Long time - huh? Been drinking beer so posting seemed like a good idea. I just came back from a Willie K concert. Blew my mind. Such talent. Can sing any style - including opera - and give 100% perfect. That is today - now to the past: U.G. was to be in Bangalore in October - I had packed off to Ashram.
Now - the next a.m. after arrival. When I woke up in the morning I went off to breakfast. At the table in the dining area there was a woman named Helen. She lived in Bombay and came to the Ashram for spiritual renewal. She was an American born of a Panamanian mother and Anglo father. She was actually born in Panama but educated in U.S. and all that. She met her husband in college. He is Indian and works for Burma Shell Corp. After they married they made their home in India. Helen was to become quite an influence in my life.
We started talking at the breakfast table and as seemed the common thread - she was fascinated by my story and thought I was something special. She wanted to take me around and introduce me to the influential people in the Ashram. We did meet the woman who was closest to "The Mother". We sat on the veranda sipping tea and she stared into my eyes for what seemed to be 20minutes without talking at all. It was weird. I never knew whether I "passed the test" or not - but I could really out stare just about anyone after that encounter.
From the Western Guest House I went to a traditional living space. A room and a mosquito net is all that is needed. I started reading The Synthesis of Yoga I–II. The following is the description of the work as described by the publishers of his works:
"Sri Aurobindo's principal work on yoga.In this book Sri Aurobindo examines the traditional systems of yoga and provides an explanation of certain components of his own system of integral yoga. There is an Introduction, "The Conditions of the Synthesis", and four parts: "The Yoga of Divine Works", "The Yoga of Integral Knowledge", "The Yoga of Divine Love" and "The Yoga of Self-Perfection". The material was first published serially in the monthly review Arya between 1914 and 1921; the introduction and first two parts were later revised by Sri Aurobindo for publication.
I stayed in my room and read and fought the battle in my mind of the desire to return to Madras and continue the fun I was having at the time. I was forcing myself to concentrate on this heavy and ponderous work - a dictionary at the ready - and absorbing about 1/2 of it. I finally came to a point that I looked up into the heavens and made this bargain - "O.K. God - I am here - doing this intense study and I'm not really into it. If you are agreeable I pray that I will be offered a ride back to Madras. I won't get on a bus myself, but someone will have to approach me from outside of myself for this exit from the Ashram."
Now what do you think happened? That very afternoon that God and I had this "conversation" Helen knocked on my door and asked me if I would like a ride to Madras to attend a party at the Panamanian Consulate's residence. Whoa. Now in the state of mind I found myself I took this as a message from the Heavenly Father Himself that it was "His will" that I trundle myself back to Madras with Helen.
A side note about my use of " " marks. I am attempting to indicate that as of now - I don't perceive these statements as reality. I'm not certain as to how else I can set aside yesterdays folly.
I ended up back in Madras, back at the hotel with Clare and all the friends I had made - including the lovely guy I had become involved with before I left for the Ashram. It was a blast. The Consulate's party was a gala affair. All of the people were well placed and extended the hand for ay assistance that may have been needed - expecially money changing. There were many who offered more than the bank would give in exchange. It was a common way for Indian's to obtain dollars that they could put is Swiss bank accounts for when they travel abroad.
Hopefully I will finish this tale soon - as of now so long - I'm tired.
