Himalayan Iyenger Yoga Center

The experience in Arambol at the Himalayan Iyenger Yoga Center was really good. For those interested in deepening their yoga practice, which ever style your practice, this course is a must to get the fine details of the poses. I found that working in each pose at such a deep level, I mean working in a pose for 10 minutes, reveled various places of  tension in muscles that comes from metal holding patterns. Hard to explain in words but you know the neck tension that never leaves or the lower back pain that come from too much stress; those types of things. We worked a lot on the fee;t I mean every day wiggle my toes you think yeh! right! this is going to help sure! but my gosh after 2 weeks, now that some tension has been released I never realized just how much an unbalanced stance can send the whole body out of whack, i.e. alignment. This course is a work on being present, in the moment. For those of you interested in Calm Abiding, or Vipassina meditations this course used the body as the object of mediation and the discomfort and pain really helped me focus. For those interested in starting meditation then working with focusing on the body really helps to quite and focus the mind.  This course is not the standard Iyanger Yoga, so do not expect to go there top build up a six pack, expect inside a soften deeper approach that unravels the tension and clarifies the mind.

http://www.hiyogacentre.com/#Content/Home_Page.php-5hyc1hyc2013hyc9hyc42hyc43hyc47 

New Book on Kashmir

Dr. Nyla Ali Khan's new book  "A Parchment on Kashmir"  is getting great reviews
http://globeistan.com/?p=38327    and  http://gulftoday.ae/portal/5f067ae9-3eca-4a61-a04e-f8c148aadf8d.aspx and just out http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2013/Jan/10/the-parchment-of-kashmir-22.asp

For those interested in learning more about Kashmir's history, society and politics  it is a great resource, I highly recommend it.
The book is at http://us.macmillan.com/theparchmentofkashmir/NylaAliKhan

The interview with Dr. Khan at Portland Community College gives a great overview of Kashmir;   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAY3pyjari8

Also a new documentary on Kashmir. 'Ocean of Tears" by Bilal Jan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee4s3kMwxGk

Protests in Delhi

It is **** freezing in Delhi after Goa but so great to spend time with Pema, Tenzin, Chitso and the family in Majnu Katila, the Tibetan Colony in North Delhi.

Indian sorrow

Being here of course I could not miss showing my support to the people protesting the gang rape of a young women. She was traveling on a bus after a night at the movies with her boyfriend. This rape and beating of a girl on public transport has shoked  not only the people of Delhi but all over India and the world. The girl was in intensive care in Delhi for some days but was then flown to Singapore so the specials could try and save her life. Unfortunately she has not survived  and passed away a few days ago. The protests in Delhi were so wide spread that police felt they had to clamp down on the protests by  using water cannon and tear gas to disperse the angry crowds who have been calling for the rapists to be hanged.

I went to the site where the protest are being allowed to continue which is under heavy police surveillance.

The crowd is in a very somber mood and very upset by this. They are writing signs, holding candle light vigils, chanting there call for justice and doing many interviews with any media that care to cover this horrific incident. I was glad to see that BBC  was there interviewing. There are also two men who are on hunger strick demanding that effective rape laws be implemented and that the government do their up most to quickly prosecute all rapists. I was able to talk to one of the men on hunger strike. He says that he hoped that by doing this the government will take serious measure against rapist but he is also asking the public to take responsibility and be active in  also pressuring the government to implement anti-rape laws. He is from Uttar Pradesh, not a wealthy  or educated man and our conversation took place through a translator. He told me that he was he was so  horrified by this gang rape that he felt this was the only way he could take a stance against rape and his voice heard.

one of the many signs

Demanding change in the law

young sign writer

Two men on hunger strike

I was rather surprised to find many men of all ages at the protest. I asked one man why so many men had come out to protest? He explained that this is not a men  v's women situation but a cry for respect and human dignity; that it is a social matter that effects everybody. He is especially incensed  about the rape as culturally in India men respect women, women are held in high esteem as mothers and are the voice of authority and morals in the family. Our conversation was soon hear by  the other men around him and they too agreed that  they feel it is very important to protest this case to show that men do respect women and to show men that rape is not only wrong but a disgrace to Indian and all Indian men who respect women.

