Ashrams and Ayurvedics

Yet another weekend of field visits and new things to learn about; this weekend (though stressful because of all the work I have due..) was a really peaceful one.

On Saturday, we had two short trips planned. The first was to an incredibly beautiful Ashram.  The one in Mysore is called Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, founded by none other than Swami Vivekananda. It upholds the ideal of "Atmano Mokshartham Jagat Hitayacha," meaning, "For the liberation of the self and the good of the world."

 
An Ashram is normally a religious or spiritual commune - some are as small as a single household and some are as large as an entire school. The one in Mysore is also home to the Ramakrishna Institute of Moral and Spiritual Education, so it was rather large. Basically, an Ashram is an intentional community formed primarily for spiritual upliftment of its members.  Although I enjoy our "separation between church and state" secularist approach to education (and other things) in the United States, I think there is something to be said about integrating morals and spirituality into educating our children.  We learned a few pretty neat lessons that actually made me think this weekend. For instance:

"ABC" (other than being the first three letters of the English Alphabet) mean a multitude of things:
"Always Be Cheerful", "Always Be Careful", "Active Brave Courageous", and "A Beautiful Child"
It also can mean "Accelerator Break Clutch" in the way that life moves sometimes and how we handle it.. it was an interesting way to look at things.
Or, the ways in which to live your life:

1. eat to live with purpose
2. live with joy
3. be positive and optimistic
4. choose happiness above all else
5. share your gifts and talents with others
6. live to add value to others lives
7. recognize that heart wins over head, everytime 
8. get rich in helping others
9. live focused
10. be persistent in living to do good

Everything was very tranquil and beautiful and being there made me think a lot about the way I live my life.  As you can see from the pictures, it was not just the spirituality that made this visit beautiful; the grounds are also incredible!

 The Facility 

 Some of the architecture and design; the grounds featured many different styles 

 The Gardens! All the flora was so beautiful and diverse

 The Outdoor Classroom!

It was awesome, but when squirrels exist, it is too distracting to have class outside

(Look out for Jake making creepy faces at me)

P.S. yes, we did have a lecture outside

A Haiku Attempt:

Spirit of the mind

helps make the intellect shine

speech of a wise man

Meditating in the Ashram

Photo Cred: Ms. Laura Emmerson

 Religions Co-Existing, harmoniously

This was the campus Religion Museum; I found it fascinating

 Along with descriptions, artifacts and histories of each of the major religions of the world, this mural was sported; I found it incredibly interesting (though also a bit simplistic)

 As with most places we travel to, the lunch was incredible!

No, this bucket of compost was NOT our lunch, but I did find there kitchen/serving process nice

I also just think composting is such a great idea, and this looked picture worthy.

Then we went to an Ayurvedic Medical Clinic to learn about how/see how Ayurvedic Medicines are made.  We got to sample a few natural remedies, like, Saraseaparilla Surup and Bheemashakti Rasayana (helps with skin conditioning/internal cooling and high protein supplement, respectively)  I really wish I could understand the chemistry/science behind medicinal practices; everything I am learning about Health here makes me wish that I was smart enough to practice it too.

 Shortly after I snapped this he said, "No pictures, please."

So this is the only one I got...

...until I got this one of all the grinding/processing machines without him knowing

This trip really allowed me to understand how natural remedies and peaceful spirituality make for a great lifestyle. There are so many people that I have come across that live simply, and make it actually look simple. So, although the Bangalore Tomatino Festival was canceled (due to protests...waste of tomatoes, etc) and though I still have incredible amounts of homework/essays to complete, I have realized that I not only need to alter the way I look at life (more positively) but also how I live it - more naturally and in harmony with the world and people around me.

Mid-Semester Means...

... mid-terms
... papers
... a Hindi test?! (मैं हिन्दी बात नहीं)
... my internship proposal


Of course, all this is among many other exciting things (like a field trip AND a trip to the Tomatino Festival in Bangalore this weekend!) Oh, and I am going on week six of being in India!! Insane how the time flies (literally, time flies; especially when I continue to procrastinate on my work..)

