Be the Path - The Will is the Way

In the Bay Area in California there is a road which has a name full of memories: El Camino Real. In English I would translate it as The Royal Path . Memories of Don Juan de La Vega alias El Zorro. Memories of struggle and liberation. Just memories but still on that Camino Real I found myself more than one time riding a bicycle or on the bus connecting Los Altos to San Jose California. 

Latest yesterday I was on the way to San Jose with a split mind. One side with the determination to reach St. James Park in order to check for the coming Food Distribution and on the other side looking for a string to put on my bow. Of course the first side was more important but the second was bothering and I could not resist stopping on the way and puzzling the store keeper of an hardware store. I was not satisfied with a fishing line and I was sent to a fabric store on the way just in front of the police station. Good. I thought. Police station is one of the places I wish to check out. So asking for the police station I ended up way out of the path at the City Hall of Mountain View . Going from one office to another I was told that there are not fixed regulations for food distribution and it is better to inquire locally. They called the local police and they gave me a green light after mentioning that I was from Ananda Marga.

Back on El Camino Real I was still thinking about the food distribution when I saw a shop sign: "We repair rugs". If they repair rugs they must use some kind of strong string - I thought. The owner was sitting on an armchair at the entrance. He made sign to come in and a teller came full of courtesy. He received my request and he quickly process it. He guided me in the back of the store and show me a case of packing plastic rope. Will it work for your bow? - He asked with an accent which I could not trace immediately. Sure and by the way, where are you from. Iran. And I lighted up because Iranian people are for me so amazing with a refined sense of hospitality. As I mentioned them they offered me chocolate toffees which unfortunately I had to refuse as I don't eat chocolate. I thanked deeply and I went back to my bicycle resuming the original main purpose - the food distribution.

In the park there were maybe 15 homeless enjoying the sun. I chatted with them about the coming food distribution and they gave me thoughtful indications. In the end they concluded not to worry too much and bring good food. Still I went to the police department of San Jose  in the desire to check thoroughly. At the counter the police officer gave me green light minimizing any concern. And if you have trouble call 911 - he concluded.

It was time to get something in the stomach. I asked a homeless outside the police station where to go. he indicated me that at 4 pm there was food at the Salvation Army and at 5 pm there was at City Team. These are actually the two main agencies involved with the homeless and I was very happy to be going to the Salvation Army asking for food. After a bit of search about the right office I was in the line for getting the generalities checked out. It resulted that as I was living in another county I could not enroll in that office. But they gave me a one time card for vegetables and I was filled by fruits and bread at my heart content. I did a brief meditation and finally I ate my first in the day. I packed some extra on the bicycle and I thought to go back to my place. 

Why to bring food home when I have to come again on the same spot to distribute it tomorrow? There was no reason and I went back to the park were we ate that bread and shared the rest. Still with a couple of loaves I met another homeless downtown and finally I was empty handed ready to ride on the bus back on El Camino Real. I didn't want top wait in the cold and I took the slow bus instead of the rapid one. On the bus the situation became very soon obvious that the driver didn't like one of the passenger. He didn't do so much noise but it was enough to get in the way of the driver injunctions. After a few thretens the driver decided to call the police and alerted the passengers that they could be a kind of a circus so we were advised to transbord on another bus right behind. This noise fellow was still a bit surprised and passing him I just told him - get out. What are you waiting for. As I removed the bicycle from the rack I saw him strolling out with his bag of personal cloths and I felt happy. I proceeded by bicycle the whole way feeling great.

In the morning I stringed the bow and I set a target in the yard. I prepared my best spaghetti for the coming food distribution and i ate a full bowl. Even the smallest desire had been fulfilled. I hanged a small pumpkin in the front of the target and I began shooting. Now it is just another beautiful day unfolding with its charming little mysteries and unexpected turns. I love it. On the path of bliss was the title of the blog and I changed to a shorter form. BE THE PATH as I could not find anything else which was not already taken. In reality nothing has changed beside within myself. And that is all.

Safe Place Network

Safe Place Network is a solidarity framework for providing safe and welcoming places to those who need most. Charity can be done in many different ways but Safe Place Network emphasis direct contact and sharing. SPN wishes to remove or diminish the gap between giver and receiver of service by making it a familiar affair in a homely setting. 

