hey dude,

we're in india as you know. This is a picture by our good friends Paul and Rachelle Gold from Toronto. They are here staying with us for a few days while they get their flat cleaned. It literally takes three days to the dust out. While the flat itself has only been empty for two weeks. They are students of Noah and Kimberly certified teachers from LA. They are here now and we've been spending a lot of time together. They are as we say "hardcore"

Everything orthodox about our community they follow to the T. Don't teach untill you're blessed by Guruji, Don't have assistent's untill they are blessed. Do the practice exactly as Guruji prescribes and never take a day off unless Guruji says. No advertising. Noah himself is a big star in ashtanga. He's the youngest person ever certified at 24 years. Which means he finished third in Mysore. He made his first trip at 20. He had already finished third with Tim Miller in LA. Tim Miller is the first person to be certified by Guruji. Which is amazing because he had three vertabrae fused in his back.

We do a chanting class every day with a woman named Jayashree and her cousin brother Narasimha. This is a class Gladys and Axl value very highly. Last week Jayashree and her daughter Lakshmi went to Chennai to buy saris for her wedding. Kimberly taught the class for us in her place. Which was wonderful because Kimberly is so precise with her pronuciation. And Narasimha stayed as well. He gives a discussion on the yoga sutras which is very special because he actually has experienced the expanding of consciousness that is described by Patanjali.

Kimberly told us a story yesterday about a family of kittens Jayashree was trying to find to show them. The kittens were in Narasimha's meditation room. Jayashree barged in throwing chairs around moving furniture to get to the kittens. And she said "Noah, Kimberly come here and see the kittens!" They walked in. In the corner Narasimha was sitting eyes closed mouth open. He was completely absorbed. Jayashree banging around didn't in the slightest disturb him. "Jayashree is it OK we're here?!?" Jayashree looked up and and opened her mouth eyes wide. "Oh! Don't worry about him. He is not here."

Well we have to go. Paul and Rachelle and Sally and I are going to the Green Hotel to eat breakfast. Its a nice place. It hires untouchables to work. One of the only places that does. It has a lovely organic restaurant. We'll speak soon.

love,

russell