The iridescence essence of India

I'm sitting in an "internet cafe" which is actually the only computer in town. In front of me is a poster that reads "Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it." These words are written on a poster of some western city in a gold frame. These words burn into me in everything I see in India. I have been in love in so many ways....I fall in love with pizza on a regular basis and if you play the Talking Heads "speaking in Tongues" album I fall apart with love. The ways in which I have loved the many things, people, and pleasures of this life are on a very high level of passion...I burst on a regular basis. But none of these can come close to the many ways in which I have fallen head over heels in love with the iridescence essence of this holy mother India. In every breathe her charm overwhelms me and in every warm and tender smile I feel her arms embrace me. It is so hard for me to believe the stark contrast in retrospect to whence I first arrived. I had so many warnings and my heart was filled with so much fear. "A woman alone in India, the men are terrible"...."They will cheat you, be very careful." And so all of this was true. I was cheated and the men were terrible. And leaving for Nepal I promised to never return. I think life gives you what you expect it to. And I didn't give India a chance to give me anything good. I'm glad I did return....And I returned to Varanasi...A city I could live ad die in. For the first time I saw the holiness of this magnificent place. And a seed was planted in the depth of my spirit....That seed has just now begun to grow....And now I see India for everything that she is. And all of my six senses are in awe of this holy, holy place. I know India is not for everyone and I have met people who will never come back, but I think India loves me...As I love India. I have never met people more warm....I have so many stories of people going so far out of their way to help me...Because I am their guest, and they love their holy India. My timing has been amazing....All of those prayers back home have guided my course impeccably.

I was in Pune and went to the OSHA meditation center. When I got there they said their were no more tickets...They were sold out for the tour. So I turned to leave. As I was half way down the street. I saw a familiar face. We meet as old friends might...a kind of "oh, there you are"....and he says "Where are you going! Today is the big celebration! Come on, Come on!" I reply, "But I can not get in, they are sold out." In return he says, "But today all of the celebration is outside of the center. One of our elders has passed away and we are having a big party and burning the body down at the ghats." Just then I hear instruments from behind the walls of the center....As they approach the walls I can feel the energy of the crowd....Soon a herd of beautiful people of every color all dressed in red wine colored robes come dancing out of the gates with the body of their dear friend carried in the center. She is wrapped in white cloth with flowers strewn atop. I am swept into the crowd and we march through the city singing and dancing all the way to the ghat. There we watch as all of her brothers ceremonially light the body ablaze....This is similar to what they do in Varanasi....Same same but different. This was a beautiful occasion and one that happens very rarely....Maybe once every year or so....I felt so lucky to see yet another way the spirit is celebrated and the mysteries of this life are rejoiced upon rather then ignored....I joined my new-old friend for a meal and then hoped on a train that afternoon and was on to Jalgaon to visit the Ajanta caves....But I'll save that story for later. Today I am in Omkareswar. This place you will not find on a map. It is a holy place and today is it's birthday the holiest day of the year....and I just happened to come here yesterday. People are coming from all over the country for the celebration today. They will take a bath in the river which is meant to bless their life and purify their Karma...And again I just happened to be here on this holy day. I have been blessed on this trip with my timing. Thank you for all of your prayers back home. They are guiding my journey in such an aspicious way. I love you 5 times