An interesting shift

One single sentence, but if you're listening, like really listening, it can make for big shifts.

One such experience from a few months back:

While not often, over a certain threshold of stress I have a tendency to take mokkus (vows). 

It came up for discussion. Dhruva observed "you are not religious amma, you don't even have a pooja room, you don't really believe, so what's this about the mokku?"

And that's when I was pushed to think it through. I was like "it has nothing to do with god....it's times when I'm stretched beyond my handleable limits, there's external dependency, stress levels are crazy high..........  I could do with some additional energy .... and then I'll ask the universe for that extra energy.......the mokku is my way. Just strengthens my ability to deal with that situation".

Don't know how Dhruva understood that, but I was more at peace with my mokku process after that bit of articulation. Thanks for observing aloud dhruva :)

The easiest for me has been giving up eating meat, all forms of meat for a specific period, maybe an year or two. (easy as in, not to do, but easiest to come to mind). 

At some point Diksha was like "why does your mokku have to be about giving up something you like........why not say you will do something that you want to do, but haven't been able to"

I listened.

And it was game changing for me. There's a certain meditative practice I've been wanting to do since a long time....just didn't get there........and now I have. And I even write about it now, because it's become part of daily life, at a conscious competency level. What a wonderful shift.

Thanks deech. Literally and metaphorically life changing.

And the deeper takeaway: Sure pays to have an open stance.

Why is this interesting?

From Seth

Interesting non-fiction often falls into one of three categories:

a. It's interesting because it's by or about a celebrity. People Magazine and various autobiographies appeal because they offer an intimate glimpse into someone you were already interested in. 

b. It's interesting because an unlikely thing actually happened to a real person. Books about climbing Everest, starting a company or surviving drug dependency or a dysfunctional upbringing work because they happened to someone else, and we want to watch or vicariously experience what happened.

c. It's interesting because it's about us, the reader. These are books or blogs that offer a path forward, that talk about part of the human condition that you're currently experiencing, that offer solace or guidance or insight about what's happening and what's next.

We're all writers now. What makes you interesting?

Communication

I was browse reading this really massive book on Psychology, and there was this one page on 'Communication Patterns', especially so the double bind, that caught my attention.

Click  for easier readability.

The double bind is the bane of many a relationship. We often hear "I've said what I had to say, it's up to you to understand" or "If you don't already get me, you won't".  Evidently not on the same page. Evidence of a gap in communication.

A factor that we paradoxically sometimes miss is that communication or expression, is meant for the other, for the other to understand. Purpose is for the other to hear what you are expressing, and not just for you to express.  

Clear communication in terms of conveying and listening, would be a) the ability to express such that the other understands your thoughts or feelings and b) the ability to listen such that you understand the others thoughts or feelings without getting caught in your own filters. Yes, it is a function of effort, patience and love.

Aspirational and worthwhile.

My bestest dabba

True that inspiration can come from anywhere.

I was sitting with my laptop open on my blog page,  realizing that after the involved writings on the Isha visit, I was kind of bereft of ideas or thoughts for a post. 

Spent a while like that.....and bingo !!

The home space, or atleast the kitchen front, is right now in crisis mode as our cooks gone off on two weeks leave........so we've been pretty much fire fighting on the food front. Yesterday first half I had back-to-back sessions, and after each session I was coming up for a breather and saying "ayyo, hungry, hungry, but no time".

At 1.10 pm, I'm still in session (though I need to be at Cognizant in Financial District by 2 pm, which is an almost one hour drive) and I was in for such a nice surprise when I saw a message from diksha saying "wind up bro, you're going to be late" (the surprise was her being so tuned into my schedule).....and what's more..... I come up to find a dabba packed for me. An omg moment.

It was the bestest toasted bread omellete I've ever had, and she'd even put in some walnuts and a five star.

Who wouldn't be touched, and ain't that the bestest !

The Adiyogi Experience

I believe it is more an experience than a sighting........it's not about seeing it through the eyes, as much as about experiencing it in body, mind and spirit......and that's when it can transform into an immersive and deep experience. He doesn't feel like god..... he feels like what human can be. And that's what adiyogi is.

It epitomizes beauty.... of what human can be and human can do. So inspiring.

As we entered.......and this was Diksha's first experience with the statue (it wasn't yet there when we last went together). You can almost sense the stillness in her body as she's taking it in.

All about perspective........visually it seems to dominate even the mountains in the background

The yoga that was going on, and we chose to give a go by

A couple of closer angles. That chain, the string around his neck is actual rudraksha mala, several rudraksha malas wound together...... and those earrings, they swing in the wind...... both diksha's observations. It's that level of detail that makes the statue into an experience.

