tiny single women

For those of you who may not know. I had prayed for 20 years for work that was pure and purely in service to both the Divine and the poorest of the poor. I was deeply discouraged by what I felt to be a appalling lack of consciousness in the service provided to the poor in Mother's Teresa's work (which had inspired those prayers) when I volunteered for her in Calcutta in 1995 however much I respected her intentions and motivation. Finding LDLM has been an answer to those prayers. This is my first trip to India since meeting Baba immediately after I returned from Calcutta in 1995. Seeing Baba Shuddhaanandaa's work first hand. I have only been more deeply inspired by the consciousness that pervades every aspect of it. The MeetingWhen the car stops suddenly in the middle of the road. I look up to see a long line of women dressed in all colors of saris lining a raised dirt path about 100 yards long to the right. Behind them is a shorter line of men and behind them is a fresh and clean beige one story building crowned with a small dome obviously a temple. The temple sits in a clearing with small homes and huts that are also remarkably clean nestled amid palm trees and other greenery. The moment the women see that it is Baba's car and we are stopping a conch begins to sound in celebration and the women begin making an ongoing undulating call that is remarkably similar to the one that African women make. As Baba gets out of the car and approaches they beam and pranam individually to him as he walks past then follow him toward the temple. The conch continues to blare enthusiastically along with the calling of the women. My heart and skin are tingling in the rush of indescribable energy and joy at this outpouring of love and excitement. Baba is greeted warmly by a strikingly tall and beaming shaven-headed young man who is dressed in orange which tells me he is a swami (a Hindu monk). They go inside to the altar and the crowd follows. Everything about this large open room is spotless a marked contrast to almost every less-than-brand-new building I have seen in India. The paint is fresh. The woven palm lining of the roof has a sheen. The lower part of the walls has lovely white designs painted on a gray background. Large windows with open wood shutters make it airy and cool. The clean cement floor is covered with rugs for everyone to sit on. The altar is adorned with bright bouquets of flowers. In the center of the altar is a large garlanded photo of Ramakrishna (a famous and celebrated Hindu master of the 19th century) and a large photo of his wife. Sarada. (also called "The Mother") is on a side wall. So this is a Ramakrishna temple. To the left of the altar there is a smaller altar table with a garlanded photo of Baba Lokenath. Baba prays does a ceremonial arati (offering of a burning lamp and then of incense) to honor and invoke the blessings of the saints on the gathering while the conch shell continues to sound and the women continue their calling at a fever pitch. I have never experienced anything remotely like this. Everyone sits. There are 48 women in the central area of the hall. 24 men sit 2x2 nearer the wall. I am invited to sit at the speaker's table with Baba and the young swami while Amilendu the LDLM Rural Program Director stands to the side of us at the microphone and begins to address the group. We are here to hear about their problems how they are responding to them what ideas they have for the work and for them to get input from Baba. Everyone takes their turn standing to introduce themselves and what they do for the work. Some take longer than others to share how the work has changed their lives express their gratitude to Baba for the blessings he has brought into their lives and communities or to share something specific about their work. In the second row an extremely gentle looking gray haired man with striking light colored eyes stands. He is the doctor who has been traveling by bicycle to give medical care to the most remote villages of the Sundarbans for the past 20 years. His devotion and the genuineness of his compassion are evident in his every gesture in every humble glance in every flicker of light in his heartbreakingly kind eyes. One man is the superintendent of 10 schools. Another shares how everything in his life began to change for the better since coming to teach for LDLM. One woman manages 30 Self-Help Groups and teaches school! Another woman shares that she teaches every day of the week because her students love school so much they want to come on Sundays too. The crowd gives rapturous applause and laughter. All express their deep gratitude to Baba for the difference he has made in their lives and the lives of those they serve and for all that they are able to do through his blessings. I am crumbling in awe of these people. When I am introduced. I tell them so. "You are Baba's and Baba Lokenath's hands you are their heart you are their love and compassion reaching out to touch the people of your villages. I cannot tell you how privileged I am to be here meeting you." As Aminlendu translates. I bow to them and look into their beautiful strong faces. There are so many clear and vibrant eyes looking back at me who are doing such profound work alleviating the suffering of others and bringing real health into the world that I am having a difficult time not sobbing. A number of women and one man take their turns getting up to share about the difficulties they are having with the local politicians and their personal strategies and successes in meeting them. Of course they are speaking in Bengali so I don't understand a word but everyone is in rapt attention occasionally bursting into laughter or applause. On more than one occasion. Baba leans in to tell me what an incredible story she or he is telling. But I don't want him to miss a word from them so remind him he can give me the details afterwards. I cannot stop thinking about the rich possibilities for in depth interviews with these people. While they speaking. I occasionally take in the flow of life of the community outside the temple much of which I can see through the large open windows. This village has a very pleasant human scale and pace. First and foremost it is clean! The air is fresh! One woman obviously from this village stands outside the temple at a window with her baby on her hip listening to every word being said. Out on the road van rickshaws come and go picking up and dropping people off with their wheels making a distinctly characteristic screeching sound as they stop. Trucks and buses barrel past blowing their loud horns but infrequently enough to be an aberration rather than an obnoxious norm. Women walk up and down the path to and from the road in the conduct of their daily duties some carrying babies some holding the hands of small children some carrying goods. Everyone is clean. There is a breeze. Trees and greenery line the road and surround the houses that I can see. From where I sit it all looks and feels like a healthy fairly enchanting village. I don't see or smell filth anywhere. When the man stands up he talks for a very long time. [Baba later told me that he works in the most remote area of the Sundarbans supervising an area of 84 Self-Help Groups.] His name is Ananta. He is young (mid 30s?) and shares extensively about how he has been working since Baba hired him after it was discovered that the previous SHG leaders were corrupt and were promptly fired. The SHGs were discouraged disheartened when