I have a younger brother. His name is Bob, he’s eighteen months younger than me, and we’re very close. Always have been.

Yesterday he and his son Rupert walked into Roncesvalles, having just completed the first stage of their Camino Frances.

It’s a remarkable achievement for both of them, because Bob has had some medical concerns in the past, and Rupert is still recovering from an horrific accident in which a speedboat propeller nearly severed his foot.

When I was talking about walking the Camino, several years ago now, I tried to get Bobby interested. I suggested that we both do the pilgrimage together. He wasn’t interested. He said it would kill him. So I did the walk on my own.

And then his son Rupert one day watched The Way, the Martin Sheen film. And everything suddenly changed. He urged Bob to watch the film, and together they then began to talk about walking the Camino together.

I knew Bob was serious when he phoned one day to say he’d bought boots.

And then he started haunting Katmandu sales, and calling me up asking me about mid layers, and SIM cards in Spain, and whether Osprey was better than Deuter etc.

I knew the signs. He was gone. He’d been bitten by the Camino bug, and there was no stopping him.

Bob is a vet in Brisbane, Queensland. He has his own very successful practice, and he was able to juggle his schedule so he could take some time off. Rupert has just been accepted into Medical school, and so this is a period before he starts to knuckle down and bury himself in text books for the next six or seven years.

At 3 am this morning I couldn’t sleep because of jet lag, and also because I’d been thinking about them all night, wondering how they were going. Because they’d both been so busy, they hadn’t trained much and I was worried about them. Also I was concerned about Rupert, and his foot.

So on the off chance that he might answer, I called Bob’s mobile. And he answered. They’d just arrived in Roncesvalles and Bob sounded so happy. I hadn’t heard him sound that happy in years.

He and Rupert had made it over the Pyrenees, and while he said he was tired and sore, he said they could both go home tomorrow and feel that they’d achieved something majorly significant.

And they have.

I’ve always said that the Camino infuses you with a special energetic magic that washes away past traumas – physical and psychological.

I love them both dearly, and I’m so proud of them.

Buen Camino Bobby!!

Something I've been meaning to do for some time – I've begun writing a book on photography on the Camino.

It's a practical guide called Photo Camino.

It will discuss the particular challenges facing anyone wishing to take photos on the Camino.

The book will give advice on what kind of camera to take, how best to handle issues such as weather, weight and bulk, what kind of lenses to take, protection of gear and images, power management, backup and workflow, security and theft, and how to maximise photographic opportunities on the Camino.

I don't think it will take me long to write this book. Now having walked two Caminos I have a very good understanding of the unique problems facing a photographer.

I think there's a need for a book like this. And I humbly believe I'm suitably qualified to write it.

I'll let you all know how I go!

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In amongst everything else, I’ve updated the Gone Tours website.

I’ve now included testimonials from the previous tour, a photo gallery, plus a slightly revised itinerary for the Assisi tour next year.

The only change I’ve made is that we’ll now be having our rest day in Gubbio, which is an amazing historic town – a little Umbrian gem. Full of small winding lanes and buildings which haven’t really changed much since medieval times. And fabulous restaurants!

We’ll be staying in a beautiful three star hotel right in the heart of the historic centre, so on our day off there’ll be plenty to do, if you want to. Or you might prefer to sleep all day!

http://www.gonetours.com

We have nine now confirmed for the tour, and we’ll probably close it out at 11 – so let me know if you wish to join us. Contact me on:

bill@gonetours.com

Late yesterday I booked my flights to Dallas.

I will be arriving in Dallas on the 23rd of November, the day that the astrologer told me was the best time for me to be there, according to the cycle of the moon.

For those of you new to this blog who don’t know what this is about, take a look at this:

The Prediction – 

Bimal (the astrologer) called it an experiment, and so that’s what I’m calling it:

The Dallas Experiment. 

I’ll film it all – each day for fifteen days – and as per Bimal’s instructions if good things begin to happen, then I’ll stay on.

As well, it looks like Bimal’s business partner Pradeep is going to come to Dallas, then accompany us to Los Angeles at the end of the 15 days to introduce me to Bikram Choudhury, of Bikram Yoga fame. And possibly to Deepak Chopra as well.

Pradeep is not only immensely wealthy, but he’s a crazy man – truly crazy. But he’s also someone who can make things happen. If Kevin Bacon is six degrees of separation from each of us, then Pradeep is one degree from Barack Obama.

Seriously.

Anyway, already he’s been incredibly influential in lining things up for us on the film. It was through him that we ended up at the Parmarth Niketan ashram at Rishikesh, and as a consequence I met Sadhviji and Swami Chidanand.

The Swami’s interview will make a very powerful contribution to the film. Days later, I’m still buzzing from the encounter.

