Blogs from Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India, Asia - page 32

Did I mention that while I'm here I'm in class most of the day? Yoga and meditation don't count as class but during the rest of the day I learn philosophy, anatomy (the structure of the human body) and techniques. It's fun to be back in school. I even have a paper due next week! I'm still not sure what I'm going to write about but I better figure that out soon. My class is made up of people from all over Europe and the Americas between the ages of 18 and 50. I feel lucky to have such great schoolmates.... read more

In the Hindu pantheon there are many gods. Just like the Greek and Roman Gods, Hindu Gods fall in love, get married, have children. They live lives that are a little bit like people's lives. They are gods but they are not always good. They can be naughty, sometimes they do or say things that are rash or petty. Ganesh, the elephant headed god was the child of two gods, Shiva and Parvati. There is a legend that when Ganesh was born his father was away from home. His father came home and didn't recognize him so he instantly cut off the child's head. His wife was very angry. She told him to go out and find the boy a new head. Shiva returned with the first head he could find, the head of an elephant ... read more

Where I am in the north of India there are tons of animals that we don't have in Maryland. Among other things there are tigers, leopards, wild boar and elephants. Elephants in India are smaller than their African cousins and they have smaller ears. Some of them are working animals and are ridden on treks. Elephants were used to defend India from Foreign invasion as late as World War II. Tigers live all over India but up here the mountains is excellent territory for them because there is cover from where they can stalk their prey. Elephants and tigers are both endangered in India and all over the world. Governments and Conservation groups are working to save the animals and the habitats that enable them to survive in the wild. There are also spotted deer here ... read more

INTRO........ ..........AUF DER SUCHE NACH DEM URSPRUNG...... als beatlesfan der ersten stunde und spross der hippie - guru - woodstockaera war mir schon immer klar, dass ich EINES im leben erreichen muss!! eine pilgerreise, so wie die sadhus hier, an einen heiligen platz, .........mir heiligen platz! glaubtses oder nicht, ich hab vor mehr als 25 jahren im schoenwieser gemeindesaal einen vortrag ueber den maharishi mahesh yogi gesehen! wir haben den vortragenden verarscht, weil uns der weismachen wollte, dass es im fortgeschrittenen stadium der transzendentalen meditation moeglich ist, vom boden abzuheben!!! dachten damals, super, ersparen wir uns das fliegen..... ja und, was is damit jetzt? mensch, komm ich doch drauf, dass hier in rishikesh DER ashram steht, in dem die beatles 1968 den mahar. mah. yogi aufgesucht haben und meditiert haben! peng, ........knallts ihr das ueberhaupt!?... read more

Walked to the Beetles ashram, 3/4km. Disappointed because it was run down and the gates were locked. Saw an amazing ceremony at 6.00pm on the Ganges. There were hundreds of people sitting on the stairs, in the middle was a bearded priest, bellow and beside him were singing children and musicians. It was beautiful - one of the many highlights of Rishikesh. Spent time with the Israli couple next door. Very friendly. Exhanged email addresses and we'll keep in touch. ... read more