Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it. ~Rumi~
This morning, I was walking up Arunachala towards Skandashram and the Virupaksha Cave. Skandashram is a sacred cave on Arunachala Hill in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India, known as the residence of the sage Ramana Maharshi from 1916 to 1922. It is a popular place for meditation, offers a panoramic view of the Arunachaleshwarar Temple, and is accessible via a hiking trail.
I started early at 08:15, it is less hot, and I have to be back at 12:00. The Ashram’s backdoor closes at 12:00. It takes around 30 minutes to reach the Ashram; I have done this several times before. First, I wanted to visit the Virupaksha Cave. When entering the cave, it is completely dark. It takes minutes for the eyes to adapt. The first room has a kind of a bed, I guess Sri Ramana was resting here. The next room was even darker and very warm. I think it felt so warm because I was heated up from the walk. After a few minutes of sitting, I cooled down, and it was comfortable to meditate here. I was sitting here for around one hour; sometimes people were leaving, or new people arrived. There is space for 10-15 people, I guess.
After leaving the cave, I was walking back towards Skandashram. On the way, Stephan was sitting there and resting. We had a chat before he continued walking. I was meditating for a while, sitting inside and outside of the Ashram. Around 40 people were sitting and meditating. Then I walked down again. On the way, some people are selling juices or handmade statues and figures. Quite a few people were walking up the hill; Arunachala is a popular mountain, the spiritual heart of the world for 1000 years.
Back on earth, I enjoyed drinking a coconut on the street. I bought some ice cream for my freezer and drove home. I made some lunch, and I still had two eggs left, bread, cheese, and tomatoes. After having a nap, I spent timein the Ashram. Before the reading at 16:30, I drove to the mobile shop to leave my phone there for a new battery. It would be ready at 18:00. Back at the Ashram, I joined the reading with Max. Then meditating again for a while before I left with Max to the Sheshadri Ashram for dinner. After dinner i picked up my phone at the shop. He charged me 2600 Rupees (€24), including a new screen protector. I got some fresh money from the ATM, still have to pay for my scooter before I leave, and a bus or taxi to Chennai. A short visit in the supermarket for some snacks.
I picked up my repaired trousers, which I left at the tailor’s earlier, and went home.
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