Wednesday, Aug 07, 2013

The International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers
in Kathmandu, Nepal for the 12th Council,
hosted by Grandmother Aama Bombo November 2012

The decision to attend the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers 12th Council in Kathmandu, Nepal was not an easy decision to make at this point in my life, although my entire life was a prelude to making the journey. I had been asked to once again be the Assistant to Grandmother Aama Bombo but this time, it was assisting for the hosting Grandmother who has many disciples, locally and afar and a large attendance in a highly energetic environment.

I decided to travel a few weeks earlier to acclimatize and acculturate and to spend time touring with a wonderful couple (Karen and Dale) After our first stop in Pokkara, we bused it to Chitwan National Park… the first night in this jungle village, in the midst of the Tharu people, I fell asleep and woke with a direct connect dream state. The tour guide (Brahma) arrived to begin our trek to the jungle on an elephant safari, seeking wild rhinos, monkeys, crocodile, snakes, deer, and large cats… the dream stayed with me all day, until finally I approached Brahma and spoke of this incredible ancient grandmother, dressed in a white sheet and bare foot, walking with a curly stick cane and all-knowing eyes… he looked at me quite bewildered and said, “Hanayo I know this woman, she is a Tharu elder of our village” I immediately asked to meet her!

The next night Brahma arranged for us to attend a Cultural presentation of the Tharu people, for this was an introduction into the ancient ways of these people and immediately afterward a visit to the home of the Tharu elder. Upon arrival at the traditional home, I noted the elephant grass thatched roof and grass/mud walls and floors. I entered the darkly lit room to meet our elder, sitting on her bed, in a white linen wrapped around her chest and one arm. The woman patted the bed to sit beside her and took my hand in hers, as though she had long awaited my visit. As I looked into her eyes, they began to well up in tears, I knew immediately that this was the elder woman, who had entered my dream to call me to her.

I began to explain to her that I had a dream last night… she spoke in unisons that she too had a dream that she was at a temple in Kathmandu! She had never been on that 12 hour journey through the mountains in her entire lifetime. As she held my hand, reading me, I felt a gentle but intense energy, move up my arm into my chest. I began to explain that a group of us had arrived from countries all over the world, in support of our Nepalese grandmother, Aama Bombo, host the international council of 13 indigenous grandmothers. At that moment I knew it would be very important for this grandmother to attend the council. I asked her if it was possible, would she like to fly to Kathmandu. I explained that she did not need to answer directly but to dream on it. (Of course she knew the outcome, for which I did not know, at this time)

I contacted my organization, the Centre for Sacred Studies, who were on route to Nepal from California and my Nepalese grandmother in Kathmandu, to obtain approval for which the reply from Grandmother Aama Bombo was, “Of course and she will stay in my home, I will feed her and transport her, to the gathering!”

The entire gathering would be 5 days and it was time for our little group to leave this area, on our pre-arranged travels to Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha. I gathered the money to leave for clothing and airline tickets for Great Grandmother Etoria, Brahma, who would translate both Nepalese and Tharu and a female escort for our elder.

Five days later we arrived in Kathmandu and the opening of the international council gathering was upon us and on schedule our Tharu great grandmother Etoria Mahato arrived, with curly walking stick in hand. She was invited to sit with the council of grandmothers on a chair on the end, where Brahma began to translate the words of the prayers and ceremonies. As I sat beside her I came to realize she was brewing, her energy was mounting, she was completely connected to the central fire, she seemed to be readying herself for something unknown to me.

We completed our morning healings and went for lunch, when we came back we moved in door to the central conference area. It was at this time that the entire program opened up, making way for the 4’ 70 lb elder, who we learned had an undetermined age of approximately 100-120 years old. I then learned that the Tharu did not celebrate birth days but rather astrological events and in her memory, when she was approximately 90 years old, which was 10-20 years ago, she continued to be an active mid-wife. In perspective, she had serviced the children of the surrounding 5 villages, which meant that anyone up to the age of 80-90 were more than likely doctored or birthed by this woman.

As we sat amongst the participants, Etoria was asked to come up to the round table to meet the 13 grandmothers. It was the Hopi grandmother Mona Polocca, who suggested that this grandmother is older than all of the council and then grandmothers began to line up, in the centre of the room where GG Etoria was asked to sit. GG Etoria placed her hands on each of the grandmothers, bringing swells of emotion to all who participated. GG Etoria then stood and sent waves of healing energy to the entire room of 300-400 people. A basket of donation began circulating the room, as the waves of emotion filled the room and lifted each of us to a heightened state of being.

Upon completion of this magnificent process, at day’s end, GG Etoria was ready to go back to Chitwan, to prepare the village for the upcoming Hindu Dewali festival, being the elder of her community, she has obligations that are without sway. With a stop over at the temple in Kathmandu, this time she would be driving back in a taxi, to see where she came from.

Following up to this moment in time, GG Etoria has been approached by several sponsors that offer to have cataract surgery done on her eye, but Brahma has reported to me that she does not want to correct her seeing eyes.

It has been 6 months since I was last in Nepal, Brahma and I speak monthly and thus far, GG Etoria is in good health and happy. It is my dream to return and develop a mid-wifery school for expats to learn the ways of the ancient ones. My intention is to be back in Nepal by spring and to bring the love and appreciation, I hold so deeply in my heart for having known and be touched by this incredible ancient one.

Since this profound moment in my life, I have learnt that the Tharu of the Chitwan are the ancient descendants of Buddha, truly I can attest to the gentle, powerful energy of this simplistic life, that holds so much more than anything I have acquired in my lifetime.

Nameste Rev Sensei Hanayo

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