Pranam. Planning for the Mahavishva. News from around the Sector. Remaining together is natural for you, and to remain disunited. unnatural.

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1 Newsletter of Ananda Marga Suva Sector Planning for the Mahavishva January, 2015 Remaining together is natural for you, and to remain disunited is something unnatural. Now the universe has become very small. People are able to travel from one planet to another. When there was no convenience of conveyances, Lord Krs n a planned the Maha bha rata to unite the scattered India. Today the universe has become small. Planning for Maha vishva (The Great Universe) and not Maha bha rata (Great India), is required. The guiding factor behind the creation of the Maha bha rata was dharma the creation of a great human society in which there would be peace, happiness, fraternity and no poverty. In that period, it was the rule that the country was held responsible if a person died of starvation. Not merely this, if there was an early death, if a child of five or so died, people regarded it as a flaw in the ruling structure. Today you have to create Maha vishva (The Great Universe), and the guiding principle behind it will be that all human beings are the progeny of the Supreme Progenitor. Hence all are His children, hence all should live together nay, will have to live together. Black or white, literate or illiterate, small or tall, all are the children of the same Father. Hence all will have to live together. So the important thing is that all are the progeny of the Supreme Progenitor. According to this, there will be unity in the physical stratum, and so will there be in the psychic and spiritual strata. But to strengthen this unity yet more, there is one more factor which should be there, and is there that factor being the common goal for all the children of the Supreme Father the merger of all in Him. All have come from Him and are in Him; there- fore, all people will have to live together. Remaining together is natural for you, and to remain disunited is something unnatural. You know well that unnaturality is not tolerated by Prakrti. Unnaturality is ultimately destroyed. So it is natural for human beings to live together and to make a great Universe. By not doing so, and by mutual fight, all will be destroyed. This is the law of Prakrti. Hence, united you will have to remain, this is your duty. So that the people of the world may remain united, it is your duty to bring the Mahavishva as soon as possible. There will be peace and happiness in the Universe, and, established in one indivisible ideology, humanity will march ahead toward the Supreme Goal. Victory be with you! Discourses on the Mahabharata Baba, 3 December, 1967, Ranchi News from around the Sector Summer Conference and Ananda Mela The Suva Sector Sectorial Summer Conference was held over new year from 28th December to 3 rd January. Workshops focused on Spirituality as a Mission and strategic planning. Daily Akhanda Kiirtan set a blissful mood and we danced in the new year with energy and

2 Page 2 Ananda Vanii, 1 January, (Vanii # 49, from 1 January, 1978.) The flame of a lamp lights up countless lamps. The touch of a great personality wakes up innumerable sleeping hearts. In the same way, the eternal glow of the boundless élan vital of Cosmic Consciousness has been illuminating the life-lamp of universal humanism since time immemorial, is illuminating it, and in future will do so even more intensely. That is why I say, the future of the human race is not dark, rather it is strikingly resplendent. So proceed on, ignoring the frowns of darkness. Achu and Sonalii s baby daughter had her baby naming ceremony on new year s day and received the name Tara. We shared good news from around the sector, collected from Didis and Dadas at RDS that happened just before the conference. The conference was followed by Ananda Mela from 5 th to 11 th January. The Mela invited participants to empower themselves spiritually through the spiritual practices and gain practical skills necessary for community building all in the festive atmosphere of the Mela. The Aquaponics workshop was timely, coming on the heels of prolonged drought. The new Aquaponics system set up behind the Butterfly Bungalow demonstrates how nutritious and vital food can be grown with much less water and space than is used in conventional agriculture. This makes it ideal for urban Warm-up games at the Mela Visit to Aboriginal Sacred Site at Girraween spaces such as back gardens. Ananda Palli now joins Melbourne jagrti as a sustainable agriculture research centre. Two sessions on Non-violent Communication gave participants tools to help conflict resolution by affirming the intention to connect and using strategies that help better frame the issue and hone the skills of listening and expressing. The Mela abounded with dance (no pun intended), with African, Indian and Aboriginal dance workshops, and even Kaoshikii and Tandava being performed by the brothers yoga class on the Grand Performance Night. Wiruunngga and Terri -Anne, in addition to leading us in a traditional opening ceremony, introduced us to an Aboriginal sacred site in Girraween National Park. We enjoyed the serenity and beauty of the spot as people did before us for thousands of years. Dharmamitra and Suveda presented at both the Summer Conference and the Mela on their latest enterprise Life Interwoven, a project that markets and pays a fair return for quality products manufactured by traditional artisans in developing countries. News Briefs Reported at December RDS Dada Snigdhananda: 140 attended a fundraising programme organized by Liila in Hobart for students doing medical service in Uganda. $AU8,000 was raised. Logan City Library invited Dada to give a Yoga lecture in March. QUT, Gardens Point, yoga and meditation classes are ongoing. Dada attended Achu and Sonali s house warming. Dada Paramatmananda: has completed a 12 week Meditation and Yoga Course for the staff and community of the district hospital in North- west Victoria. The participants were very grateful for Dada s time and wanted further programs. Thus together with the local shire, the local tourism subcommittee and the hospital, a Music Health and Wellbeing festival is being developed. David Brant, director at VCOSS, together with a number of local members,

