Lunchtime...Swamiji style

...Swami is primarily a Hindu honorific title, for either males or females...it is derived from Sanskrit and means "He who knows and is the master of himself", "owner of oneself", or "free from the senses"...It is a title added to one's name to emphasize learning and mastery of yoga, devotion to god, and devotion to the swami's spiritual master (a guru or another swami)...today we had lunch up at Chamundi Hill...at the home of Jamanagiri Swamiji...s simple man who supports Operation Shanti and cares very much for the children...we were invited to have lunch with him when we met him at Operation Shanti yesterday...Swamiji lives in a cave...but it is a special cave...during the day devotees come to see him daily to pay their respects...at night he spends his time in his little room...there is a tv...handphone nearby...small cd player and numerous cds lying around..."I am a tech swami"...."otherwise I will be left behind"...we understand that next year he will be hooked up with wireless...swamiji.com...way to go...but he is a simple man...from the fresh hot idlys his helpers served us at lunch...to the sweet chai after...he has been living on Chamundi Hill for the past 16 years...and you can see why...it is so serene...quiet...peaceful...it felt very spiritual to be in his presence...prime real estate if you ask me...it's a pity we had to leave..but not before bowing and touching his feet...this is the first (and probably the only time) I will ever be blessed by a swamiji that lives in a cave...I will email you next year Swami my man and let you know when I will be back in Mysore for the idyls...Om!!!