The idea to have a sign on a building designated as a safe place is not new but with SPN that sign can virtually be anywhere there is a home with a host available for a warm welcome. There are already several hospitality networks and Safe Place Network can be included as a day time casual hospitality network.

Hospitality is part of human culture. It is considered sacred in certain places where the guest is received as messenger of God . In those places a warm plate of food is always cooked extra in the eventuality that such guest appears at the door unannounced. Today the opportunity to give rest and refreshments to a person or a family in distress is becoming greater and greater. Thousands of homeless people are there and potentially more will be in the same condition. Virtually any initiative can help and SPN wishes to be one of them. 

We need your help to start building the network. We need volunteers able to go visiting their neighbors and promoting the idea. Safe Place is not only for the homeless, It is for anyone is in need at any given time. In the past churches used to be open to anybody and able to give shelter to those in need. Today ... we have to extend and expand our horizons and make any home a place for God . This is the purpose, scope and mission of Safe Place Network. 

CONTACT: Ananda Marga of  Los Altos Hills - dadavima at yahoo dot com

Are you ready to put a Safe Place sign at the doorsteps of your home? if yes please sign up here or drop me an email dadavima at yahoo dot com 

A website is in construction at safeplacenetwork.us

How to be Saints today

Today was the second day dedicated to selling books on the road. After the experience of central park I wanted to find a place closer to the Ananda Marga Center where I live.

In the morning Dada Anudhyanananda which is one of the monks living together in the Center told me that he had before the idea of selling books on the road but he didn't have the permission and he suggested to get one so that we could go together with his car.

The idea was very appealing indeed! I came back from Central Park dead tired and in the morning I slept in order to forget the pain I had in all body. I thought that I had enough of biking. I went on the internet looking for the place to get a permit and after a brief chat with 311 I got the best answer: NO NEED OF PERMIT TO SELL BOOKS IN PUBLIC PLACES IN NEW YORK!

Magically I forgot all the pain. I took out all the books, a table, the flute and the Chinese harp and I started loading the bicycle with the trailer. Dada in the meantime was out for his visits. It took me sometime to figure out how to load the trailer and secure all the stuff. I struggled and finally I reached the central post office where Falun Dafa had secured a good spot. I inquired if I could set up selling books nearby and they suggested to move 5 blocks ahead.

When I reached the central library I asked the same question to a person selling for an insurance and the reply was that I could set up any place I wanted. I armed the table, displayed the books and set the Chinese harp. The lady in the picture tried to get a bargain for a book and I was not ready for it. She didn't buy but it was a first exposure and few others stopped and looked at the books. No sales though.

Rain came. There was no time to think. I packed everything and set the bicycle on the side of the library where there was a bit of roof. Rain continued. I called Dada and in the wait I could do meditation and sing literally under the rain. I was very happy. I considered how everything was safe and a bit of rain was so graceful for the trees and not disgraceful for myself. People where hurrying and rain became more and more insisting. When Dada arrived I loaded the precious instrument, the books and the table on the car and I remained with the bicycle and the flute.

I went inside the library which was quite packed with several people obviously waiting the rain to be over. Several young people where sitting on the floor and I start wandering around for quite some time. Being in a library could be a good opportunity to read some books, I thought. I requested Permaculture of Bill Morrison but it was available in another branch. Finally I started looking in the rows of books reading the labels. Chinese, Korean, Fiction, etc. I had the desire to read something in Italian. After some search I located the section of the Italian books and I started to browse the titles.

Some were classical and other not. I started reading one but I got quickly tired and I put it back in his place. It is the time when I noticed a book on the life of Padre Pio, an Italian saint living during the second world war and known for his great miracles and devotion. The account given by the author was a bit too fictional in my opinion and I put it back. Other lives of saints where nearby. Santa Rita, Santa Francesca Romana, San Francesco. "They have done so much for others in their life with great sacrifices and I am not doing anything comparable" I thought.

After these reflections which I felt deeply inside I thought that this was the reason why the rain was not finishing. Now I felt sure that the rain would be over and I went out. I was correct. Rain was now very little and I rode the bicycle towards the Center. After eating I asked to Dada Shankarananda, the most senior monk living with us, if there were saints in India which became famous for their charitable work. Saints like Kabir, Miira, Tulsi Das, Guru Govind Singh. They were all great and they sacrificed everything for the welfare of the people. But actually none of them was particularly dedicated to the cause of the poor and unprivileged people. I had to recognized that only Shrii Shrii Anandamurti set the Eastern spiritual tradition on the path of service to humanity as an integral portion of the path to salvation.