he began but he has worked tirelessly for 2 years and they are thriving now. He shares that he makes it a point to sit down and talk to everyone in the community all the politicians other NGOs anyone and everyone to see how LDLM can partner with them and they can mutually support one another's work. He has helped other NGOs who were failing to get on their feet and now they are both serving the community. He has had huge success despite a plethora of struggles to overcome. He is full of practical ideas that are enthusiastically received by Baba and the rest of the group. When we break for lunch. I am served a feast of rice dal several vegetable dishes and tomato chutney then go out to visit with the other women. We have a wonderful time taking photos and seeing the new school that is being built by the ashram. The young swami it turns out is a boyhood friend of Amilendu's. LDLM's Rural Program Director. They both grew up in this area. As a young man he was a revolutionary. He wanted to change the world but decided he better change himself first and became a monk. He is incredibly magnetic with a ready humor. Everything about him has a radiant glow. He is obviously fiercely intelligent and functions with intensely focused concentration while being completely natural. Every time I look at him. I wonder if I am meeting a future Baba-to-be. After lunch. Baba talks to the group. By now many of the local villagers of all ages are standing at the windows to hear Baba. Many of the LDLM people have developed into real leaders in their communities. Now they are being offered much higher paying jobs by the government. These vastly higher salaried jobs are difficult to resist for many but they offer no security. The money for those programs will be gone in a year or so and those that leave LDLM will be left without a job. They will not be able to come back to work for LDLM. Baba explains that you cannot work for a political party and LDLM. It is one or the other and that can never change. To do otherwise would create crippling animosity toward and consequences for the work. Baba also tells everyone he wishes he could pay them more that he wishes he could give those who give exceptional service a raise but if he did that it would generate resentment and jealousy among the rest of their local team which would destroy their effectiveness. He asks them if they can understand that. They all give an enthusiastic yes. He challenges them to give their creativity and vision to their work to take initiative to give their whole heart to what they do and to contact him if they have problems. He will do all he can to help them. It is a very successful meeting. The staff feels heard. Baba has a firm pulse on exactly what current conditions are being faced by staff in the village work. Everyone present could have shared their own dynamic stories but time was limited. The staff clearly understands Baba's and LDLM's position what LDLM can do and what it can't do. They are reinspired for their work and will take that inspiration back to those who could not attend the meeting. A Visit to a real Indian Village!On the way home we take a detour (a surprise for me) down a one lane brick road for more than a mile to a real Indian village. The mission has 17 Women's Self Help Groups in this tiny village. The villagers have built a temple to Baba Lokenath and have asked Baba to come to the temple to offer an arati to Baba Lokenath. The sun is almost setting. A pink hue fills the sky as we drive toward an area of trees and mud hut homes. These homes as humble as they are appear to be in great shape to my untrained eye. They are clean almost shiny with slickened and dried clay-like soil. Many of the houses come right up to the road but many also have pathways that lead into what appear to be compounds of other huts. Fish ponds are everywhere in the front yards of many of the houses that are set farther back from the tiny road. I shudder to think of the mosquitoes that are breeding in these ponds so close to homes with young children. Children are walking along the road and carefully step to the side to allow our small car by. They beam at us and giggle to one another as we pass. Two little girls cross the road with bundles of straw on their heads which their father helps to remove after they meet him at the gate of their house. On the other side of the car a woman is washing a goat. We turn into a village square (a small open field) where lots of women and children of all ages are standing. The conch shell sounds filling the entire area with its rich resonant call. The women's joyful calling joins in. Everyone is wild to see Baba. His visit is a very special occasion for the entire community. The children are especially fascinated to see me particularly after I start taking a few pictures. The temple built by the villagers themselves is a beautifully thatched one room hut sitting at the far side of the square. Baba goes in and offers the arati while we all stand outside and the calling continues. I recognize one particularly sweet boy from the Kolkata Zoo outing and greet him affectionately. After finishing the arati. Baba leads us all on a walk through the village. It is very green here. Lots of trees on the level ground which sits about 3-4 feet above the fish ponds. Paths lead in between. After we pass a forested area perfectly round cow dung patties (about 4 inches in diameter) are laid out in neat rows along the side of the path to dry in the sun. We turn into a gate and I am amazed to see a well manicured and tended fenced garden surrounding an obviously middle class single level home. A sweet little mud hut sits right next to the house with a rose garden in front of its fenced front porch. Baba tells me that the owner of the house was very devoted to him and begged Baba to come and spend the night at his house. Baba told him that he has a policy of never staying in a house made of bricks and mortar in any village because only the well-to-do can afford such a house and Baba is not in these villages serving the well-to-do. The next year when Baba came to village the young man brought him here to show him this hut which he had built with his own hands so that Baba would be able to stay with him. This sweet little one room hut with its rose garden tiny row of arbor vitae and tiny fence and front porch is literally the house that love built. You can feel the conscious loving attention in its every curve in the simple bed and covering chair and desk that furnish it in every piece of thatch and bamboo that frames it. All I can think about as we turn and twist and curl down the one lane road back to the highway is how privileged I am. So privileged. Privileged to be a part of this work in my small way. Privileged to sit in a sea of brilliantly shining committed faces who are changing real lives lifting them out of abject suffering. Privileged to see this real Indian village and to meet its generous people in this context -- with a saint who brings as much consciousness as he does love to his service to God. Yes yes yes this is the work I prayed so long and so hard for. This is the pure work that we all pray for in our world. And I get to see it first hand. I can write to you honestly -- as one who has seen it with eyes that are not predisposed to gloss over any imperfection -- and tell you unquestioningly and without reservation it is real. God lives and works in our world in the hearts of so many people here. Something truly pure is at work in our world!

