8 April 2025
Before the streets of Rishikesh were fully awake, I was up and dressed. I had been looking forward to today. Three years ago, I stayed here for about 25 days, met the most amazing teachers, and made lifelong friends. Life has taken all of us on incredible journeys during this time, and I couldn’t wait to hear how things had changed for two of the teachers I was meeting today.
The usual arguing about tuk-tuk prices amused me this morning. If you stay in India long enough, certain things that were once overwhelming don’t even earn a second thought anymore. Trying to squish seven or eight people into one small tuk-tuk didn’t sit well with Indians or foreigners alike, and I patiently looked on at the frustrated yelling back and forth until we were finally divided into two tuk-tuks. Off we went.
It was only a very short ride to Ram Jhula, where I would meet Sailesh, but sometimes even one kilometre can feel like a hike to a different dimension—and I wasn’t in the mood to spend that much energy on a short walk.
I paid the 20 rupees and crossed the already-busy street. This area around the bridge always seems to be completely chaotic, and I have never once seen it not bustling—with taxis, people, cows, scooties, jeeps carrying rafts, and tourists eager to get to the other side of the river.
I looked up and recognised a smiling face. Sailesh, dressed in the same light blue kurta suit as my dress, greeted me with a huge grin. I always find it interesting—although by now it’s nothing new—to meet and connect with certain souls who you intuitively know you’ve known before. Soul connections that were formed a long, long time ago, in different lives or dimensions.
Happily chatting away, we entered the ashram gates—we both wanted to visit Yog Niketan Trust and take a trip down memory lane. This ashram had been home to Sailesh for over five years, and he felt more nostalgic than I did. As we walked up the stairs, we had to giggle! One of the walls outside the kitchen area was freshly painted—beautiful in light blue, perfectly matching our outfits! Perfect synchronicity—a moment in time destined to happen long before our human minds made this appointment.
We greeted familiar faces, staff at the ashram quietly going about their daily duties. Not much had changed, but the fresh paint made an already beautiful ashram sparkle. There is a special energy here. Hundreds of ‘ashrams’, yogshalas, and other ‘spiritual places’ can be found in this area, but finding somewhere with this kind of energy is rare these days. Without thinking, voices are lowered as you connect to the sacred spaces—the yoga hall, meditation hall, gardens, and gaushala.
Sharing our stories as we walked, we realised again how aligned some of our paths are—even though we were born on opposite ends of the world, in cultures that couldn’t be more different. Yet, as I talk to many locals here, I find more similarities than some people would maybe want to admit. Deep spiritual truths surface when two souls connect on this level, and I could only be deeply appreciative once again for the absolute privilege to share moments like these with people like Sailesh.
It was getting warmer, and after a quick tour to his current home, which has a beautiful view of the Ganga, we were off to cross the bridge and meet another teacher in Laxman Jhula. Sailesh told me again about visiting South Africa a few years ago and how he longed to go back—he had one of his most beautiful experiences in the Midlands at a yoga retreat. He had recently been invited back, for six months, but was deeply disappointed and let down by our government, who couldn’t get their shit together and ended up not granting him his visa after making mistakes on their side. It had cost him three months of planning, paperwork, finances, and energy—only to be left hanging. And I understood the hesitancy he felt towards trying again. I couldn’t even offer him advice or encouragement, because unfortunately, we know all too well how pathetic our integral systems are back home. But who knows—if it’s meant to be, things will work out for him, one way or another.
We reached Café Royale. I had received my Sound Healing Training from Devesh, and it was a joy to greet him again. Just another sensitive soul on a lonely journey, he also found comfort in what felt like a little family reunion—the three of us having lemon sodas and lunch on this bright, sunny day.
All our futures are wide open, and we discussed the fears and knowing that all of us have—the fear of the unknown and letting go, and the knowing that we have no choice, because this is why we came to earth…
As we said our goodbyes, the familiar sadness and joy crowded my heart. Meetings like these are always so filled with beauty and meaning, and saying goodbye is tough. Who knows if we’ll ever cross paths again? Yet, the warmth moments like these fill our souls with will be worth it every single time.