Seeing what people had written on the signs and the heart felt sorrow and anger of the people gathers brought me to tears.

All I can do for now  is to post this and ask that we all teach young men  that rape is never, never okay.

holding vigil

lets act !

Men Can Stop Rape is an organization based in Washington DC that does good work spreading the anti-rape message and works with men.  I met the founder Neil Irvin at an anti sex-slave trade talk in DC many months ago and was so impressed with his sincerity and dedication to spreading  the idea/truth that men can be men without sex and violence..... So check out this site if you want to support  men who are working to stop  rape. http://www.mencanstoprape.org

Apneaap works in Delhi to stop sex slavery and rape. They launched a campaign last year named   "cool men don't buy sex" which got a lot of media exposure.  http://apneaap.org/index.php

Looking back at 2012

Human family

2012 stared in India in Bodhgaya at the Kalachakra and ends in India in hippy heaven in Goa. Like every year it had been a year of great highs and lows too. A journey filled with great people, I have strengthened bonds with good friends from all over the world, especially in California, Virginia, Washington DC, Scotland and India. These people are travelers, yogis, mediators, academics, teachers and people working their daily job to support their families. I have been very grateful this year to spend time with my family who over the years has been a great support; I am more than fortunate that they seem to handle my no-conformist life. An added bonus this year was to at last meet and spend time with the Killock clan and I look forward to strengthening that family bond. Being way from Scotland since 1985 (wow has it been that long) I have come to understand the word ‘family’ in terms that extend beyond blood. As His Holiness always put it “we are, all brother and sisters, one human family,” For the survival and thriving of all of us on the planet we have to  recognize our interconnectedness and interdependence and start living our lives from this place of wisdom. I strive to be able to share this vision of His Holiness and be able to feel closeness to people regardless of our man made divisions. 

Looking back at 2012 I so appreciate the moments well spent in the company of wonderful people, whom I respect and admire, who inspire me and support me, with whom I have laughed with, got tipsy with and discussed the world and dharma with. To those who have let me crash on their couch and into their homes and lives I have been humbled by your kindness and hospitality and have to say a huge thank you and hope that in some small way I can return the favor or pass on the generosity.

As mum says like is full of ‘Hatches, Matches and Dispatches’ and his year was no exception. Welcome to the world Ada: Jen and Julia’s daughter who looks like a wee angel picture and I am so happy for them. Congrats so to Shabir and Asia in Kashmir who got engaged in the summer and will marry in 2013.WE ad great celebrations regardless of having to wait for the curfews and strikes to pass. I wish you both every future happiness. Like many in 2012 I also grieved for the passing of a dear friend in California. She was a great supportive friend to many as well as a loving and caring wife and mother. I know she is very much missed by all of us but her spirit, her laughter and love, live on in her children and her husband. Love you guys so much. Many dear family and friends have also dealt with a range of disease and health problem. I am especially glad that wee Rita, in California has had successful brain surgeries and is now growing strong and healthy; she is so precious. So, here’s to a healthy new year for all of us.

2012 was also year to witness poverty, injustice, corruption, oppression, violence and prejudice, both in the east and the west. These experiences just make me more determined to live a truthful, honest life and to stand up against, injustice, violence, inequity and unethical activities. I mean at the end of the day all we have is how we have lived our lives and in these days, in a distracted, fast paced, ego centric age, we need to see more examples of people standing up for and living by what is good. For me I have no idea what my career will be or where this year will take me but for sure I know I must live truthfully and simple.

