AROSA 2010

All I can say is it was beyond words. The best of the best of a road trip / vacation / Scenery / Spiritual journey / Celebration & Fun! Nothing can beat this trip. The Germans are so sharp it's amazing how well it was organized by 90 volunteers catering a 5 star level to 500 people in Arosa and 2000 people in Bad Antogast for the Birthday celebrations. The 90 volunteers did not sleep and worked tirelessly keeping a smile... a genuine one actually!

I mean we did everything, we had great Yoga by the best teachers, The deepest Knowledge by the best Guruji, amazing trips and walk on 2600m high mountains and singing everyday!

So the Knowledge was on the 6th Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, a beautiful ancient text that's honored by east and west cultures. It was about the "Yogi". Who is a Yogi?

The best points that I can remember right now are: Not exact verbatim.

"A Yogi is detached. That means he is still interested in the fruit of action but not holding on to it. He/she has to be sincere. he can't say I'm not interested in the result. So he is interested but not so much holding on to the fruit."

"Every cell in the body is a complete you. It has the eyes, nose ears... just like the mirror with a thousand reflection of you, the body hold all these cells which hold the complete you. That's how you are to the whole universe." (Manaha, becoming Namaha: From mind to no mind)

"The proton (Positive) is always in the center, the electron (negative) hovering around. the distance between the proton and electron is as much as the distance between the galaxies. The electron can never join the center. So there's no need to run after negativity of identifying yourself with it."

"You think when you look at a mountain, it doesn't look back at you? It has eyes too. Prana feels Prana, You feel the air, and the air feels you too."

"You are abundant, and full."

"I am a Yogi, I am a Baby, I am lucky!"

Something he said on the side:

"For me the Now is always better!"

What I learned:

• Seva Seva and Seva is the only way for a sane mind.
• Giving love is the only security.
• Being better is Being yourself.
• Give love more and more. That's real freedom!
• Everything comes to you. Everything. So relax. There is nothing to do here.
• I want nothing = selfless giving
• I belong to you = I am here for you

Great moments:

• Guruji went in with me in the rotating hotel entrance door
• Knowledge flowing in between the words.
• The attention Guruji gave to our Jordan group
• Offering Guruji our Jordanian made shawl at his birthday
• Meeting and spending time with Swami Sukhchaitanya
• Meeting great old and new friends
• Last morning in Arosa: Thick white snow falling.
• Train ride from Chur to Arosa up and around the mountain inside tunnels in a red Chu Chu train :)
• Magical view of Weggis from the river and seeing the dock where Guruji was photographed behind the swiss mountains. (Bhakti Sutras & Patanjali were recorded there)
• Delicious mango and raspberry dessert
• Waking up in Bad Antogast Ashram!

• 

Part 3 course in Bad Antogast, Germany

May 13 2009: Sri Sri Birthday celebrations (Oppenau)
May 14-19: Part 3 course (Bad Antogast)

Germany was filled with surprises one after the other. Like a child discovering life, everything was new, different, and pleasantly surprising!


I'll start with Oppenau which is a small town with a landscape so cute it can be a cartoon. As the train was coming close to Oppenau station, Art of Living people started popping up: In the train, on the street on the way to the hall where Guruji's birthday was taking place. It was such a wonder walking through town on the way to the hall–it's a 5 min walk. So we got to enjoy and get familiar with the scenery. The closer we got to the hall, the more joy we felt. And by the time I entered the Hall, Guruji had just entered too, and I was home.

I should say that I was very surprised by the German Art of Living center with it's charming beauty, location and staff! It's located in the heart of the Black forest with so many trails and tracks to hike and enjoy, and our own High in Mineral water spring.
In the main hall where large courses take place, is where people used to come to get mineral water for treatments. We're talking hundreds of years ago.

The center is a combination of 4 attached buildings. From the inside it looks like a beautiful old university campus. lots of hallways, many stairs and connections to other buildings, a maize where you'd like to be lost just for the fun of it.

The course was most intriguing, interesting, difficult, rewarding, , challenging, fun, an full of wonders, pregnant with knowledge and realizations! Cannot say more other than we were lucky that so many had participated from all over Europe and our teachers were a bouquet of Indian, American, and Europeans. Guruji's presence made the whole experience so magical and complete as usual. He answered everyone's questions whether asked or not and everyone had tears of joy and bliss on the last day including myself!

