On 27th December I went with some (mainly Italian) friends to Vashishta Cave about 45 minute drive from Rishikesh.  Here many saints and sages have meditated, and you feel the peaceful vibration as soon as you enter the cave. After meditating in the cave for 40 minutes or so some of us went to the Ganges for a prayer and a “holy dip”.  My prayer was for purification.

My New Year, from the 30th December to the 2nd of January, were spent mainly in bed. 

Or at least I was in bed when I wasn’t on the toilet.  I won’t go into graphic detail here – I’m sure you get the picture. Sometimes I  was curled up with a hot water bottle, sometimes feeling feverish and sometimes shiverish.  And sometimes I would read – the Bhagavad Gita, English teaching books, and sometimes poetry.  And I returned to one of Paramhansa Yogananda’s poems  - I was made for Thee - from Songs of the Soul.  I decided to learn it by heart because it is really my New Year’s Resolution, my mission statement,if you like, for 2009.  Not only that, but it’s an amazing piece of poetic writing.

Notice how the rhythm of the first phrase sets up the thrust of each point the writer is making;

or how the rhythm of  "footsteps echoing through the halls of space" is, well, echoed I suppose, in  "melodies flowing through all heart-tracts of devotion."

And why use the word "hidden" (in the forest of my desires), since it breaks an otherwise regular flow and rhythm; as does "uninterruptedly" in the last line.

See what you think ......

I WAS MADE FOR THEE   by Paramahansa Yogananda

from Songs of the Soul

I was made for Thee alone.  I was made for dropping
    flowers of devotion gently at Thy feet on the altar
    of the morning.

My hands were made to serve Thee willingly; to
    remain folded in adoration, waiting for Thy
    coming; and when Thou comest, to bathe Thy
    feet with my tears.

My voice was made to sing Thy glory.

My feet were made to seek Thy temples everywhere.

My eyes were made a chalice to hold Thy burning
    love and the wisdom falling from Thy  nature’s
    hands.

My ears were made to catch the music of Thy
    footsteps echoing through the halls of space, and
    to hear Thy divine melodies flowing through all
    heart-tracts of devotion.

My lips were made to breathe forth Thy praises and
    Thine intoxicating inspirations.

My love was made to throw incandescent
    searchlight flames to find Thee,
    hidden in the forest of my desires.

My heart was made to respond to Thy call alone.

My soul was made to be the channel through which
    Thy love might flow uninterruptedly into all
    thirsty souls.

*******************************

So that's my New Year's mission statement

I hope you enjoyed reading it.
I hope you enjoy reading it many times.

I am writing this in the office of the school.  There are a few days' holiday but Patrick (the co-director) and a few of the children are here (well 2 of them now live here). They are noisily, argumentatively and laughingly playing monopoly and learning to become entrepreneurs. They are also hearing and speaking some useful English. Patrick is ferociously trying to persuade the kids not to bankrupt him (Who says he's competitive?!)

But of course, the main question is “Am I purified?”

Well I feel different.........

.........but there’s probably some way still to go.

I wish you all a very Happy New Year.

Love to you all

Stan