Fossage: Guruji

Well it's been out of the hammock and back to reality for me. Thanks so much to Shriji and Shubhaji for their loving kindness; I was able to mend myself from a yucky bout of food poisoning very fast. I am eternally grateful for your love and for meeting you - you're family.

We cleared out Shubha's living room so that Shubha's friend Nithya could run a evening workshop, called a joyshop. It was wonderful. The perfect example of how to remember buddhist practise is about love and compassion. In this workshop we shared love with one another, learnt about sun gazing and meditated and chanted - it was beautiful and filled me with laughter and happiness. I have been trying to suss out a link to his website but haven't been able too. He is in Australia at the end of the year if anyone is keen on a workshop.Sorry I didn't take one of the beautiful people doing the workshop.

I decided to caress the land by rail again and make my way from Pune - Mumbai - Gaya - Bodhgaya. Bodhgaya is great, back to the heat and dirt roads. I am staying in a wonderful buddhist centre called the Root Institute for Wisdom and Culture. It is the perfect example of a place where people can indulge in some learnings but also give something back. This place runs free health clinics for the locals alopathic and natural - supporting people with minor ailments to HIV/ AIDS. It is a centre that also embraces organic growing, solar energy and sustainability - all things I am passionate about. Although its not an entirely cheap place to sta; its good to know my money is being directed back into the community. You can volunteer here too as the yoga teacher I have befriended tells me which makes it more manageable financially. Today I am off to Vipassana but will return to the Root Institute afterwards to do a course in buddhist theory to anchor my meditation.

Guruji

Am I missing out?

I didn't come here to go to an ashram or learn more yoga.

There's something in this one teacher concept guruji

that unnerves me

it's like putting on a jersey that's too small;

it simply won't fit.

I see scores of spiritual travellers here,

I go to Vipassana, but still won't call Goenka my guruji,

I now know I can mould this concept into shape,

stretch its sleeves and lengthen its body because

I've found people in this vast land who've guided, taught and inspired me in the everyday

my many guruji

with lessons short or tall

I treasure them

Some key things I have been learning in India

I love animals even more than I realised
If you project that you are going to get ripped off in India you usually do, if you project the opposite the reverse is true and you encounter miracles and acts of loving kindness.
I am a strong, hard-working person who makes friends where ever I go.

Comments

hey kate!

its really good to see your face and catch up with your indian life recently. I love your key things you have been learning, especially number two. I think that one will really help me when I go back there someday:)

xoxo

Posted by: kimberlee | November 29, 2008 at 11:26 AM