Mumbai Chapter

Hello Friends

After Tamilnadu its Mumbai where I got new project. It’s quite learning actually and  its another new work of foundation i.e Rock Anchoring. Life is so challenging here I never expect it would be busier schedule than in Tamilnadu. Because in TN I hardly went to site for maintenance activity on Sunday but here Almost every Sunday I go to work, and it’s disgusting. I dreamed that if I would be in Mumbai I will do this and that, now I have money, time on Sunday but I was wrong. Along with the places things also changes, after come to Mumbai I have place, money but no time to go somewhere to enjoy like trekking/night life etc.  but still I found something interesting to interact with new people through the couch surfing group. I was lucky to get such nice group. First meet-up which I joined is MAW (meet after work) which is organized by Biswjeet Ray (Jeet). I joined because it was on the same area where I live in Nerul. So I joined MAW. In the evening I went to jeet place and little bit scared because I didn’t knew anyone there; all were new to me and I didn’t know what to do in such meet-ups but somehow I went there and jeet welcomed me. Then introduction with all other surfers. It was nice to know them. They all were very friendly. There were 6-7 peoples Jeet , Sandy, Mahesh, jayendra, Ravi, koyal, kanchi and me. They all know each other except sandy as he is Jeet flat mate. Our conversation starts with introduction then some discussion on different topics, Jeet is awesome to make every sentence in double meaning and make us laugh and Mahesh he has great sense of humor to answer any question in funny way. Then after lot of discussion Jayendra who was in Airforce, played nice guitar. he played on few songs  we enjoyed lot but party still not stopped; so we went to top of the roof and that night there was shower of rain, Jayendra played guitar on roof it was very nice to listen guitar with the shower of rain and that too at 3-4am in the morning.. I feel like this is called life even unknown peoples make your PAGES OF LIFE so colorful; only thing you need to move on. When I came to Mumbai I was thinking to meet as many as friend but college friends got busy in their professional life   even on Sundays they have excuse or maybe they are really busy, more than anyone I was busy, worked even on Sundays till afternoon; but I always take out time for friends to meet. That CS meet up was one of the memorable meet up, after that many meet up/Disco parties etc were organized, but first  experience is first experience.

Me and Joke @H2O

Jayendra Jeet and Me @ Marimba Lounge

@H2O Lounge

                                                       @Jeet B'day Party Madh Island
Another advantage to be in Mumbai is I can go to do one day vipassana course @Global Pagoda and also attained the Mega course with Goenkaji . Sometimes I went to Dhammagiri for self course to strengthen my practice and also to see known faces there. About DhammaGiri, I want to mentioned that this was second home during college days, where I learned many things and developed myself in Dhamma and Annica while serving in Vipassana courses.  The first time I went to Dhammagiri was in 2008. I apply for to sit course but they confirmed me for serving the course.  First day I felt very inconvenient becoz nobody woke me up to do meditation as i was also dhammaserver. Then somebody help me and inspired me to do service and after that I served many courses then I sat. I enjoyed and learned many things during service. How our smile and folded hand convey the message to meditators in silence to let them know what’s wrong they had done. And how can we develop ourselves to serve others. Unless we don’t generate metta we can’t serve others.  During my fourth course @ Dhammagiri suddenly gratitude generates within me and I started crying on 11^th day of discourse. The gratitude towards Goenkaji who taught Dhamma with love, Gratitude towards Dr. B.R. Ambedkar who show us and gave us the Wonderful Dhamma by embracing Buddhisam, Gratitude towards that Place DhammaGiri which was the Development center of my Good Kamma (Karma).

My Mom (middle) with other co-meditators @DG for Serving

Boundary of Spiritual Jail ;)

Apart from this Mumbai helps to reconnect the Pali friends. Sean my friend cum teacher; I used to went to Global pagoda to sit and met him. It was nice to met him. Once Daniel stuart (PHD Scholar in Buddhisam) came and it was nice to met him with his wife after 3 years. Also Adrian my Pali mate after year he came to sit 30 days course @ Tapovana.

 Daniel Me and Sean.

                                           Adrian and me
             
This Mumbai Chapter is incomplete without mentioning Joshua and Bhargav. My colleague in company with whom I used to go to watch movies on Saturday, eat outside, went to shopping and visiting some places. Sometimes the things happened naturally, I felt that now my working days in Mumbai over so I used that time to visiting places and I like to sit on marine drive at night if its rain then wonderful and it happened consecutively for 3 days I went to marine drive 1^st day sitting alone with umbrella as it was raining. On second day, had lunch with sean in the restaurant where we had 3 years back. On 3^rd day again with Bargav enjoying Breeze and beauty of that place, and after couple of days I felt my days are over now and it happens.

