There is a poem in the Basal Reader we use in 3rd grade, I think it is called "I'm in charge of celebrations." The poet writes about how she doesn't wait for a calendar or holiday to tell her what to celebrate, she gets her cues from nature and celebrates the new year in the spring. I love this idea. Jesus and I have always talked about how we are more motivated to make changes or "new resolutions" in the Spring than in January. I think it has something to do with our basic nature. After all, we are animals and we are just as affected by nature's patterns as any other animal.
Speaking of Spring...the showers are here, now I'm just waiting for the SUN!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
www.acomplaintfreeworld.com
Of all the complainers out there, I am slowly becoming one of the best! As a teacher, feeling overwhelmed by the non-stop demands, it is EASY (so-so-so easy) to slip into complaint mode. So, when I woke up this morning to the Sunday Morning Show playing on CBS and heard Bill Geist's voice and something about a complaint-free world, I sat up and paid attention. The segment was ending, so I went on line and this is what I found.
BILL GEIST: Complaint-Free Living
This is a story you definitely can’t complain about. Rev. Will Bowen has created a program to help people stop complaining. It involves wearing a purple rubber bracelet around your wrist. So far, he’s distributed nearly five million of these purple bracelets from the basement of his Kansas City church. It’s all part of his campaign to create a complaint-free world. Bill Geist has no complaints when he visits the church where the 11th commandment might just be “Thou shalt not whine.”
www.acomplaintfreeworld.org
Reverend Bowen is the Minister at Christ Church Unity in Kansas City, Mo.
I think I'll give it a try.
BILL GEIST: Complaint-Free Living
This is a story you definitely can’t complain about. Rev. Will Bowen has created a program to help people stop complaining. It involves wearing a purple rubber bracelet around your wrist. So far, he’s distributed nearly five million of these purple bracelets from the basement of his Kansas City church. It’s all part of his campaign to create a complaint-free world. Bill Geist has no complaints when he visits the church where the 11th commandment might just be “Thou shalt not whine.”
www.acomplaintfreeworld.org
Reverend Bowen is the Minister at Christ Church Unity in Kansas City, Mo.
I think I'll give it a try.
Friday, March 21, 2008
I Think I Finally Get It
"What can we know? What are we all? Poor silly half-brained things peering out at the infinite, with the aspirations of angels and the instincts of beasts."
----Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
I've tried Christianity before, but it just never worked for me. It wasn't what I was looking for. However, I recognize that like most humans, I need a spiritual connection... hence the India trip.
So, I understand the need for that spiritual connection, what I have never been able to understand was this whole focus on original sin and the Garden of Eden and God being perfect and heaven and hell....and so on.
Last night Jesus and I watched "The Bank Job" at the movie theater. This movie, in light of Eliot Spitzer and all the other men/women of power who project an image of "holiness" but are in fact far from it, plus some recent news I have received of local people I know and their "sins", has opened my eyes to this need to have something or someone to look up to.
The movie is based on a true story of a bank robbery (of safe deposit boxes) in London that ends up revealing some very ugly secrets about some very important people. These important people will stop at nothing to keep these secrets or "sins" hidden.
I have always had a tendency to put people I respect up on a pedestal and then being totally horrified when I discover that they have no business being up there. I have always liked believing that there are these amazing people out there that I can model myself after. Jesus has never had that problem. At least, not that I can tell. After the movie he said, "We can admire certain characteristics that a person might have, but not 'worship' the person [or put them on a pedestal]." And that is when the following conversation took place in my head...
Me: Well then, who are we supposed to look up to?
Voice in my head: Why do you need someone to look up to?
M: I don't know, I just have always been looking for someone.
VIMH: That's why people turn to God. He is the only one you can look up to, everyone else is human and therefore flawed.
M: Ok, but like you said, "Why do I need someone to look up to?"
VIMH: Why do you need spirituality?
M: I don't know. I just feel like all the little mundane things of life sap all my energy, and giving it all meaning and purpose gives me energy to do all again tomorrow.
VIMH: So, why do you need someone to look up to?
M: [After a Loooooooong pause to think] Well, I've always said that adults are just big kids, I truly don't think there is much difference other than we are better liars and we fidget less (well some of us anyway). So, I guess just like a child needs parents to model themselves after, I am looking for someone to model myself after. Still, I'm left with the question, "Why do humans have this need to look up to someone who is morally better than they are?"
VIMH: Have you been able to answer the question, "Why do humans feel the need to make meaning of their lives?"
