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Guruji's Ashram. Kriya Yoga, meditation, so many blessings...
Hi there,
Another group email, i am afraid! Sorry about that, but when one is traveling for such a long time, this is the only way
to keep in touch with all the loved ones! I will be brief, though!
I am back to India, after a month of great fun in Nepal. The Nepalese are one of the nicest people I have come across
in my travels. They remind me of the Colombians, actually. They are so sweet and helpful. Moreover, although Nepal can be
extremely touristy (contrary to Colombia), its people are not so corrupted by greed in the way one sees in the majority of
poor and under-developed countries which get in touch with Western Culture. Obviously, there are the hassles, the touts following
you around, and, if you are not careful, you will be ripped off big time. But, even then, they do it in such a friendly way
that you don't mind that much, really. After all, you realize they do it more as means of survival than in a nasty, greedy
way.
The highlight of my time in Nepal was the 3 days rafting trip my friend Paula and I did in Pokhara. It was perfect in
every sense. We met such great people! The down point was the resurgence of the Maoists, after a breach on their cease-fire
agreement. They threaten to throw the country into chaos. Although they guarantee tourists are safe and not their target,
they have already started extorting money from the inestimable number of foreigners who arrive in Nepal every day to trek
and climb the country's famous heights. All the mountain's treks in Pokhara are dominated by the terrorists. They raid the
campsites and tea houses and charge every tourist (and local people also) a "protection fee" of around 15 dollars.
And they have the cheek to give you a receipt! What a souvenir to take back home! Apparently, if you don't pay them (who would
dare, anyway?), they will beat you up and send you back to Pokhara. Once again, the resemblance to Colombia is striking. One
feels it will not take longer until they start kidnapping tourists as a profitable way of raising their budget.
The road system in Nepal is another sector being affected by the Maoists. Because of the countless checkpoints along all
the major highways, traveling by land in the country is an arduous, almost unbearable task. It is a great test of patience
and endurance! My friend and I gave many interesting places a miss, dreading to face 5-6 hours check point queues. We got
a plane to India in order to avoid another torturous bus ride.
On the whole, though, we had a wonderful time in Nepal. I cannot say the same about our trip in India. My friend hated
every second here. I needed to travel with her to realize how difficult, indeed, it is to travel in this country. Isolated
and protected by the mighty Himalayas and the kind Tibetan people in Spiti Valley, I have forgotten how overwhelming India
can be. It is an insult to the senses, as someone so correctly described it. The overdose of sounds and smells, filthiness
and poverty, is a shock to the system. None can remain indifferent or unaffected by it. It tests you to your limits, in every
single way! It is not uncommon to hear stories of people who arrived here and left straight away. Or tales of foreigners who
had a nervous break-down and burst into tears, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the place. And, of course, there are
the testimony of the ever-growing number of spiritual seekers who invade India since unmemorable times in search of divine
awakening, hoping to bump into one of the country's legendary gurus and sages.
Well, as for me, I think that after 2 long visits to India, I had my own share of everything the place has to offer. And,
what I notice is that passed the initial shock, a kind of metamorphosis happens (of the place and of oneself). You start seeing
another India to open up right in front your eyes. One has to give it time, though. India is not a place to come for a holiday,
a short-fun visit. One has to learn its ways, absorb its unique culture, and search for its hidden treasures.
It is, still, not for everyone, I have to admit! I am a little tired myself. The worse about it all, for me, it is the
defense mechanisms you have to develop to be able to "survive" while traveling here. Because of the hassles you
suffer and the million touts who "attack" foreigners wherever they go, one has to be rude and totally ignore them.
You cannot be "nice" or "polite". They wouldn't leave you alone then. Moreover, after being ripped off
uncountable times, one starts getting suspicious and even resentful of everyone. They try to take advantage of you in so many
different ways that your discriminative judgment gets mixed up and you have no option but trust no one!
Last, but not least, the greed which seems to run in the bloodstream of the avarege Indian really disturbs me. I know
that is due to their devastating poverty but, for a people who strongly believe in Karma - the law of action and reaction
- they are not exactly behaving in the most appropriate way to get themselves out of their misery. This is exhausting for
me. Greed, in my opinion, is one of the most destructive human flaws. It corrodes people's hearts and blind them from the
vision of a more balanced and fulfilling life, based on the respect for others and on the abundance of resources to everyone
on earth.
But, please, don't misunderstand me! When I say "Indians" I mean the ones you are more likely to meet in your
travels around the country. Sorry about the generalization (that's worse when you are talking about more than 1 billion people!).
In total, I have traveled here for almost one year and it is obvious the place is very special for me. I have many beautiful
Indian friends who are incredible people and I love dearly.
Anyway, here I am again, going on and on, when I said I was going to be brief. It is my journalist-self talking! I will
leave you here. To friends and family who keep asking me when I will be back, I am afraid, I still don't know what life has
in wait for me. After my friend Paula left, I have been in a wave of spiritual intensity! After an 8 day-retreat in the ashram
of my beloved master Paramahansa Yogananda, on the Himalayans foothills, I am now at a place North of Calcutta, for another
10 days of Conferences (part of the teachings of the same master). Following this, I will head South to visit Sathya Sai Baba's
ashram. For those who have never heard of him, Sai Baba is one the most renowned and popular spiritual masters alive. Hope
to reach a decision about what I am doing next after such "spiritual push"! I will keep you all informed ok? Please,
send us some news!!
Sweet kisses in the beautiful hearts
Love and Peace, always,
Jackie
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