…and consider this an open thread, too, in case anybody wants to comment on whatever might be on their minds
First to Carole: Thanks so much for relaying word about the "69 wives" — I’m really glad to hear that you gals are still following my adventures. Who knows? Maybe one day the bandwidth here will get good enough for me to resume membership on the Mailing List That Shall Not Be Named.
As for your concerns about those recommendations against my posting, I should like to add some clarifications, not just for you, but for anyone else who might be concerned about censorship issues, free speech and all that. First, at the very top of things, please let me remind everyone that I am now in a country with different rules, and a different culture — and I have to respect this, as a guest. For instance, in America as a citizen, I felt more-or-less free to express a whole lot criticism for my government and in particular towards the reactionary fascists who attempted to hijack a democratic republic for their own imperialistic, capitalistic desires. If I were only a visiting guest… you get the idea, nu?
But closer home to this concept of saying much about my adventures here specifically at the ashram, there are a couple issues at play, some of which I can agree with and others I don’t.
One for example is that I just don’t post things that could be considered ashram ‘news’. Why? Because it’s not my place to pre-announce things, or put my own spin on events before the people who have the right to do so — the ashram management and Swami Kaleshwar himself — can say how such should be reported to the world, and when. When a mid-level staffer at some company or in some gov’t organization releases information on their own, it’s called what? A leak, which may or may not be authorized, but that’s not the point. The point is that I’m not a person who does that sort of thing (at least I hope not). Moreover, if I say the wrong thing at the wrong time, I could cause unwanted trouble, simply by being misunderstood. I don’t want that either.
Meanwhile, I do remain free to post about my personal feelings and experiences — just not when doing so or when there are details involved which could conceivably impinge on the ashram management’s right to run their own public relations. It’s simple respect, really.
Another issue relates to the nature of the teachings we’re getting at this ‘Soul University’ program. Again, I’m not going to post details on those — but only for the reason I agree with, and not for the other one that was also suggested. The reason I do agree with is that these teachings really do belong to Swami Kaleshar, and he’s the one who gets to say whether, when, and in what form they are made available. You want to learn more? Start with his website, or better still, go to one of his world-wide events or programs. Or attend one of the many classes taught by his certified teachers (of which I am not one, yet, but might be one day). Or apply to come to his ashram here in Penukonda, as we did.
The reason I didn’t agree with was the suggestion that people could possibly take literally ANYTHING I ever say, in the past or in the future, on the web or in print, as somehow being approved by or representative of Swami’s teachings or viewpoints. Frankly, although I think a whole of people are tree-stump stupid (witness anybody who voted for George W Bush…twice), seriously I don’t think anybody is so brain-dead as to confuse me and my words with him and his. If I say something like, "Meditation is really great and has done X for me" — nobody with two neurons to rub together is going to then think, "Swami Kaleshwar guarantees X if I meditate… hey, it’s not happening, what’s up with that?"
In other words, I have faith that people know that when I say something, even when it is about something I may have learned or thought I learned, that I am expressing only my own take on it, describing my own very personal, very subjective experiences — and never the ‘official’ canon. I’m not the source; he is.
From me, you may get a report that I found the water to be cool, clear and that it tastes delicious. To get your own glass, to have your own experience, see Swami for yourself. Or follow your own path, wherever it leads you. As it says on my main website’s flash movie, there are an infinite number of paths, but only one mountain. I just happen to have been lead to this one, and it’s working out pretty darned good for me so far.
Clear enough, and allays those concerns, I hope?
For Stormy: Hey, I always knew you were an empathic sort. Glad to hear you’re finally realizing it for yourself.
I do appreciate your suggestions, and believe me, I’m always looking for ways to help the less-fortunate on the larger scale. Still, I could give a million dollars (if I had such, which I don’t) to any charitable organization, provide the means to feed hundreds or thousands, or give medical care or shelter — and still it wouldn’t change the fact there’s an endless supply of husbandless women with young children, standing on street corners begging for pocket change. Nor does it change the fact they see me as a prosperous white-skinned westerner and immediately assume I can and will give to them, if only they make their pain and privation apparent to me.
And I do, because I have a very hard time doing otherwise. Now I do know that sometimes these beggars really aren’t that bad off — and a kid in nice clothes with a book bag slung over his shoulder ain’t gonna get rupees from me just for the asking (as has happened more than once). And if I’ve given once, and I pass by a few minute later and am accosted by the same beggar, I feel within rights not to give a second time.
But my post the other day was intended to express a little exasperation over the fact that being a pale-skinned Western woman, I really do get targeted heavily by every beggar, street vendor, and autorickshaw driver within blocks every time I go out onto the streets of Bangalore. I’ve learned how to handle the vendors and rickshaw drivers (hand shake, head shake, eyes away… "no thank you" if they’re persistent and "beh-lah" (a semi-rude form of "no" if they’re really pushy).
The beggars though… sometimes they make me just want to weep. And I wanted to ask my blog-friend, RacerOla, who is of Indian ancestry himself, his personal view of the cultural imperatives that I ought to consider. Seriously, some here have said I should never give to the beggars as it only encourages them, some have said always to give to anyone who asks. So I don’t know what is actually right or proper, on those individual cases. I’ve a feeling though he’ll tell me to do what I’ve been doing: Give when it feels right, don’t when it doesn’t, and don’t feel guilty if I’ve given away my last 2 rupee coin and yet another beggar shows up.
Anyway, I miss you too, my dear friend — and even though I believe I will likely be here for some time yet, dearly do hope one day you and I can sit down and have any number of very long chats on all those topics we enjoy. Take care and much love your way.
cheers,
Becca
Translations
Okay, so what is the mission? Funny, I thought the banner behind his head in that eponymous (I would dare say ‘albatrossian’) photo said the Mission was already Complete.
From what he’s said repeatedly, the ‘mission’ is this other vague thing called ‘victory’ — which Mr. Bush has also never bothered to define. Or when he does, it is either with jingoistic sloganeering, or outright lies (WMDs anyone? Mushroom cloud smoking guns?).
Yeesh… I think I’ve figured out what the mission has become: For our brave fighting men and women to stay put, so Mr. Bush doesn’t have to endure the personal shame of ordering their withdrawal. Because he is simply not man enough ever to admit he made a mistake. That seems to be the only reason left that makes any sense whatsoever.