Everything is so incredibly traditional out here. I have been wearing
Dhotis and Kurta and wearing many of the traditional clothes and engaging
in the cultural values and ways. A far cry from what we are used to back
home. Trust me, I would love to be striped down to a pair of shorts and
be doing yoga in the hot sun, but here we must respect and honor the value
system, and I do it with an open heart. One thing I am truly missing is
the raw foods and fresh vegetables that I became so accustomed to back
at home. Something is telling me I should have spent a little time toxifying
my system before I came so that I would not have got sick like I did.
I have had nothing but cooked, spicy food and occasional fruit and these
things take a little time for the system to become accustomed to. That,
along with the little child stress of abandonment and my 5-hour trip into
the smog filled city left me with an enormous lump in my throat and a
cold, so futile, like nothing I have ever experienced in my life. Now,
I sit on the tail end of it, if pure gratitude for the cleansing experience.

Day 1 – TTC Phase I – Sri Sri Yoga

In the west, we experience yoga as a series of asana and bodily experiences
that help us to capture the present moment for a short amount of time.
We run from class to class, searching for enlightenment and a way to help
us feel better. A yogi is one who maintains the smile, one who is contented
in all circumstances. Today, I was able to experience doing yoga with
a 99-year-old man.

His energy and zest for life is like nothing you could
ever imagine. Not only will he maintain the postures for much longer they
we think are humanly possible, his mind is clear, and his soul is bright.
There is humor in his step and love in his heart. He wants us to heal
and he wants us to experience the gift of YOGA, which I feel, over the
next two weeks, I will know a whole lot about. Right now, I know nothing
and I enter into this incredible journey hollow and empty, ready for the
teachings to have their way with me.

Shiva surrounds us, we embody Shiva, but with that, it is the humbleness
in our actions that take us there. So many things in my life I step into
thinking that I know this and I know that and being that I have done yoga
for quite some time, it would be easy for me to come into this teacher
training thinking that I know what is best. The greatest thing I feel
for this course is that I know nothing. I feel like I am going to be guided
into the yogic life, not through a series of Asana trainings that I can
teach to strengthen my body. The fact that this 99-year-old yogi is teaching
gives me great clarity that the teachings that I will learn on this course
will assure the longevity, vitality and pure joy in my life. I truly look
forward to sharing the blessings I am yet to receive. JGD.

Tonight at Satsang, Guruji was speaking in two different languages, Tamil
and Hindi. The greatest part about the experience of not being able to
understand the language was how 6 different countries joined together
to make it understood. This knowledge was translated from Tamil to Hindi
to English to Spanish, Back to English to the Indonesian language that
I cannot remember right now. Amazing. So blessed to be a part of this
One World Family.

Tonight, Guruji was in one of those playful moods, like the day I first
met him. Dancing around the stage, playing with a magic wand and offering
treats and taking them for himself. He even ran off stage at the end after
doing two marriages and running around taking flowers and offering them
back. What a great Master he is. I feel so loved. I BELONG TO YOU. ALL
OF YOU and all that exist.

10/25/07 – Day 2 – TTC Yoga

mmmmmm, this morning was an early one. My lovely Sri Lankan roommates
and myself rose at 4:15 am to get ready for out 5:30 Meeting in the Ashram.
It was fairly easy I must say. I popped up and got into the shower and
way, computer and all in hand. We arrived with a few minutes to spare
and then heard a loud, demanding voice come into the room and insist that
we meet outside as soon as possible. So we gathered our belongings and
went outside. This was a great moment in my life. A moment where I was
able to have gratitude for the growth I have experienced in my life. As
we spent the next 20 minutes briskly walking on the long gravel road and
with about 20 pounds of stuff on my back, I was able to smile and take
it as it came. We come to a place in our life where we finally realize
the resistance does nothing but harm our energy and the energy of those
around us when we incessantly talk about how terrible the experience is.
So, with that said, we arrived back in the Ashram for an incredible 2
and a half hour set of yoga, Pranayam and Meditation. Afterwards I was
able to go and have my favorite tea with Turmeric and write a little and
this leads me to this….

You have not experienced anything until you experience the joy of using
an Indian Toilet. This incredible journey, after days and days of resistance
has been the one thing that I will surely make a part of the western experience.
SO FRESH and SO CLEAN. Nuff Said.
Today we were blessed with a huge amount of knowledge. This is A day a
yogi dreams of for many lifetimes. We spoke about what it really means
to be close to a Master. We spoke of the subtle essence and how all things
are in between the words and to not get so attached to the words. Sometimes,
Sri Sri will talk on the same subject and have completely contradictory
statements on the same subject. This is where we learned that the essence
is the importance, not the words. It is in Peace that we receive knowledge
and Yoga is Peace. So many people in life believe that all things have
a beginning and an end, even GOD. When was God born, when did he die.
Today we learned, God is self-luminance…..mmmmmmmmmmmm. Such great
Divine words.

Most Important learning of the day. Yoga Chitta Vrithi Nirodaha. The mastery
and control of the mind. The knowledge session was deep and many things
are easily sticking as I feel like a sponge. I am ready to suck up and
retain all that is given to me.

