The movie Avatar has so many spiritual lessons for me; being the animal and nature lover that I am. However, I'm not going to expound or list every single lesson that I have learned from Avatar (although that could be a good series one day), but there is one in particular that I would like to share .

After Jake Sulley has successfully proven to Neytiri that he is ready to become a hunter and choose his own Iklaan, He and other warriors in training are taken to the Hallelujah Mountains for the ceremony of choosing their iklaan. 

Although the entire ritual is scary considering that the one that is his is the one that tries to kill him, the moment of "sahelu" or bondage is one of the most beautiful scenes and lessons from the movie….The  bond...The bond that humans have with nature. Once we are bonded to nature there is no turning back.  You are forever changed.

I have not realized my oneness with nature beyond what my material senses can understand, but I know my connection with mother nature goes much much deeper. And every time I watch this scene of Avatar I'm reminded of that for the remainder of the movie. 

The moment the iklaan stops fighting Jake its eyes opens as if it has come to a divine revelation and it becomes calm. I wonder if my realization of the oneness I have with nature will be the same. If I will have this overwhelming sense of calm and peace when I do.

Consequently, Jake begins to truly understand all of the nature "mambo jambo" that Neytiri has been trying to explain to him for months. It was like a light clicked inside of him and all the messages, all the insights that Neytiri was sharing about the cyclical and dependent relationship between humans and nature became clear. How humans have a responsibility to keep balance between them and the natural world and how everything and everyone is connected.  I believe the very same lessons that Neytiri was trying to teach Jake Sulley, but that's my motivation...I believe...And I know longer want to believe...I want to know and the only way to know is to experience.

If there are any ideas on how I can do this or books or individuals that could help me I would be extremely grateful.

Do you believe in the interconnectedness of humans, animals and nature? What do you think the relationship should be between them?

I've never really known exactly what was going on in Tibet. I always had the idea that bad things were happening, but I didn’t know the specifics (and probably never will).

Yes I know its probably a horrible thing that I’m an International Studies student and had no idea what was really occurring in one of my favorite regions in the world. But to be honest, I don’t like reading or watching the news. It depresses me. I don’t like hearing or knowing about atrocities, mass murders or genocides, or people being forced away from their homelands and their identity being wiped out. Who wants to hear about that? And I know it happens all over the world and the most tragic of events colors the pages of news sites and papers. Can you blame me for not wanting to know the details?

But being in Dharamsala surrounded by Tibetans and their culture, it would be disrespectful not to take the time to learn and understand why they are here.  So I went to the Tibetan Museum located in the Tsuglakhang Complex. This complex houses the Central Tibetan Monastery, 2 temples and the sleeping quarters of the Dalai Lama. The first thing you see as you enter this complex is a monument erected to commemorate the struggle, fight, strength and will of the Tibetan people.  It is only fitting that the museum is directly across from it.
 

The Tibetan Museum was the best way for me to learn about the specific, historical details of the Chinese Occupation of Tibet while not getting to overwhelmed with images. I learned so much from this museum and I’m not sure what I should do from here on out?

I know I can’t ‘hide’ from the world, especially when I want to help make it better. I have to develop a tough skin so I can actually start ‘ACTING’ on my compassion.  Because as I was walking through that museum reading the testimonies of these people and seeing the treacherous journeys they had to endure…some of them facing amputation due to frostbite and others escaping but still being sent back to Tibet and others setting themselves on fire, I was compelled to get off of my butt and actually stand behind what I believe. Stand behind my desire to help those that are in need.

The situation is so politically loaded that a solution is far beyond simple. I mean you have the Chinese government who claims that Tibet is there land. While there is historical evidence that Tibet has been a free, independent country since the British attempted to control it in the 1930's. They had their own postal system, passports, stamps, flag and currency. None of which had any Chinese symbols, emblems or presence.  They were a people who were functioning on their own sufficiently without the need for foreign assistance. They even had politicians traveling to the UK, United States and India to establish trade relations. And that all ended in 1951.

