On the home stretch

Shop entrance.  The evening hangout spot.

Hi everyone, thanks for writing in.

Since my last entree, I found out the grounds manager, that Sachin (the boy in the kitchen) is from a well-off family. Eitherway, I will find a small gift for him today for reminding me of compassion.  After just one hour in Old Nasik, I can see why Sachin is considered well-off.

In Nashik City, a large sign spanned across a side street.  In bold, colourful English and Marathi letters, a clinic was offering free leprosy shots.  How can clinics reach people with their big signs when the people who can benefit from their services cannot read?

Parul (one of my 3 roommates) and I waited outside a department store for the others to get their shopping done. Across the busy road, I spotted a small barefoot child being pulled up by one arm by perhaps his mother.  He was sitting on the sidewalk.  He cried and was obviously tired but had to continue walking under the hot sun with 2 women.  The situation made my eyes and nose sting and I could no longer hide the tears from Parul who stood waiting beside me.  I wiped off as much as I could and turned to her asking why do people have children when they can’t afford to feed them.  She followed my watery gaze without surprise or consolation and said that she had asked her mother, a physician, the same question.  Although her answer will never take away the sadness of the situation, it helped me understand better what was going on.

She explained that some people in India are so poor, education is non-existent and daily survival means that they get up and beg for sustenance several times a day.  They don’t know what is happening to their own bodies or aware of pregnancy or disease.

I know this seems truly unbelievable to us, but when generations of people live this way, survival becomes priority.  Parul asked me if I don’t see this in Canada and what happens to children who have nothing.  My answers seem to surprise and calm her all at the same time.  She was quiet, thoughtful and did not respond.

1 of 4 snakes caught each week.  This week, 3 cobras, 1 viper.

At the Ashram’s entrance, Lord Shiva sits in peaceful bliss.

The last couple weeks have been quite busy. It started with an essay.  Not just the fact that I have to write one essay with limited resources, but that I have to write this by hand.  Of course, I had to re-write the same essay several times to make corrections and changes to perfect it.  Yes, I am aware that perfection should be left behind (even though the essay is no where near perfect) but at this point, I can’t help being who I am.  However, I will let you know that I’m doing this all gracefully and haven’t freaked out…like my usual self.

This last week was busy with preparing and performing micro-lessons in front of my group.  Talk about stage fright.  If I gain anything out of this it will be this very experience of feeling absolutely faint as I walk up to the front with my mat with absolute blankness before presenting!  In addition to micro-lessons, every other day was filled with assignments and written tests.  This coming and final week brings each day, 2 hours of karma yoga, 6 hours of trial lessons and another 6 hours of final examinations and asana (physical performance) tests.  We must hold the headstand for 4 minutes!  Good thing this is somewhat easy for me compared to the Crow and some other stuff.

There may be some additional time in between exams where we can
come into town but I’m not sure until the day before.

For the days after the course, I will join Parul, who is from Delhi, for my 3 days in Mumbai.  I am looking forward to this time out of the ashram.  Until then…

Sheep/goat farmers in front of Ashram.  Birth place of  Hanuman in background.