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People tell you either you have a calling to go to India or not. I spent two months there in 2017.
I had that calling. It was a spiritual trip for me. I visited many temples, Ashrams, practiced Yoga and meditation, sang mantras and spent 10 days on a Silent Retreat in the forested hills above the town of McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala – the seat in exile of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
10 days of silence were not that hard. We practiced many hours of daily meditation, but we also had teaching sessions as it was an Introductory course to Buddhism.
During this retreat the instructors shared one teaching I’ll never forget: “The nature of reality is impermanence”. They would use “the cup” as an example. A tea cup which was always seating there on their small table.
“Even a cup is impermanent”. Inside this cup there are atoms which are constantly moving.
Meditation is a tool to help us observe impermanence on a deeper level. Our thoughts, feelings are constantly changing. Just like sounds and sensations. Bringing the attention to our breath or the environment around us is a great strategy to realize everything is constantly changing inside and outside of us.
How many of you were able to think you would be self-isolated now? How many of you had to change plans? How many of you were caught off guard?
Each one of us with our personal challenges, we are all on the same boat. And we want to help you navigate in this brave ocean.
Rafaela Rolim
Brazilian Experience’s CEO.