A Farewell To India

Just shy of six weeks into my journey, after years of imagining and planning a trip to India, my first visit was coming to an end. How to sum up India? Words alone cannot explain the energy of a people more diverse in their language, religion, geography, history, wealth and poverty and culture than any other nation I've visited. With more than one billion people, India is a true melting pot with one of the oldest civilizations known to humankind. By some it has been described as an “assault on the senses.”

Before departing for India, I heard many an opinion from many people who had visited previously. The opinions were as varied as those offering them. And that was my first lesson: Everyone will have an opinion, the only way to find out, is to go there yourself. That lead me to my second lesson: My experience will be what I make of it. To a large extent, my experiences reflected my pre-trip intentions. Was it coincidence? Or does energy follow thought? Or is there a greater plan to which I was not privy? Maybe I will never know or maybe it is up to me to decide or maybe it just doesn’t matter?

“Why India?,” I was asked time and time again so much so that at times, I began to question it myself. Having not been there before, I was left to answer that it intrigued me on many levels, the masses of humanity, the birthplace of ayurveda, Hinduism and Buddhism, the beautiful Himalayas, Goa beaches and the Ganges River, the ancient temples, the emerging tech economy and the mystique of a modern and ancient culture merging together. (Above: Buddha gave his first teaching here in Varanasi.)

India was also a personal challenge to push myself beyond my comfort zone, to stretch, grow, look inside when my safety net below my high wire was removed. It’s rich spiritual history and deep rooted faiths called to my Indie Jones instincts to explore. Sometimes I wondered, would I find that I am to become a monk? Will I meet a guru who has been waiting for me to arrive? Would I discover connections to a past life?

Managing my expectations, I reminded myself it was possible I would not find any answers and in fact, could return home greatly disappointed, having held onto a feeling that was just that, a feeling. Was I going to miss an opportunity at home by chasing a wild goose abroad? Maybe, but after struggling with letting go of my attachment to a daily routine and job, following the goose was the right choice for me. I was stuck, preoccupied and restless with what was out “there” across the oceans, unable to fully embrace the world in which I was living.

Now that India is appearing in my rear view mirror, the road ahead is clearer, my comfort zone expanded and a page has turned in my story. Answers were not waiting for me on a scroll found in Rishiskesh or through a guru meditating on the Ganges in Varanasi, they were waiting for me to wake up and look within. India was not going to give me the answers unless I first knew the questions. Was it only India that could provide the answers? Probably not, but it was calling to me and I wasn’t making the time in my life at home to explore. Opportunity knocked, prosperity rang and I answered the door.

Feeling that the universe was conspiring, if not altogether pushing me out of my nest so that I couldn’t say no, I went with the flow, following the goose to Bombay. And while this goose did not turn up golden eggs, it was chalked full of golden rules from the golden ages.

Lessons and Reminders from a stream of consciousness in India:

Opening your heart will lead to a bigger heart, closing it will shrink it.

You can exercise your heart even when you’re not in the gym, just turn on the love valves and let it flow.

Like a door, if you leave your heart open, people will walk to you, if you close it, they will walk away.

A peaceful mind will draw in and create peace around it.

A smile goes a long way to creating a connection with others, it carries more weight and is more widely recognized than Visa or Mastercard. Don’t leave home without it.

Those closest to you may want the best for you, but it may not always be the best. Listen to your mind and heart, let your soul be the tiebreaker.

Kids are yogis, try not to remove the “kid” from their spirit so that they may be kids at heart when they are 50. And remember to re-learn from your kids those things you once saw through a child’s eyes, but have since forgotten.

The mind is the most powerful tool on the planet, it can create or destroy. Conscience, consciousness and awareness will determine the outcome.

Manifest destiny is not just a dated plan to acquire more territory. If you feel a calling, write it down, visualize what it looks like and spend a few minutes thinking about it each day. Chances are the universe will support your calling if you are on the right path. Manifest your own destiny.

No expectations leaves your mind wide open to all the possibilities of an experience, even some you would have never expected.

Share yourself and you might be surprised how many others feel similarly and reciprocate the sharing erasing imagined differences.

Service to others is our highest purpose.

It is my connection to others, family, friends and friends to be that enrich my life beyond measure. “I am” because of them.

If we all take responsibility for our actions and inactions, not only will lawyers be out of business, we will be more free to be in the present, untethered to our past and move forward with a lighter spirit.

