FIRE MOUNTAIN ANIMAL REFUGE

Many of you Fire Mountain Fans already know a feline being has been added to our sanctuary at Fire Mountain - - the name, Kalidas, a fitting handle for this sleek, agile, sensitive, playful, deep jet black handsome cat creature. Kalidas is both affectionate and independent. He plays happily and stalks the kitchen for rodents like a pro. He is appropriately intense and severe and will also climb into you lap and up your chest and rub the side of his head against your chin mixing his energies with yours in an unusual and endearing way.
Now we have a new canine entry into the family by the name of Bhiwandi, after the Goddess Bhiwandi, who we went to visit on our recent trip to Tuljapur. Bhiwandi is cute as can be. We picked her out of the litter because she seems to reside in deep peace and emptiness. We are hoping to learn from her. White with light coffee patches of color, a shortee tail, and a little tank body, she is a survivor just by her looks and attitude alone. Fearlessly innocent, she launches into experiences without a thought of safety or consequences and is determined to chew the world to bits. Protect your telephone and computer cables ladies and gentlemen - - they are fair game and will quickly succumb to Bhiwandi’s merciless attacks. Toes and fingers are in danger as well, and watch your step as unwanted gifts lay about for the unwary. She’s cute and can get away with anything because of it. Bhiwandi and Kalidas are working out a friendship at this time and have graduated from hesitant approaches and timid swipes at each other to some actual playful animal run, jump, attack, retreat, tease tactics and the promise is one of a good friendship to come. Kalidas, a very capable warrior could make quick work of Bhiwandi if he so chose and we are delighted with his kindly restraint. More to come on these encounters. The frogs and snakes and crabs seen in abundance at the start of Monsoon have receded and have taken their places in the background. The crows, birds, egrets, and big white cranes are still around in force.

However,there are rumours of further additions to the Fire Mountain Zoo population, so stay tuned for recent developments in this area.

Fire Mountain Retreat Center...A Sacred Destination

Mark Griffin, founder of Fire Mountain Retreat Center, tells us why the center is a sacred destination.

This place where we are sitting is Siddha Loka; this is the abode of the Guru here on earth. It is ruled by the collective spiritual power that we call the Guru Lineage. The recitation of the Guru Gita in this place is profound beyond belief.

This has been a center of spiritual activity for 500 centuries, even during the previous age. In fact, it went through a heyday in this earlier age. When Bhagavan Nityananda came her in 1937, he reactivated it and brought it to its highest operation. I think it's higher now than it has ever been. This is one of the centers of the world. One of the strongest operating guru lineages on the planet is based here. That's why we care about this place. That's why we come here. That's why we built Fire Mountain Retreat Center here.
....Mark Griffin

Celebrating Guru Pournima in Ganeshpuri

The time of celebrating Guru Pournima is approaching in the village of Ganeshpuri. The temple of Bhagwan Nityananda was being decked out with flowers yesterday as we stopped by for a meditation at his Samadhi Mandir. The outside has been made into a large covered patio with bamboo and plastic. They are expecting around 700,000 devotees to arrive on July 7th. 24 hour chanting starts today and continues until that date. Already we have seen some new faces of beautiful visiting saints. There have been so many people all over India, and beyond that have been touched by Nityananda. We have the constant pleasure of meeting them. Buildings are getting new coats of paint, such as the Shiva Temple, which seems additonally charged with a blessing. I have been told it will be a special time for us.

My Iindian friend, Geeta, asked us to come and meet her parents when they come for Guru Pournima. They used to live next door to Nityananda and cooked porridge and lemon pickle for him, which he supposedly loved. Her parents also took care of one of Nityananda's major devotees, and then inherited his house when he passed on. This house is next door to Nityananda's ashram and Shaligram's Samadi Mandir. Geeta and her husband and son live there now.

This photo was taken of our Puja Altar from one of our Thursday Guru Pujas held in the dome during pre-monsoon weather. It rather looks like a collage and I am using as my computer desktop. We can no longer meditate in the dome do to the rains. We have removed the dome curtains so that they will not be spoiled during the heavy rains. But where are these heavy rains? Tomorrow is July 1st , and still only mild rains have come.

We have been busy creating a special meditation room to be used daily by all those living and visiting us at Fire Mountain. The air conditioner can keep us cool in the hot humid weather. Inspired by our time in Thailand, we have painted the walls gorgeous shades of gold, deep blue and magenta. We bought thick fabrics of rich texture and color to match the walls. A lending library and bookstore will be housed in the bookshelf and recordings of Mark Griffin's (http://www.hardlight.org/) meditation instruction will be available to listen to during certain hours. We wanted to create a handsome indoor space for meditation when the dome is unusable, as it is during the monsoon season.

EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DOWNHILL SINCE.....
Everything has been downhill since we left Doi Suthep Monastery in both senses. It’s on a high hill and can easily be seen from below in Chaing Mai at night because of the brilliant lights reflecting off of the gigantic gold-plated stupa, (center of the mandala-designed inner courtyards and home of the Buddha bone relic). Our 7 day Vapassana meditation retreat at Doi Suthep changed our consciousnesses in some wonderful ways, and we just plain had a fabulous stay there. 700 years of Buddhist Monks chanting every morning and evening and the Buddha bone relic has created a spiritual heaven here. We come away with regret at leaving and very happy to have had the experience.
What was it? The glorious rich golden light from the stupa at night and the first morning light for chanting in the vaulted sanctuary – the presence of so much condensed Spirit Presence over so many years? The humble, “detached from the world” natures of the monks – the golden Buddha statues everywhere - - the chance to meditate for hours without interruption or impending responsibility? - - the simple Vapassana technique of watching the belly move in and out while noting rising, falling with the breath, hence learning a whole lot about quieting the mind and staying out of the way of ONE.
It isn’t like the monastery didn’t have psychic thickness of all kinds of beings, attracted and remaining there for centuries on end - - it did. It wasn’t that there weren’t hundreds to thousands of gawking tourist every day pouring through this Holy place with probably very little consciousness of where they were - - ringing the bells as much as possible, hanging on the bells for pictures, cuddling up to the dragon statues like they were best friends (I did this too, but perhaps they are) - - and the throngs of devout Buddhist lay peoples who bowed and proffered candles and flowers and prayers with profusion. The daytime circus of visiting people was handled superbly by the monastery and by the evening and morning chants the psychic air was cleared and pure again. We received blessings from the monks many of which really were strong and true. It’s nice to buy a gift and have the seller bless and chant over it for several minutes with pure heart and beautiful being - -we went back several times to one beautiful love and kindness being.
I very truthfully love the place and will always remember it. I have a much better understanding of Buddhism and have a lot more questions at the same time. Jennata had the huevos to ask our Vapassana monk teacher if he knew about and gave shaktipat - - he stuttered a bit and said something about having to practice for years and years, and we felt so lucky.
The practice he gave us of watching our belly rise and fall and repeating “rising, falling” with the cyclic breath, and repeatedly going back to this with each monkey mind deviation from the routine was very helpful mind training, and the walking practice with four part, “lift heel, lift foot, transverse forward, lower foot” all done in very slow motion and with utmost consciousness, really showed me how much “monkey” is still running loose in this mind - - very embarrassing and helpful - - this one, at times looking a bit like a drunken sailor, is now a great fan of walking mindful practice. We’ll do “around the dome at Nimboli walking practice” with a lot more consciousness now. The no talking and separate rooms helped the practice as well.
We visited quite a few “golden monasteries” in Chaing Mai – easy to do, as they are around each corner, just about. The openness and welcoming presence of all of them is impressive - - loving kindness on a stick - -well done. The statues of Buddha were so tall and so Gold and so lit, and so imbued with presence, that bowing the forehead to the floor three times, the standard practice, hardly seemed enough. And then there were the statues of the lineage and the statues of what appeared to be Patanjali and the 5 or 7 Nagas forming a Naga crown over his head, and the statues of the revered elder Monks, and the beefy protector guys who looked like a slightly historic Nordic powerhouses, and Manjusri cutting everything to pieces into One . There was a guy sitting in focused one­-pointed-meditation in one of the galleries of an especially impressive black and gold decor temple, who i respected very much because of his one ponted concentration in the midst of the big influx of Buddhist devotees during a holiday celebration. Jenatta says he was a statue, but i must insist she objectified the guy and couldn’t see his real nature. We shall have to return and pinch him to find out. I hope he is alive and doesn’t flinch with the pinch.
After months in Nimboli, which we love dearly, it wazzzz a joy to have coffee houses and great restaurants on every block. The Thais know how to cook. You probably knew that, and so i had heard, but proof is in the pudding, and we had some great meals. If i really liked to shop, i could go on and on about the silk and the fashions and the clever designs, and on and on, but since i really don’t get off on it that much, this is as on and on as i get about shopping, but check in with Jenatta, and know that a shopper, even though there are great price deals here, should arrive with lots of dough and suitcases.
The Thai people have beauty coming out of their pores which shows up everywhere. Orchids greet you as soon as you exit the airplane and flowers are everywhere. And they have some very admirable cultural traditions. Children are taught to remember to be happy whenever they hear a bell ringing, which must keep them happy all the time because of the heavy density of monasteries and trigger happy rope pullers. It really makes one want to ring a bell if it’s going to make everyone happy. Another is, respect elders, and monks, and anyone who is politically advantaged to you. The bowing with respect can be very wonderful and also an impediment at times. Who to bow to and how low to bow and how high to place your prayer hands gesture is complicated. We were excused as ignorant foreigners, so anything we did was appreciated.
A language where you have to change pitch and do variable stretches of duration of different sounds to get the meaning across is just too much to contemplate - - might as well sing - - and the writing, forget it - - adding little dips and swirls and circles everywhere made me dizzy just to look at it - - it does make English look and sound kind of boring though.
We did take a 5 day course in Thai massage and I’m hoping Jenatta remembers it well so that I’ll get the benefit when we get back to Nimboli-ing. Not like any massage I’ve ever known, is Thai massage – possibly the best. We had a great time and a great teacher - - her name is OM – and that probably had a lot to do with it. I now know how to step on your body, sit on your body, place my knee in the most excruciating samskara loaded places, and yoga stretch you out of your monkey mind – -get in line.
Well, it is nearly time to board the big Thai bird to Mumbai for re-entry to India. We are returning with a great dose of the more feminine Thai nature and some great ideas for implementation at Nimboli. Please check in for further blogs from the “get your visa stamped adventurers” - - Jenatta and dewadas. Love and impermanence and happiness and rising-falling bellies. J and d

