Feeling better

Now i'm feeling a little bit more alive than last night. so away I go. today I took a walk through the bustling city of Amritstar. Indian cities defy the imagination, but comparitively this one is quite small. Nonetheless, I had to dodge horse drawn carts, motorcycles and cars. Not to mention the swarming foot traffic. I was on a mission to find the bus station once more. I did, and I will be scooting out of this city tomorrow about mid day. Off to McLeod Ganj, the residence of the Dali Lama, sadly he isn't home. His website says that he's off on the other side of the country inagurating something rather. The highlight of my day was once again volunteering at the origional hippie fest. Here, upwards of 80,000 meals are served, which means a massive amount of food has to be made, plus served and all the dishes must be cleaned. The Sikh's, believing in the inclusion of all peoples let you walk right into their most holy place and share a meal with them. The temple has few rules, no smoking within one kilometer, shoes must be removed, and feet must be washed. This is easily facilitated by depressions with running water in them. all one has to do is to walk through it. Heads must be covered as well. As long as these rules are followed all are welcome. It feels like a huge hippy fest. I have taken it upon myself to volunteer as much as possible. I've washed dishes, arranged dirty dishes to be brought to the washing stations, washed the floors and made chapatis (Indian flat bread). It has been a blast, and truly the least I can do since I get to eat and stay for free. This place holds a holyness that I've never felt before. From the moment that the sun rises there is a continuous chant/song that is played from inside the Golden Temple, holy men sing, play the tabla and harmonium in an endless litany that can be heard all around the temple. Speakers in India are synonymous with blown out and scratchy. But here the music is kept as background, so wherever one is it can be heard. I, obviously do not understand, but there are a few TV screens with the translations playing across them. The Sikh's believe that "Service to humanity is service to god." Although not unique, never have I seen this idea shared so unconditionally and so selflessly anywhere before. These turbaned people, who cannot cut their hair, and carry daggers beneath their clothes invite anyone to stay in their dorms, use their clean drinking water and eat their food. No one is trying to push anything religious on anyone, but they are inviting everyone to share this beautiful and unique place with them.
The Temple itself is astounding. Go online and look at a picture if you can. Very soon I will have my own pictures on Flickr, but the Golden Temple is really gold. The temple is in the middle of a lake, which is considered to be "nectar" or holy water, on all sides is a two-laned road sized walkway that converges and leads out to the temple. From dawn to about 10 PM people are lined up to walk into the temple with their offerings, drink the holy water and see the book which is like their bible. Each day the book is carried to and from the temple in an elaborate procession. Sitting by the lakeside I've seen the temple in the changing light from dawn to dusk. The surreal Golden temple seems to change form with the light. And the stream of multicolored people seem to feed the temple and make it even grander than it is. This place is yet another wonder that cannot be described.
Just imagine me, smiling, without anything to say as I roll chapatis, wash the floors and hopefully serve people! Which is what I hope to do tonight. This place has a lesson to teach mankind, it is like Martin Luther King's dream come true on the other side of the world. Where anyone, can come and sit together on the floor, in the grand dining halls and eat food that passed through countless hands just to reach one mouth. I am awed by this beautiful example of what humans are capable of!