We are all responsible for our governments, blaming the politicians alone ignores our role as citizens to create change.

Even when it appears things are not working out, they are often working out for the best.

Education is the end to ignorance. The end of ignorance is more effective eradicating violence than dropping bombs. The end of dropping bombs is essential to peace. Most people on the planet desire peace.

Love is the key to unlocking many doors. Sometimes it’s really hard to find that key, but keep looking.

There are more communications tools in the world today than at any other time in history, but less real communication is taking place than at any time before. Separate out the noise and focus on wise loving speech.

Sacrifice and selflessness are two elements of unconditional love. If you profess your unconditional love to someone, be prepared to demonstrate both elements.

No need to worry about fate as it is impossible to know your karma; rather, it is more important that you live life to its fullest employing all of your God given talents and tools. You can find out your fate when it arrives.

Having your spiritual/religious house in order is more important than completing an estate plan.

Express gratitude each morning for the people, health and things for which you are thankful. It will be a nice addition to your café latte and scone and it costs a lot less, but pays longer lasting dividends.

Memorable Experiences - "Sri Sri Who?"

No doubt one of the most compelling experiences in India was my hatrick of encounters with Guruji. Meet him, look into his eyes and you see what the fuss is about. He is not claiming to be God, not asking people to worship him and not asking for money, he asks that you be of service to others, take responsibility for yourself and be happy. While I am oversimplifying his total message, the point is that his message transcends all religions as it speaks to a fundamental core embedded in the human spirit.

Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, or whatever the God of your choice may be, the principles behind the Art of Living (“AoL”) are likely espoused in a historical text, teaching or scripture by a prophet, saint or monk in your religion or spirituality. At a basic level, most of the major religions and spiritual roads in their pure forms lead to the same destination, they just take alternative routes. In a January article in the Mumbai Buzz, Sri Sri was asked how difficult it was to bring people into faith at a time when there is a crisis of belief. He responded with the following:

“It’s good to have doubts. The faith that finally emerges from doubt is strong and genuine. You finally realize what the truth is. Faith is a spontaneous phenomenon, and it cannot be suppressed. Turn to the ancient Indian Vedas that taught us not to get stuck in any one identity. It teaches spirituality, and spirituality binds people of all religions.”

My personal sense is that awareness of Sri Sri and the AoL is gaining momentum with millions already having taken the basic course. He is likely to one day be revered akin to a Mother Theresa, although that’s not his aim. Like the Dalai Lama who often says that he is just a “simple monk”, Sri Sri is not looking for fame or wealth, he’s a man who has a strong connection with what many people believe to be God, and he is trying to carry out God’s goodwill through his many philanthropic projects that are less charity and more about individual empowerment. Maybe he has a special connection to the Divine, but his AoL courses offer a connection for everyone who seeks it.

The Hard Road

What became clear to me during the AoL course is that it is the hard road, requiring discipline, practice and dedication. It is much easier to tune out watching t.v. than it is to tune in meditating. But it is also an example of “you get what you put into it.” If you consciously travel down the road, you are likely to live the remainder of your time in alignment with your calling, have a sense of fulfillment/purpose and be more conscious of the present.

The Gupta Family

My first open heart lessons started with the Guptas. Generous, kind, soft spoken, warm and intelligent, the family I had never shared a word or an e-mail with before my arrival, opened their hearts and homes to me. An incredible gesture, completely unexpected, my return to Bombay at the end of my time in India already felt like a homecoming. The Guptas monitored my every move in India ensuring my safety, tracking my health and happiness, reinforcing my belief that “God” speaks through others as well as within. Through them, the universe was again conspiring to support me in this journey. Trust in the universe.

Parting Thoughts

A trip to India may not be for everyone. It depends on your mindset and intention. Patience, tolerance and a “go with the flow” attitude are essential to enjoying many of the magnificent aspects of this strangely compelling country. Some parts of it are inexplicable as they must be felt, heard, seen and certainly tasted. Other parts of the country offer a shortcut to spirit, a world away from the fast paced culture of the West (although I see signs that India is trending toward the same pace with the booming tech centers and sprouting malls).

For me, India was a portal to explore that which I had more difficulty searching at home with the cell phone, television and lots of activities/distractions to keep me busy. India may have had less to do with my growth than my openness to growing. In the final analysis, I don’t think it matters where you search, the act of searching itself is what is important, even if it is in your living room.

The journey continues, inward and onward . . .