January 1, 2001

 

 

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Holy Cows! Transcendigital's Interfacing India team has finally arrived in India, and is now presenting this first report on our mission progress (or lack of such). Having arrived in Asia just one month ago, much of our time and energy has been applied to simply acclimating into this extreme cultural environment. After spending a few weeks in Bangkok and on the warm beaches of Ko Samet island in Thailand, we then flew to Delhi, and then traveled by train into northern India where we are currently residing at the Parmarth Niketan ashram in the small town of Rishikesh.

The work and people of the Parmarth Niketan ashram and the affiliated Indian Heritage Research Foundation (IHRF) has inspired us to focus our time and energy documenting the numerous spiritual, humanitarian, educational, and ecological projects being conducted here.

Included in this report, and continuing over the next few months--through the presentation of photographs, video, and written word--we will highlighting the progress of their work.

In January, we will be traveling with the Parmarth Niketan community to Allebhad to attend the massive Khumba Mela festival (recognized as "the world's largest act of faith")--and will then be presenting our experiences of that event upon our return in early February.

See below for more information on everything described above.

 

 

 

Rishikesh, located along the banks of the sacred Ganga (Ganges) river as it flows cold and clear from the foot hills of the Himalayas--is considered a major center of spiritual growth and development. Containing a high concentration of ashrams, many people come here--Westerners and Indians alike--to enjoy the abundance of spiritual teachings that are readily available. Studies range from daily Yoga classes to full time courses in Sanskrit Language.

The name of the town "Rishikesh" means a place where Rishis (seers and mystics) gather. For over 2000 years, spiritual seekers have abided in this area (originally in caves). Today, a vast majority of the Rishikesh population is strictly vegetarian. The general aura here is peaceful and quite.

 

 

On the northern side of the river, once crossing the Shivanand Jhula (suspension foot bridge), we found our way to the Parmarth Niketan ashram to meet with Mrs. Pratibha Joshi. Directly upon our arrival to the ashram, we were show full hospitality--given an ample room with a view looking over the river, a meal, and invited to attend the first session of a Yoga Instructor's course.

Over the next two weeks, by the amazing guidance of Mataji (Mrs. Joshi), we became immersed into the full scope of yoga discipline. Coming as experienced yoga practitioners from America, we were very surprised to discover an entire realm of yoga beyond the standard western understanding (based most entirely on the physical asanas). Mataji gave us more in-depth instruction into yoga as a holistic way of living--including the history of Indian culture, wisdom from traditional literature, philosophy, purification, energetics, and much more.

 

 

Every evening at sunset, the community of the Parmarth Niketan ashram gather upon a sacred ghat along the bank of the holy Ganga river to perform Kirtan (singing) and Arti (a fire ritual)--which lasts for about an overall of 2 hours. Witnessing the outstanding consistency of these people's spiritual dedication in performing this daily ritual is truly awe inspiring.

The work of the dedicated and spirit-filled people who run Parmarth Niketan and the development organization, the Indian Heritage Research Foundation, have profoundly inspired us. The two organizations are independent yet inseparable affiliated by the dedicated individuals that work to implement the scores of extraordinary projects that are changing the lives of thousands of people.

The president of Parmarth Niketan, Pujya Shri Swami Chidanand Saraswati (Muniji) is the founder and chairman of the Indian Heritage Research Foundation (IHRF). IHRF has been established as a tax-exempt nonprofit organization in the United States, India, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The extent of Muniji's work and vision is incredible and desperately needed in a country where 46% of the population lives below the poverty line and countless villages live without clean water, sanitation and are completely illiterate. Upon meeting Muniji in person we were intoxicated by the aura of love and divine inspiration that is clearly visible in all of the projects he has initiated.

Inside the walls of Parmarth Niketan, an orphan has been established where 100 boys, many of whom have been given refuge from life on the streets, are not only receiving food and shelter, but are being educated intellectual and spiritually to be Brahmins (priests). Everyday we see their smiling faces and hear theater spirit-filled songs. Each evening they are the guiding light at the fire celebration held by the Ganges river. It is hard to believe that less than a year ago most of these boys were haunting the streets of Delhi and the surrounding area. They are genuinely awe inspiring. The foundation has also secured land and has begun to make plans for a separate girls orphan to be located a few kilometers from Parmarth Niketan.

