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Unless you put the big rocks in first, you won't fit everything in. In other words: Plan time-slots to work on your goals before anything else, or the inevitable sand and water (busy work) will fill up your days and you won't fit the big tasks in. Big Rocks can be anything from writing a book, working out, meditating, date night, or whatever tasks help you achieve your goals.
With the holiday season fast approaching, we could all use a few reminders on how to make the most of our time. Here are some essential tips:
*First, get clear on why you want to save time: What ultimately do you want to accomplish? More time for self, romance, family, rest, creativity, to make more money? Having a juicy reason to master your time will ensure your success.
*Commit yourself to change. Be prepared to make drastic changes. Challenge your old habits, detach from routines, and be willing to defend your time when others try to dictate how you use it.
*Make a list of what needs doing daily. Time is your most precious resource, take the time each night to strategize how you want to use your next twenty-four hours. Time management is impossible without a plan, you're too easily distracted or seduced off-task.
*Prioritize your list. Without prioritizing you may waste time with busy-work. Learn to work smart not hard.Tackle the items in order of their importance that
way, if you do not get to everything on your list, you will at least get to the most important things first.
*Allocate time for the Big Rocks. Be firm and protective of the time you've allocated for projects, meetings, paperwork, telephone, and visitors.
*Keep a clean desk, file all paperwork unless your working on it.
*Handle each piece of paper only once. Do not under any circumstances pick up a job, do a bit of it, then put it back on the pile. Consider yourself a stamp, stick to the work until it get's where it's going.
*Learn to say 'No', politely, and constructively, giving people reasons to justify your position, eg., "I understand this is urgent for you, but I'm committed to
taking care of this goal right now."
*Set specific times to handle phone calls and emails. If you can't stop the interruptions then go somewhere else to work.
*If you can, get a good assistant, secretary or VA then delegate as much as possible.
*Never try to eat an elephant all in one go. Break big projects down into digestible chunks.
*Resist silly emails and text messages, reading irrelevant materials, unecessary tidying and google searching, passive TV watching, aimless shopping or
traveling. These activities are habitual comforters which are counter productive.
*Reading these tips will not help you unless you put them into effect. Choose at least three new behaviors and take action--otherwise your time will be gobbled up like turkey on thanksgiving. ;)
Kamala Devi is an author, coach, public speaker and soon-to-be mother. If you found this article helpful, she invites you to join her at the Personal Power Playshop which is her last public event before going into maternity
retreat. Her Tantra Novel Don't Drink the Punch: An adventure in Tantra is available at:
www.dontdrinkthepunch.com
Friday, November 3
Friday, September 1
POSTCARD FROM PARADISE
Four months into pregnancy the morning sickness passed, and since my womb is not uncomfortably large yet, Michael and I decided to honeymoon in Bali. We had no idea what we were getting into until the first night when the island cast a spell on us. Bali's magic is indescribable, but if I were to compare it to something, I'd say it's as beautiful as Hawaii, as spiritual as India, and as friendly, inexpensive and easy to travel as my favorite travel destination:
Thailand. Just imagine a volcanic island about the size and population of San Diego County where Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists practice harmoniously side by side.
We spent the first week frolicking among terraced rice patties with my spiritual teacher, zYoah and his companion Colleen. Our time in Ubud was filled with luxurious massages ($7 per hour,) extravagant gourmet meals (average bill $6 per person,) and long philosophical discussions around a darshan table with like-minded artists, musicians, coaches, and tantra teachers from all over the world ($ Priceless.)
Our next destination was Uluwatu cliffs where Michael surfed world-class waves breaking over dangerous coral reefs. We then hired a devoted Hindu driver who took us to visit sacred lakes, volcanoes, mountain villages, and to meditate in ancient temples. Along the way we fed monkeys, found snakes, and saw a huge furry fruit-bat that looked like a flying dog.
Above all, it's the spirituality that enchanted me. Villagers spend weeks preparing elaborate ceremonial structures only to be burned in a glorious cremation celebration. Bali's pre-hindu pagan-like spirituality is still very alive in their daily practices. The Balanese philosophy embraces the dark as well as the light. Before a big ceremony, for example, cock fights are held in the
gardens outside temples so that the rooster's blood will run down into the earth and apease the devil, in order for the prayers of the devotees to go undisturbed by evil forces.
