Sat Chit Ananda, Street Theatre and Ecological Spirituality

Well it is certainly hard to follow up that last blog. That was definitely an intense experience, which has continued to affect me.
I want to say thank you also, to everyone who is staying with me and continuing to read my blog! It makes me feel so warm and loved to read your comments! :) You really are going through this with me.
I have been extremely busy recently, doing some amazing things- making raw food with Anandi is one experience I have been drawn into powerfully. She is a magic-mama in the kitchen, and is full of wisdom, laughter, lightness and warmth. I am learning so much from her every day I go. She has decided to name her raw restaurant "Satchitananda". Sat means truth, Chit is consciousness, and Ananda means Bliss. the restaurant is planned to open in 6 weeks. I am excited to be a part of its grand opening.
The other day at Anandi's, we went for a nature walk to learn about some of the local plants and their medicinal and nutritional qualities. Before we even stepped foot off the property, Anandi said, "And now we must begin here. You have to learn, to start in your very own backyard, to find the abundance which awaits you." We found so many plants, and she had a story and information for all of them. Afterwards, we put all our greens into a yummy green juice with pineapple. Before eating and drinking each day, we all hold hands, feel our gratitude rising within us, and OM together. I swear, treating food as such a spiritual, communal ritual makes me so deeply happy. I wish that we treated the food we put into our bodies as more sacred all the time. If we don't, how can it really fulfill us? Food is not simply physical fuel, it is our greatest connection to the material world, and to nature. What we put into our bodies from the earth IS sacred, and to give it energy, blessing it and respecting it brings such a beauty and power to the interaction. It makes me feel fulfilled on an emotional, energetic, and even I could say spiritual level.
This morning I spent my time in the village. I am planning to make a video documentary illustrating the beauties of village life. This project is working with Balu through Mohanam. However, I feel overwhelmed, because I don't have much filming experience, and this feels like a really big project! However, I am taking it bit by bit, and trying to portray what I see as artistically, honestly, and accessibly as possible. I have been working with this wonderful woman Sudha, who is a teacher at Mohanam. She has been my tour guide and translator essentially, bringing me everywhere I want to go in the village, and making connections so that I can talk to the villagers. She is eager to help! So today, I was fortunate enough to interview a street theatre artist. He has been doing it for 30 years, and talked spiritedly about his work, the problems with modern culture (film is becoming more important, and street theatre is declining), and his work teaching the children of Mohanam the craft. Then I was lucky to film some teenage boys perform some street theatre. I didn't understand what they were saying, but it was really fun! They have raised money to go to Thaliand next week for an international music festival. They will perform some traditional Tamil drumming and dancing there. I am excited for them!
I have also started classes with my group. Our main class is called"Nature, Spirit, and Political Theory". It has been really interesting so far. OUr group is the most diverse yet according to Karen, our teacher. We come from all kinds of different backgrounds spiritually; we have a couple of Christians, a Muslim, a couple of Buddhist-aligned people, a couple of Pagan-aligned people, some atheists, and many mixed or confused people. We all agree though that we are here to find ourselves spiritually. However, when discussing such things as how religion can relate to ecology in the face of this huge environmental crisis, some really deep values are put up for questioning, and it is hard to keep an open mind without being so attached to your own view. It has been really great so far though; the group is really tight-knit, and we all enjoy spending time together. I look forward to continue bringing up questions about ecology, and how we can relate to the earth and the material world from a more spiritual standpoint. As it is, things like politics and the environment are dealt with from a very rational point of view; but perhaps belief could be essential in re-framing our relationship to the earth. Because one thing is obvious: our consumerism has to change. As Karen puts it, we are living in a system that is linear: from mining resources, to production, to consumption, to waste. However, nature works in cyclical patterns. Thus, we are living in a system that has violated the patterns of nature. We have to learn how to round the corner of our linear system, and simplify our own lives so as to work in tandem with our Earth. What is needed is a change of consciousness. Then we will realize that MORE does not actually make us happy. Then we can practice contentment, and focus our energy instead on striving to live in alignment with Nature.
But what drives us most is our beliefs. These are deeply held. So to examine them, and see what we hold as most important in our lives, is essential.
I am really tired right now, so I hope this all makes sense. :) There are many more details I could go into, but I hope this gives you a little overview of some of the things I have been doing.
As always, I am thinking of you and holding you all in my heart. :) Be well!