Writing this after a month's time may be a little late to catch the whole feeling but still that feeling is there, and it's here. It's like when someone falls in love they say he/she took my mind away (Akhadle Aa2le), He took my soul with him, She stole my heart... well in between meditations, just watching the river flow, you are so connected with the nature that you feel your Self getting pulled in the direction of the water. That connection is the Love we talk about and experience in so many ways. The experience, the knowledge and the energy from Bad Antogast is still here in between these words I write.

Just like nothing is lost or created, no experience is lost anywhere, even if "forgotten"... and Art of Living experiences are most precious because of the beautiful deep impressions they leave you with and the undesirable deep impressions they take away... at the same time :-)

The food was great! It was really tasty, light and very nutritious. We were lucky to have the head cook of Bangalore Art of Living center with us.
There were so many nationalities: Belarus, Poland, Greece, France, Italy, Israel... and Germany of course.

Walks in nature were very refreshing. I remember being amazed how tall trees were and how much green everything was: The leaves, branches, the ground and rocks. The scenery around the center was something in between a Heidi movie and a cartoon. Forests and plains, cattle and rivers, water everywhere and the open sky on top of it all!


I leave the rest for the pictures...
Love,
Chris

Part 2 in the desert, Azraq Jordan

I already miss the desert. Living in Amman is not quite like living in the desert. Maybe I haven't felt the summer heat yet.


The course was one of the best I have experienced although I wasn't quite in silence since I was the one communicating with the staff, checking the food, the rooms etc...

4 nights, 5 days in open space. you can always see the open sky and the horizon. I remember the first morning I woke up and saw the horizon looking all red. I thought I had missed the sunrise. Later on I could see the sun peaking it's way up. And the sunsets are out of this world. The whole nature celebrates it. The wind, the birds... and of course the water buffaloes.

The reserve guides were very skeptic at first: "How can you be silent. I'd go crazy" and "why are they all so sad, I thought this course was supposed to help." On the last day they were very moved by our silence and by our loving presence and wanted to do the course themselves.

The first Satsang was horrific, at least that was my opinion. No coordination, too much shouting, people talking, no one wanted to go into silence or maybe release that last breath of energy before the Silence. The next day I was afraid to go into the session! wondering what could happen, how worse can it get :-) until I did come in, everyone was singing and there was this comforting feeling of peace and serenity, energy and enthusiasm, love and gratefulness. We were actually a very special group. We had 2 amazing singers, 2 instruments and a wonderful cheerful crowd which made sure Satsang was not only a deep experience but fun and light.
There was Chaos yes, however from that chaos, some became more humble, some less stiff, and everyone got to really enjoy the silence.

The place was magical it was all ours. It is anyways, but we were only a few 26 people along with the amazing staff to enjoy it.

We ate and slept at Azraq lodge, and the sessions took place at a beautiful hall in the reserve. Everything there is made from natural material, raw and simple but very comfortable and just enough to enjoy nature without too much spoiling, although the rooms were spectacular with a spectacular view.

Amazing walks in silence in the middle of tall yellow mazes under blue skies and water around us. The birds were in ecstasy and the buffaloes, well, roaming around eating grass and... dumping... :)

As for the food, exquisite Caucasian delicacies made with love by "Om Raad" the lodge chef.
I particularly loved the "Mantish", a steamed dumpling stuffed with vegetable and seasoned with yogourt sauce.

Participants loved the place and got so inspired that they went out and started a cleansing drive around town.


Our dear teacher Irena was just amazing! She was a living example of surrender and love, wisdom and playfulness. The course couldn't be more perfect!

The rest of the course details, I leave for you to experience...

There's something magical about the desert. Not sure what. The open space, the dryness of the air, it's amazing how life just sprouts everywhere. There is always life where we don't see it. Life is so abundant even in still rocks and sand... Life never deserts us, the desert is full of it.

Dispassion, witness and courage

Dispassion means being in the center not taking sides. If you are not in the center, it means that you have taken a side, you have attached yourself to one of the sides. Just like Arjuna asked Krishna to take him to the middle of the battlefield to see what he is up against. He could see his side as well. If he was only on his own side he wouldn't have been able to take proper action, his vision would've been limited to his opponent only (Guruji's Bhagavad Gita discourse). So being dispassionate means being in the center and being a witness, "watching the Sansara and it's plays", witnessing life in its totality. Only then proper action can be taken.
--
Guruji on Buddha:
"Buddha got enlightened under the Bodhi tree. He then stood up and watched the tree from a distance for seven days. He took sixteen steps towards the tree and under each step, blossomed a Lotus flower. This is the legend.