Meet Rani

Rani works at Ajay auyervedic massage hut on the beach. She is from Goa and has been a massage therapist for 5 years now. She too is 49 years old but we have lead very different lives. She is a mother of three boys and grandma to two children from her eldest son. She had an arranged marriage at 18 and had her first child by 19 and has until now had always been a housewife and mother. Rani’s husband works in Mumbai and has worked away from home for most of their married life. After her last son was married she felt that she wanted to do some work to make her own income and not just stay home anymore. She heard that doing massage gave a good income and felt she would like to work with ladies. So she undertook a course and started work doing massage for the tourist ladies in Goa. She gives a great massage and has that motherly caring touch. Of course she wants to chat with all her clients and she was very interested in the fact that I am not married or had no boyfriend. Older Indian people are always amazed at me travelling alone with no kids or husband.  So I joked with Rani and say things such as; “no husband no problem,” or “free life is best life,” which are all things that Indian’s have said to me over the years. Anyway we had a good laugh and she admitted that now she too feels that she has “a freedom life” and that with her husband gone most of the time she had been very independent throughout her marriage as well. So once I got to know Rani we found that our situations are not that different after all; we are both relatively independent women with few responsibilities, able to enjoy our freedom because for now have no men to tend too.

buired alive

The last day of 2012 2012 ended in a very relaxing and happy manner. After 4 hours of yoga (which I am sure I am now and inch taller from all those stretches) I visited Rani for a massage which was wonderful, then spent the rest of the day on the beach, swimming, people watching and walking. The beach was filled with Indian’s who had come from Mumbai for New Year and they were all in a playful celebratory mood.  Families with kids having beach picnic, young guys having picnics of the liquid variety and of course it would not be India without many romantic couples walking hand in hand and taking loads of pictures of each other. Ahhhh, nice to see romance still alive. Anyway, it is so natural and easy to speak with or join in a game of football with Indian’s on the beach. It was nice that no-guys hassled me and everyone was respectful and polite to each other wishing each other a happy new year. Walking down the beach I had a great laugh with some guys who were burying their friend on the sea shore. On my way back alone the shore I saw that they had given their friend a pair of sand bob and a nice big fallice and they were killing themselves with laughter, as if they were the only bunch of guys that had ever done that. Anyway they saw me coming with the camera and promptly destroyed their ‘artwork’ but what a great laugh it was.

king of his own castle

Nadia and I sat at sunset near the drum circle watching the acrobatics, hula hooping and spaced out dancers. Funny but 2 weeks ago I was so surprised by all these activities but now it had become normal and I must admit I was enjoying the scene so much more and even joined in the dancing at time. I think Hippy Heaven has done me some good, it has opened me up to being really relaxed with myself and thoroughly enjoying the varieties of human kind along with all our antics.

Captain of the ship

After sunset, we had dinner at Totem and then I took a stroll alone on the beach. By then the beach had become a full blow techno party, with every restaurant competing to make the most noise. Also by then the Indian guys, who were so nice by day had of course booze by then and their Dutch courage to try and pick up a foreigner was kicking in. This was the time when I though it most wise to retreat back home. Plus you can’t really dance techno music with its repetitive, racing base unless you’re totally on some kind of drug and that’s just not for me; but hey I do now know where the joke of the horse riding dance in Gangnam style come from now.  Anyway after such a great day and evening I was so content and sleep won over my desire to stay up till midnight. So in with the earplugs and off to dreamland I went, happy as can be and just wishing that everyone in the world could feel so content.

Happy 2013 to all.

Cute Couple

Lifeguard

Trying to be a strong man 

fishing boat

face down

peace

 Beach Art: Dec 31st 2012

The fun thing about walking the beach with so many people is that the beach art is great. All types of sandcastles, and messages written in the sand. Here's is a small sample so you can get a feel of the creativity and all the attempt at creativity.

Buddha Bar

Sky Gazing

Pyramid or sandcastle?

Gaudi style sand towers

Dharma chakra

 1/2 of a Zhiva Lingham

beach snowman's wishes

Goa 2013

Love you 2

Union Jack

castle, with dry moat

Beautiful Goa in Starfish

Happy New Year Star