Another telling example of their non-dualistic belief system can be found in the classic Barong Dance. At the climax of this epic story from the Mahabarata, a number of peacekeepers go into trance to try to kill a powerful demon, but instead of the cliche story of good triumphing over evil, the Barong cannot be killed. The dancers reveal that in order for there to be good in the world, there must be evil. The devil, like God, is eternal. Thus the play ends with the ultimate sacrifice: wherein the dancers kill only the evil that lives within themselves in an act that looks like suicide.
Balanese art is deep and intricate. We were inspired by the woodwork, architecture and gardening everywhere. We're looking forward to incorporating these ideas into the green remodel of our Emerald Temple as well as weaving these deep spiritual teachings into our upcoming Artist's way and tantra series. For those of you that don't live in San Diego, we're excited this month to offer our first tele-course. And for our local community, we invite you to the following exotic adventures (we promise you don't even have to deal with homeland security)...
Thailand. Just imagine a volcanic island about the size and population of San Diego County where Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists practice harmoniously side by side.
We spent the first week frolicking among terraced rice patties with my spiritual teacher, zYoah and his companion Colleen. Our time in Ubud was filled with luxurious massages ($7 per hour,) extravagant gourmet meals (average bill $6 per person,) and long philosophical discussions around a darshan table with like-minded artists, musicians, coaches, and tantra teachers from all over the world ($ Priceless.)
Our next destination was Uluwatu cliffs where Michael surfed world-class waves breaking over dangerous coral reefs. We then hired a devoted Hindu driver who took us to visit sacred lakes, volcanoes, mountain villages, and to meditate in ancient temples. Along the way we fed monkeys, found snakes, and saw a huge furry fruit-bat that looked like a flying dog.
Above all, it's the spirituality that enchanted me. Villagers spend weeks preparing elaborate ceremonial structures only to be burned in a glorious cremation celebration. Bali's pre-hindu pagan-like spirituality is still very alive in their daily practices. The Balanese philosophy embraces the dark as well as the light. Before a big ceremony, for example, cock fights are held in the
gardens outside temples so that the rooster's blood will run down into the earth and apease the devil, in order for the prayers of the devotees to go undisturbed by evil forces.
Another telling example of their non-dualistic belief system can be found in the classic Barong Dance. At the climax of this epic story from the Mahabarata, a number of peacekeepers go into trance to try to kill a powerful demon, but instead of the cliche story of good triumphing over evil, the Barong cannot be killed. The dancers reveal that in order for there to be good in the world, there must be evil. The devil, like God, is eternal. Thus the play ends with the ultimate sacrifice: wherein the dancers kill only the evil that lives within themselves in an act that looks like suicide.
Balanese art is deep and intricate. We were inspired by the woodwork, architecture and gardening everywhere. We're looking forward to incorporating these ideas into the green remodel of our Emerald Temple as well as weaving these deep spiritual teachings into our upcoming Artist's way and tantra series. For those of you that don't live in San Diego, we're excited this month to offer our first tele-course. And for our local community, we invite you to the following exotic adventures (we promise you don't even have to deal with homeland security)...
Saturday, June 3
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
by Kamala Devi
Do you know who you are? Not just who you THINK you are, but who you REALLY are? Enlightened masters ask us to meditate on such things. My Spiritual teacher is on tour from Australia and will be offering an Enlightenment Intensive retreat in San Diego soon. Aside from my current pregnancy, this is perhaps the most life-changing event I've ever engaged in. Having introduced dozens of people to the technique, I understand however, that this retreat is NOT for everyone. Only the most sincere truth seekers who are committed to authenticity, integration, and transformation will find themselves attracted to the ego-confronting process.
Not everyone believes that enlightenment is possible. It has been universally assumed that enlightenment is necessarily preceded by a long, hard struggle, and available only to a dedicated few. But this is a new Era. Consciousness is accelerating, and by combining the ancient meditation on 'Who am I' with potent modern communication tools, the Enlightenment Intensive has a record of leading people to enlightened within one week-end! Since the origination of this process in California over 37 years ago, thousands of sincere truth seekers in over 40 countries around the world, have experienced enlightenment in under 4 days.
An enlightenment Intensive is a deep residential environment that dives into the direct experience of your true nature –not the ego self that people commonly
experience as separate and apart from others, confined within the opinions and attitudes of it's personality. The True Self is essentially free and connected to the way of the universe. The barrier to such a direct experience of reality is our attachment to intellectual conclusions about reality: our judgments, projections, preconceptions, and conditioned beliefs; even our analytical and logical
faculties.
