Archive for June, 2007
The 15 participants of the RA tour came from Chicago on Sunday around
11:30pm, and were immediately ready for a collective footsoak and
meditation - already preparing themselves for the busy weeks ahead!
The next morning, we started off relaxed, with a 9am meditation - we
watched a 1981 Navaratri Puja talk, and enjoyed the surprise of seeing
our beloved RA tour Auntie who happened to be present that day! After
breakfast, the Yuvashakti sat near the lake nearby for camphor
treatment, and were joined by a local member of the collective who
experienced this treatment for the first time!
The day continued joyfully with Adi Shakti Puja talk in the
afternoon, and we all headed out to a nearby park to spread some of
that great joy! Some of the yogis went for postering to local stores
and restaurants, while the group in the park settled in to attract
some local seekers. At first, the locals were a bit hesitant to come
forward to take realization, but once the yuvas started singing, the
local children were immediately attracted, and, followed by their
parents, sat down to get their realization and learn about local
meetings. It was dark when the yogis came back home - approximately
around 50 people got their realization, and 150 flyers were
distributed in the Bloomington-Normal area. The night was decorated
with a traditional Iranian barbeque, hosted by our brothers and
sisters from Peoria (1 hour away). We watched a play “Friends”
written and produced by Austrian Sahaja Yogis, about the ego and
superego. The joyful evening ended with collective games before
everyone went off to bed.
The next day (Tuesday), the yogis left for St. Louis after meditation
and breakfast, and we began to prepare for the first follow-up program
on Wednesday. In regards to the follow-up program, we received a few
phone calls, and e-mails and a few seekers came to the meeting too.
We are looking forward to meeting more of the seekers that have
learned about Sahaja Yoga as a result of Realize America. Thanks RA
for bringing all your joy, energy and love to
Bloomington/Normal/Peoria… come back soon! We are always waiting
for you!!
June 30th, 2007
It was so enjoyable to arrive in Bloomington after a lovely Adi Shakti Puja. We were able to sleep in later than normal, but quickly gathered for morning meditation once everyone was awake. The talk of Shri Mataji was one which I had never seen before. It was an old talk where mother was teaching a small group of yogis the proper way to wash and massage her feet. I have often heard my aunties and uncles tell about the initial days with mother, but it was whacky to actually see that type of experience on tape. Also, it was really funny to see some of my close aunties and uncles as young seekers with really long hair- after the initial shock, we couldn�t help but laugh.
After meditation and breakfast, we all went outside beside a lake near the house to do a collective camphor treatment since we were feeling a little off that day. With some difficulty with running out of matches since the wind was not cooperative, we found a lighter and everyone had a turn with the camphor. It was so sunny that by the end of the treatment everyone wanted to run into the lake, but since it was a residential lake - we were not allowed to do so. No one could understand how it would be off limits to go swimming in such a big, blue lake - oh well.
As soon as I came into the house after the camphor, Sheng-Chia had set up her computer so that we could watch mother speak at this year�s Adi Shakti Puja in Cabella. So we all gathered around the tv screen (the boys were able to connect the computer to the tv monitor so we could have a big screen to watch the talk on) to hear mother speak about love and the adi shakti power. After the talk everyone was very happy to see mother looking so healthy and happy.
During lunch provided by Aunty Fariba and Saraswati, we started to watch an Indian Bollywood movie called Mein Hona. It was another classic movie which we as westerners could not help laughing our heads at. Everyone was enjoying themselves, even though the boys did not want to admit that they were entertained by such a ridiculous movie. Although we had only watched part of the movie, it was soon time to leave Saraswati�s house to go to the park to give realization.
A few yuvas and aunties went to go postering while a group of us stayed back at the park to give realization. Since the majority of people weren�t supposed to arrive at the park till after the work hours, we had a lovely time singing bhajans, dancing to bhangara beats in the field, and playing a game called bitty bitty bop. I have never laughed so hard as when we were playing bitty bitty bop. It was so funny to see Dennis and Jeremy pretend to be flamenco dancers. We were having a difficult time attracting people to come try the meditation, when four boys finally thought it would be entertaining to try to meditate. I�m not sure whether they actually felt anything, but after they left more people started to come and try to meditate.