I continued to reflect until writing these lines as I think that the call for serving humanity is very strong for me as well for most good people in the world. What can I do to make the world a better place to live? What is in my direct possibility and control? Just writing and publishing books with Ananda Marga Publications? Selling on the road every day? Maybe it is a start and maybe I will have to bike for some time more. I remembered Baba saying that the only requisite for doing service is sincere love for humanity. Dada Shankarananda used to repeat "Love One , serve all". In concrete terms I have to sell more Baba's books where more inspiration is available for everybody on earth. Online too:

Anandamargabooks.com 

Complete Surrender

Coming from Monterrey in Mexico I arrived to New York in time for the RDS and following inauguration of the new Jagrti in Flushing. We were few acaryas but everybody did his best to attend if not to the RDS at least to the inauguration which was happening on October 4th. Dada Diiptimananda had prepared the program in full detail and everything went smoothly with the participation of margi and acaryas all together. The next morning I planned to leave before 5 am in order to reach Boston from where I would have been flying the next morning. One acarya commented that I could have planned to leave after breakfast in order to enjoy the spiritual company as we would not have opportunity to meet again for quite a good time. I felt guilty.

In the morning I was up at 4 am and before 5 am I bid farewell to Dada Shankarananda who was already in the Dharma Cakra ready for Painca Janya. He was very brisk, like when something is not right. I went to get the bus and I arrived at the bus station well in time. I thought that for sure I had to surrender and attend the Painca Janya even if I was going to be late in order to catch the bus. As I didn't follow such course of action I was also sure that the bus was going to leave late just to make me understand the mistake.

The bus was leaving at 7 am. There was a big queue and it became soon clear that the driver was not there as expected. I went out of the queue and I sat in meditation knowing perfectly what was going to happen next. In fact the driver came one hour late and finally the bus left. Everybody was so upset with greyhound and the driver was able to remain cool apologizing profusely on behalf of the company.  I was thinking at Baba and what would could have come next.

Next morning the flight was at 10 am and I had to do check in as it was going to connect for international to Mexico City. My hosts had arranged to bring me to a shuttle bus in order to facilitate my arrival in time at the airport. We were a bit late on the schedule but still fine. As we approached the bus stop we were bumped from a young boy and we stopped. The police was right there. The boy was very sorry but there was no further damage besides the front of his car and the risk to loose the flight. At the time we were again on the road it was really getting late. At the bus station the bus had already left and there was no bus for a while. There was no alternative but to drive directly to airport.

I was very calm and relaxed as everything was happening without my control. The driver told me that in the morning had a discussion whether we were going to be late and we were forced to drive to the airport. That is exactly what was happening although nobody could foresee that it was going to happen due to a car accident. I felt even more relaxed. This time I surrender completely. Even when we got lost in the middle of Boston I knew that everything was going to be just right. A police person gave us the right directions imposing his voice over the driver that was becoming a bit frantic. A last effort of determination and I was dropped at the terminal running for the ticket counter.

The was a long queue for the general people. I was in full uniform and I dashed to the first class counter telling that I had an accident and I was a missionary person. Actually I had the mission to deliver a computer that was barely needed at destination. The flight attendant happened to be Italian and when she saw my passport she started speaking in Italian about her family born in my home town and about herself born in Sicily. But it was late and the gate was already closed. She called the company and managed to have the gate opened again. She accompanied me to the security in order to get a preferential line and finally she bade farewell.

My bag didn't pass the check. It was kept for a while waiting to inspection. I was literally frying. I relaxed as everything was just going to be right. The security finally opened the bag and sized three big jars of nut butters destined to be brought as a gift. I was feeling bad as they could have passed if the bag was going to be checked in. The security officer was offering to keep the empty jars. I declined politely and I dashed to the gate. The bag was checked in just as a cosmic reminder of what I should have done. I was in the place and the door was shut. 

