Now I've, sort of, found a good balance in the days here. Every morning there is a beautiful flowerceremony in the temple. It is undertaken while chanting the mantra "SRI RAM JAY RAM JAY JAY RAM". Then it's breakfast. After that I go for a walk and when I come back I go for a few laps in the Akanda temple. Akanda means infinate or "never ends". Here the Sri Ram-mantra is chanted throughout the day whilst walking round a shrine with "Papas" remains. Then I do my Yoga with the good Harnam Singh in the headphones. Usually there is a little laundry and when that's done I sit in the chair outside my room and read. For the moment a book with Ramana Maharshis teachings.
Then it's lunch and after that I take the bus into the nearby town Khanhangad and do my e-mails. Wich are quite a few since I started this webjourney. Many friends write. Many are going to India and want to hook up later on. Some preorder my CD to support the trip. Unfortunatley the Internetcafe' is next door to "Iceland" an Icecreamplace with to much to good stuff. In this heat it can be difficult to pass by!
Back in the Ashram it's afternoon tea in the dininghall or in the room. A guy
is walking around with a kettle serving all guests. After that is Satsang
(meating in truth.). Sri Muktananda (second in charge) reads from Papas books.
Shower number three or four is followed by a siesta.
Dinner is at seven p.m.
and at eight it's Bhajan time for me.
After I have finished, the eveningceremony starts with 45 minutes Sri Ram-chanting followed by Arathi. A ceremony with kampher candles, a lot of compassion and gratitude for Papa and Mataji (Krishnabai, see linked webpage) and the planet as a whole. It's a Hindu way of doing things but yet not religious in that sense. All is welcome here. Around, inside the temple are photos and paintings of Saints and Sages of all times. Nityananda, Muktananda, Vivekananda and more. But also Buddha and the Sikh Guru Nanak. Over the main entrance is a picture of Jesus Christ. And it's a very relaxed form. Not like us when we try to do something sacred. 'Then sometimes it's almost redicilously "serious". Here they don't mind if the cellphone rings in the middle of the "peak" of the ceremony...it's just a part of life and they live and breathe with their traditions every day
/Bertil