Dance of the Chappals

Another fantastic little piece from Ivan!



One of the endearing things I love about visiting the Ashram is the 'Dance of the Chappals' - especially at an event like Navaratri, when many thousands of partners get together several times a day in various locations around the Ashram.

Losing one's chappals goes with the territory. In fact, I never really feel I've arrived until I've lost my first pair. As with seeing a snake, losing one's chappals is supposed to bring good luck. Well its certainly brings good luck to the Divine Shop, that's for sure!

Anyway, the first day of Navaratri this year I was blessed with the disappearance of my new, high tech go-faster chappals from Sydney, Australia. I had left them up on the path leading down to the Puja area, and returned a few hours later to see that they had transformed into hollow and empty space. I knew then I had arrived.

I tiptoed off to the Divine Shop and bought less extravagant replacements. Low and behold a couple of days later, luck struck again. Returning to my favourite shop I noticed they were already running low, particularly in my size - a worry, as there were still 6 days to go.

Meanwhile, a new chappal minding service had been inaugurated near the Puja area, staffed by teams of chappal warriors who all but grabbed them from your feet in return for a numbered token with which, allowing for a small miracle, you could later retrieve the same pair. I became a big fan of this service until one day a long queue tempted me to once again let them range free in one of their old spots.

On my return, the present moment was inevitable. More hollow and empty. I shuffled off along that by now well-trodden path that leads to Javier’s Emporium, giving him a shifty glance as I entered. Could he be sending out teams of chappal snatchers whilst we were all busy with Satsang? I casually inquired if they sold second-hand, or second-foot chappals, which would confirm my suspicions, but No. I decided not to see intention in any of this and rummaged around for another pair. However all that was now left in my size were two right footed chappals. I handed over my rupees, negotiating a generous discount for the discomfort and embarrassment factor and hobbled off determined not to be a football of others opinions.

With no more chappals in stock I decided to take no chances. I got the chain and padlock used to secure my luggage whilst travelling, and that evening I chained them to a tree near the new meditation hall. I also wrote a note which I stuck in the grass saying, 'CAUTION - unauthorised removal of these chappals may result in premature reincarnation.'

Now this may seem a little extreme but by now I was a desperate man. Divine Shop out of chappals and still 4 days to go. I sauntered off to Satsang with the quiet reassurance of a man in control of his chappals.

Two hours later I my expectations killed the joy. The chappals were still there OK, but the chain and padlock had gone! Dinesh who was passing and had seen my earlier security measures pointed out, when he managed to stop laughing, that my note hadn't made any reference to the chain or padlock, so they were both fair game.


I decided to accept the situation as it was, at least I still had my two right chappals. In fact, they lasted the rest of my stay, I'm looking at them now remembering those far off blissful Ashram days. So if anyone out there has two size 10 left foot chappals, we can do business!

Read Ivan's earlier post

For business and/or showing some love, write to ivan: ivan@artofliving.org.au