WEST APPRECIATES EAST IN NIMBOLI or GOD IN OVERLOOKED PLACES
Hey, I was raised western. In western culture, we are educated into our heads (Shiva – mental functions) and out of our bodies (Shakti – earth based, solid, time, embodied beings ). Not totally of course, but it has taken, for me, and i am assuming most westerners, a total immersion in a land and spirit based culture to appreciate the power, the immediacy, and the beauty of God-Dess worshiping in and as earth.
In India there is a daily presentation of people living in God-Dess (GD), praying to GD, supplicating benefits from GD, by means of bringing offerings of food, fruits, flowers, incense, milk, honey, and all manner of positive and delicious things to honor and invite GD’s favour and to give appreciation and recognition of GD’s value. Get this: in the west, we have become so abstracted and distanced from the flesh and blood and bones of God, that when viewing the sacred rites of Earthy GD worship, we can have thoughts of disdain with labelling like tribal or primitive, or unenlightened. But after immersion in and receiving the benefits of earthy density physical GD relating, it becomes clear that westerners (me) are missing out on a whole large spectrum of GD. For example ----
I sat in the Shiva Temple this morning, just there in the corner to the left after descending the few damp marble stairs that lead through the narrow opening to the small domed vault with the Shiva Lingam popping up out of the floor, all decked out with flowers and the customary copper drip pot of water anointing the lingam a drop at a time, a cobra head arched over the pot guarding and blessing the water. Blip blop blnk the drops hit and slide down this sacred projection of Shiva arising out of the ground after bravely, courageously diving into the depths of density to bring his seeds of knowledge and all-possibility to Shakti who, holding the power of manifestation and embodiment, not possessed by Shiva, delights in fleshing all possibilities into form. Shakti also enfleshes Shiva, who then arises as this physically birthed wisdom being (the lingam) now able on the earth level to kick ass take names and spread benefit to all. The lingam is wet and has the energetic coating of thousands and thousands of finger and forehead touches from devotees drawing the power and beneficence of their Lord Father- True Self. Each lingam has the authority of having been touched by countless thousands of people devoted to God in this form expressed by their foreheads touching the stone, their fingers pressed against the sides, some delicately just touching the top of the lingam, others bring flower garlands, they pour milk generously over the curved top, add honey for sweetness, it is kissed by babies help over the projection, etc etc. The old lady tending the Temple sweetly hands me a mat to sit on after i gesture in question, ok to sit here? I sit and open this consciousness and am delighted to be filled with a strong, pervasive, very full masculine power, relaxed like a lion is, knowing it’s strength is the greatest in the jungle. It’s a surprise, as it required no thought or invocation, just an opening to the presence held in the rock and water and flowers and incense of the place. Shiva as spirited matter - - how peaceful his power - - how secure if feel in his blessing
The feeling is so beneficial, that even though my mind wants to be fed with movement, any distraction, and a new set of stimuli to chew on , i remain seated, not wanting to leave this state of embodied powerful love. I shall remember and keep this presence alive in me and bless all i meet with this calmness born of all pervading power and wisdom.
I watch from the vantage point of non-attachment at the successive groups of people who enter to be with their God. I was told by a past teacher that god shows up however we imagine him to be. Give GD an image or a location and without delay she=he is there, because she=he is in here to start with.
Living in India puts me into direct contact with God-in-Flesh – everywhere the statues and temples and posters and clothing shows not only superficially, but contains to the core the presence and essence of GD.
Given an either-or choice of God in abstract rational enlightened thought and design vs God in form as statue and flowers and carving and body speaking mantra and fire ceremonies, and Brahmins chanting in concert, i would be put into a tilt position of stumbling to make a decision. Fortunately, it seems, i have “and” instead of just “or” available, and can have/be both. I will this afternoon enjoy placing a number of rocks on top of each other and calling it god and receiving the blessing of rock god, i shall place a mango before me and name it divine mother and eat this wondrous gift which feeds my body and soul. I shall have both east and west and the gratitude that is due such gifting. All shall be my GD
Sunday, October 18, 2009
NEED FOR SEED
NEED FOR SEED
Hey Folks in the States who can so easily procure whatever you desire, please give us hand, or, uh, rather some seeds to grow with.
The situation in this part of india and perhaps most of India is that the local farmers have been led down a dysfunctional path which some of you may be aware of - - which is that the large seed and fertilizer companies and the banks have sold and loaned the farmers into insolvency and failure so that 46 farmers a day are committing suicide. Please read this article for further information about this travesty. And, what we notice here locally, is that there is now a very narrow range of food types available for purchase at the markets.
We would like to grow our own organic food for consumption at FM and also be able to help the indigenous peoples here return to true heritage seeds. When I recently asked a local what we could do for them, he said, get us good seeds. The practice has been, I am told for the large seeds companies sell the farmers on buying their hybrid “high yield” seeds, promising them riches, only find later after borrowing money from the bank, that they must buy the companies fertilizer and pesticides to make the plants produce, and the seeds of many of these hybrids and GMO plants are sterile and will not produce plants for the next wave of plantings, so the farmers must buy more. A bad year for crops can result in the farmer not being able to keep up with the bank payments and as a result he loses his land and his ability to feed his family and his respect, leading to many regrettable suicides.
Well, while we are not ready to reform the agricultural systems of India, we would like to supply ourselves¸ our workers, and the locals as it becomes possible, with healthy organic food and some simple practices which will provide more and better nourishment for us/them
Hey Folks in the States who can so easily procure whatever you desire, please give us hand, or, uh, rather some seeds to grow with.
The situation in this part of india and perhaps most of India is that the local farmers have been led down a dysfunctional path which some of you may be aware of - - which is that the large seed and fertilizer companies and the banks have sold and loaned the farmers into insolvency and failure so that 46 farmers a day are committing suicide. Please read this article for further information about this travesty. And, what we notice here locally, is that there is now a very narrow range of food types available for purchase at the markets.
