{"id":3360,"date":"2014-02-08T04:58:28","date_gmt":"2014-02-08T04:58:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/patrickmccollum.org\/?p=3360"},"modified":"2017-07-20T05:00:07","modified_gmt":"2017-07-20T05:00:07","slug":"february-4-2014-palakaad-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/patrickmccollum.org\/2014\/02\/08\/february-4-2014-palakaad-india\/","title":{"rendered":"February 4, 2014 Palakaad India"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mahayaga
\nBlessings Everyone.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We have arrived in Palakaad safely after a typical Indian road journey. This means we have successfully navigated through all of the challenges of passing trucks on narrow highways around blind curves, playing chicken with ongoing traffic, avoiding livestock on the road, and constant horn honking.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately while we all made it to Pakalaad alive and intact, Katrina, our key coordinator, has succumbed to food poisoning or bad water from the journey and is now down and out for a bit. We have started her on Cipro, the catch-all favorite medication for this situation and we hope to have her on board by tomorrow.<\/p>\n

We arrived at the our destination, the Indraprastha Hotel around 7.00 PM Indian time and after unpacking, we headed directly to the Mahayaga site to get the layout and meet some of the organizers and other dignitaries. I feel blessed to be graced with such a lovely room and it is clear that our hosts have gone to great lengths to make us both welcome and safe. Several other of the key speakers and the primary organizers are staying in the same hotel, and they have arraigned a minibus to transport us. As we travel from the hotel to the site, posters and billboards everywhere illuminate the prestigious gathering and both myself and my team are awed and honored to play such a significant part.<\/p>\n

As we arrive, the main ritual site reveals itself to us and it is quite large, with a decorated gated entrance in front surrounded by huge fields. The central area where the ritual itself will actually take place, contains multiple gigantic tents and canopies along with multi-railed walkways designed to handle large numbers of people, and far in the distance There is also a large tented dining area for foreign guests, that probably holds a thousand people at a sitting. Further along is a well appointed VIP dining area where myself and my team and a dozen or so other presenters will be served.<\/p>\n

After walking through long pathways decorated with flowers and new shrubbery we arrived at the VIP dining area. We ate some wonderful Indian food that was specially prepared for us, and had a chance to meet two of the events main liaisons and several revered guests. Our conversations were many and translators were present. Harriett showed up wonderfully, easily slipping into French which seemed to be the common language of the whole.<\/p>\n

All in all, it was a successful day and evening and we are looking forward to tomorrow when we will return to meet Satya, the Frenchman and devotee if Sri Tathata who has served as our primary host these past months during the organizing and logistics for this journey.<\/p>\n

In closing, I’d like to share, that we have met a number of interesting people along the way and have shared our stories and the purpose of our work throughout our trip here. I believe it is fundamental to connect with each and every human being we encounter and to express the need and urgency for peace and acceptance for all. We strive to promote diversity in every conversation we initiate, from the casual traveler met, to the children on the streets. We express the sacredness of each human being as a piece of the larger puzzle, and share the importance for each of us as responsible members of the global family to look within and find the piece that we have to offer that can change the world. For it is only when we see the sacredness within ourselves and we step forward with that talent and offer it to peace and brotherhood, that true planetary sustainability is possible.<\/p>\n

I sign off now as it is getting late and tomorrow holds so many possibilities.<\/p>\n

Peace & Blessings
\nPatrick McCollum<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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