What To Do

Swamiji has a favorite saying when things don't turn out or go your way...."What to do?" Note that it should be said in a higher pitched sing song tone with a slight smile on your face. Having been here for over a month now I think this saying should be adopted as the official Indian motto. So little goes according to plan in the ashram that I find I have lost interest in getting angry or complaining or even comparing India to our "western sensabilities" and instead find myself frequently chanting "What to do?"
This chant is applicable for any situation really. I have learned to use it for many situations like when I thought that lining up meant going to the back of the line and not squeezing your way in somewhere near the front. And when a session time set for 6 does not start until at least 6:30....or 7:00....or 7:30....or not at all. Or if a seller can't or won't give you change when you buy something and you are expected to buy something esle with the change they owe you. And when the ATM or money exchanger always gives you large bills....1000Rs or 500Rs which know one has change for. Or that sweeping floors in your 50 person dorm room is not as important as sweeping the dirt road of large stones and the grass of dead leaves. And when "they" suggest you buy a sari or book or anything that it may be used only once or not at all. And that slightly stained underwear is more likely to be on the washing line the next day than the ones you scrubbed really clean. Or that you can live with an ant nest in your room for a week before they have time to remove it....... All these things and more can be tolerated or at least endured if you simply smile and say "What To Do?"
Give it a try......And Happy New Year!

VISITORS TELL US A SMALL STORY

Swamiji love to tell small stories......sometimes amusing, sometimes mythological, but all stories begin "Small Story......"

The other day we had two guest speakers. Locals from the area who are simple village women with small stories about their experiences with Swamiji. They spoke in their native tounge through interpetors about simple happenings with their live stock and children.

The first women, was older her children now grown adults shyly began her tale. She told us of a calf (very sacred in India and often the only source of income) that had become sick. She had been feeding it sips of milk for a week but the calf only seemed to get weeker. Making one of his regular visits to the area he stopped by the stable to see the calf. He did a blessing for the calf and the next day the calf was up and about....when that calf grew to deliver her first calf the women took it to Swamiji as an offering of gratitude. A big deal when she could have used more income. This women had seen Swamiji sometime before sitting up by the Banyan tree that we all visit today. She was a young mother then and her and some others with children were enjoying the cool air in the shade of the Banyan. She had noticed this young man just sitting there, when a large cobra crawled out from the grass. There are lots of poisinous snakes in India and we have been warned to keep an eye out for them. Everyone scattered but the women and the young man who sat there undisturbed as the snake coiled it's self around his waist. It's head slipped up the back of the young mans neck and over his head creating a canopy for the unknown enlightened master. The women told everyone the only reason she did not run was becasuse her young daughter was sitting in front of her....her only way of escaping. Needless to say she became very animated in her discription poking her interpretor in the ribs to hurry to tell us what she was saying.....she was very sweet, and told us sternly to listen to whatever Swamiji had to say, he knows what he is talking about!

The next lady got very emotional and bowed down to Swamiji's photo and sobbed. Her story is about her daughter....nothing tragic. Swamiji has been helping the family for some time with food and spiritual counseling but more recently the daugher asked a photo of Swamiji for some chocolate and chocolate started appearing. The mother thought the daugter was lying or stealing so she even locked the room for two days only to open the door and find two chocolates. Finally the mother went to Swamiji to ask him if he was doing this....she had heard of some of the "miricles" that other had experienced but she thought this was crazy. He told her that he did not know how it happens but he verified that the chocolates were something from him.....and that he just doesn't always know how this happens. The women went on to say that her family has recieved all kinds of small "miricles" like pencils and books. And the reason why is that even though the womens family and community shun her for believing in Swami she still is a devotee and so he looks after her.

It is interesting to see how people react to him. Funnily enought though he cannot convince the on site construction workers of his abilities. He won't allow them to drink or smoke on the Ashram premisis so they all quit. He offered them free courses and talked to them for a long time but they said why should we work if we can't make money to buy liquour and smokes? He compromised and found them land to live on adjoining the property....where they can do what ever they want. I guess if one is not ready for enlightenment no amount of coaxing is going to make a difference!

Tips From The Mat

Did you know a normal exhale & inhale is about 7 seconds? Well it is....its about 4 seconds on the inhale and 3 on the exhale....this comes in really useful if you are told to hold a pose for 7 seconds or pinch your finger for 7 seconds. This is traditional style Ashtanga, stretching, twisting, and breathing consciously, the difference is that they have added intention. So now you have an intention when you begin.....I am healthy. Imagine yourself as healthy, what that would look like and then keep that intention in mind as you move throught the poses. This is suppose to put the thought from the mind right into the muscles, and therby give you good health. It's really simple...so far. MaNisha is giving us the easy version of a pose and day by day she builds on it untils we are stretchy pretzels. I really like it and actually like getting my day started with all that bending and breathing. Along with the yoga we are learning all kinds of Aryuvedic health tips, history and interesting facts. Like napping after lunch will make you more tired and taking a walk will impede digestion. Instead lite yoga....about 15 minutes....will help you not only to digest but keep your weight down. This after lunch yoga is done seated and focuses on breathing, stretching and using pressure points. Apparantly we will begin to look younger.....I'll let you be the judge of that!
Quote for the day: YOU ARE THE EXPRESSION OF YOUR OWN SELF HYPNOSIS
Cheers