Soon after, the group who postered came back with popsicles and juice to refresh us before we started to sing bhajan after bhajan, with drums blasting and voices booming. A few Indian couples were attracted by the bhajans to receive their realization- they were so impressed by our ability to sing Indian bhajans and the boy�s continuous drum beats. Then it was past time to leave so we packed up after enjoying one last bhajan to go back for a delicious barbeque at the house prepared by Uncle and Yassir.
Once everyone was full and content from dinner, Uncle came out with a few tricks/games for us to figure out. The most entertaining trick was when two people were tied together with a string and had to figure out the way to detangle from each other. We spent hours laughing at the crazy forms people found themselves in while trying to figure out how to become free of each other. After so much time was spent trying to figure out the trick, Jeremy and Chris found the solution in less than a minute. I had so much fun watching the games; it was really a collective effort. After a lot of laughter and fun we all went to bed.
Today Sonia�s mother, aunty Fariba joined us.
Julia (Pittsburgh, PA)
June 29th, 2007
We had been eagerly waiting for the Realize America tour to begin. Weeks of preparation and changes in plans.
The yuvas started trickling in from thursday night. Friday to sunday morning they stayed all together at Igor and Lyubov’s. Yogis staying close by met there on Friday night with Anjana, Shreya, Denis Stoilov, Chris and Kevin. We chatted and at regular intervals gave wake up calls to Nischal and Denis who were driving the RA van from Albany that night. Saturday morning marked the beginning of realization events. The Heritage fest in Downers Grove started at about 10 in the morning and Tom Mc Garry set up the booth with beautiful sarees. It was a beautiful day but the rain slowed down the number of people coming to the fest. The rain stopped only towards the end of the program and about 30 people got realization. Whenever the yuvashakti were playing music people would come. The numbers were few but they did not seem hesitant.
Then they went to the house of Denis and Hermina for a barbecue and havan. We offered all the badhas that we could think of including the fuel prices!!! They sang bhajans and played the drums. After the havan we had a head massage and after midnight they went back to Igor and Lyubov’s to sleep.
On sunday after an early breakfast that lasted till 11.00am they all moved to the house of Mukesh and Amisha. In their new townhome we all sat for the Adi Shakti puja. The vibrations were very strong. For some yuvas it was their first time on a RA tour. It seemed like Mother was really blessing everyone before the yuvashakti were going to embark on their journey.
We had lunch and a few group pictures and then they left. We are now eagerly waiting for their return.
June 27th, 2007
Uncle Igor and Aunty Lyuba prepared a feast for us in the morning. Aunty Lyuba is very dynamic and full of energy. The joy in her expressed from a side glance or a smile. Uncle Igor emitted calm and silence. Uncle Igor did not talk much, but in his words, there are wisdom and innocence. I remembered once he said to me in an event when we were giving self-realization to seekers, �sometimes, I discovered old shoes have more vibrations than the floor of an auditorium.� Gana and Sparky, their two dogs that are sweet and dignified also accompanied us. It is enjoyable to be there. We had a good time meditating and chatting together. All the Yuva Shaktis have beautiful eyes, like gem stones. The glow of these gems is the light of innocence and purity. It feels like being surrounded by angels.
Mukesh and Amisha hosted Shri Adi Shakti Puja in their lovely home. The RA Tour joined yogis from Chicago, Indiana, Milwaukee, Peoria, and Iowa to worship our Holy Mother. After watching a videotape and being called to wash Mother�s Feet, we sang many bhajans. Saraswati Didi�s flute rose high above the rousing drumming to accompany our praise of the Devi. The vibrations of the puja were breezy and our hearts were light and joyful. The Chicago lakshmis treated us to a scrumptious feast after the puja. We were enjoying the company of all the yogis for hours after puja, not wanting to leave. It was quite late by the time we were all ready to leave for the drive to Bloomington
The hours on the road passed quickly as we sailed smoothly on waves of puja vibrations. Half way along the journey we stopped for petrol at a remote place off the highway. As we took turns making our purchases, the gentleman behind the counter took notice of our puja bindis and struck up a conversation with Chris and Sheng-Chia. He was listening to some verses of the Quran and had gone for puja earlier having the ashes on his brow.
