hi

Ok, so, I went back into the hills again yesterday but this time I stuck to the main road instead of venturing off into no man's land. Still the main road dwindled into a gravel footpath anyhow but it lead me to the most idyllic little oasis, beside a wet creek this time, not a dry one. There were little palm trees and purple flowers and beautiful water, bubbling, babbling gently down. I'm heading back there today after lunch with my camera so I can show you this spot. I will go after lunch so I have more time to enjoy it without having to hurry back. I so like going alone because it is so peaceful and a nice place to reflect. "This is real India" is what i was thinking as i sat in the middle of the creek crouched on a small rock with my hands and feet dangling in the clear water. I contemplated bringing a friend with me from the ashram but somehow i feel that no one would really appreciate it as much as i would and it would only leave me disappointed that they are not as thrilled as i. On this path I passed a woman carrying things on her head, slowly making her way up the hill on her way.... to where? home? Life seems so nice up there. Paradise. I can picture myself living there. Why is it when life is more simple and when you live in the country and grow your food and cut your wood for fire, life seems more right? it just makes more sense. When I see people living this close to the land, it doesn't matter that they have nothing by our standards, that they are not materially rich. To me, it seems, they have everything. It is gorgeous up there.

Anyhow,

that is the plan for today. To head up there after lunch. Wanting to go to a lecture/talk today at a hotel near here. It starts in half an hour. Then after dinner I have an acupressure appointment with someone to work on my back. I am becoming more and more intrigued with acupressure. I am starting to even think "yoga therapy, ayurveda, and acupressure", great compliments. I know I need to got into alternative medicine in these kinds of ways. and i think with the direction that conventional medicine is heading these days.... that this is going to be a great field, burgeoning in fact. excited i am. Acupressure is also a great tool of diagnosing weak areas in the body. Then with yoga therapy, massage and ayurveda, we can treat it. Also pranic healing keeps popping up for me too. Prana is the life force energy. When one's prana is low, we become susceptible to disease and illness. Therefore maintaining strong life force energy is essential to have full health.

Just a few little things I am learning. Mostly this has come to my attention as it pertains to my own personal back issue. ( the saga goes on). I have noticed that when I am getting lots of prana into my body, through breath exercises or through transmission from an outside party or source, that my back feels wonderfully good. And when my energy is low and I am not breathing properly or feeling stressed, holding the breath or breathing very shallow, then the pain returns. It is really quite amazing. I have been following this, observing what makes it come, what makes it go.

Anyhow, just a quick note for now.

love to everyone.