It is surrounded by the velliangiri mountain ranges, that create a beautiful and imposing backdrop

Another side

The carts for those who prefer that....diksha ofcourse had to go say a personal hi to the bullock

Walk back to the car

This trip was a no selfie and minimal pictures trip for some reason

As we walked back all we could hear was gentle wind and the tinkling of cow bells.... was such an idyllic scene, enough to pause and just soak in.....and that's when we did atleast those single pictures of each other :)

Headed back. Loved the spray of the car so caught that on pic

Headed back......

For what was thought to be a crazily tight and hectic trip, it was one that was most enriching and fulfilling ......another stay forever one.

At Isha

Even as you reach the area, you begin by almost getting mesmerized by the Adiyogi statue......it's just so stunningly beautiful.

I can just keep gazing at it......it exudes not as much peace.... but joy, exuberance, life ....there's just this very uplifting quality to it that I so love.

We could see some major yoga program going on at the base of the statue, so we decided we'll do the center first, and way back can be rest of love story with adiyogi.

Lovely surprise was that it was not crowded at all, and we'd come really early morning, and experienced it in all the peace and quiet we could want. Diksha decided we'd do the theerthkund first.

Theerthkunds are what are energy pools of water, that are said to be consecrated and prepare you for better receptivity when in the presence of the Dhyanalinga and the Linga Bhairavi.

It's an intense and mysterious experience.  You surrender to the process and it just takes you over.

You walk down these steep stairs, almost like walking into a well.....and then enter that pool of ice cold water.  It's ice cold water upto your shoulder level, semi dark, very quiet, strong vibe ....and you feel that immediate calming effect on the body. It also has a water fall at one end. Just standing beneath it, with the water thudding onto your head feels like a powerful cleansing process.... of body, mind and spirit.  I just love being in the chandrakund.

(a total surprise......when I was searching for pictures to put here, as we don't get to take our phones in; I found that the picture I chose was credited to my own blog, how cool is that :)

Next was the Dhyanalinga. Dhyanalinga is a profound meditative space, conceptually known since yogic yore. It is said that even for those who are unaware of meditation, just being in the chambers and in the presence of the dhyana linga is enough to experience a state of deep meditativeness.

You can actually sit inside those little cubbyholes in the wall and it's an even more isolated experience. Diksha did.

Twenty minutes inside, and it is a profound experience.

Next was the Linga Bhairavi, said to be the most exuberant expression of the divine feminine. It's a beautiful representation, seeming to hold opposing attributes...... of power and compassion, refined yet raw, earthy yet surreal. This is yet another consecrated form, a mystical process through which any form is transformed into a deity.

What's empowering is that, unlike in other temples, we get to sit in peace and quiet to partake of the feel and energy of the space.

Then we strolled around......just soaking in the ambiance of the space.

The main gateway to the ashram

The inside entrance. There's snake sculptures just about everywhere (diksha got to again buy a snake ring)

You see what I mean

A lotus pond. Some of the lotuses there were so so pretty, that I was hard put to believe they were real. The pond has several fishes and snakes. We saw a cute little  snake enjoying a ride on a lotus leaf.

A beautiful and majestic looking Nandi.

The lotus pond again. It has this faceless statue in meditative pose.

Lastly, we hit the cafeteria for lunch. Had some lovely pongal and wada sambar with coffee.

Fully satiated and energized and content and connected, almost zen like.....we left. 

Isha - The Journey There

A lovely trip...a befitting last trip for 'before Diksha leaves'.

Especially so considering how suddenly the trip came about, and how tightly planned it was................ and we did have our fair share of the hiccups and the adventure element. (end of trip, diksha was like, if it wasn't for those last three hours when I thought my nerves would snap....)

Let me go chronologically though.

In fact, I'd say we started with hiccups. Zoom cars gave us some super stressful moments. Advice from folks with zoom car experience was, 'get a car that's set for outstation, so all basic parameters are cleared'.

It was our first experience with Zoom, and we were in for a surprise.  There was no real person to talk to.....not through the whole process..... not the booking, not the picking up of the car, and not even the drop off.

Diksha was to pick up the car, and she got the first surprise. She had the car location on GPS, and while she was expecting an office or large garage, it led her to a residential colony where this single car was parked on a street under a tree. She then had to follow instructions on the app...  use an OTP to unlock the car........  find the car key inside the glove compartment.....feed in a whole lot of dashboard readings and stuff........... and basically drive it out herself. 

Considering we had no one to confirm with, we did some basic checks ourselves, and what we saw was not too good. So pretty much started with a 'pit stop'.....needed to replenish engine oil, coolent and wiper water, and ofcourse fuel...all were at pathetically low levels. The inside was dirty, dirty enough to make me actually go at it with a wet cloth, something I don't remember doing even on my own car :)

All this done, by the time we left Bangalore it was well past noon. Closer to 1 pm.

