Lazy, Lazy, Lazy... and Sometimes on a Rant!

Well, I have been in Dharamsala now for a little over a week and I haven't done anything. It is awesome! All I have been doing for the past several days is sleeping, reading, eating, and drinking chai. It has been so nice and relaxing I am actually a little put off by having to get back on the road. In the past few days I have been averaging about 250 pages a day and I have finished several books since arriving here. That, my friends, is the ONLY productive thing I have done. I did a few little short hikes, but nothing of note.

I have not been trying to get in touch with my mystic side by signing up for any self imposed silence during ten day meditation retreats, haven't attended any crystal magic teachings, didn't even think twice about tantric yoga, avoided palm readings and the tarot, laughed at one day reiki body energy courses, and could care less about aligning my chakra. A nice book and a cup of hot tea in the sun is way more therapeutic than some sort of group session where we "rebirth."

Honestly, I think most people that come to India seeking the mystic, attach themselves to gurus, or fall headlong into a new religion or belief system are doing something dangerous (and not at all too culturally aware). And if you come here and you think India is all "Shanti" (Hindi for peace) then you have your head up your ass! Nationally and locally there are a ton of problems that everyone knows about and yet everyone refuses to address. Women's rights, child abuse, sewage, drinking water, starvation... 600 million Indians survive on less than $2 a day! What is so just and merciful and shanti about that!?!?!

There are a lot of new-age types in this town and it is almost absurd to see a couple (probably from Boulder, CO) decked out in bright colored Goretex with a $700 camera taking pictures of a woman washing laundry or a "guru" taking tea. Their outfits alone far exceed her annual income. Another thing just as absurd was seeing a woman haggle down 10 Rupees on a pair of socks at a charity shop that supports local villagers, especially women. I mean, sure, we all want a good deal, but good God, 10 Rupees is 20 cents in the US- I think you can afford that!

In perspective it just seems so ludicrous sometimes and it must be offensive to the locals. After seeing the neon yellow woman snapping close ups of the holy man and his morning tea I imagined a scene in my head. Imagine yourself, on your way to work in the morning, having a quick coffee at a local cafe. A group of Indians walk up, beam smiles at you and start chattering in a language you don't understand. They pull out a huge camera, point it right at you and start taking photos. In broken English they tell you that you look like a most beautiful American and that you are a fine specimen that their friends back home will love to see your strange outfit and funny hat. Huh? Is that really what we want to do to these people? Maybe I am a little too cynical for my own good, I admit, but after being here a while it just makes me laugh at how clueless some people are about their fellow human beings feelings and emotions.

I don't want to give the impression that I am having a bad time in India or anything like this because the opposite is true and I am really having a wonderful time here. I just think some western tourist's here need to take a step back and look at the big picture instead of paying some instant guru to shake crystals and gems at them while chanting something they will never, ever understand.