The film continues to guide me. To reassure me.

A day or so ago Jennifer and I were at Delhi airport, having just proceeded through security. Before leaving India I’d wanted to buy a particular book on the Ramayana – the sacred Hindu epic.

As I was looking for the book a store employee walked up. He was impressed that I, a Westener, was interested in Hinduism. We got to talking and it turned out he came, from all places, Rishikesh.

He then directed me to a book on Vedic Mathematics. The Vedas are very ancient sacred scriptures that constitute the fundamentals of Hindu beliefs.

I remembered that the astrologer had said that his predictions for me were simply mathematics, and I mentioned this to the employee. He told me that it was very true – and that if the astrologer told me these things, then they would happen.

Now thinking back on this brief interchange in a bookstore at the airport, it seems like the Cosmos had placed this bloke there to give me a last little bit of encouragement before I hopped on a plane and left India.

There are no accidents, no coincidences.

I pulled out my iPhone and did a quick interview with him. I’ve posted it up on my PGS TV channel on Vimeo. Here is the link:

The Dallas Experiment #1 – The Delhi bookstore bloke

I’ve created this PGS TV channel to provide video updates on how the film is progressing – and also to post strange little incidents like this. Bookmark the site if you wish to stay in touch with what’s going on…

But back to Dallas…

So I’ve made the bookings, and I’m going. Fifteen days in a cheap motel, eating cheap food, with no money, making myself available to whatever the Beneficial Cosmic Rays place before me.

I love my life…

I'm on the plane coming back to Australia.

I can't sleep.

I need to process these past six weeks.

It seems such a long time ago now that I walked down to the ghats in the heart of Bombay, set up my camera, and filmed the early morning rituals of worship.

That was my first day.

Since then I've filmed at the Ganges, in the shadows of the Himalayas, at the Duomo in Florence, and at the Vatican in Rome. I've also had the privilege to interview a living saint, and to engage with some of the wisest and most spiritual minds in India and Italy.

I didn't get to speak to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, but I will. I dreamt that I would, and so I have no doubt it will happen.

I've learnt to trust the veracity of my dreams.

Some of the people I've interviewed have said some pretty powerful things to me – things which I need to think deeply about.

I've been so flat out, intent on the making of the film and all the technical and practical detail associated with that, that I haven't had a chance to really stop and think about the larger ramifications of these past six weeks.

You can't embark on the making of a film about intuition, and not delve into spirituality. Even science, at its most profound level, defaults to an acknowledgement of something greater beyond quantification.

Einstein's quotes on intuition and God are the stuff of t-shirts. And Steve Jobs, a consummate mathematician and designer, was an ardent follower of Hindu beliefs. Google search Steve Jobs and intuition, and see what comes up.

Plenty.

I have about four weeks in Australia before I go to the US, and film The Dallas Prediction, which I guess is what I'll call it.

In these next few weeks before I leave I have to liaise with the editor and review everything I've shot, and begin to discuss style and content. And I have some Adjunct Professor work to do up in Queensland with my university, which I'm looking forward to.

But first I have to recalibrate.

That for me is a five day water fast, which I'll begin once I return to Mudgee. That purifies my body and mind. Gets me focused again.

I also need to reformalise my yoga practice, which means 75 minutes each morning at sunrise. Like I used to do…

And I'm going to begin to meditate again. I used to meditate when I was studying Buddhism, when I was young – and whilst I never became an adept practitioner, I found it helped me enormously in the way I structured my thoughts and emotions.

It was a Jesuit Priest in Rome who advised me to meditate. Strange that he should tell me to meditate, and not pray. But he said that now I've embarked on this intuitive and spiritual journey, I should deepen my connections.

So I'm taking his advice.

It was Pujya Swami Chidanand – the living saint – who also said to me: You have been guided. Now you must guide.

That hit me hard.

I guess I should meditate on that one hey?

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The reason we came back to India was to do an interview with Swami Chidanand, regarded as one of the country’s most revered living saints, and one of the world’s great spiritual leaders.

I’d been unable to secure an interview with him whilst in Rishikesh.

The interview this afternoon was extraordinary.
The power of the man was potent.

It wasn’t a long interview – he only had a short amount of time to give me – but almost every thing he said was absolutely on song with the themes I’m exploring in the film.

It was worth coming back to India just for this interview. He was able to explain intuition in ways that will connect profoundly with an audience.

Tomorrow we leave to return to Australia. Looking back, it’s been an amazing time. We’ve done about twenty interviews and shot a lot of visual material, representing about 25 hours of footage.

And this is just the start!