Following a brief intro about the Self and our inner spiritual instrument, he agreed to try the meditation. With other customers coming, he received his self realization very quickly, but was not sure about the vibrations above Sahasrara. Aunty, Mitchell and Sheng-Chia were showing him how to feel for the cool breeze when two young, impatient men interrupted them requesting service in a very vulgar way. Apologetically we stepped aside to let them pay for their cigarettes and other items. Just witnessing the situation, we were very moved by the respectful, humble, and gentle manner this frail elderly gentleman displayed as he served these rude customers. They obviously had absolutely no appreciation for the special occasion taking place nor having any inclination whatsoever for their spiritual assent. We had not been aware of them or that they had been waiting and observing us while we guided him through his realization. After they left we observed that no other customers came in during the remaining time we spent with this meek and kind-hearted gentleman. Then he let Sheng-Chia to come back behind the counter to help him feel the vibrations which he desired to feel, even though convenience stores generally do not allow customers behind the counters for security reasons. He even sat down for Sheng-Chia to work on him. Kundalini raised within him and we all felt the strong cool breeze coming out from his Sahasrara. Even though he did not feel the cool breeze at the moment, his heart opened to the knowledge of Sahaja Yoga. We felt that mother�s love and protection was flowing to this spiritual gentleman. He requested contact information though the closest centers were quiet far off. We left the contact information of the Chicago and Bloomington yogis. We left with the wishes that Mother�s love would guide and protect him.
We arrived in Bloomington to the lovely welcome and delicious cooking of Saraswati and Aunty Fariba. After a collective footsoak, we laid down our sleeping bags to get some rest after a wonderful day.
Today Sebastian and Roma left, and Sonia from Peoria, Illinois, (originally from Tehran, Iran) joined us.
June 26th, 2007
The first day in the Realized America tour, we are driving from Pittsburgh to Chicago. There are six of us, Aunty Tracy, Julia, Jeremy, Laxmi, Savita and me. Laxmi and Savita are the oldest two girls of aunty Angela and uncle Herbert. They are originally from Austria, and have lived in different places around the world. Recently, they moved to Philadelphia and live in State Collage. They are close to Aunty Tracy�s family, and are the fiends to Julia and Jeremy.
As always, the day before a major Sahaja event is always busy. We all gathered at Aunty Tracy�s home, and were busy packing and settling the house, since the mid-way stop of this year�s tour is Pittsburgh, and everyone in the tour is coming back to the house within a week. We all went to bed really late. I went to bed around 3:30 in the morning and Aunty Tracy went to have some rest at 4:30. We are entering into the Sahaja time zone, where everything happens when time is appropriate, and your body disjoints from the ordinary sense of time; then to eat and when to sleep lose their importance.
Aunty Tracy injured her back several days ago. Without complaining about the back pain, she managed the tedious preparation work and drives all of us on the road.
Now Julia takes over the driving. In the music of the Gorillaz, the van glides through the endless green fields of Ohio. It is 5 in the afternoon. We miss the first day program and will probably miss the Havan as well. We did our best, and everything is now left in the hands of the Divine.
We earned an extra hour when entering the Midwest time zone, so we made it to the Havan. The Havan was held in Denis and Hermina�s place, with the Chicago collective. Everyone was very gracious and set up the Havan mainly for the Realize America Tour. The Yuva Shaktis on the tour were sited close to the fire. We prayed for success of the tour in bringing self-realization for people. The fire was powerful, the flame danced fiercely and beautifully. During the Havan, it felt like the negativity surrounding the sky of Midwest states was gradually cleared. Shri Agni Devata kindly took away all the obstacles for us.
After the Havan, we traveled to aunty Lyuba and uncle Igor�s home for the night. They kindly accommodated us for the first night. Uncle and aunty treated us like their own children. All the girls stayed in the basement; the basement is large. With Shri Mataji�s altar in the front and pillars in the side�it remind me of the Ashram in Pune.
Today the group is: Aunty Tracy from Pittsburgh, Anjana and Chris from Seattle, Shreya from Vancouver, Nishi didi and Mitchell from Toronto, Dennis from Michigan, Sebastian and Roma from Chicago. Laxmi, Savita, Julia, Jeremy, and Sheng-Chia from Pennsylvania.
June 25th, 2007