The Bodhi tree is symbolic of both sansara (world) and Dharma. The Lotus flower symbolizes clarity, dispassion, love, beauty and purity.

It is only when you are detached in life can you watch the sansara and all of its plays. When you witness the sansara, every step you take is benevolent and impeccable. When every action of yours is preceded by witnessing then every move you make in this sansara becomes perfect and significant."
--
What is every action we take preceded by? What drives our actions. Desire, hunger, memory, ego, a combination of that? Certainly not witnessing. At least not all the time.
So how do we witness? Is it an exercise? Is it a state we get to be in and when will we? Is there a trick to it?
Being totally involved in whatever we do, being 100% in the Sansara, in the Maya is the only way out, or in to the Self. The only way to the center where one gets to witness. Avoidance is certainly not the way, it will only make you dull, weak, fearful and a coward. It takes courage to step into courage and face life totally just like jumping from a high cliff into the river. You feel so alive and you want to do it again! And gracefully flowing with the events without any resistance, being 100% angry, 100% happy, 100% playful, creative, sad... knowing that any action will either nurture you or will make you strong. It's a win/win situation. The good will nurture you and the bad will make you stronger. You have to learn from the bad ones otherwise it's a waste of life's gift. And moving on to the next moment with enthusiasm and total involvement.
So the only way to the self is through total involvement in the world. Total acceptance, whatver happens I'll move through it with a smile. Then you can play. You can only play with friends whom you accept. So let the world be your friend and enjoy its play. be in the center of the game, watch the play, the ball is in your hand ;)
--
So beautifully said, Guruji's message for new years in 2007:
"Make sure no event no instance no situation can put down your enthusiasm, your joy, and your commitment. Many events may try to put down your spirit, you refuse, like a candle when it's lit it keeps its spirit always up even if you turn the candle upside down the flame will always go up.
Like that don't hold any grudge against anybody, be flexible, flow with the events, pleasant unpleasant things happen in life. So let the new year bring to us whatever lesson it wants to teach us.
One thing we're not going to loose is our strength our enthusiasm our commitment to truth and knowledge. with this Sankalpa (intention) we will move ahead."
Jai Gurudev

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's message for the new year

The last hour of 2008.
The time on this planet for us is a gift. Time is a gift to our Self. When we consider time as a gift our whole outlook towards life shifts. Like every year 2008 also has offered u many gifts . With it's thorns it has made u strong, with its petals it has given you joy.

Any event has the good and not so good. The not so good has made u strong and realize u can handle it. Good part gives u peace and tranquility. This Last hour is good to reflect how u welcome 08 when it came and how it swept u and swirled u and passed u on to 09. 08 has made many rich people poor. those who never thought they could come down from their ivory towers had to smell mud. Many who have cheated got exposed. The flaws of capitalism laid bare before our eyes in 2008; like 20 years ago, in 1989 the bubble of communism burst.

Through all this time we learnt one lesson- we should never compromise on human values. Love, compassion, sense of gratefulness and vision for everyone has to dawn in our life.

08 also saw terrorism, loss of life, Sudan, Iraq, Gaza, India had the worst ever terror attacks.

People have asked me -- that they are feeling guilty to celebrate. Barely two months after economy fell, one month after terror attacks -- how to celebrate?

Yes, you will feel guilty when your celebration is aimed at gratifying yourself. But if the intention is to uplift everyone in ur area, just do it. Don't delay it. We will never feel guilty if we do celebration to take people out of gloomy mood. This celebration becomes service and then there is no guilt. And when your service becomes celebration, there is no ego and pride in it.

Got this. When celebration becomes service, there is not guilt. And when service becomes celebration, there is no pride.

Let us celebrate with this one intention that let's bring home the knowledge to everyone -- that life, events are impermanent. What is permanent is our spirit, our consciousness. It has no birth and death. Life at a higher plane is eternal and celebrate every moment knowing that every moment is a gift to us.

