I had no idea that when I planned to come to Kerala instead of Goa or Sri Lanka what I would be in for. Kerala is famous for cash crops like coconut, pineapple, rubber, tea, coffee, pepper, cardamom, areca nut, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon etc. and food crops like paddy (rice) … Read More
One of the main intentions I had in coming to India on sabbatical was to see, feel and experience how one pot cooking feeds the sense of belonging to those that are participating in the planning, preparation, cooking and eating. What was revealed to me right away were some of … Read More
After staying with Reeta Gupta’s family and her home in Varanasi I’ve learned to appreciate what it means to stay at what they call a “homestay”. In a previous writing I mentioned how much I felt welcomed into their home with their gracious hospitality. Well… I found something similar here … Read More
I realized that I forgot to write about my time in-between the sadhana mandir ashram and my trip down south to Kochi. To be honest… I’ve been so busy here in Kochi staying at LeLinda homestay cooking and exploring that I needed to slow down and rest the last couple … Read More
10/29/2018 – I write this on the airplane traveling from Delhi to Kochi, India while 2/3 of the people on the airplane are a group of a “semester study abroad” college students from the US. I guess I needed to write this now. ???? “Everything happens for your benefit” … Read More
Having been in India for over a month now I have learned so much about this country, the culture and the people. A couple of the things I have learned are how much the people do not think they really lack anything even though they may be poor… and how … Read More
There’s been a conversation going on in my life for a while that discusses what it means to be at peace… having peace of mind… a joyful way of being and looking at life… in a state of happiness. This topic has been amplified as I’ve been studying A Course … Read More
I arrived here in Rishikesh on October 17, 2018 and made my way to Swami Rama’s Sadhana Mandir Ashram. Why Sadhana Mandir you may ask. I took some classes with Dr. Rudy Ballentine who was Swami Rama’s doctor at his ashram in New York and I wanted to see what … Read More
After 24 days in Varanasi it was time for me to make my way to Rishikesh for meditation and yoga. I know what you might be thinking, I just finished a 10-day vipassana course and in under a week later I’m taking another course in meditation and yoga. Yup, that’s … Read More
I have wanted to take a 10-day vipassana course since a few friends told me about it a few years ago. Since I was traveling to India and a town called Sarnath, about 14km from Varanasi I found a place called Dhamma Chakka Meditation Center. Here’s a bit of a … Read More