We would like to grow our own organic food for consumption at FM and also be able to help the indigenous peoples here return to true heritage seeds. When I recently asked a local what we could do for them, he said, get us good seeds. The practice has been, I am told for the large seeds companies sell the farmers on buying their hybrid “high yield” seeds, promising them riches, only find later after borrowing money from the bank, that they must buy the companies fertilizer and pesticides to make the plants produce, and the seeds of many of these hybrids and GMO plants are sterile and will not produce plants for the next wave of plantings, so the farmers must buy more. A bad year for crops can result in the farmer not being able to keep up with the bank payments and as a result he loses his land and his ability to feed his family and his respect, leading to many regrettable suicides.
Well, while we are not ready to reform the agricultural systems of India, we would like to supply ourselves¸ our workers, and the locals as it becomes possible, with healthy organic food and some simple practices which will provide more and better nourishment for us/them
GODDESS JUMPS OUT OF THE GROUND
GODDESS JUMPS OUT OF THE GROUND, WET GREEN AND VIRILE
The rains have come and the Goddess has jumped out of the ground with leaves and bushes and grass everywhere - - from dry and dusty to wet and unabashedly naked green everywhere. Suddenly the river is full again and there are rice paddies full of water promising the coming harvest of the staple of Asia. The night time, previously so quiet, is now a surround sound of chirping and throaty frog calls of various patterns and styles. Holes in the ground have appeared everywhere and we are told that the dormant frogs and crabs are coming out at night to feed and be captured by the local people who wander through the landscape, flashlights in hand, eager to catch a bunch. I could never get over a mental aversion to eating frog legs. Have you tried them? Like them? Rhoidas, our handyman and gardener says they are yummy, and crabs are the best. He and his friend bagged 200 crabs a couple of nights ago, so obviously they are here in numbers even though they are never seen during the dry periods. It continues to be rather shocking to look out and see the very intense green blanket of vegetation everywhere there was only dry grass stubble a few weeks ago.
TWO MONTHS LATER: The monsoon is essentially over now and the wetness of the ground is being baked out of the soil producing an exceedingly humid climate. The river is still high, but receding each day. Everywhere you look it is still green and lush, but the greenness is a little tattered around the edges and it is clear, the dry period will return within a month. Monsoon was so welcome. The green jungle growth and rice fields have been so enjoyable. Mount Mondagni has been swathed in a beautiful green sari of earth colors and most often she is cloaked with some misty clouds creating some mystery and intrigue. We counted 11 waterfalls coming off her flank in our view just the other day during a monsoon rain. A great variety of new natural wild edibles and non edibles have sprung up and we have learned a good deal about the vegetation here. Now we will attempt to keep our gardens alive and productive during the dry period using drip irrigation from our well and shade cloth to temper the sun overabundant gifts. Tune in later for more updates on acclimating to India.
The rains have come and the Goddess has jumped out of the ground with leaves and bushes and grass everywhere - - from dry and dusty to wet and unabashedly naked green everywhere. Suddenly the river is full again and there are rice paddies full of water promising the coming harvest of the staple of Asia. The night time, previously so quiet, is now a surround sound of chirping and throaty frog calls of various patterns and styles. Holes in the ground have appeared everywhere and we are told that the dormant frogs and crabs are coming out at night to feed and be captured by the local people who wander through the landscape, flashlights in hand, eager to catch a bunch. I could never get over a mental aversion to eating frog legs. Have you tried them? Like them? Rhoidas, our handyman and gardener says they are yummy, and crabs are the best. He and his friend bagged 200 crabs a couple of nights ago, so obviously they are here in numbers even though they are never seen during the dry periods. It continues to be rather shocking to look out and see the very intense green blanket of vegetation everywhere there was only dry grass stubble a few weeks ago.
TWO MONTHS LATER: The monsoon is essentially over now and the wetness of the ground is being baked out of the soil producing an exceedingly humid climate. The river is still high, but receding each day. Everywhere you look it is still green and lush, but the greenness is a little tattered around the edges and it is clear, the dry period will return within a month. Monsoon was so welcome. The green jungle growth and rice fields have been so enjoyable. Mount Mondagni has been swathed in a beautiful green sari of earth colors and most often she is cloaked with some misty clouds creating some mystery and intrigue. We counted 11 waterfalls coming off her flank in our view just the other day during a monsoon rain. A great variety of new natural wild edibles and non edibles have sprung up and we have learned a good deal about the vegetation here. Now we will attempt to keep our gardens alive and productive during the dry period using drip irrigation from our well and shade cloth to temper the sun overabundant gifts. Tune in later for more updates on acclimating to India.
AKKALKOT ADVENTURES
When we visited Akkalkot 4 weeks ago on our 4 day yagna to spiritual power spots, we knew this place was special, and now that we have been here for awhile it is very clear why. Please read on. Well Is it the amazingly effective ayurvedic cleansing and rejuvenation therapy that we are experiencing? – Or is it the daily rice-herb, herb- oil, or herbal wrap massage? Certainly a part of it is the lovely “doing seva for God” people who work here.
But undoubtedly the most powerful aspect of our fortuitous visit to Shivpuri just outside of Akkalkot is the power of Swami Samartha (people say he was Nityananda’s Guru,
the presence of Lord Parashuram (he spent his younger years living in and on and near Mount Mandagni),
and Shree Gajanan Maharaj who was instructed by Lord Parashuram to restore the Vedas and bring Angnihotra (healing the planet by offering oblations to the fire) to the world. These players have all passed beyond body form, and are very present here, especially at the Samadhi mandir and statue sites on the premises.
There are a lot of colourful stories on the internet about Lord Parashuram - - how he lived on Mount Mandagni, so close to our Fire Mountain retreat center, and how he escorted Goddess Vajeshwari to the location which is now the town of Vajeshwari. Then a bunch more stories of his travelling around india and being involved in many historical God happenings. His statues and pictures portray him as kind of the Arnold Schwarzenager of the God world ( oh I’ll add a picture so you can see). We are excited to visit the temple to Parashuram on the other side of Mandagni when we return to Nimboli and dig deeper into our connections with him around Nimboli. The presence and power of those mentioned so far is very palpable here, and we are enjoying being roasted in the Fire.
At Shivpuri , the ashram built by Shree Gajanan, “offering mantra and ghee-rice and other things to the fire” happens every day at Sunrise and Sunset. It is a simple and powerful ceremony, basically affirming a total surrender to God. This ashram is devoted to sending out agnihotra kits to people around the world and carrying on the work of Shree Gajanan and his Predecesors.