2009 we have a great responsibility to uplift from ashes of the disasters of 2008. New hope, new creation has to made.

It is easy to get swept away in a negative mode. It takes courage to move out of it. I am sure all those who arr here have this capacity.... And all those who are listening also have the capacity.


At 11 pm, make 2 wishes
1- Personal - What u want for yourself in 2009
2- What u want for the world (ie: peace in Sudan, peace Iraq, stronger economy in the US...)

And if there is no diff bet these two wishes, then you are enlightened!!!

Last year there was a concern that there would not be enough food on the planet to feed everyone. This year I feel there will be plenty of food on the planet for everyone (lot of yield will come through). Later this year economically Europe, USA will become strong. Don't have the concern. It will become better and better .. second half of the year.

HEAVEN or HELL: Remember to share your spoon

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, 'Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.'

The Lord led the holy man to two doors.

He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

The Lord said, 'You have seen Hell.'

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well
nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, 'I don't understand.'

It is simple,' said the Lord. 'It requires but one skill. You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves.'

Remember that I will always share my spoon with you.... :)

Mullah Nasreddine

History break: In Turkey, he is known as Nasreddin Hodja of Anatolia, a historical character from the days of Seljuk rule in what we in the West know as the Middle Ages. Nasreddin or Nasruddin is claimed as well by Afghans, Iranians, Uzbeks, and Arabs, as well as the Turkic Xinjiang area of western China. Since the Seljuk empire of 1000-1400 stretched from Turkey to the Punjab in India, as did the Achmaenid empire a thousand years earlier, carrying enlightening stories along with war, from east to west and back again, such a personage as Nasruddin can well be shared by all, whether as Nasreddin Hodja or Mulla Nasruddin.

Nasruddin can act foolish, oh yes, but it is a different kind of foolishness: a foolishness with a purpose. The fool slips by the mental defenses, and is poised to deliver the dagger blow of wisdom straight to the heart. Warlike phrases for the peace-loving Nasruddin, but his stories have such bite, such punch, they invite violent metaphor!

Source: http://www.nasruddin.org/

Jokes:
One day Mullah Nasruddin entered his favorite teahouse and said: "the moon is more useful than the sun". An old man asked "whut Mullah?" Nasruddin replied "we need the light more during the night than during the day."
--
"How old are you, Mullah?" someone asked, "Three years older than my brother." "How do you know that?" "Last year I heard my brother tell someone that I was two years older than him. A year has passed. That means that i am older by one year. I shall soon be old enough to be his grandfather."

--

Mulla Nasrudin, celebrating his 95th birthday was asked by a friend: "Don't you hate growing old, Mulla?" "HECK, NO,"said Nasrudin. "IF I WASN'T GROWING OLD, I'D BE DEAD."

