Rishikesh

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I finally have some free time to update my blog. I am now in Risikesh, aka yoga capital of india - thanks to an 8-page spread by vanity fair & currently, a 7-day international yoga festival (which consisted of mostly LA'ers). But it's been great! I've been doing yoga everyday, either with an instructor or in the outdoor pavilion @ the Ved Niketan Ashram (where I'm staying).

The ashram is great - very quiet. & I've met some amazing people who are on this path of personal evolution. Many amazing swamis pass through Rishikesh. I've been lucky enough to attend 2 sat-sungs (spiritual talks) of Swami Muktananda, a disciple of Swami Chidananda, a guru of Sivananda Ashram . He's a 6'5 Canadian gentleman that realized at an early age that life was nothing but suffering. Long story short, he found his guru, but swami chidananda told him to go back to canada & lead a normal life. Later, he sold his very successful business & came to india & has been in india ever since. @ his last sat-sung, his last comment was very much focused towards me - about creating space for more space, stepping into the uknown b/c we can find happiness if we are open to it. This advice is for everyone in the West - to let go, be in the present & love love love. Needless to say, my life is turning onto a path of loving mysticism & very much towards the God & the love that is in all of us. Many thanks to a resident @ the ashram - Marchello Read - from LA & a loving brother & guide for me.

To catch you up on some of the things happening to me -
I was attacked by a monkey the first day I arrived. Apparently I seemed threatening towards the baby & the mother grabbed the crotch of my ali-baba pants. Whew! That was close! It shook me a little. Monkeys hang out @ our ashram everyday, looking for food & such. a few baby monkeys were playing in front of our yoga class @ the Sivananda Ashram/hospital today. I think everyone sitting by the windows shared my anxiety of a monkey freaking out in same way. Today, I also went to the Maharishi's ashram where the beatles stayed. It was a beautiful place - closest to the gange, meditation huts, & a peaceful rooftop view that we would all die for. The ashram is very run down now b/c much controversy surrounded Maharishi, whether he was a true guru or just a business man &/or girl crazy. Oh well. Agi & I also went exploring the other day - crossing the bridge to Laxman Jule (the touristy side). We ended up hanging out @ a sandy beach for a few...now we can say that we both have been in the gange river! =)

Rishikesh is a very magical city - very spiritual - it almost pushes one to re-evaluate & re-program ourselves to Truth & love. I am going to my first 10-day vipassana meditation on 3/24. "Vipassana is a way of self-transformation through self-observation. It focuses on the deep interconnection between mind and body, which can be experienced directly by disciplined attention to the physical sensations that form the life of the body, and that continuously interconnect and condition the life of the mind." So basically you sit in silence for 10-days & deal with everything that comes up. (There are ones for 20 days long) For those of you who are intersted to personally evolve & learn more about yourself & mediatation: http://www.dhamma.org/. I'm both excited & nervous as it is something new...I can not regress, I can only improve & become more silent & more loving.

All of you are in my heart & in my thoughts - much love to all of you. India is amazing & hope you too can come experience it...Namaste. Until the next blog, love love love...=)

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Photos

Holi..Moly!
Holi - annual occurence where ppl throw fun colors on one another. There was a huge dance party in rishikesh square.

Holi..Moly! - 2
More holi!!!

Gange
Sunset over the gange

Me lounging @ freedom cafe
mm....right over the gange. just the damn flies are a bit annoying.

Poo-Chati
beach that we could actually wear a bikini! =) wow

Tree @ sunset
this is marcello & mine favorite tree (OK - bad english). Papaji used to come here...so one does feel energy there.

Rain falls
OMG. It is almost out of a fairy tale...

Comments

[Lynn]

Don't monkey with the monkeys
Hi Jen, You may be meditating and won't get this email for awhile. Just want to say that I am glad you escaped worse torture from the monkey mama. I remember being very worried about Corey as she sat on a bench surrounded by monkeys, hoping they wouldn't bite her. She was fine, but I was not. Glad you got to swim in the gange and that you are having the spiritual time of your life. Wish I were there for the yoga. Love, Lynn