Journal Entry:
"I got here after a 4 hour, intense, horn-honking, chaotic, aggressive car ride, and drove up to these huge (color taken out for identifying purposes) 15+ story buildings and colorful temple. We went to register and everywhere we looked there were people dressed all in white. Cult alarm bells started going off in my head. I freaked. (I took a cults class in high school, and another in college, so every warning sign I learned about was instantly present). Then the paper said something about us separating, sleeping in dorm style rooms with 3 other people. 'Oh HELL NO!' 'You don't want to lie, ok, I will lie. I will tell them we are married so we do not split up. I don't care, I am not being separated from you in this place.' So I went up and we didn't even have to say if we were married, he saw we were a couple and had registered together so he gave us a room together. Phew. Made it through hurtle #1.
The view from our floor is beautiful. Spectacular. We are on the 14th floor. The buildings are on a small piece of land that is bordered by a river on one side and the ocean on the other and then palm trees and mist as far as the eye can see. Beautiful. I hope Travis takes pictures because it's amazing. No photography is allowed, but...
Otherwise, the chanting is uninspiring, the people's behavior today to see (the Guru) was atrocious. Cutting, pushing, lying, finagling. At an Ashram you would expect more peaceful people. Instead, it just seems like a big commune of people, self serving at best, vying for (the Guru's) attention. I don't get the whole Guru thing, must be a cultural thing, but worshiping a person, even if she is 'holy'?? Mother Theresa didn't want, request, vie for worshipers. She got down on her hands and knees and washed toilets and fed the poor. Yes, the work (the Guru) does for the poor is amazing, though, so was Mother Theresa's. Maybe the same end with different ways of going about it?
Email repsonses from home:
"Dear Briana, Glad you are aware of the colt possibility- don't drink any cool aid-- I'm glad you have Travis with you and glad it is clean!!!" -Love, Mom
"HI Briana, Interesting! I can't wait to hear more when you have spent time elsewhere and have some time to reflect on the experience." - Love, Dad
"Sounds like you are having some amazing experiences:) Breathe it in and out everyday, so you can remember it for a lifetime." - Kelly
A few hidden camera pics from the Ashram
Blowing laundry, so beautiful
Two pics of the sunset from our floor, same time, both beautiful..
A man chanting, it was wonderful to watch.
Ashram gear, sandals, check!
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