14.2.2008

Valentine's Day Special

Well, I had to write a blog on this particular day, the day that has no significance if you're in Mysore, especially when you are single but anyhow we shall have a diary entry.

Valentine's is no huge deal even to Indians although Coffee Day has speacial heart stickers on their window and doing a speacial choc cake for 250rps (which Sayana has just gone to purchase for Lino and Desiree- why I dont know). So other then me shouting "happy valentines day" randomly to yogis most people ignore the topic. Some restaurants are doing a special meal for westerners but then again it is all tailored to us people who try to create a big deal.

So it is another sunny, hot day with street sellers, bikes and rickshaws, people minding their own business. Already I have been to meditation class at 9am, after a full on Vinyasa class with Ajay teaching us how to jump back and jump through gracefully and other failed attempts of heavy landing. Then I thought today would be a good day to go to swimming pool but the famous Southern Star is closed because of a fashion show. So instead I am back in Gokulam and will go to say goodbye to Lino before he leave Mysore on saturday morning.

Lino on the other hand has been driven around in Guruji's posh car around town, apparently shopping with Guruji. Firt time I saw this posh car with tinted windows I wondered who the famous person inside might be and soon the electri windows went down and a pair of hands started to wave at me, it was Lino and Desiree...and Michael and his princess with Guruji at the front. I'm so curious about where they go to do their shopping and what they buy, I mean what would you want to purchase so much of here?

Anyhow last few days have been very interesting. I started philosophy classes at Dr Jayashree's house. It is an amazing house, there are always people around and many spiritual practices are going on, pujas, chanting, constant cleaening and washing in the communal area. It has a great sense of energy. Jayashree is a true teacher in the sense that all she wants is the commitment and dedication from her students, everything is based on donations and perhaps why the place is buzzing with so many yoga students is due to the fact that they want to learn from her. Yesterday a group of us noticed how much respect they have for nature, they have actually made a hole in the ceiling of the staircase so that a thick branch of teh tree in the courtyard can grow through it. Back home you would surely chop the whole tree down to create your perfect looking structure. Its just an amazing place.

I also met a guy called James who is here to study sanskrit with Jayashree as he's about to start a Phd in Sanskrit and actually lives in the house. He told me this morning how much he's enjoying just being there, hearing the temple at 5.30am, listening to the pujas in the house, the joy and effort he sees in Jayashree when she teaches him and simply being part of the family. He has also made friends with the whole yoga community who is visiting the place regularly throughout the day for classes of meditation, sanskrit, philosophy, chanting and so on.

And yesterday was the first time I truely felt the love for Mysore when I took a walk in the narrow streets, the warm welcoming of the school children as they squeeze into rickshaws (Raju, my driver fits 25 kids into his), people hanging on to doors of buses with dear life when commuting to work, cows just loitering, people walking around in no rush, constant tooting and beeping, street sellers with their fruit and veg covered in dirt and fumes...The list can go on forever. India is so difficult but at the same time so present and so loveable. You only need to look into people's eyes and see their joy and contentment in such little they have.

As much as I dont think I will return to Mysore I know that India will always be a home for me. I may need to travel in different parts and in different fashion (more luxury as I age) but I feel the deep connection for sure.