So Much Love

I have been here in Reshikesh for almost a week and it seems like so much longer. I have been experiencing so much, and meeting so many amazing people that I'm truly overwhelmed with gratitude. We are staying in a place called Divine Ganga Cottage, and the name perfectly describes the feeling. It is tucked away in a peaceful spot at the base of the Himalayas, and it overlooks the Gangese River - which Hindus call Mata Ganga and is considered to be very holy. The Cottage is sandwiched between an orphanage and a school, so I get to wake up every morning to children singing and practicing their English. We are a vary close walk to the town of Rhom Jhula, which is where we spend most days exploring the streets. The town is filled with beautiful women in brightly colored saris, men in linens selling all sorts of amazing jewelry and fabrics, beautiful Indian music, little carts filled with interesting looking sweets and breads, the occasional foreigner looking excited yet extreemly overwhelemed, monkeys who steel food right out of your hands, and cows mingling with the people ( they are considered to be very holy here). There are so many sights, sounds and smells that my scenes feel like they are waking from a deep sleep.

Amidst all the beauty, there is lots of poverty. People clothed in rags and holding beginning bowls line the dirty streets which are filled with trash and cow poop. The poverty here is overwhelming at times, and there is so much I want to do to help out. They gather by the Ganga during the day to take their baths, and stand in a rashon line during the evenings to receive a small portion of food provided by the yoga asharam here in town. I had a very emotional moment one day when I saw all the people with deep empty eyes paiently waiting for their meal in an extreemly long line... There were so many tourists standing around taking pictures of them, as if they were animals in a cage. It hit me then, that we have no idea what it's like to exist within such extreme poverty. There are so many people starving to death, and all we can do is stand back and take pictures... this separates us so much from one another. They too are human beings with desires, hopes, dreams and fears, and they are no different than us. I have so much compassion for the people here, that it feels overwhelming at times.

My main intention upon coming to this amazing country was to learn about meditation and yoga, and while that makes up a large part of my day, I also feel like I'm learning so much about selfless service and unconditional love. The people here do not have material wealth so instead they give their hearts. It seems as if their total purpose is to please their guests and to make us feel taken care of. I met a young girl name Kamna while she was walking past the Cottage one day to school, and we have become very good friends. She and her sister Shikha have learned English in school and are teaching Nichole and I Hindi out of their home. They have three other sisters and live in a humble one room house with only a tiny kitchen, three beds pushed together that they share, and no running water or bathroom. When we go over for our lessons, we sit cross legged on their bed, while their mother prepares us tea and their little sisters draw us pictures. Hindi is such a amazing language, but truthfully I am learning so much more about their culture and their beautiful hearts. So far my favorite words are:

Byar- Love
Sundar- Beautiful
Sukriya- Thank You
Dost- Friend

Last night we went over to their house to celebrate Kamna's birthday, and we had such an amazing time. I feel like they are my Indian family and that we have known each other forever. They have invited Nichole and I to come live with them.... it's amazing that they have so little space, yet they want to make room for two more in their small home. So much love!

Besides gaining a greater perspective on humanity, I am also getting to experience so many more amazing things. Yesterday we hiked in the Himalayas near a waterfall, and being immersed in this incredible nature was really powerful. I have meat with a Vedic Astrologer which was very interesting, and have received the most amazing Aryvedic massage. We wake up at 4:30am to do a two hour Sadhana practice, which consits of chanting, meditation, and prayer. This has been extreemly difficult yet powerful in so many ways. This morning it was pouring rain, and I could truly feel the inner and outer change that we are creating. We also practice daily vinyasa and kundalini yoga classes, and the beauty of flowing with the Himalaya's surrounding us is truly undescribable. I have heard for years how magical India is, and now I am truly begining to see why.

I miss you all so much, but I also feel you here with me! I'm sending so much love back home to the states, and know that my heart is with you always

Byar
April