08-Nov-2009

Yatra-riffic

Seeing It as a Journey

Every culture has its version of a pilgrimage, or yatra. Whether the journey is from childhood to adulthood, the seeking of absolution, or simply to pay respect to a saint or deity, there is immense value placed in the process of leaving behind mundane, everyday life and searching for what is truly important.

In new surroundings, your senses heighten: the smells, sights and sounds impose a new frame of reference. The details conspire to make you surrender to the experience, reframing your preconceptions. This is, in large part, the cleansing that occurs on a yatra, and it has little to do with the destination.

You don’t have to spend big bucks or go around the world to go on a yatra. Open your heart and mind to the commonplace and witness the magic all around you: the bold colors of the produce aisle, children playing, the calm beneath the tumult in life. The yogic scriptures teach that meditating with pure intention on anything leads you to the Divine. So make those plans, take that trip if you can. But practice remembrance and you’ll experience a spiritual journey every day.