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Published: March 25th 2009
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Aurovalley Ashram, Rishidwar, March 22, 2009
It’s my last day (for now) at Aurovalley Ashram and I am sitting on the marble terrace in front of my room listening to John Lennon on my iPod singing “imagine there’s no heaven,” and I can’t because I have found it. Parrots are flying in the trees in front of me, one of the beautiful young Indian women who lives and works here just hugged me and told me I have a big heart, cows are grazing in the nearby field, the butterflies are dancing among the flowers in the meadow, an assortment of different birdsongs fill the air, the scent of jasmine wafts by on the breeze, the sun is shining and there is absolutely nothing for me to do but smile and write. I feel content and completely at home.
This morning, instead of meditation, I called Tiger (the dog) and we walked together down to the river to watch the sun rise over Ganga Ma (Mother Ganges). Several large and exotic birds were flying over the still, glassy water and the misty, rolling hills in the distance were gently illuminated by the sun’s early rays. I sat on a
rock and watched this serene scene of profound beauty and meditated on the perfection of the divine. It was very easy to do! Aurovalley makes it very easy to drop into spiritual communion with nature, the manifestation of the divine.
I was telling Swamiji about my aspiration to live here and write a book, and he said Aurovalley makes writers. I can believe it. It is very hard to be an artist or creative person in the west (I am thinking of my sister as I write this), but here I feel I have found the best imaginable place to support me in my development as a writer and artist. Apparently, many writers have lived here and written books, over the years. Currently, there is a Polish professor of eco-philosophy living in the round house and working. He has an aristocratic, wise and intelligent face and looks exactly as I think a professor should!
So, I have officially applied to study Integral Yoga here for a period of three years, starting next January, and I will be bringing my laptop. Life is becoming clearer. I know where I want to be, and what I want to do.
I
am in Room #12 at Aurovalley Ashram, the exact same room I was in the first time I visited Aurovalley in May 2006. I feel I have come first circle from the first time I visited almost three years ago. Even Liza is here, the little girl who I connected with so strongly in May 2006. She’s nine now, and still bright, creative, precocious and full of energy.I have the same very strong feeling I had three years ago, that Aurovalley is my spiritual home and that I think it is the most beautiful place on earth.
I arrived about three days ago from Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram. Vishva and Chetana drove me, and came to meet Swamiji and see the ashram. It was a very funny drive as Vishva is just learning to drive, I wasn’t really sure how to get here and there are absolutely no signs. But somehow we made it, without even a wrong turn! We got here just in time for satsang and Chetana asked a great question about rejection. I learned that Sri Aurobindo’s teachings can be summarized in the motto “Aspire Reject Surrender.” I love satsang with Swamiji. We sit outside in
a circle under a mango tree and he answers questions. He has probably been doing it just about every day for 3o years but he answers every question as if he’s hearing it for the first time and he takes everyone seriously, answering with intelligence, humanity and lightness. He sometimes tells stories and makes jokes, but usually he conveys the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.
Then Swamiji took Vishva on a tour of the ashram, and I took Chetana. I loved seeing Swamiji and Vishva together; they seemed to be a very good fit! Chetana remarked they seemed like Father and Son and I agree. It was quite remarkable for me to see my two teachers together, both yogis, both male, both Indian, both warm and light. They have so much in common and yet they are so different and for me they are a great complement.
In a future post, I may include some of Swamiji’s satsang answers. He is very articulate - especially since English is not his mother tongue - so the answers definitely stand on their own as inspired and intelligent, but it really helps to get the in-person experience of this
remarkable man.
But now it is time for me to get ready to take the 6 p.m. Dehradun Shatabdi to Delhi. It’s hard to imagine two more opposite places than Aurovalley and Delhi, but both are India so I accept them to the best of my ability.
Delhi, March 25
I am staying at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Delhi (no pictures as yet), and very aware that I am in the midst of a complete life makeover! I am continuing on my heart journey ... and heading to Pushkar, Rajasthan tomorrow morning ...
In the meantime, I had the wonderful pleasure of spending the day, two days ago, with my good friend Mark (Manmohan) Khanna, from Toronto (originally from Delhi) and yesterday evening with my new friends Shashi and Sonia, and their family of amazing women! It's so great to have new and old friends supporitng me as I go through these big life changes. Thank you, India, for again and again and again giving so generously of your wisdom, love, friendship and experiences. All experiences are good experiences!
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Kumar Arindam
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Hello Mariellen Ward
Hello!... this is the astrologer you met at Rishikesh. You visited me at my place and thereafter I joined you up to Anand Prakash Ashram as I had to meet Viswaketu. Hope you remember now. well, I read some of your blogs and learned that you are still in India somewhere in Rajasthan. Keep it up as you yet to explore lot many things... best wishes. Arindam