After a lunch break and some Seva (Service) we met back in the room and
were greeted by an incredibly stern young teacher. She was Stern with
a smile and grace. Not Stern like those childhood teachers we used to
dread walking into class with. She taught us Anatomy in the most incredible
way I have ever seen. It was so simple, so pure, and so effective. Look
I will even name them all now since it was done in a Mantra (Song) with
action. These are the bones in the body…. Cranium, Clavicle, Sternum,
Ribs, Humerus, Radius, Ulna, Carpals, Metacarpals, Phalanges, Pelvis,
Femur, Patella, Fibula, Tibia, Tarsal, Metatarsals, Phalanges, Scapula,
Vertebrae, Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacrum, Coccyx. Ok, I looked 2
times, but much better then my childhood class would have ever done. So
blessed. She was amazing; we did another set of yoga with a different
teacher and then went to dinner. It is such a blessing that about 7 different
teachers are teaching us this course. Gives us various styles to learn
from.

After dinner we were met with the most incredible Satsang yet. It was
an intimate gathering outside the Ashram on a Full Moon. I took a seat
front and center and awaited the opportunity to share the song that I
wrote for this beloved Master once again. The only problem is, my guitar
will not stay in tune…and…I cannot tune it. I have lost my
tuner and after 8 years of playing still cannot tune by ear. That is one
thing I am committed to on this journey, learning how to self tune my
freaking guitar. That, along with being able to pick up a song when I
hear it playing, chords and all. I will accomplish this. Anyways, after
an incredible time and singing and speaking by Master Sri Sri, I realized
that there was a mic right behind my head. What better setting then A
full Moon in India, front and center with my Master, right in his home.
There was a moment when I really did feel it was going to happen…..and
then….it didn’t. All good, I am unaffected. This is Just part
of the humility of this path. I am in Love.

After the Singing we went up stairs and shared in a very brief session
where we discussed the values of being a great teacher and a great student.
Guess what, they are the same. As teachers, we are always students in
life. I am happy to say that I have conditioned myself, finally after
20 years, to be a top-notch student. I am looking forward to the depths
of knowledge that this course will bring. Love you!!!

10/26/07 – 10/30/07 Day 3 – 7 TTC Yoga I

Well, life became a little crazy over the past few days. Coming off the
cold and with the early morning sessions I found myself in a state of
meditation like I have never experienced in my life. I have literally
been going into a deep state of meditation within a few moments of each
exercise. It has been a blessing and has definitely taken the place of
sleep, as I now only get a few hours every evening. Our morning walks
have become 2 mile hikes and our morning practice is now 3 hours long.
Just the way I like it!! We have been learning so much about the essence
of knowledge, the grace of Asana, and the power of breath. I feel so fortunate
to be on this course and am studying like straight A student. I have a
strong desire to be free in this life, and with each step, with each profound
teacher, I come a little closer to that goal.

Speaking of teachers, The teachers on this course become more and more
dynamic as the days go on. We are so lucky. There is never a moment when
I am not is complete admiration, humility and respect for these beings.
Their method of teaching is so inspiring in so many different ways. We
have the young, assertive, grace of ??????, forgot his name, we have the
joyful yet demanding teachings of Anatomy with Sadena. We have the beautiful
princess, which sparks the lust in us. One of the main teachings of a
true Yogi is to drop that lust. Then we have the centered and serene Kashi.
He is my personal favorite. From the first time I saw him on Navaratri,
I was filled with a joy and lightness, just by the simple presence of
his being. What a pleasure and an honor to be in his guidance. Then we
have Master Krishanji. I Divine Yogi, 76 years of age and full of wisdom.
When he teaches, you learn. It doesn’t matter what state you are
in. When he walks in the room, you are present. What a blessing.

On the 29th we celebrated Krishanji’s birthday. This is the reason
for my absence in the journaling. I decided to take up the role of putting
together a video montage for his birthday. So I ran around interviewing
teachers, students, and people that had no Idea who he was. The idea came
of having as many different languages wish him happy birthday. Then we
also made a 200 person human Happy Birthday Asana for it as well. It is
quite the offering and came together so fast.

Click Here If Video Does Not Appear 

The celebration was divine and of course there were the regular road blocks
of any great project and that was that it did not burn. There was a problem
with the ownership of the music. So, in that we circled around trying
to find a way out of the whole thing and never found an answer. The great
thing is that I was able to work with Kashi hand and hand. He is computer
genious and he did everything to get through this thing, and then, just
when we thought we had it. We didn’t. So what finally ended up happening
was that we set up a Video Camcorder to video tape my computer screen
to go to the projector so that everyone could see it. It was hilarious.
The camcorder ran out of batteries twice and the program shut down once.
Everyone was so intrigued that they wanted it to keep coming. It was a
definite lesson in letting go and letting god. I was thankful for the
experience. In the past I would have gotten pist. Also, I was able to
perform my song “IT’s so Nice To Have You Around,” that
night as well. Total gift. Here are the various offerings from the evening.

From here, the course went on in the most profound way
possible. Each day like a full blown journey, painted with sponteniety,
challenges beyond our imaginations and learning in our greatest capacity.
I would never want to give away any more then what I have about this experience,
because, truly, it is necessary for others to have this type of experience
in life. There really is nothing that can replace, fall in line with,
or outdo this offering and as I travel through the depths of this continent,
I have with me the teachings of Divinity. The teachings of Yoga in all
of it’s limbs. There is nothing, I feel, that was missed on this
course. Below I will share some of the many experiences with photos and
movies, the essence is on the course. Find a course, participate 100 %
and learn the roots and limbs of a complete yoga practice. You could always
wait until I get around to teaching, but who knows when that will be.
Do yourself a wonderful courtesy and dive into a course. You can find
info by clicking

Sri Sri Yoga

More Pictures From The Course Below 

Click Here If Video Does Not Appear
Anyways, life is profound and I am still living the Ashram life and loving
it, but I do look forward to traveling soon. Love