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| Being asked to pose for photos in Kolkata's Victoria Memorial Garden |
I’d been in Kolkata for five days when it
hit me; if I’m in India, why do I feel so far removed from the spiritual realm?
As I tried to cross the busy street without being pulverized by a taxi, it
seemed obvious. Kolkata is a hectic place. Though the city itself boasts much
beauty, finding a time and space to be introspective isn’t the easiest of
tasks. It is a little unorthodox, but only seems right that a place so opposed
to my romantic view of India (Bollywood come to life!) would be the staging
ground for ethereal experience.
After making it back to my hotel, I was drawn
to meditate. I’m no expert, but my dabbling has often led to deep and meaningful
experiences. Maybe it was finding my center after 6 days of perpetual motion,
or maybe India is just that sacred of a place, but this meditation was quite
profound. Within minutes I found a comfortable position (which isn’t a regular occurrence),
that seemingly transformed my autonomous entity into a single drop of something
greater. I was there, but only as a small part in the greater whole. Everything
seemed connected. My body felt as if it had melted into my mat, with the air
and ambiance of the atmosphere engulfing me. For 30 minutes I felt as if I had
somehow made my way into the womb of existence. Returning to the present felt almost like a
fall from grace.
After drifting back to the physical plane,
life, once again, was whirl wind. That night, our local friends took us to
their favorite bar. Though I’m not much for the night life, I did want to go to
a place that offered live music. Like much of an Indian adventure, this didn’t end up quite how
I expected. The music was sung by (relatively) scantily clad women, who our
friends told us were actually prostitutes. Rupees draped in horny men’s numbers
were thrown on stage, and the bouncers made sure that the right lady received the
note. After uncomfortably sipping Kingfisher and trying not to make eye contact
for a few hours, my night ended with consoling a local guy who fell for a
foreigner who didn’t love him back.
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| Garbage Moutain |
Though the smoke and smog left me with a
pretty rough cold, I deiced to mind over matter the day and head to “Garbage
Mountain,” with a friend we meet near our hostel. He was born in the outskirts
of Kolkata, and the legendary mountain was the backdrop to his home. While he
tried to mentally "prepare" us for the journey, what we quickly found was his
small village outside of the city center was actually incredibly charming. The area
was surrounded by water and greenery, and besides the mountain, the small,
cobblestone walk ways, and humble brick houses were a fantastic break from the
city. The local soccer match was an added bonus, and the insane tuk tuk rides
with bumping bollywood songs and strobe lights made the return journey all that
much sweeter.
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| People scavenging for recyclable or reusable scraps |
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| a fitting ominous tree near the mountain |
So how do all these experiences link
together? The answer to that is why I continue to travel. I have no idea. What I
do know is that with each step towards something greater, a ripple effect helps
transform the world around us. It is amazing what can happen in a 24-hour
period. While it is easy to see the beauty of each moment while immersed in a strange
and tantalizing place, moments of centering and meditation can help us bring
this lens to our everyday lives. Even if the daily grind can’t be seen as a
thing of beauty, it is easier to face after realizing your actions, choices,
and existence has purpose and meaning.
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