Whats even crazier is that the Tibetan 13^th Dalai Lama predicted that this would happen and despite the efforts of the VFF, the Volunteer Freedom Fighters, the Dalai Lama’s prophecy came true.  I sat there and wondered how could such a thing happen in the world? How could any genocide and intentional eradication of a culture happen in the world? I received a hypothesis from one of the curators of the Tibetan Museum. She suggested that it could be due to the karma of the Tibetan people. But the way she phrased it was in no way placing blame on the Tibetans themselves (which would be kind of weird considering that she is Tibetan herself), but rather as a coping mechanism. A way to possibly help Tibetans to see a little light at the end of the tunnel. In saying that it could be a result of karma, the Tibetans would have hope that it will pass. All karma must manifest and just like a fire it will burn out. It will fade away and the sun will rise.

But the question still arises, what should be done? What should the world do about this event that is beyond tragic, beyond an atrocity? What does someone like me do? A person with no political pull or any power? How do I help?

                                                                                                                                                                                                              

It has been an EXTREMELY long time since I have posted a blog about my travels and experiences in India. It has already been 2 months!!! I can't believe it.  But to try and play catch up would be a monstrous task. SOOOO much has happened to me and not all of it good. A matter of fact I would say that 75% has been beyond crappy and the other 25% has been so so...Never mind I'll correct that…75% has been crappy, 20% has been so so and 5% has actually been good.

I thought being in India would allow for me to rediscover or recapture rather spiritual energy and to get closer to my final goal. But after 2 months, my spiritual path has been shaken and stirred. What was once slightly paved has now regressed to a field. Not even a path can be seen from other's footsteps.  It is a fresh field of foliage waiting for a path to be laid out.  I have had strangers challenge my ideas and others make me question what my path should look like...what I want my path to look like and who I want to be. Stranger have helped me to see the beauty of living in a material world and how Earth can be heaven. Loved ones have hurt and betrayed me. And a close male friend that I thought would potentially become more than that gets further and further away.

I have arrived at a point where there is no way to turn the situation around other than to start over. With that,  I will say the first major lesson I've learned from India is knowing when to cut your losses and just begin a new. Sometimes a house just gets too mirky, too run down that there is no way to clean it, no way to repair it. The only thing you can do is pack up your things and find  a new home….That is what I'm doing…

I've realized that there are certain people, certain spiritual practices, goals and destinations that no longer have a place in my life...It is time for me to start over…

Luckily, I'm in the perfect place to do it. In India, away from family, friends and familiarity. I'm forced to find things on my own, make my own decisions and be my own person.  And I have the added bonus of being surrounded by young Indian women my age that have made a very big decision to lead an ascetic life. And they like me! They really like me!

I'm starting over in more ways than one and in what ways will be saved for another post...

Dear Followers,

I have recently taken on the task and completed revamping my blog. 

I believe I have made enough changes to currently have my blog where I want to be and how I would like for it to be organized. I may continue to make minor changes here and there, but for the most part it is finished.

I've updated My Bio page to be more reflective and relevant to the purpose of this blog, to give you a little more insight into Manjusha, The Spiritual Seeker.

I've also added a tab about My Spiritual Teachers. This way you can know who they are and a brief history that I share with them.

The About Here tab has a drop down menu breaking my blogs down into 4 categories that are reflective of my years of searching:

The Lost Series- Pre 2011 before I found my Spiritual Guide and was continually looking and searching.

The Dark Times - A combination of 2011 and 2012 when things weren't...so happy and blissful for me, but still full of growth.

Peaches 'N' Carrots - Another combination of 2011 and 2012, but more positive and filled with my "clicks" or realizations that I've had while trying to adhere to my sadhana or spiritual practices.

50 Weeks of Me- Will be filled with blogs for the year 2013 where I hope to be more serious and disciplined with my sadhana. Hoping to get closer to my Self, to my Soul, to God.