The following excerpt from my new Tantra novel entitled: Don’t drink the Punch: an Adventure in Tantra, was inspired from my transformative experiences at the Enlightenment Intensives. This scene takes place at an ashram in India where one of the devotees is channeling teachings from a disembodied guru named Das: “There is one question that rises out of awakened consciousness. It is the same question you were born asking yourself. It penetrates beyond words into pure experience. The most direct path toward Self-realization: simply ask yourself, ‘Who am I?’ It’s not like an intellectual question to which there is an intellectual answer. No, it’s much deeper. ‘Who am I?’ “It is the only important question. All other questions are peripheral. Who am I? It has a magical power to it, like a mantra or an incantation. This question opens you directly to the energy of the divine eternal Self, the part of you that is God. In Sanskrit, it’s called Jiva or Atma. It’s the part of you that has always been with you, and will always be with you. "In the West, it’s called the soul, but the concept is not as clear. People have fear-based notions that if they really contemplate this question, they’ll become selfish or self-centered. You see, in the West, there’s a huge emphasis on individuality. People seek be different and stand out. Instead of pursuing oneness, Westerners often pursue unique expression. They over identify with their possessions: the car and house and clothes that make them different. You can get stuck on who you think you are or how others see you, but this is not your eternal nature. “Asking this one question takes you beyond your self-concept and allows all those mental trappings to fall away. Who are you beyond your clothes, name, and ethnicity? Who are you beyond your gender and even beyond your chakras? What is your true nature? Dive whole-heartedly into this question and you will find a doorway, directly to the divine, to the part of you that is absolute and real." If you're interested in more information about the upcoming Enlightenment Intensive, visit:
http://www.partnerplayshop.com/Enlightenment.html
If you want to read more about Kamala Devi's Don't Drink the Punch or Purchase a copy online go to:
www.DontDrinkThePunch.com
Do you know who you are? Not just who you THINK you are, but who you REALLY are? Enlightened masters ask us to meditate on such things. My Spiritual teacher is on tour from Australia and will be offering an Enlightenment Intensive retreat in San Diego soon. Aside from my current pregnancy, this is perhaps the most life-changing event I've ever engaged in. Having introduced dozens of people to the technique, I understand however, that this retreat is NOT for everyone. Only the most sincere truth seekers who are committed to authenticity, integration, and transformation will find themselves attracted to the ego-confronting process.
Not everyone believes that enlightenment is possible. It has been universally assumed that enlightenment is necessarily preceded by a long, hard struggle, and available only to a dedicated few. But this is a new Era. Consciousness is accelerating, and by combining the ancient meditation on 'Who am I' with potent modern communication tools, the Enlightenment Intensive has a record of leading people to enlightened within one week-end! Since the origination of this process in California over 37 years ago, thousands of sincere truth seekers in over 40 countries around the world, have experienced enlightenment in under 4 days.
An enlightenment Intensive is a deep residential environment that dives into the direct experience of your true nature –not the ego self that people commonly
experience as separate and apart from others, confined within the opinions and attitudes of it's personality. The True Self is essentially free and connected to the way of the universe. The barrier to such a direct experience of reality is our attachment to intellectual conclusions about reality: our judgments, projections, preconceptions, and conditioned beliefs; even our analytical and logical
faculties.
The following excerpt from my new Tantra novel entitled: Don’t drink the Punch: an Adventure in Tantra, was inspired from my transformative experiences at the Enlightenment Intensives. This scene takes place at an ashram in India where one of the devotees is channeling teachings from a disembodied guru named Das: “There is one question that rises out of awakened consciousness. It is the same question you were born asking yourself. It penetrates beyond words into pure experience. The most direct path toward Self-realization: simply ask yourself, ‘Who am I?’ It’s not like an intellectual question to which there is an intellectual answer. No, it’s much deeper. ‘Who am I?’ “It is the only important question. All other questions are peripheral. Who am I? It has a magical power to it, like a mantra or an incantation. This question opens you directly to the energy of the divine eternal Self, the part of you that is God. In Sanskrit, it’s called Jiva or Atma. It’s the part of you that has always been with you, and will always be with you. "In the West, it’s called the soul, but the concept is not as clear. People have fear-based notions that if they really contemplate this question, they’ll become selfish or self-centered. You see, in the West, there’s a huge emphasis on individuality. People seek be different and stand out. Instead of pursuing oneness, Westerners often pursue unique expression. They over identify with their possessions: the car and house and clothes that make them different. You can get stuck on who you think you are or how others see you, but this is not your eternal nature. “Asking this one question takes you beyond your self-concept and allows all those mental trappings to fall away. Who are you beyond your clothes, name, and ethnicity? Who are you beyond your gender and even beyond your chakras? What is your true nature? Dive whole-heartedly into this question and you will find a doorway, directly to the divine, to the part of you that is absolute and real." If you're interested in more information about the upcoming Enlightenment Intensive, visit:
http://www.partnerplayshop.com/Enlightenment.html
If you want to read more about Kamala Devi's Don't Drink the Punch or Purchase a copy online go to:
www.DontDrinkThePunch.com
Tuesday, April 4
MANY PATHS TO ONE LOVE
A common question for people just starting their tantra yoga practice is: Do I have to have a partner? If they already have a partner, they often ask: Can I stay with them or do I have to practice with other people? The simple answer: It’s up to you. In truth, you are always at choice. Tantra is a spiritual, consensual, all-inclusive sex-positive practice. The only hard and fast rule on the path of personal growth is: know thyself, and unto that be true! It’s your responsibility to take a serious self-inventory and see which path nurtures your nature.