Trash, Poop, and the Tippy Tap!

Today my Environment & Health class had quite the excursion, where everything but the technology stunk (and I literally mean stunk/stinks/vomit-inducing...)  We had the opportunity to visit the two solid-waste management facilities in Mysore (1) solid trash waste, aka the dump - (2) the liquid-solid biological waste, aka the sewage treatment center. We were able to see how waste management is able to function, along with seeing how the technologies these places use work, in highly urban areas.

Our first stop began shortly after our van was swarmed by a large family of flies - mmm trash! Surprisingly, given the city of Mysore generates 2,000 metric tons of garbage A DAY, the solid-waste treatment center did not smell too badly. I say that with caution though...

 The two photos above show how the machines integrate processing and sifting features to sort the waste into bio-degradable usable and non-bio-degradable forms

General wastes (animal, sharp, solid, liquid, and incineration ash) account for 85% of all waste generated

Just to see everything in action..

 Quite the site: heaps of garbage and the beautiful Indian landscape just behind

 As I looked closer, I noticed the hill behind the heaping piles of trash is Chamundi Hill

(that was the first cultural trip I took one MONTH ago...)

 After the sorting process occurs (through a series of machines) the garbage is reduced to piles of this silt-like manure material, which is then bagged (picture below) and sold to farmers and agriculturalists at a reduced rate.  Farmers can now use this organic compost in their fields!

Our second stop was right up the road.  We took bets in the van, which would smell worse: the trash or the poop? Just by the first wiff, the poop won. Big surprise?

Interestingly, the Mysore complex has allowed grasses and trees to grow in the fields where the sewage drains from the pipes. This naturally creates a manure to keep the trees fertile so they can produce something of great need near the sewage containers: oxygen. I found this really interesting, given many waste-water treatment centers in the U.S. seem to be isolated in empty lots. I thought it was a cool way to maintain the natural landscape.

We learned the treatment is called Organic Solutions: Probiotic Technologies for Waste Treatment.  Basically, a mixture of (1) Photo Synthetic bacteria (2) yeast (3) Actinomycetes (4) Lactic Acid bacteria and (5) Fungi are reduced into a smooth-sweet organic mixture called OS-1.  This mixture ferments for a while and is then added into the sewage as it is processed through the plant in a tank of water.  The mixture is 100% non-toxic, eco-friendly and is made from local bacterias and plants. It is able to cut through the bacteria in the sewage and clean it so only safe water is left behind.  Although OS-1 claims to cut down on odor (which I am sure it does...) it was difficult to not want to cover my face with my shirt. This organic material is also added to the solid waste at the dump. Pretty cool, huh?

 The holding tanks for the OS-1 FABR (Fermentative Anaerobic Baffle Reactor)

 The FABR mixing tank, just before it is tanked

 Ramesh shows us what the OS-1 looks like before it is added to the water-sewage tank

It actually smelled really sweet, nearly like a Whiskey..

Ramesh buys two a week (for Rs. 88) and brings them to Sargur for the village sewage efforts

 mmm, raw sewage

 After the sewage, water, and OS-1 are mixed, they travel through this concrete shoot

The shoot leads here

There are actually several more (cleaning and testing) steps the water needs to go through before it is released back into the river/irrigation track

We did learn that fish are able to live in these holding tanks, which proves the safe oxygen level

After escaping the smells, Ramesh wanted to show us something else.  He took us to the National Institute of Engineering in Mysore - and this actually ended up being the most inspiring part.  We were able to tour the sustainability division, CREST (Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies). Here, the college is designing and building sustainable technologies: renewable energy systems for rural areas, biomass technologies, kitchen waste biogas plants, small cooking stoves, solar distillers/cookers, and more. Everything was so inspiring and amazing!

