Kundalini Teacher Training Level 1

Rishikesh India

Exerpt from diary – Golden Bridge, Aquarian teacher training L1 1 – 27 November 2009

I’m sitting next to the Ganges listening to the water running by, in the internet cafe. It’s a beautiful place here, surrounded by the Himalayas and the flowing Ganges River. I love it here. It is such an amazing spiritual place it has been inhabited by sages, holy men, and people on a spiritual journey for 1000’s of years and it has a great feel. It feels like I belong and have been here and have come home.

The days are incredible. I get up at 3.45am, we start morning sadhana at 4pm - we have breakfast at 9am. The day continues until 7.30pm then lights are meant to be out at 9pm (it is 9.20pm now). I get approx 5 hours sleep or less a night. There is so little time free as the schedule is extremely tight for 15 hours.

I love the experience here; it is very hard but good. Rooms are very basic, power went out this am. Have almost no water from the shower - but a small tap underneath works I just need to be 1 foot high – washing my hair is interesting. We have to all have a cold shower tomorrow at 3.45am, as part of our practice for the rest of the time we are here - wish me luck - the mornings are coolish.

The food at the ashram is Ayurvedic vegetarian and I eat more than at home and it’s very wholesome. The town is very nice, the water looks clean and there is an almost blue hazy sky. I can see the Himalayas from my window in my room.

The people are lovely and Gurumukh has been very helpful. I am so happy I came to study under Gurumukh she is a great teacher and the teacher for me. Every night we have Arti, a ceremony on the steps next to the Ganges where everyone gathers and chants and there are fires on the banks. Candles and flowers are placed as an offering in the river and Swamiji is there. It’s quite a ceremony; we get treated well as Gurumukh’s group, its fun. It’s to clear the day’s karma so it doesn’t etch! We could all do with that.

I swam in the Ganges last Sunday, it was amazing. Today I bought some beautiful mala beads and washed them in the Ganges which is the tradition to purify them. They are every colour of the chakras.

The course and people are great. I have so many new friends and people are really kind souls. I have made friends with people from all countries. We are going to a children’s orphanage on our afternoon off tomorrow. We all brought t-shirts and beads for them from our homes all over the world.

I’ve done Indian dancing - was quite something! We had an exam this week and it was full on. I’m doing yoga for 2 hours on my afternoon off!! This yoga is more and more amazing what it can do to heal the human body; it’s quite extraordinary and powerful. I am so grateful I came; I think it is my calling, but it will be challenging. The mind is the key.

Better go, looking forward to level 2 TT next November!

Ramjas Kaur Rishikesh, India – November 2009