M: No.
VIMH: Yet you have given yourself permission to go after that meaning, without truly understanding it, true?
M: Yes.
VIMH: Then why not go after God without understanding it?
M: Good question. I don't know.
VIMH: Maybe you should watch Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth again.
M: Good idea.
----Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
I've tried Christianity before, but it just never worked for me. It wasn't what I was looking for. However, I recognize that like most humans, I need a spiritual connection... hence the India trip.
So, I understand the need for that spiritual connection, what I have never been able to understand was this whole focus on original sin and the Garden of Eden and God being perfect and heaven and hell....and so on.
Last night Jesus and I watched "The Bank Job" at the movie theater. This movie, in light of Eliot Spitzer and all the other men/women of power who project an image of "holiness" but are in fact far from it, plus some recent news I have received of local people I know and their "sins", has opened my eyes to this need to have something or someone to look up to.
The movie is based on a true story of a bank robbery (of safe deposit boxes) in London that ends up revealing some very ugly secrets about some very important people. These important people will stop at nothing to keep these secrets or "sins" hidden.
I have always had a tendency to put people I respect up on a pedestal and then being totally horrified when I discover that they have no business being up there. I have always liked believing that there are these amazing people out there that I can model myself after. Jesus has never had that problem. At least, not that I can tell. After the movie he said, "We can admire certain characteristics that a person might have, but not 'worship' the person [or put them on a pedestal]." And that is when the following conversation took place in my head...
Me: Well then, who are we supposed to look up to?
Voice in my head: Why do you need someone to look up to?
M: I don't know, I just have always been looking for someone.
VIMH: That's why people turn to God. He is the only one you can look up to, everyone else is human and therefore flawed.
M: Ok, but like you said, "Why do I need someone to look up to?"
VIMH: Why do you need spirituality?
M: I don't know. I just feel like all the little mundane things of life sap all my energy, and giving it all meaning and purpose gives me energy to do all again tomorrow.
VIMH: So, why do you need someone to look up to?
M: [After a Loooooooong pause to think] Well, I've always said that adults are just big kids, I truly don't think there is much difference other than we are better liars and we fidget less (well some of us anyway). So, I guess just like a child needs parents to model themselves after, I am looking for someone to model myself after. Still, I'm left with the question, "Why do humans have this need to look up to someone who is morally better than they are?"
VIMH: Have you been able to answer the question, "Why do humans feel the need to make meaning of their lives?"
M: No.
VIMH: Yet you have given yourself permission to go after that meaning, without truly understanding it, true?
M: Yes.
VIMH: Then why not go after God without understanding it?
M: Good question. I don't know.
VIMH: Maybe you should watch Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth again.
M: Good idea.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The List
DONE **Get the money (on its way to me now)
DONE**Get luggage (looking for something that converts into a backpack)
3. Buy tickets (looking for as few stops as possible--I hear changing flights there is hell)
4. Confirm taxi to Ashram
5. Get travelers checks
DONE**Get outlet converter
DONE**Get luggage (looking for something that converts into a backpack)
3. Buy tickets (looking for as few stops as possible--I hear changing flights there is hell)
4. Confirm taxi to Ashram
5. Get travelers checks
DONE**Get outlet converter
DONE**Get camera
DONE**Get laptop
9. Get comfortable/cool shoes
10. Look into international phone plan or skype.com for communication
11. Get shots (I have an appt. will cost almost $200)
DONE**Look into student loan repayment (because I want to enjoy my trip and not worry about this while I'm meditating)
13. Look into starting my masters in the fall (for the same reason as above)
To Be Continued.....
DONE**Get laptop
9. Get comfortable/cool shoes
10. Look into international phone plan or skype.com for communication
11. Get shots (I have an appt. will cost almost $200)
DONE**Look into student loan repayment (because I want to enjoy my trip and not worry about this while I'm meditating)
13. Look into starting my masters in the fall (for the same reason as above)
To Be Continued.....
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Other Stuff
My first thought was that I would only post about India on my blog until I got back. I wanted there to be a nice flow of information and I didn't want it interrupted by my random thoughts. But, I can't do it. Now that I have this as an outlet I'm addicted. Or, maybe it is just an excuse so I don't have to start cleaning my dirty house.
Which is my first ramble. Currently there is dust and dog hair on just about everything, and Marley has so kindly scattered old dried leaves from the fall (that we never raked up) all over our floors. There is sunshine pouring through all the windows (FINALLY!!!) and music playing. Usually that is enough to get me into the spring cleaning mode, but not today.
