India

in Indian tradition its usually a very Huge Insult that the guest is not invited to the house especially when they are coming from far and stopping by just to meet them.
"Athithi Devo Bhava" == > Guest is equal to God.
Athithi = Guest
Devao = God

I was thinking about why the sadhus go to the Himalayas. Basically in search of bliss. And bliss comes when you are in a steady emotionaly neutral state of being.
And when they are in the middle of society, they are bombarded by all kind of info and then that causes emotional ups and downs. And that is something most people experience watching TV.

And even when we mediate to achieve the neutrality or "nothingness" its just temporary, but helps to stream line our life, thinking, emotion for the moment and a little beyond.

There are those who stay in the society and achieve the bliss going about doing their daily routine "kriya" (work). Which may not give them the Highs of emotional thrills or the lows. But keeps them in a steady state of bliss. Some may think that they are in a vegetative state. But I think that as long as they are happy doing what they do and are not subjected to the emotional ups and downs they are living blissful.
Ignorance can be blissful too.

Many others want to attain bliss by climbing up the corporate ladder or achieving multi-billion dollar targets. Or travelling around the world searching. OR going around the world in a boat..... deep down I think all are searching for bliss and peace.
Roughly translated "a state of happiness".

But to each his own path of realization.

I wanted to tell when I started off with the sadhus was for you to know about the Jains , religion started around the same period of Buddhism called Jainism .
They are predominantly in Gujarat and Rajasthan states

They have some strict diet related way of controlling peoples urges and emotional balance.
for example they say not to eat food made of onions (I love in my curries) cause it causes people to have higher sexual urges.
Then they say not to eat stuff that are grown below the surface of earth. like potatos and carrots, etc.... not really sure the logic behind it. Must be again related to some other chemical that would cause fluctuation of emotions.
And for sure not to eat meat and alcohol.

It is an interesting religion, worthy of looking at it without bias to know more as to the reasons behind their practices.

And that is one of the reasons I wanted to explore Gujarat and Rajasthan.... maybe soon ;)

There are things that are deeper than the poverty that strikes ones eyes when in India,, that is keeping a huge population of people diverse and so low in material comforts together as a single country.

Also If possible please look into Bhrama kumaris.. mostly Women run group of follower of Shiva manily.
They mainly wear white, remain unmarried and do lots spiritual work. Almost all of them seem to have a very peaceful smile radiating.
I went to their weekly get together for mediating and spiritual talks when I was in Mumbai. So calming and thought provoking.

keep your eyes open to exprience the diversity and contradiction of colorful human behavior and practices across the land scape of Indian Canvas...