* Single practitioners often find that practicing solo helps them raise their vibration to attract a more suitable match.
* Many married couples find that practicing tantra exclusively with each other can take their monogamous relationship to another level of passion.
* Some couples in the tantra community decide to separate for an evening to practice with other individuals in order to bring more polarity back to their primary partnership.
* Some people chose to practice polyamory in conjunction with tantra to expand their expression of love and accelerate their personal growth.
* There are tantric practitioners who even chose to practice celibacy, homosexuality, swinging or BDSM.
No matter what path you chose, you'll have to face your own set of challenges and rewards. As a teacher of both tantra and polyamory, I’d like to clarify the often misunderstood connection between the two. Tantra is a practice of uniting sexual energy with divine energy. It’s also a path of Self Love. Polyamory is the practice of building honest heart-centered relationships with multiple lovers. It's also a path of self love. Polyamory includes a great degree of conscious communication and does not include anonymous sex, lying cheating or having affairs. Polyamory is often a discipline in personal growth, wherein jealousy, fear and insecurity are your spiritual teachers. In my new novel,Don’t Drink The Punch, An Adventure in Tantra, Master Das leads a tantra ritual in which all of the practitioners rotate and practice with different people. S/he then gives the following explanation of how loving multiple partners can deepen one’s tantric practice.
“I want to bring your attention to the essential objective of the Chakra Puja(tantra ritual.) You’re work is to worship the divine in whatever form she presents herself to you. Vajrayana(Tibetan tantric Buddhism) is the practice of seeing God in every sentient being. A true master takes her worship even deeper. To the extent that it is possible, she makes love to every sentient being. That may be a sister, friend, mother, wife, lover, stranger. God comes in all different shapes and flavors. “I hope by now you can see the divinity of everyone in this room. Can you imagine making love to them? This is your Sangha(community.) These are your beloveds. I want you to contemplate an environment wherein you’d feel safe enough to abandon your limitations and inhibitions. In order to give your physical body for the play and pleasure of God, ask yourself how you can become more naked: emotionally, spiritually, and physically...” In conclusion, Tantra is a practice of making love to the divine, it’s up to you to decide whether that is in the form of Self, your spouse, and/or your entire community.
Enjoy the Dance,
Kamala Devi
For more info about tantra, polyamory or Don’t Drink the Punch: an Adventure in Tantra, please visit:
http://www.partnerplayshop.com/Tantra_Book.html
* Single practitioners often find that practicing solo helps them raise their vibration to attract a more suitable match.
* Many married couples find that practicing tantra exclusively with each other can take their monogamous relationship to another level of passion.
* Some couples in the tantra community decide to separate for an evening to practice with other individuals in order to bring more polarity back to their primary partnership.
* Some people chose to practice polyamory in conjunction with tantra to expand their expression of love and accelerate their personal growth.
* There are tantric practitioners who even chose to practice celibacy, homosexuality, swinging or BDSM.
No matter what path you chose, you'll have to face your own set of challenges and rewards. As a teacher of both tantra and polyamory, I’d like to clarify the often misunderstood connection between the two. Tantra is a practice of uniting sexual energy with divine energy. It’s also a path of Self Love. Polyamory is the practice of building honest heart-centered relationships with multiple lovers. It's also a path of self love. Polyamory includes a great degree of conscious communication and does not include anonymous sex, lying cheating or having affairs. Polyamory is often a discipline in personal growth, wherein jealousy, fear and insecurity are your spiritual teachers. In my new novel,Don’t Drink The Punch, An Adventure in Tantra, Master Das leads a tantra ritual in which all of the practitioners rotate and practice with different people. S/he then gives the following explanation of how loving multiple partners can deepen one’s tantric practice.
