It is hard to believe that I left home 5 days ago already. The flight over was so long but better then I thought. I think I was in a bigger, or newer airplane then the first time I came. Didn’t have knees in my back and had a small amount of leg room. Always hard to know if window or aisle is better. I had window seats all the way which I think is better overall except for the getting out to the bathroom. The women next to me was from Punjab and we didn’t speak each other’s language but we seemed to make a team. We’d go to the bathroom at the same time so not bothering the man in the aisle too much. I’d give her my extra packs of sugar for the chai and shared snacks. Was a nice good bye at the end. The plane seated I think 350 people. The employee said this flight goes daily and is always quite full. Many right now are on their way home to celebrate Diwali.
Once off the plane we had a driver coming to pick us up that was arranged by our landlady. My friend knew the tuk tuk driver from her previous trips so they had a nice chat while we weaved our way in and out of traffic. Had to keep reminding myself - just breath.
The ways of the road here are crazy but seem to flow somehow.
I was lucky to find out another Canadian was attending in November, so had a travel companion for the long airport waits (10 hours in Delhi airport💤) and transport from the airport to the apartment. We had both booked separately, but interesting enough we ended up in the same apartment :).
Another lovely roommate arrived in the wee hours and though Yoga have ended up together for the month.
Upon arrival our wonderful landlady host helped get us settled and show us the route to the institute. Has taken me a few times but I think I know my way alone. I went out yesterday and our doorman had to stop me from going the wrong way. Had to laugh at myself as had only reached the bottom of the stairs barely.
You have to have a visa to be here and show documentation to the landlord and institute. So we went to register and was great to see the institute again and many familiar faces. Many have been part of the daily workings there for years and years.
It is a blend of old and becoming new here. Many more new cars now, where I remember more motorbikes last time. Still many tuk tuk drivers. More cyclists, which I can’t imagine doing here myself and surviving. The pollution isn’t great and seems worse at night and dengue is quite bad this year I guess due to garbage issue. They are also terribly low on water due to a water dam breaking and contaminating the drinking water and low monsoon rains. We can only get drinking water a few hours a day. Makes one plan the day and sit and wait as the water slowly trickles out of the filter.
Glad we had a few days to get settled and Brain 🧠 functioning again from the jet lag.
Yesterday was our first day at the institute being November 1st. We were able to attend the open practice on the 31st which felt so great. I did mostly supported poses and ones recommend for jet lag. Felt so great 😀.
Prashant’s classes begin at 7a.m. So up early to have tea, eat a bit and walk there.
He began with the invocation and told us to get collected and connected. Body, breath and mind.
It can sometimes be hard to hear with dogs and traffic and I am not always great at hearing things with an accent. I have come to know that I will learn, it may not be everything
today but the path is long and we never know when we might absorb that bit of wisdom.
Was a wonderful class and when we were taking notes after I know only remember a small part. He talked of the mind and different minds and how we can’t be in that mind state to understand it, we must be a bit above it, to me like an observer.
He gave an analogy with water.
How water is life giving, we need it to live but if we are emerged in it we don’t know the water and get bogged down in it.
He talked a lot of vrittis, the disturbances and the mind and was interesting when said how citta vritti often described to just the mind, but it has to be the body and breath too. They all must be transformed!
I really can’t do justice to his teachings so won’t try and go into more. I need to absorb it first which may take me days, weeks, months, years 🙃.
The days have gone quickly as most things take a bit longer. Walking to get a few groceries takes time to weave in and out. It really is a practice of being present as you couldn’t survive otherwise between the traffic, animals, cobbled streets, etc.
None of that walking with your cell phone here!
Anyway, that has been my first few days. It is actually quite early in the morning as I write this as sleep still eludes me at odd times.
Hope to write more over the month.
Om Shanti,
Pam