                                                Bhargav and Me at Marine Drive

                                                  Joshua

The six month of my professional life in Mumbai was wonderful because of Couch Surfing group, company mate and the spiritual part. On last week of September I got transferred to Delhi for another new project. But in week I had some exam in Mumbai so I return  to Mumbai for couple of days. I reached Mumbai on 29^th Sept. and on 30^th morning I got new from my mom that Goenkaji passed away in night on 29^th sept. I was shocked  and confirmed the news from friends and it was true, and after exam on 30^th in evening I went to Goenkaji’s Resident to see him and pay homage. It was crowded in his home so very few min I got to see him but I couldn’t resist myself to pay homage again n again and I had to leave after some time and stayed at Joshua’s place it was nice to see him again.

                                             At His Residence

On next morning I went to Goenkaji’s funeral procession. It was big Que to see him last time outside his residence. I met some people from my home town and surprised that they came far to just pay homage and see Goenkaji one last time. The truck was decorated to carry his body. Monks chanted in front of truck for 1hour, one renowned monk named Gyan Jyoti from my native place now he is also Vipassana teacher leads the monk group for chanting. The Goenkaji loaded into truck to carry him to cremation ground which was 3-4kms away. Bhikku Sangha  was ahead followed by truck and rest of the crowd, all were wearing white cloths. I was with swayam (friend from DG) with his wife walking with crowd. His wife amazed of big crowed and said although Goenkaji said he is not “Guru” then also these people come. While walking near to that truck I saw some people on road paid homage with folded hand even they don’t know about goenkaji because such crowd was there with Bhikku sangha. One young guy came to me and asked me who is he? I just replied type Vipassana on Google and you will get answer.

Last Journey :(

Crowed its very long might be 1km

Crowed Outside  Cremation  ground at Oshivara Mumbai watching Funeral on TV

I felt something different a feeling of satisfaction and sadness. Satisfaction because I am lucky to attained that great man Last journey and Sad because I am no longer see him afterwards. I am so grateful this person. I think I have to stop here. Next time I come with New Adventure.

Metta

Cheers

Sud

Tamilnadu Part 3, Final.....

Hello folks

Here I come with final series of Tamilandu part 3 …

It was nice experience to be in Tamilnadu for one and half year. When I come here I was told that just only for 3month and then project is over and you will get transferred to some other location but 3 months extended to 15 months.

 Its strange place to realize the things, some strange thing I remember now is

 1) When someone died, people drunk   and dance on funeral.

 2) Women shave their head when they go some God/Goddesses temple. I never saw bald women     except Buddhist nuns but here lay women also

 3) LTTE’s former chief Prabhakaran is Hero. Every political party used his poster to get support from Tamil people, well I m not against it everyone has their perspective of thinking/behave.

4) Every year one temple built than school or hospital..

5) once I was sitting on beach and some people performing rituals, 2-3 mens/womens wearing flower garland and one man singing or reciting(don’t know its tamil) and after 10min 1by one start dancing and became wild others were trying to stop them but they were out of control then one was singing put hands on their head and slowly they became silent.

 6) Obliviously nobody understand Hindi except those who previously work outside/north

Oh I missed to write about the Pondicherry its very good place indeed. In fact my colleague used to tease me and say “Pondicherry Guy”… I used to go to Pondicherry on Sunday to explore the city. When I went to pondy; I liked to go to “Le café Restaurant” to have COLD Coffee with the breeze of sea. That restaurant is on rocky beach, and I don’t know why; but I felt relaxed to sit there and have cold coffee.  Near to that restaurant there is Ambedkar Mandapam which is good place actually, it has small library having very good books and collection of photographs which flashes the life of that great man .

                                  Dr. B.R. Ambedkar MiniMandapam

Le Cafe at Pondy Beach Aurobindo Ashram

Apart from that, I wanted to explore the nearby area of AuroBindo Ashram so I preferred to walk;  I went inside that Aurobindo ashram; it’s nothing but his “Samadhi/cemetery” inside. I liked to walk on that Market area its nice market for shopping.  There are very good French architect buildings. And you will find the one museum very small but it has one valuable MAP which I never saw in any Museum.  The map contains the origination of any country or u can say start of world as it noted in history even 500BC/100BC.

Well  talk about  everyone attraction Auroville, I must say those who come in Pondicherry they should stay in Auroville at any guest house the guest houses are cheap there … once I went to attain the bonfire in MatriMandir area which is organized on the occasion of Aurobindo  B’day i.e 15^th August.  I stayed one night in youth camp guest house (250rs/day) on 14^th august on the same night there was Independence day celebration in WELL’s Café and theme was   Arabian night. That night, first time I saw a Belly dance performance, played by beautiful ladies (might be French). I felt like I m king of Arabian countries and these celestial nymph are dancing in my Castle ;). After belly dance over , It was very nice to dance with those dancers and others. Now back to bonfire, Bonfire organized in MatriMandir area in early morning at 4.30am and I think one more time they do bone fire but I don’t remember the day. To attain the bonfire you have to be there at 4.30-5am and meditate till bonfire starts. It’s nice to meditate under the sky/stars and its amazing. Ahh I wished to go inside Matrimandir and meditate but I failed to made it.