Wonderful soul Mohini (which means attracting) is demonstrating the Agnihotra technique to Jeanetta.
As a part of the Ashram there are multiple Samadhi mandir sites, temples, yagna sites, and the ayurvedic health clinic where we are effectively getting rejuvenated.
The kitchen staff is headed by these two gorgeous women who live in the ashram with their husbands.
The kitchen staff is headed by these two gorgeous women who live in the ashram with their husbands.
So, we are half way through our 16 day Kaya Kalpa treatment program, kaya kalpa takes one beyond panachkarma cleansing and into rejuvenation, and we are very happy with the results. If we don’t actually look like “19 again” when we leave, we will probably feel like it. We experience new herbal magic every day, and the staff treats us exceedingly well. We would like to send someone here from Ganeshpuri to learn massage and the basics of ayurdevic treatment for our benefit and the benefit of visitors like you. This place is definitely not 5 star on the physical level but its up there on the spiritual level for sure. And having warm cows milk with magic herbs swathed across your forehead for an hour puts one into a whole new relationship with cows. They have their own cows here, and use the cow dung and ghee in the yagna ceremonies. It’s all very pure and non-western.
We like the results and plan to return yearly for a Kaya Kalpa Tune-up.
There’s a lot more to tell about the key players in the Asharama here, so blog-by for the next instalment. Will they achieve miraculous rejuvenation and health? 8 days left of magic will tell the tale. Your India adventurers Jeanetta (formerly Jeanette) and Dewa (formerly Dahvee) - - Names are changed not to protect the innocent, but to make correct pronunciation possible for Indian tongues.
Dewa spent his birthday here at Shivpuri and the staff presented him with a birthday cake and a special lunch. They even decorated the table with curly ques of chalk.
Our evening dinner server was a entertaining singer/dancer and taught us the Shiva-Parvati moves.
NIMBOLI - START OF MONSOON TIME
The brick makers have stopped production due to the monsoon, and the air is very clear, and it is very quiet here. The grounds at FM are green and lush especially compared to the dry rice paddy fields all around us. The locals have built up the dikes which keep the paddy fields intact to hold the water. There has been such a pregnant waiting here for monsoon time - - the trees, the grass, the flowers, the animals, the people - - everything was on the edge of almost monsoon. We are blessed at FM having so much water available - - so much greenery surrounding us. We are witnessing a lot of activity of planting the rice fields and vegetable fields now that the rains have arrived.
The monsoon season was already underway in Thailand, and we were blessed by frequent rains and cooler temperatures. We bought boots. Jenatta found some very pretty deep-sky blue ones and i had to settled for puke green - - size thirteen feet are not considered to be amenable to fashion , but hey, dry mudless feet in monsoon time really counts i’m told and there are also all the critters which come out during water time. Speaking of critters, a crab just showed up in the pond at FM and i’m told that many appear out of the ground during the rains. A tasty boon to crab meat lovers and a good reason to buy boots ahead of time.
Prior to monsoon, the cows roamed freely in the surrounding land helping to clear the fields of all rice stubble and weeds. They mowed the ground quite clean, and our green little plot was very inviting to them. Every day it was a contest to see if we could keep the cows from eating the shrubs and papaya , and coco trees and flowers. We lost of few of our shrubs and trees, mostly banana trees.
The curtains and the plastic skirt over the vertical support members have been removed from the dome and put in storage. We will soon plant more vegetables for clean organic food.
Here are a few of our new project ideas:
Dome: install a metal sloped roof beginning at the bottom of the dome and projecting out over the circular walkway to provide shade, weatherproofing to the dome and walkway, and add some more privacy, since when meditating in the dome you feel a bit like “served up on a platter for all to see” - - not that our attention is susceptible to distraction (ha ha), but a degree of some openness and privacy would be more comfortable. Vines like Bougainvillea could climb up the support to create even more beauty and privacy.
Inside Meditation Room: we have made an indoor meditation room downstairs for those times when meditating in the dome is not feasible. This room is air conditioned and is a cool place to converse with people about HL and to meditate. We have recordings of Mark’s talks and meditations available to play on a sound system. This room is painted in high quality paints as a backdrop for our photos of our beloved Gurus, Babas, and Goddesses. The God wall is a rich, silky, true gold with a beautiful luster on which is hung the Guru Lineage Photos and friends of Lineage. Opposite this wall is the Goddess wall, painted in a gorgeous raspberry magenta, and which has a big White Tara Thanka and will have pictures of adra kali, Durga, Quan Yin, Shakti, Bhirwandi, and others. The inbetween wall, of deep royal blue hue, will show our photos of Shiva-Shakti Union, Krishna –Radha, and other exemplary complementary couples. We have purchased some nice materials to use for pillows and padding. This room already has quite a Presence.
The Front Porch: The front porch and the garden area under the trees is the natural area for relaxing out of doors and social meetings with visitors. The porch is exposed every morning to direct sunlight and winds up being hot and uncomfortable. We envision an awning system which will keep the sun and rain off of the porch. Also, some long narrow tables skirting the edge of the porch allowing one to sit for tea or meals and be focused on the beauty of the landscape and the mountain.
The roof: we have sealed the parapets of the building with a flexible UV resistant roofing paint to prevent the leaks that have occurred there.
Employment for locals: we got some possible great ideas for local handicrafts in Thailand, and will explore this further and let you know more about this as it develops.
The atmosphere at Nimboli is very clear and clean and powerful, and we are looking forward to the plantings we can do, during monsoon and the further establishment of retreat type scheduling and implementing some of the creative ideas we got in T-land - - more on that later.
The monsoon season was already underway in Thailand, and we were blessed by frequent rains and cooler temperatures. We bought boots. Jenatta found some very pretty deep-sky blue ones and i had to settled for puke green - - size thirteen feet are not considered to be amenable to fashion , but hey, dry mudless feet in monsoon time really counts i’m told and there are also all the critters which come out during water time. Speaking of critters, a crab just showed up in the pond at FM and i’m told that many appear out of the ground during the rains. A tasty boon to crab meat lovers and a good reason to buy boots ahead of time.
