"Wanting to reform the world without discovering one's true self is like trying to cover the world with leather to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is much simpler to wear shoes." - Ramana Maharshi

On New Year's day I arose at dawn to circumambulate the sacred Arunachala Mountain in South India. The ashes of my mentor, the late Professor Ramchandra Gandhi (a well known Indian philosopher and the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi) are scattered on the mountain and I made a pledge that as long as I was living in India I would visit the mountain every year to honor his memory and express my gratitude to him.

Professor Gandhi gave me my favorite mantra: "Your breath is your best friend." He was a disciple of the Indian sage, Ramana Maharshi. Ramana Maharshi lived on the Arunachala mountain for many years. The French Monk, Le Saux, who visited the mountain many times said, "If Ramana was indeed great, how much more so must be this Arunachala which drew Ramana to himself." According to Hindu mythology Lord Siva revealed himself as a column of light on the mountain and on Arunachala there are two caves where Ramana Maharshi lived. Meditating in these caves stills me like no other place in the world! 

This was my fourth trip to Arunachala. It was a very special trip because my parents and elder brother came along for the first time and my brother circumambulated Arunachala with me. As we walked in silence for the 14 kilometer stretch, coordinating our breath with our steps I felt deep peace and tremendous love for my whole family. My ancestors are from Tamil Nadu where Ramana Maharshi's ancestors hail from and the ashram grounds surrounding the mountain open my heart like no other place in India. 

My dear friend, JNU Professor, Susan Viswanathan writes, "How does one submit to the tranquility of non-thought? Devotees are already aware of the peace generated by the hill, so their sense of turmoil is already hushed. Then there is the visible sight of the meditational practice of others which is calming in itself, and the desire to share in that silence and peace by remaining quiet one self. Maharshi Ramana believed in the circumambulation of the hill, and clearly often wished to go on his own, but was always thronged and surrounded by devotees. But he was quick to point out that circumambulation calmed the mind--walk around the hill and all thoughts would cease." (The Children of Nature - The Life and Legacy of Ramana Maharshi p. 119)