hey... ive been to india. and i think its a truly beautiful place.. im going there in the summer by myself again. the fourth time in my life. (well.. my uncle is going to pick me up there but.. ) its just. beautiful. however.. i find it sad aswell.. the poverty. the poverty.. ohh.... i cannot stand walking out in the streets.. and finding a little girl staring at me hungrily, wearing just a pair of underwear and a small tank top. her hands and open, begging for food... i don't know.. that really leaves a hole in my heart... but well.. aside from those things.. the taj mahal is magnificent. the first time i saw it, i stared at it for 5 minutes, gaping at its structure and form... i stayed there for a few hours... enchanted by its captivating beauty. my uncle is gonig to buy a place there and is going to open up a school. my grandparents are going to teach along with a few other people. india is really something... i have many memories from there.. and well.. i am half indian. its a part of me seeing all those people with no homes or money.. someday i hope to set up a shelter or something for the poor and hospitals for the sick.... time will tell...
Jedi, I thank you for your words of praise. It is true that many miss the beauty around them. It is as true in India as anywhere in the world. The essence of beauty is not confined to one geographic area, it is the very substratum of te entire universe. Does not the same sun rise and set on every country? Is it not the same wind that soothes the workman the world over? Yet, consistently, people fail to recognise this beauty around them. The fact of the matter is the world you see is a reflection of yourself. One who feels love in his heart will see the beloved everywhere. One who feels compassion within will be moved by the strife of those all around. One who only desires material riches, will only see filth on one hand and high rise buildings on the other. One who holds god in his heart will see the entire creation as but His glory, in its infinite beauty and endless intricacy. May the beauty this is the world, fill your heart with the love of the Lord. Such love is its own fulfilment, an everlasting fount of joy, an endless reservoir of peace and contentment.
Bhaskar, Ap ki pas ek sundar mun hei (You have a beautiful heart and mind). Your words ring true regarding the nearly universal feature of human nature to experience the unknown (the new, the different, the mysterious other) primarily in terms of what one "knows." This instinctive, habitual caution may increase one's chances for physical survival, but it can also hinder one's intellectual and spiritual growth if one gives it too much power over one's consciousness. If the "known" prevents one from experiencing the unknown as it actually is, then the unknown tends to remain unknown. When this happens, learning, growth, wisdom, consciousness and one's relationship to reality are at risk of being unnecessarily limited, if not stopped altogether (in the worst cases). So, just as a thought experiment, consider this completely fictional scenario. As far as I know, for most people this would qualify as an unknown. What if one day a hovering ball of light were to appear ten feet above the most significant location of every major city in the world. How do you think people would respond? I would not be surprised if some people assumed it was God. Others might be just as willing to believe it was Satan, or angels, or Jesus, or Vishnu, or a military threat, or evidence of a world-wide conspiratorial shadow government, or space aliens, or a very elaborate public art project, or a fascinating electro-magnetic phenomenon, or a revolutionary new source of energy, or . . . about this unknown, well, who knows? Most would entertain some idea of what it must be, and they would probably see only what that perception-shaping idea allowed them to see. Probably only a few would accept it as a mystery long enough to just observe it in wonder and ask "What is it, really?" These few, these mystics and scientists, would be the first ones to "know" what it is. And your post reminded me of a quote. I may be wrong about the source, but I believe it was Hillel, the mystic from first century B.C. who stated - "When a thief meets a saint, all he sees is pockets."
Beloved varuna (that is a beautiful name) While I agree with what you say, I would like to point out that this way of experiencing the world, not as it is, but as we are, can be a very good thing spiritually. The whole goal of spiritual progress is to shed the ego, to see the lord everywhere, to find oneness with everything in the midst of a world of duality. To see bhagawan everywhere is a great thing indeed, in fact to do so would be nothing short of nirvana or realisation, the end of all spiritual pursuits. When we only see beauty everywhere, it shows that out antahkarana (inner being) is beautiful and pure. To see malice, evil and hatred on all sides only shows that our atahkarana is teeming with negativities. Similarly when we see God alone everywhere, then God alone is within us also, this state of union with God is what is final liberation, nirvana, moksha, freedom, realization, call it what you like. Om namo narayanaya Bhaskar
I've been to India and would recommend it to everyone - except people who don't like dirt, the heat or visible signs of absolutely deprived poverty. It's ok to go on your own if you're a girl as India is the safest place I've ever been. You'll have to dress as Indian women do - a long tunic thing and baggy pants but these are nice and light and come in lovely patterns and colours. If you dress like you do at home -skimpy tops etc you'll just be asking for trouble and get groped all the time. Plenty of places to fly into -Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Calcutta - I'd recommend Delhi, I didn't find it too difficult to adjust to but make sure to arrive during the day. Don't visit Haridwar. The attitude to westerners is so negative it's almost frightening and will give you a bad feeling for ages after. Do travel by road as it does give you more freedom to stop where you want and winter is the best time to go.
