Jan 16

Doing to Be

One quote I have used frequently in class is, “We are not human doings, we are human beings.” Unfortunately, I have ignored these words more often than I have said them, especially of late. In the frenzied whirlwind of preparations for this travel adventure, I was very caught up in the doing (partly out of necessity). To those for whom I was less than fully present, please accept my apology.
Getting on the plane did not solve my doing ways. I hit New Delhi with less than 24 hours of time before my train, a huge deficit in sleep and a rather ambitious list of things to accomplish. I was particularly impressed that I got a local phone number and had prescription reading glasses made in that time. I felt conspicuously rich after exchanging currency AND withdrawing Rupees from an ATM (in anticipation of paying for both retreats and donating to a local school). It was only a few hundred dollars, but that is a lot of money in India and the wad of 500 rupee notes (essentially $10 bills) was not something I wanted everyone to see. The universe thought differently…
After finding the right train (following the monks helped) and creating my own space (the family in my sections was not traveling lightly), train conductor wanted to see my passport. When I pulled out my safe/secret passport case (hanging from my belt under my pants) all the locals seated around me (who stair habitually, but especially so when something is happening) could not help but my bulging rupee stash. Worse, the zipper of my passport case picked that moment to break, so I had to figure out plan B for hiding all my valuables while in plain view of all my fascinated neighbors. In the end, nothing happened except for a deep dent in my self delusion that I am an experienced world traveler who should not get into such situations.
It was a relief to finally reach my first destination of Bodh Gaya, but there was still doing to be done. Having been here before, I have a few friends who I wanted to connect with and there were still more supplies to get for retreat (blanket, meditation pillow, tea mug…) and other projects (like fixing my broken zipper) that I tossed in to accelerate the pace further. It all went well, but each adventured seemed to involve a ride on the back of a motorbike and at least one cup of chai.
It wasn’t until yesterday morning that the months of doing began to feel worthwhile. I awoke before dawn and climbed to the roof of my guesthouse for a much needed yoga practice. I had the right clothing layered for warmth, I had the right thick mat for the uneven concrete surface and I was in a magical place. My salutes to the sun were as they were originally intended to be; facing the sun as it rose through the haze in the East. My view was overlooking the immense gathering area where the Dali Lama will be addressing thousand of monks tomorrow (with the sacred Temple of where the Buddha became enlightened further in the distance). There were no distractions, no words, no worries. I was finally able to just be with my practice. And just for the fun of it, I kicked my own ass. That didn’t stop me from doing it again this morning. There was one notable visitor, a crow who landed as I was doing the “crow” asana. He clearly had an opinion. Without the benefit of a translator, I choose to believe it was favorable.
With this blog being one of the last things to “do” before entering the meditation retreats. I look forward to three weeks of being. There is a short break in the middle (technically it is two consecutive 10-day sessions), so there is a chance you will hear from me then). If not, do what needs doing, but if possible, make the time to be as well.