We’ve filmed in Bombay, Delhi, Rishikesh, Chandigarh in Punjab, and up in the foothills of the Himalayas in Dharamsala, home to the Dalai Lama. We also filmed in Florence and Rome, at the Vatican.

We’ve gathered a wide range of views from spiritualists, church leaders, academics, mystics, and lay folk. Interestingly, there seems to be a general consensus. The majority are saying very similar things about intuition, but using their own home-brew vernacular.

I’ve met some extraordinary people in the past several weeks. And each was incredibly generous with their time. I think what they responded to, and the reason they were so generous, is that they realised this was a very personal quest.

Many years ago I heard a voice that saved my life. I’m now making a film that tries to determine what that voice was, where it came from, and why my life was saved. Using those three very simple entry points, the film will then explore the nature of intuition, and it will proffer ways for us all to become more intuitive, should we wish to…

Everyone I spoke to realised that this was a genuine – one fellow said “authentic” – exploration of mine, and they saw that the film could ultimately change the way millions of people around the world live each day. Live each moment of each day.

I believe it will.

Personally, I’ve learnt a huge amount. I won’t elaborate here on what I’ve learnt. I’m going to save that for the film. But these past weeks have had a deep and lasting impact on me.

Tomorrow it’s back to Australia for a few weeks. I need to sit down and review all the footage, and begin to put it all into a style and shape. And then mid November we head off to the United States, and to Dallas, to see if the Astrologer’s predictions will come true…

If you haven’t seen it already, here is a clip about his predictions for me…

https://vimeo.com/106721457

This current trip has been a big success. There’s no doubt. I’ve got better material than I ever could have hoped for.

But there’s still so much more to do. A lot of filming in the US, and elsewhere too. And then a massive post production job. Our filming schedule though is finance dependent. We’ll need more money for this next round of filming.

Overall I’m very excited about the way it’s coming together. There’s never been a film like this. It’s going to have a big impact on a lot of people all around the world.

Already it’s had a big impact on me.

Puyja Swami Chidanand Saraswati Parnarth Niketan Mission – Rishikesh

Because of our prior filming at the Parmarth Niketan ashram in Rishikesh, Jennifer and our assistant Ratshit and I were … hold on, I mean RaChit… and I were invited to the launch of the International edition of the Encyclodedia of Hinduism.

Attending was the Vice President of India, along with a plethora of saints.

The biggest Saint of the lot though, and the bloke who invited us, was Swamiji Chidanand. The encyclopedia is his baby

It's 11 volumes in all, over 7000 sections, and more than six million words. Twenty years ago Swami Chidanand instigated this massive work, and now it's been published. On Amazon it costs US$720.

I'd pick up a couple of sets for Chrissie pressies but I'm concerned about excess baggage.

Anyway tonight was a huge event, covered extensively by tv and press, and Jennifer and Ratshot and I were treated as VIPs. Sorry, I meant Ratshit.

In part, out VIP treatment was because of the blue jacket.

I call it the “power blue” jacket. I'd picked it up in Rome on a “promotion” for €99. Beautifully tailored – a smokey Dean Martin kind of colour.

One thing I've learnt, if you wear a snazzy jacket – even if you're wearing Stubbies and thongs and you smell of Four X, people take you seriously.

They took me seriously tonight.

Holy men came up to me and gave me their business cards, and said how wonderful it was to see me again. I said yes, you too – you're looking great. Meditation does wonders for the skin.

There was a Sikh dignitary in the front row. He was wearing a striking blue turban and a blue vest. We later passed each other in the gents and nodded our joint approval at each other's blue splendour…

As I was leaving, a bloke wearing saffron robes, and with a huge supplicant entourage in tow, suddenly stopped when he saw me. The whole circus behind him had to stop too, each devotee bumping into the one in front with the sudden de-escalation in ambulation.

How wonderful to see you again, he said, extending his hand.

I'd never seen this dude before in my life.

Wonderful to see you too, I said. Meditation does wonders for your skin, I added.

You must come visit me at my ashram. My special guest, he said, and gave me his card.

I took a look at the card. I had absolutely no idea who he was. But obviously given his entourage, he was important.

By this stage, a swarm of photographers had encircled us, and was taking photos. I proffered my best side, which showed off the blue jacket.

I would be delighted I said. But tomorrow I'm off to Bermuda, and then Madagascar. Work, I said, and sighed.

Ah yes, and how is your diplomatic work going, Ambassador? he asked, querulously.

I paused for a beat, quickly constructing a reply which might sound plausible.

The Middle East is still problematic, I said, frowning with concern. And of course there's ISIS. Cheeky buggers. But thank God for drones! I said, and slapped him on the back and quickly got lost in the crowds.

During the interminable speeches, which lasted a couple of hours and were made more interminable because they were in Hindi, I watched the Swamiji, whom I'm interviewing tomorrow.

