Blind Awareness

          As I sit here writing this I can hear the sounds of the birds playing in the trees, the water running along in the creek below, and can take a deep breath of sweet fresh air. I look up to see a beautiful mountainside covered in green trees and bush. Then I hear the trucks pass horns blaring on the road just ahead, and my thoughts are carried with the truck speeding towards the city center. I see trash littered everywhere, and can smell burning plastic as another truck speeds past spouting a huge diesel cloud right where I am standing. I begin to think about blind awareness. Travelers often have a saying: "There is the rest of the world, and then there is India". As you walk the streets in India you cannot help but wonder about this blind awareness that all Indians seem to take when it comes to the environment. 

 One of my peers brought up in class one day why people here cannot see the difference between their own space, and the greater space when it comes to getting rid of rubbish. I have witnessed it countless times while being here in Rishekish (one of the cleaner cities in north India), people simply throwing their trash onto the street directly in front of them. I do not understand why people here cannot distinguish the difference between "their" space and a space for trash. People will sweep up the steps to their shops to make it clean and presentable, only then to eat potato chips and throw the bag in street in front of the shop. How does this make any sense? 

Then, I began thinking how nice it is to have a trash system at home in the US, but even though the system is in place where does my trash go? To a big heap 5 miles outside of the city? Is the system I know really any better? The Indian's might have a blind awareness to what is right in front of them on the streets, but in reality don't we all have a blind awareness to the waste we put out there? Just like the Yakshasas and their king Kubera in Indian mythology, we consume, consume, and still want more need more. What about all our waste? I learned today that there is little difference between what I see here in India, and the way we "get rid" of our waste anywhere else in the world. There is only a different concept of space. We are all the same in so many ways...it was only as I began to travel the world that I see we all have this blind awareness. All space is "our" space, and we are no different than our neighbors.

Two Weeks in the arms of Mama India

    I have arrived. After two months of traveling and talking about India, dreaming about what it could be like...now I am here in her arms. My transition to India has been nothing but sweet, welcoming, and filled with happiness. When I landed in New Delhi I could barely keep myself standing in line at customs because I knew that my brother was waiting for me just outside the airport. I was beside myself in excitement, the customs process seemed to go at a snails pace. I had not seen him in 7 months! The reunion was wonderful, and to have that as my first experience coming into India began my trip with the greatest energy I could have ever asked for. Anyone who has spent quality time with Joseph will know that whatever you are feeling his energy will just lift you higher. I become so happy when he is around, so excited on the little things in life, and filled with positive energy. If I could name one person who is my inspiration in this world it would be my younger brother. I cherish him in every way, value our friendship more than words can express, and hope one day to be able to see the world the way he does.

     We spent the next day in Delhi shopping, eating excellent Chana Masala, and spending time in the company of great friends. I had the pleasure of meeting a close friend of Nikki and Joe from Bangalore, Shulabh. Having Shulabh show us around one of Delhi's great social spots made my first experience of that crazy city a wonderful and charming one. Shulabh is so kind, friendly, and generous I was sad to leave. Hopefully we get to come back to Delhi and reconnect, our time together was too short. The next day we were off to Hyridwar by train, then a short car ride into Rishikesh. Once we arrived at Rishikesh Sadan Guesthouse (where Jeevmoksha Yoga Institute is located) we settled down in our rooms before venturing out into town. We had delicious chana masala for lunch, which was really a surprise because we have only had Chana 1 other time in our entire stay at Jeevmoksha Institute, and then went for a stroll before the sunset. 

     Our yoga studies began straight away the next morning promptly at 7am, with morning practice. After morning practice we have breakfast and tea before our yoga philosophy class from 10:30-12:30. We then eat lunch at 1:30, I usually have a nap, then practical yoga asana class from 4:30-6:30pm. This has been our schedule for the past few weeks. We do get sundays off, but my first two were spent in bed because I have had a nasty cold I couldn't quite kick. I am just beginning to feel better now thankfully! I am sure though that doing this intensive yoga has played its part in bringing out a whole lot of built up toxins, and my body becoming sick in new ways for two weeks time is simply another obstacle I must overcome. We cannot let the little obstacles keep us held back on our individual paths to greater self-realization and enlightenment. Keep up and you will be kept up! 

     Overall India has been gentle, nourishing, and welcoming to me these past two weeks. I could not have asked for a better introduction to this amazing country. Being surrounded by nature, fresh air, and the beautiful milky blue waters of the Gangaji has deeply embedded a strong love for India. I have only been here a short while but I will always have the experience of Rishikesh in my heart to go back to when the cities get frustrating. I only hope that I can learn with time and patience to look past all of the "dis-comforts" in the other parts of the country, and see the beautiful colorful chaos which makes India so special.