Rishikesh

The land of the Rishis, the great "seers" or sages of India, who for thousands of years have left this world behind for the infamous caves of the Himalayas. While the West has made great progress technologically and scientifically through an admirable pursuit and exploration of the material and external reality, the rishis have, since antiquity, been involved in a pursuit of the "inner" science - the exploration of spirit and human consciousness. They have discovered other ways of knowing and receiving knowledge than purely through the means of the intellect. The divine wisdom of the sages has been carried down from the mountains and penetrated the heart of Indian civilization; inspiring such disciplines as Yoga, Ayurveda, Astronomy, even Math and the Sciences.

As I bathe in the cool running waters of the Ganges, at the foothills of these great mountains, I stand at the precipice of these ancient wisdom traditions. Countless spiritual seekers have flocked from all over India - from all over the world - to this very point on the earth, in search of answers to life's deepest questions. I sit on the quiet sandy beach and take it all in stillness. Infinite hours of meditations have take place amongst these stones. What stories do they tell? The ever-flowing Ganges carries my prayers. I close my eyes and feel my breath. It's the same breath I breathe in California - only Rishikesh air. A calm peace washes over me, hushing my thoughts. A rare moment's escape from the noise and chaos on the streets behind me. I open my eyes to a group of Indians in orange life vests, splashing and screaming, river-rafting down stream. Constantly reminded of this dance between ancient and new, East and West - we meet here in this moment, always.

I found a temple right off the main bazaar where babas chant Hare Krishna 24 hours a day - you can hear em' from the streets. Been chanting with them daily. One on the harmonium, double-sided drum, and lots of Indian tambourines. All day they sing with full heart, different melodies of Sri Chaitanya's maha mantra:

Hare Rama Hare Rama,
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krisna Hare Krisna,
Krisna Krisna Hare Hare!

Felt so good to finally chant kirtan in India. Closed my eyes and was immediately brought back to Arcata, sitting around chanting with Daruka and friends. Hare Om.

As the music would linger, I'd look over at the orange powder-faced, dread-locked sadhu leading on harmonium, and a huge mirrored smile would erupt on both sides. We'd lift our arms and sing "Hare Rama!" and the drum would pick back up, sending spirits soaring.

Jai Ma Ganga

It is now my fifth day in India. Each day so full, however, it feels more like my fifth week. I have made it pretty far north, to the foothills of the great Himalayas - Rishikesh, the self-claimed "yoga capitol of the world." I am staying at Parmath Niketan Ashram right on the banks of the fast flowing Ganges River.

Before I left, my friend Amanda had given me a small vessel of Ganges water that she had collected from Haridwar, when she visited India last fall. A single drop of Her holy water is said to purify your sins - so I did a short ritual bathing at Chicago O'hare International Airport. As I sat down in meditation outside the gate, a studdering Australian Hasidic Jew approached me, intrigued by my seated yoga asanas. I said "Shalom" and he gave me a teaching from the Talmud, and wrote down the address for a famous Rabbi, a Kabbalah teacher in Santa Barbara. I thanked him and continued with my Ganga blessing. He stood next to me and began "wailing at the wall," swaying from side to side, calling out prayers in Hebrew - while I chanted in Sanskrit. I couldn't help but appreciate the irony, as a born Jew, about to step on a plane in search of spiritual India... I poured Ganga over my head and felt chills down my spine. Bowed in pranam and boarded American Airlines flight 292 non-stop to India.

Stayed my first night in New Delhi in the "tourist ghetto" of Pahar Ganj at Hotel Namaskar. Thick sticky dusty air clouds the nostrils, dodge rickshaws and motorcycles, cows and humans, as I carefully step through stones and rubble - looks like a bomb just went off, but everyone stayed put.

Took the 6:50a train from Delhi to Haridwar. Finally, Hindus, everywhere! Sadhus in orange robes, women in every-colored saris, more cows, everyone laying on the floor to keep cool from the scorching Indian sun. Met a Swedish brother named Isac in the train station and we have been traveling together since. Took a rickshaw to Har Ki Pauri Ghat, one of the holiest places along the Ganges - it is said that Vishnu came down and left a footprint, and is the floodgates where the river descends from the Himalayas down into the plains of India. First thing, we headed down to the ghat and stepped into the cool refreshing waters of Ma Ganga. Ahhhh... so amazing. After so much reading and research, stories and videos, to actually taste (not literally, don't worry momma) this river Goddess - to partake in this ancient Hindu rite, dipping in the water with thousands of Indians side by side. I came out rejuvenated and reborn.

