Life in the Ashram

There is so much to tell I hardly know where to begin. The connection here is really slow and I don't have much time, but I'll do my best.

I arrived here on New Year's Eve after one of the most gruelling, yet exciting cab rides I've ever been on. I'm amazed at the lack of fear these guys have. It's quite a thrill to put your life in their hands and just enjoy the ride. The ashram itself is absolutely stunning. It's nestled in the mountains, yet it's full of palm trees. The weather is very similar to LA in fact. It's just a dream environment for meditation and yoga. It was so nice to begin the year with a celebration of fireworks and Indian dance by the lake with so many lovely people from all over the world. It truly is a United Nations experience. There are 180 people in the Teacher Training Course and about 100 more here on Yoga Vacation. German, Japanese, and of course Indian represent the largest contingent. After that, the majority represented are from other countries in Western Europe and America. However, the group that intrigues me most is the Iranian group. There are about 15 of them here, all learing yoga to take back to their country. It's one of the most inspiring stories I collected in my experience here. I can't describe to you how powerful and emotional it was for me to be sitting next to them chanting Siva mantras. Kirtan( sing and response chanting) is really the time I am the happiest. Also to be doing it with so many people is really indescribable. Imagine 300 people from different faiths all over the world chanting OM. Yeah, it's something!

Each day starts at 520 am. Meditation, chanting and lecture 6-730am. Yoga 8-10am. Breakfast 10-11. This is also my Karma Yoga assignment, serving meals. We are all required to do 1 hour of selfless service a day. I love serving the food. We eat on the floor, with no utensils and no napkins. And yes, that means we eat with our hands. We chant Krishna mantras before eating. Then we eat in silence. There are so many experiences I'd love to relate to you about this, but I'll have to save that for another entry. Like running away from wild dogs while emptying the slop bucket. Barefooted I might add. Whew, close call. Then we have chanting class from 12-1, where we learn the significance of the mantras, 1-3 is a philosophical lecture, teaching asanas from 4-6, dinner from 6-7, Meditation, chanting, teaching from 8-930. Lights out at 10pm. Well sort of. My roomate and I usually stay up till 1130 talking about our practice and doing homework. Suffice it to say that the schedule is intense. Exhausting even. However, I also feel envigorated and full of energy at the same time. It's difficult to describe, but it's generally what happens when you meditate regularly. More energy, more alertness, more peace. Oh yeah, sore knees and sore back. It's not all blissful. My body, and more importantly my mind, are going through so many changes. Yet, I'm just happy to be in this environment with so many others who are commited to bringing more peace into their lives and thus bringing more peace into the world. It gives me such hope that we really can make a difference.

I feel like I could write about a book about all the people I've met here. Their stories inspire me to deeper levels of practice. It has made me realize that teaching Yoga( asana) perhaps is not the main reason I am here. I'll leave you with words of wisdom I received this morning from Nilesh, one of the teachers here. " Always make problems and adjustments your best friend. Then you will always be happy."

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA