The past few weeks have been filled to the brim with things that I have only ever imagined (and so I apologize in advance for the considerable length of this post).Celebrations in a temple (I am now assured a place in heaven):
(Dharmendra took me to the temple where we waited in line over an hour so that we could get a glimpse of the god. Apparently, the 7th of January is a very auspicious time, and if you look at the god on this day you are assured a place in heaven!)a trip to a monastery:
(The Little Brothers of Jesus are long time friends of Asha Niketan, these are the fields near their new house)
(The Little Brothers of Jesus are long time friends of Asha Niketan, these are the fields near their new house) harvest celebrations:
("Pongal oh Pongal"- that's what we yelled when we through some of the Pongal -a sweet rice dish- into the garden for the birds. In Tamil Nadu the harvest celebration is known as Pongal, however in Karnataka -where we are- it's known as Sankranthi. We were lead in a beautiful Pooja -prayer- by Sri Shiva Shankar, the director of our board.)
On my second day, I ventured to Mamallapuram. Lonely Planet describes the place as “Tamil Nadu’s only true travellers’ enclave, a mix of sun, seafood and sand with a dash of seediness thrown in. But it’s much more than that. Famous for its ancient rock carvings, especially Shore Temple, it was once the second capital and seaport of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram”. All true.
The Indian Ocean...
The rock carvings – AMAZING. What sets them apart is that they depict everyday events – people milking cows, women ‘hanging about’ on the street,etc.etc…
And of course, as is usually the case, I was conned by a number of people selling their wares. I’m just constantly in awe of the magnificent handmade items that exist everywhere – from my new leather sandals, to the painted silk, to the tiny rock carvings – the artisan population in India is overwhelming, and so I don’t feel any terrible regret for spending my money on their art.
In the evening, I returned to Chennai, and Peter took me to the beach. Beautiful. What a perfect way to end my visit.
I caught a night train home to Bangalore (note to self – ALWAYS travel by train), met a lovely British girl who I took home and introduced to Asha Niketan, and then I continued on with the week.
("Pongal oh Pongal"- that's what we yelled when we through some of the Pongal -a sweet rice dish- into the garden for the birds. In Tamil Nadu the harvest celebration is known as Pongal, however in Karnataka -where we are- it's known as Sankranthi. We were lead in a beautiful Pooja -prayer- by Sri Shiva Shankar, the director of our board.) And of course, a week long stay in an ashram, and a trip to Chennai.
Let me tell you about my travels.
Retreat is something that has been a relatively new experience in my life.
I think because I grew up in one of the most beautiful places in the world, a place where many others go for retreat, the concept never seemed to leave much of an impression on my mind.
However, when I moved to L’Arche, we were allotted one week each year for a personal retreat. My first year, I had the opportunity to share in a New Assistant’s Formation – a week to reflect on and process all that we had lived in our first year at L’Arche. For me, the week was touching and insightful and left me with a renewed commitment to community.
My second retreat was an Emmaus retreat held in Montreal. It was my first week of (relative) silence, and included a great number of challenges throughout. However, the idea of walking the road together deeply resounded with me, and I was thankful for a week to spend in the company of others who were walking the same road.
Last year’s retreat took me to Taize in France. What can I say about Taize? It challenged me – made me consider my ideas about community and put them up against monastic and other forms of community; it broadened my scope in terms of communication with others; it showed me the beauty of simple prayer and reinforced my commitment to song as prayer.
Now this y ear. This year, but by the grace of God, I ended up on a retreat at an ashram in Tamil Nadu, India. Even just writing seems like something that I should have read in a book rather than having lived it.
The ashram was run by Father Korko (pronounce Koko) – a friend of Asha Niketan, and the spiritual director for Asha Niketan Bangalore. He is a Jesuit priest, and draws much of his spirituality from mystical experience.
The ashram was brand new, we were the very first retreat group.
And the setting was INCREDIBLE.
Set in rural Tamil Nadu, in a village called Kombai, against the backdrop of ‘small mountains’, a dam and numerous fields that grew mint, rice, grapes and beautiful flowers.
The ashram itself was simple, and the meditation room was made of thatch.
We spent the week practicing yoga (asanas every morning, karma yoga in the afternoon), learning about mystical spirituality, reading from the Bhagavad Gita, meditation (still one of my greatest struggles) and taking time for silence.
We were challenged to perform “Nam Japa”, which is the ‘act’ of reciting the Lord’s name with the belief that: ‘where our mind is, there also are we’; so to have the Lord as our sole focus brings us that much closer to the mystical experience of oneness with God.
