My own Indian sanctuary....

Indiaevan · Jun 9th, 2005, 04:48

Well, its kind of a misnomer, I haven't gotten to India yet, but I'll be in Bangalore soon for a year, and I'm planning on finding a place of solace to contemplate and come to terms with all the chaos, its always something I've felt the need to do, in Washington state I cultivated a bonsai garden, in DC I visited the capitol building and did a "Rocky steps" type workout followed by meditation (really!! the secret service always gave me the weirdest looks... and had me followed for the first month or so, that I noticed). In Paris I would visit this little garden near the Rue de Rivoli and watch streams of people pass by. I always found the best relaxation in the morning as the blue light of the sun scattered through the atmosphere...but thats just me...

I'm new to this forum and I was just wondering how people found their own private sanctuaries in India (or beyond), and if you feel comfortable, describing the process or locations so that I might share in the spirit of the place, action, or practice through my various travels in that crazy country, I would be eternally grateful. Any stories of those moments when you truly felt at peace with the world are especially welcome.

I remember backpacking it through Italy once, stuffed with pizza from Sorrento and Napoli, on the last leg of my trip back to France, pockets empty and my railpass the only thing providing me with lodging for the night. I decided to make a detour in the middle of the night towards a little region called Cinque Terre on the Northwest Coast of the boot. Little did I know I would arrive in a miniature town with no lights on, the conductor using a boot and his extensive english "Off Now!" to let me know it was time to leave. I walked into the darkness of this tiny village, watching the crescent moon sink into the dark sea, wondering if there was any place to store my pack for the hike. Luckily for me, sane people weren't awake at that hour and so I settled on a bench to watch the predawn. Thirty seconds and a grumbling stomach later, I caught the whiff of a bakery, proffered change, and recieved the most delicious pastry outside of Paris, white powdered sugar coating the still warm mixture of yeast and raspberry filling. With this feast squared away, I began walking, 50lb pack on my back, determined to figure out what the guidebook was raving about. They mentioned a trail connecting 5 villages, they didn't mention a two foot wide vertical staircase that only stopped going up when it was going down for the four 200 meter hills inbetween the five villages. I was thinking the book was commissioned by the tourist commission of the region when I finally reached the top of the first hill... With the smell of lemon groves infusing my nostrils, I beheld the coastline, snaking slowly out, the hills behind completely (almost, I could still see the trail) greyed out in the indistinction of early morning light, with little pinpricks glowing in the distance to distinguish the towns from the light mist stretching into the future. I froze there, in solitude, in silence, at dawn with the Mediterreanean to my right, my hot breath warming the sky, and with beauty at my feet, and I was content...

Naturally an asian couple came around the next bend 5 minutes later and asked me to take a picture of them, but for that first hour, i had peace.

Anyway, Peace be on you

shpatel · Jun 9th, 2005, 08:01

Welcome Indiaevan, I know you will have many of those experiences in India as I did.

One memory that really stands out as a peaceful moment was when I was in Kibber in HP. I walked a little bit outside the small town and sat there on a ledge in the evening sunlight. At an altitude of about 14,500 ft, there were no trees, no birds and not a single animal or human being in sight.

I was amazed as this was the first time in India I was completely alone. I sat there in utter silence, my mind not believing how quiet it really was. At first I had all these thoughts about how beautiful my surroundings were and then all of a sudden I heard my heart beating. I could hear myself breathing and for the first time in life, my mind had reached a balance. I sat there for a long time and contemplated what the purpose of my life was. Why had god given me the opportunity to experience this. And my questions were finally answered as I sat there. My most beautiful experince in life.

shpatel · Jun 10th, 2005, 01:52

It was near Kibber in Himachal Pradesh

iyou · Jun 10th, 2005, 03:02

The Banganga Tank at Walkeshwar, in south Bombay, is my place for peaceful contemplation. Of course you're never completely alone there, but there's an amazingly tranquil atmosphere surrounding the area.
.
.
.

vista · Jun 10th, 2005, 04:00

the coastal redwoods in noethern california is mine.

though southern india(mudumali/silent valley) is a close second.

nickooji · Jun 13th, 2005, 00:56

Khir Ganga near Manikaran in HP, probably just a days treck away

anandi · Jun 13th, 2005, 02:34

Near Bangalore there is the Art of Living Ashram run by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar...a wonderful peaceful place to sit and meditate as you gaze over the hills. You will find many places on your own, but ashrams always offer a nice setting.

smilingbuddah · Jun 13th, 2005, 03:46

Sitting on the second floor of the golden temple im amritsar for about 3 hours with my eyes closed as they chanted accompanied by tabla and pump organ
Wow that was a nice meditation Thanx for the memory.........S.B.

