I have now joined Jiva Ayurvedic Institute as the Public Relations Person, and it appears there is much wonderful work to do here, all in the service of God, Love and Humanity. What a blessing to come all this way in search of my path, of my identity as a spiritual/human being, to be able to participate in the work of helping to spread the knowledge of Ayurveda.
In this sense, I wish to acknowlesge and honor Dr. Jay Apte of the Ayurveda Institute of America in Foster City, California, USA, where my beloved Angelia attended Ayurveda Practitioner Classes with our dear friend Liz Kruger.
While Angelia departed for the higher realms, Liz completed her course and is now an Ayurvedic Practitioner. My acknowledgement of Dr. Apte is for the inspiration and support she offered me in my spiritual journey to India, along with Liz and Joanie, CC, Alex C., Eric T, and my other dear friends. God Bless you for the part you have played in my life.
For anyone who would like to know more about Ayurveda please call Dr. Apte on USA 650-341-8400 and/or Liz in Pahrump, Nevada, 775-253-0314. From statistics now available, it is anticipated that in the next decade Ayurveda is the next major healing modality in vogue.
As the P.R. person, my job is to help develop the newsletter and community activities worldwide. I shall start with the website,
www.jiva.com, to help update and enhance the content of the latest news, views and opinions, questions and answers, articles, etc. I am putting on my creative cap and I start right away. This activity is such a blessing, as this job now precludes me wandering around the Himalayas like a lost soul. Besides, it is very cold in the Himalayas right now. So, I am here in Faridabad, New Delhi safe and sound, with beautiful, Loving Indians, from whom I am learning so much.
The simple and wonderful food is prepared by delightful young men who want to learn English, and who teach me Hindi - another extra curricular job. Yesterday I accompanied some course participants to visit a village about 1/2 hour drive away. This is where many of the children come from, to attend the Jiva Public School. What a wonderful experience. A resident made chapatis with the traditional outdoor fireplace, using cow dung. It tasted really good, even after they had put the chapati up against the burning dung to to brown a little!!??
There was a wedding in the village and I walked past the newly erected marquee/tent. The music was loud and exciting. The people were so beautiful. Angelia would have loved it. Cows roam freely all over the place, weaving in between the madness of Indian Traffic. They roam in gardens, onto cricket playing fields, down alleyways. They eat and defecate. The people use the dung for fires. So very ecological.
New found friends purchased coconuts and had them opened to drink the nectar, for 50 cents (USD) each. I bought a litre of sesame oil for $3, and had a very good haircut (a bit short, though) for $1.30, which included a scalp massage. I am taking photos, but have not had the time to see how I can download them. Maybe later.
I will be going native with my dress, kurta, sandals, etc. This is the only way to go as the weather gets hot. At present it is very pleasant. Cool evening/morning, but not cold. Warm days. The birds all sing so beautifully here at Jiva. At about 5pm there is a veritable orchestra of such sounds.
This is such an education, such an experience of such magnitude. My senses have become alive with greater awareness. The extremes are immense. Hovels next to expensive houses. All are happy. The driver of the car which took us to the village drove like a demon, and we arrived there without killing anyone. The driving here is like nothing I have ever experienced. They drive all over the place, any side of the road, some motorbikes even going the wrong way. There is an immense number of people all going about their business, working hard, carrying steel girders on a rickshaw. People crossing the roads, cows wandering around, street vendors all over the place. Unfinished buildings. A Tuk Tuk, or auto-rickshaw had 13 people crammed into it. And so the list of sensory perceptions go on.
The next day…
It is Friday. The sun shines with a gentle brilliance, as the climate warms up, to what I am told is very hot in the summer. I am asked if I am OK with heat of around 105/110 degrees F, and of course, I have been trained by the best place, Las Vegas, at 110/120F – No problem!
Friday is when I was offered the job. A good day by all accounts. The kitchen staff were given the evening off, and so I was invited to eat in someone’s home. What an example of gracious hospitality. Another blessed day in India.
As I settle, I will be writing more. I am sending this before the power goes out again.
With my love to you and with blessings.
Tony
