Acceptance doesn’t mean things being a certain way. Acceptance means things being the way they are, which includes things not happening “my” way and “me” not liking them; however, not wishing that things were different.
Yes, I loved the Ganga, Ram Jhula, and the ghats, the gentle breeze, the food, the tea, and the company of my good friends. But I also did not like overcrowding, the scooters and bikes blowing horns to unsuspecting tourists who are there to experience the bliss of the Ganges and spiritual exploration. I even heard a foreigner, who was staying at my location, saying, “I wish to go down there, but it’s too noisy and crowded.”
Knowing that, I don’t wish to change a single thing. However, it is clear that my next visit to that region will be in the outskirts or villages that are away from the tourist zones and spiritual commercialization. As always, the visit, I would say was a rich experience. Company of Good friends and interaction with locals made it memorable. We came across a girl who was managing a lemon soda cart near the Ganga ghat. She was sixteen years old and was helping her mother with the small business. Additionally, she was learning Kathak (Indian classical dance form). Even in the heat, she was joyfully interacting with my foreigner friend.
After that, we had an interaction with a couple of seekers who came all the way from Mumbai. For the next two days, we had a deep exploration into the nature of the SELF and how relationships become a pathway to SELF discovery.
While on our journey back home, we halted at a local highway restaurant where the owner came and sat with us while we were having tea and pakodas (fritters). He shared his life journey and the challenges he faced in life. It was a heartfelt interaction. The quietude and serenity of the villages felt more appealing than our visit to the spiritual city.
With love, Jagjot
