One Responsibility

Asha and Shanti set the perfect tone for our pilgrimage. First, Shanti confirmed that our bus would be leaving for our first day of pilgrimage at 8:30 am. That departure gave us a generous amount of time for a group meditation from 6:00 to 7:00, then breakfast and gathering of stuff from 7:00 to 8:30. She reminded the entire group that some of us are prone to chronic lateness, that we knew who the chronically late were, that everyone knew who they were, and that the chronically late might think about setting their clocks 15 minutes ahead. She said it with great humor and friendship, which made everyone laugh and enjoy the reality that we're all working on our karma, and we're all helping each other succeed.

Swami Kriyananda established the Ananda communities with two principles at the forefront: common understanding and cooperation. In short, if everyone can reach a common understanding, then everyone can cooperate. It's a great partnership.

True to form, Shanti established a common understanding: Be on time for every departure. And, true to form, every last one of us was sitting on the bus at 8:29.

A ride for 40

Second, Asha described that she and Shanti had spent the previous year working out all of the details for the pilgrimage and were in close communication with our tour guide, Rami, the hotel staff, and together they were continuing to take care of all of the details, so we wouldn't have to. Our one responsibility on this pilgrimage was to watch our consciousness.

We are visiting sites of deep holiness, where profound happenings occurred, and where generations of devoted souls have worshipped and touched divinity, across centuries of time. By keeping our hearts open, whether in meditation, conversations with each other, interacting with strangers around us, or coping with weather and fatigue, by maintaining a high consciousness, the power of pilgrimage can change our lives forever.

And so, we moved through our day, in friendship, with respect, sharing kindness, meditating, walking, absorbing, immersing, divinely loving. The experience was so deeply moving that I find it hard to put into words. For now, what I can offer are pictures of some of the sites we visited.

Where Jesus wept for Jerusalem

Russian Orthodox church, with the old city of Jerusalem in the background. So many sectors of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam play visible roles in the care taking of these holy sites.

The golden Dome of the Rock, where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, Isaac; holy site in Judaism.

The Church of the Sepulchre is the grey dome immediately to the right of and behind the golden dome, and is the location of Jesus' crucifixion, burial, and resurrection; holy site in Christianity.

The grey dome is Temple Mount, the Nobel Sanctuary, where Mohammed ascended to heaven; holy site in Islam.

The Old City of Jerusalem, showing the close proximity of the three sites holy to the three, major, monotheistic religions.

The Church of Pater Noster, the site where Jesus taught his followers how to pray "Our Father"

An olive grove at the Church of Pater Noster, allowing one to imagine Mt. Olive during the time of Jesus.

At Pater Noster, "Our Father" is displayed in more than a hundred languages around the church.

Each unique in style.

Church of All Nations, in Gethsemane Garden, the site where Jesus prayed before his arrest.

The rock on which Jesus prayed in Gethsemane.

You can kneel and touch the rock itself. We were able to stay as long as we wanted.