Rabindranath stories are too sad. Not just sad, but sad in a very tragic and heart rending way. That’s why, after my first foray, I don’t read more of his writings. However, I happened to watch a Netflix show on his story Chokerbali. And as I kept watching it, I couldn’t help feel that the central character, Binodini, whose life was turning out to be pretty “tragic” by any social standards, had the most opportunity of turning inwards or “spiritual”. I have pondered about this often. When something “untoward” happens in my or someone else’s life around me, I try to flip the mental coin. How can one cultivate more awareness from this? Or how can such a turn of events help us turn inward? Or help us dedicate more time for our inner well-being? When I wonder this way, most often than not, I can see many bright avenues.

Similarly, this lockdown.

Currently I am in a 14 day quarantine because my Mom tested positive for COVID (she is doing fine). As a close contact I am also quarantined. And I have been thinking that every year, even after the COVID situation ends, I would like to go in a quarantine like this for 14 or more days.

Silence. Solitude.

The COVID-19 situation has many positives to it when we look at it from the “ultimate well-being” side. Forced halt in movement. Death, mortality considerations. People more concerned about their health. Cultivating better habits and culture. Moreover, a lot of people are getting to experience how their near and dear ones support them through such a pandemic. And if the near and dear ones don’t support us through such times then we know to choose better ones.

In this way, this year was phenomenal I would say. The whole environment has all of a sudden shaped itself to aid a spiritual transformation of people in the world. Kind of what we would expect at the time of yuga changes. 😉 (which yuga are we in?)

As I look back and review the past year (Vikram Samvat 2076), I am left quite happy. With regards specific events and matters in this year, there were a few that come to my mind,

• The Lockdown : 7 months home alone in a totally unprecedented way. Now I am with family and in an ashram filled with activity. And yet, I see the value of those silent days. I think of taking a self imposed 14-30 day quarantine every year now onwards.

• Akhand Diya : This was an amazing revelation for me. Fundamentally, because I have never related with a shrine or a photo or any external place or thing or idol in a big way. Maybe the Isha Dhyanalinga can be considered an impact, but all said and done, I haven’t spent that much time around it. During the lockdown, for 3 months, this lamp was ON akhand, unceasing. I tended to it every single day. Lately, I have been travelling and due to some logistical reasons it is ON only intermittently. I hope to manage the logistics so that it can AKHAND again! Let’s make the diya AKHAND again! 😀

• Mahavir Swami Charitra & Bhaav Pratikraman during Paryushan: Being alone during the paryushan days (major Jain festival) – I did the bhaav pratikraman from Srimad Rajchandra foundation. And found it very powerful. At the same time, one of my uncles was sending audio readings of Mahavir Swami’s life story on Whatsapp. And I must say this was all really amazing – because there was a tense relationship between me and Jainism. There is an emotional pressure to abide by our birth religion and yet I was at odds to it. But with adoption of some simple and yet powerful Jain practices, I am in a kind of yog (union) with regards my various identities. (note, the isolation kept compounding the effect of these practices).

• Ayurveda: One major noteworthy update is my foray into Ayurvedic studies. Something I wanted to do for a while but this lockdown made it happen. And I must say since I have started the online course from Kaivalyadhama, my understanding of how to manage my own health better has improved drastically. Not yet time to pen a post on it, but will do soon. 🙂

• Another Ashram! : it was my parents who were mostly into this Dada Bhagwan Foundation path and they bought an apartment inside this ashram. But must say, after having spent some time here in this ashram, I love it here! I was here in Jan 2020 and wrote about a wonderful sant sangati experience with doctors (part of this ashram) and also, one uncle who plays Chess as a spiritual practice 🙂

Now, the elephant in the room, 😉

Coimbatore & Isha Foundation: Last year I shifted to Coimbatore, as a way to have my own base (away from Mumbai) and also to be closer to Isha Yoga Center. This has been an amazing experience on many levels. Running my own house (managing EVERYTHING during the first few lockdown months without even the domestic help). Being a Tamil Nadu citizen (of sorts) and absorbing the day to day culture in a Tamil city.

More importantly, spending more time at the Isha ashram has added another fresh layer of memories with those people and the place. It has been really valuable and meaningful. 😀 Also, volunteering quite intensely with them for a few months was an experience to ponder on.

With Isha, I find it difficult to separate out one experience over others. I see it like a full package of experiences – and it was really powerful on a lot of levels. Especially, because I have many personal ties with the place from before. And it was a wonderful experience, what ever it was, this past year.

Currently, I am on a break with regards any major activity – volunteering or other wise. I have only some professional work stuff going and other activities (like these blog posts) that I do as and when feasible. Largely because this lockdown situation is a bit overwhelming for me. And also, I had a most likely COVID situation and I need to rest.

COVID: While I have highlighted the benefits of the current COVID situation for a sadhaka as a tool to turn inwards. I also wonder about the impact of getting COVID infected on a sadhaka’s system. Especially, in view of paths like kriya yoga – which depends on the persons physical system to some extent – what impact does it have? Considering that COVID may be lab made.

Sadhguru, in his weekly sathsangs, has been scaring us with a lot of random pointers about reduced intelligence and all that stuff. However, I found it funny more than anything.

At the end of day, as long as we can keep a center pillar of awareness, faith, love, trust in our hearts and on the great beings of the world, I think we are good to go.

PS: 23 Inspirituality posts this year, more than my travel blog 😀

& the Aghora Book 2 was read. Book 3 has also been started, yet to finish. 🙂

Many “sant sangati” friends have been made this year. ♥