3 Page 3 are working on this. The Melbourne AMPS Unit held a fund-raising dinner in support of two current projects: Loading medical equipment for The Philippines 1. Following up from the support provided to the victims of Haiyan Hurricane, Philippines, the unit has organized a container full of hospital equipment donated by the RNW District Hospital and The Austin Hospital. Cloudsolutions Group, Victorian Crane Services and other supportive companies are helping with the logistics. 2. A fundraising event was held in aid of the Abha Seva Charitable Dispensary, Chas, near Bokaro. Attendees were inspired by the work that is being done by Dada Devashuddhananda who gave a presentation on the project. Melbourne Unit continues to expand the services it provides for refugees and the needy in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. Food for distribution to people in need in Melbourne As part of research on Master Units and food security Dada has initiated an Aquaponics project at the Melbourne jagrti. Aquaponics is Aquaponics at Ananda Palli the process of using fish and plants to create a very water efficient, symbiotically controlled ecological environment for growing food. Dada is working with a UK based not-for-profit to further develop this. As mentioned earlier, a second such project has been started in AnandaPalli. This research supports the development of Baba s Master Unit concept for urban environments. Dada continues his volunteering with the State Emergency Services, learning skills that will enhance AMURT s emergency response capabilities. While in India, Dada visited the Abha Seva Dispensary Dance group from the Adruta Children s Home, Orissa and the Adruta children s home in Orissa, being run by Aditya Mohanti. Both projects are excellent examples of Neo-humanism in practice. The children at the home, besides excelling at their studies, are in demand in India and overseas for their amazing performances of their local culture. Didi Ananda Ashesa: spent time in Derby with Didi A Nirmala who is involved in youth suicide prevention and provides respite time at her house for young Aboriginal kids. The Master Unit is developing with 200 mahogony trees, a mango orchard, coconut and neem trees. On returning from Derby, held an introductory meditation talk in Sandgate. Didi Ananda Shamita researched and found a suitable location for the new Sunrise Pre-school in Melbourne. She oversaw the design and approval process with architects and council and the school is set to open in a few months. Didi had two workshops on meditation and 7 initiations. Didi Ananda Nirupama Sunrise Preschool (by Didi Ananda Madhupurna and Didi Ananda Nirupama) Over 100 parents, children, relatives and teachers attended the year end program at Edinburgh Park, the highlight of which was a huge morning circle. We had several successful, fun and creative fundraising events: a tea towel with children s and teachers drawings of themselves; a silent auction and a coloured sand mandala made by all of the children with Sigrid-the teacher. Over $6,000 was raised for the school. Perhaps the development that we re all most excited about is the construction of the long awaited tree house. The permit took 8 months to clear council and we are the only school in the area to have this amenity. In November last year, the preschool was accredited for the first time under the National Quality Standard (NQS), with a very satisfactory rating. 4 out of 7 of the main criteria met the standard and 3 exceeded it. Didis, teachers and parents worked In November last year, Sunrise Preschool was accredited for the first time under the National Quality Standard, with a very satisfactory rating

