In the Capital !!!

Towards the end of this winter (only for the north of India, really!) I spent a few days in Delhi with my husband. Allow me to share my travel photos.......


Streets of Delhi
Detail of a rickshaw – we don’t have these in Mumbai! ha! ha! It was funny to ride in these....


Red Fort- Walking midst History.

Here is where the Republic Day Parade ends each year which we all see broadcast on National Television, this was the first time I stood there! ^_^

Inside the Red Fort: Diwan-e-aam, the Emperor held court here with the common people.

Squirrels! they were everywhere!

Thousands drive by the Red Fort each day where the Yamuna once flowed.

We had hired a guide, who in poetic hindi explained to us its history for only Rs.100!! and we stood listening to him besides, the emperor’s chambers, I imagined the emperor and his family enjoying a pleasant morning - the Yamuna flowing by... the forest beyond in mist.. a peacock’s cry renting the still air! ^_^ ...Sigh!

The Emperor' private mosque is now closed to the public, so we were peering through the jali windows.

Inside the mosque is a fountain where the Emperor could perform the ritual washing of hands and feet before saying prayers, isn't that beautiful? a fountain to yourself ^ ^

The Bath house which was meant only for women is also closed to the public, if you look closely, (not too clear here), the floor is in-laid with precious stones, such as lapis lazuli and mother of pearl.

Majnu -ka -Tilla: vibrant Tibetan Community.

We stayed in Majnu-ka -tilla, which is really far from South Delhi and the airport! but we loved it!

From all corners one can smell Tibetan incense burning.....mmmmm.....

I truly admire the Tibetans for making something good out of the place they have been given by the Government ^_^ . You will find many travellers staying at the hotels here. Dalai Lama's serene portrait smiles at you benevolently when you enter all shops, restaurants, travel agent offices and hotels ^_^

At M.T you can eat thukpa, momos, drink butter tea....buy incense, jewellery-turquoise,coral....or just walk around, it is much safer than most parts of Delhi ^ ^ which is what I like best about M.T.

A monastery at M.T- the monks inside were preparing decorative sculptures made out of dough in preparation for Losar, the Tibetan New Year ^ ^

Mithu Sen , for free!

The travel to Delhi also coincided with artist Mithu Sen’s exhibition at Khoj residency. While I was there, a writer-friend called requesting me to collect an art-work from Mithu Sen and so I arrived at the opening, knowing nothing about the show!

The pink rooms, everything blew me away! and I was so grateful that Shubhalakshmi had requested me to come to Khoj ^_^ The show was suffused with love! Pink love!

Above: The art-works to be given away, displayed (hidden) in kitschy bags fashioned from pillow-cases! Mithu Sen is to the far right.

About the show: Mithu Sen had invited people through her blog and website to write letters to her and in exchange she would give them an art-work done by her for free! They could do what they wanted with the art-work, ...even destroy it, but .....with love!

Kutub Minar- eternal splendour.

My jaws dropped when I saw the Kutub Minar for the first time! India is beautiful! This is such a magnificent example of Islamic art! ^_^

Within the surroundings of the Minar are these beautifully carved pillars.

Detail of carved walls of entrances and arches, reaching high up.

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There is so much more to share but these pictures should suffice, I can't wait to explore more of Delhi- ruins or otherwise ^_^

Love + light !!!

Re-visiting Igatpuri - Vipassana, insight meditation.

The view from where my room was. A detail of the bell which was rung to call for meditation and meal times taken in the morning. From here one could see the sun rise over the distant hills like a dome. It filled your being with gladness. A perfect way to begin the day. ^_^

The bell in the pavillion, the architecture is in Burmese style.

View of the entrance to the Pagoda. At the top are little wind-bells which tinkle most beautifully in the wind. I have taken these pictures when the sun has'nt completely come up yet. By noon the gold of the pagoda shines brilliantly against the blue sky

Letting it all sink in, sharing the dhamma. (dharma)I've just returned from a ten day course of Vipassana meditation. Although this is my fifth time, it feels as if the work has only now begun. True, the earlier courses did help me, I derived much benefit from it. I used to suffer from migraines, and I mean suffer! but from the time I did my first sitting, gradually the migraines lost their intensity and faded away. Of course, the meditation is not meant only for those with migraines or serious emotional and mental issues. With Vipassana, that is something that just happens once you start practising , all these psychosomatic illnesses start going away.

