Steppps – Friedenspilgern

On the road again

Nature is just beautiful. Also in Monsoon West Bengal. Monsoon is not that rainy as I thought. Sure it rains, also fields are overflowded, but that’s part of the season cycle in this area. But plants are so happy during this season. So happy. And nature shows its beauty in the rainy season. I anyway love it very much.
For the rain protection I have a rain jacket which I mostly use as a poncho around my upper body and to cover my backpack. Or for the rains, very often or mostly, not longer then 30 minutes, using a shelter.

Finding accommodations is almost impossible during Corona times at a private place. It has to be in the very most cases a hotel. But some cheaper hotels are closed. And at some places all the hotels are closed or not available for foreigners. Very often it needs the help of the police.

What it means:
For example the first day after my ‚rest‘:
After walking the day, travelling back from the countryside, from Ambari, back to Siliguri by electro rickshaw, 10km, take a hotel there, travelling next morning back to Ambari, to continue the walk.
Because of lack of hotels I have to walk next day 31km, to reach the next town.

This happened at the 13.8. (From facebook article) arriving in Maynaguri
Around 15h
I had a wonderful walk today. Today I thought of arriving early in one town to rest early. But…. a lodge could not host me (because foreigner) because of Corona restrictions. Ther rules are different in all places it seems.
All the way, sometimes also with lots of complications, I could stay in Bihar and West Bengal in Hotels and lodges. (I was only once allowed to stay in a private place) Now I am sitting at the police station of Maynaguri waiting for a solution.
My experience says, that takes time.
Police is mostly coming to a solution after the night arrives. ?

Anyway. Hugs to you all.
Thomas

17.20 pm
Still at the police station. But help on the way. Mainak, a young men with the lodge, which refused me, because no allowance from the police, came with a journalist to help me, to convince the police. Now he looks with another friend, RoHan for Bananas and water at the market. Already 17.40pm now

18.47pm Already 15 min at the local hospital to get a temperature checkup. Maybe a certificate about my temperature. (This has every hotel done everywhere else. Took some seconds)

19.11 pm temperature check (India has not enough test kids. Only if people have heavy symptoms, then they make a real test)
19.30 got the medical report. Back with RoHan and Mainak to the police station to see the police officer.
(Even the medical report says that I don’t have temperature, it says, I should stay 15 days in quarantine if I stay in town….. but I am allowed tomorrow to go to the next city…. ?!?

19.43
I just saw that my new telephone has a crack in the glass. I don’t know from what. It did not fell down at all. (The whole Corona situation is so tense, that it even manifest in my belongings)

20h
Police approval we got
20.12 In the room – ‚hotel check in‘ needs to be done later…. finally. Thanks to my helpers.

……
After all of this Mainak comes at 9.30pm to my room and now he has a problem. He actually ask me, if I could leave at 4am, the next morning or the day after. After some search, I found out, he has a problem with his neighbor’s. They are jealous because of his ability to manifest such a beautiful lodge and they like to make trouble to him. And in Corona times they could be worried that he is hosting a foreigner (carrier and bringer of Corona to the country…..the media must have spread some misinformation)

So this has variations every day. The police is always helpful. Sometimes I just can book a hotel without police. Here and there the hotel is for free because…. the police rented the whole hotel for quarantine or the place government owned at all…..

And there is another difficulty by searching on goole map. Often it says, somewhere is a over-night-stay hotel, but in fact arriving there, ….. nothing…
The reason: Since Uttar Pradesh all the restaurants or Dhaba’s are called also ‚hotel‘. Coming more and more towards east, every restaurant is also a ‚hotel‘. And they registered them self as ‚hotel‘. But Google maps shows both as a over-night-stay hotel…..

Glyphosate

I come along a poster of the Green Party in Germany, because the poster is criticised in the press because of it’s wrong information. It says: Have still big potatoes also without Glyphosate. Actually Glyphosate is forbidden in Germany for growing potatoes, because, as the information says: Glyphosate would kill the potatoes. The poison is taken by the plant through the leaves and gets transmitted to all parts of the plant incl. the seeds and roots. In fact it would kill the potato.

Glyphosate is used mainly for all kinds of grains.

What does the article further say?:

Was ist eigentlich Glyphosat?
Die Chemikalie ist das am häufigsten eingesetzte Pflanzengift der Welt. Das Herbizid tötet jede Pflanze, die nicht gentechnisch gegen das Gift resistent gemacht wurde. Die pflanzenvernichtenden Eigenschaften von Glyphosat wurden in den 1970er-Jahren von der US-Firma Monsanto patentiert, die der deutsche Chemiekonzern Bayer im Juni 2018 komplett übernommen hat.