Prior to monsoon, the cows roamed freely in the surrounding land helping to clear the fields of all rice stubble and weeds. They mowed the ground quite clean, and our green little plot was very inviting to them. Every day it was a contest to see if we could keep the cows from eating the shrubs and papaya , and coco trees and flowers. We lost of few of our shrubs and trees, mostly banana trees.
The curtains and the plastic skirt over the vertical support members have been removed from the dome and put in storage. We will soon plant more vegetables for clean organic food.
Here are a few of our new project ideas:
Dome: install a metal sloped roof beginning at the bottom of the dome and projecting out over the circular walkway to provide shade, weatherproofing to the dome and walkway, and add some more privacy, since when meditating in the dome you feel a bit like “served up on a platter for all to see” - - not that our attention is susceptible to distraction (ha ha), but a degree of some openness and privacy would be more comfortable. Vines like Bougainvillea could climb up the support to create even more beauty and privacy.
Inside Meditation Room: we have made an indoor meditation room downstairs for those times when meditating in the dome is not feasible. This room is air conditioned and is a cool place to converse with people about HL and to meditate. We have recordings of Mark’s talks and meditations available to play on a sound system. This room is painted in high quality paints as a backdrop for our photos of our beloved Gurus, Babas, and Goddesses. The God wall is a rich, silky, true gold with a beautiful luster on which is hung the Guru Lineage Photos and friends of Lineage. Opposite this wall is the Goddess wall, painted in a gorgeous raspberry magenta, and which has a big White Tara Thanka and will have pictures of adra kali, Durga, Quan Yin, Shakti, Bhirwandi, and others. The inbetween wall, of deep royal blue hue, will show our photos of Shiva-Shakti Union, Krishna –Radha, and other exemplary complementary couples. We have purchased some nice materials to use for pillows and padding. This room already has quite a Presence.
The Front Porch: The front porch and the garden area under the trees is the natural area for relaxing out of doors and social meetings with visitors. The porch is exposed every morning to direct sunlight and winds up being hot and uncomfortable. We envision an awning system which will keep the sun and rain off of the porch. Also, some long narrow tables skirting the edge of the porch allowing one to sit for tea or meals and be focused on the beauty of the landscape and the mountain.
The roof: we have sealed the parapets of the building with a flexible UV resistant roofing paint to prevent the leaks that have occurred there.
Employment for locals: we got some possible great ideas for local handicrafts in Thailand, and will explore this further and let you know more about this as it develops.
The atmosphere at Nimboli is very clear and clean and powerful, and we are looking forward to the plantings we can do, during monsoon and the further establishment of retreat type scheduling and implementing some of the creative ideas we got in T-land - - more on that later.
BREAKFAST IN NIMBOLI
Breakfast in Nimboli
It is mid morning, a little past time for nastah (breakfast) - - Vanita, our female distaff worker is not here today, so Jeanetta has prepared some wonderful mung pancakes served with a delightful chutney, banana slices, ghee, and the ever present chai. We insist that Rhoidas and Ananda ( our grounds maintenance men) come and eat with us. At first they would not eat with us, due to the segregated caste system, but now they are relaxed and we honor and love each other. Today we honoured our Indi-American family with raised clacking-together-spoons raised on high and exclaimations of joy and happiness and gratitude and Happy Diwali. These Adavasi people are precious and important friends of ours who connect us to the cultures and the earth-nature elements here. We are living in/on their “turf.” We need and enjoy their friendship and contributions to our lives.
As we sit to enjoy breakfast, Mohan, the milkman arrives, and after a short period of entreaty, he accepts our invitation to sit and break-fast with us. As i wrote earlier, he is tall, thin, very dark with most often a big pearly white smile and a peaceful cow-milk-moon radiance which generously blesses all. We talk about his life and how he gets up at three o’clock to milk the cows and only gets two hours of sleep at night because he stays awake to burn the dope (cow dung incense) to keep the mosquitos from biting the cows. The cows are part of his family with names of the devis, like Saraswati, Laxmi, Durga, etc.. We laugh and joke and enjoy images of him calling the “girls” by name and gesture with milking motions. The men begin to talk tomorrow about the annual bull fight at the next village over - -about the pageantry of decorating the bulls and the festive celebration of bullhood. At first i recoil from this suggestion, but now think it will be a good yoga for me to go and practice non attachment and learn more about the locals here. The milkman invites us to his home. When he comes tomorrow morning, we will go to his home a see his wife-children-cow family and participate in the annual devotional cow arati blessing. Before this we will go to Ananda’s home and participate is his annual cow arati devotional ceremony. Ananda’s two cows live inside his house with the family. They are beautiful beings and i am looking forward to breaking through all my previous conditioning about cows being unclean or lesser.
It is easy to find simple things to laugh about here with them- - they are not educated into pretentious distinction, and are quick to laugh or anger or ?? We learned so much about their earth wisdom as they guided us up Mondagni Mountain, teaching us about climbing difficult terrain, about the vegetation, edible and not, about the animals, and about natural immersion in the elements. Another example: yesterday i brought my new cockatiel birds into an empty room, removed the roof of the cage and released the birds to fly for exercise. Ananda wanted to see them. As we entered the empty room, our voices echoing in the big emptiness, i cautioned him that they might bite as the female had done to me a few days ago. Ananda earnestly looked at me as a wise man would to a novice and softly, emphatically voiced, no Dewa, no Dewa, after which he approached the birds, which i had coaxed onto a stick to avoid being bitten, with relaxed seamless oneness, magnetically presenting his outstretched slowly, gently approaching hand to the pair. The male, Krishna, stepped onto his hand and as a little separation occurred between them, they began to chirp-squak to each other as they do when separation happens, and shortly the female, Rhada, flew to join her mate. I, the recently bitten one, stood dumbfounded but delighted by Ananda’s natural ease with “my” pet birds. Ananda recounted how he gets the birds in the mountains to land on his hands and walk up to his shoulders. He gently moved his face to caress them with his cheeks and lips. I, the student in this “pointing out” darshan of Ananda the bird-nature Guru, proceeded to replicate this experience with a good deal of success. Indeed, the Guru is the way to achieve that which seemed impossible.
