What a slice of heaven! I spent three weeks at the Bodhi Zendo near Kodaikanal, just about eight hours away from Chennai and at least 50 degrees farenheit. The center, which is in the Japanese zen tradition, is surrounded by mountains velveted with forests, banana groves, and coffee fields. Mists blanketed the hills in the early mornings, and thunderstorms blew in over the mountains almost every afternoon. Cool, sweater weather. The organic salads alone were worth the train and taxi rides. Meditation hours, the silences, the talks by the zen master (a Jesuit) were nourishing for the heart and soul. All in all, wonderful weeks away.
