Varanasi 29 Jan to 5 Feb 2015

Attended Arhatic Yoga Retreat in the holiest place on earth: Varanasi.
Stay duration from 29th Jan to 5th Feb

30th Jan:
Sankat Morcha Madir: Temple of Lord Hanuman. Very famous for removing obstacles.The temple is in Sakanth Mocha area. We actually did not know the significance of this temple when we visited. After 2 months we got to know that this is the place where Lord Hanuman gave darshan to Shree Tulsidas and promised to help him in getting the darashan of Lord Sri Rama.
From there we went to Bhiravnath Area to the Kala Bhairav temple. Very commercialized temple. This is where we bought the Kashi Dara (thread)
Next we went to Asta Bhirav in Sarianya. The place had Masjid on either sides of it. The temple is basically an open area with a tree in the centre. It is believed that this is the actually Shiva temple of Kashi who is the Gaurdian of the city.
Then an unplanned temple Sarangnath. There were twin Shivalinga in this temple. Sarangnath is known to be the brother of Parvathi. He came to drop his sister to her husbands's place kashi, Lord Shiva requested him to staty back with him in Sarangnath is the story.
The Budhist temple in Saranath. The place where Budha gave his first teachings after enlightenment.
Evening we went to the Dashawmedh Ghat for the Devotional Ganga Arthi.

Next day we visited the Saranath then Kashi Vishwanatha Temple and evening we visited Lahari Mahasaya's home. Not residence but the house where he gave teachings and initiations to people. The amazing energies of the place...we had to visit again on 4th Feb after the retreat.

The retreat was very good. We got to watch many many new videos of Master. :)

Kashi as such can be visited by only those who carry the sentiments of its holiness. People like me who are hygiene freaks....not easy to survive for 7 days!!!!!!
Historically and mythologically as well, the place has been known for the unhygienic city. Reason being the floods in the Ganga river would leave the garbage all over the city. People who have eyes will see the divinity of the place. Visitors like me expect more respect to the sanctity of the place and more responsible attitude from the people of Kashi to maintain minimum decorum. Lets wait and see if Modi Sarkar can do some magic :)

Overall experience of the Kashi trip: 3/5
Saranath + Ganga Arthi + Lahari Mahasaya's house: 5/5

Char Kadam Kya Sari Umar Chal Dungi Sath Tere

Some more reading

Started 4 books at a time... :P
>  Bodhidharma, The Zen Master by Osho
>  Ignited Minds by APJ Kalam
>  The Startup of You by Reid Hoffman
>  Hinduism Revealed by GMCKS

:P :P :P

Men are from Mars Women are from Venus

Finish reading this book yday. Good....not good...hmmm...dont know how to classify.
Let me list what I liked about the book:
1. The basic difference in the thinking pattern between men and women.
2. How to improve the understanding of the opposite gender.
3. How to ask for support...
4. Concept of love letter and writing the response
5. Difference in the scores men and women give.

If this book has helped people improvise the relationship....yes its true. It was worth reading....

What I didnt like about the book:
> Its too dragging. I skipped some pages, coz it was sooo repetitive.
> Tooo gender biased. Every communication and choice words have to be remembered with an additional check on whom are we talking to...man/woman
> In many places, I felt it was not justified, why the women is asked to have a greater patience....Or atleast that is the msg I derived.
> Through out the book, I had a tendency to compare the book to "Non Violent Communication" by Dr.MBR. That's a far more superior book compared to this one. Far more convincing and its irrespective of the gender.

After almost two years now...on this day (Mar 07-2017) I would like to write a different review of this book.
Consciously or subconsciously I have made some efforts to change my mode of communication. I have spoken differently to women and differently to men. I have made an attempt to use different expressions and chose different words to communicate. Not upto the mark as mentioned in this book....but just reasonably....
The results are remarkable. I am more tolerant. I can acknowledge the situation differently. My relationships have improved...especially with my father. I am glad I read this book.