A Month of Introspection

Michelle writes: 

My month of introspection is drawing to a close. I would extend it if I could and go to India to an ashram for more in depth study, or even northern Thailand. But other commitments have been made and paid for, so I will just savor this time and reflect on the experience. 

It's been a combo of Buddhist, Hindu, and ecumenical philosophies. The beauty has been the all embracing view of all the locations I have visited. When reciting the mantras, you can fix your gaze/attention on the guru that resonates with you, be it Jesus Christ, Buddha, any of the many deities in Hinduism, or just something with which you feel a deep connection, perhaps nature. 

Last night we had a spectacular lighting storm over the mountains. The evening sky had been filled with clouds round in shape, like a string of pearls. They are mammary clouds (breast clouds). We all took pictures of this special sight. No rains came from the storm, in this little village. All the farmers are preparing for the rainy season, gathering the wheat and preparing to plant the next crop.

In Lumbini, the flat Terai region, they were combining the wheat. I was amazed to see the large equipment, but the fields were vast. Not sure if they were privately owned, as most farms are small, such as our family farms in the US were 100 years ago. On the road to Lumbini, wheat was placed on the roadway to be driven over for the threshing process. Here, the women were in the field with their small hand scythes cutting and bundling the grain. Being at a higher elevation, the crop is 2 weeks later. The fields are beautiful here; there are terraced mountainside wherever you go. Nepal does well agriculturally. It sounds like they are fairly self sufficient agriculturally, but the population is growing with Indians and other immigrants.  

Men from Nepal often go to work in Dubai or Kuwait for the better paying jobs. My yoga instructor's husband is in Kuwait. She is waiting for a visa to join him. The cousin next door went to Afghanistan in the first wave of Nepali soldiers. He has since come home and built this home that doesn't fit the neighborhood, although it is a great landmark for us tourists to find the yoga center.