In the picture above my canine companion, Kaya, is drinking from a mountain stream on our recent trip up into the Adirondacks of upstate New York. I took a jeep up into the hinterlands, getting as far as Lyon Mountain, just 22 miles south of the Canadian border.
I rented a 2014 Jeep Wrangler (4×4, big tires) to deal with some of the mountain roads, and we needed it to get backwoods where I wanted to go. Camping was just outside Keene, NY.
It was my annual spiritual retreat. This year I did a deep dive into the Bhagavad Gita, which I found immensely rewarding. Although I recommend having someone you trust go through it with you and explain the intricacies of the song (Bhagavad Gita means song of God). I never would have gotten it on my own. I experienced it as sacred teaching that brings transformation, a practical methodology for realizing the non-dual in the midst of life. I took many notes, did many meditations, and felt so much Grace.
In addition to carrying her own pack, Kaya learned to cross mountain rivers and swim. That was fun to watch, as she tested the water and became increasingly confident. She is now a full-fledged camping companion! We had a blast together, and I am returning to the world of work, refreshed and ready to dig in and create results!!
“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.”
– John Muir