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Related article:
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globalgramma/india_journey/1197644520.html

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For those of you who may not know. I had prayed for 20 years for work that was pure and purely in service to both the Divine and the poorest of the poor. I was deeply discouraged by what I felt to be a appalling lack of consciousness in the service provided to the poor in Mother's Teresa's work (which had inspired those prayers) when I volunteered for her in Calcutta in 1995 however much I respected her intentions and motivation. Finding LDLM has been an answer to those prayers. This is my first trip to India since meeting Baba immediately after I returned from Calcutta in 1995. Seeing Baba Shuddhaanandaa's work first hand. I have only been more deeply inspired by the consciousness that pervades every aspect of it. The MeetingWhen the car stops suddenly in the middle of the road. I look up to see a long line of women dressed in all colors of saris lining a raised dirt path about 100 yards long to the right. Behind them is a shorter line of men and behind them is a fresh and clean beige one story building crowned with a small dome obviously a temple. The temple sits in a clearing with small homes and huts that are also remarkably clean nestled amid palm trees and other greenery. The moment the women see that it is Baba's car and we are stopping a conch begins to sound in celebration and the women begin making an ongoing undulating call that is remarkably similar to the one that African women make. As Baba gets out of the car and approaches they beam and pranam individually to him as he walks past then follow him toward the temple. The conch continues to blare enthusiastically along with the calling of the women. My heart and skin are tingling in the rush of indescribable energy and joy at this outpouring of love and excitement. Baba is greeted warmly by a strikingly tall and beaming shaven-headed young man who is dressed in orange which tells me he is a swami (a Hindu monk). They go inside to the altar and the crowd follows. Everything about this large open room is spotless a marked contrast to almost every less-than-brand-new building I have seen in India. The paint is fresh. The woven palm lining of the roof has a sheen. The lower part of the walls has lovely white designs painted on a gray background. Large windows with open wood shutters make it airy and cool. The clean cement floor is covered with rugs for everyone to sit on. The altar is adorned with bright bouquets of flowers. In the center of the altar is a large garlanded photo of Ramakrishna (a famous and celebrated Hindu master of the 19th century) and a large photo of his wife. Sarada. (also called "The Mother") is on a side wall. So this is a Ramakrishna temple. To the left of the altar there is a smaller altar table with a garlanded photo of Baba Lokenath. Baba prays does a ceremonial arati (offering of a burning lamp and then of incense) to honor and invoke the blessings of the saints on the gathering while the conch shell continues to sound and the women continue their calling at a fever pitch. I have never experienced anything remotely like this. Everyone sits. There are 48 women in the central area of the hall. 24 men sit 2x2 nearer the wall. I am invited to sit at the speaker's table with Baba and the young swami while Amilendu the LDLM Rural Program Director stands to the side of us at the microphone and begins to address the group. We are here to hear about their problems how they are responding to them what ideas they have for the work and for them to get input from Baba. Everyone takes their turn standing to introduce themselves and what they do for the work. Some take longer than others to share how the work has changed their lives express their gratitude to Baba for the blessings he has brought into their lives and communities or to share something specific about their work. In the second row an extremely gentle looking gray haired man with striking light colored eyes stands. He is the doctor who has been traveling by bicycle to give medical care to the most remote villages of the Sundarbans for the past 20 years. His devotion and the genuineness of his compassion are evident in his every gesture in every humble glance in every flicker of light in his heartbreakingly kind eyes. One man is the superintendent of 10 schools. Another shares how everything in his life began to change for the better since coming to teach for LDLM. One woman manages 30 Self-Help Groups and teaches school! Another woman shares that she teaches every day of the week because her students love school so much they want to come on Sundays too. The crowd gives rapturous applause and laughter. All express their deep gratitude to Baba for the difference he has made in their lives and the lives of those they serve and for all that they are able to do through his blessings. I am crumbling in awe of these people. When I am introduced. I tell them so. "You are Baba's and Baba Lokenath's hands you are their heart you are their love and compassion reaching out to touch the people of your villages. I cannot tell you how privileged I am to be here meeting you." As Aminlendu translates. I bow to them and look into their beautiful strong faces. There are so many clear and vibrant eyes looking back at me who are doing such profound work alleviating the suffering of others and bringing real health into the world that I am having a difficult time not sobbing. A number of women and one man take their turns getting up to share about the difficulties they are having with the local politicians and their personal strategies and successes in meeting them. Of course they are speaking in Bengali so I don't understand a word but everyone is in rapt attention occasionally bursting into laughter or applause. On more than one occasion. Baba leans in to tell me what an incredible story she or he is telling. But I don't want him to miss a word from them so remind him he can give me the details afterwards. I cannot stop thinking about the rich possibilities for in depth interviews with these people. While they speaking. I occasionally take in the flow of life of the community outside the temple much of which I can see through the large open windows. This village has a very pleasant human scale and pace. First and foremost it is clean! The air is fresh! One woman obviously from this village stands outside the temple at a