I was on fasting day and when I arrived at destination I was received with special attention. The mission was completed and the computer had been handed over. I could not sleep in the night but I was relaxed and happy. That is how on the following day after breaking the fast I went out for pracar and I kept going until evening. One of the place I visited was an acupuncture clinic very close to the place I was living. I spoke at length with the doctor inspiring him on the path of spirituality. I invited him after the clinic hours to come to the center.

He didn't come neither that evening nor the following. The morning after I went to the clinic and he was not there. Instead there was another doctor who is working with him as a cooperative. I was not feeling good and I told my symptoms. Soon after I was on a bed with the doctor sticking needles in different parts of the body. The other doctor also arrived as something happened and he had to cancel the service planned in the countryside. That was another cosmic arrangement. They worked for three hours on my body which was quite a long session. I asked for a bicycle as part of the therapy. 

The first doctor brought me at his house and I had a bicycle. It was getting dark and we planned to meet 7 am next morning at a gas station for a ride before he had to go to the clinic by 10 am. It was again my fasting day and it was against any sound logic to accept going for a bike ride on fasting. I was advised not to fast at least but I prefer to stick to the word and let whatever happen for the good.

On the highway I was fast wearing out. I asked the doctor to stop for a meditation place. He suggested to stop on the side of the highway but the noise was too much. We continued until I saw a cemetery. When I saw it I told him that I wanted to stop there and so we did. We entered the cemetery leaving the bicycles on the side of the highway. He told me that he was afraid they could steal them. I told him with confidence that it was not going to happen. I explained that when there is a higher purpose nature serves that higher purpose and fulfill that desires. 

It happened to be a cemetery that was familiar to him. There were his ancestors there but he could not recognize the grave. We sat under a pine tree and we started meditation. After initiation we went back and the bicycle were still in place. I mentioned that I was likely to visit the cemetery the night itself as it was a wonderful place.

I accompanied him at his house and then I made for town feeling that the day was not yet over. Although on fasting I managed to visit a couple of more places and finally I headed to the clinic. I arranged to be at the house of the doctor that evening in order to visit the cemetery during the night. Early in the morning I was welcomed back at my place. 

In the morning after breakfast I went again to the clinic. During the previous visit I was suggested to visit a eye clinic as I had a suspect glaucoma. It was the right time to make a visit to the clinic and I went there in order to take appointment. It was possible to arrange a visit with the specialist with a short notice and I could finally relax for some time.

I went to see the eye specialist and the diagnosis was without the possibility of appeal: glaucoma. A procedure was initiated and I was given eye drops to take every 12 hours and at night before bed. I was told by the specialist that the eye drops have pronounced side effects and once you start with them it is for life. I went back to the acupuncture clinic to see my doctors. They were in favor of an alternative therapy based on acupuncture and natural remedies. They detected that the root cause of the problem was not the glaucoma but rather in the digestive system.

What to do? I decided to have a strict dietary regime without milk products and almost no grains. Lots of fruits and vegetables besides some herbal remedies prescribed by my doctors. My supervisor supported the idea and suggested to do long meditation in order to lower the arterial blood pressure. Will it be enough to reverse a glaucoma? Yes, one think, to be happy and to smile. Everything happens by His grace.

Meditation Quest

Shravani Purnima in Flushing - New York

The new jagrti  is located near a major cemetery in Flushing - New York. On the occasion of Shravanii Purnima I thought to make an extensive visit and meditate there. The main entrance is quite far and I had to walk a long way. I wanted to do meditation and along the way I was tempted to go some other closer places. But where? Manhattan taking the subway? No way! The cemetery was by far the best place. Filled up to the brim by stones I felt I was in a great company. I started reading the names on the tombs: Petrosian, ... all names ending in ian. That was remarkable! Are they Armenian? Finally I reached another section that had more ending varieties and a Jewish sign on the stones. Some tumbs were broken by the time and it is there that I choose my stone bench to sit and meditate. It was wonderful. The birds were singing in beautiful tunes. After meditation I played the flute and then I sat again in meditation. The birds kept quite for a while and then they started again with their tunes, far more complicated and amusing than my flute ones. 

