Day to day at the ashram

We have a daily routine, but everyday is truly a new day, a new experience and mostly un-planned. There is a schedule posted in the house where most the students stay. But I think it is there to remind us that a schedule means nothing. One thing that remains consistent is tea and puja. Evering morning at 6:15 and every evening at 5:15, but those times also change. Puja is prayer or offering to god. We chant a few chants in the beginning and closing, "pour" smoke on our faces with a hand gesture, mark our third eye center or forehead with holy ash and offer a sweet first to the gods and than to us, meaning we eat it. After puja we will usually have asana class, led by Andrew, an American guy who has been here at the ashram for two years now) or we will go to "the land". "The land" is the original location of the ashram and a new building is being built. The property has fruit trees and many terraced gardens with vegetables. The terraces are amazing! Most of the veggies we eat are from the land. We go there for meditation or for swimming or both. There is lovely waterfall in which we stand under and a large pool to soak in. The mountains here are very steep and this stream flows over smooth weathered bedrock, along a narrow drainage. We lay on the rock to soak in the heat after being in the water. Swamiji will often lead individuals in water meditation depending on their level of experience. The student sits in the cold water meditating, overcoming the sensation of cold. I don't expect he will do this with me since my experience with meditation starts here. But we shall see.

Actually, I wonder what he is intending to do with me. We haven't had much interaction comparatively speaking. At first I found this unsettling, as I mentioned before, but I have realized with the help of Katherine (an Aussie girl who I instantly befriended) that taking initiative and asking questions is somewhat expected of students. So I asked him a few questions related to my first session with him, just for the sake of getting some conversation going with him. Yet, its been three days since and our interactions are minimal. But I know that whatever he is doing is intentional and a lesson for me somehow.

Other daily activities include a lecture from the Swamiji on whatever subject he feels is necessary for the students present. This week he has been lecturing on Yoga Psychology, which you muct know is nothing like western psychology. It is the study of the mind, without the logic and analysis that western psychology practices. Also since I am taking the training course, I receive teachings from the other teacher and resident family member of the ashram. She is so lovely. She is working on her Phd in Tantra Yoga and studying with the Swamiji. I also have to read three books while I am here and have to write a "report" on them. We'll see how I do since I am a slow reader and we don't have much time in the day.

We also take sight seeing tours, and are constantly singing, laughing, joking and playing with each other. It is truly a good place to be with so much love flowing in and around. I could go on an on.....