Perspective

It's like briefly looking at the sun, then turning your gaze down to your hand and not seeing a bee that has landed upon it. Perspective has a way of creeping up on you when you least expect it, and always stays just out of your reach if you want it too much. This is one of the first shots I took of Mysore up on Chamundi Hill. There are 1,000 steps to reach the top, and no two are alike. It's not like climbing stairs at home. It's not like the stairwell at the Sheridan. It turned out to be unlike anything I had imagined- not un-attainable, just not what I had at first imagined. Even this shot, about 3/4 up, was taken on the way down. I didn't see it before. I didn't know my legs would burn like that coming down. I didn't know. Now when I look at this picture I am reminded that I found out. Step by step I began to see things differently. Unfortunately, I can only tell you about it. And show you this picture. Now I look at this picture and I know down there I went to the zoo. I took a rickshaw to a nearby lake. Across town there was a music concert. And somewhere in the top-left corner is a suburb we spent 90+ days getting some perspective. I re-read the "Travels" quote and know that I will still be on this journey for some time, even when I return my body to Olympia. We have been packing and making plans for next time- and that is a concept worthy of it's whole own blog- and who we will be when we return? Who are we while at home? It is good to ask so many questions. Seek for an answer and you will certainly find two more questions. As for answers, we have only few. Shiva has arranged a ride out of town Thursday at 5pm. That much is certain. We will have our final led practice that morning, say our goodbyes, and then---
And then we will have another perspective, that of world travellers returning to the tribe with dirt and tales of far off lands. And then our perspective will shift again. I am looking forward to looking forward with my lessons here, to perpetuate this for myself and to share and inspire others with what blessings I have been given. I hope to share from the perspective of student, from the view of a teacher, with the eye of an artist, through the gaze of a saddhu, all through the rose-tinted peepers of the human experience.

aeryk