Acolyte

Peace and Love, man, peace and Love. First day, yeah? Oh you've been
here since yesterday have you? I suppose I would have missed you. Just
got out of retreat this morning. Nah, mate, you don't look green at
all, I've just been here a while; know all the faces. This week'll be
the end of my 7th month here. Loving it, mate, loving it.
Only 3 more days here? You'll learn a lot in a few days, but mate
you'll barely scratch the surface. I came here just to visit, but I
dunno, Baba Yogi's teachings really spoke to me and I couldn't leave. I
sometimes think, damn dharma! Ha! It's an itch that you can't stop
scratching. No turning back, mate, no turning back.
I dunno how much you know about your spiritual side. I didn't know I
had one before I got Baba's teachings. He tells me stuff that just
blows my mind. I'm telling you!
Like, I don't think this is the official story of Baba Yogis
enlightenment, but he told me this the other week, right. During his
spiritual journey he wandered around India as a Sadhu for a while. He
got really thin and he was eating a lot of dirty food and what not. He
had quite bad diarrhoea. I mean, full respect to the guy, he was
meditating like 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during that period, as
well as the shits. So anyway, he told me how he was in quite a lot of
pain, yeah? From trapped wind. He really needed some relief. And when
he got the relief, it's like, he became enlightened. Yeah, crazy, man.
Like he farted out his ego or something.
I've got such a long way to go, man. This search for enlightenment is
just never ending sometimes. But you know, keep at it. Yeah, like I'm
sorry I'm going off on one a bit. I've been in silent treat for a
month, except for speaking to the Yogi. And with him it's all mind
stuff really. He completely understands me&;#8230; So yeah, anyway,
I'm talking loads coz of the retreat, yeah?
You heard that did you? What outside of India? Well, mate, all I can
say is you see what you want to see in Baba Yogi. Some people, they
come here with a lot of pain in their hearts and all the inner
exploration does their head in. They misinterpret Baba Yogis, what do
you say&;#8230;um&;#8230;well, like, what he is doing for them? I
can't deny he's an affectionate guy, but that's just, like his pure
love radiating out. It's all part of the process and these people that
say all that shit about Baba have got stuck somewhere along the line.
Like they're reliving whatever bad stuff was in their lives. Full power
to them though. I mean I hate to see a fellow sentient suffering. It
does piss me off a bit that they say what they say, the allegations,
but you've gotta get over that and feel compassion for them at the end
of the day. Do I miss home? Well, you know that's a lesson in
impermanence and attachment all on its own, innit? If I felt all the
time, like 'God I'm missing dad, or like ummm, yeah I'd love a pint of
Newkie brown or, yeah, wish I could see mum and dad' and that, well,
then I wouldn't have progressed much would I? I feel love for them,
don't get me wrong. The whole equanimity thing gets a bit hard
sometimes&;#8230;.what's that mate? Yeah, equanimity is when you
feel the same pure love and compassion for everyone and everything.
Baba Yogi's spent a lot of time with me on it. It's tough sometimes,
you know? Trying to feel the same way about your enemies as your dad.
But I feel good for Dad. He's about a year or so into his new
incarnation. Love to know what he is now. I mean, he was sometimes a
bit of a bastard in his old life, but forgiveness and everything has
shown me he was a pretty sound geezer. I'm sure he's made it through to
another human incarnation.

Yeah, it was cancer. Really fast too. Cancer of the spleen. Was really
blown away by how fast it all was&;#8230;

But you know what? I think Baba Yogi has really helped me. Shown me an
alternative. He's affectionate, like I told you. Me old man was never
that affectionate with me. If I could see him now though, I'd hug him
stupid&;#8230;Yeah. Dad. And I write to mum quite often. She's not
that keen on what I'm doing here though. She wants me to come home. You
know. She hears stuff, like what you heard, I guess. But she doesn't
understand&;#8230;Sorry mate. I'm talking so much. It's the silent
retreat you know. It's fucking great and everything. Just feel like I'm
gunna explode or something. So, you're here until next week are you?
Flying back home on Monday, eh? Back to good old blighty. I don't think
I'd fit in too well there these days. Can't imagine leaving
here&;#8230;crazy fucking place&;#8230;
So like I said, Peace and love, man, peace and love.