Das Pflanzengift kam unter dem Namen „Roundup“ auf den Markt und wurde zum Verkaufsschlager.

Translation:
„What is actually Glyphosate?
This chemical is the most used plant poison of the world. This herbicide kills every plant which is not genetically made resistant against this poison. The plant destroying characteristics of Glyphosate got 1970 patented by the US company Monsanto. The German chemical company Bayer bought in June 2018 the whole company.
The plant poison came with the name ‚roundup‘ on the market and became a best seller.“

And this we have to eat every day. Because humans don’t care about there health. They don’t eat organic. They don’t take care of other plants and flowers which are so important for bees and all insects. They don’t take care of our environment, soil and water.
We wonder about getting cancer, but we don’t see the connection to our food.
We don’t care about our planet, because we poison the soil and water.
Every bad action which is not according to universal orders is also punishing us.

I get really angry against this rude company, the politics, the farmers and the consumers.
Why is it possible, that this poison is used…. why….? How ignorant can the human race be?…. How much longer….?

Please, start eating organic and support the farmers in your country, who have a holistic view….
Yes it cost some more money for the food, but less for medication, operations, treatments…. All together it is for sure cheaper…. and it gives a much better feeling in your body, because you are in line with the health of yourself and the planet and you are in line with supporting life also on a animal/insect level….
Happiness comes also from this.

Siliguru

A break is not really a break when it’s not celebrated as a break.
All together I stay 10 days outside (northwest) of Siliguri in Matigara. First I thought I just stay two days. But than I extend day by day, because I feel exhausted still, because I am mentally and bodily weak. Because… it’s not the right time to continue… because it’s raining….
I pay day by day knowing that I might continue walking the next day or the day after…. Keeping the energy up for the walk instead of really having a break. The Darjeeling mountains are close, sometimes to see…. but I don’t go there.
I get a new telephone, because my old one is out of several reasons not really to use anymore. And also I went to a dentist to fill up a big hole, but after I am not to satisfied with it… it’s good for a while….

All together I am finally fit to enter the road again on the 10th of August.

Wow.

It’s completed.
‚The Big Hug‘ is completed.
I wish all the people in this area all the very best.

Now I am at a special place, close to Siliguri in Matigara, where the rain yesterday pushed me into a small kind hotel.
This is a narrow area, which connects main India with Northeast India. To the west there is Nepal. In the north (and here) the famous district Darjeeling, and the state Sikkim. North and east of Sikkim China. In the south Bangladesh and northeast from here is Buthan.
Because of the high Himalayas there are only a very few of connection roads to China. This is the only big one from India to China through the capital of Sikkim, Gangtok towards Lhasa/Tibet (only about 650 to 700 km from here). There is another big road, but through Nepal/Kathmandu.
Oh, it would be so wonderful to walk to Lhasa or even earlier to Mount Kailash, more west in Tibet. But it would be an expensive journey, because the Chinese government only allows foreigners with guide into Tibet…
Long time ago I gave up this dream…..
Now I even don’t go to Sikkim. No ways around here and there anymore (maybe later, after the official end of the peace walk).  I really really want to end this peace walk and my commitment to it latest in or around April 2021 in Yangoon/Myanmar.

The last 70 km the scenery changed a lot. From very flat plains to this area with very little hills. From lots of rice fields to pineapple farms and finally tea culture, Darjeelings tea plantations. Also inhabitants look different. Even some groups with Mongolian  inheritance I encountered.
People are here also careful to meet a white man (because of Corona/and in lockdown) but this is less fearful and with more smiles than the Biharies. Yeah, the fear in the Bihar people is really strong, and not only because of Corona. The gestures of the people outside of Bihar are also not so aggressive anymore.
I am happy to report, that I had many encounters with women on the street in West Bengal. In Bihar it’s so rare. Here women have more self esteem and confidence. Talking with Alok about this, he tells me, that pevious governments in West Bengal had several programs to strengthen women in there state. Congratulations. I also walk whereever for equal rights between men/women/others….