The breakfast has gone well, we laugh about “enough of this enjoyment, let’s get to work! Cam kara, cam kara). Nastah is over and we all go back to our pursuits with the joy of human love and compassion filling our beings. The day is beautiful, sunny, not yet too hot. Bliss in Nimboli – bliss in the Guru - - bliss, bliss, bliss.
It is mid morning, a little past time for nastah (breakfast) - - Vanita, our female distaff worker is not here today, so Jeanetta has prepared some wonderful mung pancakes served with a delightful chutney, banana slices, ghee, and the ever present chai. We insist that Rhoidas and Ananda ( our grounds maintenance men) come and eat with us. At first they would not eat with us, due to the segregated caste system, but now they are relaxed and we honor and love each other. Today we honoured our Indi-American family with raised clacking-together-spoons raised on high and exclaimations of joy and happiness and gratitude and Happy Diwali. These Adavasi people are precious and important friends of ours who connect us to the cultures and the earth-nature elements here. We are living in/on their “turf.” We need and enjoy their friendship and contributions to our lives.
As we sit to enjoy breakfast, Mohan, the milkman arrives, and after a short period of entreaty, he accepts our invitation to sit and break-fast with us. As i wrote earlier, he is tall, thin, very dark with most often a big pearly white smile and a peaceful cow-milk-moon radiance which generously blesses all. We talk about his life and how he gets up at three o’clock to milk the cows and only gets two hours of sleep at night because he stays awake to burn the dope (cow dung incense) to keep the mosquitos from biting the cows. The cows are part of his family with names of the devis, like Saraswati, Laxmi, Durga, etc.. We laugh and joke and enjoy images of him calling the “girls” by name and gesture with milking motions. The men begin to talk tomorrow about the annual bull fight at the next village over - -about the pageantry of decorating the bulls and the festive celebration of bullhood. At first i recoil from this suggestion, but now think it will be a good yoga for me to go and practice non attachment and learn more about the locals here. The milkman invites us to his home. When he comes tomorrow morning, we will go to his home a see his wife-children-cow family and participate in the annual devotional cow arati blessing. Before this we will go to Ananda’s home and participate is his annual cow arati devotional ceremony. Ananda’s two cows live inside his house with the family. They are beautiful beings and i am looking forward to breaking through all my previous conditioning about cows being unclean or lesser.
It is easy to find simple things to laugh about here with them- - they are not educated into pretentious distinction, and are quick to laugh or anger or ?? We learned so much about their earth wisdom as they guided us up Mondagni Mountain, teaching us about climbing difficult terrain, about the vegetation, edible and not, about the animals, and about natural immersion in the elements. Another example: yesterday i brought my new cockatiel birds into an empty room, removed the roof of the cage and released the birds to fly for exercise. Ananda wanted to see them. As we entered the empty room, our voices echoing in the big emptiness, i cautioned him that they might bite as the female had done to me a few days ago. Ananda earnestly looked at me as a wise man would to a novice and softly, emphatically voiced, no Dewa, no Dewa, after which he approached the birds, which i had coaxed onto a stick to avoid being bitten, with relaxed seamless oneness, magnetically presenting his outstretched slowly, gently approaching hand to the pair. The male, Krishna, stepped onto his hand and as a little separation occurred between them, they began to chirp-squak to each other as they do when separation happens, and shortly the female, Rhada, flew to join her mate. I, the recently bitten one, stood dumbfounded but delighted by Ananda’s natural ease with “my” pet birds. Ananda recounted how he gets the birds in the mountains to land on his hands and walk up to his shoulders. He gently moved his face to caress them with his cheeks and lips. I, the student in this “pointing out” darshan of Ananda the bird-nature Guru, proceeded to replicate this experience with a good deal of success. Indeed, the Guru is the way to achieve that which seemed impossible.
The breakfast has gone well, we laugh about “enough of this enjoyment, let’s get to work! Cam kara, cam kara). Nastah is over and we all go back to our pursuits with the joy of human love and compassion filling our beings. The day is beautiful, sunny, not yet too hot. Bliss in Nimboli – bliss in the Guru - - bliss, bliss, bliss.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
WE CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF MOUNT MONDAGNI
WE CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF MOUNT MONDAGNI
We climbed to the top of Mount Mondagni. These words inadequately describe the power and beauty of this experience, but please allow me to embellish a bit. We started at around 8 AM and walked through two villages on the way to the mountain. The local villagers live in brick and mud and stick houses with yards frequented by chickens, cows, water buffalo, and bicycles, sometimes a motorcycle, and occasionally a satellite television. Cows are so venerated that they sometimes live inside with the family. They get electricity by hoisting little wires with hooked ends up onto the high voltage overhead lines at night with bamboo poles. They wait till night to avoid being caught by the electric company. They are curious about us and ask our guides about us - - we wave and say namaskar or hello, or how are you (tu me kah sai ahay), and they most often immediately change from wary suspicion to big ear to ear smiles.
Jeanetta and i both had back packs with way too much stuff for such a climb (which our guides carried for us), however some of it came in very useful, especially the flashlight after dark, as we wadded through the rice paddies and jungle outgrowth in the dark to get back to Fire Mountain Retreat Center. The trip, presented as a 4 hour excursion by our guides, actually took 11 hours. They could have done 2 – 3 trips probably in this amount of time, but with western slow poke softies and their desire to show us all the high points it took double the time. Our guides and playmates were four young local men, three of which work for us - - Rhoidas, who is brainy, lithe, sings and chatters like a tropical bird, and who is nearly fluent in English and Ananda, who is the salt of the earth and who works tirelessly to serve his family and anyone in sight with strength and pure fiery heart and independence of spirit that keeps him pure of stain. Ananda virtually at times pulled us up the mountain in difficult places with the same determination and vocal calling as he uses when he relentlessly urges the oxen onward during the ploughing of his rice fields - - come, come Jeanetta, -- come, come, Dewa! Up over rocks and shale and slippery grass and mud from the rains, they, young men that they are, scampered up the mountain side, greatly delayed by our western lack of experience and conditioning, but having great patience, - - they sang and laughed and joked and carried on a lively animated chatter like jungle birds and animals.
