Go to India and Let India Guide You - January 25

This morning – got up at 4, downstairs by 5, tea for breakfast at 5:30, to the Delhi train station by 6:30 (apparently went through all the magnificent parts of the city – but it was pitch black outside!), on board by 7:00 – and was right back in the Raj. We were in first class (Executive Car). Our personal attendant brought us each a newspaper (from a large selection), then came the tea – each with our own thermos of hot water, some cookies, cream and sugar. I thought that was it – but then came the cornflakes and HOT milk. I could not even THINK about swallowing that but Mark, sitting next to me, 25 and hungry, scarfed mine down as well as his. Then a bit later came the veggie patties and a roll. Later, more tea. Then mango juice. It was an old train – individual fans over each chair (not running – it is still cold here) BUT also had connections for charging your lap top or mobile!

Four hours later we were in Hardwar – one of the 7 sacred cities of Hinduism. A little overwhelming – but I suspect it will become familiar. The ashram bus was waiting and 15 minutes later we had crossed the Ganges River and drove through the Ashram gates. Flags welcomed us; the children were all lined up waving. They are happy to see us but disappointed that Babaji is not with us – still undergoing tests. They hope he will be able to join us within a few weeks.

The children – all 68 – utterly charming. Two boys hauled my suitcases up to my room. I am sharing it with Molly (we shared a room in Delhi) and that is when I had to face “giving up all ideas of any control in India”

Let’s see:
My room – like descriptions I have read in novels about India – high ceiling, ceiling fans, wooden screens with metal screening behind AND a bed with sheets, pillow and heavy blanket. I stared at them - why had I been asked to bring a sleeping bag? Then I thought about all the suitcase space devoted to sleeping bag, bed pad, pillow and sheets – grrrrr, what a waste.

Unpacked – and discovered that none of my adaptors will work – my lap top, iPod, and my one luxury – my electric tooth brush – can’t be recharged. Thought about all the suitcase space devoted to electronics and the fact that I can’t use any of them.

Then discovered that I can’t find the lock I brought for my door – must have gotten lost or tossed on the way over.

The little bedside clock I brought just for this trip – won’t work now (it worked in California) and the battery is unusual – did not bring extras.

All the food I brought – the oatmeal, chicken soup, tea – can’t heat it because the adapters don’t work.

So, in reflection – I brought much stuff I can’t use, threw out much stuff I could have used, lost stuff in transit and Indian women, of course, love to look beautiful, including the women at the Ashram, and I threw out my make-up!

This was a pivotal moment – I could either collapse in tears OR laugh and, as my friend Robin (who is my age, has MS, and has been in a nursing home for the last 11 years) says, “crying just makes you wet.” I submitted to India and all the gods around me and agreed that I was certainly getting a message – just GIVE IN. “Come to India and let India guide you.”

I collapsed in laughter.

Went downstairs, helped with setting up tea and THEN, to make sure that India knew I had to give in and submit, when all the children were gathered to get ready to sing, and the staff had entered, I crossed from the tea area to a chair, and in front of everyone, took a flying fall. Straight down on both knees (knees that were doing so much better in the last few weeks). Could I have been more embarrassed? The children gasped, two people came over to help me up – it is stunning how quickly you can get up when thoroughly embarrassed. I bowed to everyone and made a joke about ‘well, that was my show!” and decided to be an unembarrassed as I could.

The program was wonderful – singing and dancing. Afterwards, I went up the 3 flights to my room, took some pills, hobbled back down and within an hour had met 2 charming young girls who taught me how to count from 1-10 in Hindi, held a 4 month-old baby (the most recent orphan), met several staff, toured the immediate area of the Ashram, met 6 cows (I counted them out in Hindi). I was beaming by the time I came back to my room AND, when I tried one of the adapters again, it worked! I don’t think I can heat water – but I can use my computer and iPod. Things are looking quite a bit better.

It is very cold. I gave away my heavy blanket to a woman who didn’t bring a sleeping bag. Set up my bed with my own flannel sheet, my sleeping bag, my pillow and the bed pad – quite cosy. I am going to be asleep in minutes. It is very cold – I think it is around 45 degrees – no heat in the building - so look forward to my warm bed.

So, after one 14 hour flight, another 7 hour flight, a 4 hour train ride – I have made it to the Ashram. So, India, go ahead and guide me.