--

Mulla Nasrudin's wife woke him up one morning and said, "Honey, wake up. Today is our 42nd wedding anniversary. I think we ought to celebrate. What do you say we kill a chicken?" The Mulla looked at her and said, "WHY IN THE WORLD DO YOU WANT TO PUNISH A POOR CHICKEN FOR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED 42 YEARS AGO?"
--
The old Mulla Nasrudin was complaining to his landlady about the lack of heat in his room. "SOMETIMES IT GETS SO COLD AT NIGHT," he said, "THAT I WAKE UP AND HEAR MY TEETH CHATTERING ON THE NIGHT TABLE."
--
Mulla Nasrudin sat fishing in a bucket of water. A visitor, wishing to be friendly, asked, "How many have you caught?" "YOU ARE THE NINTH," said Nasrudin.
--
One night, Mulla Nasrudin's father noticed a light in his barn. He went to see what it was all about and he found Nasrudin with a lantern, all dressed up. "What are you doing all dressed up and with that lantern?" asked his father. "I am going to call on my girlfriend, Dad," said Nasrudin. "I have got to go through the woods and it is dark." "When I was your age calling on my wife for the first time," said the father, "I went through the woods without a lantern." "I KNOW," said Nasrudin, "BUT LOOK WHAT YOU GOT, DAD!"
--
Mulla Nasrudin, who was really unaccustomed to public speaking, arose in confusion after dinner and muttered hesitatingly: "M-m-my f-f-friends, when I came here tonight only God and myself knew what I was about to say to you AND NOW ONLY GOD KNOWS!"
--
The young father was pushing the crying baby down the street with what appeared to be absolute calm and self-assurance. People on the street could hear what he was saying as he passed. "Take it easy, Nasrudin," he said. "Don't let it get you down, Nasrudin, you will soon be safe back home. Things will be all right, Nasrudin, if you just keep calm." One motherly type woman waiting for a bus, heard and saw the young father and said to him, "I think you are wonderful the way you are taking care of the baby." Then she leaned over to the baby and said, "Now, don't cry, Nasrudin, everything is going to be all right." "LADY," said the father, "YOU HAVE GOT IT ALL WRONG. HIS NAME IS TOMMY -- I AM NASRUDIN."
--
The town's richest man had died. The next morning, another rich, and particularly miserly, old man said to Mulla Nasrudin, "I wonder how much he left." Mulla Nasrudin laughed and said, "EVERY CENT OF IT, SIR."
--
Mulla Nasrudin was chatting with his master who had taken up art. "When I look at one of your paintings, Sir," he said, "all I can do is stand and wonder." "Wonder how I do it?" asked the master. "No," said Nasrudin. "WHY YOU DO IT."
--
Mulla Nasrudin approached a genteel-appearing, elderly man with his tale of woe and a request for assistance. The old gentleman refused him, saying, "I am sorry, my friend, I have no money, but I can give you some good advice." The Mulla said in a disgusted tone, "No thanks, IF YOU AIN'T GOT NO MONEY, I DON'T GUESS YOUR ADVICE IS WORTH ANYTHING, SIR."
--
"What in the world happened at the picnic yesterday?" a fellow asked Mulla Nasrudin. "They are saying around the tavern that you acted like a coward." "Well, I am no fool," the Mulla said. "Some of the girls found a big hornet's nest in the top of a tree and dared me to climb up and get it. And I just didn't do it, that's all." "Whether you were smart or not," said the friend, "That sort of thing makes you unhonored and unsung around here." "THAT'S RIGHT," said Nasrudin, "BUT I AM ALSO UNHARMED AND UNSTUNG."
--
A young preacher was just getting acquainted with his duties. One of his first chores was to visit the hospital where Mulla Nasrudin, a member of his flock, was confined as a result of an automobile accident. The Mulla had been seriously injured: a broken leg, both arms broken, a broken collar bone, terrible cuts over his face and head, and several broken ribs. He was so thoroughly bandaged and taped and strapped up that only his two eyes and mouth were showing. The young preacher was at a loss for words, but realized that he must say something, so he asked the Mulla: "How do you feel today? I suppose all of those broken bones and cuts cause a great deal of pain. Do you suffer very much?" "NO, NOT MUCH," said Nasrudin, "ONLY WHEN I LAUGH."
--
Mulla Nasrudin was weeping and complaining in a bar. "I don't have anything to worry about," he said. "My wife takes care of my money. My mother-in-law tends to my business. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS WORK."
--
"When I was broke," Mulla Nasrudin told his neighbor, "Harry volunteered to lend me $1000" "Did you take it?" his neighbour asked. "NO," said Nasrudin. "THAT KIND OF FRIENDSHIP IS TOO VALUABLE TO LOSE."
--
Mulla Nasrudin and his neighbor were greeting each other. "Good morning," said the Mulla. "You are looking fine this morning." "I am sorry I can't say the same thing for you," said the neighbour. "YOU COULD," said Nasrudin, "IF YOU WERE AS BIG A LIAR AS I AM."
--
Mulla Nasrudin was called in the election bribery case. "You say," asked the judge, "that you were given $10 to vote for the Democrats, and you got another $10 to vote for the republicans?" "Yes, Sir, Your Honour," said the Mulla. "And how did you vote?" asked the judge. "YOUR HONOUR," said Nasrudin, "I VOTED ACCORDING TO MY CONSCIENCE."
--

Nasruddin delivers a khutbah (sermon)

Once, the people of The City invited Mulla Nasruddin to deliver a khutba. When he got on the minbar (pulpit), he found the audience was not very enthusiastic, so he asked "Do you know what I am going to say?" The audience replied "NO", so he announced "I have no desire to speak to people who don't even know what I will be talking about" and he left.