Even though I know that I continue east/eastsoutheast towards the border of Myanmar (1000-1200km) I have not decided which exactly route I take. There are several options. Also, I am not sure if I can walk the smaller roads again, after encountering such fearful reactions in Bihar. It is such intense to deal with the reaction of the people. Even though I managed all the situations good in the moment, I felt the tension later, when coming out of the situation (or some days later)

Oh people of Bihar – I wish you from the bottom of my heart to take your fate and challenge yourself for a more relaxed way of being. That you can forgive your ancestors and what you inherited from them, and that you rise up in the paradise surroundings of your beautiful nature to unite in abundance with the universe. I met so many nice people in Bihar. Thanks. I love Bihar.

Shanti, Shanti, Shanti
Amen

Thomas

‚The Big Hug‘ nearly completed

For every one who forgot.
Since November 2019 I am walking ‚ The Big Hug‘
The big hug shall hug all the important places of Buddha’s and the whole areas around with all the people in it.
It’s from Lumbini (Birth place) to Kushinagar (where he left his body) to Sarnath/Varanasi (First teachings), to Bodhgaya (enlightenment), to Rajgir (Meditation caves and teachings) and it will end in Siriguli (just 70 km to go)

May all people be blessed in this area.
Love and peace
Thomas

Puh

Again 31km to the next Hotel, this time in Islampur. Also again the procidere: first to the police. The officer was very busy outside, so, after 11 hours since 6am on the road,  2 hours at the police station, another 1 hour help from police walking through Islampur, to find a hotel, which is willing to host a foreigner (foreigners are blamed in India to bring the virus).
Finally, we find a place, also cheap, a musty room. After the guys from the Police where gone, I find the bathroom was unusable, so a 40 minute clean up for the (only) most needed ….. puh

A friend of mine in whatsapp…. I just tell her, in the moment everything is most exhausting – and I have to be very careful about my body and mental health.
As a reflection I can look at my phone. It suffered so much the last 5 weeks. I dropped It a few times, glas broke,  a black screen followed. The screen was replaced then by another, but fake one. Now the screen has a totally blue light. I can’t see, if photos are good or not. The screen is super sensitive. Because of this,  functions do not work properly.
The cables are both half broken.
The power bank stopped working at all…..
This is just an example…
I have to be very careful with myself.

Last days in Bihar.

In Dagarua I speculated to get some help from the Police. The police was present, but the station is closed, because they have Corona cases inside. So no help from the Police here. I drive with a tuktuk some 8km back to the next hotel.

Also in Kishanganj, 2 days later, complete lockdown. Hotels are closed. So, again to the police. They help me with a phone call and extra permission.
Ways are long these days. And it’s not comfortable to walk always more, than is comfortable with me. But because of the Corona circumstances I can only walk from Hotel to Hotel.

Bihar ends for me in Kishanganj.
Even Bihar is called the unlawful state in India, and I had some experiences like this, I found a lot of good people. And this good people need the support, to make Bihar what it deserves to be. So there is some sadness, to leave Bihar….. it just touched somehow my heart, and the nature is so beautiful.

Some articles earlier I wrote about punishment, and if it is possible that Bihar as a collective could be punished. I don’t mean any God who is punishing, but the fact, not living according to universal laws makes the punishment itself.
And here is another thought.
Gautama Buddha, after his enlightenment taught the pure universal laws in Bihar. (Bihar comes from Vihar and that means monestary) All the universal wisdom was taught here. 250 years after, Ashoka, a first very cruel emporer, became Dhamma Ashoka and spread the knowledge through India and further.
Another 250 later – the Dhamma got destroyed by a lover of Hindu culture. Lots of monks and Dhamma teachers where murdered. I don’t know, if the destruction started maybe in Bihar, but of course there were a lot of teachers and monasteries here….  If unlawful (universal law) act like this and destroyed the teachings of one of the best teachers in the world, how can it not effect the society? If unlawful practice is still a part of life now, how can we be surprised, that paradise is not enfolding in Bihar recently.
The knowledge of Dhamma is back, also in Bihar.
May people come and practise universal laws and create a place of universal peace and love – here in Bihar.

Fotos you can find on instagram  schmockelthomasheinrich

Every time I have to ask for another Visa, as these days, it’s for me a emotionally rollercoaster. It’s just so awfull. My upper stomach, my chest and my physical heart are in such a stress. A (somehow) trauma. I act not rational anymore. And because of all my inner alarm, so many difficulties arise outside. So many complications arise.

