Geckos’ Adventures
Soulful Sojourn - Murnau, Germany
Visiting the tranquil town of Murnau, Germany, the location where our beloved Guruji took Mahasamadhi, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The emotions that overcame us, the gurubandhus we met, and the opportunity to visit the places Guruji went to in Murnau, was special and unforgettable. Murnau has essentially become a pilgrimage for gurubandhus all around the world. To be able to visit the site where our Guru spent his last moments in his physical form is an emotionally overwhelming and touching memory for us as we develop a deeper connection with him. We had the wonderful opportunity to go to Murnau as a group and reminisce together.
In Germany, we got the chance to meet our wonderful gurubandhu family. Karin aunty and Kurt uncle became our wonderful guides for our whole stay in Germany. They took us to visit the lake where Guruji had sat for a while and the hospital where Guruji underwent his treatment, and places where his presence was strongly felt.
Karin aunty and Kurt uncle also shared their experiences with Guruji and Baba and even showed us where they have their weekly satsangs We also had a group satsang in Munich with all the German gurubandhus, who were so kind as to take time out of their schedules to be with us. We were welcomed by the younger gurubandhus, endearingly called ‘Joyous Bubbles.’ We gathered together and shared our unique experiences with Guruji, including when we first connected to him. We explored our connection with our Guru more deeply and learned about how other gurubandhus maintain their special bond with him, despite living far away from India. We concluded our satsang with arati and later gathered around to sing and generally enjoy each other’s company.
Our time in Munich left us with a sense of having a home away from home. In a foreign country where we couldn’t speak the language and were unfamiliar with the culture, we felt at home due to the warmth of our gurubandhus. Murnau, a place that already held significance to us, further deepened our connection with Guruji.
Soulful Sojourn - Orgiva, Spain
Dive into our mesmerizing journey across the cultural landscapes where we were introduced and immersed ourselves to the culture of the Alpujarra. We tried so many different activities while learning more about this unique culture. Our activities included flamenco dancing; a passionate and vibrant form of expression, blending footwork with emotive gestures to tell stories. We had fun with Andalucian tile making; a Spanish traditional style of art that dates back to the time when Spain was under the islamic rule. Tile making is an Andalusian art form that connects craftsmanship with creativity, transforming clay into decorative pieces. We explored sacred geometry; while learning about the connection between mathematics and spirituality, revealing the divine proportions and symmetries found in nature. We also tried Cyanotype photography; creating vivid blue images by using light-sensitive chemicals. We experienced many different art forms including a dancing and singing session in the empty pool of our guest house!
We also got the opportunity to see a theatre production that was put together by the artists of Orgiva. We got to witness each and every one of their talents on display. We were able to go to an olive farm and even helped harvest the olives by hitting the trees with a stick, causing the ripe olives to fall to the ground! In addition, amongst our exploration of the Spanish culture, we also desired to express our own culture after being introduced to their extraordinary art forms. Thus, we practiced a few short songs that a majority of us had learned in our respective Sangeetham classes. Yvonne Aunty and Carlos Uncle invited a small group of local people and we all sang together with lyrics sheets we had made. It was a beautiful and touching memory that we will never forget! Though we were not at camp, we still had Gratitude Circle at the end of each day. We are incredibly thankful for Yvonne aunty and Carlos uncle for showering us with love and care during and even after our trip. They welcomed us to the beautiful town in the best way possible and participated in all our shenanigans! From the fun activities they planned to their kind words, they truly embodied the meaning of family. Their stories were so inspiring and we were able to learn about their spiritual journey and their time with Guruji. They introduced us to their vegan lifestyle, encouraging us to try new Spanish foods! Orgiva was a place where we tried different activities and became known to other ways of enjoying life and living to the fullest.
PHOTO BOOK
Amongst the countless snaps of group pictures, funny moments, and the delicious food we ate, we had a selection of photos that we wanted to highlight and preserve in a physical form. As digital forms of photography are becoming more popular, it felt more meaningful to create a photo book that we can carry and flip through. Together, we sifted through a shared collection of all the photos we took and selected ones we liked to assemble a lovely photo album that we each ordered.
SHORT FILM
Alongside the fellow Geckos, Carlos Uncle avidly captured stunning, professional-quality photos and videos. With his impressive editing skills, he composed a compilation video of our unforgettable memories together. The video features our delightful welcome dinner, musical bus rides, trip to Cáñar, olive harvest, mini concert, flamenco dancing, and so much more. We’re so thankful for Uncle’s efforts to preserve our memories in such a beautiful way!
EURO DIARIES (Vlogs)
Join the Geckos as they journey across Europe to experience new things and connect with Gurubhandhus. Through these vlogs you’ll witness firsthand the adventures we embarked on.
