India Chapter 2

Please do not read this blog before reading the Chapter 1.

The Dasa got up and took the mike. First off was to chant the Moola Mantra. (I will get it for you later)

Then he said: When we had discussed how many people were likely to show up for this Temple Opening we estimated there would be 200,000 people per day for 6 days for a total of 1.2 million people. We hired the largest crowd control company that we could get, not knowing ourselves how to deal with so many people.

The idea was that people would pass through the Temple and Sri Amma Bhagavan and all the people passing would place energy into the temple as the Golden Ball was placed into the Temple. Last night we had 45,000 gate crashers. (some of this information that I will relate now, I learned later) These people came through the fields, pushing through fences and disrupting the area greatly. They also, either climbed over our walls, or broke the walls down. Once at the Temple, doors were smashed in as well as windows.

This Tuesday Morning, we had a crowd of 500,000 people at the Temple. The first crowd into the Temple refused to leave easily. When they had gone the next also were refusing to leave. Outside, with 37 degree heat and water for 200,000 people were getting stressed. There was a stampede and 5 people were killed. The police and military were called in and they have taken over the Temple and are dragging people out of the Temple. We have put in a request that maybe tomorrow the people that have flown in from all over the world could be allowed into the Temple.

We were all shaken, crestfallen, saddened, in shock, disapointed, and many other terms. I sat in my sorrowness feeling very alone. I realized later that I could look at what was happening from two points of view. I could say that I had come up to see the temple and missed that the trip was stuffed. OR, I could view all of it that I had come to India for an adventure and the trip was Sensational. I choose to be in the attitude of the later.

One very important thing that happened while I was on the campus was the very clear knowingness of being separate from all these Oneness Givers. It was very clear to me that they were all "ONE" and that I was not one of them. There was nothing said ever by any of them about this separation as they felt me to be one with them. I however could not "FEEL" this same sensation as I have yet to go through the process. I was like the man walking in a white suit through the tar pit not getting dirty, or more appropriately, walking through Angel dust not getting dusty, ha ha ha. Mostly, I laid down on my ever trusty Thermarest and slept. The Deeksha energy flowing off all of these people was truly awesome. I could feel and sense that and being horizontal was the best option for me.

Then there was the return trip. I was happy to be in the same vehicle again. I trusted this driver. And, he had trusted me. Finally around 11:30 we are heading back. I was some tired, but not. Wired too. And, since it is night time trip back I choose to be very alert. One thing I realized quickly was that all the big trucks that I saw that night did NOT have any tail lights on. And that they drove fairly slowly like 30 - 40 kph. While we were attempting to get 60 80 or 100 kph. Also, that the on coming traffic never dimmed their headlights and ours were a bit off centre too. SO, the only way to "see" a lumbering truck was to look for a black hole. Now a Black hole in traffic is when you see headlights way up the road that disapear as you get closer. What caused the lights to disapear? Ahhh a big truck. And mostly they were not willing to give up the centre lane no matter how much a horn was laid upon. And they were smart not too. The outside lane could be blocked by something anywhere along the way. Many trucks were parked along the verge. However, too often a tired trucker not being able to find a spot to park, would just stop in the lane and park without any lights, signals, warning devises anything for oncoming traffic to be warned of his presence.

Another, device that made travel interesting was the police have these barricades that they would just put in the traffic flow slow traffic. Great, but they were not set up for being seen at night. ie not reflectors of any kind. The only way to see one was to notice traffic slowing, or if no traffic since we were first on site just really great awareness. And, through all of this everyone is jockying for best position. Most of the travellers would drive with one wheel well over the centre lane to be assured that if they needed to make a lane change that they already had their spot marked. And, there are still plenty of bicycles, ox carts, motorcycles, busses all going along dodging on both sides of the big trucks.

Somehow, somewhere, at some point that I was carefully observing we ended up in the oncomming lane of traffic. Next thing we are doing is facing all of these big trucks with blinding headlights, that are not willing to give up their lane. The driver started quicly flashing his headlights, high/low on/off to get thier attention. many people were coming at us passing other vehicles and had little space to go into themselves. It was quite Hairy for about 10 minutes. About 30 seconds into this part of the trip, I just calmly said to myself, " I give myself over to GOD. What ever happens, is God's will and I am OK with that."

Deepak the Driver, was very busy watching on comming traffic. I noticed the break in the concrete barrier and motioned to him that we could get through. He shouted back that he was ready and coming through. Yehah! we survived another heinous night of India traffic. When we got closer into the City of Chennai, I decided to count the trucks that we passed to see how many had tail lights. I saw one fuel tanker with a dim bulb way to the left side of the tank with no rear bumper. I saw 20 trucks without any tail lights. I did see one truck that passed us with lights and he was going so fast that he looked like a hot knife through butter.

We got back to the hotel around 1 am and supper was waiting for us. Me, I choose bed as I had found food at the Campus.

Enough for this day. Next chapter, next day.

peace

gene