It is amazing what we can get used to. The house in this state would have bothered me to no end a few years ago, but now....Eh, it'll be there for me to clean later. Sometimes I wonder if there is something wrong with me. Why don't I behave more like most women. Or do I, but we're all so good at living a lie. For example, I will rush to try to clean up (a little) if I know family is stopping by and (a lot) if friends are coming over. But, if it is just me and Jesus and the dogs, I'm just not that motivated. I guess the mess doesn't bother me as much as the judgment from others.
My next ramble is all about bees. Do you have any idea how amazing these creatures are? I am constantly amazed at what I learn about them. In third grade we study the life cycle of flowering plants. As a natural extension of that we have to mention bees and their roll in pollination. This year we received an amazing bee video from the school corporation to share with the kids and I found a real beekeeper who agreed to come out to our school and talk to our students about bees. He even brought in real bees. They were in a secure and clear box (no need to worry). I think the other teacher and I asked more questions than the students did. Let me share some fascinating facts.
1. Female bees get no help or pampering, they work from the moment they are born to the moment they die.
2. Male bees get helped out from their cell upon hatching and are immediately fed by the females.
3. The Queen is only the queen because from the moment she was laid as a larva, and for the rest of her life, she receives a constant diet of Royal Jelly which is high in protein.
4. The Worker Bees (females) will do a dance to tell the others where the flowers are.
5. Royal Jelly is made by glands near the head of the worker bees.
6. Wax is produced from glands around their abdomens and is kneaded and chewed until it is pliable.
7. Bees have two stomachs. One is for digestion and the other is to store the nectar they are carrying to the hive.
8. The nectar mixes with enzymes in the bees stomach (helping to change it to honey) and then when they arrive at the hive there are bees waiting to suck this from their stomachs into their stomachs where is mixed with more enzymes and then spit up into the honeycomb cells for storage.
9. The cells are perfect hexagons.
10. For this nectar/enzyme mixture to turn into honey, it has to have the right amount of moisture too much or too little will ruin it. To maintain the correct amount of humidity, there are bees that stand at the edges of the hive and fan it with their wings. Once the honey is ready, the cell is sealed with wax for storage for the winter months.
There's tons more, but I think you get the idea. These are complex and amazing creatures who deserve our utmost respect. Without them we wouldn't have any fruits or vegetables. Worst of all, we wouldn't have honey. Which by the way (if it is not tampered with) will NEVER spoil.
Which is my first ramble. Currently there is dust and dog hair on just about everything, and Marley has so kindly scattered old dried leaves from the fall (that we never raked up) all over our floors. There is sunshine pouring through all the windows (FINALLY!!!) and music playing. Usually that is enough to get me into the spring cleaning mode, but not today.
It is amazing what we can get used to. The house in this state would have bothered me to no end a few years ago, but now....Eh, it'll be there for me to clean later. Sometimes I wonder if there is something wrong with me. Why don't I behave more like most women. Or do I, but we're all so good at living a lie. For example, I will rush to try to clean up (a little) if I know family is stopping by and (a lot) if friends are coming over. But, if it is just me and Jesus and the dogs, I'm just not that motivated. I guess the mess doesn't bother me as much as the judgment from others.
My next ramble is all about bees. Do you have any idea how amazing these creatures are? I am constantly amazed at what I learn about them. In third grade we study the life cycle of flowering plants. As a natural extension of that we have to mention bees and their roll in pollination. This year we received an amazing bee video from the school corporation to share with the kids and I found a real beekeeper who agreed to come out to our school and talk to our students about bees. He even brought in real bees. They were in a secure and clear box (no need to worry). I think the other teacher and I asked more questions than the students did. Let me share some fascinating facts.
1. Female bees get no help or pampering, they work from the moment they are born to the moment they die.
2. Male bees get helped out from their cell upon hatching and are immediately fed by the females.
3. The Queen is only the queen because from the moment she was laid as a larva, and for the rest of her life, she receives a constant diet of Royal Jelly which is high in protein.
4. The Worker Bees (females) will do a dance to tell the others where the flowers are.
5. Royal Jelly is made by glands near the head of the worker bees.
6. Wax is produced from glands around their abdomens and is kneaded and chewed until it is pliable.
7. Bees have two stomachs. One is for digestion and the other is to store the nectar they are carrying to the hive.
8. The nectar mixes with enzymes in the bees stomach (helping to change it to honey) and then when they arrive at the hive there are bees waiting to suck this from their stomachs into their stomachs where is mixed with more enzymes and then spit up into the honeycomb cells for storage.
