7 November:
This morning my guru picked me up and we went to Lalbagh to practice yoga. It is out in the open and nature is the perfect place to practice. On our way there, I saw an mighty, gigantic banyan tree. A banyan tree has roots sticking out all over that looks like the trunk. Here is my poem dedicated to the banyan tree.
What secret does it keep the mighty banyan tree.
Where is the vast enchantment to see.
Great stretches of broken branches old and grey.
Mystical awe it is you do to me.
It was early. The sun was slowly peeking out of the horizon making its way to offer a beautiful day. The people were ready to receive the gift. Many were taking their walks, praying, yoga’ing, selling, etc. We picked a spot with flat rocky surface and I rolled out my yoga mat. Guru N did not even have a rug underneath his feet. Instead of exploring the asana sequence I learned from the week, we decided to warm up with the Ashtanga surya namaskars. I told him I will tweak the sequence to vinyasa. It did not take long for curious spectators to gather around and soon we were surrounded by clattering Kannadans talking. Someone asked, “Which country madam?” If I will say U.S., they will ask, which state. I think they recognize California here as a state so I always say California when they ask me which country. Besides, California is a country anyway.
Being lazy paid off. In Ayurveda, traveling can cause a vatta aggravation, the commanding gyration, the lack of grounding, the unstable environment causes aakash and vayu to irritate the vatta dosha showing symptoms like shedding hair and dry skin. Getting plenty of rest will help ease this aggravation. So that I did. I can feel my rested body moving lightly and I can see the luster in my skin. I even had my first warm cooked meal; oatmeal with soymilk for breakfast and rajna masala for dinner. That helped my pitta dosha.
After practice, I went back to my pad and immersed myself in the company of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. I bought six of his books yesterday. The volumes called “An Intimate Note to the Sincere Seeker.” I was supposed to be taking my bath but I sank into oblivion reading and enjoying. Then there it was, a “brownout”. Here, you learn to find that moment of “taking it easy” and “better hurry coz brownout is imminent” a tug and pull.
9 Sunday
A nice quaint park is about four blocks away from my gruha. Today is supposed to be a yoga holiday but that of course if up to the yogi to decide. Thursday is another holiday because it is full moon. I decided to take a hard Ashtanga practice anyway. I went to the park to yoga my heart out. Life in the next few weeks will be as uneventful as can be. Except for the yoga studies, there is really no social life, not much interaction.
Shalini, Shrusti and I went shopping for clothes. Estu in Kannada means how much. Estu here and estu there got me a red saree that I will wear in the International Yoga Festival in Pondicherry. Then it takes 14 days to get the top tailored. Like I said, nothing is instant here (except parting with the almighty dollar). I will own my very first saree.
Language and Communication:
Words have no meanings. We put meaning into words. For example, “ibon” in Pilipino means bird but in another Philippine dialect (another province) “ibon” means egg. So in India, I am learning to decipher their sentences. They are educating me and I am educating them. I was having some business cards made and one of the eyebrow raising conversations went like this:
Vendor: “You want photos at the back, what is the matter on the front?”
I was so puzzled by this question and I had to ask him what he meant. I even asked him to spell it for me. Really he meant matter. He was referring to the “details” or the “text”. Was I supposed to know that?
While Vinay and I were riding on the motorcycle, he started coasting and I did not hear the motor run. I suspected he ran out of gas. We buy petro everyday and he buys one liter at a time. I try to give him 200 rupees or offer to fill up the tank but he says no. Hey, I just want to offer. I don’t want to figure it out why he does what he does. I asked, “What is the matter?” (there is that matter) He said “The fuel is finished.”
Then we went to a pada puja. It is a ritual of schlokas as an offering. There are different types of pujas. Pada puja is the washing of Swamiji’s feet. When Swamiji comes, it is a BIG deal for everyone. Swamiji is equivalent to a Bishop or Cardinal or something like that in Catholic religion. He is the higher priest. He wears an orange robe which symbolizes knowledge. Everyone bows to him and kiss his feet. What color of outfit do inmates wear in the U.S.? This specific puja was for a family dealing with their daughter’s passing. She was hit by a truck while crossing the road 31st October. She would have been 15 on 11 November. I saw her picture next to Swamiji and I asked the guy who sat next to me who was in the photo. He responded “She is no more.”
Back home, when we meet people, we say “Hello, how are you?” Here when I say hello, they respond. ”Tell me.” Interestingly enough, I caught myself saying the same thing a few times when people say hello to me. I even noticed that I am now bopping my head too when I mean yes.
Culture is what differentiates and identifies people of their origin or upbringing. India’s people for me are so distinct. From the clothes that they wear to their fervent arduous religious rituals, they definitely have a unique identity. Now I have to add the language. They talk different English than what I know. But then again, what do I know? Learning is a constant evolving process. I am learning everyday.
12 November
Sunday was another holiday here. I’m not sure which one it is and I did not ask. I probably could not remember anyway. People on the streets lit up firecrackers. I barely got back to my gruha and I was startled with all the activities when they started lighting up the fireworks. I learned later the following day that there was a child (not even two years old) who was playing with the firecrackers with other kids carrying kerosene, unsupervised, was burned with 80% of her body. She is in the hospital in serious condition.
14 November, Friday
My gruha is short lived. I am “shifting” gruha today. (another euphemism for move). I am not able to sleep at night. There is a baby who cries and screams on top of her lungs in the middle of the night. The mother screams louder saying “quiet” and slams the door to “console” the child. I wake up and ponder how this horrifying act can put the child back to slumber. In the meantime, my rest goes to pot. Weekend is full of errands as I am still not settled. Even my SIM card was a challenge. It took me a week just to fix the problem. I could not receive calls. My phone does not go on standby.
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