The week was enlightening – Father Korko’s spiritual journey was inspiring and he was an excellent accompanier – offering sound insight and challenging my perception of Christ; challenging – I was once again faced with the fact that I remain an outsider. All of the women in the village called me “Velakaramma” which means “white mummy”, and when we went to have tea at a neighbour’s house, the lady of the house asked Father Korko if I would need to have my tea prepared separately.
Nevertheless, there was great kindness from the people of the village who showed us their houses, their fields, and toured us through the mountain and there was always something interesting to watch, including a man who climbed a coconut tree (I’m sorry that I didn’t have my camera!)
The week itself was truly a blessing, and I returned refreshed and renewed in my search for God.
I was home in Bangalore but a few days, when I hopped on a midnight bus to Chennai.
I’ll write it here, so that it is clearly documented:
I, Haley Batchilder, being of sound mind, will never travel on an over night bus again. EVER.
However, my arrived in Chennai was smooth, and I received the most wonderful greeting at the gate by Peter. Peter is a long time friend of the founding community leader of my community in Cape Breton, and we moved easily into conversation.
The Chennai community has two houses, Asha Jyoti (Light of Hope) and Prem Jyoti (Light of Love). Both houses were originally in a relatively rural area surrounded by fields, but the last 5 years has seen the city of Chennai grow up around it, and it is now quite urban.
Let me tell you about my travels.
Retreat is something that has been a relatively new experience in my life.
I think because I grew up in one of the most beautiful places in the world, a place where many others go for retreat, the concept never seemed to leave much of an impression on my mind.
However, when I moved to L’Arche, we were allotted one week each year for a personal retreat. My first year, I had the opportunity to share in a New Assistant’s Formation – a week to reflect on and process all that we had lived in our first year at L’Arche. For me, the week was touching and insightful and left me with a renewed commitment to community.
My second retreat was an Emmaus retreat held in Montreal. It was my first week of (relative) silence, and included a great number of challenges throughout. However, the idea of walking the road together deeply resounded with me, and I was thankful for a week to spend in the company of others who were walking the same road.
Last year’s retreat took me to Taize in France. What can I say about Taize? It challenged me – made me consider my ideas about community and put them up against monastic and other forms of community; it broadened my scope in terms of communication with others; it showed me the beauty of simple prayer and reinforced my commitment to song as prayer.
Now this y ear. This year, but by the grace of God, I ended up on a retreat at an ashram in Tamil Nadu, India. Even just writing seems like something that I should have read in a book rather than having lived it.
The ashram was run by Father Korko (pronounce Koko) – a friend of Asha Niketan, and the spiritual director for Asha Niketan Bangalore. He is a Jesuit priest, and draws much of his spirituality from mystical experience.
The ashram was brand new, we were the very first retreat group.
And the setting was INCREDIBLE.
Set in rural Tamil Nadu, in a village called Kombai, against the backdrop of ‘small mountains’, a dam and numerous fields that grew mint, rice, grapes and beautiful flowers.
The ashram itself was simple, and the meditation room was made of thatch.
We spent the week practicing yoga (asanas every morning, karma yoga in the afternoon), learning about mystical spirituality, reading from the Bhagavad Gita, meditation (still one of my greatest struggles) and taking time for silence.
We were challenged to perform “Nam Japa”, which is the ‘act’ of reciting the Lord’s name with the belief that: ‘where our mind is, there also are we’; so to have the Lord as our sole focus brings us that much closer to the mystical experience of oneness with God.
The week was enlightening – Father Korko’s spiritual journey was inspiring and he was an excellent accompanier – offering sound insight and challenging my perception of Christ; challenging – I was once again faced with the fact that I remain an outsider. All of the women in the village called me “Velakaramma” which means “white mummy”, and when we went to have tea at a neighbour’s house, the lady of the house asked Father Korko if I would need to have my tea prepared separately.
Nevertheless, there was great kindness from the people of the village who showed us their houses, their fields, and toured us through the mountain and there was always something interesting to watch, including a man who climbed a coconut tree (I’m sorry that I didn’t have my camera!)
The week itself was truly a blessing, and I returned refreshed and renewed in my search for God.
I was home in Bangalore but a few days, when I hopped on a midnight bus to Chennai.
I’ll write it here, so that it is clearly documented:
I, Haley Batchilder, being of sound mind, will never travel on an over night bus again. EVER.
However, my arrived in Chennai was smooth, and I received the most wonderful greeting at the gate by Peter. Peter is a long time friend of the founding community leader of my community in Cape Breton, and we moved easily into conversation.
The Chennai community has two houses, Asha Jyoti (Light of Hope) and Prem Jyoti (Light of Love). Both houses were originally in a relatively rural area surrounded by fields, but the last 5 years has seen the city of Chennai grow up around it, and it is now quite urban.
