New Year Pilgrimage

New Year 2006/07 Seminar Recollections

A unique seminar at the turn of the year left unforgettable memories in the hearts of all those who were present. It was neither a tour nor a one-location seminar, but something in between - a pilgrimage. Yogis lived and recharged in vibrated locations of the East Coast: New Jersey Ashram, Mother's House, Canajoharie and back to New Jersey Ashram. The bottom line for many of us what what happened within. The ability to de-stress, recharge and evolve is incomparable. But after a very eventful and towards the end, hectic year, I felt the relief an a tired, huddled, tempest-tossed traveller feels, after reaching the shores of liberty. As Lazarus wrote about the Statue of Liberty, it couldn't be more true today:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"


The experience began by many yogis giving their impression of the year. Most significant being the number of times yuvas had been able to get things going: Brooklyn Seminar in March, Realize America Tour in July, yuvashakti camp between pujas and this seminar to top it off. The other breakthrough many reminisced about was the establishment of online global meditation. This first leg of the seminar brought the yogis in focus and bhajan practices going for the Albany music program that was coming up.

Local yogis had lined up multiple realization opportunities. The beginning of the programs co incided with us arriving in Canajoharie. Canajoharie is a land of fond memories, a brilliant present and the harbor of our future hopes. As little children of the International Sahaj School were away, we made little fuss occupying their bunk beds. Due to inclement weather, the last program was cancelled. But it was an unnoticed miracle that all yogis returned home from that blizzard without any injuries. Cars were skidding like air hockey pucks, from the recollection of one of the drivers.

Time flew like a blur as the ashramites nourished us with attention, care and treatments. Before we knew it was new year's eve. A fruitful discussion yielded ideas for a Realize America 2007 tour and other youth centric ideas for grass-roots work.

The yuvas returned to New Jersey Ashram and we returned to our nests in the mid-west. We had gone tired and huddled and came back invigorated and new. Only later we realized the significance of this pilgrimage we had been on. We had been bathe in the vibrations of three houses where mother lived. It is amazing how a little seminar can help so significantly in our evolutionary paths, shaking off the cobwebs and enlightening us even more than ever.

Jai Shri Mataji
RHD