About the courseNow, what is Vipassana meditation? The word Vipassana means insight, to look at things in a special way, from as many points of view. This technique of meditation was discovered and taught by the historical Buddha 2,500 years ago. Please read the official site to get better and more accurate information, I am after all only a student. http://www.dhamma.org/

Experience of other meditators.

While surfing the internet, I found much to my pleasant surprise plenty of blog-posts by first-time vipassana meditators, most having done the course while travelling in India or abroad. While doing so I found out that Alanis Morisette wrote the song, 'Thank You' afetr finishing her first course, vow! now I know the reason to the lyrics, I had always wondered about the song, hmmmm... I am posting links below but bewarned each one's experience is unique although everyone agrees it is beneficial in the end.http://www.adventureguide.com/articles/Vipassana.htm
http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Uttar-Pradesh/Varanasi/blog-138927.html http://lifecoachesblog.com/2008/01/07/thai-sojourn-vipassana-part-1/

A basic sketch of the ten days
When you join the course you for 10 days, you are asked to take five precepts, (no intoxicants, no stealing,....) which will strenghten your sila, (pali language at Buddha's time in India)that is morality. This is essential to the practise. You also refrain from speaking to your co-meditators for nine days. Of course you may speak with the teachers regarding the technique or the management if you need anything. All this has a good reason which becomes clear as you go deeper into your practise and the practise requires you to go very deep indeed. Take my word for it. On the ninth day you can talk as much you like and make friends with everyone. ^_^

Next for three and a half days you will practise samadhi, that is concentration, mastery over the mind. What is the tool with which you will practise? your breath, natural breath, for this is universal.

By the fourth day, now that your mind has become sharper and concentrated you practise Vipassana, which means you observe the sensations on your body wether pleasant or unpleasant and remain aware and equanimous. No one becomes a master Vipassana medtitator in a ten days course but you are taking the first step on the path to liberation.

By practsing Vipassana, you are developing wisdom from your own experience since none one can help you but yourself. Vipassana is a non-sectarian practise and anyone can do it without giving up their own faith or beliefs. It is a universal practise. In my own experience I have seen people from all denominations of life at the course. I find this experience hugely good for my ego. It brings me straight back to earth. In everyday life we tend to separarte ourselves from those we don't want to mix with. But here we are meditating with Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Old people, young people, the rich, the poor, people from different counries, everyone, we are kind to all. Everyone is treated equally.

On the last day you break your silence. Before that, you learn a new meditation, metta-bhavana, where you share your goodwill with all beings.Each course after metta and breaking silence, my eyes glisten, as if my heart is melting. One has to see for oneself the joy on everyone's faces. ^_^

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The reason why I am writing in such detail about my ten days is because I feel a great need to share this technique with others. So that it may help others as well. There is nothing mysterious or complicated about Vipassana. The teaching is so clear , it is as if you can see straight to the bottom of the lake. But the first dip in the waters only you can take.

Usually I shy from mentioning about Vipassana knowing people may not want to make a committment of any sort let alone give the technique a fair trial. But there are thousands who have done so and onl for the better of it. Come see for yourself. Do a course some time in your life. The Bodhi seed is there in all of us. ^_^

My own resolve
We have been so conditioned to look and see outside of ourselves that it is impossible to understand a life where after dinner instead of watching T.V for an hour which although may be entertaining we can instead medtitate, that too a practise which will help change our habbit patterns.

One has to have to have strong determination if one wants to bring a change in one's life. With continued effort it can be done. I intend to do so without losing heart. If I do happen to miss an hour of sitting in morning or evening , due to travel or any other reason, never mind I pick up and start again. Always the middle path, no extremes. ^_^

Love & light !
In the words of Goenkaji,
May you be happy! May you be liberated! ^_^

Additional linksVipassana introduced in Tihar Jail, Documentary "Doing Time Doing Vipassanahttp://www.dhamma.org/en/av/dtdv.shtml
modern medicine/health and vipassanahttp://indiahealthtour.com/alternative_healing/meditation.html