Menoreturnagain; Menosukhi Memories

Menosukhi is about being a little sentimental. Not a lot. Just a little. In being again a little 'under the cosh' time-ways, I bring you one my archival reposts. Also, a reminder that next week is...

This post relates to my time at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya and the study sabbatical we had in the hill-station ashram. One of those golden periods in life that will be treasured to the end of time...

The minute we arrived at Vibhooti ashram, everyone went into the food hall for late lunch.  Except for YAM of course.  She had bread in her bag, remember, and had just bought yummy, sweet little bananas.  The flask still had hot tea from the morning and the air around the bus was cool, clean and inviting a picnic.  I found a low wall to sit and take in the incredible view. 

The Suitor

Then realised I wasn't alone.  More silent than the stars, a little red collie mix had come and sat prettily beside me.  Polite as you please!  So we had a picnic together.  Quiet company in an idyllic setting.

Chinmaya Vibhooti is a very open, paddock-like property with low-line, environmentally sensitive buildings.  There are wire fences around the boundary, but nothing at all to prevent comings and goings of anyone or anything.  Called Foxy by some of the ashram residents, she was clearly intelligent, soft-natured and an excellent survivor.  She was known to have territory extending all the way to Kolwan village, some 2 km away.  Her most constant canine friend was this gnarly-jawed male.  Judging by the pattern of old wounds, he was a brawler - probably in defence of his doxy, Foxy!

No doubt about her, she was a total flirt.  I would be inclined to say she had everyone eating out of her paw - but rather, with her pretty paws, she had everyone feeding from theirs!!  Naturally, I could not resist holding onto a couple of extra chapattis after each lunch and would find her waiting to check out my pockets.  She knew her manners and enjoyed the company of humans too, following many of the lads who decided to climb the mandir hill but was equally happy just to sit beside this nutty old thing and listen to Vedantic discussion. 

  

Many of the students, and even our Sanskrit tutor, talked about bringing Foxy back to Sandeepany. I had to wade in on that and make it clear that this was their human hearts talking and that common sense and dog-wisdom meant this would be both foolish and cruel.

Never mind that Foxy clearly had her own little world sorted out, in Sandeepany she would have to drop to the bottom of the pack and could well be ripped apart by the B-pack.  They would never brook this incomer of such beauty and favour.  Even if she was able to carve a place for herself, then there would come the time that this batch would have to leave… what then?  Surely Foxy would be able to win over more hearts, but life in the city would in no way be as kind to her as it was in the country.

So it was that our time came to leave Vibhooti and every resident - including Foxy! - turned out to wave us off.  It had been a very special three weeks and without a doubt, this is one of the most blessed places I have ever had the privilege to stay.

It will live forever in my menosouped memory!!