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| ACrossss Cultures.... |
| 05.05.04 (10:13 am) [edit] |
What up people....?
So I have figured out who the Indian version of Santa Claus is. He's a BaBa they say...
When I first stepped into the Himalayas in a sleepy state after a 12 hour busride from Dehli- I spotted him climbing the mountain and thought --
WHAT Planet Am I on? Where am I entering? His orange robes and bright white hair and long beard and hooked back and dark skin and walking stick...??)(*^%## like I do with many scenes here...
The Spaniards and I on the back of the bus had quieted the crazy giddy laughing fits caused by the bumpy ride -
and now sleep started calling us all-
the windy climb up the mountain roads didn't help my feelings on my first sight of a BaBA...
Soo, while I was hanging out with my yoga teacher and his friends - playing chess, listening to some bugged out Indian music, laughing, drinking some of the local wine-- out of nowhere I bring up the Indian version of Santa Claus I have been dying to know about- they all busted out laughing at me and I can imagine that they realize what a trip it is to be here! It was funny.
Hari told me he is a Baba, a roaming religious man. I saw his young son also- and what a character he was.
My Indian friends call me Chetna, which in Hindi means
Positive Life Energy Force. They like to paint a bindi on my forehead because they think i look Indian-- which is not a surprise--- In Korea and other parts of Asia many have asked me if I am Indian... I also have been hearing people say that I look like an Israeli a lot here as well...That's funny I go to India and they now call me an Israeli? Sooo- What is a bindi? Its your 3rd eye opener/marker, the dot on the forehead.... A beautiful concept-- as we all should remember that we are capable of seeing things in this life with a deeper eye other than our 2 physical ones....
I am still working on my Hindi, Sanskrit and Tibetan and walk around, hiking, and then tripping over the street dogs and garbage eating cows -
I have noticed how the dogs gaurd the city at night and fall completely asleep most of the day- its pretty interesting!...
My yoga teacher has headed to meet his teacher called a sadhu- or guru, up in the mountains in a cave... For 10 days he will sit and fast and meditate- I can not even imagine...He owns a couple of pieces of land on these mountains as he has been raised here and brought me up to the foundation he has laid for a huge new yoga centre on top of these mountains- Let me tell you it really takes only special people to climb and reach it--- It is a rough 2 hour trek up there and you gotta be fit among other things!! I was breathless, speechless... sucking air in hard in disbelief at the view and the climb and the type of person who can achieve these heights and practice yoga and know the peace that exists up there and within... Hari is like this benevolent king that everyone in the community knows and deeply respects. They all embrace him and want to give things to him. They all come to help him and he has achieved his status by his kindness, and love and spiritual significance in the community. Hari has proven to be a really great teacher and friend... the connections I have made with people- invite me to come back and enjoy things for half price if not free--
anybody up for a trip to India to do some yoga and sip Chai?
I am however ready for a change...
Tomorrow I am taking a 12 hour bus further north into a city named Manali- deeper into the Himalayas...
It turns out that even though Hari is gone, his best friend that he grew up with mentioned today he has been wanting to get away to hike as well-- and so as fate would have it- I am heading up there with a friend....
I have now figured out a strategy for dealing with the numerous beggars that pull on you on the streets-
They are not your ordinary beggars-
and a cruel American made street rat baseball game is nothing I could ever imagine ok to play with them...
Its like they are beggars who know that its part of their fated caste position-- and so an acceptance of their position and begging as a means for everything makes them an interesting bunch for the way they ask you, move their hands to their mouths, cling on you -
My strategy is that-- I talk to them, say a namaste and listen to what they ask for-- and if they are soo persistant and I haven't given to anyone that day yet- every day I buy a fruit for at least one of the regulars I see, with enough space in between so they won't fully remember me- or at least leave me alone for a while until they forget me... sometimes I have to ignore them, but there is a time to lsiten to them, becasue their request is reasonable and only costs you dime... milk for their baby, a fruit, some bandages...
Every year on his birthday Hari takes a beggar and buys him everything he needs- .. otherwise Hari is always buying them new bandages for their gangreening limbs and buying them fruit or flipping a coin at them... but you really can't give to all - but for some reason they don't stress me out as much as the beggars in Cambodia....
In Cambodia I felt extreme pain and need coming from the people and the children and it hurt so much I'd cry alone about it often. - But here - its like they do get what they need somehow- as it is their occupation to beg and they are not aspiring for too much more than their caste permits...
One clever young boy with good manners in Dehli told me he liked my shoes. Then asked me if I wanted some Chai= ofcourse I knew I was paying but why not - no harm in hearing his story, his energy sparked my interest... Then we start talking- my ears are waiting for the punchline- the boy wants me to buy him a dictionary... he speaks quite eloquently and burns with curiousity- genuine intelligent questions - I took a liking to him- we talked for an hour and then he told me that he needs an English dictionary...being a school teacher and a softy--- I walked over to the bookstore, bought the book for 5 dollars and then sat him down--
I said "ok kid-
you are quite clever, and you will go very far --but now tell me why should I give you this book when you will go sell it back for the money- what is it you really need?"
Politely he said," no Mam, that I would never do- for me that is bad karma"--
I agreed and gave it to him-- ONLY after I totally defaced the book, tore the cover off and painted it with artwork - I personalized it and now the kid owns an unsellable dictionary whether he intended to use it or not- he'll use it or not but the experience I don't think he'll soon forget...
so what else...
Well today was nice....The Tibetans and Indians don't understand each other really yet they have to coexist- BUT they don't intermingle unless they HAVE to...BUT today I had my Indian friend meet my Tibetan friend and we hung out together and it felt good- because I have heard both sides talking shit about the other - misconceptions and walls for intentional ignorance of the other sides need to break around here-
I am growing too sleepy--- write more from Manali---
Much love and peace to all-- hope you all are wellllllllllllll...
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posted by: newbie (reply)
post date: 05.07.04 (11:59 am)
FYI: street rat baseball was never played with the leppars in Dhramsala.
It was invented in Mumbai and talked about more than it was ever played.
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