 Solar Cooking Stove and Cooking Times

 Electricity Alternatives for Rural Villages

 "The best way to not draw water from our limited ground water supply is by using rain-water harvesting" - Ramesh

It really is a fascinating concept, and I think I am going to write one of my papers about it

 The Kitchen-Waste Biogas Structure

From their brochure: "The kitchen waste compact biogas plant uses kitchen waste, which is daily scraps from household or industrial kitchens, to generate electricity in the form of biogas. The smallest unit consists of two PVC tanks of 1000Lts and generates 0.6 M3 of gas electricity everyday"

 Ramesh explaining how it works

 The pipe that runs gas-power back to the kitchen and the tanks that hold the kitchen waste

 A parabolic solar cooker

 A swing that powers an irrigation system

 Sand collection tank for the rainwater harvesting system

 Rainwater Harvesting is the process of collecting, storing and using the rainwater after it falls

 

TIPPY TAP!

"Is a simple device which will dispense a limited amount of water slowly and facilitate a thorough hand wash. It is made from an used plastic can and is locally fabricated.  It can be relevant not only in schools, but in houses, offices, restaurants, temples or any open area where people gather."

It honestly is so cool.

Technologies that inspire.. or at least make you think.

Music of Mysore

I am taking Carnatic Voice (Classical South Indian Singing) as a part of my course load here in India. And while it is extremely different from the western scale I butchered throughout my lifetime in America (butchered as in knowing 'do' and 're' and 'la' apart from one another at any given note... Solfège) I am really enjoying the challenge it presents me with. The South Indian Classical style is so mathematical and precise. Every Raga (or scale) has a value, a name, and a frequency. Every Tala (or number of counts to a particular beat) has a hand gesture and an accompanying name. It is tricky... but I learned my first song (scratch that - learning my first song) yesterday.

Yesterday our music guru, (a guru in India is basically one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area and teaches what they know to others very intensively) Radhika, encouraged Kat (the other girl taking Carnatic Voice) and I to attend a Carnatic Concert with her in the center of Mysore. Since 1962, performers (and GOOD performers) from all over India travel during various festival times (this being the festival time of Ganesha) to put on small and free concerts for people in a given community. We simply sat outside and enjoyed some incredible South Indian Classical music. It was also really neat to be able to motion the Tala with the professional - I am actually learning something!!

 The Venue!

 Madurai TN Sheshagopalan on Vocals

 CN Chandhrashekaran on Violin 

(Just a note about this man: he is blind!

Not that it matters, but it did make his performance all the more impressive in my book!)

KV Prasad was also featured on the Mrudanga - which is their drum

For a small venue, the concert was really well attended

And, after such an incredibly cultural night on the town, where did Kat and I decide to eat? Pizza Hut, obviously. We had to compare Pizza Hut to our earlier Domino's experience. The funny thing about our dinner was, I was eating in the fanciest Pizza Hut of my life. Fancy menus, nice seats, and great service; I even had a "Mocktail Mango Mojito." It was almost too fancy; we couldn't control our laughter when the server began serving us the pizza (obviously we got the "Cheese Ball Crust") on our plates... for goodness sakes, it is just Pizza Hut. So silly.

We caved... for some Domino's

After being in India for 24 days, we finally ordered "Western Food" for our Sunday-on-our-own dinner.

Domino's arrived!

A medium pizza for the equivalent of $4.90

 It was surprisingly delicious

 This might embarrass him, but Joseph finished first... by a long shot

 Oh, by now you have noticed...

..the answer to your question is: YES, we each ordered our OWN medium pizza

Were the delivery men confused when Victoria and I (just the two of us) came down to collect 10 pizzas?

Yes, they were.. and they asked, "is there a party?" It was too shameful to answer, "no, just dinner tonight"

Well worth it!

Even if it was yucky Domino's..

How do you say, "No. No, Thank You" in Kannada?!

