Yes
m'dears, in theory there are but seven weeks left of the course here at
Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, but more likely nine with an option on ten…
[The
auction is closing soon, so submit all offers within the next half hour!]
But
seriously, as has been mentioned in recent posts, we are in the deep end of
study now as well has having various workshops and trainings on running the
missionary side of things.
Then
there's the having to prepare ourselves for the leaving.
At my
end, some packing has already ensued and have booked my tickets back to OZ; I
depart Mumbai on October 11th!!! There
are plans afoot, about which you will have to be patient in regards to the
revealing.
Conversations
strike up now, not about the state of play on the "battlefield of
life" in the Bhagavad Gita or the processing of thought that there is no
such thing as thought; but rather
"what did you pack today?" and "amma, may I use your internet to
check on train tickets?", et cetera and so forth. I confess I have gone a wee bit 'high school'
and prepared a book into which I hope everyone will enter their contact details
and one or two quotes or favourite moments from our two years on the ashram.
It's not
that one expects to hold contact with over 60 folk. But who knows which threads are strong and
which will snap? They must all be made
into this cloth and checked out.
But also
released. No one has spoken it directly
yet, but the closer we get to that deadline, the moister will become the
eyes. As vedantins we are unattached by
the usual bonds; but one cannot share this kind of experience and not have ties.
Not wishing at all to compare in terms of the type of experience, but
for the different sort of bonding, I have a sense it matches that of soldiers
who faced blood, sweat and tears together.
It's what
aussies call as mateship. You may not
even particularly like a person, but the having to pull together on the same
endeavour ensures you overcome any personal level of kinship and raise yourself
to connections much higher.
Living
the ashram life is to live like a ship in a bottle. There is no escaping beyond that glass. All within it has to handled within it. There's nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. One is forced to turn inward for solace and
safety. Which of course is the ultimate
purpose. The only trust that holds true
is between Bhagwan and you. The Higher
Self, in whatever shape and name you care to use, brings you into its embrace
and strengthens, purifies and ultimately sanctifies you.
Now must
begin the detachment from the safety of enclosure. It is not that we have been completely
isolated. There have been the trips to
the hills and day outings and such.
Going out
into the world on one's own again, though; that is a whole different set of
sandals.
I'll keep
you - err, pardon the expression - posted.
WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!! Da Puddles is BAAAACK! Gosh how I has missed your funny comments and deep thought proking posts...even though I try not to think too much, it gives me a headache....hehehe.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I can't believes you will be taking anudder path in Oct...thank dog fur da internets though. I can imagine how shockin' it will be to get back into some sort of society but what an incredible experience you has had!
And da whole bondin' thing I can relate and mum too. No matter what you go through with a person you will always has some sort of bond.
Puddles
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteOOOHHHH PUDDLES - can you feel the hugs through the ether??? You has been sorely missed m'girl. The etherwobblies has kept me "grounded" and through it yet another, entirely different bonding takes place.
You make sure mum doesn't go and overdo that 'getting back on the horse' - there will still be some healing to do on that HELLObone! And don't worry your pretty little head, darling doggy, you mum and I are probs doing nuff thinking for all the canines on the planet &*> Lots of wags, YAM-aunty xxx