“I want to bring your attention to the essential objective of the Chakra Puja(tantra ritual.) You’re work is to worship the divine in whatever form she presents herself to you. Vajrayana(Tibetan tantric Buddhism) is the practice of seeing God in every sentient being. A true master takes her worship even deeper. To the extent that it is possible, she makes love to every sentient being. That may be a sister, friend, mother, wife, lover, stranger. God comes in all different shapes and flavors. “I hope by now you can see the divinity of everyone in this room. Can you imagine making love to them? This is your Sangha(community.) These are your beloveds. I want you to contemplate an environment wherein you’d feel safe enough to abandon your limitations and inhibitions. In order to give your physical body for the play and pleasure of God, ask yourself how you can become more naked: emotionally, spiritually, and physically...” In conclusion, Tantra is a practice of making love to the divine, it’s up to you to decide whether that is in the form of Self, your spouse, and/or your entire community.
Enjoy the Dance,
Kamala Devi
For more info about tantra, polyamory or Don’t Drink the Punch: an Adventure in Tantra, please visit:
http://www.partnerplayshop.com/Tantra_Book.html
Wednesday, March 8
AMMA - THE HUGGING SAINT!
Every overhead phone pole and palm tree is plastered with a poster of a dark, round woman, with a sweet smile and glowing halo. In some images, she’s even walking on water. She is known across the planet as the ‘Hugging Saint.’ The local posters read: ‘Mata Amritanada Maya Math.’ Her disciples call her ‘Amma.’
On the recommendation of a local fruit vendor, we follow another road as far out as it will go and hit the beach. It’s a concrete and polluted looking shore. I watch an old man defecate on the beach wall, while Swami-ji asks for directions from a rickshaw driver who speaks in sketchy English. After a few more u-turns, we finally arrive. A huge overhead welcome banner stretches across a brick alley that is crowded with hawkers of devotional artifacts on either side, posters, pins, mala beads, books, and cards. It’s a regular festival with rich and thick smells of incense and food. There are huge lines of waiting people that wrap around the entire complex. The height and styles of people in the crowd indicate that they came from all over India.
After adjusting to the overwhelming assault on the senses, we're led to a short line for foreigners. I hear amazing sitar music echoing through the main hall when we are ushered into a special line that cuts in front of thousands of people. We buy flowers and leis to offer to the Divine Mother, and then are prodded along. As soon as we arrive at the far right side of the hall, the door beside us opens, and a dozen white pajama-clad disciples come out and part the red sea of people, creating an aisle toward the stage.
Enter Amma. She is wearing a white sari and a tall tin crown. I’m hypnotized by her little brown feet adorned with dazzling jewelry. Rose petals and marigolds shower down from gathering disciples, some down on their knees washing and anointing her feet with essential oils.
My breath catches in my throat. It’s as though I’m standing before a super hero from another dimension. She leaves this striking image in our minds while she continues walking on through the crowd to take a seat at the onstage throne. Darshan is about to resume.
There are cameras projecting the overhead images of Amma hugging and blessing whole families at a time. People are chanting, crying out, and fainting all around. As the line shortens, my heart pounds harder. I widen my scope to try to see what I’m supposed to do when it’s my turn. Everyone appears to be giving offerings, getting a hug, and moving on. Easy enough. Why am I so nervous? I take a few more steps forward, and then I’m swept off my feet. The white pajamas have a hold of me. I’m pushed and positioned into a large, warm lap that is magnetic and smothering. My ear is smooshed against her thigh. Where did my lei go? She smells like rosewater.
She’s chanting, “Manamanamanamanamana.” When she runs out of breath, she lets me go. I’m light as a feather, floating out of her lap, and out of this atmosphere. Saraswati is now in Ammas arms; it is a beautiful fading vision. Amma recognizes her and doesn’t want to let her go, but the disciples rip her out of the arms of her mother. In English, Amma shouts, “Be with me,” indicating that we come back and sit on her stage, but we are pushed back out amongst the masses.
Saraswati takes my hand and we’re ushered through a long line of white pajamas and seated directly behind Amma. This is like being selected for the live studio audience for an Oprah show. Wide-eyed, I look around the stage. It’s a white sea of western disciples in sweaty states of doting stupor.
