DAWALI

so today is the day
lots of firecrackers booming
echoing against time, trucks and cement bloc buildings ...
the same sound here as in Bali and Peru
of diesel trucks running against mud and stones
and weather and poverty
praying the gas will last
such is as it is in a country that has less abundance
certainly
than the US
.
the days are long
from 7 AM til 10 at night
we study the seven branches of yoga
meditating almost 6 hours a day one way or the other..
chanting, walking, not a lot of eating or sleeping

first lesson in awareness this morning as i walked toward
the mediation hall
water bottle, bags in hand,  a banana i cleverly kept
from last nights dinner to munch during the classes.
and lo and behold, there was that monkey again
and a bunch of cousins and friends and little babies
all scampery and cute,
says you
with two CHinese women
admiring and shooting photos.
a great photo op i thought and crossed the lane to get a better perspectve
and that same damn monkey that welcomed me
charged me.
man oh man
charged me.. like Bruce the Beachmaster in the Galapagos
now that;s anpther story that almost lost me a leg..
but that monkey comes at me, eyeing the banana, teeth bared
rabies ready to inject into my middle class body
and i heaved it, the banana that is
and headed away as fast as I could in meditative silent mode
yikes
word is he robbed three others in the same way
five minutes apart.

i guess i needed to be more aware
hat i had the damn banana
broadcasting "sucker" on broadband.

okay.
got thru that.. a day of the lilting Indian dasa's
(teachers) guiding us thru this meditation and that
with mandala, yanta, mantra, hatha yoga, kriya and you name it.
the mediations curiously enough take me surprisingly deep.
very very deep.
and so it goes.

tonight we went to the huge Oneness Temple and had darshan
a meeting, an audience,
with Bhagavan, the real man himself.
He answered questions,
needed a  haircut and emanated the most
loving glow.
Reminded me of meeting with Rev Kook in Israel
same ease, same power, same presence.
There is much to tell there but perhaps
when I am not sitting on the tile floor
with the electricity ready to shut off.

When he gave  his blessing the power is real and palpable.
And now all we have to do is choose.
My love to you all