Upon successfully completing my TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) course, I had to leave Thailand in order to apply for my volunteer visa. I would submit my application in Laos, but I took a detour to Tiruvannamalai, India in order to visit Arunachala and Ramana Ashram again.

This devotee couldn’t help but wilt in 100 degree weather and succumbed to the marble floor, snoring loudly. An ashram attendant tapped his stick on the floor, waking her up. Many times, the ceiling fans stood idle during the hottest part of the day.

An ashram attendant did not tap his stick to wake up this dog.

This lovely devotee would trot in every evening at 6pm on the dot for evening chanting. He would sidle up to someone, immediately throw himself down and turn over with a look that said, “I know you love me! Now rub my tummy!” He was right, people loved him and rubbed his tummy.

This adorable devotee came and sat right in front of me as I was meditating. She didn’t want to be petted; she just sat and panted in the sweltering heat. I commiserate with her.

Cow eating from a rubbish. Horses, monkeys, dogs—they all eat from the rubbish heap. A woman is walking away—she had just dumped her bucket onto the heap.