I walked more in the cemetery and I found a rose abandoned on the pathway. I took it with me for a while looking for something to do. There is nothing to do in a cemetery besides walking and contemplating tumb stones but I thought that still I was in a wonderful place. There was an inscription that caught my attention 

Reaching the exit I walked back towards the jagrti and I could not restrain from taking notice to the life that is there all around. Life means a kind of disturbance like a small dog who barked at my gown. The owner was keeping the leash back and kindly saying that he was not going to byte me. I thought she was just hopeful and I avoided getting too close. All the peace of the cemetery was already gone. I walked by the best home gardens I have found so far. These are vegetable garden. This time I stopped and took some pics noticing the big lau and bitter gourds hanging from the vines.

As I reached the jagrti I meditated in the basement which is very fresh and quite. I had a long meditation and in the end I slept. I dreamed to me in the cemetery and I was meditating for long time in a closed iron cage. I received some visits there and the last one was from a student who came with a windsurf. When he left I also left and attached to my bicycle it was the wing of his surf. I woke up still in the meditation position. My meditation was not that long as in the dream but I really enjoyed a lot and I decided to write the story for today and share it over the web.

By the way in Ananda Marga Shravani Purnima is remembered as the anniversary of the first initiation of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti given to a notorious criminal during the night in a burning ghat of Calcutta. Kalicharan Banarjee became Kalikananda and some time remembering this event I had very inspiring events. The cemetery closes officially at 5 pm way before night time ....

The characteristics of a spiritual place

You may have experienced that there are certain places which are very special. Maybe it is just your personal experience but you like to visit them from time to time and each time a transformation happens. You may leave the place with a clear mind and clear goals. You got once again a direction and a purpose for your life.

Those special places may have also other qualities or peculiarities. Suppose that you want to see somebody and as soon as you end thinking about it the person comes from around the corner. Of course this is a relative common or casual experience. But there are certain special places where these type of events happen with such a regularity and frequency that you may consider it as the most normal incident.

Suppose that you have a desire for something. It is quite common that desires doesn't get fulfilled immediately. There is always some delay factor and some toil involved. Of course some desires may not get satisfied and eventually fade away. Other times we consciously put them in the background waiting that they wane and disappear. This is the best with unwanted desires. But there are also good desires, cherished things that we wish to happen as soon as possible. There are places where such acceleration in the fulfillment of cherished desires happens and we feel obviously elated.

In spiritual terms the closeness to guru or spiritual master is also a desire. Certain places have also that affinity as they have been visited or blessed by the spiritual master. Such association becomes permanent and in general these are the places that we regard as spiritual places. Vrindavan for example is associated with the early life of Lord Krsna and devotees experience all the above when they visit such a cherished abode.

In Ananda Marga such places are distributed all over the world in the form of Master Units Projects. They have been blessed directly or indirectly by the wishes of universal welfare from Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, founder of Ananda Marga spiritual movement. These places can be object of pilgrimage but it would rather better utilization if they become community centers for the nurturing and growth of their inhabitants.

Ananda Kanan is a Master Unit founded in 1982 on the planes of the Ozarks in Missouri. It is the locations where Shrii Shrii Anandamurti was expected to visit during his life time and it was prepared for welcoming his venue. It never happened in physical terms but devotees believe that spiritually the place as been blessed by Shrii Shrii Anandamurti. He has given the name Ananda Kanan with the meaning "Garden of Bliss". No wonder that flowers and the whole nature is so beautiful and appealing.

Spiritual places have normally a special scent in the air according to season given by the plants and shrubs locally growing. Sometimes those plants has been seeded on purpose and sometimes it just happened. Nature fulfills good desires and in spiritual places nature conjure to fulfill spiritual desires.

All the spiritual places have their guardians. They can be physical people or residents and also they can be spiritual entities who have chosen to reside in those places. Even domestic animals show traits that are beyond the normal humane behavior. There are places nested in the nature where common people cannot reach if they don't ask and receive permission from those guardians.

It is a common and good custom to bring gifts to such places. It can be in the form of offerings which range from fruits to any kind of help and support. Once again the nature of a spiritual place is such that if there is a personal interest the offer might get refused or go wasted. Nobody should feel pride for those offers as it is not the material value which counts. It is the wish associated with it.

Have you recognized places that are special for you? Are there general characteristics for those places? Some people make the conscious decision to move their residence there. Others may prefer to visit them from time to time. What is important is that those places exist in the heart of each person and it is wise to remember it. Human life is very precious and dear to all. Peace be with all.

Ac. Vimaleshananda Avt.