Nevertheless, the main property (once you make it past the garbage at the front gate) is very lovely. There are new workshops (where they do papier mache, candles, card making), a new prayer hall (where we prayed each morning and shared bhajan on Thursday afternoon) and new bedrooms for the women. The property has coconut trees, and gardens-in-progress. I was overwhelmed by the positive energy of the place, and the warm welcome that was so graciously offered. 
Some people from Prem Jyoti:
Some people from Prem Jyoti:On my second day, I ventured to Mamallapuram. Lonely Planet describes the place as “Tamil Nadu’s only true travellers’ enclave, a mix of sun, seafood and sand with a dash of seediness thrown in. But it’s much more than that. Famous for its ancient rock carvings, especially Shore Temple, it was once the second capital and seaport of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram”. All true.
Shore Temple...
The Indian Ocean...The rock carvings – AMAZING. What sets them apart is that they depict everyday events – people milking cows, women ‘hanging about’ on the street,etc.etc…
And of course, as is usually the case, I was conned by a number of people selling their wares. I’m just constantly in awe of the magnificent handmade items that exist everywhere – from my new leather sandals, to the painted silk, to the tiny rock carvings – the artisan population in India is overwhelming, and so I don’t feel any terrible regret for spending my money on their art.
In the evening, I returned to Chennai, and Peter took me to the beach. Beautiful. What a perfect way to end my visit.
I caught a night train home to Bangalore (note to self – ALWAYS travel by train), met a lovely British girl who I took home and introduced to Asha Niketan, and then I continued on with the week.
Chennai Central Station (I LOVE train stations!)
Life continues to be filled with many riches and I am in a perpetual state of giving thanks. I give thanks in particular for the small joys and the many challenges. I’m not always certain in which direction I’m headed, but I’m thankful for the journey.
In closing, I should mention that during our evening prayers we often pray for all those in Israel, Gaza and Sri Lanka.
And so, some parting words from Paulo Coelho…
Peace is not the opposite of war.
We can have peace in our heart even in the midst of the fiercest battles, because we are fighting for our dreams. When our friends have lost hope, the peace of the Good Fight helps us to carry on.
A mother who can feed her child has peace in her eyes, even when her hands are trembling because diplomacy has failed, bombs are falling, and soldiers dying.
An archer drawing back his bow has peace in his mind, even though all is muscles are tense with the physical effort.
Therefore, for warriors of light, peace is not the opposite of war, because they are capable of:
a. Distinguishing between the transient and the enduring. They can fight for their dreams and for their survival, but respect bonds forged over time, through culture and religion.
b. Knowing that their adversaries are not necessarily their enemies
c. Being aware that their actions will affect five future generations, and that their children and grandchildren will benefit (or suffer) the consequences
d. Remembering what the I Ching says: ‘Perseverance is favourable.’ But they know too that perseverance is not the same things as stubbornness. Battles that go on longer than necessary end up destroying the enthusiasm for later reconstruction.
For the warrior of light, there are no abstractions. Every opportunity to transform himself is an opportunity to transform the world.
For the warrior of light, pessimism does not exist. He rows against the tide if necessary; for when he is old and tired, he will be able to say to his grandchildren that he came into this world to understand his neighbor better, not to condemn his brother.
Life continues to be filled with many riches and I am in a perpetual state of giving thanks. I give thanks in particular for the small joys and the many challenges. I’m not always certain in which direction I’m headed, but I’m thankful for the journey.
In closing, I should mention that during our evening prayers we often pray for all those in Israel, Gaza and Sri Lanka.
And so, some parting words from Paulo Coelho…
Peace is not the opposite of war.
We can have peace in our heart even in the midst of the fiercest battles, because we are fighting for our dreams. When our friends have lost hope, the peace of the Good Fight helps us to carry on.
A mother who can feed her child has peace in her eyes, even when her hands are trembling because diplomacy has failed, bombs are falling, and soldiers dying.
An archer drawing back his bow has peace in his mind, even though all is muscles are tense with the physical effort.
Therefore, for warriors of light, peace is not the opposite of war, because they are capable of:
a. Distinguishing between the transient and the enduring. They can fight for their dreams and for their survival, but respect bonds forged over time, through culture and religion.
b. Knowing that their adversaries are not necessarily their enemies
c. Being aware that their actions will affect five future generations, and that their children and grandchildren will benefit (or suffer) the consequences
d. Remembering what the I Ching says: ‘Perseverance is favourable.’ But they know too that perseverance is not the same things as stubbornness. Battles that go on longer than necessary end up destroying the enthusiasm for later reconstruction.
For the warrior of light, there are no abstractions. Every opportunity to transform himself is an opportunity to transform the world.
For the warrior of light, pessimism does not exist. He rows against the tide if necessary; for when he is old and tired, he will be able to say to his grandchildren that he came into this world to understand his neighbor better, not to condemn his brother.