Nachooo ;) Belly Dance @ Wells Cafe

Me

 Once I was in Verite guest house to do 2-day Vipassana self course and that is one of the best guest house in Auroville, what I like in that guest house is the sound of hollow metallic rod and Pirhana in pool which eat your dead cells of feet. It was wonderful experience with Pirhana ;). During self course the food they served is of western style because all were westerner and its awesome food I felt that I can adjust with western food but not with south Indian J.  There is one more café above the solar kitchen named “La terrace” I went there with my German friend Nicki, it was nice to have lunch with nicki because she taught me how to eat with spoons, fork & knife J.  After lot of try on pizza she said,”Sud its India you should with your hand ;)”. While having lunch I met some people or u can say Nicki’s friends, the interesting women name Shanti from U.S. who has Guest house “JOY” in Auroville.  She is around 60-70 years old, she share some experiences in regard with different topics, it was nice chit chat with her, one important thing she said that,” she done everything she wish and she is happy that there is no backlogs to complete”. And when I look my life I wanted to do many things but most of them are incomplete but good part is God/Dhamma blessed me with some which is best for me :D. Near to visitor center there is Buddha Garden there is guy name Pierre, he is very nice guy and also Vipassana meditator, sometimes he organized the 10days courses for Aurovilian. 

Nicki and Me

                                                      Nicki and Shanti

One more attraction of Pondicherry is Sadhana Forest community which basically aims to, grow forest and allow people to do volunteer service. The lodging is free but you have to pay for food only. There is interesting story to visit Sadhana forest.. I met one Israel family (Boris & Yelena) in Goa at internet cum travel agent shop. They want to go to Pondy and agent did not know where that place is so I help them and after returned from Goa I booked the ticket for them to pondy. And to get the ticket money from them I went to Auroville and from there to sadhana forest because they were living there. And when I went at sadhana I was surprised some people wanted to meet me because that couple already told to some people that we met one guy who help us a lot without any relation he booked the ticket and guided us how to go to sadhana and so on….. well that’s enough publicity I got J. Sadhana forest is very nice community to protect and grow forest, well managed, hygienic, and even they used different kind of toilets, not modern. i felt like I m in 18^th century, but it was very natural to reuse everything even shit and pee. In meantime I played with their kids they are so cuuuuute that I still miss them. In the evening I went with their family to see Tantra Dance festival and it was terrible. Me and the little girl of Boris got scared so much by the expression of Dancer. But it was great to see the traditional south Indian dance.

Zohar

Main Hall of Sadhana Forest

Bajao ;)

Lets Dance

Scary

 There are 2good beaches in pondicherry one is Auroville beach and other is Paradise beach. Auroville beach is on ECR road and Paradise is 8-10km from pondy at Ariyankuppam village, one has to take boat to go to paradise beach which has different rates private/general etc. that beach is nice. And Auroville beach, when I went to first time i.e. in Dec. 2011 it was clean and good and then it was dirty for whole year people shit on beach but recently in Feb. I visited and it was clean and well maintained by Aurovilin’s .

There is one more interesting place know as Pichavaram. It has mangroves trees forest it looks like caves when you go inside, it’s nice indeed.. and worth to see. Its 10km from Chidambaram. And 50km from pondy. Its better if to book private taxi to go there.

Restaurent at Auroville Beach

Above :- Auroville beach,

Below:- Paradise beach

Huts on paradise beach

Looking sexy :)

 When I got transferred to Mumbai in end of March; & I got transfer letter and I have to go immediately. My situation was like “hey wait I want to stay 2more days want to go to inside Matrimandir meet some friend in auroville and say goodbye to them and so on” it’s like, old people says “hey god give me death I fed up now with old age” and when God say, “Come Oh My Child”. Then he/she said, “wait I was joking, I want see my loved one this and that :D” but soon I realize everything is annica and I left Tamilnadu next day i.e on 22th march 2013…

At the end of this series I am grateful to those who helped when I was in TamilNadu.

1)     Shankar:- a traveler (Tamil) whom I met in train from Nagpur to Chennai(it was my first time to Chennai). He helped a lot. like he took me to bus stop and come with me at Koyembadu bus stop. Board me to the Chidambaram bus. And then again in evening he called me whether I safely reached or not in Chidambaram. Like him one more traveler from Thanjavur helped me like this in my second journey

2)   Froncoise/Shivani:- Belgian friend who live in Chennai from 3-4years. She is friend since college days. I met her in global pagoda when she  visited Mumbai. It was good support from her because I did not know anyone in Tamilnadu except her.

3)    Pierre :- French guy from Buddha Garden. It was great help when I almost need vipassana group nearby and while searching Dhamma works and he organized 10days course and allow me to come when I have free time.

4)      Vijayalakshmi Mam:- Vipassana teacher who organized Vipassana course in gypsy camps. And always allow me to come in my free time to attain n serve in the course.

5)   And all other my colleague and seniors who were always supportive to me

Thank you All   

Next time I will come with Mumbai news till then cheers

Sud

Below i post some pics of Catholic Nun IDYA Ashram where vipassana Gypsy camp organised

Jusu Under Bodhi tree

Accomodation

Meditation Hall

My Room when i went

Dhamma Hall

French Co-meditator