14th to 24th of January, 2023.
I might have mentioned before, perhaps a couple of times, that I can read people easily. And I’m sorry if this sounds arrogant, but for years I thought that it was an ability that I possessed, just like some other people have other abilities which I don’t. Most recently, I started to believe that it is not an ability. At least not in a way that I am “blessed” for having it while other people are not. I believe it is something we all possess, and we all can use. Unfortunately, not everybody does, and that’s for different reasons.
For years now, I have tried to keep a good distance from technology. Mostly, from useless technology. Technology which we were told to be good for us; to save us time by doing everything for us. So now you tell me – what are you doing with that “extra” time of yours? How much are you actually getting it? And how do you feel by doing, every time, less and less things by yourself? More capable, independent and smarter, or more and more useless?
By keeping my distance from mobile phones for the past 10 years, I’ve been able to use all those extra minutes of my day (a break between tasks, meals time, waiting for something to be ready or for someone, toilet breaks, etc.) to think. To think about myself, my choices, my life, my moves, my decisions… How often do you think about that? This attitude allowed me to take a deep look into my inner self, into my soul. And the result is wonderful! Sometimes is scary too, of course. When you do this kind of exercise, you unleash your deepest feelings and you get to understand why do you behave like this and like that. And not always the answers you get are what you want to hear.
Following the same thought, when we look back in time, hundreds or thousands of years ago, we see marvellous things happening, to which we don’t really have an answer about how they happened. Things like The Pyramids or the accomplishments done by the Incas, Maias and Aztec’s civilizations are among the greatest mysteries in life. And that’s just to cite a few. Now, there are some people of course, who will say that Science has proved how they built the pyramids, that it is a fact and now we know it. Sure. Because society always tell us the truth, right? I have read a rather more interesting theory that, due to the fact that those people were way more connected to themselves and to nature, their psychic abilities were stronger and capable of truly incredible things. I know that it is just a theory, but I can’t help to see the similarities between the facts. Look at the Shamans or the spiritual leader of native tribes. These people have always been more connected to their inner self, most of the times living in isolation, into the nature. And they are the ones who hold the extrasensory power among their people.
I believe that as further away you go from anything which restrains your brain capabilities, your emotions; as more detached you get from physical things and possessions; more you develop your extrasensory abilities. And that’s what I believe it happened to me.
The reason why I have told you all of this is simply to explain how I felt about the night I arrived at Aryamarga Yoga Ashram, in Bir, India.
You see, I can normally read people and my feelings towards them by looking them in the eyes, during day light, when I am hitchhiking. But when I arrived at Aryamarga, driven by the lovely brother and sister Aryan and Sheetal, it was dark already, and there were almost no lights around, so I could barely see Akshat, my host. Even so, even though I could not see him, or look him in the eyes, those first few seconds I was in his presence, I felt that something was not right about him. Isn’t that wonderful? Not the fact that he, most likely, was not a good person, but the power of a perception; the power of our own energy. Wow!
I will not detain myself to the details of my ten days in this place, because I don’t think it is worth it. But I will give you a few examples of what happened, as well as the good things which also happened. And by good things I mean the wonderful friends I made, the two other volunteers who were also there.
Miles, from the UK, and Simram, from India, had just arrived as well, and came to help with building websites and apps. They were really fun and I liked talking to them. We would have these discussions, about some philosophical topics, and it was very interesting.
My work is limited to create some wooden signs, with acrylic paint, to be hung in the doors of the dormitories.
The food is delicious, prepared by aunty. The guys and I simply love her food! And she is also a lovely person.
During the next 10 days I was there, I didn’t feel not even once a good, peaceful, enjoyable vibe related to Yoga and its principles. Even though the writings on their Workaway profile, which were all about that, were what attracted me to this place. I wanted to learn about Yoga. About what Yoga truly means, and not just the body exercises, as so many people do.
Our host, Akshat, had this really weird vibe around him all the time, and I could never be comfortable near him. In one conversation about hallucinogens, I let my point of view very clear: I despite all of them because I believe that we have all the tools, all the power and energy we want right inside our brains. Soon after that, one day at lunch time, out of nowhere, Akshat come to me with a cup of chai and tells me he made it for me. Something inside me tells me – don’t drink it. So I don’t.
The right next day, the boys and I go for a walk somewhere, to talk with a possible client of them for building websites. This guy, used to attend to Aryamarga sessions but he stopped after having strong disagreements with Akshat. He then gets into some of the reasons of those disagreements, including Akshat having the habit of putting space mushrooms into people’s tea, without their knowledge / permission. At this point I stop him and explain what happened on the previous days. The guys are doomed by it and we all agree that we must leave that place.
Luckily for me, Miles and Simram took me under their wings and told me I could come with them to wherever they were going. Which was still slightly unsure. But in a matter of a few days, they would know and I could just come along, and stay with them for as long as I need. How sweet! We made a plan of living in a few days. The boys had also strong reasons for wanting to leave, because Akshat had behaved as a complete asshole many times towards them, and they simply could not take it anymore.
After a few days, barely believing that we were finally living Aryamarga, and being free from Akshat’s eyes, we walked towards our next adventure together. I will tell you all about it soon…
10 Years Around the World 