Another world?

03/14/2025: Day 7 at Sedona Mago, and I never thought I could fall in love with the desert. The rich red soil, mostly fine gravel, in some places red clay when soaking wet, with an abundance of rock laying around in good measure. Despite the temperatures being in the low double digits Centigrade. 

Super glad I stayed the two extra nights, after the Level 5 with my Master and 52 other SFQ friends. It’s these two days, exploring the terrain on my own, that the Energy embraced me. Away from the classroom, and an unstructured schedule. I sat at the waterfalls, praying and reflecting. Grateful, forging a connection, respectful of the land. Climbing the 120 steps, at each we can reflect or life in that year. On the first step, I stop long, and reflect on what Mummy would have felt to realize she is alone and with child. I thank my maternal grandparents for taking her in, for the giving me the good and luxurious lifestyle in my formative years. Till he came back for us. 

The fabulous food at Sedona Mago- three healthful, nourishing meals. The unspoken camaraderie of everyone there, whatever they were doing, and the fabulous staff, in the office and the kitchens. Sedona Mago has their own programs, besides hosting retreats such as ours. 

Walking the labyrinth which was just outside our classroom. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, some with their snow covered sides, it felt we were nestled away from the prying eyes of the world beyond. Like another human could not peek over the mountains to look inside this nest where we were at complete peace with our souls. Just the nearness of Master Lin, as if no time had passed since my last meeting with him. 

The Master never leaves our heart. His Energy colors my core, the only steadying crutch, I must remember to seek its succor more frequently. I wish I had asked him to sign my course notes handbook. I had thought about it, but then felt a reticence and dismissed the idea as soon as it came. How precious are those moments when his wisdom embraces with the comforting that comes only from a place of one’s surrendering to the belief in our Master’s teachings. 

While the Jainism prayers and its principles permeate in me as my doctrine of choice, as the JVBs provide Samanijis to reach out to, to guide and support. Their human interaction offers a huge support. Master Lin’s teaching offer strength and optimism that keeps one going. Thoughts of his contributions to my life are always only a blink away. I think about him, and I’m comforted. Both Jainism and qigong are as much a part of me, as the Sikh prayers I heard in my childhood, and had forgotten, letting them get buried in the dusty dredges of my wounded Spirit. The Mool Mantra has once again become a presence in my life. I was so angry with myself, I stopped praying. Attending this workshop with Master Lin, my second Level 5 with him, was the best thing to happen to me and promises to make this a better year than the last. 

The Master never leaves us. I had been putting off signing up for the class, waiting for a ‘sign’ to make the decision for me. Finally on Tuesday I opened the registration link but still no action. The course started on Saturday, and then there were flights to book and local transportation to arrange. 

I had earlier started organizing my dozens of notebooks, scribbled with journal entries, poems, and stories. I went back to the table, and opened a notebook, flipping through the first few pages. A Journal entry, dated the last decade, “I woke up dreaming about Master Lin. He was asking me if I had registered to come, and I said no, I haven’t. Go and do it immediately said Master Lin..” I shut the notebook, noticing the green cover. For once I listened to my small voice, and rushed to reserve my place in the class.  

The flights were only $800 or so when I been looking. Now with three days left, both points and dollar tickets were substantially up. To arrive on time, I had to take the 8:00 am flight, with just an hour in Atlanta to connect to Phoenix. Then it was another 2.5 hours by coach to Sedona Mago. 

After seven days at Mago, we moved out to spend two nights at a hotel in Cottonwood, a small town about 25 minutes from the prohibitively expense Sedona. So one could actually see the town and experience the famous Vortexes of Sedona. 

Snow was still on the ground the next morning, after having snowed overnight. From the window of the hotel room, I could see the roofs of cars covered in white. It was an easy drive to Sedona. It’s a magical downtown, more magical, like an Alpine village with the snow now thick on the red hills that ensconced the valley. 

Our first stop was the Airport Mesa. Truly spectacular views. Again, the feeling of magic, of being connected to the earth. Once again, I walk with awareness and tell the earth to allow myself to be grounded, ground me. To connect with it. The sky spreads out wide. I realize I haven’t seen any sunrise or sunset. Then on to The Chapel of the Holy cross. There is a grottos outside so it’s a Catholic church. 

Last stop is the Bell Rock trail, but it’s become hot and I’m hungry. In search of a place to eat, we stumble upon the Oaks Village Saturday markets. I buy more rock jewelry and lavender perfume and lavender and Sandalwood body butter from the Sedona Lavenders lady. The perfume has notes of lavender, vanilla (not my favorite, but works here admirably) and either frankincense or sandalwood? It’s smells clean and fresh. 

The Tara Thai restaurant is closed. We decide to go back to Babu’s tikka masala place where we had eaten the night before. The food is fabulous, run by a Pakistani family from Lahore. I tell them about my Lahore connection, and give them the address on Nisbat Road. 

The palak paneer is delicious- best for I’ve had in a while. Next morning we fly back. We get off okay, but Atlanta is a mess with weather delays and Delta is doing the best the can. Our flight is delayed, cancelled, delayed till next working. Luckily Delta Million miler status speaks volumes and we are rebooked on an earlier flight and get home by midnight. . 

It’s been almost a week since I’m back, so my words don’t do justice to Sedona. However, I notice, that it’s far better than Glastonbury, where we were last Christmas. 

Thank you Universe, for the gift of my Samanijis, Masters, teachers and like minded souls who I had the honor to befriend. The world has so much beauty, so much joy- all free. We can partake of this manna with all the senses the creator has provided to relish His or actually Her,  Creation. Mother Earth. Heaven is here, it is, it is. 

Veenu Banga

1:19 am

03/22/2025. 

PS. Realize it’s almost time to go again, another part of Heaven calls. Where blackberries grow unabashedly in the wild, and flowers adorn gardens which abound everywhere.