Life In An Ashram.....a Non Spiritualists View

Guess what?......all those smiley faces of the Ashramites (our helpers) are genuine....I know, it sounds unbelievable. I thought that maybe it was a trick to keep us here but they are really quite a happy lot....even with out meat or chocolate! They are really wanting us to feel comfortable or at least as comfortable as possible within the rules.
Life here consits of yoga (5:55 am), mediatation, discourse, tea....lots of milky chai tea (my mala beads for a nice cup of ice!). This is repeatd troughout the day with variations. What little time there is between is spent trying to get in a visit to the two most energized and sacred places in the Ashram....next to Swamiji.....the Banyan Tree and the Out Door Pool / Fountain with the giant healing Siva linga. We had been getting up extra early to shower before taking a dip in the pool and stand under the water fall. The Shiva linga is huge, about 6 meteres in total and is filled with healing herbs that are very rare. Buried in the centre is mercury....also another energizing feature. The Banyan Tree is not the biggest in India but it is said to have come from the corpses of two very old masters and it is not unusual to see a figure walking around the Banyan late in the night. One of the reasons they have closed it off to everyone except formally trained puja's who go there to make offerings. Very spooky! Discourse by Nithyananda is followed by lunch, lite yoga, tea and another discourse, then Darshan where he gives blessings to locals and us at the end. Dinner happens around 9ish. We head back to our little apartments to do laundry and rearrange our suitcases. There might be a campfire around 10:30 were Nithyananda tells strories.....and that usually ends around 11:30. Home to bed by midnight and it starts all over again. I have to say he really caters to the childish in everyone. When he told us that he would have to be away for two days to do a special blessing at his home village and some people groaned (like spoiled kids who don't want the parent to go out) he said.....ok I won't go with a big smile on his face and these babies clapped. Then when some others from the group said no you should go he said ok I will see if we can arrange to take everyone! Now one of his main people and our yoga teacher is scrambling to make it happen! However many people have fallen sick with colds (I am in this group), coughs and the usual diareha so we may have to cancel this venture...Ma Nisha (yoga instructor) says she will see how everyone is feeling as the trip is long (about 7 hours) and it would be a turn around event. Go, Celebrate, Come Back!
I will keep you posted if we go.....back to class.....we are learning about existance! It's hard!
Blessings to Everyone and Thanks for your Support!

Did I Make Any Sense

This will be very fast email as I am inbetween sessions. So no nagging about spelling or making sense.
It has been a very busy few day....not really sure what day it is as I was up at 4:30am for yoga.
Just let me tell you this class is not for the faint of heart.
I have to say seeing Nithyananda is kind of like going to a comedy club. The guy is really funny. He has promised us all to be enlightened....if we follow his rules. Enlightened sounds like a big commitment but I will see what that means for me. Already he has shown us how to stay more present in our bodies and thus in the moment. So far it has helped to keep me awake as the weather here is perfect for sleeping.
Well that is it the next session is about to start.
See you later.

Where In The World Is Taira?

So for all of you who don't know....because I have forgotten to tell you, I am now in India living in an Ashram for the next 3 months. Yes I said months! Yes I know it is over Christmas and my birthday. And yes Ray is OK with it.
The flight was about 18 hours total, about 8 and bit to the UK and another 10 to India. Very few glitches to speak of....so I won't.
I, unlike my traveling companions did manage to sleep for both legs of the journey.
The weather is humid and warm but the sky is totally covered in low, grey cloud.
The food......all vegetarian. Lots of variety, medium spicy and wonderful watermelon.
Can't tell you about the program as it really hasn't started yet but we did get a tour of the grounds, which are under construction. They have very ambitious plans for the land here which is considered very healing because of a 400 year old Banyan Tree that's roots apparently cover the property. This Banyan is not the oldest but has some sacred significance that has yet to be explained fully....it will be part of the teachings here during my stay.
One cool thing is the Shiva Linga that sits in this very large and very deep pool (right now empty for cleaning). A Shiva Lina looks like the pawn piece of a chess board. This one is apparently made of a blend of very special herbs and is about 4 meters high. It looks just like a cement statue of the chess piece and is painted black(sorry no picture taking allowed in the Ashram). So this pool and it's Shiva linga (not sure about the spelling) are used for special healing rituals. And although we are told not to drink the local water we will actually be able to drink the water that showers down from the Shiva linga with out any problem. As a matter of fact it is suppose to be quite healing!
I am rooming with 3 other women in a two story walk up building much like something you would see in Kenyan or Calgary for that matter. The sites and smells are not that much different from Kenya. Lots of garbage and crazy drivers. I guess driving lessons are only given on Sundays as that is when the roads are the least crowded.
So far I have only spent $100 rupees for the cab ride. Everything here is cheap but I am not into any extreme shopping....I have a much more dastardly adventure planed!
Stay tuned for more nonsense.
Love to everyone!
Taira

Being Taira.........Visiting Orphanages

Hurahhhhhh! No Rain For 5 days!