This past weekend our group took another trip! And, once again, it was a fantastic - this time for my Culture & Civilization class, and focusing on just that.

We departed early from the hostel to visit 4 different sites: Shravanabelagola to see the Jain Gommata/Bahubali Statue, the city of Hassan for lunch, Belur to see a temple for Lord Vishnu, and then to Halebidu (just 16 km down the streeet) to see the Hoysaleshwara temple for Lord Shiva. Soak in those long names for me, will you? And now, say them out loud. TRY! Now you can properly imagine how much of an idiot I felt like each time we were asked to recite the names... truly.

Shravanabelagola: is a major Jain pilgrim town settled between two hills, Vindhyagri (the big hill) and Chandragiri (the little hill). A 58'8'' foot tall statue of Bhagwan (Lord Bahubali Gomateshwara), the largest monolith in the world, stands at the top of Vindhyagri Hill.

 I think it was 615 steps to the top

No big deal, I thought...

 ...I, foolishly, began running up the stairs, counting as I leaped from step to step

"This is fun!"

Then... the steps got taller, and farther apart, and at about Step No. 157...

...I about had an asthma attack; so I stopped running and took a more peaceful stroll the rest of the way 

 A view from the top of Chandragiri Hill

 Before we started our climb, a group of men asked, "Ma'am, you want carried?"

Translation: "Hey, white girl, too lazy to climb up all those stairs?"

Of course I turned that generous offer down, thinking... "who would ever use that?"

From the top though, I saw this older gentleman being carried down the stairs and then understood..

..although, I still think that would be much scarier than trying to walk down independently

 Oh, Yeah! 6:00 a.m Yoga is paying off!

(admire my bad form)

 There he stands, Bahubali (aka Gommata)

All 58' 8'' of him

Pretty impressive, huh? Not bad, for being crafted in 983 AD

Belur: to see the Chennakesava temple complex which contains the Chennakesava Temple. It is dedicated to Chennakeshava, meaning handsome Vishnu.

 Entrance to the temple, though constructed many years after the temple was built

 

A family looking down a well in Belur

I creepily took their picture from far way before openly creeping up to see what they were looking at

Halebidu: to see the Hoysaleswara temple, a temple dedicated to Hindu God Shiva. It was built during the Hoysala Empire rule in the 12th century by King Vishnuvardhana. The construction was completed in 1121 AD.

 Black Marble makes up the inside of these beautiful Hindu Temples

Each pillar holding up the temple ceiling is unique

Just a photo exemplifying the intricacy of the stone carvings from thousands of years ago

I'll never get enough of this architectural design

 "The demon Gajasura - also knows as Nila - took the form of an elephant and attacked Shiva, but was killed by one of Shiva's attendants. Two representations of Shiva from this battle, often combined, are Shiva Andhakasuravadha (impaling Andhaka) and Shiva Gajasamharara (dancing on Nila's decapitated head or underneath his butchered skin)"

(http://www.harekrsna.com/philosophy/associates/demons/siva/gajasura.htm)

 The group of us (from bottom to top/left to right)

Victoria, Jake, Kat, Joseph, Laura, Me, Bri, Nina, Kate and Sherry

This man (along with many other men, women and children) was trying to sell me this coconut-violin thing Naturally, it was overpriced and I had no interest in buying one. I have learned to just keep my head down and not show any interest in buying something if I don't want to. BUT, many street vendors just don't get it... 

hence the title of this post: "How do you say, "no, thank you" in Kannada?!"

I understand this is their job, and obviously I am the most tourist looking person around (a light skinned girl with a camera in hand..) so obviously I expect to be approached. Never would I think (especially after hiking all those stairs and being out to view temples all day) would avoiding the street vendors be the most exhausting aspect of the trip. This particular man actually came to our travel van and stuck his arm inside the window trying to bargain with me. Needless to say, I do not own a coconut violin. Overall though, even with the many offers of stone carvings, postcards, and poorly constructed instruments, the trip was fantastic!