Arizona Part One

Here is the first part of our two part Arizona story. It begins with the story of Paramacharya's work at Canyon Ranch, a wellness center in Tucson. A future Hinduism Today article will bloom out of the current data collection.

"Last night we met with the amazing group of counselors who work with clients at Canyon Ranch in a spiritual way. They are an eclectic group of men and women, among them doctors, PhDs in philosophy and psychology, highly certified yoga and tai chi instructors, healers, body movement experts, mantra initiates and more. The all came to the beautiful little sanctuary to sit with the monks from Hawaii and discuss the interesting topic of SNBR, Spiritual But Not Religious. It was a conversation, not a lecture or even a talk. As we say in Hawaii, it was Talk Story.
 
Paramacharya started it out with a short introduction about SNBR and said he was there with them to learn more about the spiritual trends they have discovered in their work each day with those seeking "spiritual wellness."
 
Within a few minutes they were sharing with each other their encounters, their insights into what works and what does not. It was clear that their clients have turned their backs on organized, doctrinal religion, but were seeking Something, often an undefined something in their lives. Many clients have been successful in material life, but still feel empty, feel depressed, unfulfilled inside. They try the tai chi classes, the nutrition classes, the yoga classes, and especially the mindfulness classes. Once in a while a client has an AhHa moment, life changes and new meaning and spirit floods in.
 
Several stayed after the gathering to talk more, ask questions. They seemed to have learned unexpectedly what each other is doing. It was a topic they do not explore among themselves normally, and thus the evening was a rich discovery, plus Paramacharya left with new insights into the growing SBNR movement in America."

Swami and Natyam are about to take off on a little plane from the Denver connecting flight and go to Tucson, Arizona.

This is Natyam\

s first time on a little plane'

\"Up up and away\" as Swami says

These little planes have much more turbulence than larger, heavier planes

John, our driver from Canyon Ranch, comes to greet us at the airport and bring us into the ranch.

Swami talks to John about Hawaii and what is happening on our trip

John introduced us to many things along the way. Here is an airplane museum. Hundreds of planes sit and soak up the sun, waiting for the next tour.

Across the street we see an active military plane yard where, according to John, thousands of fighter planes, cargo and medical units, sit and wait for their next campaign.

Here is the Arizona landscape from our car window. The desert is peaceful and dry.

We arrive at our hotel

One of the Kauai pigs followed us! These creatures come around every now and then.

This is a white bushy plant outside our room. I had never seen something like it before.

The morning meditations were grand in this desert dryland. The sunrises every morning were filled with pinks, purples and blues.

A wild flower on one of our hikes

Here is swami and Jim Levin, our host, discussing how deep to go into this hike. Jim is a wonderful supporter of the monastery and tries to help in many different areas.

and we\

re off'

The trail was simple but the plants and surrounding was full of complex cacti and many foreign things to these Hawaii monks

Here is Jim\

s wife, Natalie Levin. She is an experienced hiker and helps explain what is ok to touch and what is not!'

Even though we could go closer, most of the time we stuck to the path

The shoots on this cacti can take around 75 years to come out

Here we are at the spiritual center or meditation hall at Canyon Ranch, where swami will have a conversation with all the medical\/mind\/body professionals.

Swami is giving many gifts on this trip. Here is a rudraksha offering.

The group sits in a circle and discusses deep topics

Part two with Chellappa and banudevi coming up, stay tuned

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