Help
Sign In
addiction
November 2009 
Beyond the Gaia Addiction..in India
Posted on Aug 23rd, 2008
by 
Meenakshi
Meenakshi
It can be done! There is a way out of the Gaia addiction, but it isn't as obvious as it may seem.
I'm just back from almost a month away in New Delhi, India. Meeting parents, friends, relatives, and seeing the new malls, airconditioned buses [in India?!], new potholes but also renewed energy. I logged onto Gaia TWICE in this time, and once from the Charles de Gaulle airport's internet cafe. My first time in an internet cafe- yeah!!! The computer had a French keyboard so it was a bit difficult to maneuver-- and later I saw that there's the "standard" keyboard also we could've chosen.
Bomb scares abound in Delhi, specially as we were there around the Independence day, and one of my enduring memories is of a politely urgent team of security people seeking to urge me: "Madam! Madam! Please stay away from here. We are investigating this bag"-- we were two feet away from a large unattended bag left outside a shop. The memory is of shoppers standing around this mall, at a "safe" distance, physically relaxed, interested, smiling in anticipation as they watched through the large glass windows of one of Delhi's older malls : what would happen as the bomb disposal squad went about its work? No fear. "Let's close this. Do you want to die?" laughed a salesman to his colleagues as they decided to shut their door but allowed shoppers to continue their shopping. Few people left.
And teenage daughters are allowed to go to the mall with friends, with no parent alerts about what to do if there is a bomb scare or episode while they're out. "They'll know what to do", "Life goes on", say rich and poor alike, seemingly concerned more with the slowing of traffic as more cars vie for space with the metro overground to connect parts of the ancient and new sprawl. An author who has recently written a book "Terror in Fun City" seems to agree with me about not being so blase, in his conversation with another writer, attended by some of the shoppers at a Crossword book store.
I found that the Gaia addiction can be beat, as I stayed with my parents who refuse to have a computer to complicate their lives, much as they first kept the idiot box away from our childhood till the 1980s Asian Games in India brought more meaningful television--I was in my 20s. When I visited friends or relatives I didn't really feel like getting away from conversation with them to go on the net, but found myself mentioning Gaia. Some seeds have been planted. And I got to meet Seema a Gaian friend, and actually have a meetup if only for a short time! We exchanged hugs, gifts [as usual, what I got was so much more than what I could take from here], and confidences over lunch at one of my favorite chaat places in which we did the gracious Indian thing of "No, I'll pay"--"No, I will" [she 'won']. Meeting through Gaia helps to connect in a way that we feel we are old friends; there is trust, immediate sharing, and a meeting that may be more meaningful than that with those who don't really want to know about my life here. In a few days, I'll post a picture that the grinning waiter took.
Once again, I found many smiles from waiters and shopkeepers who found my politeness surprising and warm. I was once again reminded that we don't really make eye contact and say Thank you or please to shopkeepers and waiters in India. They always know I am "not from here" despite my Indian clothes and non-American accent. It's the manner, they say. So this is something perhaps that I take as a gift with me: a manner, a qigong DVD for a yoga teacher [that's for another blog] and ...Gaia.
Did I say that a Gaia addiction can be beat? When I talked about it daily, was eager to meet other Gaians, and carried you all in my heart so close, that I could not really miss you? When I knew that the wonderful co-moderators in our groups were continuing to do their wonderful work, and the vibrancy of the community carried me through the chaos of emotions, sights, sounds, smells, that is the Indian experience? When I come back to such warm messages from friends on the grapevine and email? Not really. But then I would not call it an addiction any longer. Rather than being attached in that unhealthy way that addiction suggests; I am connected in a way that is beyond the internet, through thoughts , emotions and being.
Gaia is in my heartbeat.
Access: Public
Welcome home Meenakshi!! We did keep the lights on generating continuous power. We thought about you and I am happy you remained safe in the face of some chaos. I found a temple named after you in India that is beautiful. I look forward to seeing some pics of your wonderful adventures.
yes…I too believe these friendships are healthy for us.
addiction
addition
not much difference, but for me gaia is an addition, not an addiction. same as my husband and wonderful “real” world friends that I see or talk with daily. I don't call them addictions, I call them additions.
reading this blog all about your adventures in India added richness to my morning. I can't wait to read more about it.
thank you for sharing your experience.
xo
-d
Meenakshi, so glad to see you again! I think I “saw” you those two times that you logged on during the last month….seriously. And once there was news about something bad which had happened in India (was it a bombing? or stampede? or something where people died) and my first thought was “Oh, I hope Meenakshi is OK.”
When we know people through places like Gaia, the world seems to become a much smaller place. When we hear of tragedies or joys elsewhere, suddenly our thoughts and prayers and feelings go out to the friends we now know in our parts of the world. We can't feel so insular any more. That is one of the greatest Gaia gifts….expanding our worlds.
As for the Gaia addiction/addition….glad to hear that it can be done. But that you still missed us & held us in your heart.
“Gaia is in my heartbeat. ”
As are you within all of our hearts, dear Meenackshi. Each time I heard of an explosion over there, my heart would give a “thud”, and I'd stop and send you light, praying for the felt 'return' I get generally when all is well.
My own journey here seems to have re-awakened, and I look forward to reconnecting with you once you've caught up with things around here and at home.
