Tuesday 22 February 2011

Vasistha Guha

OM

The "Ayurveda & Yoga" conference finished yesterday and we have moved over to the Sivananda Ashram on the other side of the Ganges River, but still in Rishikesh.

Today we drove up-river to Vasistha Guha, the cave where Rama's guru, Vasistha meditated. To say that the energy there is powerful would be an understatement! Although it was hard to leave our meditation, we crossed the Ganga in a rowboat. I was tempted to phone someone - anyone, just to say that I was phoning from the centre of the river!

We visited a beautiful retreat centre high on the mountain called "Ananda Lok" (plane of bliss) - I am tempted to organise a meditation retreat there.

Wednesday 16 February 2011

Arati at Sunset on the banks of Ganga

OM

Loving greetings from Rishikesh. The "Ayurveda & Yoga" conference started here this evening with beautiful chanting and arati (waving of lights). We were sitting just next to Ganga as the sunset turned the clouds a very special pink.

Soon after finishing, the rains began. Even thought it is not the rainy season here in North India, we have been having heavy rains for the past few weeks - and cold (for India) weather. But is peaceful in the Parmath Niketan ashram, and the conference promises to be an exciting one!