window with her baby on her hip listening to every word being said. Out on the road van rickshaws come and go picking up and dropping people off with their wheels making a distinctly characteristic screeching sound as they stop. Trucks and buses barrel past blowing their loud horns but infrequently enough to be an aberration rather than an obnoxious norm. Women walk up and down the path to and from the road in the conduct of their daily duties some carrying babies some holding the hands of small children some carrying goods. Everyone is clean. There is a breeze. Trees and greenery line the road and surround the houses that I can see. From where I sit it all looks and feels like a healthy fairly enchanting village. I don't see or smell filth anywhere. When the man stands up he talks for a very long time. [Baba later told me that he works in the most remote area of the Sundarbans supervising an area of 84 Self-Help Groups.] His name is Ananta. He is young (mid 30s?) and shares extensively about how he has been working since Baba hired him after it was discovered that the previous SHG leaders were corrupt and were promptly fired. The SHGs were discouraged disheartened when he began but he has worked tirelessly for 2 years and they are thriving now. He shares that he makes it a point to sit down and talk to everyone in the community all the politicians other NGOs anyone and everyone to see how LDLM can partner with them and they can mutually support one another's work. He has helped other NGOs who were failing to get on their feet and now they are both serving the community. He has had huge success despite a plethora of struggles to overcome. He is full of practical ideas that are enthusiastically received by Baba and the rest of the group. When we break for lunch. I am served a feast of rice dal several vegetable dishes and tomato chutney then go out to visit with the other women. We have a wonderful time taking photos and seeing the new school that is being built by the ashram. The young swami it turns out is a boyhood friend of Amilendu's. LDLM's Rural Program Director. They both grew up in this area. As a young man he was a revolutionary. He wanted to change the world but decided he better change himself first and became a monk. He is incredibly magnetic with a ready humor. Everything about him has a radiant glow. He is obviously fiercely intelligent and functions with intensely focused concentration while being completely natural. Every time I look at him. I wonder if I am meeting a future Baba-to-be. After lunch. Baba talks to the group. By now many of the local villagers of all ages are standing at the windows to hear Baba. Many of the LDLM people have developed into real leaders in their communities. Now they are being offered much higher paying jobs by the government. These vastly higher salaried jobs are difficult to resist for many but they offer no security. The money for those programs will be gone in a year or so and those that leave LDLM will be left without a job. They will not be able to come back to work for LDLM. Baba explains that you cannot work for a political party and LDLM. It is one or the other and that can never change. To do otherwise would create crippling animosity toward and consequences for the work. Baba also tells everyone he wishes he could pay them more that he wishes he could give those who give exceptional service a raise but if he did that it would generate resentment and jealousy among the rest of their local team which would destroy their effectiveness. He asks them if they can understand that. They all give an enthusiastic yes. He challenges them to give their creativity and vision to their work to take initiative to give their whole heart to what they do and to contact him if they have problems. He will do all he can to help them. It is a very successful meeting. The staff feels heard. Baba has a firm pulse on exactly what current conditions are being faced by staff in the village work. Everyone present could have shared their own dynamic stories but time was limited. The staff clearly understands Baba's and LDLM's position what LDLM can do and what it can't do. They are reinspired for their work and will take that inspiration back to those who could not attend the meeting. A Visit to a real Indian Village!On the way home we take a detour (a surprise for me) down a one lane brick road for more than a mile to a real Indian village. The mission has 17 Women's Self Help Groups in this tiny village. The villagers have built a temple to Baba Lokenath and have asked Baba to come to the temple to offer an arati to Baba Lokenath. The sun is almost setting. A pink hue fills the sky as we drive toward an area of trees and mud hut homes. These homes as humble as they are appear to be in great shape to my untrained eye. They are clean almost shiny with slickened and dried clay-like soil. Many of the houses come right up to the road but many also have pathways that lead into what appear to be compounds of other huts. Fish ponds are everywhere in the front yards of many of the houses that are set farther back from the tiny road. I shudder to think of the mosquitoes that are breeding in these ponds so close to homes with young children. Children are walking along the road and carefully step to the side to allow our small car by. They beam at us and giggle to one another as we pass. Two little girls cross the road with bundles of straw on their heads which their father helps to remove after they meet him at the gate of their house. On the other side of the car a woman is washing a goat. We turn into a village square (a small open field) where lots of women and children of all ages are standing. The conch shell sounds filling the entire area with its rich resonant call. The women's joyful calling joins in. Everyone is wild to see Baba. His visit is a very special occasion for the entire community. The children are especially fascinated to see me particularly after I start taking a few pictures. The temple built by the villagers themselves is a beautifully thatched one room hut sitting at the far side of the square. Baba goes in and offers the arati while we all stand outside and the calling continues. I recognize one particularly sweet boy from the Kolkata Zoo outing and greet him affectionately. After finishing the arati. Baba leads us all on a walk through the village. It is very green here. Lots of trees on the level ground which sits about 3-4 feet above the fish ponds. Paths lead in between. After we pass a forested area perfectly