Thailand Update – March ‘08

In other Thailand news this busy editor would like to throw in more of his two cents to speak about his brief but bountiful trip to the land of the smiling people. From the second I stepped of the plane I knew that I was home. Prostrating to humongous statues of protector deities in the airport, I only felt weird for a second until I realized, “Oh my God, this is normal behavior here.” My heart smiled, and so did my face for just about the remainder of my time in Thailand. Some of the highlights of the trip were – besides the general good cheer of getting to hang with my family – doing Devi puja, classic style and tantrik style. At the Devi temple in Bangkok, it’s as traditional as it gets. Plus, I got my first non-barber shop haircut of my life from about the sweetest soul you’ll ever want to meet – thanks, Linda!

Of course, there were also multiple massages from men and women who take the time to sit and pray for five minutes at the foot of your bed, before prostrating, and only then beginning the 3 dollar, best massage of your life (other than all of you highly talented and soulful Kula massage practitioners, of course!). Street food was the staple diet – which, as advertised, lived up to its most-high billing. There is no need to cook in Bangkok when you can have some Grandma do it for you on the corner for 50 cents! Also, in a culture where everybody loves Buddha (ranging in form from the fat, smiley One, to Siva, Ganesa, Garuda, and a whole host of local spirits – see pics of Guruji, Rohan and Aditi making offerings to a local spirit known to grant fertility) it is a true blessing to walk around in a busy urban environment and have the integration reminders of altars and offerings everywhere, and people pranaming and smiling. This is a place where a Dharma practitioner who really means it can have a much easier time of having her priorities straight: God first, everything else second.

We actually did not get a chance to go to the land as we decided to stay and spend time with Guruji, Kirana, Jagadamba, Santosima, Aditi and Rohan. Guruji was in Bangkok running around on the business end of things, always working hard for the purpose of fulfilling this retreat center vision. Thankfully, he was able to relax a bit and have fun showing us around town – taking a break from his stressful pace. However, let’s continue to remember our long life and health chants for our Guru because in the relative sense his body is being quite taxed by this major project and all the different details that he must tend to. All in all, though, it was a delightful few days in Thailand – I can’t wait to book my one-way ticket!

I would also like to borrow from our Sruti-Ma’s inspired speech at TYSG. In summary, Sruti urged us to remember all of the incredible beauty and amazement of what is going in Thailand for this Kula, for the Dharma and for our progeny who will be raised as human beings in this environment. As practitioners somewhat obsessed with self-reflection and growing beyond our limitations, we can sometimes lose sight of the joy and beauty of this endeavor. Thus, we have heard a lot about stresses, strains, screw-ups, delays, and doubts. But, as Sruti reminds us, the land is absolutely gorgeous, to the point of magical, and the buildings are designed impeccably from the perspectives of aesthetics, function, and vastu. The potential for this space is unfathomable and despite all the trials and tribulations, IT IS ALL HAPPENING! So, especially those of us who are so very serious, let’s smile a lot more about this journey and this project – even when it’s hard, this is a dream come true!

See you all in Thailand!

Yours, Yogesvara