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India
India Adventure 2010
15 October - 20 November
with Swami Muktidharma, Swami Karma Karuna, and Yogamani
This year Yogamani is assisting Swami Muktidharma & Swami Karma Karuna
For course details click here.
For more information please contact Yogamani.
Experiences from 2008 participants
“A life time journey for me into the unknown country of India was both daunting and exciting! The attention to detail and extensive planning that went into this adventure was something that one could not have comprehended. There is so much to plan when visiting a country of such diversity and culture from the medical supplies through to the connecting flights, trains and other modes of transport. Adapting to ‘India time’ was mission critical and one that Yogamani managed with ease and grace - she was unflappable! Rikhia and the whole ashram experience was magical and one that I continue to find hard to express in words! My memories are still very raw, alive and I continue to reflect, learn and be so thankful for such an experience – Namaste Yogamani!”
Premadevi
“It was truly a "Malcolm in the Middle" moment in the run down, creaky yellow taxi. Speeding through the night, winding through the streets of Calcutta; a place that doesn't resemble any place like I have been on this planet. I grabbed the knees of the two women sitting either side of me who had scarf’s wrapped around their faces and felt my own excited electricity flow through my palms and into their legs, "we’re in India guys!!" I couldn't help but beam with every cell of my body as I tried to fathom how such a place exists, let alone actually works. Hundreds of people on the streets. No road rules. Scooters. Cars. Horns. Busses. Animals. Women. Children. People eating. Sleeping. Walking and working. All in the streets, which are dark with an amber glow and smell like stale petrol and mixed spice. There's no greenery. Everything looks run down. The atmosphere is intoxicating and though there is great poverty here, I don't see evidence of depression.
The next day we set out for the train station. In the soberness of the light, it is easier to get a grip on the geography of the city. Calcutta is relentlessly non-western. There is nothing to resemble home. I feel slightly anxious as we approach the train station but confident in my ability to remain in the group. After the coolies help us onto the carriage and find our seats, we begin our journey to Rikhiapeeth, Satyananda Ashram.
The train ride allows us the chance to see the outer areas of Calcutta and more rural areas of North East India. Streams are contaminated. Flora is decorated with a heavy coating of dust. Through the window of the train we see layer upon layer of texture, rubbish and run down buildings, peeling paint and posters. I watch for a long time, from a distant place. However, I become more connected as we settle into the voyage. There is an electric energy on the train, locals practice their English on us and share their food with us too. Our group makes conversation, and our guiding light and reason why we are all together on this journey, Yogamani, chats to a man who is getting married. He tells us stories about his life and his arranged marriage. We are traveling with the blessing of Swamiji, and as we begin to get closer to our destination, it becomes more and more obvious that this journey is a profound mark in the history of our lives.
At dusk after a long and bumpy trekker transfer from the station we finally arrive at Rikhia. I try to soak up as much of the energy as possible and commit it to my memory banks. The dusty, littered road through the Ashram is bathed in orange light. The rural community that surrounds is buzzing with frantic energy, for the past week a pooja has been in action celebrating the Sat Chandi Mahryajna - Sita Kalyanam. This auspicious event involves the worship of Sri Devi, the Divine Mother and we have arrived for the last day.
After completing all the paperwork we finally get the chance to enter the gates and set eyes on the place where we will spend so much time over the next 2 weeks. We are ushered in for dinner, seated on mats in the outside dining area, under the protection of large green netting canopy. Food is dished out to us on banana leaf plates, handmade by the locals. We eat with our hands. The food is delicious, nourishing, warm and perfect for all our tired traveling bodies require. Rice and Vegetable Dahl, a meal I become very familiar with over the next two weeks.
I look around at everything noting detail and texture, a flurry of questions pop into my head about what people are doing and where that stone path leads. I am satisfied though; that this information will come in time. For now we are exhausted after over 52 hours non-stop traveling and the most exciting thing on the agenda is bedtime.
We are taken to our accommodation that is about 15 minutes walk from the ashram itself. It is pitch black outside now and though we cant see much in the distance we are still able to see a few houses that are on the edge of the dirt road. In the morning we will have the opportunity to examine more of the local surroundings.
Our first day at the ashram is our "rest day", one where we get to explore and become more comfortable in our new environment. We wake up at 6am and hit the road animated about what the daylight will reveal. The metal roads are very dusty. The terrain stretches a few kilometers in all directions. It is flat, dry and under nourished. Stray dogs roam the road looking for company and food. Other guests at the ashram are making their way to the last day of Chandi Maha Yagya - Sita Kalyanam. I don’t feel fresh, but I feel rested, the 15-minute walk is a blessing, as we get a chance to warm into the day.
The next two weeks at the ashram are blissful. I have many moments where I experience a deep sense of gratitude for the gifts we have in life. I struggle with my own demons about sickness. We work as part of a community that provides so much in the way of education, employment and guidance for the people that need it. I am humbled by the presence of great leaders who provide for the needy with no expectation. So many people here delight in the pure pleasure they get from helping someone else. My own awareness is heightened. I am inspired to maintain an attitude of grace, generosity and awareness. I felt that I maintained a good balance of work, rest and participation in the programme. Each day brought a sensorial feast of new faces, new chants, and new challenges.
The main reason why so many westerners are drawn to this particular ashram is to gain a deeper understanding of Karma Yoga. A common misconception is that Yoga exists mostly in classes where people hold postures for physical benefit. The truth is, Yoga has 4 main levels, I wouldn’t even try to explain them all to you, for that you would have to study for years. However, I know one aspect is Karma Yoga, which is the act of selfless service. My own experience of this is very small but from what I learnt at the ashram it means to give wholeheartedly, and without expectation, your services to someone else with complete awareness and attention to the task at hand.
In the two weeks that we spent at Rikhiapeeth I did a fair share of Karma Yoga. Our duty was mainly hand washing which in Hindi (and I can only spell this phonetically) was Hart Dona. The mind reels with the connotations, safe to say we were all very proud that we were given this duty. The act of washing peoples hands and providing people with water was a very humbling and significant task. In a sense we were providing people with the essence of life. One day we washed the hands of the elders after they had eaten. Some would hold out their hands, wrinkled and weathered, their bent and distorted bodies told the story of many years of hard work and poverty. Their bare feet as they stepped up to the tiled hand-washing bath were worn but precise, still using all awareness to do what they have done for decades.
Whenever possible I would watch. Interact. A smile would always be greeted There are many experiences I could write about. The journey will continue to have profound influence on my life. I find it very difficult to describe what its like to spend time in India. So many different emotions are evoked; some layers of my western conditioning were stripped back which I am thankful for. It ultimately was just one of those experiences where you “just had to be there”. It was relentlessly challenging, non-western, poverty-stricken, beautiful, inspiring and sacred. Thank you Yogamani for instigating such a journey. I will hold it in my heart forever”
Malcolm Clarke
Come to India!
Come to India on a yogic adventure. Yogamani is leading a group of keen Kiwis and bookings are already being placed for late 2010.
To find out more contact Yogamani.
Images from India
Check out photo albums from last year's India trip and earlier adventures too!
© 2010 Manipura Yoga Centre