There is also a media review section where I have blogs that have been inspired by books, movies and music. I felt the need to include this as many of my "clicks" have been sparked my certain forms of media. 

And the Other Sites tab is where you can find, my YouTube channel, Vegetarian recipe site, the sites of my Spiritual Teachers and others that I've found useful and want to share.

I would love to hear your thoughts on what I've written and engage in many dialogues and intriguing conversations with my followers and friends. So if you read a blog and have something to say become a follower and leave me a comment, so we can talk ;-)

So with that...ENJOY!!!

Sincerely,
Manjusha

I just finished watching one of my favorite movies of all time…Braveheart. And it made me reflect on all the great individuals who stood for something, for something worth fighting for, for something beyond themselves, for freedom, for equality, for justice, for independence, for peace…for freedom. And they did so with courage, bravery, intelligence, strength, perseverance, dedication, and at times unshakeable conviction. I reflect on individuals such as Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks and countless other African Americans who marched into “white” restaurants to eat or sat in the front of the bus. I think about the Hall 9, the first high school African Americans to start the desegregation of the American school system and the courage to do what no one else wanted or were brave enough to do. I think about the suffragettes fighting for the right for women to vote because they are as much American Citizens as their husbands. I think of the innumerable Native Americans who fought to keep their territory and preserve their culture. I think of Mohandas Gandhi and the unbelievable faith he had in his fellow countrymen to follow his unconventional campaign to independence through non-violence. I think of Mother Teresa who served the homeless and marginalized until her dying breath. I think of Nelson Mandela who was imprisoned because he fought for freedom and equality for Black South Africans. I think of the land mine victims of Cambodia whose numbers continue to increase years and years later. I think of all the individuals both known and unknown who have stood up for what they believed in and it makes me wonder what kind of person will I become? Will I be just as strong as those who took a stance knowing that it would end in certain death? Am I courageous enough to stand behind my convictions with more than just speech? Am I brave enough to fight and struggle to correct the injustices that I see every day? Who will I be?

I’m Changing…

India is forcing me to change…

As I was riding back from an amazing late lunch at Little Italy in Jaipur, I realized that I am not the same person anymore…I’ve changed.

I no longer see things the way I used to anymore…Or rather I do actually SEE things now…I don’t know exactly how to explain it.

I’m like an observer to my life, to my emotions, to my thoughts and yet I’m still the doer, the actor that orchestrates them…But there is a subtle difference to how I react and perceive what is happening…

I say all of this because I thought I was still the same person and today I realized I am not. When the officials at the Foreign Registration Office told me that the documents I had brought to them were not valid in their district, I became mad, sad, angry and desperate like most people probably would. But this time was different. I allowed myself to feel what was happening to me and I accepted my emotions as genuinely apart of who I am, but at the same time I knew this was not me.  And instead of letting those emotions grow to the point of overwhelming me…I let them dissipate. I knew they were there, but it was like the observer side of me was informing the actor that it was okay. Things like this happen, go ahead and cry and then try to enjoy the rest of your day.

It was kind of weird…but relieving…

This thought process has been going on for the past few days…I get sad or lonely and then the observer comes out and doesn’t allow for me to dwell….And I’m glad it does, because if it hadn’t I wouldn’t have enjoyed my full course Italian meal or appreciated the coolness in the air from the monsoon rains of Jaipur and I wouldn’t have been grateful for the driver that took me to my late lunch and waited for me despite me telling him not too…I wouldn’t have been cordial with him as he was telling me about the other foreigners he has driven for and I wouldn’t have been perfectly content and happy to look at his service book after dropping me off and most importantly, I wouldn’t be enjoying the beautiful sounds of the light raindrops and thunder while typing this very blog post to share with all of you…

I’m changing, not dramatically or at the speed of light, but subtly and gradually I’m changing…

I’m changing for the better…