Finally I get to wash my runners. Grace was very dismayed at the state of my foot wear. But I saw no point in giving them a real good clean until just before I left, as the rains made it impossible to keep them clean anyway; and besides I have been hiking nearly every day for the past 5 days, so they needed to be dry.

I have been fortunate enough to take some time and visit several other orphanages to see what their operations are like. There are a lot of orphanages here......and a lot of churches! Some of orphanages have early education classes right on site but not all. As soon as the kids are about 6 years old then they begin formal education. Either in a public school or a private one. Moshila, who has been my guide told me that when he was young you had to pass a written exam but even more important you had to be able to take your right arm and reach up over your head and touch your ear......I am not joking! Even if you had passed the written exam but could not perform this gymnastic feat you were not allowed to begin your formal education! Today however the written exam is the standard to begin school. Many of the places we visited had only a handful of little ones as everyone else was away at school in and around Ngong. But it was interesting to see the way each place runs their facility.

Our first stop was at a Day Care that actually takes kids from the slum. What is so unique about this program is the Director, Caroline, is very progressive for a Kenyan. Even though the kids come from the slum the parents are required not only to pay a small fee but also volunteer twice a month! The beauty of the program is that the board is made of the very same parents so if someone doesn't come with their 5 Ksh then it is the other parents who chase after them. The program is only one year old but already the parents have organized to bring in a teacher to start a preschool with the 3 to 5 year olds. This was their choice and they have come up with the funds to pay the teacher. This is such a needed program for the slum parents as most to these little kids would be locked in their houses for hours or left with an older sibling (like a 6 year old) while the parents tended their stalls in the market. Not only are the parents getting their children cared for they are also learning valuable skills about parenting. They have even started a parenting group to help teach the parents about washing and feeding their kids (some kids are fed maybe once a day and bathing is any body's guess but I can tell you some of these kids really smell) and even about discipline - here beatings are the norm. I was so impressed with the program and Caroline that I have introduced her to Sidai and Moshila so they might better be able to help each other.

We visited Brydges on Wednesday which has three separate residences. One for boys, one for girls and one for older girls that have missed out on formal education and are in need of skills to help them. Had I known I would have went to this last centre as they were doing their beauty culture class and I could have had a pedicure and manicure. However I was treated to another test project the girls dorm has been working on.....home made yogurt. It was really, really good! They don't retail any of their items to the general public yet; products are really just available to staff and visitors, with the whole idea of teaching the kids a skill, not creating child labour. They also make jewelry and some crochet work. While the boys are learning the more familiar trades such as wood shop and simple mechanics.

On Thursday we took a long trek out of town to Shelter.....located near the edge of the Rift Valley. The winds there could rival those in southern Alberta. Being very isolated they are one of the places that has a small two room school house. They also cater to the young Masai children in the area. The older kids are bussed out to public schools in Ngong. This day in particular the kids were expecting some donors who were going to be building them a large school house; so they were practicing a few songs to welcome their guests. Moshila and I got to be the test audience. And you can't help but get up and dance to their rhythmic chants. Afterwards they peppered me with questions about where I came from and wanted to know if I could stay over night. Before we headed back to Ngong Moshila suggested we trek a little farther as were just a 30 minutes walk from the edge of the rift valley. Even the volunteers who were working there said I shouldn't pass it up. So we climbed a few rolling hills to finally come to the huge open expanse of the Rift Valley.

It was quite spectacular and there was even a Masai women tending sheep with three young children. As I pulled out my camera to get some shots of the valley the Masai women began to question Moshila on my motives; not just for being on her hill but being in Kenya in general. "Are you here to see the fighting! What do you want.....to see the how poor we are!" It is a good thing that Moshila can speak Masai. Since the fighting a lot of people are wary of visitors. She walked towards us, her big stick stamping the ground, the three children hiding behind her. But Moshila told her "Momma, I brought her here to show her the Rift Valley.....how big it is! That's all." She calmed down immediately and asked if I would like to take a picture of her kids....on the condition that Moshila brings her a copy. When I gestured for her to get in the picture she did what all women do....she touched her clothes and her and her face the familiar gestures that say "I am not really dressed for a photo." I told Moshila to tell her she looked beautiful and that was all the convincing she needed to join the kids for a photo. When they looked at themselves in the screen they all laughed. We left promising to get her a copy of the photos.

I am just now beginning to understand the complexities of the being an orphan in Kenya. It is not poverty that they have to overcome so much as the lack of community to help and share........and more importantly the desire to help themselves!