My only chance is to just observe and being patient. Actually I solved this time the outside problems by myself and I could online submit the application and all the documents. That’s really good. But the rest of this rollercaster feelings are still there. Somehow wonderful, so I can continue to observe.

It feels, I had badly lied to someone and now I have to tell the truth, with such a bad conscience – but I did not lie…..  It feels like a heavy burden, I have to carry….  It feels totally overwheming, and I don’t know why…. It feels like such a pressure in my chest, upper belly and heart….

…. and the only way to desolve this thing, is by just observing with a balanced mind, equanimous mind. Putting my wishes aside, that it should desolve, because while wishing it does not, I even generate more… so I meditate, scanning and observing the field, knowing that all is arising and passing. Nothing stays forever….

There is also a part of me, that is happy to feel all this. Happy that it is on the surface. So I can feel it, observe it, accompany this structure on there way to rise even more up and resolve then…. or to take any other way.

It is (almost?) a prove, that this is not from this life.

__________

Tomorrow I continue walking. In this area and the upcoming West Bengal area there are anywhere lockdowns. But I am allowed to walk. Public transport, busses are not driving anymore, very most shops are closed. Tomorrow there will be no hotel available… there is only one police station on the way after 17km (still in Bihar). My plan is, to drop in there for help, maybe I can sleep there. The day after I will reach West Bengal. But not all the usual hotels have open these days…. so I will be surprised which help I get after 27km walk. And day no 3, also 27km, I will reach Kichanganj, last time again back in the state of Bihar, there I do not expect any difficulties. But all together a bit challenging again.

New cases of Crovid-19 are up to 40.000! today in India. Now its becoming a really lot. And not all people wearing a mask…….

Step by step

With Love

Thomas

Wisdom (Vipassana 3)

(These articles belong to each other: ‚Bihar‘ ‚Concentration‘ (Scroll down) and this ‚Wisdom‘)

Everything becomes Wisdom when it is experienced.

With the step of Concentration (no thoughts about past and future, no craving and no aversion) you reach equanimity. A balanced mind.
With this balanced mind you are ready to step down into the so called unconscious mind, which is actually a storage consciousness. Here is everything stored what you have accumulated. Positive and negative things. Cravings and aversions. And this subconscious mind is full of it.
Any time you react on a negative or positive sensation, you crave or don’t want to have it, every time you accumulate more of it.

‚I want more of that loving feeling, I crave for it‘ you accumulate more of that ‚craving‘ feeling. Your storage of craving get enlarged. Does not mean, that you get more of that loving feeling. It means, you get more of that craving. Suffering starts or continues.
Or
‚I don’t want this feeling of fear, I reject it‘ You accumulate more of that aversion feeling. Your storage of aversion get enlarged. Does not mean, that the feeling of fear gets deminishes. It means, you enlarge the storage of aversion. Suffering starts or gets bigger.

Now is the time to come to clean up all the storage of our ‚house‘. And this can be done with the balanced mind, with the equanimous mind.
You have only to observe.
With the balanced mind you don’t accumulate more storage.
And with pure observation you can now experience the storage area.
With pure observation the storage gets cleaned up.

You go to the sensations of your body. There are positive a negative feelings/sensations. The positive feelings belong to your cravings, the negative feelings belong to your aversions.
Often when you get to your sensations, you can not label which positive or negative feeling is ment. And it’s not important.
You work what comes up first.
And you just observe without reacting.
You just do nothing but just observe the sensations.
Slowly, slowly, aversion and craving gets deminished – but that’s a long process. So you also have to be patient.
With a balanced mind you observe, with a balanced mind you are in meditation.

That you get not stuck in one area of your body with maybe intense sensation, you start scanning the whole body from top to bottom. Whereever there is a intense sensation, you realize the area, but you continue with your scanning observation throughout the body. Try to feel not only the intense sensations but also the suttle once.

The whole technique works only or best by continuesly practicing. Layer by layer is worked through. Defilement by defilement gets eradicated.

Wisdom will arise by direct experience.

And here is one more important information. And you can also meditate on that.

Wisdom also means, to know, that everything arises and passes away (soon or later). Nothing is permanent. All is impermanent.
This you can experience by observing with an equanimous mind.

Enjoy
With Love
Thomas

Vipassana meditation can be learned in any Vipassana center around the world with free of costs, not for tuition, lodging or food. (you can donate, if you want afterwards, but nobody is asking you for doing so). The basic course is a 10 day course in silence where you get all the informations. Meditation is practised all day long.
www.dhamma.org