We found a nice little hotel with a deck 50 yards from the river and overlooking the whole scene. And what a scene. Unknowingly we had arrived on the full moon, and one of the holiest days of the year at Har Ki Pauri, by the evening there were close to a million pilgrims gathered along the river for the evening Aarti ceremony to Ma Ganga. I saw one blonde girl that afternoon, otherwise we were the only white people in the entire city.

It was one of the wildest experiences of my life. From the surface it looked almost like the Hindu equivalent to the Super Bowl, close to a million in attendance, stadium seating along the river, with no joke - cotton candy vendors and merchants selling Ganga paraphernalia. However, once we entered into the center of activity, there was so much heart and devotion, perhaps similar, but far (a world away) from any sporting event in the States. We purchased hand made baskets filled with flowers and incense offerings and walked down to the river bank where we were met by a Brahmin pandit. Another third eye blessing and we recited Vedic hymns, said aloud the names of our family members, and received blessings for long life and prosperity, then lit our basket flame and released it to Ganga - where it floated down river and shortly tipped over.

We crossed the half bridge to the Ganga temple and the Aarti ceremony began, everyone was going wild, the flames were lit and we could hardly move, pressed side by side. It was intensely devotional. Brahmins circled clockwise flame offerings to Ganga while loudspeakers and everyone chanted the traditional hymns. Huge flames soared beside us as we swayed to avoid getting scorched - it was all over in less than 10 minutes. A bright full moon rose above the river. Roaring lightning and thunderstorm broke, as rain poured from the heavens - clearing and sweeping the city clean, ready for a new day.

India!!!

It's been a while since my last post, much has happened my friends. Life changes quickly. Each moment, each breath, each turn, takes us down an ever unfolding fresh paved road - never been traversed before! Yet sometimes there's that feeling that creeps up, like I've done this all before, in fact I've been doing it for thousands of years, repeating the same cycles over and over again. Happy Spring!!!

I'm going to India. That feels really good to type. After years of day-dreaming, fantasizing about lentils n' temples, psychedelic colors, sadhus and meditating along burning river ghats, I'm going to India. I'm graduating from HSU in less than 2 months. I leave for Delhi on Tue May 25th. I am selling/giving away all my belongings, and heading East for the promise land - to free my spirit, that has been bound by University dharma. I plan to keep the blog rollin to stay connected and share my journey with you all... but we'll see. I really just have no idea. I bought a one-way ticket and applied for a 10 year visa. I could go to India for a couple months, or a couple years. If spirit wills it, and I can find work, I may keep traveling throughout Asia - Nepal, Sri Lanka, Sikkim, Thailand, Laos, Bali!!! Or I may give it all up and sit in a cave for 3 years 3 months and 3 days. I really don't know. And the 'I' that doesn't know can't know. It can only step out of the way to let the heart lead. I'm surrendering and letting Mother India work through me. Jai Ma! Much much more to come my friends.

Blissed and Blessed: an evening of restorative yoga

Mmmmmm.... Just got home from a juicy Restorative Yoga workshop at Om Shala led by visiting instructor Christine McArdle-Oquendo. It was two hours of candlelit yoga, accompanied by some incredible healing sounds from my friend Aaron Noble. While we ever-so slowly moved through our sequence, Aaron held the frequencies high with crystal singing bowls, chimes, and didgeridoo.

Can you say Sat Chit Ananda? Experience. Consciousness. Bliss.



We could barely all fit in the room with all the yogis, blankets, blocks, chairs, and straps! Each given a sheet of paper with the illustrated asana sequence, we were able to move through the sequence at our own pace, holding each pose as long as felt comfortable. In this way, it was like an individual practice, but with the energy and support of the group.

It is incredible how affective these poses can be on your mind/body. Often times we can get so competitive with ourselves in a vigorous Hatha Yoga practice, that we forget how to just relax and take it easy with asana. A simple pose like legs up the wall can be extremely beneficial when we focus conscious breathing for an extended period of time. Restorative Yoga utilizes particular asanas that activate the parasympathetic nervous system, causing the mind and body to slow down. By moving into stillness, we can experience more fully the essence of what we truly are - Absolute Bliss. We tune into Source. Refreshing and restoring our mind/body with fresh prana, new life.