Amma sits cross-legged at the edge of the stage on a substantial floor pillow made of natural fiber and built-in back support. To Amma’s left, unseen angels take leis, apples, cards, gifts, and offerings, while giving Amma a handful of ash and candy to dispense to each person she hugs. I’m boggled by the lightning speed of this exchange. How does she manage to embrace, hold, and kiss so many people, and still make everyone feel special? They’re crying, singing, and shaking with gratitude. In the distance of the crowd, I catch a glimpse of a scoreboard, keeping count of how many people she’s hugged. It proudly reads 11,000, and it’s not even noon...
To read more sample chapters of Kamala's new Novel, Don't Drink The Punch: An Adventure in Tantra go to:
http://www.PartnerPlayshop.com/Tantra_Book.html
Kamala Devi uses tantra, yoga and coaching to guide successful individuals towards self-realization. To schedule a trial coaching session call M-Th 10-6pm 858-272-2254 or check out
On the recommendation of a local fruit vendor, we follow another road as far out as it will go and hit the beach. It’s a concrete and polluted looking shore. I watch an old man defecate on the beach wall, while Swami-ji asks for directions from a rickshaw driver who speaks in sketchy English. After a few more u-turns, we finally arrive. A huge overhead welcome banner stretches across a brick alley that is crowded with hawkers of devotional artifacts on either side, posters, pins, mala beads, books, and cards. It’s a regular festival with rich and thick smells of incense and food. There are huge lines of waiting people that wrap around the entire complex. The height and styles of people in the crowd indicate that they came from all over India.
After adjusting to the overwhelming assault on the senses, we're led to a short line for foreigners. I hear amazing sitar music echoing through the main hall when we are ushered into a special line that cuts in front of thousands of people. We buy flowers and leis to offer to the Divine Mother, and then are prodded along. As soon as we arrive at the far right side of the hall, the door beside us opens, and a dozen white pajama-clad disciples come out and part the red sea of people, creating an aisle toward the stage.
Enter Amma. She is wearing a white sari and a tall tin crown. I’m hypnotized by her little brown feet adorned with dazzling jewelry. Rose petals and marigolds shower down from gathering disciples, some down on their knees washing and anointing her feet with essential oils.
My breath catches in my throat. It’s as though I’m standing before a super hero from another dimension. She leaves this striking image in our minds while she continues walking on through the crowd to take a seat at the onstage throne. Darshan is about to resume.
There are cameras projecting the overhead images of Amma hugging and blessing whole families at a time. People are chanting, crying out, and fainting all around. As the line shortens, my heart pounds harder. I widen my scope to try to see what I’m supposed to do when it’s my turn. Everyone appears to be giving offerings, getting a hug, and moving on. Easy enough. Why am I so nervous? I take a few more steps forward, and then I’m swept off my feet. The white pajamas have a hold of me. I’m pushed and positioned into a large, warm lap that is magnetic and smothering. My ear is smooshed against her thigh. Where did my lei go? She smells like rosewater.
She’s chanting, “Manamanamanamanamana.” When she runs out of breath, she lets me go. I’m light as a feather, floating out of her lap, and out of this atmosphere. Saraswati is now in Ammas arms; it is a beautiful fading vision. Amma recognizes her and doesn’t want to let her go, but the disciples rip her out of the arms of her mother. In English, Amma shouts, “Be with me,” indicating that we come back and sit on her stage, but we are pushed back out amongst the masses.
Saraswati takes my hand and we’re ushered through a long line of white pajamas and seated directly behind Amma. This is like being selected for the live studio audience for an Oprah show. Wide-eyed, I look around the stage. It’s a white sea of western disciples in sweaty states of doting stupor.
Amma sits cross-legged at the edge of the stage on a substantial floor pillow made of natural fiber and built-in back support. To Amma’s left, unseen angels take leis, apples, cards, gifts, and offerings, while giving Amma a handful of ash and candy to dispense to each person she hugs. I’m boggled by the lightning speed of this exchange. How does she manage to embrace, hold, and kiss so many people, and still make everyone feel special? They’re crying, singing, and shaking with gratitude. In the distance of the crowd, I catch a glimpse of a scoreboard, keeping count of how many people she’s hugged. It proudly reads 11,000, and it’s not even noon...
To read more sample chapters of Kamala's new Novel, Don't Drink The Punch: An Adventure in Tantra go to:
http://www.PartnerPlayshop.com/Tantra_Book.html
Kamala Devi uses tantra, yoga and coaching to guide successful individuals towards self-realization. To schedule a trial coaching session call M-Th 10-6pm 858-272-2254 or check out
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