where others come for vacation ...
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5 days, 4 nights --
Experiencing Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy and Snowy weather;
Walking barefoot on Green Meadows dotted with Flowers;
Meditating under Waterfalls;
Petting "Joshi" the cat;
Devouring Yummy Vegan Food and Listening to Cookies crunching under my teeth - wondering if my Silent companions at the table can hear it too?;
Coming to peace with the daily Karma-Yoga-Cleaning: realising it's not about completing the job, but more about work as a form of meditation;
Walking with the Goats casually brushing their bodies against mine;
Finding Balance and Patience in Stacking Stones;
Read more: Zen and the Art of Japanese Ink Painting: April 20-24
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Tonight, Maharishi's Gandharva Veda Concert features Amitav Majumdar on Sarod accompanied by Indranil Malik on Tabla. It's my first time at Maharishi's retreat. As we enter the building, it feels like stepping into the 80s..
We make our way to the Concert Hall .. Flags from around the globe adorn the wall and pictures of Maharishi gaze peacefully from the stage. We sink into the large comfortable chairs, more like thrones.. hmmmm.. i sit cross-legged, tuck my feet under and curl up under my coat...
The melodious Evening Ragas flowing from Sarod and Tabla fill the hall.. I close my eyes and sink into the music.. and Time Stands STILL...
Masala Chai & cookies lure me out of my comfy chair during the break. I also get to exchange a few words in Hindi with the two musicians.. First time I've spoken Hindi since my return from India last November, and it actually feels good. The cookies of course make it all the more better. Shamelessly, I try every cookie..
Music for calming the Mind and Cookies for the Soul... Uhmm.. Uhmmmmmm.. mhmmmmm..
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Sufism is the mystical branch of Islam. It has its roots in the Qu’ran and the Islamic tradition, but at the same time encompasses the universal mysticism that is seen in other spiritual traditions. The essence of Sufism is the simple path of loving God. The Sufi Masters sing of the all pervading love which inundates their being when they become one with their ‘beloved’.
Often the great Sufi poets (Attar, Sanai, Rumi, Saadi, Hafiz, Magribi, Rabi'a, Lalla,..) lived during times of religious fundamentalism. The authorities censored them, because they openly taught that man could have a direct contact with God. I started my journey into the mystic world of Sufi poetry through the works of Coleman Barks.
Rumi believed passionately in the use of music, poetry, and dance as a path for reaching God. He encouraged samāʿ, listening to music and turning or doing the sacred dance. It was from these ideas that the practice of “whirling” dervishes developed into a ritual form.
It has been quite a few years now that I have yearned to witness the spellbinding mystical dance of the Whirling Dervishes. So when i saw that "Stans Music Days" included "Nourredine Khourchid & the Whirling Dervishes of Damascus" i jumped out of myself and started waiting rather impatiently for April 7th.
Read more: Sufi Whirling Dervishes - A meeting of art and faith: April 7th
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The Ladies of SportUnion Beckenried are meeting up for a game night @ the restaurant Rössli. I wonder how the evening will turn out as I park my car & make my way to Panoramasaal: a cozy room with views of the lake from every window. I find about 30 women from teenagers to graceful seniors sitting across tables laid out along the windows.
I check-in with the organisers & they ask me what I'd like to play: DOG or Jass? "Ich habe einmal DOG gespielt" (I have played DOG once before, I answer in Deutsch) so i choose Dog. The organisers smile a sympathetic smile.. with a language handicap & without the necessary experience, i stand no chance in this boardgame of Strategy. "Well, I'm here to have fun & get to know some women, winning is not my Goal": i tell myself as i sit at a table. The DOG board is laid out at the centre. At first glance, it's reminiscent of Ludo, but with a couple of twists: The token movement is based on cards instead of Dice and it's a partnership game. On the other side of the room are women in groups of four, playing Jass: a favourite Swiss card game.
Soon three other women join me at the table. After a quick round of introductions: I know Marlene and Marissa from Fasnacht and Monika works at the local Postoffice; we order drinks, and it's time to get the ball rolling.... Monika helps me out in the beginning.
There's quite a bit to grasp: the best use of each card, the exchange of a card with your partner.. All this is moot if Lady Luck doesn't deal you with the right cards. You can watch the others play from the sidelines. Boy.. oh boy.. some of these women are professionals, and i soon have all my tokens locked back home.
But slowly & surely, as the evening goes by, i get a hang of using the Jacks, the 4 & the 7 to not only further our team's tokens, but more importantly to thwart the opposing team's chances! Talk about Viciousness.. A generous blessing of these cards in your hands is the easiest way to wipe off the smile from your opponent's face.