eye of the tiger

well i'm nearing the last couple days here in india. 10 months of my life spent here over 3 years and am already negosiating next year's hotel. this place definitely has it's ups and downs, but there's no better place to study. and learn about yourself. and learn patience. and learn cinema! i'm very happy to have stayed in a budget hotel this year cause it forced me to read again. it's been a long time. and appreciate the simple life, which has slowed me down quite a bit. it's hard to have nothing to do for a month or 2, but it's very good for the mind and body to just be still. most yogis who come here are obsessed with ayurvedic cleansing and massage to the point of it being more of a focal point than the yoga itself. and many women are obsessed with losing weight. i've seen the most skinny white girls here and in mysore than anywhere else in the world. this morning during led class, this toothpick massage obsessed girl fainted on my mat and had a seizure. me thinks she should add a little food to her "program." everytime i ask people to go to the movies, they tell me they have massage at 2, cleansing at 4, oil drip at 6...a movie is too long to accomodate that kind of schedule. lino tells his students that massage on top of the very hardcore astanga is a bad idea. and i listen to him. i find so many people have a hard time with doing nothing. but isn't yoga supposed to bring us to that nothing place and learn to embrace it?

what was important materialistically this year for me?
-lots of long books
-playing cards
-transistor radio-batteries only
-lots of earplugs
-lots of panties
-3 shirts, 3 skirts
-pens and notebook
-little bottles of good liquid soap (thanks julie & adam)
-scented japanese fan (thanks sue!)
-2 extra towels from home
-1st aid kit
-oil of olay moist towelettes

the ipod is nice, but not necessary.

THE EYE OF THE TIGER is playing on the radio
now it's INXS
the theme music on the radio is miami sound machine's CONGA

THE 4 PURUSHARTHAS IN HINDUISM (goals in life)
1.ARTHA-acquisition of wealth
2.DHARMA-rules of life, what your purpose is
3.KAMA-pursuit of desire (you must be an accomplished lover according to kama sutra)
4.MOKSHA-salvation

from "being indian"