FROM COCOON TO BUTTERFLY

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." ~Plato

I am getting used to the constant power outages in India. Typically at night when I am reading or in the middle of something and then POOF! Complete black. Very scary! I have plenty of candles handy just in case. It is all part of the adventure and helps me to appreciate our life in Canada. I went downstairs to make sure Elise had a match and found her standing in a daze with dental floss still hanging from her teeth, trying to use her cell phone as a flashlight.

The world famous Pattahbi Jois taught class today. He is 92 on Tuesday. He counted very fast and we flew through the poses. In the middle of our headstands, he got up and went to the bathroom at number 7. When he came back after 3 minutes, he says: "Yaaaate" which is "eight" with an accent. Everyone laughed. I was doing yoga on the stage right next to him as there were no more spots on the floor. Good energy. The class only lasted an hour.

After, was downtown with Eva from Hong Kong. I bought one of Pattahbi Jois' yoga books. We went sari shopping and I ordered 2. (See picture above) The shopkeeper kept complaining that I was so tall! They custom make them for you from any fabric you choose. I look like Indian Barbie:)

Besides the power failures, the pollution, noise and crowds, another adjustment is grasping the disturbing 'caste system' here and depending on your birth family, that level is your 'caste':
1- Brahman (Godly/ physicians/ educated)
2-Warrior
3-Merchants
4-Servants
Asking what your fathers job is or how much you make is quite normal conversation. My house mom is a Brahman and so there are servants- cook, maid, gardener, etc. There are certain maids who also don't even touch toilets. I feel self-reproach about having 'Ningamar' the tiny dark skinned woman come in and 'swab' my floors with a grass hand broom, squatting over in her dingy sari. I sit on my bed and monitor her as instructed (the upper caste stands to watch them work to ensure they don't steal anything). Bored, I paint my under-worked, growing fingernails. It just doesn't ever feel clean here...it makes my house looks like a Lysol commercial! Ningamar also washes my clothes on the 'washing stone' for me, which doesn't smell the same as home. I tried to hand wash them in a bucket in my room, but was scolded not to. When I come and go, Ama is always sitting and watching TV. She eats her meal at the table while the servants sit on the floor at her feet like a dog to eat their food.

Eating is a whole other undertaking. Since they don't have toilet paper here, you wash only with your left hand after squatting at the hole in the ground (there are taps and a bucket to use) and one only eats with the right hand....with no cutlery or napkins!!!! They use naan or roti breads to scoop up the beans/ curry or whatever as sauce drips down the arm. It is quite an unpleasant experience.

"Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." Matthew 15:11

I have done a few dietary cleanses in the past, but while I am here I am thinking of doing a Karmic cleanse! I am supposed to start on the new moon (Sunday) as that is the best time for new beginnings. I am also not to watch TV or read newspapers. (Easy since I don't do that here at all, barely at home.) I'll have to close my eyes when I pass Ama in the dining room. Good thing the audio is in Hindi.

It is 9 daily steps for 9 days. (9 is an Indian numerology favourite).

1- No Complaining. (I must admit I have been doing alot of that here!!!)
2- No Criticism of others.
3- Observe thoughts and actions. They are magnified as the pressure builds when you stop doing the first 2!
4- Arise one hour earlier than usual and practice yoga or martial arts. 4 am is called "Hourti" or 'God's time' as this is when there is a special change in the ionic concentration of the atmosphere. The whole electromagnetic balance of the stratosphere changes before dawn, and we catch these beneficial waves. Bizarre!
5- Eat one major meal. Fruits and vegetables and water only. No meats/ fish or fowl.
6- Meditate between dawn and sunset for 20 minutes or more. Deep relaxation resuscitates the body and inner being.
7- Do something daily that is disliked. This should be interesting as I am in India...we shall see what I come up with! This builds will power.
8- Perform a selfless act. This will be very easy in India. Tiny, barefoot and dirty 3 year olds carrying a diaper-less baby sibling, pull on my arm constantly begging for food. We are discouraged from giving handouts, but rather give to an agency that helps feed the poor. I will inquire to volunteer at one of the orphanages.
9- Review and recall the day in bed at night. Pause and experience the emotions that come. Acknowledge, look within, see the flaws and all else that is there and face the fears. Evaluate to repair and re-imagine in a positive way.

Wow tall order! I can't imagine the fruit and veggie only part...that will be the hardest as chocolate is my favourite thing to get me through the other stuff right now.

Wish me luck:)

Namaste!