Recursive Dream

Brunch

I walk out of the stay area and slip on my sandals. (Most walk barefoot, but my feet are still adjusting.) Passing through the gate, I pause as a gaggle of cows and baby goats file past. I turn left and am greeted with a view that never fails to astound: the beautiful Velliangiri mountain range; from here it looks close enough to touch. Wispy clouds hang lazy and low along the tree-covered hills. A light, almost imperceptible mist gives a cool contrast to the waking sun.

As I make my way closer to the central Ashram, dirt and gravel paths give way to stone and concrete. I pass over a metal footbridge with a river rushing below, high from last night's rain. I stop at a Vibhuti shrine and apply the sacred ash with gratitude and reverence.

The crowd thickens as I reach Biksha Hall, the large two-story building where we take brunch and dinner meals. I place my sandals in a rack and wait for the Hall to open. A small fruit lands at my feet, tossed by an unseen cheeky monkey from a nearby tree. To my left a large screen plays an interview with Sadhguru and a peacock saunters along the stucco awning of a nearby building. At precisely 9:50, the doors of Biksha Hall open.

I make my way upstairs to the "non-spicy" floor for its relaxed atmosphere. (Most diners eat downstairs, where I ate and volunteered previously.) I am greeted at the doors by volunteers holding Namaskar; I return the gesture, silently thanking them for making this meal possible. (Bowing to others always evokes a pleasant feeling within me.) We file down rows of straw mats, ladies opposite gents. The silence of the Hall sinks into me; I feel the cool granite underfoot. We find our seats in front of plates placed at precise intervals. I sit in Ardha Siddhasana, feeling blessed that I am now at ease in this posture.

A chant plays over the PA system, a signal that service will soon begin. When the chant concludes, all utter a brief invocation in unison. Volunteers serve 6-8 different foods, in the order they're meant to be consumed for optimal digestion. Though I'm hungry from the morning's practices and Pradakshina, I follow Sadhguru's instructions to consciously wait three minutes before eating. Meanwhile, I give thanks to the Creation for manifesting this physical reality and striving for billions of years to make my life and this meal. Tears of gratitude well up in my eyes as I consider the abundance and diversity of this delicious meal, made possible by donors, and crafted with love and care by the incredible kitchen staff and volunteers.

I eat with conscious gratitude, as slowly as my busy schedule will allow. When I'm done, I once again bow and thank all the beings who are willingly becoming part of this body. I rise with my plate, wash it in the large sink bay at the back of the hall, place it in a metal drying rack, and proceed toward the exit. Before leaving, I bow to the large photo of Sadhguru at the front of the Hall, thanking him for making this meal and this day possible for me.

I'm eager to head to my next destination, but must wait for two large bullock carts full of passengers to pass; the bulls' heads are adorned with colorful flower bouquets which never fail to elicit a smile. As I walk back I marvel at the vibrant flora, including a cusp of tall coconut trees, and many colorful flowering trees. Ants scurry underfoot; butterflies playfully chase one another across the stone path. Bicycles and electric scooters compete with the throng of walkers exiting the Hall into the beauty of another Ashram day.