We walked through thick jungle forest and encountered native peoples cutting wood with large self made saws, women gathering jungle plants, large bundles of firewood, and sacks of the ubiquitous land crabs that scurry around as you walk. We saw no large animals, only a monkey and the birds, but listened to the story of the tiger that came down to eat a villager’s goat last week. We were told that if there is only one person in the jungle the tiger may come close, too close, but with two or three people making noise, the tiger stays away. A quick mental tally showed we were safe.
At the start of the climb they took us to a small earthen, tribal temple at the base of the mountain. Kalpa Devi Temple has an earthen floor slightly elevated from the surrounding stream bank, with earth and rock architecture and thatched roof. At the focus is a Shiva Lingam and a vertical wood slab with pointed apex inscribed with white and red painted symbols and language which, since we can’t fully read yet, we assumed was Marathi language. We paid our respects to the Goddess of the Mountain and received her darshan before the assent. She in so many ways epitomizes the Consciousness of the local people in her earthy groundedness and obvious earth-magic capacities/siddhis. With her presence and support we began the climb with confidence and happiness.
Although the men originally told us it would take 1 ½ hours to gain the summit, guess what - - 5 hours to reach the third and highest apex. Many stories could be told of the climb and how we were mothered and fathered along the way by these men of 19 to 27 years (they are called boys here - - i wonder how old you have to be to be called a man?). Boys or not, they were so patient and loving in their understanding and assistance of the “uncle and auntie” (the terms they use when you are old, but not yet ancient in their eyes) “foreigners” they accepted responsibility for.
Listening to the rapid beating of my heart, i prayed for the strength to complete the climb - - i implored and happily accepted the assistance of Shakti and Shiva to fashion the strength necessary to make the climb. The natural forces so available here responded with a grace and power harmonious with the eco-system we were immersed in. At a particularly comfortable meadow with small stream issuing from a spring, we stopped and sat by the stream spreading out a variety of foods we brought for jewaila (lunch or dinner). We had grabbed fruit and nuts and granola, and they brought rice chapattis, wheat chapattis, an egg curry, cucumber, and a potato vegetable combo. Whoever has taken an arduous hike knows how delicious a simple meal by bubbling brook can be. My tired feet placed in the little stream signed with relief as the grounding forces of Nature/water drew the vexation out. I took a short little nap as they made a little covered bed for me and awoke with cries of chelo, chelo (let’s go, let’s go). On the way we were tutored in which plants were edible, which ones tasted terrible, and which were owshudt (ayurvedic medicine).
I can only hint at how beautiful this mountain is at the end of Monsoon with the jungle plants in mature development and the joyful song of plants, after months of arid suffering, having abundant water to jump out of dormancy into full bloom. But of particular amazement is the energy-spirit presence of the Divine structure of this mountain. Oh of course, everywhere in India, the spirit has saturated every rock and nook and cranny, but this mountain is none the less special above other locals in that it grounds the pillar of the Siddha Lineage, - - and for me especially the presence of Lord Parashuram, whose very heart, and love of beauty and the Divinity of the Earth Voyage, pervades Mt. Mondagni. Gaining the summit i chanted a Parashuram mantra and keep Guru Mark with/in/as me and am blessed beyond description by the transit of this brief period. My eyes water with happiness and gratitude for this darshan, and i awoke with this morning with happily exercised legs and a song in my heart bigger than the sky.
At the top we could see everywhere around - - all the villages we had heard of and visited - - the lakes and streams, the other mountains, the lush green valleys with rice paddies and wooded hillsides - - the Fire Mountain dome in the very far distance - - steamy vapour fogs rising from the wet earth - - the inner symphony of India, land of complexity and diversity of spirit drenching the earth and stretching far beyond vision into the past with determined bloom yet to come. My energy structure thrills as i write this about India’s future gifts to come - - i bow with respect and love to a land which i must have called home many times before.
Coming down a mountain side is always worse than the climb in terms of stress and bodily danger. We carefully picked step after step in many places along tiny ravines carved by tumbling monsoon water - - wet and muddy and providing just enough grip to control descent, assisted also by our young companions graciously helping, from their point of view, the elder westerners who undoubtedly seem so lacking in jungle-smarts. Back at Fire Mountain, they are our workers - - here on the mountain, they are our Gurus. Our very lives have been in their loving hands.
Speaking of that, on the way down, we were taken unbeknownst to us at the time, to the cave in which the local hero woman called Mataji sat for 45 days and still frequents this cave of great horizontal run and low head height. To get there we had to negotiate two huge wet, slippery, slimy nearly vertical black obsidian like rocks surfaces with scant purchase to support our weight. We with big shoes, little skill, and considerable deserved terror, and they with bare feet or flip flops, little feet, and cat like comfort managed to get safely across. i vowed i would never do that again, only to find out after the cave visit that we had to return the same way. They did hold our feet as we went across, but my judgement is that they were probably no match for our body weights.
We arrived at the cave and deep into the interior we peered failing the attempt to find an end. The cave, obviously man made running deep into the mountain with little head room and apparently having some larger spaces in the distance will remain a mystery at least at this time. Wading through the nearly knee deep water for a short distance, as the ceiling lowered we quickly lost desire to explore the depths of the cave on this trip - - maybe later, maybe. I pondered what a 45 day meditation would be like in a cave like this. Hmmmm. Attention turned to a low outcropping on the left completed by rock and cement construction upon which is a murti of Bhagwan Nityananda, incense and other articles of Spirit communion. Jeanetta lit the incense, we took darshan as we left. As we exited the cave which must have been a mine of some sort, the men scampered up a ledge over the opening to have their pictures taken. They cajoled us to climb up also - - we demurred, as we had had enough of climbing along smooth, slippery, wet rocks tempting the wheel of time which we have traversed much more than them.
Once we had cleared the return trip over the wet obsidian slide to death patch, i vowed again with greater fervour to never make this journey again. Hmmm. I would like to explore the cave more fully. Perhaps there is an easier access. Hmmm.
After the cave and a last look from the top plateaus, we began the descent which was at times again very steep and uneven. We were given carved poles with pointed ends to project ahead of us to brace against gravity, and many helping hands in tricky places. “Our” Ananda, diminutive in size, was amazingly rock solid on the slopes and carried the weight of my slips and wobbles with aplomb. At times if felt overly grandfathered and mostly felt grateful and full of admiration for such ability on his part. If i was Bilbo, i would certainly choose Ananda to help me deliver the ring.