round cow dung patties (about 4 inches in diameter) are laid out in neat rows along the side of the path to dry in the sun. We turn into a gate and I am amazed to see a well manicured and tended fenced garden surrounding an obviously middle class single level home. A sweet little mud hut sits right next to the house with a rose garden in front of its fenced front porch. Baba tells me that the owner of the house was very devoted to him and begged Baba to come and spend the night at his house. Baba told him that he has a policy of never staying in a house made of bricks and mortar in any village because only the well-to-do can afford such a house and Baba is not in these villages serving the well-to-do. The next year when Baba came to village the young man brought him here to show him this hut which he had built with his own hands so that Baba would be able to stay with him. This sweet little one room hut with its rose garden tiny row of arbor vitae and tiny fence and front porch is literally the house that love built. You can feel the conscious loving attention in its every curve in the simple bed and covering chair and desk that furnish it in every piece of thatch and bamboo that frames it. All I can think about as we turn and twist and curl down the one lane road back to the highway is how privileged I am. So privileged. Privileged to be a part of this work in my small way. Privileged to sit in a sea of brilliantly shining committed faces who are changing real lives lifting them out of abject suffering. Privileged to see this real Indian village and to meet its generous people in this context -- with a saint who brings as much consciousness as he does love to his service to God. Yes yes yes this is the work I prayed so long and so hard for. This is the pure work that we all pray for in our world. And I get to see it first hand. I can write to you honestly -- as one who has seen it with eyes that are not predisposed to gloss over any imperfection -- and tell you unquestioningly and without reservation it is real. God lives and works in our world in the hearts of so many people here. Something truly pure is at work in our world!

Forex Groups - Tips on Trading

Related article:
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globalgramma/india_journey/1197644520.html

comments | Add comment | Report as Spam

For those of you who may not know. I had prayed for 20 years for work that was pure and purely in service to both the Divine and the poorest of the poor. I was deeply discouraged by what I felt to be a appalling lack of consciousness in the service provided to the poor in Mother's Teresa's work (which had inspired those prayers) when I volunteered for her in Calcutta in 1995 however much I respected her intentions and motivation. Finding LDLM has been an answer to those prayers. This is my first trip to India since meeting Baba immediately after I returned from Calcutta in 1995. Seeing Baba Shuddhaanandaa's work first hand. I have only been more deeply inspired by the consciousness that pervades every aspect of it. The MeetingWhen the car stops suddenly in the middle of the road. I look up to see a long line of women dressed in all colors of saris lining a raised dirt path about 100 yards long to the right. Behind them is a shorter line of men and behind them is a fresh and clean beige one story building crowned with a small dome obviously a temple. The temple sits in a clearing with small homes and huts that are also remarkably clean nestled amid palm trees and other greenery. The moment the women see that it is Baba's car and we are stopping a conch begins to sound in celebration and the women begin making an ongoing undulating call that is remarkably similar to the one that African women make. As Baba gets out of the car and approaches they beam and pranam individually to him as he walks past then follow him toward the temple. The conch continues to blare enthusiastically along with the calling of the women. My heart and skin are tingling in the rush of indescribable energy and joy at this outpouring of love and excitement. Baba is greeted warmly by a strikingly tall and beaming shaven-headed young man who is dressed in orange which tells me he is a swami (a Hindu monk). They go inside to the altar and the crowd follows. Everything about this large open room is spotless a marked contrast to almost every less-than-brand-new building I have seen in India. The paint is fresh. The woven palm lining of the roof has a sheen. The lower part of the walls has lovely white designs painted on a gray background. Large windows with open wood shutters make it airy and cool. The clean cement floor is covered with rugs for everyone to sit on. The altar is adorned with bright bouquets of flowers. In the center of the altar is a large garlanded photo of Ramakrishna (a famous and celebrated Hindu master of the 19th century) and a large photo of his wife. Sarada. (also called "The Mother") is on a side wall. So this is a Ramakrishna temple. To the left of the altar there is a smaller altar table with a garlanded photo of Baba Lokenath. Baba prays does a ceremonial arati (offering of a burning lamp and then of incense) to honor and invoke the blessings of the saints on the gathering while the conch shell continues to sound and the women continue their calling at a fever pitch. I have never experienced anything remotely like this. Everyone sits. There are 48 women in the central area of the hall. 24 men sit 2x2 nearer the wall. I am invited to sit at the speaker's table with Baba and the young swami while Amilendu the LDLM Rural Program Director stands to the side of us at the microphone and begins to address the group. We are here to hear about their problems how they are responding to them what ideas they have for the work and for them to get input from Baba. Everyone takes their turn standing to introduce themselves and what they do for the work. Some take longer than others to share how the work has changed their lives express their gratitude to Baba for the blessings he has brought into their lives and communities or to share something specific about their work. In the second row an extremely gentle looking gray haired man with striking light colored eyes stands. He is the doctor who has been traveling by bicycle to give medical care to the most remote villages of the Sundarbans for the past 20 years. His devotion and the genuineness of his compassion are evident in his every gesture in every humble glance in every flicker of light in his heartbreakingly kind