Reflections on Kumbha Mela
by Harriet Nettles
My first view of Kumbha Mela was from a high bridge over the Ganges River. As far as the eye could see, there were colorful domed tents, temple structures, people moving about, even elephants walking slowly in the distance. This is the largest spiritual gathering on earth. For thousands of years, devotees have gathered here at the confluence of three sacred rivers, the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mysterious subterranean Saraswati. There is a question playing in my mind: what motivates this incredible outpouring of the human spirit? What drives millions of individuals to make pilgrimage, to come together in this expression of their devotion to the divine?
We live in a world full of miracles and synchronicities that defy rational understanding. Kumbha Mela is the largest gathering on the planet, with over 70 million expected to come to the banks of the Ganges to bathe at the sacred sangam. Patrick McCollum and Harriett Nettles, long time COE facilitators and wisdom keepers, travelled to India in February to participate in the Mela, and somehow, among the millions, ran into Brian Dickson at program called Ganga Action Pariva. Harriett reported that although she had not seen Brian since the “Deepening Our Spirituality” conference held in Nepal some 7 years ago, she has spoken of him often as one of the remarkable young people who have so much spiritual understanding for their years. Brian came to India to visit three sites sacred to Tantric yoga: Kamalya Devi, Tarapith, and Rishikesh, where yogis have come for thousands of years to deepen their sadhana or spiritual practice.
Brian: I have found traditional styles of yoga to be the source of life changing perspectives that can be implemented in our collective work and our individual lives. After the Nepal conference, I came to India on a journey into the heart of our very existence. I began to study the practical philosophy of non-duality, which elucidates the consciousness of oneness and guides us to bring a new vision of ourselves into action in our daily lives. After many months in the steamy jungles of Thailand, I came to see that the issues facing humanity cannot be solved using the political, economic or military means we have attempted. Instead, our issues must be seen as the opportunity to realize that we are living out of congruence with our fundamental nature. When we grasp oneness and understand existence as a unified field of consciousness, it fosters the shift that humanity is ready to undergo.
During the early years of my journey, I sought to create change outside myself through various projects, but I soon came to see that genuine transformation within myself was necessary. I came to see the social issues as the projections of the delusions of my inner psyche and our collective consciousness. The inner work results in a new way of seeing and being in the world, one that emanates out into relationships with family and friends, and the ecology that surrounds us.
It was instrumental to study the contemplative traditions and to examine the belief structure that has allowed for a world of environmental degradation. It was empowering in that if we look at the root cause of our struggles, we can remove the ideas that are the basis of the world run amuck. Looking within to re-engineer my thinking and way of being has changed my life and the world around me.
Patrick: These are fundamental concepts central to the values of COE. They can be found many places, but this core message of spirit into action is key to being the change we wish to see in the world.
Harriett: It is such a joy to see the growth in Brian as he finds his place in the world. He will be teaching meditation at yoga retreats in Mexico and Thailand this year. Wouldn't it be great to meet up there!
