india - rishikesh (part #1)

when in India, there was a raw *in your face* lifestyle

not seen here in the west 

there was so much of a realness, in terms of debilitated souls 

beggars and those that had been cast aside living on the streets,

holding the hand out for just a bit of food...

some of the people were not at all grateful when given money

clothes or food...

they wanted more and more and more...

a few were very grateful and smiled with whatever was given,

even some with no arms or legs...

the majority of the sadhus there were pretenders, and did not wear the cloth 

for the right reasons 

they begged about and held out the hand as a gesture of  give me, give me

this was not taken in well at all by Guruji -

she told them very strongly that to beg like this was not the way of a sannyasi

and that one should be sitting doing sadhana 

then what is given is out of respect

that the sannyasi is engrossed in the search and a way to honor efforts made there..

the next day, the very same sadhus were found scamming the tourists yet again

when they saw Guruji coming, many would run 

when we stayed in rishikesh and went out in the day 

the babas (sadhus) there would recognize Guruji and call us over

so our little tribe would wander over near the Ghats, and sit around the dhuni fire

while many of the Babas smoked and the flies pestered the body constantly --

the face was sweating with the heat and the fire...

some of the babas would chant *om namah shivaya* ...  but most 

were talking and gossiping about, not at all focused within..

there were a few sincere sadhus that were noticed, and Guruji would praise these ones

for staying in the heart and honoring the tradition of a wandering seeker that 

has taken vows...

the cows in india roamed about all over the place...

their bodies were mere skin stretched over bones ...

this was sad to see....

there were rituals down by the Ganges every night in which homage was paid to Lord Shiva

there was a constant flow of activity about all night and day...

thank goodness for Guru being the guide there as so much of her time was spent

clearing the way for us by calling out the dishonest ways of the ones that came in our path..

we wore sannyasi robes the entire time we were there ...

this was not always honored though... 

a female western sannyasi did not for the most part go over well in india...

sometimes a humble one would come by and touch the feet as recognition for what it was 

to be within vows  --  

other times, there would be slander and a very mischievous, unwelcome attitude about 

entirely different feeling ...

all in all an interesting experience...  

thanks to Guru we were able to see india in the *raw*,  not the fantasy version of it..

not always fun or easy ... 

but definitely an experience that no tourist gets.. 

one can be sure of this....  

this is all that is flowing now on this subject..

possibly more to come later about the time there ...

shanti om

for more on rishikesh...see rishikesh (india part #4)