He is an extraordinary man. A true activist. He not only initiated and brought into being this amazing encyclodedia, but he's started up a string of orphanages across the country, he's active in educating the poor, he is a big stirrer internationally on environmental matters, and very vocal on climate change, and is regarded as one of the world's most important spiritual leaders. He counts as friends world leaders, rock stars, and the Dalai Lama.

This is not some monk sitting in a cave up in the Himalayas. He's out in the real world working hard to make it a better place for us all.

So the interview is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, and I'm very excited.

I'm thinking I might wear my blue jacket…

(note: pic taken by Jennifer, and hence it's out of focus…)

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Italy turned out to be very important for the film.

I did nine interviews in all, and I also shot some wonderful visuals at the Vatican and elsewhere.

Each interview in its own way gave a crucial slant on intuition – and I know that there are some terrific “grabs” from each interview that I'll definitely be using in the film.

In overview I was surprised at the modernity of the views. And the lack of religious proselytising. For instance I did an interview this afternoon with a very esteemed Professor of Philosophy from one of the Vatican universities. (There are six in Rome.)

The Professor had traveled extensively in India, and had studied Hinduism and Buddhism. And so her take on intuition was informed by this much wider world view.

What's come through in these interviews though is that the voice that I heard in the car that warned me of an impending accident was an intercession from God, or one of God's agents – being an angel or a form of the Holy Spirit.

But the interviews went much deeper than this – and ranged from the spiritual to the philosophical to the scientific aspects of intuition.

All up I've shot close to 200GB of footage. That's a lot. About 8 hrs of interview from nine interview subjects.

The Italian contribution to the film might cut down to 15 minutes all up. But it will be fascinating, and intriguing, and it will provoke a lot of thought and discussion.

From a personal point of view there have been times when I've been deeply affected by what's been said in some of the interviews. And if I can capture that emotion quixotically within the film, then it will be a very fine film indeed.

About to board a plane now to return to India for an interview with a Swami, that could be the highlight of the entire movie!

On the way to Rome airport

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It’s getting dark here now as I sit in my hotel room near the Pantheon in Rome – with busker street guitar drifting in through the window – James Taylor’s You’ve got a Friend. 

I feel like crying.
Today was so emotional.

Two fantastic interviews – and in both I was told that I had a friend – a Guardian Angel – which is what saved my life in New Orleans.

@bill bennett

The first interviewee was a wonderful scholar from a University inside the Vatican. He was a world renown physicist – and in studying the cosmos, he came to believe there was more to the universe than science could explain, and so he joined the Church.

He subsequently got his PhD in Theology, joined Opus Dei, and began to use his knowledge and understanding of science to understand the divine.

The second interviewee was also a member of Opus Dei – a Professor of Philosophy, again at the Vatican University. He spoke clearly and lucidly about Guardian Angels, and said that each of us has not only one, but many angels guiding us through life.

And here’s the thing, he said: We don’t have to believe in Christianity, or be religious at all. Our angels will still work for us – providing that we ask, he said. We have to ask. Otherwise the angels think we’re not interested in them, and they get bored. If we pay them attention, through contemplation or meditation or prayer, then they pull out all stops to help us.

He then went on to describe how the angels communicate with us – and talked of coincidence, synchronicity, numbers, songs on the radio, chance encounters, and other ways the angels try to give us messages.

Both men were articulate and highly intelligent, and they put their points of view forward in simple concepts devoid of religious dogma. If anything, they were almost reluctant and even embarrassed to bring religion into the discussion.

Opus Dei it turns out isn’t the big bogeyman that Dan Brown made out in The Da Vinci Code. They are made up of mainly lay people who basically believe that anyone can achieve sainthood or Christ consciousness, and that there’s sanctity in everyday life.

In that sense they’re not dissimilar to the Buddhists, who believe that anyone can become a Buddha, if they follow certain precepts.

Both interviews today fed the film wonderfully – not only because they open out the discussion to include spirituality from a religious point of view, but also from the perspective of science and philosophy.

As the sun began to drop we then went to St. Peter’s square, and filmed right under the noses of the Vatican police. Because we are a tiny crew with a small discreet camera, we were able to get away with shooting our required sequences without being put into a dungeon and being given the Spanish Inquisition.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!
(thanks Monty Python…)

@bill bennett

A great day of filming – and tomorrow we have two more interviews lined up that promise to be just as fascinating. Then tomorrow night we jump a plane back to India, to get our interview with the Swami from Rishikesh, who will be in Delhi to launch his six million word encyclopaedia on Hinduism.

This is going to be an amazing film…

Bill Bennett at the Vatican @bill bennett