Across the alleyway from the ashram, amongst an organic Ayurvedic medicinal plant garden, an Allopathic and a Nature Cure (Ayurvedic) Hospital have been established. Anyone, without discrimination, can come and receive medicines and medical attention. IHRF has also purchased a mobile health unit that travels to rural area assisting the sick who can not endure the journey to the hospital. The hospitals also conduct camps in rural areas and in Rishikesh, providing services such as dental, optomatry, and pediatric services. In association with the Nature Cure Hospital, a Yoga and Nature Cure Research Institute is conducting camps on preventative medicine such as acupressure, acupuncture, and other yogic techniques. The Yoga and Nature Cure Institute is also an education and research center cultivating and documenting traditional ayurvedic plants and healing techniques. Each year 45 new students enter the Nature Cure Institute to be trained in this field.

Outside of the ashram, in Rishikesh, the greater Himalayan region and throughout India, hundreds of schools have been established and are currently being supported by IHRF. In the Himalayan region impoverished children are receiving the clothes, supplies and transport necessary to make education a possibility. Schools are also receiving funding to pay for operational costs. In addition to primary schools, IHRF also supports several institutes for women's education empowering females to be financially independent through vocational trying in tailoring, embroidery and weaving.

Through the Tribal Education Program, the IHRF is also working to establish schools in rural villages where there currently are no possibilities for education. Their goal is to establish 10,000 1 teacher schools within the next five years. The objective is that these schools are not only for children, but community development centers educating the whole village in the areas of health care, ecology, vocational training and adult education.

In the area of ecology, IHRF and Parmarth Niketan are actively involved in cleaning up the banks of the sacred Ganges River. In Rishikesh, the Ganges is pristine and beautiful thanks to the sanitation systems developed and supported by foundation. In Varanasi, another sacred pilgrimage site along the banks of the Ganges, Swami Muniji and His Holiness the Dali Lama have inaugurated the "Clean, Green and Serene Program," with the intention of creating the same pristine atmosphere that has been established in Rishikesh. Reforestation is also a major goal of IHRF. Thousands of trees have been planted. In addition to this, environmental awareness is being taught in IHRF schools and a comprehensive environmental education program is being developed.

Perhaps one of the most compelling projects being developed by IHRF is in Tibet. Every year hundreds of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain pilgrims journey to Lake Masarovar/Mt. Kailash located in Chinese occupied Tibet. There they find no water, emergency services or shelter. May pilgrims fall ill and die due to altitude complications and exposure. In reaction to these deplorable conditions that exist around the sacred pilgrimage site, considered by the Hindu's to be the home of the god Shiva, Swami Muniji has developed an agreement with the Chinese government to transform the situation. In the agreement made by Muniji with the Chinese, the Indian Heritage Research Foundation has permission to build a hospital and a rest house near the spiritually auspicious site. Also, the villages that exist along the route to Lake Mansarovar have no running water, electricity or schools. In a later agreement, the Chinese gave permission to IHRF to build schools and water systems. Now that the contracts have been signed with the Chinese, IHRF has began seeking funds to implement the projects.

Parmarth Niketan/the Indian Heritage Research Foundation work as a manifestation of the guiding vision of Pujya Swamiji (Muniji). First the vision is created and then the funding comes. All of these projects run continuously on the faith that the continual supply of financial support will flow like the Ganges. It is amazing to see how the vision is supported. In order to keep the current projects and to establish new projects such as the Mansarovar/Mt. Kailash in Tibet, and the girl's orphanage, the IHRF requires more financial help. It has become apparent to to us that creating philanthropic toes between IHRF and the US is a paramount reason for us being here in India. The Interfacing India project is an ideal platform to gain exposure and assistance for this incredible organization that has proved itself to be a guiding light in quest for human dignity through sustainable development. As this project unfolds we will be including more information on IHRF/Parmarth Niketan can be helped. Upon upon our return to the US the Transcendigital team will be posting video showcasing the IHRF projects and will be putting together a multimedia presentation that IHRF can use to raise funds worldwide.

 

See the personal journals of Miquael and Samantha for more insight into our experiences. Also see more photos.