GODOT FINALLY ARRIVES, MONSOON THAT IS

The Land and everyone on it breathes a sigh of relief now that the monsoon, two weeks late, has

finally arrived. The stress of enduring the buildup of heat in the hottest May-June in 50 years is finallly broken. The final days were difficult even for local people. Shortly after the rains started the sound of laughter rang through the valley from adults and children playing outside in the rain celebrating monsoons arrival. The bells of the temples rang in happy celebration, and the temperature dropped with a thunk. Body heat stress is difficult to imagine if never experienced, but suffice it to say that great relief is felt as systems return to moderate levels.

But Wait!! New adventures await one in monsoon. If never experienced before, like us, nature has some surprises for you. We had just stepped out of the kitchen on the night of the first heavy rain and plofp, ploffp, ploffffpp, they were jumping everywhere - -Jenatta screamed like a good girl would and Dewa stood frozen in that time warp when you don't know what is happening yet, but it's real wierd and your body knows before your mind has got the picture.

Yes, you guessed it, big shiny slimy green bull frogs with also celebrating monsoon by jumping out of hibernation in the mud onto the front porch and into the dinning hall and going for the kitchen and the bedrooms. Brooms and shouts and hysteria did channel them off the porch and the cowardly crew retreated inside to escape possible frogilation. The next morning, peering out onto the porch, none of the celebrants were in sight. Looking over the edge of the porch, a mass of protoplasm at first unrecognizable, gave way to a vision of two who had found each other and were not pleased with my flashlight glare. Monsoon celebrations come is all different styles.

Two days before, we experienced the first wave of pestilence. a very light rain had occurred, and no one could say the monsoon had arrived -- just a dusting, a hint, a tease of the heat suffering ones. Lawho, our gardener, shouted out something unintelligible in marathi, which is easy for him to do as we don't yet speak the language, and we hurried to see what up. Snake - - very dangerous snake, "one bite you die, nothing can be done, no need to go to hospital" says Roidas, the other gardener.

We learned later that this is not true, but the snake found was a Russell's Viper, one of the most poisonous and feared snakes of the asian areas. It was small - - a baby -- only 15 inches, but very potent we are told. The gardener has helped this one off to the happy wriggling land. We went to question the doctor at the nearby clinic. Reassuring us, he said he had anti-venom shots for forty patients and had never lost a snake bite client. We felt relieved. He also related that 40% of his snake bite patients were out at night with no flashlight or boots looking for crabs, frogs, and fish delicacies and were under the influence of alcohol - - drunk dummies. Running a quick poll of friends and workers, further relief was given by the fact that no one had ever been bitten, and these creatures only come out during the first part of monsoon. By this time we were way relaxed about the whole thing.

We didn't like the "one bite, you die" prognosis. Well, let's count. Today marks the 5th day of snake finding, and today the number is ten. 9 of the baby Russel Vipers and one big fat, 5 foot long non poisonous serpentine visitor that only the gardener saw. In between snake one to 10 we had a morning of the invasion of the big ants - - the black rather harmless ants, but big and awkard to continuously be stepping on in the kitchen and the veranda. Desparate, i tried the only thing at hand, "Pril" our sink soap bubbled them off and they have never returned. Pril - - keep some on hand.

We vacilate now between some anxiety about the invasions and a keen suspense about what surprise Monsoon Goddess has in store for us. Grateful for the entertainment and excitment, we are a bit widgy about the next waves on the beach.

All in all Nimboli is a wonderful, peaceful and very spiriually powerful place. we are grateful to be here. Come and visit.

MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL,

WHO HAS THE BIGGEST SAHASARA OF ALL?

YOU HAVE PROBABLY BEEN WONDERING

HOW OUR MEDITATION PRACTICE IS ADVANCING.