We hit the highway in a couple hours (Bangalore traffic) and Diksha's like, "something's weird ma, it's just not pulling". While we initially got concerned, we quickly realized it seemed to have a speed lock at 80 kmph. Called customer support for whatever it was worth, only to hear "yes, ma'am, we have a speed governor, it's government regulations". What a bummer ! (atleast until we got the hang of it, and that was a whole other story to me)

That made the 380 kms drive go from a seven hour drive into eight, and by the time we drove into Coimbatore it was close to 9 pm.

The drive itself was simply beautiful.... with the highway running through Hosur, Krishnagiri, Salem, Erode, Coimbatore. It's a really scenic drive, with lovely mountain views....while not totally in the ghats, it's yet in the western ghats terrain.

At one point Diksha even saw a group of twenty peacocks on a hillock. I missed that as I was at the wheel then.

Past Salem we caught some spectacular cloud covered sunset views....... so good that we felt that even if Isha doesn't work out ( cause that morning we got to know that next day was International Yoga Day, and could mean crazy crowds), just those sky views would make the trip worthwhile. They were spell binding. 

Here's some pictures:

In chronological order, first getting the car fixed:

On our way

entering a town through a super curved highway

the whole stretch has a lot of truck traffic

Such a sweet donkey.....you so rarely get to see donkeys these days, that it gets me all excited.

A cutely painted train

Chai stop

Some spectacular hues and silver linings

So beautiful that it felt surreal

Initial hiccups notwithstanding, it was a lovely road drive....... and we were all set for Isha the next day !

Dhruva's trip...... in glimpses

Dhruva's done with his one week in Netherlands, and has joined the Cinemadamare team near Rome.

When in Netherlands, the only time I got a message was, I think, when he was thinking aloud.

"It's rainy weather and I'm wondering if I should go cycling in the countryside near Delft, or do a day trip to Amsterdam...it's also more expensive...and....".

I gave him my perspective, and he disappeared. That's when I realized it was literally a thought process he'd shared :)

Next communication....six days later, only after he'd reached Rome, and was going to take a train to Pomezia (or thats what it sounded like), and had a four hour layover kinds.

I'm now all set for long term disappearance, as I remember what he'd said on his last trip "there's so much happening here every minute amma, that taking the time out to even msg seems an effort" :)

Thank god for Girija !!

Day 1 she sent me this saying 'his bus':

And a couple days later, this. Dhruva with Franco Rina, the brain behind Cinemadamare

An  today this....their whole group

During his wait at Rome, he also sent some pictures of his Netherlands visit.

Well, until I'm graced with some info or pictures.... whenever next :)

Off..... to Isha

An unplanned thought, an unexpected trip..... one that in fact came out of this blog.

So happened that an old post, of an earlier visit to Isha, came up in my analytics page yesterday (someone somewhere read), and something made me also read.

As I read, I got so immersed into the experience, that it started to convert into an invitation to visit kinds...the feeling you know.

Half hour later I find myself messaging Diksha, who's still in Bangalore....

"want to do a two day trip to Isha?"

and I get:

"gosh, that's so random ma" 

"but yeah, sure....when?"

Through the day we're running through possible dates and logistics....thinking bus, flight, cab.....permutations, combinations.

And then I see this msg:

"how about zoom cars? that way this can become the road trip we wanted to do before I left, but couldn't"

I could have hugged her all the way through the phone.

They are really like us !!

This could have been titled 'Gilmore Girls' I guess, or rather my experience with...

For those not familiar, Gilmore Girls is an early 2000's popular and award winning television series, centered around a mother and daughter relationship.  I got introduced to Lorelai and Rory by Sagari, when in Google. She recommended and I tried watching, caught a couple of shows and then let it drop as access wasn't easy (pre netflix, amazon days).

Somewhere in 2010, Sagari gave me one of my best surprises ever......one morning I walk into office to find on my desk all seven seasons, on DVD, along with a note that read:

"now you have no excuses.......and I'm telling you again, you'll relate, they are so like you and diksha"

I watched it....all of it... and I loved it. I saw what Sagari had said about 'relating to it', cause I remember telling Diksha about it, in fact asking her to watch, but she couldn't care less (she was fourteen)

Fast forward ten years

There's a new Netflix production, a one episode sequel, with Loralai and Rory ten years older. (correction from Sagari.....sequel of four episodes, of 90 minutes each :). This one seemed to have caught Diksha's attention. To my utter surprise she started to watch, not just this episode, but the whole series....binge watched all seven seasons. And somewhere in between came up with "sagari was right ma, they are a lot like us" (a statement from ten years back...omg, I was blown)

Was such a wonderful moment....especially so because that mother and daughter share this really beautiful relationship. And to hear it said like this meant much.

Sags, for enabling that moment.....thanks much. And just telling... I still have those DVDs :)