In the year 2000, I went to my teacher's ashram in India. Imagine hours of meditation in deep silence with the accompaniment of trickles of monsoon rains, sipping hot, rich chai made from buffalo's milk, chanting in the early hours of the morning as fans whirled full blast overhead, delicious mangoes, nighttime fireflies, the smell of gardenias, sipping coconut water with straws, deep, strong prayers for transformation, and the outside village and its cows, women carrying bundles on their heads, colorfully decorated cars, dogs, Indian men nodding their heads, hot springs baths, and holy places.
I had some miraculous experiences there. I had traveled on a several day journey from the States, but had no jet lag. I heard inner music playing when I was in deep meditation. My eyes lost their ability to see during one ecstatic chant. And more.
My intention for the trip was to learn how to offer seva, or selfless service. The funny thing is that I given a cushy, easy seva, but then I was yanked out of that half an hour later and put into a seva to deep clean vacant bungalows filled with dirt, stains, spiders, other bugs, and so on. I scrubbed and scrubbed. I became very happy scrubbing and sometimes even showed up for dinner unknowingly wearing badges of dirt from a day's work. One of my friends was a bit worried about me. But I was into it, happy, and fine. I believe that this seva prepared me for motherhood and some of the other things that I've come to be able offer in the last ten years.
Now ten years later, it is my great fortune to return to this ashram to deepen my sadhana,or spiritual practices. Soon, I'm going for a one week retreat that includes five days of silence. I feel excited and slightly nervous. And my intention this time is to shed light on some of the remaining dark corners of my life...some worries, fears, and old patterns that need to be released.
Thank you for your blessings and support and I will be bringing you all with me.
May we all deepen our capacities to heal and be healed!
Blessings,
Monique
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