Jun 9th, 2005, 04:48	#1
Indiaevan Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10	My own Indian sanctuary.... Well, its kind of a misnomer, I haven't gotten to India yet, but I'll be in Bangalore soon for a year, and I'm planning on finding a place of solace to contemplate and come to terms with all the chaos, its always something I've felt the need to do, in Washington state I cultivated a bonsai garden, in DC I visited the capitol building and did a "Rocky steps" type workout followed by meditation (really!! the secret service always gave me the weirdest looks... and had me followed for the first month or so, that I noticed). In Paris I would visit this little garden near the Rue de Rivoli and watch streams of people pass by. I always found the best relaxation in the morning as the blue light of the sun scattered through the atmosphere...but thats just me... I'm new to this forum and I was just wondering how people found their own private sanctuaries in India (or beyond), and if you feel comfortable, describing the process or locations so that I might share in the spirit of the place, action, or practice through my various travels in that crazy country, I would be eternally grateful. Any stories of those moments when you truly felt at peace with the world are especially welcome. I remember backpacking it through Italy once, stuffed with pizza from Sorrento and Napoli, on the last leg of my trip back to France, pockets empty and my railpass the only thing providing me with lodging for the night. I decided to make a detour in the middle of the night towards a little region called Cinque Terre on the Northwest Coast of the boot. Little did I know I would arrive in a miniature town with no lights on, the conductor using a boot and his extensive english "Off Now!" to let me know it was time to leave. I walked into the darkness of this tiny village, watching the crescent moon sink into the dark sea, wondering if there was any place to store my pack for the hike. Luckily for me, sane people weren't awake at that hour and so I settled on a bench to watch the predawn. Thirty seconds and a grumbling stomach later, I caught the whiff of a bakery, proffered change, and recieved the most delicious pastry outside of Paris, white powdered sugar coating the still warm mixture of yeast and raspberry filling. With this feast squared away, I began walking, 50lb pack on my back, determined to figure out what the guidebook was raving about. They mentioned a trail connecting 5 villages, they didn't mention a two foot wide vertical staircase that only stopped going up when it was going down for the four 200 meter hills inbetween the five villages. I was thinking the book was commissioned by the tourist commission of the region when I finally reached the top of the first hill... With the smell of lemon groves infusing my nostrils, I beheld the coastline, snaking slowly out, the hills behind completely (almost, I could still see the trail) greyed out in the indistinction of early morning light, with little pinpricks glowing in the distance to distinguish the towns from the light mist stretching into the future. I froze there, in solitude, in silence, at dawn with the Mediterreanean to my right, my hot breath warming the sky, and with beauty at my feet, and I was content... Naturally an asian couple came around the next bend 5 minutes later and asked me to take a picture of them, but for that first hour, i had peace. Anyway, Peace be on you

Jun 9th, 2005, 08:01	#2
shpatel Made in India Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chicago, USA Posts: 109	Welcome Indiaevan, I know you will have many of those experiences in India as I did. One memory that really stands out as a peaceful moment was when I was in Kibber in HP. I walked a little bit outside the small town and sat there on a ledge in the evening sunlight. At an altitude of about 14,500 ft, there were no trees, no birds and not a single animal or human being in sight. I was amazed as this was the first time in India I was completely alone. I sat there in utter silence, my mind not believing how quiet it really was. At first I had all these thoughts about how beautiful my surroundings were and then all of a sudden I heard my heart beating. I could hear myself breathing and for the first time in life, my mind had reached a balance. I sat there for a long time and contemplated what the purpose of my life was. Why had god given me the opportunity to experience this. And my questions were finally answered as I sat there. My most beautiful experince in life. __________________ Let the world change you...and you can change the world -Ernesto Guevara de la Serna

Jun 10th, 2005, 03:02	#4
iyou Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Posts: 502	The Banganga Tank at Walkeshwar, in south Bombay, is my place for peaceful contemplation. Of course you're never completely alone there, but there's an amazingly tranquil atmosphere surrounding the area. . . . __________________ . . . --May a moody baby doom a yam.

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Jun 10th, 2005, 01:52	#3
shpatel Made in India Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chicago, USA Posts: 109	It was near Kibber in Himachal Pradesh

Jun 10th, 2005, 04:00	#5
vista Account Closed Join Date: May 2005 Location: san diego Posts: 40	the coastal redwoods in noethern california is mine. though southern india(mudumali/silent valley) is a close second.

Jun 13th, 2005, 00:56	#6
nickooji X-Walah Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: England Posts: 39	Khir Ganga near Manikaran in HP, probably just a days treck away

Jun 13th, 2005, 02:34	#7
anandi Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: toronto Posts: 182	Near Bangalore there is the Art of Living Ashram run by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar...a wonderful peaceful place to sit and meditate as you gaze over the hills. You will find many places on your own, but ashrams always offer a nice setting.

Jun 13th, 2005, 03:46	#8
smilingbuddah Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 18	Sitting on the second floor of the golden temple im amritsar for about 3 hours with my eyes closed as they chanted accompanied by tabla and pump organ Wow that was a nice meditation Thanx for the memory.........S.B.

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