9. The cells are perfect hexagons.
10. For this nectar/enzyme mixture to turn into honey, it has to have the right amount of moisture too much or too little will ruin it. To maintain the correct amount of humidity, there are bees that stand at the edges of the hive and fan it with their wings. Once the honey is ready, the cell is sealed with wax for storage for the winter months.
There's tons more, but I think you get the idea. These are complex and amazing creatures who deserve our utmost respect. Without them we wouldn't have any fruits or vegetables. Worst of all, we wouldn't have honey. Which by the way (if it is not tampered with) will NEVER spoil.
Monday, March 10, 2008
FAQs
When is it possible to visit Amritapuri?
Everyone is welcome to come and stay at the ashram at any time, and take part in the daily activities. If possible, kindly confirm your arrival date in advance by sending an email addressed to stay@amritapuri.org for Indian visitors, or international@amritapuri.org for foreign visitors.
Simple accommodations are provided in flats with private bathrooms. You may be asked to share a flat with other visitors. Accommodation includes simple, Indian-style ashram meals. Non-spicy, Western-style food is available for an additional cost.
What is the daily routine of the residents at Amritapuri?
See the Ashram schedule in the menu.
How do I get to Amritapuri?
Click here for directions to Amritapuri by air plane, bus and taxi.
What should I bring?
Most of the basic necessities, e.g. sheets, pillows, mattresses and buckets are provided by the ashram. You may, however, wish to bring a small inflatable mattress for travelling with Amma in India. It may be helpful to bring vitamins and protein supplements, and any medicines that you may need. Other items such as clothing, shoes, toiletries, dishes, detergent, etc. can be purchased at the ashram.
What services are available at Amritapuri?
Bank*
Internet access
Telephone and fax facilities
Libraries: for children and adults**
Medical Clinics: allopathic*** and ayurvedic (including panchakarma treatment)
Photocopying
Shops: basic needs and gift items
Laundry Service
Tailoring service
Travel Desk (purchase/confirm flight tickets)
*It is best to bring traveller's checks, as they are safer than cash. A bank is located on the premises. There you can change foreign currency, get cash advances on Master and Visa cards, and wire money.
**The Main Ashram Library has a collection of more than 5,000 books. The Children's Library contains spiritual and educational materials for children. Play areas are limited, however. Parents are encouraged to bring their children's favourite toys.
***For medical needs the Amritakripa Charitable Hospital is located on the south side of the Ashram. In addition we have an Ayurvedic clinic that also offers an extensive Panchakarma treatment.
What is Amma's darshan schedule?
Amma holds public darshan on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
What facilities are there at Amritapuri for young children?
Amritapuri has an extensive Children's Library with spiritual and educational materials for children. Play areas are limited, however. Parents are encouraged to bring their child's favourite toys when coming.
Are there any other special items that I should bring for my child?
It may be necessary to provide powdered protein supplements for your child, to be taken in addition to the foods that are served in the Canteen. It is also a good idea to bring vitamins, or any Western medicines that your child may need as these are difficult to find in India.
When is Amma at the ashram?
Whenever Amma is not on tour, She gives darshan at Her Amritapuri ashram. It is always a good idea to check Amma's tour schedule immediately before planning a trip to Amritapuri, as Her travel dates are subject to change. Click here to see Amma's current schedule.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Amritapuri
This is a picture of the Amritapuri Ashram where I will be staying.
Schedule of daily events:
4:50 a.m. - 6:00 a.m. Archana
( Chanting of Lalita Sahasranama )
6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. Meditation
7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Walking Meditation
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Scriptural Study
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Breakfast
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Seva
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Lunch
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Seva
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Meditation
6:30 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. Bhajans
8:15 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Dinner
9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Personal study,
Meditation, Diary Keeping
This is on the home page of the Ashram Website:
"Children, this ashram exists for the world; it belongs to you, to all the people who come here."- Amma
Amritapuri is the realisation of the ancient Indian ideal "the whole world is one family" (vasudhaiva kutumbakam). Here you will find people from all over the world — speaking different languages and having different customs and religions — all living under one roof. In their quest for the meaning of life, each has forgotten their differences and become a child of Amma.
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