When traveling, as in life, we should cultivate the ability to let go of control. To give ourselves the freedom and presence to be, without expectations simply. But it is almost inevitable to form ideas, especially when heading to a place like India. A part of us always creates a mental image, yet we only realize it upon arrival — when we immerse ourselves in the daily life of the place.
India, after China, is the most populous country in the world. The moment you land in New Delhi, you immediately sense this reality. Just to give you an idea: even at four in the morning, the Indian capital feels like Rome during rush hour. A tangled flow of cars — ‘tuk-tuks’ that are called ‘rickshaws’ here — bicycles, and motorcycles; a river of people blending, with humidity thick in the air and the incessant honking of horns, which here serve as a safety measure.
Birds, monkeys, and colorful sarees — a traditional Indian women’s garment — in shades of yellow, red, orange, and gold. The central station bursts with moving colors, inexplicable smells blending, shifting from the pleasant floral scents of incense to unbearable and undefined odors. People running from one side to another, the frenzy, people sleeping on the floor, waiting for their next connection.
Poverty, humidity, and sweat; but at the same time, an inner state of calm, created by the unmistakable feeling of being in the right place at the right time.
This is what you can expect upon first encountering the subcontinent, home to the closest descendants of Lemuria. An ancient lineage that existed over 50,000 years ago.
But our destination is elsewhere: the renowned yoga capital, Rishikesh. The same place where even the Beatles stayed for a long time, making it famous. A five-hour train journey from Delhi to Haridwar. The excitement starts to take over, and suddenly, yes — this feels like “the real India”. During a journey like this, it is essential to maintain a non-judgmental attitude: simply allowing space for passive observation. An authentic gaze upon this world that we have idealized for so long, now unfolding before our eyes. It naturally leads to the thought that, in the cycle of continuous reincarnations, perhaps India is a place we have all passed through — when we were simply “younger souls.”
Here, life is complex in material terms: there is a chronic lack of infrastructure, but also a level of consciousness different from what one might expect. Ah, expectations again. It is easy to assume that everyone in India is deeply spiritual or that this land somehow imbues its inhabitants with the wisdom of those who came before them, sharing great truths recorded in sacred texts. Nothing could be further from reality: as in any place, in India — and Rishikesh in particular — you will find all kinds of people, some aware, some asleep.
But there is an oasis where things take a different form: the ashrams. These are places dedicated to human spiritual evolution through yoga. When you enter these spaces, you leave everything behind. You step into a protective aura created by those capable of dispelling darkness: the guru. The one who helps guide us, showing us a new possible path. You end up profoundly inspired by chants and purifying practices.
When you travel to India, thank yourself for the opportunity to free yourself from the mind’s expectations, allowing yourself to experience the world as it truly is. There is no other way to learn the essence of things, to understand the meaning of life.
Remain silent, observe, and practice yoga. Meditate and surrender to the immense joy that only here, within your inner Self, you will be able to experience — the realization of the Self. You will return home with a deep understanding: the state of the external world does not determine our inner state, but rather the opposite. Because the true journey is, in reality, the one within ourselves.
📝 Thank you for reading! I originally wrote this article in Italian for the newspaper “Laici “on March 28, 2024. You can also find it on the following platforms, with links to the English and Spanish versions on my website:
Comentarios