Occasionally we stopped our descent of the mountain to view the beautiful expanses of lush green countryside. This same terrain is dry and arid much of the year, so it was double delight to see it at the end of monsoon. In another month or two they say it will be dry and brown again, and later they will burn the mountain day after day to clear it of vegetation which used to bother me as i thought it must damage it greatly. However, one would never guess that the whole mountain had been burned six months ago. My legs were so tired at this point that i would hazily wonder if on the next step they would crumble beneath me - - my feet ached, my toes hurt from being jammed against the tip of my shoes as we descended the slopes. I dreamed of home and hearth and slumber and finally we reached the jungle floor, after which it took a long time to reach the clearings near Nimboli. Jeanetta, to our surprise and delight, produced some chocolate bars as we sat for a rest along a beautiful little stream in the rice paddies (dark chocolate sent from the California Sangha). We devoured the chocolate with gusto and made kwips about chocolate and desire and desirelessness and licked the plastic wrappers till the last speck of melted chocolate was gone. Jeanetta admonished the “boys” for throwing the wrappers on the ground - - they had little understanding of why they should pick them up again and at least one refused at first to do so, but succumbed to Jeanetta’s insistent demand that they should not pollute the environment. I am quite sure they did not understand, and probably had thoughts of crazy westerners carrying home useless candy wrappers. India has a long way to go to achieve eco friendly plastic/trash behaviours.
Passing the tall landmark coconut trees near FM, i had such gratitude for this haven and the safe return from an epoch physical, energetic, mental, spiritual journey, and all the intelligence that shepherded us throughout. We collapsed on the porch at FM and drank water, orange juice, and ate water melon and groaned a lot and recounted details of the trip. Collapsing into bed i am awake again full of happiness and love for the Siddha Lineage that has brought us here and nurtured us with every breath. Sadguru Maharaj Ki Jay!! We have visited and been blessed by the fountainhead of the Lineage Spirit which we have enjoyed since we arrived at FM.
We climbed to the top of Mount Mondagni. These words inadequately describe the power and beauty of this experience, but please allow me to embellish a bit. We started at around 8 AM and walked through two villages on the way to the mountain. The local villagers live in brick and mud and stick houses with yards frequented by chickens, cows, water buffalo, and bicycles, sometimes a motorcycle, and occasionally a satellite television. Cows are so venerated that they sometimes live inside with the family. They get electricity by hoisting little wires with hooked ends up onto the high voltage overhead lines at night with bamboo poles. They wait till night to avoid being caught by the electric company. They are curious about us and ask our guides about us - - we wave and say namaskar or hello, or how are you (tu me kah sai ahay), and they most often immediately change from wary suspicion to big ear to ear smiles.
Jeanetta and i both had back packs with way too much stuff for such a climb (which our guides carried for us), however some of it came in very useful, especially the flashlight after dark, as we wadded through the rice paddies and jungle outgrowth in the dark to get back to Fire Mountain Retreat Center. The trip, presented as a 4 hour excursion by our guides, actually took 11 hours. They could have done 2 – 3 trips probably in this amount of time, but with western slow poke softies and their desire to show us all the high points it took double the time. Our guides and playmates were four young local men, three of which work for us - - Rhoidas, who is brainy, lithe, sings and chatters like a tropical bird, and who is nearly fluent in English and Ananda, who is the salt of the earth and who works tirelessly to serve his family and anyone in sight with strength and pure fiery heart and independence of spirit that keeps him pure of stain. Ananda virtually at times pulled us up the mountain in difficult places with the same determination and vocal calling as he uses when he relentlessly urges the oxen onward during the ploughing of his rice fields - - come, come Jeanetta, -- come, come, Dewa! Up over rocks and shale and slippery grass and mud from the rains, they, young men that they are, scampered up the mountain side, greatly delayed by our western lack of experience and conditioning, but having great patience, - - they sang and laughed and joked and carried on a lively animated chatter like jungle birds and animals.
We walked through thick jungle forest and encountered native peoples cutting wood with large self made saws, women gathering jungle plants, large bundles of firewood, and sacks of the ubiquitous land crabs that scurry around as you walk. We saw no large animals, only a monkey and the birds, but listened to the story of the tiger that came down to eat a villager’s goat last week. We were told that if there is only one person in the jungle the tiger may come close, too close, but with two or three people making noise, the tiger stays away. A quick mental tally showed we were safe.
At the start of the climb they took us to a small earthen, tribal temple at the base of the mountain. Kalpa Devi Temple has an earthen floor slightly elevated from the surrounding stream bank, with earth and rock architecture and thatched roof. At the focus is a Shiva Lingam and a vertical wood slab with pointed apex inscribed with white and red painted symbols and language which, since we can’t fully read yet, we assumed was Marathi language. We paid our respects to the Goddess of the Mountain and received her darshan before the assent. She in so many ways epitomizes the Consciousness of the local people in her earthy groundedness and obvious earth-magic capacities/siddhis. With her presence and support we began the climb with confidence and happiness.
Although the men originally told us it would take 1 ½ hours to gain the summit, guess what - - 5 hours to reach the third and highest apex. Many stories could be told of the climb and how we were mothered and fathered along the way by these men of 19 to 27 years (they are called boys here - - i wonder how old you have to be to be called a man?). Boys or not, they were so patient and loving in their understanding and assistance of the “uncle and auntie” (the terms they use when you are old, but not yet ancient in their eyes) “foreigners” they accepted responsibility for.
Listening to the rapid beating of my heart, i prayed for the strength to complete the climb - - i implored and happily accepted the assistance of Shakti and Shiva to fashion the strength necessary to make the climb. The natural forces so available here responded with a grace and power harmonious with the eco-system we were immersed in. At a particularly comfortable meadow with small stream issuing from a spring, we stopped and sat by the stream spreading out a variety of foods we brought for jewaila (lunch or dinner). We had grabbed fruit and nuts and granola, and they brought rice chapattis, wheat chapattis, an egg curry, cucumber, and a potato vegetable combo. Whoever has taken an arduous hike knows how delicious a simple meal by bubbling brook can be. My tired feet placed in the little stream signed with relief as the grounding forces of Nature/water drew the vexation out. I took a short little nap as they made a little covered bed for me and awoke with cries of chelo, chelo (let’s go, let’s go). On the way we were tutored in which plants were edible, which ones tasted terrible, and which were owshudt (ayurvedic medicine).
