A month in India feels like a really, really long time!

Greetings Friends,

Traveling in North India is much more difficult than Southern India or maybe I am worn out! The ever present Holy Cow wandering the streets at night may look charming in a photo but there are thousands and thousands of dogs, cows and now in the North, monkeys, camels and horses all scrounging in trash piles for food. All homeless, simply wandering the streets. It is difficult to decide who to help so I give money to the beggars and I feed the dogs with my leftovers from dinner. And yet most of the people I have met seem happy and always willing to share. The Sadhu's in the picture fed me along with some other guests and even gave me 20 rupee during a huge celebration called Bhandari. We eat, sitting cross legged on the floor, on a plate of dried banana leaves using the fingers of the right hand as a utensil, scooping up the food. Many different curries and rice or my favorite, puris, hot bread fried in ghee! The sadhu make fun of me as I struggle to get on and off the floor!

Sarnath was another world. As soon as we entered the massive gates of the Tibetan Monastery I was whisked out of India and into peace and quiet and beauty. Not a scrap of paper anywhere. This is the area where Buddha began His teachings and there are many schools and sects there.

Another overnight train to Vrindavan and I am in the place of Krishnas Birth. I love the sweet feeling of this place especially compared to Varanasi where the intense energy of Shiva abounds. I have spent alot of time in Neem Karoli Babas Ashram and have had some wonderful meditations in his Shrine. Purnima and I had the good fortune to meet Babas Son and last living relative. He told us his Father was fun to be around but he did not know he was a Saint, only that his Father 'traveled alot'. He is quite old now and it was precious to spend a few minutes with him.

I miss you all and carry you in my heart.
Love,
Maureen