eyes. One man is the superintendent of 10 schools. Another shares how everything in his life began to change for the better since coming to teach for LDLM. One woman manages 30 Self-Help Groups and teaches school! Another woman shares that she teaches every day of the week because her students love school so much they want to come on Sundays too. The crowd gives rapturous applause and laughter. All express their deep gratitude to Baba for the difference he has made in their lives and the lives of those they serve and for all that they are able to do through his blessings. I am crumbling in awe of these people. When I am introduced. I tell them so. "You are Baba's and Baba Lokenath's hands you are their heart you are their love and compassion reaching out to touch the people of your villages. I cannot tell you how privileged I am to be here meeting you." As Aminlendu translates. I bow to them and look into their beautiful strong faces. There are so many clear and vibrant eyes looking back at me who are doing such profound work alleviating the suffering of others and bringing real health into the world that I am having a difficult time not sobbing. A number of women and one man take their turns getting up to share about the difficulties they are having with the local politicians and their personal strategies and successes in meeting them. Of course they are speaking in Bengali so I don't understand a word but everyone is in rapt attention occasionally bursting into laughter or applause. On more than one occasion. Baba leans in to tell me what an incredible story she or he is telling. But I don't want him to miss a word from them so remind him he can give me the details afterwards. I cannot stop thinking about the rich possibilities for in depth interviews with these people. While they speaking. I occasionally take in the flow of life of the community outside the temple much of which I can see through the large open windows. This village has a very pleasant human scale and pace. First and foremost it is clean! The air is fresh! One woman obviously from this village stands outside the temple at a window with her baby on her hip listening to every word being said. Out on the road van rickshaws come and go picking up and dropping people off with their wheels making a distinctly characteristic screeching sound as they stop. Trucks and buses barrel past blowing their loud horns but infrequently enough to be an aberration rather than an obnoxious norm. Women walk up and down the path to and from the road in the conduct of their daily duties some carrying babies some holding the hands of small children some carrying goods. Everyone is clean. There is a breeze. Trees and greenery line the road and surround the houses that I can see. From where I sit it all looks and feels like a healthy fairly enchanting village. I don't see or smell filth anywhere. When the man stands up he talks for a very long time. [Baba later told me that he works in the most remote area of the Sundarbans supervising an area of 84 Self-Help Groups.] His name is Ananta. He is young (mid 30s?) and shares extensively about how he has been working since Baba hired him after it was discovered that the previous SHG leaders were corrupt and were promptly fired. The SHGs were discouraged disheartened when he began but he has worked tirelessly for 2 years and they are thriving now. He shares that he makes it a point to sit down and talk to everyone in the community all the politicians other NGOs anyone and everyone to see how LDLM can partner with them and they can mutually support one another's work. He has helped other NGOs who were failing to get on their feet and now they are both serving the community. He has had huge success despite a plethora of struggles to overcome. He is full of practical ideas that are enthusiastically received by Baba and the rest of the group. When we break for lunch. I am served a feast of rice dal several vegetable dishes and tomato chutney then go out to visit with the other women. We have a wonderful time taking photos and seeing the new school that is being built by the ashram. The young swami it turns out is a boyhood friend of Amilendu's. LDLM's Rural Program Director. They both grew up in this area. As a young man he was a revolutionary. He wanted to change the world but decided he better change himself first and became a monk. He is incredibly magnetic with a ready humor. Everything about him has a radiant glow. He is obviously fiercely intelligent and functions with intensely focused concentration while being completely natural. Every time I look at him. I wonder if I am meeting a future Baba-to-be. After lunch. Baba talks to the group. By now many of the local villagers of all ages are standing at the windows to hear Baba. Many of the LDLM people have developed into real leaders in their communities. Now they are being offered much higher paying jobs by the government. These vastly higher salaried jobs are difficult to resist for many but they offer no security. The money for those programs will be gone in a year or so and those that leave LDLM will be left without a job. They will not be able to come back to work for LDLM. Baba explains that you cannot work for a political party and LDLM. It is one or the other and that can never change. To do otherwise would create crippling animosity toward and consequences for the work. Baba also tells everyone he wishes he could pay them more that he wishes he could give those who give exceptional service a raise but if he did that it would generate resentment and jealousy among the rest of their local team which would destroy their effectiveness. He asks them if they can understand that. They all give an enthusiastic yes. He challenges them to give their creativity and vision to their work to take initiative to give their whole heart to what they do and to contact him if they have problems. He will do all he can to help them. It is a very successful meeting. The staff feels heard. Baba has a firm pulse on exactly what current conditions are being faced by staff in the village work. Everyone present could have shared their own dynamic stories but time was limited. The staff clearly understands Baba's and LDLM's position what LDLM can do and what it can't do. They are reinspired for their work and will take that inspiration back to those who could not attend the meeting. A Visit to a real Indian Village!On the way home we take a detour (a surprise for me) down a one lane brick road for more than a mile to a real Indian