Discerning Truth from Illusion: Lessons Learned in Spiritual Spaces

Enlightenment and spirituality can be cultivated in any place in the world, whether it's Germany, India, or the Caribbean, whether in a luxury hotel or in a prison. But why is it said that some spaces are more conducive to spirituality than others? Is it due to the connection that the space has with nature, or the subtle energy released by its inhabitants? Why is it that when going for a Vipassana retreat, we must abstain from luxurious beds and elaborate meals?

The mystic, the wise, and the guru are often associated with the image of the hermit and its austerity. In astrology, this would be represented by the planet Saturn. Saturn does not seem to smile.

Yet, we can cultivate ourselves anywhere in the world; however, I also experienced how the energy of Sierra Nevada in Colombia helped me heal and evolve on a personal level. Or how the energy inside the most overrated Berlin club could lead me into a state of anxiety and aggression.

With time, I became more aware of the importance of spaces and their energy load, and I went on a "diet" from people, spaces, and situations that were not truly bringing me to where I wanted to be at this point in my life. Avoiding alcohol and cigarettes, abstaining from nightclubs and bars while living in the vibrant heart of Berlin. Taking my search further, I decided to go to India and spend some time at an Ashram in Rishikesh. Ashrams are spaces devoted to practice and meditation, starting before sunrise and finishing around sunset. Three meals a day are offered along with a private room, and lights go off at 10 PM.

Rishikesh, the place where Yoga itself was born. I was warned about how mindful I needed to be about my thoughts while being in this holy landscape, as the power of manifestation and attraction intensifies there. But my intention was clear; to delve deeper into meditation and yoga and immerse myself in bliss.

Therefore, it is easy to imagine how disappointed I was in myself when the Ashram where I was supposed to spend my days gave me chills. It didn't matter how I wanted to portray it, how much I told myself to remain humble; the feeling was suffocating. Somehow, the lights, smells, and sensations of the place brought me an imagery of memories I had not experienced in this lifetime. I felt bad, feeling uncomfortable in a place for meditation, where you could tell there was nothing else but love for the divine being cultivated. But no matter how much I tried to force myself to stay, I ended up sleeping elsewhere in different hostels of Tapovan.

Still, Rishikesh had a lot to teach me. I encountered the teachers I needed to encounter. From wonderful yoga and embodiment teachers to fake gurus. Nothing that happens in India is by chance. No encounter is casual. India has shown me, one more time, how important it is to be able to differentiate when the intentions are pure and when they are not. To differentiate intuition from prejudices, and scam from truth. Like in any other place in the world, I encountered people who seemed to be completely lost and people whose light would light up a fire. Spaces where the energy would make me drop tears of bliss, and spaces where I felt like I needed to rush myself out quickly.

In my first days in Rishikesh, I encountered personalities that really made me wonder how and why, even abroad and afar, I could connect with those who would rub salt in the same old wound. It helped me understand that it is not about how many Vipassana retreats one attends, nor how many minutes one meditates in the morning; this won't guarantee awareness or good intentions from the person in front of you. Even a sophisticated teacher who is making you repeat their chants might be abusing your time and energy.

On my last night in Rishikesh, I was slightly tired and with a lot to process, and the only thing I wanted was a damn cold beer. I went to a bar drinking and even smoked a few cigarettes for the first time. I was with a person who was not at all related to the yoga scene and had zero interest in it. They did not mind the smoking nor the drinking. On my last day in Rishikesh, they accompanied me to the Ashram for my check out and smiled at each of the statues that were terrifying me. That smile somehow lifted the energy of my heart and filled it with gratitude towards every moment, feeling, memory, experience, towards every person, child, animal, or plant I encountered on the way and those whom I haven't yet encountered. The place was not that scary after all.

We smoked yet another cigarette before we said goodbye, and I got on my plane to Goa, where I am ready to quit smoking one more time, keeping it real, keeping it balanced.

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