Astronauts of Antiquity » Astronauts of Antiquity

Jun

Trip to India (Part 4 of 4)

Posted By: bradd in

India
Trips

Last installment here we go…

We left Vrndavana about 9:30 a.m. after I had the honor of giving morning class to 200+ devotee/pilgrims. It was a rare opportunity which was afforded me by the temple president, whom I have known for years through our mutual interests of music and spiritual life. We then commenced our drive to the Delhi airport, which was a traffic jam clusterfc_k>>!%&$!. I was seriously being tested to keep my cool as it appeared certain that we would miss our plane to Hyderabad. By the grace of God via one sympathetic ticket agent, we were able to get on another flight at the very last second, having missed our original one. It was as down to the wire as it could be – and that was the last flight of the day to our destination. I felt the mercy was flowing in our direction.

Upon arriving in Hyderabad, we took a 70 minute cab to the Secunderbad train station, then caught 9 hour overnight train to our destination of Kinwat in western Maharastra. Quite an adventure, worth it’s weight in Indian curry cultural experience. Kinwat is a small village town, where our friend Shree had arranged to host us for some time. He and his partner Akhil Khan, were developing a simple yet sublime yoga studio and healing retreat. Akhil Khan was already a legend in these parts. He is a friendly yet intense Muslim man and a great yoga master who has healed thousands of people throughout the surrounding areas. When he was 13 he had fallen off a bullock cart, which then road over and broke his back, rendering him significantly paralyzed. His distraught parents took him to every major hospital for treatment, but there was little success. Finally they found him a yoga teacher which young Akhil responded well to. After 6 years of determined and diligent practice, he was completey healthy & functional. Thus, he dedicated his life to this tradition with the intention of healing all who came to him. It was however a disturbing break from Muslim tradition, becoming vegetarian and practicing yoga, which were seen as predominantly Hindu practices. This caused quite an upheaval in the community, but the remarkable results he achieved spoke with the affirmative power of love and understanding, overriding all sectarian considerations. My man.

We took a free yoga class everyday at 5:30 a.m., attended by 30+ local men. So nice to see Hindus & Muslim men with families taking to the path of yoga.(Akhil’s wife would teach a free yoga class for the ladies daily at their home as well). After class, I’d go on top of the roof and do my daily japa meditation (chanting of mantras), basking in the morning sun. It was a serene picturesque sight – the villagers doing farm work, wandering cows & goats, bullock carts, ladies carrying colorful bundles on their heads, pigs looking for their morning meal and smoke rising from cooking fires. I could do this forever.

I enjoyed visiting the farmers as they taught me about he land and it’s merciful bounty. Self-sufficiency seemed the staple of the day and the natural order of life as it’s meant to be lived. We also ventured out to the jungle on motorbikes many days do more yoga asanas and meditation. There were wild tigers, cobras, and forest dwellers in the area, but we just stayed focused on our practice. Our host Shree was fond of this routine He had just returned from living 2 weeks in a more remote jungle 400 km away. He went there to contemplate the yoga sutras of Pantanjali and conquer the fear of death. Nice move. While there he befriended a sadhu who has been living in that jungle for 20 years. Fortunately for us he brought him back to sanctify the yoga studio. This man, Terra Maharaj, was the real deal (see pic). The depth in his eyes was unlike anything I had ever seen – emanating profound realization and higher connection. Upon catching his gaze, one could feel with certainty that there was a much more fulfilling reality to found in the inner life. This man had nothing, yet he was wealthy beyond our worldly conception.

I needed to get back to Delhi, but Vishnu decided to stay on to get more training. I was going to miss this time, living so simply, and the natural graciousness of the people – such a contrast to my life in the west. However, I was feeling that this culture had entered me on a sub-stratum level – it was becoming part of me. I also felt that I must return every year to deepen my connection to this holy land. It’s food for my soul. I am not willing to sacrifice that any longer.