village. The mission has 17 Women's Self Help Groups in this tiny village. The villagers have built a temple to Baba Lokenath and have asked Baba to come to the temple to offer an arati to Baba Lokenath. The sun is almost setting. A pink hue fills the sky as we drive toward an area of trees and mud hut homes. These homes as humble as they are appear to be in great shape to my untrained eye. They are clean almost shiny with slickened and dried clay-like soil. Many of the houses come right up to the road but many also have pathways that lead into what appear to be compounds of other huts. Fish ponds are everywhere in the front yards of many of the houses that are set farther back from the tiny road. I shudder to think of the mosquitoes that are breeding in these ponds so close to homes with young children. Children are walking along the road and carefully step to the side to allow our small car by. They beam at us and giggle to one another as we pass. Two little girls cross the road with bundles of straw on their heads which their father helps to remove after they meet him at the gate of their house. On the other side of the car a woman is washing a goat. We turn into a village square (a small open field) where lots of women and children of all ages are standing. The conch shell sounds filling the entire area with its rich resonant call. The women's joyful calling joins in. Everyone is wild to see Baba. His visit is a very special occasion for the entire community. The children are especially fascinated to see me particularly after I start taking a few pictures. The temple built by the villagers themselves is a beautifully thatched one room hut sitting at the far side of the square. Baba goes in and offers the arati while we all stand outside and the calling continues. I recognize one particularly sweet boy from the Kolkata Zoo outing and greet him affectionately. After finishing the arati. Baba leads us all on a walk through the village. It is very green here. Lots of trees on the level ground which sits about 3-4 feet above the fish ponds. Paths lead in between. After we pass a forested area perfectly round cow dung patties (about 4 inches in diameter) are laid out in neat rows along the side of the path to dry in the sun. We turn into a gate and I am amazed to see a well manicured and tended fenced garden surrounding an obviously middle class single level home. A sweet little mud hut sits right next to the house with a rose garden in front of its fenced front porch. Baba tells me that the owner of the house was very devoted to him and begged Baba to come and spend the night at his house. Baba told him that he has a policy of never staying in a house made of bricks and mortar in any village because only the well-to-do can afford such a house and Baba is not in these villages serving the well-to-do. The next year when Baba came to village the young man brought him here to show him this hut which he had built with his own hands so that Baba would be able to stay with him. This sweet little one room hut with its rose garden tiny row of arbor vitae and tiny fence and front porch is literally the house that love built. You can feel the conscious loving attention in its every curve in the simple bed and covering chair and desk that furnish it in every piece of thatch and bamboo that frames it. All I can think about as we turn and twist and curl down the one lane road back to the highway is how privileged I am. So privileged. Privileged to be a part of this work in my small way. Privileged to sit in a sea of brilliantly shining committed faces who are changing real lives lifting them out of abject suffering. Privileged to see this real Indian village and to meet its generous people in this context -- with a saint who brings as much consciousness as he does love to his service to God. Yes yes yes this is the work I prayed so long and so hard for. This is the pure work that we all pray for in our world. And I get to see it first hand. I can write to you honestly -- as one who has seen it with eyes that are not predisposed to gloss over any imperfection -- and tell you unquestioningly and without reservation it is real. God lives and works in our world in the hearts of so many people here. Something truly pure is at work in our world!

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Why is it that black women undergo such a hard time growing lengthy locks. Black women dont have to assay with growing our hair The following 5 myths have contributed to the lack of hair growth in black women 1. Black Women Cant change Hair: This is just an out and out lie. Do other ethnic groups undergo a genetic monopoly on desire hair. Is there something special or flawed about black hair that prevents it from growing. Is there some funky gene tied to melanin that prevents hair growth. No no and no. Black women can grow hair. color women do change hair. Dont you have to go for a touch-up on your relaxer or alter every 6 to 8 weeks. Then your hair is growing. The question is how to act it on your continue Black hair has special needs and cant be treated desire straight hair which leads us straight to our other myth 2 Only ‘Mixed Women Can Grow Hair: Another long-standing lie. There is a cerebrate that mixed women be to have longer hair. Sometimes not all of the times. ‘mixed women undergo a looser curl. The looser the change surface the more that it retains moisture. The more moisture it retains the less breakage occurs. Also every bend in a curl is an opportunity for breakage. Looser curls have less bends than tight curls. The hair stays on the continue and length is achieved. Tight kinky curls are very dry. They demand extra care and attention to achieve desire lengths but with proper cultivation they can change just as long as looser curls. 3. Greasing the sell: This comes from the dryness of kinky hair. In an effort to furnish moisture the sell is often coated with Vaseline or mineral oil. While natural oils are an integral part of a color hair growth regimen petroleum change integrity and mineral oil are not. These products coat the scalp and kill the hair follicle. Hair growth slows drink and sometimes stops completely. 4. alter Hair Grows: This is another myth that arose out of the dryness of kinky hair. In an attempt to prevent the dryness we conclude after shampooing many of us stop washing our hair for 2 to 3 weeks at a time. Again the scalp must be clear of debris for hair follicles to thrive and create hair. Dirty hair is just that alter. And it doesnt change any faster.