WE JUST WANTED YOU TO SEE FOR YOURSELVES!!

Visa Regulations Require Trip to Thailand. Oh, Too Bad

May 18, 2009

It has been a month since either of us wrote in our blog. Our time has been packed with various wonder-filled activities in and around Nimboli. . Both of us have written about our Indian experiences, but neither of us have polished them for this blog. By the photos you might wonder where we have gone. Palm Springs, California? China? Japan? They don't allow you to wear bathing suits like this in India!

Right now we are in Chaing Mai, Thailand. We wanted to escape the worst of the heat in Nimboli which was expected to get up to 120 degrees F. And now we are in northern Thailand experiencing monsoon weather. We do find it refreshing after so many weeks of dry heat. We also had to leave the country every six months to renew our tourist visa. Some people have student visas when staying in an ashram and we will have to explore this. But for the time being, it is to our advantage to “have to leave” the country every six months. We probably would not have left if it was not required.

Dahvee found a four star hotel online, the Green Lake Resort, with two fabulous swimming pools, gorgeous and elegant simplicity in its architecture, and more than just a comfortable place for us to stay.

The tourism trade has suffered 50% here in Thailand due to swine flu scare, political upheaval and economic downturn. Of course this works in our favor by everyone offering special discounts. Our hotel is just a short drive outside the city of Chaing Mai and charges $ 26 a night which includes breakfast and air conditioned room. They shuttle guests to and from the main city for free three times a day. We are very happy with our arrangements. The gardens are abloom with exotic flowers: many varieties of orchids, birds of paradise, Champa, and unknown flowers. It is heavenly. We are surprised that there are not more bugs..

Sunday night is the principal weekly street fair which attracts locals and tourists. We were looking forward to attending. But as soon as we jumped out of the shuttle, the clouds released torrents of rain. We looked around for a dry place to wait out the storm, and there was our salvation: “Starbucks”. We had tried the Indian equivalent in Mumbai: Costa Coffee and Café Coffee Day. Each time we were disappointed. But here in Chaing Mai, you would not know the difference from this Starbucks and the one in your neighborhood in the states, except of course, the Thai translations. We were not disappointed.

We spent our first day napping by the pool, swimming in the delightful water and reading. Impulsively I bought a copy of Louis Fletcher’s “The life of Mahatma Gandhi” at the Mumbai airport. (In five months I have found only one adequate bookstore in Mumbai. I know there must be hundreds, but when we go to Mumbai we usually have a list of things to do that always exceeds the time we have available.) This book is perfect for it is answering many of the historical questions that have arisen in our minds since arriving in India: When and how did the caste system get started? When did the British arrive and for how long did they rule? What did India look like before the British? And what exactly did Gandhi do for India. I am not going to answer those questions for you, but this book has been a fabulous resource for me. I have been a fan of Gandhi’s since I saw the movie of his life probably over 20 yrs ago. And now I am learning more about what influenced his decisions and his actions. I do believe this will make a difference in the way I adapt to the amazing country of India.

Every night our hotel has a spa special which allows us to partake in some kind of massage or spa treatment. Right now we are waiting for our notification that our evening massage for $9 will be ready. The other night, Dahvee had two and half hours of body work and he looked so relaxed when he got back to our room. Chiang Mai has become a mecca for massage and health treatments. Of course, we all have heard of the plethora of sexual massage parlors here, but also, there are many legitimate massage clinics. Even at the open air market, there were rows of lounge chairs, the kind you watch TV from, where massage therapists awaited the chance to give a client a foot or back massage. By the end of the evening all the chairs were filled, and there were many hands at work on exposed feet, backs, legs, arms and heads. I personally like to receive my back rub in private. Dahvee has been trying for weeks to receive a massage in Nimboli. Two times he has found a massage therapist, both times men, and was given 10 minute massages. Not quite what he had in mind. So we are looking into taking a 5 or 10 day Thai massage class here in Chaing Mai so that we can at least be of benefit to each other once back in Nimboli.

Our second day here we walked around inside the old walled city of Chaing Mai. We are immediately struck at how clean and organized the streets are. I wondered why is it the concrete streets of India crumble making for such rough streets? Dahvee explained that the politicians and city officials are known for siphoning money off the top leaving very little for infrastructure. It is a shame.

Here in Chiang Mai it seems that every street has a beautiful Buddhist temple and gold laden stupa. Inside, we found monks in orange robes performing various rituals, eating lunch or meditating. The energy in each of the temples was beautiful and strong and we found it very easy to meditate. Some of the temples are over 500 years old, so one can imagine that many prayers and devotions have been performed in each. Dahvee caught some great shots of the gorgeous architecture of the temples with their adornments of dragons, gold, and Buddha figures. Here is his friend the dragon.

More to come………………….
Jeanette