I caught the wave and rode. Flowing deeply with the support and life-force of breath. Dropping deep into each pose, using each breath to breathe in healing light and compassion into every cell of my body. Sometimes I'd drift under water only to be pulled back up by the vibrational force of the didge, or an unexpected gong of the singing bowl to zap me back into the presence of the present. And then I'd just drop-in. Dwelling deep within the cave of the heart, flooding with Joy.

It was so beautiful to share the practice with the community. While we were each drifting off into our own realms of consciousness, we were also very much there together. Chanting together. Breathing together. Moving and flowing, loving and healing ourselves together.

If you have never done Restorative Yoga before, or it's just been a while. Go. It is such a nurturing and healing experience. Side effects may include feeling relaxed, released, restored, blissed, blessed, healed, light, loved, rejuvenated, clear, damage to sense of ego-self, heightened awareness of Self and Oneness, possible difficulty speaking in words, trouble finding your car keys, and/or sleepiness.

Jodie DiMinno teaches Restorative at Om Shala on Sundays 6:30-8p (following my Sadhana) and on Wednesdays 7-8:30p. Also check out this great article Aaron wrote on sound healing for Conscious Dancer Magazine! (page 26)

Let us continue to remember to love and support ourselves fully on this journey. Bless.

Lord Keep Me Shining

Check out this beautiful video my friend Daruka put together to the sweet sounds of Jai Uttal's track "Lord Keep Me Shining". If you've been in my class recently you've probably heard it. Enjoy!



8 That which is awake even in our sleep,
Giving form in dreams to the objects of
Sense craving, that indeed is pure light,
Brahman the immortal, who contains all
The cosmos, and beyond whom none can go.
For this Self is supreme!

9 As the same fire assumes different shapes
When it consumes objects differing in shape,
So does the one Self take the shape
Of every creature in whom he is present.
10 As the same air assumes different shapes
When it enters objects differing in shape,
So does the one Self take the shape
Of every creature in whom he is present.

11 As the sun, who is the eye of the world,
Cannot be tainted by the defects in our eyes
Or by the objects it looks on,
So the one Self, dwelling in all, cannot
Be tainted by the evils of the world.
For this Self transcends all!

12 The ruler supreme, inner Self of all,
Multiplies his oneness into many.
Eternal joy is theirs who see the Self
In their own hearts. To none else does it come!

13 Changeless amidst the things that pass away,
Pure consciousness in all who are conscious,
The One answers the prayers of many.
Eternal peace is theirs who see the Self
In their own hearts. To none else does it come!

- Katha Upanishad

Sankara's Six Stanzas on Nirvana

Om. I am neither mind, intelligence, ego, nor chitta,
Neither the ears nor the tongue, nor the senses of smell and sight;
Neither akasa nor air, nor fire nor water nor earth:
I am Eternal Bliss and Awareness - I am Siva, I am Siva.

I am neither the prana nor the five vital breaths,
Neither the body's seven elements nor its five sheaths,
Nor hands nor feet nor tongue, nor other organs of action:
I am Eternal Bliss and Awareness - I am Siva, I am Siva.

Neither greed nor delusion, loathing nor liking, have I;
Nothing of pride or ego, of dharma or liberation;
Neither desire of the mind nor object for its desiring;
I am Eternal Bliss and Awareness - I am Siva, I am Siva.

Nothing of pleasure and pain, of virtue and vice, do I know,
Of mantra or sacred place, of Vedas or sacrifice;
Neither am I the eater, the food, nor the act of eating;
I am Eternal Bliss and Awareness - I am Siva, I am Siva.

Death or fear have I none, nor any distinction of caste;
Neither father nor mother, nor even a birth, have I;
Neither friend nor comrade, neither disciple nor guru;
I am Eternal Bliss and Awareness - I am Siva, I am Siva.

I have no form or fancy: the All-pervading am I;
Everywhere I exist, and yet am beyond the senses;
Neither salvation am I, nor anything to be known:
I am Eternal Bliss and Awareness - I am Siva, I am Siva.

(Taken from The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna)

Why practice yoga? Interview with Max Strom

This is a really great interview with senior yoga teacher Max Strom in which he discusses why would someone want to practice yoga? I had the opportunity to attend a workshop with him last year at Om Shala and was really inspired by his strength and compassion as a human being.

Enjoy!