India

So, I keep finding myself reading accounts of folks who've gone to Mysore, India to study with Guruji and Sharath at the source of the Ashtanga Yoga movement. I've read Kino's book multiple times, not in order, but picked it back up and just opened it and read whatever passage comes up. I'm rereading the different interviews in Guruji, a book put together at the time of K. Pattabhi Jois' passing, which is full of interviews of people who've travelled to the Motherland to study with him from the 70's on up until now, and each is more rich and vibrant with that persons experience of practicing with Guruji at the old shala and the new shala, but my favorite is Rolf Naujokat, he has the most non-dualistic view of yoga and all experiences really, and he just inspires me. Check him out at www.yogabones.org. One quote from the book really stands out to me, and exemplifies my experience of studying with Pattabhi the two times that I did. It is in the interview with Peter Sansone, a New Zealander who went to Mysore in 1989 with no knowledge of the system, other than that his teachers were heading there to study and asked him to go. His interview was in Mysore and recorded in 2009 (which, inadvertently is the year Pattabhi left his body). The last paragraph of his section is as follows: There is one thing Guruji said that has really stuck with me over the years. He point to his heart and said, "There is a small box sitting here. In that box is sitting Atman. Turn your attention here. That is yoga." I will never forget that. I always felt he was a very heart centered man, loving toward his students and doing all he could to support us on our journey. I love that. Such a strong practice to simply make you aware of the love in your heart chakra, just wonderful. Sometimes, in my case for sure, it takes such an intense experience to bring us back home, to our emotional body, to our energetic body. Its amazing. So anyway, I can't quit reading these things, they keep inspiring me, they keep making me want more. More what? More yoga postures? Possibly. More experiences coming from within? For sure. More heart opening? For sure. More, more, more, but more what? I'm not quite getting something here. Then it dawns on me, I need to go to India. Then I will get more of all of it for sure, but not just that, when I thought of going to India, I immediately felt the relief I've been searching for. My body sighed, and I was like, ah, is that really what I've been waiting to figure out? Hell yes it is apparently, because now I'm motivated and inspired and excited about taking this trip. I haven't even worried about where the money is going to come from to get there, I just know it is. So, I've put aside a bit each week from my park donations, and someone suggested a couple of websites that I could use to take donations, and I've set up an account with one of them, here is the link, www.sendsatindertomysoreindia.chipin.com, so if you want to donate, please do, and it will be appreciated and I will bring back all that I learn to my classes and teacher trainings that I assist in, it won't be money you'll regret spending. So, I don't intend to push you all for money every time I write from now on, but its out there. So, ideally February, March and April of next year, I'm going to India!!!