My Transformational Passage Through India.

India, how I love Her. A land of vibrant colours, overpowering scents, and a cacophony of life. She is more than a destination; but an initiatory experience for those who can surrender to Her song.

For centuries, spiritual pilgrims, seekers, and wanderers have met Her stunning summits and meandering rivers with a curious reverence; however, my own pilgrimage led me to the heart of this evocative country. This is the story of my first travels to the subcontinent, an account filled with culture, spirituality, and a fervor, where I encountered in the warm embrace of the Divine Mother.

The Call of the Southern Breeze

My travels in India began in the verdant coastal state of Kerala, where the monsoons had just begun. It was here that I embarked on a month-long odyssey, travelling with the spiritual leader and teacher Amma, known for extensive charitable contributions, and the gift of hugging people—a transmission of universal compassion and love. Her annual tour took us through the southern states of India, over four weeks, as she embraced hundreds of thousands of devotees from diverse backgrounds, who flocked to her from every corner of the nation.

It was an experience that transcended religious boundaries and limiting beliefs, uniting people under the universal banner of love. Here, I bore witness to the raw and unadulterated demonstration of faith, love, and compassion. Each day as I witnessed Her actions, and felt Her essence, Her message seeped through the throngs as my own barriers and preconceptions began to crumble. The love and reverence I experienced during this transformative time became the bedrock of my evolving understanding of the universal family we share.

The Purity of Panchakarma

Indias wisdom is not merely found in Her ancient texts or holy lands, but in the very air one breathes and the earth on which one treads. Following my sojourn with Amma, I landed in Her Ashram, Amritapuri and engaged in an ancient Ayurvedic healing tradition known as Panchakarma. This meticulous process of detoxification and rejuvenation is a holistic cleanse, not just of the body, but also of the mind and soul.

For six weeks, I surrendered to this therapeutic regime, and in the process, I underwent a profound personal metamorphosis. To submit to such intimate care and rigorous discipline was humbling, yet immensely liberating. Over time, these Ayurvedic therapies, which included a prescribed diet, herbal remedies, and daily treatments, individualised for my constitution, led to a feeling of clarity that still lives in me today.

A New Way of Being

Beyond the physical effects, Panchakarma and significant time spent in Amma’s presence, ushered a new way of being. It was the kind of inner awakening that could only stem from such an intimate encounter with the self, whilst in an environment saturated in reverence and devotion. It was safe. The dedication to the practice of service, the felt embodiment of compassion, the alignment of body and spirit, and the incorporation of love into a daily state of being — were imprinted on me completely.

Returning home, the experiences I had embraced during my time in India stayed with me; I found myself living a more connected life, and memories of the love and humility I witnessed in the country weaved themselves into the fabric of my daily existence. That first trip to India was, in essence, a necessary rite of passage, a transition from one state of being to another, a redefining of self.

Reflections

My first passage through India remains one of introspection. The emotional and spiritual encounters I had were milestones, marking a distinct before and after. It was a testament to the transformative power of travel. In a world that sometimes feels un-enchanting, each cultural immersion serves to sprinkle a new spark of magic, new life, to remind us that the human experience is varied and vast, and it is through these experiences that our own growth becomes limitless. The memories of my time in India— the Motherland, continue to inspire me to break the barriers of my comfort zone, to grow beyond the familiar. She has called me back many times again. In the depths of the warm sea off the coast of the south, I found such peace in the shadows of the coconut trees of Kerala. I am eternally grateful to India, to have been embraced in Her fold, and to have emerged reminded of the boundless potential of the human spirit. This country called me home, and in it, I found not only the felt essence of my being but also my hearts greater potential for this life.