India Update from Thomas

The last I (Thomas) wrote, we were about to catch a few winks, head to Seva (service) at the Golden Temple, and then board a train to Haldwani for a hike into Haidakhan Ashram beginning the 3rd leg of our trip. We met Ramloti at the train station and secured taxis to a hotel to drop our luggage and to shower. We went to Muniraji's house for a simple fire ceremony and breakfast, a first introduction to the Hindu traditions incorporated into the practices of the followers of Babaji. Muniraji is the leader of the Ashram in Haidakhan and Babaji devotees. We returned to the hotel and taxied to the trailhead for a 3 hour hike to the Ashram. Jack and Nathan took a 2 hour taxi to the Ashram due to asthma and chest cold issues respectively. Vehicle travel is possible but limited and quite rough. The hike was very beautiful. We hiked up a broad river valley that rages with Monsoon rains but presently had a small stream that we forded several times en route. Upon arrival we settled into our rooms, had dinner, and some students went to evening Aarti (ceremony / prayer service).

Day 14 we performed several hours of service, or Karma Yoga, including washing clothes for the Ashram and picking up trash, the latter be extremely challenging work both in terms of collecting it from a muddy gutter and because trash (plastic and all), is burned and the smoke was irritating. In the evening we went to Aarti on the Gufa side of the river, where the Nine Temples are located. Each temple is dedicated to a different God in a variety of traditions representing the open, universalistic nature of Babaji's teachings.

Day 15 we hiked Mount Kailash. About half the group made it to the summit where Babaji is reported to have spent 40 days meditating without food or water. The hike was long, hot, and hard, but gave rewarding views of the surrounding foothills of the Himalaya.

Day 16 was a day in the life of a devotee; this involved rising and bathing in the river at 4 AM, followed by a fire ceremony and morning Aarti. After breakfast came more Karma Yoga; this time we cleaned a large dorm and helped water and collect leaves from a huge garden area. After lunch we had a well deserved rest time, followed by finishing up our morning service projects. Student then went to a spot on the river for a short, individual reflection time and bathing. Evening Aarti followed, then dinner and bed. Lots of different feelings came up around this group's teachings and methods, some of the student's feelings are blogged about below, but ask your child upon our return; discussions were quite lively among some.

Day 17 we cleaned our rooms (no small undertaking) before heading out in the early afternoon to hike back to Haldwani. Again, a few rode out in a taxi with all of our luggage. After a quick dinner we hopped a night train back to Delhi.

We are now (day 18), again at my sister's house and getting ready for a home cooked breakfast. Our last day here will be spent visiting the National Museum and Craft Gallery (including some last minute shopping, although not many kids have money left!) as well as Red and Ceri Forts. We will come back here for dinner then catch our flight at just after midnight. The kids are ready to be home, some planning to return to India, others vowing to never return, but consensus is that it was an incredible, life-changing trip.

See you in Crestone.