Karma Yoga

We met a great yoga teacher named Anup and immediately had a nice connection with him. Although the meeting was seemingly by chance, both Christopher and I feel he will be a great friend. In addition to teaching hatha yoga and meditation, he is devoted to the practice of Karma Yoga (selfless service). He has started a school for poor children here in Rishkesh and invited us to visit the children. We took him up on his offer and brought bunches of Bananas with us as most of these children only get rice to eat.

The experience of visiting with these children was so rich and rewarding and I found myself choking back tears the whole time. I fell in love with all of them. While we were there three new students arrived with Anup’s mom who strikes me as a good candidate for sainthood. The three children, two boys and a girl, were living on the streets after their mother died and their father disappeared. Anup’s mom found them and brought them to the school.

When the new children were introduced to the other students, they were welcomed in both Hindi and English and each got huge rounds of applause. Some of the children even hugged the new students. Christopher and I were also showered with hugs. We were a bit nervous about taking photos, but the kids loved seeing their photos instantly on my digital camera so it was not hard to find models. I am going to make prints of them and send them to Anup so the children can decorate their tiny classroom with the photos.

In spite of a small one-room classroom where children sit on burlap on the floor, these beautiful little ones are learning and growing. They were exceptionally well mannered and I never felt anything but respect from them or directed at one another. One girl noticed I was sweating profusely and got me her teachers hand fan to help me cool off. It astounds me that those who have so little can be so thoughtful.

I am thinking about starting some sort of non-profit fund for this school when I return home. Such beautiful and wonderful souls deserve and need support. I don’t feel like I can continue to turn my back while so many people in this world go without food, medicine and a basic education.