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On Thursday I found myself in a blissful moment after the storm. I sensed and smelt it about one hour before it arrived and as soon as the wind started to pick up I went out into the weather to enjoy the wild wind. I SO love the wind. The dust circled in the air and the tree branches picked up their tempo! The scent of jasmine flowers was prolific. The rain was soft and gentle, a very welcome change to the dry climate we have been experiencing.
I lay on the warm stones and felt the cool raindrops make small puddles, gradually cooling down the ground. There was a reprieve in the rain and the wind slowed it's intensity. A few people came out from their rooms and we marveled at the power of nature. This is why I have never desired the distraction of television! There is so much incredible beauty and inspiration in nature herself!
In Bhakti Yoga there is nothing to give up. The Bhakta does not need to suppress any emotions, only intensify them and direct them toward God.... While the Karma Yogi's renunciation is giving up all the fruits of action, not attached
to the results.... the Raja Yogi learns renunciation through own experience of nature.... Gyan Yogi's understanding lies in realising any kind of manifestation of power in nature belongs to the soul and not nature.... all knowledge and experience are in the soul and not in nature, so it's all about tearing away from the bonds of nature. This Gyan concept remains the more difficult path for me to work through! Realising the illusory world....
Again the wind picked up and rain fell heavier. I relocated to lie on the grass, becoming saturated with raindrops and listening to the rain splash into the thirsty earth. Bolts of Prana illuminated sections of the sky and lit up the White House. It was a spectacular lightening show. I walked back through ankle deep water on the stones and watched the bats who were instantly active after the rain passed. There were also several geckos on window screens with missing tails. Let's hope there is a bountiful monsoon after this hot summer.
Mahamandaleshwar Swami Jasraji came to dinner today and commented on the recent and forecast constellations. We have survived a remarkable week of madness. Doing the best with our capacities is
all very well. Thankfully we have other factors at play and the 'calm after the storm recovery process' has been facilitated with the help of an auspicious constellation today. The predictions are that the next couple of weeks are also in the prosperous category and support beginning new projects.
Ashram collective cleaning continues as the main buildings including Bhakti Sagar and Library receive a facelift. It's the epitome of yoga; living the unity.
The Watermelon Lila is interesting. In the beginning I was never able to get fruit in the afternoon unless it was served to me with a frown, due to a language barrier. It seemed more peaceful to go without the fruit than to receive it in such a way. I was usually taking fruit for the boys and although intending to take for three, only eating for one and sharing with the boys. Since watermelon season started I never managed to actually eat any of it as it was such a mission to acquire two pieces of watermelon, let alone three! Since then, someone interpreted for me to the Dear serving lady and on that particular day I had to eat almost half a watermelon!
It was the bizarre flipside! I was still laughing as to the absurdity of the event when the next day news came through that Swamiji had sent instructions that we buy a truckload of watermelons and that they be available to us at any time of the day. We now have constant watermelon access in a fridge below one of the accommodation buildings! As the heat increases and obligations call, we have fare-welled a few more Karma yogis including Ashokanandji with evening gatherings and watermelon.
In school we have been enjoying simple pleasures such as coloured chalk, sharing storybooks and learning some songs and Mantras. The class' listening skills and English comprehension are improving rapidly. We've enjoyed some out of classroom learning, including lots of sport, a visit up the mountain and nature walks where we found some big goannas and desert flora. The children are already experts at which native plants we can eat. So inspiring from a group of 7 and 8 year olds. We all like taking turns with the camera! We've done some more work on our Earthkeepers Project and are making a movie to share some of our recent learning discoveries.
For our
last day of school for the semester, the children asked to go on another excursion. We took some fruit for a picnic and visited Talab (our water catchment) the OM Ashram site, Gaushala to see the cows and to see what was in season in our Subji (vegetable) garden. The elements of fun, laughter and curiosity were prevalent. We returned to school in time for the final function in the hall where Sashaji came to help me set up for a slide presentation on the back slightly shadowier wall with eating mats keeping the light of the windows out. When in India, resourcefullness is the word!
After the children sang some slokes and gave some other performances, the teaching staff were invited to sit with Jasraji for a feast. We all received the famous Jadan Ashram Kicheri recipe and a set of chai cups as thank you gifts for being in the school game for another year. We wished everyone a happy and safe holiday and reminded most (a few of the teaching staff were over-due for a rotation out of our school!) to please return in July for the new school year.
Swamiji Wisdom "Impurity, restlessness, ignorance;
purify these. Life is turbulence up and down. We all come with different experiences and different viewpoints. I always try to learn from everywhere. Positive thinking means enlightening oneself. Liberation comes from the knowledge, the way of our life and our heart. Know thy limitations. Yoga is a principal of balancing, harmonising and uniting the human to human and human to God. Live for the happiness. Close your eyes and relax. Meditation with Mantra"
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