haridwar is one of the lovliest, most sacred places I have been to. I am sorry that your experience was negative, I have seen many people from around the world there who seemed very happy to be there. The name itself is beautiful...hari dwar...the halls of Sri Hari. Hari is a name for Lord Vishnu, the preserver and protector of all beings.
i dont really get the auroville vision....can someone explain it to me? it seems like a kinda cult. is it? pm if you want to tell me a little more about it
Auroville is the ashram of the great saint and philosopher, Sri Aurobindo. He was a man of great knowledge and wisdom, his commentaries on the vedas, upanishads and bhagawad geeta are of worldwide reknown. His work is beautifully worded and extremely scholarly. Even today, decades after his passing, the ashram is a haven for the spiritual seeker, where you can spend your days in quiet introspection, study and meditation. It is one of the lovliest parts of one of the lovliest parts of the world.
I'm in India at the moment and loving it, spent a week in Harayana, back in Delhi now the last few days and I'm off to Agra in the morning and then getting the overnight train to Varanasi. The touts in Delhi wreck the buzz a bit but they can't take away from the overall buzz. Can't wait to see more of the country, so far Mother India is looking after me well.
Had to stay in Agra last night because the overnight train to Varansi was booked out, Agra is a awful hell hole, nothing but touts eerywhere wrecking your head can't wait to get out of it, got loads of mosquito bites on the face and hands aswell last night, I look like a 16 year odl with acne. Lucky my arms and legs were covered or I'd be completely ruined. Can'twait to get out of here and on to Varanasi. This has been my first bad experience in India, but for Agra I suppose it was to be expected.
I'm in Varanasi now, got here yesterday and I love it, there's such a lovely vibe here and it's the nicest played so far by far, you've got the same shit here like everywhere else, anyone who talks to you and seems friendly wants to sell you something or get you to come look in their cousins silk shop but it's not as bad as Delhi or Agra. It's a shame you get these people in the tourist destination becuase I was in Harayana and met loads of normal Indian people and they are not like this. If one only visited the major tourist destinations they would probably think all of the country was like this. Saw them cremating the bodies down by the Ganges which was a mad experience and took a boat ride on the ganges this morning which was lovely. Anyway, more reports will follow!
I love Varanasi. I spent a week there during my year in India. One day, I went down to the Ghats and sat for about three hours just experiencing the river, the Bhaktis, the funerals, the sublime being of it all.
im going to india the first of june! woo hoo. my friends are already over there. they say its so beautiful. but that when i come over it will be the wet season, so we are probably going to go up into the hills. i dont really know what that means? has anybody been up in the mountains of india. and what is this like? also i want to see the taj mahal and go to a beach party in goa. is it hard (long time, expensive?)to travel around the country. thanks
Goa is shit hot now, I'm in Varanasi still which is also hotting up. Most people are heading to Haridwar, Rishikesh and other places in Uttranchal and in May and June people will be going to Himachal Pradesh. Goa would be far to hot at this time of year for your tender Irish skin. When you hit India and you are staying in Budget accomadation you'll start to meet loads of other travellers and you find out the jazz about where to go. I'm travelling alone but have met so many bang on people so far it's unreal. The Taj Mahal is lovely, but the place where it is called Agra is fucking horrible. Check out Varanasi aswell if you get a chance it's a lovely spot.
yes my must see place are varanassi, jaisalmer (for a camel trek) jaipur, udaipur, and some areas in keralla, although im beginnning to think that is not an option if you say ts too hot in goa....