The people felt embarrassed and called him back again the next day. This time when he asked the same question, the people replied "YES" So Mullah Nasruddin said, "Well, since you already know what I am going to say, I won't waste any more of your time" and he left.

Now the people were really perplexed. They decided to try one more time and once again invited the Mullah to speak the following week. Once again he asked the same question - "Do you know what I am going to say?" Now the people were prepared and so half of them answered "YES" while the other half replied "NO". So Mullah Nasruddin said "The half who know what I am going to say, tell it to the other half" and he left!
--

Nasruddin and the violin

Once, Mullah Nasruddin bought a violin. And he began to play.

NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE....

Same note, same string, over and over.

NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE....

After a few hours his wife was at her wits' end. "Nasruddin!" she screamed.

NEEE..

Nasruddin put down the bow. "Yes dear?"

"Why do you play the same note? It's driving me crazy! All the real violin players move their fingers up and down, play on different strings! Why don't you play like they do?"

"Well dear, I know why they go up and down and try all different strings."

"Why is that?"

"They're looking for *this* note." And he picked up his bow and resumed his playing.

NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE....

Sources:
http://www.afghan-web.com/culture/jokes.html
http://www.otoons.de/joke&game/mulla_nasrudin.htm

It's not that difficult

"What's so difficult about life?" The other day, lying on my bed after lunch, this thought came to me. It actually made me feel good about myself! What's so difficult about life? Really! No efforts are needed, just enjoy and have fun :)
Now, It's easy to say this when there's nothing to do, and everything is taken care of. But when thing go wrong and there's so much to take care of, so many worries and problems, challenges, fear of failure, fear of people's opinions and judgments, and despite all this, one knows that everything is really taken care of, everything's going to be OK, then that, is living knowledge, it's the strength of life. So with this though in my head, I remember all the other times when I was feeling quite the opposite: "Life's too hard man!"... "Why this? Why that?"...

So what is so difficult about life really?
Let's see here. Is it guilt about not doing something or finishing it on time? Or maybe fear of loosing something or someone, or just fear of the unknown. Then there's the physical "difficult" part of life. "I don't have a car, it's raining, I have to be somewhere, I get soaked, come home exhausted from so much walking, life sucks, I wish I had a car."
There's that feeling in the heart that clearly says "everything is not OK", "Something is missing", "I need something or someone to be OK". But is that entirely true? Do I really need something or someone or do I just need to pull my self together? That pulling is meditation :-) coming back to the self, pulling all parts of myself, the mind, body and emotions into one consciousness.

Anyways life is not that difficult! In fact LIFE IS AWESOME, it's to be lived not survived. We make it hard and painful, what a shame! We seek happiness by 'trying' to fill the holes of our unhappiness. So we get a nice computer, buy a house, or even get married. It can be like filling a hole by digging one right next to it. Then that second hole needs to be filled and so on... Survival comes from a state lack. Survival is such a waste of time and energy. And it makes life difficult. Knowing that there are no holes, and that life is only a game, a play. Anything more than that is taking it too seriously. A game only becomes difficult when taken too seriously. The fun is in the actual playing and enjoying.

Easier said than done? quite the opposite.

Jai Gurudev
Christian

A cosy feeling

It's past midnight. Just finished setting up this blog.
Well, something in between is just an excuse to write my thoughts about anything and everything.
In between every changing thought, every state of awareness, every emotion... just before a deep realization, right before sneezing... in between a breath in and a breath out and vice versa.... there is something... something so deep and inexpressible, something silent and vast, something so clear yet subtle, something that connects with the whole. Guruji says it's the 4th state. Other than the known 3 sates of waking, sleeping and dreaming... He also says that it's a state that we experience just before waking up and right before falling asleep. I love to treasure those moments just before sleeping, just being in that silence, enjoying every moment of if before being taken away.
I stayed in Bhamdoun this summer. It's like living on a different planet. The weather is so pure and clean, full of Sattva. Waking up is like being born every day. Such enthusiasm for life. On the other hand, waking up in a city like Beirut, is almost like dying, well not quite. But, if you don't wake up early in Beirut, you end up feeling all sorts of negativity that start in the morning and carry on throughout the day. That's why the best time to wake up is in Sattva time (2-6am). Just before 6 am is enough.... That's not gonna happen tomorrow :).
It's 1 am, and it's time to for that nice cosy feeling.

Jai Gurudev
Christian