I once was lost but now I'm found

It seems rather apt – given I am a person of faith and in the world’s most spiritual country - that my six week journey through India comes to an end in the holy place of Rishikesh. Not surprising also that I’ve had to put the brakes on my usual traveller’s pace as I finally (we all knew it had to happen right?) succumbed to ill health – run down immune system and upset stomach.

So the last few days in India have been taking it easy and resting in the divine surrounds of the Himalayan foothills by the sacred river Ganges.  I've basked in the nostalgia that this was the place one of my favourite childhood bands (thanks to my dad, mum was more an Elvis fan) The Beatles spent three months to attend an advanced Transcendental Meditation (TM) training session at the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

Rishikesh attracts its spiritual seekers and yogis gravitate here – the latter currently in abundance for the International Yoga Festival 2013 which carries through the first week of March annually.

I would have liked more time to travel through this expansive country – however to satisfy US visa requirements – I must press on.

Irrespective, it feels time to farewell India this trip. 

I recall saying to my friend Fleur before leaving Melbourne: “I’d like to give it more than six weeks but that’s all I’ve got” and her response was: “I think you’ll get there and find six weeks is enough!”  As usual, she was right.

I met a Canadian here in Rishikesh who has been travelling every Canadian winter for seven years.  His website is www.ronperrier.net.  Ron’s latest post Practical Travel Advice in India describes what one sees in all the Indian towns I’ve visited well.

Ron practiced as a doctor and saved the amount he knew was needed to see the world on his terms.

In a way that’s how I feel about my own path. I’d too like to see the world. I think travelling sets one free and what better feeling (outside love) than that of freedom?

As I read today in a book I bought from one of the many spiritual bookstores in Rishikesh – the thought of a situation (in my case, long-term travel through unknown countries) can terrify us more than the reality.  

Photo - The Beatles, Rishikesh, February 1968.

Postscript - the title of this blog post was inspired by of course the hymn Amazing Grace, but more timely I was listening to the version recorded by musician Krishna Das and Sting while writing this.  I bought three of Krishna Das' CDs in Rishikesh. Krishna Das hails from the US and under the guidance of an Indian guru found a new and awakened life.  He sounds free.  All things said, it seemed right.