I have been to Satsang with Ammani again. I reached there before 09:00, and I met Boris there. We had to wait until the Yoga class was finished. Then I could walk up to the rooftop. I found an empty chair on the side, good, they have some chairs here. We sat down in silence for 90 minutes. In the meantime, Ammani was walking from one person to the next, just in silence. At the end, she rang the bell three times. Suddenly Victor was asking Ammani about her life, who she is and where she was born, and if she is enlightened. I was surprised to hear these questions. I thought questions and answers were on Sunday only, after Kirtan and Satsang. But anyway, Ammani answered. She started talking for around 30 minutes, saying that she was born in Malaysia in a temple and that she was working later as a fashion designer. When she was 27 years old, she was for three years in isolation, with 20 other people in a small Ashram. But beyond the historical facts, she was talking about truth and about the importance of remembering, not forgetting. We are enlightened already when we are born. I have heard this many times from Osho and other wise people. We just forgot! The spiritual journey is more a realisation that we are already enlightened, there is nothing to add. When we were children, at one point, at the age of 7, we started disconnecting from ourselves. There was no sudden enlightenment for me. Ammani said that she never forgot, as a child, most children will forget, and some do not. It is about not forgetting yourself, who you really are. She said, people want to become enlightened because they want to be somebody else. When they get told that they will still be the same, they will not like it. The mind is expecting some magic to happen, but the truth is simple.
All these words opened something for me. For a long time, I haven’t heard anything new on my inward journey. I must say that I really feel comfortable with Ammani; her presence is very sweet.
I was driving back toward Perumbakkam Road. There is a street stall with vegetables at the corner of Perumbakkam Road and Chengam Road. I bought some veggies for salad. I was getting quite a lot for just 60 Rupees. I was shortly home when I left for Garuda Restaurant. In Garuda’s, there is no menu; everybody is just getting a Thali. I always meet people there who I know. In Tiru, it feels like a family with all these mind-like people. And I had an ice cream after lunch, my favourite butterscotch. I was walking, as it is not far from my home, Shiva Mantra Residence. Sarah said she will be in Kavin’s Cafe to do some printouts. So we met there and had a coffee.
On the way back, I bought some water. Gopika would arrive soon; she is on the bus close to Tiru already. She feels sick in her stomach and asked me to bring her some carrots and beans. I left home and bought the veggies in the supermarket; the street stall had closed already. It seems he is only there in the morning hours.
When I arrived at Gopika’s home, she was already sitting on the stairs waiting for me. She looked tired and sick and had to stay home for now. She needs a good rest.
Later in the evening, I spent some time in the Ashram, listening to the Tamil Parayana. I met Sarah outside, and we had a Dosa in Hotel Ananda Ramana. There was cake in my mind! We walked to the German Bakery, where they would have some. Sarah had to make a phone call with England while I had a delicious blueberry cheesecake. After her call, Sarah arrived. We walked back, and in the Shri Seshadri Swamigal Ashramam was some live music.
We sat down for a while and listened to the music. Next to Sarah was a drunk Sadhu.
In India, a Sadhu (male) or Sadhvi (female) is a religious ascetic or “holy person” who has renounced worldly life to focus entirely on spiritual liberation (Moksha). They are often referred to as Babas, Sannyasis, or Yogis.
This Sadhu obviously didn’t renounce worldly life 😂
We walked to my scooter and drove home. Another day at the foot of Arunachala!
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