Blessings and butterfly hugs ~ ~ ~ ^v^ ~ ~ ~
Gem
Welcome back, dear Meenakshi. I am so happy to see you back here again with your love and light. You were missed.
Thank you for sharing your experiences Meenakshi, and welcome back home to Gaia
Today all my blog comments are disappearing so let's hope this stays! Thanks for stopping by friends, and for sending healing and light when you felt they were called for. Kathy/Centria, you're so right; when we have friends from all over the world, we can't feel indifferent to what happens anywhere.
Gem, glad you'll be more present here! I like your addiction/addition clarification, Dawn [synonym for light].
Kathy/~KES, glad you found the Meenakshi temple. I visited it with family about 20 years ago. It is really beautiful and vast.
so delightful, this blog that at first seems to be a description of an ingenious way to cure Gaia addiction and then ends up affirming Gaia more than ever. Big hugs! It's great to have you back.
Hi Meenakshi,
Great blog!!! I love the way you talk about your experiences in Delhi, it's very refreshing. And it's interesting to hear how the terror threat is handled over there. I'll be going to Sri Lanka soon on a work assignment and do wonder how I will cope with the civil war situation…
Nicole, I liked your perspective on the blog; do wonder what I'd do if I couldn't come for online connection for longer than a month! I know we have members who take breaks off 6 months or more when they are in retreat.
Jenny, I have a friend who keeps traveling to Sri Lanka on work; and I think she feels it's fine. I'd say you need to take precautions like traveling with someone who's known to your organization; and follow whatever advice they give you. Thank you for your encouraging words.
I'll add my words of welcome Dear Meenakshi. You were missed…your unique presence is a gift to all of us.
Much, much love,
Helen
Meenakshi…this place was just not the same without you…there was much love and light coming your way and Amber and I even put a “picture of “you” on our collage at the Gaia meetup…a beautiful Indian woman that reminded she and I of you…
Big love and hugs, welcome home dear dear lady!
Aley
it's wonderful to see you again! Thank you for this sharing
I endorse the words above and I feel so happy that a relation of mine has returned back. The word addiction, ido't agree, I feel this Gaia a resting place.
[bowing deeply with folded hands]
Welcome back. :-)
I MISSED YOU SO MUCH !!!!!!!!! SO GLAD YOU ARE BACK SAFE AND SOUND !!!!!!!!
Indeed, “it just wasn't the same without you.”
Appreciated hearing your experiences!!!!
Yeah, I have trained myself in the habit of making eye contact with clerks and others whose jobs make them feel and be treated like robots. I wish them a good day, and do it while looking at them as a real person. They “get” that they are real to me, and it lightens their day. I still forget sometimes, but usually I remember. I have so much empathy for their invisibility to so many they deal with each day….. The jobs are de-humanizing. It's not good for the customers, either, to treat another human being like a robot. It diminishes the life-force for everyone involved.
Yeah, I'm addicted to air, too, tsk tsk. Gaia Community, air, water, food, and a few other things/people that nourish me…….LOL !!!!!!!
Glad you had a break, glad you are back. YIIIPPPPEEEE!!!!!
Namaste, OM
Adding my own welcome back yet once more (did it already in your grapevine)!
I second that Gaia is an addition, not an addiction or I would even come up with another, Gaia is a welcome and rewarding add-on to our lives!
My father in Manila is also not one to go for a computer at home so we have to contend with snail mail and a few phone call every once in a while. Reminds me one is long due. Well, at least Mom and brothers are e-mail accessible.
Great to have you back here more often!
Hugs!
So enjoyable to read about your trip and I too love the subtraction of one letter leaving us with the word addition. Welcome home! It is always good to hear your voice. Warmly, Susan
“I am connected in a way that is beyond the internet, through thoughts , emotions and being.
Gaia is in my heartbeat. ”
Thank you a thousand times - Merci mille fois - Meenakshi for offering your original perspective. I too needed to listen to these wise words. They resonate deeply.
“Gaia is in my heartbeat.”
What a perfect mantra ;-)
Additionally, (pun intended) I enjoyed accompanying you a bit on your colorful travels. Refreshing indeed.
In Loving Light,
Nell ;-)
While I was away, “Add a comment” became “Leave Your Wise and Insightful Comment”. To this, could be added: Add your comment of loving light, because that is what I am reading here!
Reading what you've written, OM, I realize that this time when I was in India, I thought of the maids who work many homes part-time for cleaning. Who knows how they will be welcomed?
Sometimes [rarely] with love and compassion, some times with anger [why are you late, yesterday you didn't…. and so on], and at times, pleasantly.
Yet they go daily, to others' homes, knowing that if something is missing they'll be the first to be blamed, verbally or in our thought; and the thought in my mind, is : “Who knows in which form God makes his appearance?” It surely needs someone with a great inner light to be able to do these jobs.
Greeting them well is as much to our advantage as to theirs.
Mila, I like your addition about Gaia. Whenever I read your words, the whiff of Himalayan air refreshes me.
Susan, thank you. We have much to catch up on, methinks.
Nell, I bow.
Meenakshi welcome home. I like what Dawn said about addictions as additions,life and color,and adventures,and here and now……..I missed you