Fasting days can be very boring or very exciting. It depends on us. In Boston we choose the second option and we run into a stream of contacts that started in the small Westborough municipality and ended at Harvard University in the Divinity School.
Truth is that nobody knows about Ananda Marga. Myself and Dada Shubhacetananda took the opportunity to challenge this reality. Armed of our bright orange uniform and few business cards we went as first step to the local Public Library. It was still closed so we had to decide where to go next. We entered the Town Hall and got directions for a Book Store. There we found an amazing place with a conference room that can used free of charge. We inquired for Yoga studios and we got a couple of contacts. Back to the library we got the rest of the information, the application for using the library conference room free of charge and we dashed for the first yoga studio. Waiting for the class to finish we browsed in the local literature. There is a lot going on in Boston area. Finally we got to talk to the yoga teacher and received an invitation to join after the yoga class in two days for a fifteen minutes talk. We proceeded for the next yoga studio where the two teachers were waiting for us. We are supposed to write to the owner of the yoga studio to obtain consensus for talking to the students. What to do next? Meditation in the State Park. We asked for directions and after few turns we found a beautiful park. Sitting for meditation we glanced at a group of young people taking professional pictures. After meditation we met them again and they revealed to be few yoga practitioners belonging to a major tee-shirt company often selling in yoga studios and spiritual bookstores. We exchanged our business card and set out for the next adventure.
We found the Acara Yoga on the way. Somehow they lost the y for Acarya but it was closed. We entered the adjacent studio where an Indian doctor was visiting small children. She happened to be graduated in Harvard and she gave us the lead for the Divinity School there. After a couple of hours of good traffic we entered the severe looking compound of Harvard University. Reaching the Divinity school we found staff playing freesbee. Finally we got to talk with one of the professors who addressed us to another building related to the Study of World Religions. We got the name of Diana Eck who is the leader of the Pluralism Project. Going back to the other hall of the School we found another bunch of students cum professors playing beach volley. One of them detached from the happy playing group and came to help us. We were introduced to the admission office where they offered few more leads and information confirming that Ananda Marga is not among the known religions or spiritual groups. We were asked if we were Sikks. Dada Shubhacetananda offered to become a student there and he was served with an impressive quantity of printed material. We went back to our car just beyond the time. A parking ticket was waiting for us. We shared happily the extra burden. A nice fasting day. What to do next?
In Him
Ac. Vimaleshananda Avt.
Public Relations Secretary
Ananda Marga - New York Sector
Ph: 203-645-3881
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