#i think adventuring/traveling in general is (as we say here in Brazil) always either 8 or 80 for Marshall

[hauntingjasper]

Blind as a bat

[pan1418]

India

I have been in India for 5 days now. It feels like it's been weeks! There is so much new information to process that time feels irrelevant. I've been considering how to relate what it is like to be here. The challenge feels as if one was to explain how life operates on a different planet.

The most accurate way to describe it is to say that India is how it IS. If I were to try and compare it to America I would probably say things like: it is over populated, with lots of poverty, pollution, and garbage everywhere. But that would not convey the essence of it's culture, architecture, or ancient spiritual wisdom.

In the area I am staying is what would be small City/town along the banks of the Ganges river. It is imperceptible how old the buildings are as they have been continuously renovated to the best of their ability considering the budget of each homeowner. For instance every day people lead a group of donkeys down to the banks of the river in order to sift out the rocks and extract the finest sand. Then they bring the sand back to their homes and make a form of cement for their construction projects. Construction seems to be in all stages. Some projects are half finished and have not been touched for years. I'm assuming many people have run out of money to continue them. Other projects are being worked on daily by the entire family with very slow progress.

The streets are lined with shops selling everything from food made right at the road to candy, laundry soap, clothes, and jewelry. The price of everything is negotiable. They always ask for more money then something is worth and then engage in haggling for the fairest price for both vendor and consumer. There is always so much to take in along a simple walk down the street that it can feel overwhelming to try to look for something specific. It works better to just let my attention wander and see what it notices.

I spent an entire day walking around the town just to become familiar with the lay of the land. I got a haircut, treated myself to a massage, and bought a new set of clothes. It helped me to get into the spirit of being here and feel as though I am shape shifting into the specific character that I will play during my stay.

My hotel room is small but holds a tremendous view of the Ganga. It is right next door to an enormous Indian temple with statues of Shiva, Posiden, and many more lesser known and highly decorated Indian dieties. The electricity comes and goes with no predictable pattern. Sometimes the hot water is on but the outlets are off. And sometimes vice versa. The shower sprays into entire bathroom. There is no separate enclosure. So when I am done showering I need to take a giant squeegee and pull all the water into the drain. There is no toilet paper. There is a make shift bidet which squirts cold water from the back of the toilet seat into the bum. Honestly it doesn't work with much accuracy so I just use the sink water and my hand to do the trick. There is no heat in the room so my sleeping bag, that was recommended I bring, is a cozy luxury. All in all the room is quite comfortable and the owners of the establishment (which seem to never have any time off) are wonderfully friendly.

In my experiences of living in American cities I was always dismayed by people's lack of connectivity with each other. For example when you walk down the street people will generally not look at each other in the eye. They seem to be isolated in their own world in order to avoid having to give their attention to anyone else. India is just the opposite. Most people seem to have an open and curious awareness of those around them and are not afraid to engage each other even with a quick glimpse in the eye. It is the most wonderful feeling to walk around simply smiling at the people I pass by and see them respond in kind. There is no feeling of threat or violence. Everyone is just doing what they need to do and sharing the space openly. Another amazing experience is to see how people are cleaning their homes or shops. Everyone has a very basic naturally made broom. The shop owner will sweep the floor of his establishment and then sweep it out onto the street, trash and all. Then someone else will come sweep up the street and make piles. Then someone else will come with a wheel barrow and move the piles of rubbish to a burn pile where the trash is burned. I'm not offering the opinion whether this is good or bad but simply how everyone works together to keep everything clean and organized. It's not even clear if the people who are cooperating in this process even know one another. But rather everyone seems to treat everyone else as if they do know each other. It doesn't feel like 'I know this person but I do not know that one.' There is the feeling of implicit trust with everyone, including small children, to go about their daily lives in the town without concern or fear of danger. I have not witnessed any argument or conflict at all.

The traffic is another amazing sight to behold. You would not believe how often vehicles or motor bikes pass within 12" of each other (or less). Yet there are no accidents. I would say these are the most attentive drivers I have ever encountered. There are so many near collisions that it is as if they do not even consider that they would crash into one another. The local transportation for those without vehicles are called rickshaws or tuk tuk's. These are a sort of motor bike converted into a 3 wheel carriage intended to transport up to 8 people maximum at a time. The price of the ride is always different. If you pay to get a ride just for you you will have to pay more. But the more people you pack in that lil carriage the price drops to just about nothing. An average ride across town costs about 75 cents. They have rails on the side similar to bumper cars. And because the small two stroke bike engine was originally designed for one or two riders, when there are 8 people in the rickshaw it can barely make it up a hill. Because there is only one road in and out of the town it can be completely congested by the various rickshaws, scooters, cars,trucks,and cows. Yes cows are a part of the traffic. They live everywhere throughout the town and travel the roads between the towns as well. They are the supreme example of staying calm under crowded circumstances.

The monkeys are freely living throughout the towns as well. They jump rooftop to balcony traversing the city in style. They are mischievous critters and are always awaiting an opportunity to swipe any food that an unsuspecting tourist may be unaware is available. The overall flow of Harmony amidst all the different factions and factors at play is incredible. It makes me think of how all the different forms of life within the body operate. Whether it be a cell, molecule, protein, or bacteria, they all move within the confines of the body perfectly. All sharing the same space to allow for each of their different functions to take place. I can see that being raised an American, I have been habitually programmed to operate with the idea of greater separation and more personal space. This has led to my belief that those who are sharing my personal space can influence and effect my experience in either a positive or a negative way. I'm not sure that this belief if helpful or accurate. If I am able to see that I am the one choosing to behave in the manor that I wish then all other people around me are supporting that expression at all times. Whereas from the perspective of separation I would think to myself 'I wonder what they would think of me if I choose to do this or that' or 'Would these people around me be ok with what I wish to do?' 'How will this effect them?' It seems to me that this attitude can be counter productive in supporting my authentic desire for expression. It is possible that if I view myself as a very unique cell in the body, serving a very special purpose, then I can move through my environment with the intention of serving that purpose at all times. No matter what other forms of life may be around me at any given time. This larger community body is designed to naturally create an evironment that is allowing and encouraging me to do as I please. All the other drivers will work around me in their own way. It's not up to me to worry about their journey. They will get where they going also.

And finally the most profound experience that I can speak of at this point is being in an evironment with different people from all over the world. I've met people from Brazil, Portugal, France, Czech Republic, Russia, Finland, and more. Everyone is able to speak enough broken English to communicate in a basic way. I can feel how everyone's intention of coming to India is similar. Whether it be for Yoga, Satsang, or just on an adventure, the common thread is that they are here for self exploration, self discovery, and inner peace. The one Heart that sings through all voices is easily preceived when each is in touch with their own Soul. It is a visceral and palatable experience. You can feel the unified truth in the presence of this connection. It goes beyond family and friends. Loved ones or aquaintences. It is Oneness pure and simple. Regardless of country or upbringing, Religion or beliefs, the very truth that I have found about the Harmony and Unity of all creation is the same truth that is found in others. And at the deepest level it is found in All That Is. That is what we find when we look closely enough. That is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Everything is just as it IS. There are no good and bad circumstances,things, or people. As soon as a standard is established from one individual perspective then something else always falls short and is criticized. The one uniting spiritual force behind all things inspires unique and individualized expression that weaves itself back into wholeness and cooperation. To say that every actor in the play must play his part and the show will go on. This is the nature of reality. This is how all life IS. This is how India IS.