After a generous 2 hours sleep (3am-5am) I am up… cold water helps. We’re on a plane again this morning and we need to be packed, meditated, and breakfasted by 6am.
We dash to the airport and do the necessaries, then we are once more skybound… this time it’s back to Bali and as we touch down in Denpasar at 10am there’s feeling of ‘coming home’. Our last 3 days will be spent here, with 4 official programs. These will consist of a late afternoon open session in a park with a group of elderly people, a music session at the Ubud Birthing Centre, an 8am concert at a local primary school and an evening concert performance to be televised at Cafe Gayratri.
After check-in and lunch it’s taxi’s to a park in Ubud, just 10 minutes away. It’s cooling a little in the late afternoon, the fresh breeze providing some welcome respite as we set up in the park, for a concert performance with a group of elderly citizens aged between 55-90. The group is called Lansia Nyuh Kuning Sehat Sejohtro Dihori Tuo. It is an aged persons activity group founded by a Professor in Bali. The day to day activities are coordinated by a guy named named Imode Wend. He’s a pretty exceptional fellow… he was in the Aceh province when the wave came through a few years ago. He help set up relief funds and coordinated teams to provide assistance. In Bali he facilitates all the volunteers to assist with this group and is heavily involved with the Birthing Centre, where we sing after the performance in the park. He does everything out of his own pocket and occasionally gets all his friends involved to take the group of about 70 to an excursion on the beach. The groups regular activities consist of Hatha Yoga, Tai Chi, Meditation and Walking.
This concert in the park turns out to be one of the highlights of the tour. The scene is set with the picturesque setting and a group of very lively and loving souls. They enthusiastically receive and clap along with our bhajans and then enjoy the experience of a guided realisation session.
The oldest participant who is 90 is a delightful, cheeky chap, with the biggest grin you ever saw. As we start the first few notes of Manuk Dadali he steps into the middle of the group and starts to dance – and he can move, mesmerising us with the fluidity and ease of his movements.. It’s a joy to witness the life force that is just pulsating out of him, someone who exudes such a passion for life,knowing that every day is so precious and a gift from the divine. 75 people get their realisation and the celebrations continue into an ecstatic Mahamaya Mahakali.
Afterwards there are photos, hugs, lentil soup and moments of deeply shared respect. We could stay for much longer but we need to scarper down the road to the birthing centre for our next session.
Danuta Stansill who is part of the tour has over the past few years, developed a strong bond with the Ubud Birthing Centre and arranged for us to sing there. We gather in the forecourt under cover and sing quietly for about 40 mums, (some with partners) and the centre staff. We learn that a baby has been born just a couple of hours earlier. The atmosphere is very still, very nurturing. We sing softer bhajans acoustically and invite them to share in the joy we get from the music and the meditation.
Two very different programs, both bringing a sense of deep radiance and joy. Relationships are formed immediately and arrangements made to meet up. Craig offers his professional medical services to the centre and makes plans to return the next day to assist with aches and pains. We end the session and another full day with an invitation to the centre to attend our next day concert at Gayatri Cafe.
Of course the adrenalin of the day, from the early morning get up, flying and the strength of the programs have us buzzing long after as we share food, stories, impressions and reflections of the day, as only yogis can do.
Jai Shri Mataji!
The Indonesia Tour yogis