April 3, 2005Dear Friends,
It seems like a long
time since Easter, but that is the way travel is in India; one day
can seem like many days or even longer! We have traveled from
Benares (Varanasi) to Haridwar. The Ganges has called us to this
most holy of cities in India.
Before we left we had
a wonderful stay next to the Ganges in Benares. We took a boat trip
to Ramnagar Fort; it may sound strange to take a pilgrimage there
but that will be made clear. Lahiri Mahasaya, even after retirement
needed some extra income and was hired by the Maharaja of Banaras to
be the tutor to his children. The great Master traveled by boat from
the ghat near his house to see the children at the palace across the
Ganges. When the water was running high Lahiri Baba would spend
longer periods of time at the palace. This was the reason in our
interest in taking a boat to the palace.
We landed on the
other side of the river after taking a motorboat across. The day was
brilliant sunshine and we walked up the same stone steps the Master
must have walked. Somehow we both felt a thrill at tracing Lahiri
Mahasaya’s steps. The fort, now a museum must have been quite
something to see in its heyday; beautiful details on the buildings
and silver houdas (elephant saddles) gave hints at a previous
splendor. It came to my mind that not only did Babaji create a
palace for Lahiri Baba, but he lived in one too. And I am sure in
close quarters with all the difficulties that come with court, it
lost any luster it may have ever had on him! On our return trip the
wind was blowing hard and white caps challenged our return. It was
hot and the spray over the bow was refreshing not to mention the
wind blowing with it.
Each evening we also
witnessed the arati down by the Ganges (as described before.) It was
a moving ceremony each time. We also found an excellent pizza and
warm apple pie (with vanilla ice cream) just feet away from where
the arati occurred! What a nice switch from the spicy food we had a
Paramhansa Ashram!
Carla has been having
stomach difficulties, and I have had some small discomfort as well.
But overall our health has been ok, but it takes a lot of energy out
of the system when the stomach is not operating well.
We took the overnight
train to Haridwar; Ram came in the form of a family of four that
took a seat built for one person straight across from us. Then the
husband/father had several friends over visiting besides! Carla said
this was a type of horror story! Then it turned out the seat was not
even reserved by this family, they just didn’t like where they had
been given seats. So I asked them to shift back, but they left their
luggage there and the man slept during his naps, which were for
hours, and at night. Then he told another man that he could have
“his” seat for some time! Then at three in the morning the conductor
switched on the lights and started asking us whose luggage and
blankets were there on the seat. Well you get the idea what kind of
time we had of it. Not only that, but when the man was over in his
seat, he would stare at me through the curtains for the whole time.
Ram comes in strange forms at times, sometimes to bless us, and
sometimes to test us. It was not a pleasant trip but we survived.
Arriving in Haridwar
we found a hotel (the fourth one we looked at) that is lovely; our
room sits right on the Ganges with its own bathing ghat. We came for
the Ganges. This time, more than any other, the river has had a
tangible spiritual aura to it. Sitting next to the river I feel that
the spiritual current is flowing right through me in a very real
way. A woman neighbor said, “We consider the Ganges holy.” I too
feel that way and it has proved to be a healing balm to Carla as
well.
Today we went to the
Mansi Devi Temple (name for Shiva’s wife in the Shakti Devi
form¾means inaccessible). A cable car took us hundreds of
feet up and 1.5 kilometers distance. We looked upon one statue there
that was surpassingly beautiful and we both stood spellbound in the
noise and push of an Indian Temple. We stood for some time, then
stood for a while longer; caught in the blessings of this seemingly
inert stone. Who can explain the effect that a temple and an image
like this can have? Can you say it is all mythical (as in unreal)
when it has such spiritual power to it? For myself, I only know what
I experienced while standing there, the feeling of spiritual power
and purity powering from this site.
We then moved over
the Ganges about 4 kilometers S.E. from Haridwar and took another
cable car up the mountain to Chandi Devi. This is an ancient site,
highly revered in Hinduism. Looking out from those heights we felt a
wonderful peace as the breeze glided by us and a pair of eagles
soared at our height. Monkeys were all around the Hanuman temple and
we felt the blessings of this holy site as well.
Finally to top the
day off (today, Sunday) we went to the sunset arati here in Haridwar
that is famous all over India. Twenty-one large arati lights are
waved (the priests have to hold these large lamps with both arms and
an assistant pours water on their hands to cool them off.) We stood
in the midst of these lamps as they were waved. We set some leaf
boats, filled with marigolds and camphor and a wick, to float down
the Ganges taking our prayers with them.
It has also been a
week of testing detachment. I found out for sure that a memory card
in the digital camera malfunctioned and 450 pictures were lost.
Also, over three weeks of Journal entries from Nainital and Benares
were also lost. When all is God’s, and it is He that is in control
over every leaf that falls, every hair on the head, then it must be
accepted as well that when He wills it, the very things He has
created, He will destroy as well. It reminds us that there is
nothing in this world we can depend upon. Only His Divine Presence
will remain forever, all else will pass away (and some things sooner
than others!).
I am reminded that
this week marks one year total I have spent in India in this
lifetime (adding up the time from the three trips). It is
interesting that this one year anniversary should occur here in
Haridwar where seven years ago I sent my leaf boat filled with
flowers with the prayer, “Oh Babaji, in the form of the Ganges, show
me spiritual India!” It was just after this prayer that I returned
to the Tourist Bungalow and Neelu offered to show me Lahiri
Mahasaya’s Samadhi Shrine at Keshashram. Yesterday I visited that
ashram.
As I knelt at the
samadhi shrine, V.S. Kumar helped me to do a Hindu worship of the
Samadhi Shrine, repeating sacred Sanskrit words, pouring water over
the Shiva Lingum, then on the to worship at the Peepul Tree, the
Banyan Tree and then the Rudraksha Tree (that Babaji planed in
1885). I then met the current ashram swami, Om Swamiji. Both Mr.
Kumar and the Swami were very sweet and made me feel at home. The
Swami’s first words were, “Have you had tea, have you eaten?” So
kind, so loving. I told him how three years ago we were there on
Holi, and the boys there served us a wonderful dinner on leaf
plates, tea in clay cups. Indeed, this was a fitting way to
celebrate one year of being in India, blessed by the Masters of
past, and sweet devotees of the present.
I pass these sweet
blessings on to all of you my dear friends. We are into the last few
weeks of being here in India. We will continue on to Rishikesh, then
up in the mountains on our way to Dwarahat and Kausani to see Rob
Ivie, or Yogi Rob as he is known now.
With all love in God and Gurus,
David
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