NEWS
March 2000:
Freesias, Narcissus, daffodils, hollyhocks. - the harbingers of Spring blossomed at the tender touch of 'Vasanta Ritu' and with Dorian's daily caring. Thanks to garden lovers and generous supporters of the Center, several plants and flowers were received as offerings.
Debashish's visit to Northern California for an academic conference was enlightening. He stayed at Pravir and Chitvan Mallik's residence. They were wonderful hosts and shared with him more interesting tit-bits on essential oils and 'raw-food-uncooking'.
April 2000:
This was the month of music and celebration for the April Darshan of the Mother's final arrival at Pondicherry.
8th April: Smt. Reena and Shree Rajeeb Chakravarty (sister - brother duo) accompanied on the tabla by Shree Subhen Chatterji offered their sweet music (sarode-sitar) at the Center. It was a packed house-concert and all were enrapt with the harmonious musicianship of the Bengali Trio set in the spiritual atmosphere of the Sri Aurobindo Center of Los Angeles. We specially thank Carol, Anie, Debashish and all members of the Center and music lovers who helped make this event a success with their loving support.
23rd April: Pundits Tarun Bhattacharya and Bikram Ghosh (santur and tabla virtuosos) offered their music at the Center in the morning. Though this was not announced as a concert, a few music lovers showed up to sit in for their live video recording session at the Center. Carl and Kathy Propst DaSilva volunteered their precious time and expertise to film the musicians. Pt. Tarun Bhattacharya played the santur most inspirationally, in cascading notes of splendor and Pt. Bikram Ghosh accompanied him with brilliant intuitive rhythmic excellence. They were so present and effortlessly united in their playing that it was hard to believe that they had just arrived from India the previous night and not even had the time to practice together! Many thanks once again to the gourmet cooks - Manjari di, Mrs. Joshi, Anie and all those who helped the Center with hosting the musicians.
Later in the afternoon, the April Darshan was celebrated with selected readings, chanting, musical offerings, meditation and 'prasad'. It was another beautiful manifestation of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo. The altar was reminescent of the forest where Savitri met with Satyavan couched between foliage and flowers.
May 2000:
May 1: The Center's 47th. Birthday was celebrated with cake-cutting and tea party and a meditation.
May 14: Shiva Shakti Concert. Our founder, Judith Tyberg's (Jyotipriya's) Birthday and Mother's Day were celebrated with a musical program by vocalist brothers, Pundits Rajan and Sajan Mishra accompanied on harmonium by Shri Binay Pathak and tabla by Shri Subhen Chatterji. This was held at the Church of Religious Science in Pasadena and was attended by ~ 150 music-lovers and supporters of the Center.
May 16: Jyotipriya's birthday and reception for the musicians Rajan and Sajan Mishra were celebrated at the Center with chanting of her favorite chants, a meditation and pot-luck dinner with cake-cutting. Preceding the dinner was played a tape with Jyotipriya herself chanting the 'mantra' before eating. During dinner, we got to talk with the musicians. They regaled us with jokes of their 'gharana' (traditional family lineage). It was overall a very enjoyable evening.
Later in the month, we were visited by Michael Miovic from Boston who showed us some beautiful photos and videos from Palenque of Pakal's tomb and other historic Mayan monuments.
Shri Arup Chatterji, the renowned 'tabla' player of Pt. Ravi Shankar visited with us and stayed over a day before flying back to Calcutta, India. He shared with us a video of his talented twin daughters - one a Kathak dancer and the other an Indian classical singer. Both showed much promise in blossoming into accomplished artists in their fields.
Martin Otto, a researcher from Netherlands of the Raja Yoga Schools contacted and visited the Center on a couple of occasions for research purposes. It was almost as if the Center's Birthday and Jyotipriya's Birthday had brought him here on this auspicious month.
June 2000:
June 2nd. - June 5th: Debashish and Amrita were invited by a spiritual group in Arizona to give talks and chant respectively. They were much impressed by the openness that this group had to the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. Ramon was the bridge between our Center and this group and had introduced us to each other. Debashish and Amrita also had some opportunity to sight see - the Crescent Moon Ranch at Sedona, Cosanti Foundation in Scottsdale, etc., and have informal 'satsangs' with these wonderful people. David and his two sweet children, Sita and Collin served as exemplary hosts.
June 8th: Auroville Land fund raising dinner party was organized by Anie Nunnally and Peter Lepore and held at Bravo. It was very successful in that ~$5000 were raised from this event.
Dr. and Mrs. Nadkarni visited and stayed at the Center for ~ 2 weeks. Dr. Nadkarni gave a couple of 3 days each lecture series on Savitri - The Way of Fate and the Problem of Pain and Death and Immortality. They were very enlightening talks and the Center was much helped with Blessings and Light brought to it by the Nadkarnis. Mrs. Meera Nadkarni, - a quiet and efficient house-wife was of much inspiration by her genuine, helpful presence around the Center.
Dr. and Mrs. De and Gigi Garcia's Birthdays were in this month. Early next month was a pot-luck supper celebration for these three and Amrita.
July, 2000:
July 1: Movie on I.M.Pei was watched and enjoyed by all at the Center. His architectural genius and at the same time his humility and humanity was so well brought out in the documentary - that it was in itself a work of art. Pot-luck supper and cake-cutting celebration was held for Birthday babies - the De's, Gigi, Amrita and a Bonne voyage for Debashish. Some of the finest desserts were brought - cakes, apricot pie, fruits, etc...- very delicious treats indeed!
July 2: Mary Dane, wife of Robert Dane and regular member of the Center passed away at 1:00 am. Mary had been suffering from Cancer. Her daughter, Margaret and grandchildren and her son, Ray visited her from out of town and spent some time with Mary a few weeks before she passed away. Mary was a precious, genuine and conscious lady - a valued member of the Center, a caring housewife and loved mother and grandmother. Let us all join in collective prayer that Mary rests in Mother's care. Our heartfelt condolences to Robert at this difficult and painful juncture of his life.
This brings us to the end of our news section for now. Stay in touch and join us in aspiration for manifesting Mother's endless treasures.