I can only hint at how beautiful this mountain is at the end of Monsoon with the jungle plants in mature development and the joyful song of plants, after months of arid suffering, having abundant water to jump out of dormancy into full bloom. But of particular amazement is the energy-spirit presence of the Divine structure of this mountain. Oh of course, everywhere in India, the spirit has saturated every rock and nook and cranny, but this mountain is none the less special above other locals in that it grounds the pillar of the Siddha Lineage, - - and for me especially the presence of Lord Parashuram, whose very heart, and love of beauty and the Divinity of the Earth Voyage, pervades Mt. Mondagni. Gaining the summit i chanted a Parashuram mantra and keep Guru Mark with/in/as me and am blessed beyond description by the transit of this brief period. My eyes water with happiness and gratitude for this darshan, and i awoke with this morning with happily exercised legs and a song in my heart bigger than the sky.
At the top we could see everywhere around - - all the villages we had heard of and visited - - the lakes and streams, the other mountains, the lush green valleys with rice paddies and wooded hillsides - - the Fire Mountain dome in the very far distance - - steamy vapour fogs rising from the wet earth - - the inner symphony of India, land of complexity and diversity of spirit drenching the earth and stretching far beyond vision into the past with determined bloom yet to come. My energy structure thrills as i write this about India’s future gifts to come - - i bow with respect and love to a land which i must have called home many times before.
Coming down a mountain side is always worse than the climb in terms of stress and bodily danger. We carefully picked step after step in many places along tiny ravines carved by tumbling monsoon water - - wet and muddy and providing just enough grip to control descent, assisted also by our young companions graciously helping, from their point of view, the elder westerners who undoubtedly seem so lacking in jungle-smarts. Back at Fire Mountain, they are our workers - - here on the mountain, they are our Gurus. Our very lives have been in their loving hands.
Speaking of that, on the way down, we were taken unbeknownst to us at the time, to the cave in which the local hero woman called Mataji sat for 45 days and still frequents this cave of great horizontal run and low head height. To get there we had to negotiate two huge wet, slippery, slimy nearly vertical black obsidian like rocks surfaces with scant purchase to support our weight. We with big shoes, little skill, and considerable deserved terror, and they with bare feet or flip flops, little feet, and cat like comfort managed to get safely across. i vowed i would never do that again, only to find out after the cave visit that we had to return the same way. They did hold our feet as we went across, but my judgement is that they were probably no match for our body weights.
We arrived at the cave and deep into the interior we peered failing the attempt to find an end. The cave, obviously man made running deep into the mountain with little head room and apparently having some larger spaces in the distance will remain a mystery at least at this time. Wading through the nearly knee deep water for a short distance, as the ceiling lowered we quickly lost desire to explore the depths of the cave on this trip - - maybe later, maybe. I pondered what a 45 day meditation would be like in a cave like this. Hmmmm. Attention turned to a low outcropping on the left completed by rock and cement construction upon which is a murti of Bhagwan Nityananda, incense and other articles of Spirit communion. Jeanetta lit the incense, we took darshan as we left. As we exited the cave which must have been a mine of some sort, the men scampered up a ledge over the opening to have their pictures taken. They cajoled us to climb up also - - we demurred, as we had had enough of climbing along smooth, slippery, wet rocks tempting the wheel of time which we have traversed much more than them.
Once we had cleared the return trip over the wet obsidian slide to death patch, i vowed again with greater fervour to never make this journey again. Hmmm. I would like to explore the cave more fully. Perhaps there is an easier access. Hmmm.
After the cave and a last look from the top plateaus, we began the descent which was at times again very steep and uneven. We were given carved poles with pointed ends to project ahead of us to brace against gravity, and many helping hands in tricky places. “Our” Ananda, diminutive in size, was amazingly rock solid on the slopes and carried the weight of my slips and wobbles with aplomb. At times if felt overly grandfathered and mostly felt grateful and full of admiration for such ability on his part. If i was Bilbo, i would certainly choose Ananda to help me deliver the ring.
Occasionally we stopped our descent of the mountain to view the beautiful expanses of lush green countryside. This same terrain is dry and arid much of the year, so it was double delight to see it at the end of monsoon. In another month or two they say it will be dry and brown again, and later they will burn the mountain day after day to clear it of vegetation which used to bother me as i thought it must damage it greatly. However, one would never guess that the whole mountain had been burned six months ago. My legs were so tired at this point that i would hazily wonder if on the next step they would crumble beneath me - - my feet ached, my toes hurt from being jammed against the tip of my shoes as we descended the slopes. I dreamed of home and hearth and slumber and finally we reached the jungle floor, after which it took a long time to reach the clearings near Nimboli. Jeanetta, to our surprise and delight, produced some chocolate bars as we sat for a rest along a beautiful little stream in the rice paddies (dark chocolate sent from the California Sangha). We devoured the chocolate with gusto and made kwips about chocolate and desire and desirelessness and licked the plastic wrappers till the last speck of melted chocolate was gone. Jeanetta admonished the “boys” for throwing the wrappers on the ground - - they had little understanding of why they should pick them up again and at least one refused at first to do so, but succumbed to Jeanetta’s insistent demand that they should not pollute the environment. I am quite sure they did not understand, and probably had thoughts of crazy westerners carrying home useless candy wrappers. India has a long way to go to achieve eco friendly plastic/trash behaviours.
Passing the tall landmark coconut trees near FM, i had such gratitude for this haven and the safe return from an epoch physical, energetic, mental, spiritual journey, and all the intelligence that shepherded us throughout. We collapsed on the porch at FM and drank water, orange juice, and ate water melon and groaned a lot and recounted details of the trip. Collapsing into bed i am awake again full of happiness and love for the Siddha Lineage that has brought us here and nurtured us with every breath. Sadguru Maharaj Ki Jay!! We have visited and been blessed by the fountainhead of the Lineage Spirit which we have enjoyed since we arrived at FM.
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