--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Rick Archer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > From: Roses Derise <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2006 12:19:56 -0500 > > Dear Friends, > > The pandits are here! > > You probably know the story about Krishna holding up the sky with one hand > with everyone else coming with their broomsticks to "help." Over the last > few days, there have been a lot of broomsticks at work, and a miracle has > happened. Those monstrously ugly, old, hopelessly rundown frat buildings are > being transformed, right in front of one's eyes, into what one person called > "four star hotels." No one would have thought such a transformation was > possible. A few days ago light fixtures were dangling, plumbing was leaking, > clogged, or broken, carpet was ragged, walls were dirty and broken, doors > were missing, knobs didn't work, windows were broken or hung in broken > sashes--it was a tenement building. > > But when it was understood that the pandits were really coming, the call > went out for volunteers. When I went to see what I could do to help, I was > enthralled by what I saw. It wasn't people who responded to that call--it > was saints. I am acquainted with people whom I believe to be enlightened, > but anyone can be enlightened--not everyone becomes a saint. Predominately, > these people were saints. I didn't see any mood- makers there (it's hard to > maintain a mere mood when you've worked until 1:00 A.M. many nights in a > row) but what I did see was, again and again, upstairs and down, faces that > glowed through fatigue with an innerluminescence, a simple and pure spirit > of service. Many of them had not eaten since lunch, some not since > breakfast. Yet everyone was smiling and moving swiftly. With so much > happening so fast there was much confusion, yet I heard no complaints. There > are soldiers on a battlefield soaked in blood and terror; here the battle > for world peace was being waged with mops and paint brushes, screwdrivers > and glue, love and helping hands ... and smiles. > > There's a lot to thank donors for, but I don't think we could have raised > the money to pay for having this done. I don't think there is a construction > company on earth that would have been willing to contract for that much > renovation in such a short time. Day before yesterday, I tripped over loose > tiles while putting painter's tape over light fixtures in the pathetic, > dingy, barren lower hall of Building 114. That's how bad it was. But twenty > four hours later, the magic had happened. In the same room, I passed the > entourage with Raja Wynn as he toured the all-but-finished building and > overheard John Runkle say, in a marveling tone, "This is so nice I'd be > willing to move in here myself!" > > Indeed, it was very nice--new paint, carpets, and repairs throughout, with > everything functional, even pretty! Each room was pristine clean with new > paint and carpet, and had two beds of blond wood hand-made by MUM's > carpenter, with new futon mattresses all made up with fresh bedding and new > towels and wool blankets. Colorful new curtains, attractive incense burners, > and welcome gifts gave each room a warm and cozy feeling. If I were an > incoming guest, I would have felt honored to be given such a room. In the > interior lobbies, large pots of colorful silk flowers gave a feeling of the > colors of the pandits' homeland. More silk flowers made even the stairwells > feel bright and cheerful and welcoming. > > Downstairs, the cooking area had been transformed into a glistening > self-sufficient kitchen with new commercial-sized stoves, refrigerators, and > dishwashing equipment. The dining area was really charming. MUM's carpenter > had created long, low tables at which there were colorful cushions for > seating. A serving table had been prepared full of all manner of prasads in > gold-colored dishes, and hot milk was ready to serve. Outside, miniature > lights crowned the new perimeter fence. > > The pandits arrived about midnight. In respect for their tradition, the > ladies had all left so the rest of my story came from my husband who was > part of the welcoming committee who lined the entrance pathway with > sparklers. He said when the young men arrived, they didn't look tired, > yawning, and disorderly as most of us are when we've traveled through > several time zones over a period of several days, but appeared to be > clear-eyed and conscious, as if they were fully focused on their mission > here. Upon hearing that they were young men, in their twenties and thirties, > I had imagined that they would be a naturally rowdy group. But instead of > gawking with curiosity or confusion at unfamiliar surroundings, my husband > said they appeared remarkably self-contained, silent, and dignified. Their > chanting before partaking of the treats and hot milk they had been served, > was deeply moving, he said. > > There were 49 in this group. There are 451 yet to come and several more > buildings in which miracles must happen before they can arrive. Please come > to feel for yourself that buoyant pleasure that happens when one is in the > flow of nature on the move, when one is serving nature and the cause of > world peace, and when one is transforming not just an old decrepit frat > house, but the world itself. > > Namaste, > > Roses > Great News- It appears that those in Fairfield have transformed the destiny of the country and the world- Congratulations! and Thank You!!
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