yoga teacher in a month; people are drawn here for many reasons, but certainly it's liable to do SOMETHING to us..
I am already in the third week. Every Friday, we have a day off, and most of us come to the nearby beach, in Kovalom. I have been studying yoga theories and Sanskit words on the balcony of a cafe, with the other yogis, but wanted to write a little something about what it has been like thus far. (Before I take a dive into the waves... :-) ~ ~~~ ~
The wake-up bells start at 5:20am, and our first class at 6a.m. - SATSANG - japa (Mantra chanting), with bells, drums, shakers, and a short meditation preceding. There are about 120 of us in the course, as well as other people living at the ashram for various reasons. After Satsang, tea, then we have ASANA (yoga postures/exercise) for two hours, where we either practice, or learn how to teach Asana. At 10a.m is breakfast. We sit in lines on the floor in a hall, eating sattvic vegetarian Indian food. We eat with our hands, and are *supposed* to eat in silence. Which we don't really do, but sort of. Then we are meant to have karma yoga from 11a.m. to 12p.m. My karma yoga is to serve dinner, so I have this time off. I usually do homework, wash my clothes (i wear the same few outfits every day, and they are sweeeeaty!!) or wash me (>.<), nap,or just sit like a zombie, trying to absorb everything. 12a.m. Chanting/Bhagavad Gita studies, 2p.m. main lecture, on various premises of yoga. 4.p.m. afternoon ASANA class, 6p.m. dinner, 8p.m. evening Satsang, Every day is so packed! So hectic and intense. I want to explain the experience in more detail, but am processing it now. Every day lights are out at 10:30a.m., and I usually sleep like I die each night and am reborn in the morning. It's sooooo hot here!
We have studied a myriad of things, including: the history of our swamis at the Ashram, the various types of yoga: Karma yoga, Raja yoga, Bhakti yoga, and Jnana yoga, of which we study parts of them all in our regular daily schedule. The eight limbs of yoga, anatomy, the seven bhoomikas, yoga lifestyle, and so on and so forth. I'd like to write some of the important notes out on my blog at some point later.
Every day we have several pages of written homework on what we have studied, on which we get marked, and on which at the end of the course there will be a written final exam. In ASANA class, we are learning the sanskrit chants, and the Sivananda formula for a class. We practice and do corrections on each other. We have to teach classes in groups, with the other students as well as supervising teachers evaluating us. I'm done this part now.
After the course, I have plans to travel with some of the other students, to the beach at the southern most tip of India, where you can see the sunrise and sunset in the same day, as well as other places, including an elephant festival in Cochin. After that, I'm either coming back to the ashram or going to anther ashram to do more yoga for another month. Midway through my visa, I want to fly to Nepal, then into Delhi and around Northern India. There is soooooo much to see and do, but on this trip I'm focusing mostly on yoga, and am interested in the Tibetan community in exhile. Though I aim to remain open to possibilities that come along.
I am meeting really great people that I'm sure will be good friends in my life. As well, I feel strongly my love and devotion to my friends/loved ones waiting for me. LOVE you!!
Here is a present:
~~ ~~~~ L O V E Y O U ~ ! ~
~~~ ( ) ) ) )
~ ~~ ( ( ( ( ( - . -) ) ) ) ) ~~ ~
connection on the waves..
do you FEEL it??
(I see you).
OM ..
xxx (yogi star kisses.)
Subtle vibrations, thought forms.
OM Nama Shivaya.
Rhea
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