Laksman announces in June the barn at Ananda Arpan'a' has finally been completed. In addition, a parking lot has been created. Topsoil was re-distributed over the red clay and a straw blower was used to put down the grass seed with a helper. Laksman says, "The next day I got two dump truck loads of gravel and totally wore out my knee shoveling gravel and pushing wheelbarrows full of it. My knee flared up badly the next day trying to get everything moved out of the trailer. I wasn’t half way through and could barely walk. I didn’t know what to do. I had previously gone down the list of everyone I would ask and I knew they were all too busy. As soon as I surrendered it all to Baba I thought of one of the new people from my Thursday collective meditation at the Unitarian Church. I called her and she came over the day before the retreat and helped a lot."
Ac. Vishvamitra and Dada Ajay led the new person’s one day retreat Saturday, April 12 with four new people and four margiis. One new person got nama mantra and two margiis got their lessons revised. Jayanta brought a new person to the retreat and is taking a grant writing class and has researched what we need to do to make Ananda Arpan’a’ eligible for grants. Recently he said there needs to be a unit meeting at Ananda Arpan’a’ and some karma yoga. He and Laksman fixed the road where the columbine had torn up the culvert. Then they moved a hide-a-bed couch from the barn to the trailer. We had a great first unit meeting—just the two of us, followed by DC and a potluck dinner. We hope to inspire two or three others to join us next month! The next day was Sunday collective meditation at the Unitarian Church.
Big white doors that roll up are installed on each end of the barn. 10 pairs of 4’ fluorescent bulbs and a bunch of electrical outlets are installed. Service doors are on each end and there is one water spigot for the garden. Two wind turbine vents keep it relatively cool inside and 2 skylights illuminate it during the day. It is a nice space inside.
Laskman says, "I’ve finally got my house in Knoxville on the market. If I get enough for it I plan to build a place to live in with enough room for a big DC. I’m starting to research earthships. I think I can get some volunteers from UT to help me pound dirt in to tires. After two and a half years of Homeopathy school I’m starting my practice."
