Ouf! What an exciting and busy few days we've had! With the yoga festival over on Friday, Cindy and Loraine had all weekend and Monday and Tuesday free... until I filled each day with a jam-packed schedule! It was so much fun taking on the role of tour guide - maybe good practice for some future employment?
Saturday: Up early for morning meditation, reading, Hindi studying, stretching, all before meeting C&L at 9 at chai stand. We sipped our deliciously sweet and milky morning drink, then walked to LaxmanJhula, the next town over, about 20 minutes up the Ganga. The two of them were very excited about all the new shops in this area, wanting to stop every few steps to look at some new item, but due to our busy schedule, I had to keep dragging them along. We went to the famous German Bakery for breakfast - ayurvedic tea with pastries - then headed to Prem Baba's ashram nearby for satsang. As always, it was lovely. Next we stopped into the Honey Hut for delicious snacks, before crossing the street to Fab India for a little shopping. Lots browsing today, but no purchases since we decided we'd be back Tuesday morning, before their appointment with Prateek, the Vedic astrologer. Next stop was Ramana's Garden. This was the first place we went that was new to me as well, and after being here 3 years in a row, I have just now discovered the most precious jewel in Rishikesh. It was heaven. I had goosebumps all over my body the whole time we were there. C&L can testify to my overwhelmed excitement. I was inspired in a tremendous way for my eventual life project. It is a beautiful space, away from the hustle and bustle, that is at once an orphanage, an organic cafe and a school of life. They grow their own organic food, the children involved in all aspects of the mini-community, including working in the garden and serving/cooking/prepping/cleaning in the cafe. And they do it all with smiles, humor and joy. It was spectacular and inspiring to see. I could go on and on about it, but instead, here's the website: sayyesnow.org. Then a little more shopping (browsing), before walking back to RamJhula for a visit with Swati. We were invited to her home for a lovely chai and chat. Then we all headed to Amit's shop and the mini convenience store next door where C&L bought pens and pencils for Children of the Ganges (www.childrenoftheganges.com), and sweets for the kids. Then it was off to school for Saturday night dance class. I think C&L were pretty enchanted by the kids, their behavior, their respect, their enthusiasm, their sparkly, vibrant eyes, and their impressive dance moves! It was now close to 8pm, and C&L were ready to head back to their room for an early night before another big day.
Sunday: This morning I met C&L at the ATM, then we walked across RamJhula bridge to Madras Cafe for breakfast before squeezing into a riskshaw (their first ride!) to Mooji's ashram for satsang. His talk was beautiful and inspiring. Hopped into another rickshaw to get to Rishikesh market, where we were meeting Swati at Rajastani's (very popular and packed resto) for a yummy lunch. Then we braved the streets and shops, where Loraine found a gorgeous colorful Indian silk "suit" for her 10-year-old daughter. Lucky girl! Swati then took us to the best lassi stall in town, where Loraine wasn't thirsty for her own, but bought 3 for the little street kids who did look thirsty. It was a bittersweet and emotional moment for her, but she said it's the best she's felt since arriving. Then we all went to Swati's mom's, nearby, for a lovely visit with chai, dessert (the sweet, milky noodle soup I love so much!) and chatting (as much as we could with the language barrier). Third rickshaw ride to get back to our neck of the woods, and Loraine, who had been feeling a little off all day (but kept up until then - 6pm), decided it was time for her to head back. Cindy and I continued on to the Trika hall for bhajans, a beautiful and enchanting evening of singing and music. We then went to the Health Cafe for dinner, and called it a night. Back in my room, I started packing... Monday was moving day!
More on that and my last two days with Cindy and Loraine in the next post!
To finish, a quote by Ramana Maharshi that is on the homepage of Ramana's Garden's website:
Till you reach the state of jnana and thus wake out of this maya, you must do social service by relieving suffering whenever you see it. But even then you must do it, as we are told, without the sense “I am the doer,” but feeling, “I am the Lord’s tool." You must help the man as a means of worshipping God in that man.
Saturday: Up early for morning meditation, reading, Hindi studying, stretching, all before meeting C&L at 9 at chai stand. We sipped our deliciously sweet and milky morning drink, then walked to LaxmanJhula, the next town over, about 20 minutes up the Ganga. The two of them were very excited about all the new shops in this area, wanting to stop every few steps to look at some new item, but due to our busy schedule, I had to keep dragging them along. We went to the famous German Bakery for breakfast - ayurvedic tea with pastries - then headed to Prem Baba's ashram nearby for satsang. As always, it was lovely. Next we stopped into the Honey Hut for delicious snacks, before crossing the street to Fab India for a little shopping. Lots browsing today, but no purchases since we decided we'd be back Tuesday morning, before their appointment with Prateek, the Vedic astrologer. Next stop was Ramana's Garden. This was the first place we went that was new to me as well, and after being here 3 years in a row, I have just now discovered the most precious jewel in Rishikesh. It was heaven. I had goosebumps all over my body the whole time we were there. C&L can testify to my overwhelmed excitement. I was inspired in a tremendous way for my eventual life project. It is a beautiful space, away from the hustle and bustle, that is at once an orphanage, an organic cafe and a school of life. They grow their own organic food, the children involved in all aspects of the mini-community, including working in the garden and serving/cooking/prepping/cleaning in the cafe. And they do it all with smiles, humor and joy. It was spectacular and inspiring to see. I could go on and on about it, but instead, here's the website: sayyesnow.org. Then a little more shopping (browsing), before walking back to RamJhula for a visit with Swati. We were invited to her home for a lovely chai and chat. Then we all headed to Amit's shop and the mini convenience store next door where C&L bought pens and pencils for Children of the Ganges (www.childrenoftheganges.com), and sweets for the kids. Then it was off to school for Saturday night dance class. I think C&L were pretty enchanted by the kids, their behavior, their respect, their enthusiasm, their sparkly, vibrant eyes, and their impressive dance moves! It was now close to 8pm, and C&L were ready to head back to their room for an early night before another big day.
Sunday: This morning I met C&L at the ATM, then we walked across RamJhula bridge to Madras Cafe for breakfast before squeezing into a riskshaw (their first ride!) to Mooji's ashram for satsang. His talk was beautiful and inspiring. Hopped into another rickshaw to get to Rishikesh market, where we were meeting Swati at Rajastani's (very popular and packed resto) for a yummy lunch. Then we braved the streets and shops, where Loraine found a gorgeous colorful Indian silk "suit" for her 10-year-old daughter. Lucky girl! Swati then took us to the best lassi stall in town, where Loraine wasn't thirsty for her own, but bought 3 for the little street kids who did look thirsty. It was a bittersweet and emotional moment for her, but she said it's the best she's felt since arriving. Then we all went to Swati's mom's, nearby, for a lovely visit with chai, dessert (the sweet, milky noodle soup I love so much!) and chatting (as much as we could with the language barrier). Third rickshaw ride to get back to our neck of the woods, and Loraine, who had been feeling a little off all day (but kept up until then - 6pm), decided it was time for her to head back. Cindy and I continued on to the Trika hall for bhajans, a beautiful and enchanting evening of singing and music. We then went to the Health Cafe for dinner, and called it a night. Back in my room, I started packing... Monday was moving day!
More on that and my last two days with Cindy and Loraine in the next post!
To finish, a quote by Ramana Maharshi that is on the homepage of Ramana's Garden's website:
Till you reach the state of jnana and thus wake out of this maya, you must do social service by relieving suffering whenever you see it. But even then you must do it, as we are told, without the sense “I am the doer,” but feeling, “I am the Lord’s tool." You must help the man as a means of worshipping God in that man.
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