Debrah and John

When my friend John and I traveled to India in December of 2007, we knew we were going on an adventure of a lifetime. India always is. I've been there three times now and it's always a completely different experience. When we arrived in Bombay the parents of one of John's friends from Fargo (yes, just like the movie!) picked us up at the airport. They were so gracious and wanted so badly to show us their city and all it's attractions. We spent the following day in and out of their car, seeing monuments and tourist sites all around Bombay. They were all beautiful, but we wanted to see the country and get away from the noise of the busy city. Before leaving home I began reading a book recommended to me by a dear friend by Osho, an Indian guru, who began teaching in the 50's and 60's. His main ashram was only a three hour bus ride from Bombay. So the next morning we had our tickets and were off. The bus ride was through small villages and mountains.

When we arrived at the front gate of the ashram we were blown away by the modern beauty of the marble walls with water streaming down and the bamboo tree lined marble walkway throughout the entire ashram. The grounds were divided in two with a street running down the middle. You had to show your pass to get in through the gates. The ashram has two restaurants, several buildings for classes and meditation. We wanted to make sure we tried out all of the classes that were being offered. There was Ndabrahma Meditation (humming and slow hand movements), Kundalini meditation( shaking the body and dancing), Dancing Drum Meditation( where you dance until you drop), and many other active meditations, as they are called here. One afternoon we decided to attend the Dancing Heart Meditation. When we entered the enormous marble room there were about 100 people standing around from all over the globe. We are instructed to get into a big circle and hold hands. We begin walking in one direction singing an easy song. We break into two circles and go in opposite directions and are asked to stop in front of each person we pass and gaze into their eyes. So many beautiful sisters and brothers. Some people laugh, some people cry. It's all good!

When the class is over John comes to me and tells me that he met somebody during class. I say to him , "But how could you meet anyone, we didn't even talk?" He told me that they had looked at each other and he had felt something really special. They had lunch that day and spent the next week getting to know one another, visiting another ashram a plane ride away. Two years later John and Deborah are married and living mostly in Fargo. Deborah is from Brazil and has rocked John's world. When we see them in Dharmsala they can't keep their hands off each other. It's as if they have always been together. I think they represent what we mean when we say "soul mates". When one of them is talking the other is completely present with them, looking into their eyes, really listening to every word they say. They have done a lot of work on their own through meditation, ect, and now they do the work together, joyfully! I wish them all the best and know that they will continue to grow as individuals and as an amazing couple. Spiritual partners, forever! Amen~