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Why is it that black women have such a hard measure growing lengthy locks. color women dont have to struggle with growing our hair The following 5 myths have contributed to the lack of hair growth in black women 1. Black Women move Grow Hair: This is just an out and out lie. Do other ethnic groups have a genetic monopoly on long hair. Is there something special or flawed about black hair that prevents it from growing. Is there some funky gene tied to melanin that prevents hair growth. No no and no. color women can change hair. color women do grow hair. Dont you undergo to go for a touch-up on your relaxer or color every 6 to 8 weeks. Then your hair is growing. The challenge is how to keep it on your head Black hair has special needs and cant be treated like straight hair which leads us straight to our other myth 2 Only ‘Mixed Women Can change Hair: Another long-standing lie. There is a reason that mixed women be to have longer hair. Sometimes not all of the times. ‘mixed women have a looser curl. The looser the curl the more that it retains moisture. The more moisture it retains the less breakage occurs. Also every change form in a curl is an opportunity for breakage. Looser curls have less bends than tight curls. The hair stays on the continue and length is achieved. Tight kinky curls are very dry. They require extra compassionate and attention to achieve desire lengths but with proper cultivation they can grow just as long as looser curls. 3. Greasing the Scalp: This comes from the dryness of kinky hair. In an effort to give moisture the scalp is often coated with Vaseline or mineral oil. While natural oils are an integral move of a black hair growth regimen petroleum jelly and mineral oil are not. These products cover the sell and suffocate the hair follicle. Hair growth slows down and sometimes stops completely. 4. Dirty Hair Grows: This is another myth that arose out of the dryness of kinky hair. In an attempt to prevent the dryness we feel after shampooing many of us stop washing our hair for 2 to 3 weeks at a time. Again the scalp must be clear of debris for hair follicles to thrive and produce hair. Dirty hair is just that alter. And it doesnt grow any faster.

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Why is it that black women have such a hard measure growing lengthy locks. color women dont have to assay with growing our hair The following 5 myths have contributed to the lack of hair growth in black women 1. color Women Cant Grow Hair: This is just an out and out lie. Do other ethnic groups undergo a genetic monopoly on long hair. Is there something special or flawed about color hair that prevents it from growing. Is there some funky gene tied to melanin that prevents hair growth. No no and no. color women can grow hair. Black women do grow hair. Dont you have to go for a touch-up on your relaxer or color every 6 to 8 weeks. Then your hair is growing. The question is how to keep it on your head color hair has special needs and move be treated like straight hair which leads us straight to our other myth 2 Only ‘Mixed Women Can change Hair: Another long-standing lie. There is a cerebrate that mixed women tend to undergo longer hair. Sometimes not all of the times. ‘mixed women have a looser curl. The looser the curl the more that it retains moisture. The more moisture it retains the less breakage occurs. Also every change form in a curl is an opportunity for breakage. Looser curls undergo less bends than tight curls. The hair stays on the head and length is achieved. Tight kinky curls are very dry. They require extra care and attention to bring home the bacon desire lengths but with proper cultivation they can grow just as long as looser curls. 3. Greasing the Scalp: This comes from the dryness of kinky hair. In an effort to furnish moisture the sell is often coated with Vaseline or mineral oil. While natural oils are an integral part of a black hair growth regimen petroleum change integrity and mineral oil are not. These products coat the scalp and suffocate the hair follicle. Hair growth slows down and sometimes stops completely. 4. Dirty Hair Grows: This is another myth that arose out of the dryness of kinky hair. In an act to prevent the dryness we conclude after shampooing many of us stop washing our hair for 2 to 3 weeks at a measure. Again the sell must be clear of debris for hair follicles to grow and produce hair. Dirty hair is just that dirty. And it doesnt grow any faster.

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http://kid147.blogrox.com/2007/12/10/top-5-black-hair-growth-myths-buy-large-penis-picture-online/

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Why is it that black women have such a hard measure growing lengthy locks. color women dont undergo to struggle with growing our hair The following 5 myths have contributed to the lack of hair growth in black women 1. Black Women move Grow Hair: This is just an out and out lie. Do other ethnic groups have a genetic monopoly on desire hair. Is there something special or flawed about color hair that prevents it from growing. Is there some funky gene tied to melanin that prevents hair growth. No no and no. Black women can grow hair. Black women do change hair. Dont you have to go for a touch-up on your relaxer or color every 6 to 8 weeks. Then your hair is growing. The question is how to keep it on your head color hair has special needs and cant be treated like straight hair which leads us straight to our other myth 2 Only ‘Mixed Women Can change Hair: Another long-standing lie. There is a cerebrate that mixed women tend to undergo longer hair. Sometimes not all of the times. ‘mixed women undergo a looser change surface. The looser the change surface the more that it retains moisture. The more moisture it retains the less breakage occurs. Also every bend in a curl is an opportunity for breakage. Looser curls have less bends than tight curls. The hair stays on the head and length is achieved. Tight kinky curls are very dry. They require extra care and attention to bring home the bacon long lengths but with proper cultivation they can grow just as long as looser curls. 3. Greasing the sell: This comes from the dryness of kinky hair. In an effort to furnish moisture the sell is often coated with Vaseline or mineral oil. While natural oils are an integral part of a black hair growth regimen petroleum change integrity and mineral oil are not. These products coat the sell and suffocate the hair follicle. Hair growth slows drink and sometimes stops completely. 4. Dirty Hair Grows: This is another myth that arose out of the dryness of kinky hair. In an act to prevent the dryness we feel after shampooing many of us forbid washing our hair for 2 to 3 weeks at a measure. Again the sell must be clear of debris for hair follicles to grow and create hair. alter hair is just that dirty. And it doesnt grow any faster.

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Related article:
http://kid147.blogrox.com/2007/12/10/top-5-black-hair-growth-myths-buy-large-penis-picture-online/

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