Kunj Puri – Head in the clouds, Feet on the Ground
28 Nov 2010 Leave a Comment
in Consciousness, India 2010, Rishikesh, Thich Nhat Hanh, Yoga Meditation
“When the mind settles on mountain, it becomes the mountain.” – Thich Nhat Hahn
We have all climbed a mountain at one time or another in the emotional sense. The journey is never easy and can reduce us to tears. Sometimes it is a steep, rocky, uphill climb, other times flat and uneven., still others are a combination of both, some long, some short, etc. Regardless, these journeys are important milestones in finding our strengths and overcoming weaknesses. Realizing that we are often held back and kept prisoner by the monkey mind and that we truly choose to move forward out of free will and desire, quelling the self-doubt, the “what ifs” and manifesting happiness. Mantras and affirmations can help to steady the mind for progress along the climb. The real questions is will you make the climb?
Our trek to the Devine Mother Temple (Kunj Puri) was an exercise in perseverance and strength in every aspect of the words. Starting our adventure in Rishikesh at about 3,000 ft., we were to ascent to 7,000 ft. in approximately 6 hours. None of us knew that is would be basically straight up with small switchbacks for that length of time – - and that we would be in silent meditation for its entirety. This is a tall order for a group of 18 women. It was taxing mentally and physically, but the hardest part was that it broke each of us down emotionally and all of it a battle with the negative self talk, doubt and occasional fear. The mantra helped bring the mind to neutrality, putting one foot in front of the next and suddenly, somehow, reaching the satisfaction of accomplishment I absolutely could not have made it without those 6 little words each one matching a footstep: Dhum dhum dhum jaia mata Durga ki (asking for strength and from the goddess Durga). Completely spent, we arrive at the temple which was already in cloud cover. Looking up, we find more steps (I’m guessing 108) leading to the temple itself. Ugh! We all made it in our own individual ways, paid homage to Shakti and Shiva, and even witnessed the marital blessing of a newlywed couple.
With my head in the clouds and my feet firmly on the ground, I settled my mind on the mountain and became the mountain – a stronger, lighter, better version of myself. The climb is never over.