4 Page 4 hard as a community for this achievement. A health and wellbeing programme was held at the school for the school committee and supporters. 35 parents were treated to a delicious lunch and a talk by homeopath/naturopath Kate Lukis who focused on ADHD and alternatives to pharma solutions. A short video of a typical day at Sunrise Preschool was produced and handed out to all parents. Yoga and Meditation classes are ongoing for sisters throughout the year. CONGRATULATIONS to Didi Ananda Madhupurna (formerly Didi Manika) who recently received Avadhutika diiksa! Didi A. Aparna Guam: 31 children are enrolled in the school. Didi Ananda Vijaya holds twice weekly meditation and yoga classes in Gympie. The harvest at Ananda Madhurii MU is abundant with macadamia nuts, lychees, bananas, figs, lemonades, chikku fruit, sapote, guavas, peaches, drumsticks, a variety of asian beans, karela, a variety of lettuce, sweet potatoes, beetroot, okra, variety of chillies and edible green leaves, zucchini and other vegetable. Chutney made from the green mangoes was enjoyed by the RDS, Mela and Summer Conference attendees! Didi Ananda Nirmala reports from Derby: After three years of WWD presence in the Kimberley region, in February 2014, a 5 acre piece of land with a two bedroom house was purchased in Derby, WA for a master unit. It has been named Ananda Tapasvinii, which means that which takes away the suffering of Didi Ananda Nirmala & some of her Big Family others. Ananda Tapasvinii MU has a lovely healing vibration. On different occasions, some local families from the nearby town area have been invited to visit. The children enjoy playing here very much and the parents often ask to come out again with them. They enjoy the bush sounds, trees and space that the land provides. The dharmacakra room is now being refreshed with a new coat of paint to start running classes. A ride-on lawn-mower has recently been purchased to help maintain the land. Regarding service to the community, I am in touch with many individuals who require assistance for a wide variety of reasons such as food, transport, a micro-loan, documentation and drafting of letters, referrals to appropriate authorities or social and emotional well-being. On a weekly basis, I am often engaged in any one of these activities. In addition, in order to maintain the costs of living here, I am working part time at a combined Frail -Aged and Nursing Home which has a large percentage of very dear and respected Aboriginal elders from the local communities around here. During Christmas I travelled to Fitzroy Crossing to transport a family especially to visit their mother/ wife at the Nursing Home in Derby. There is much opportunity for AMURT/EL work to grow here. Social issues mainly include youth mental health exacerbated by lack of employment, remoteness and isolation, drugs and alcohol often leading to suicide. Diabetes, gout, kidney infections and stroke are very common diseases in the area. There is a chronic shortage of housing leading to over- crowded conditions. The cost of living is much higher particularly regarding rental costs, fuel, and food and there are large distances to travel between Ananda Tapasvinii MU has a lovely healing vibration

5 Page 5 communities to connect with family. In July-August, the SWWS of Suva Sector, Avtk Ananda Ashesa made her first visit to the region and we held a house-warming at the jagrti. As Baba once told a worker, My Grace is with you and nobody can take it away from you. It is His desire that we do some concrete service work. What that will be and when it will emerge has yet to be seen as we are still in the very beginning stages of Ananda Marga work here in the Kimberley. Nevertheless His Grace has shone so far and will do so in the future. Didi Ananda Vitandra & Rukminii report from Lismore: Anandavatika MU Land update: Currently we are doing maintenance before school begins. New tennis court style fences are being erected around the school oval and handball court and the school s driveway will be repaired. We have also planted new flowers and native trees in the school ground as well as mulched all immediate gardens with T-tree mulch. The white sapote tree is fruiting for the first time Newspaper article promoting Vistara s new CD, Earth s heart Calling Versatile space, one of the amenities at Vistara with several fruits and the Acerola and banana trees have been abundant this year. The students pineapple plants have produced 4 healthy pineapples which will bring smiles to many faces when school resumes. DC occurs at Anandavatika twice per month and is regularly attended by local margiis and sympathisers. Vistara Primary School students in Yrs 5 & 6 have won the Runner Up for the best Primary School Story award for the Northern Stars Newspapers In Education program. The story was titled Waste In Space, an article discussing the issues of space junk. The school s CD Earth s Heart Calling is selling in stores in Byron Bay and Lismore. 3 Local radio stations have requested the CD and 2 have requested interviews with the children. One store in Lismore was playing the CD into the streets and a local newspaper wrote a promotional article. There is a website for the CD com School students participated in the annual Kaoshikii Vistara Primary School students in years 5 & 6 have won the Runner Up for the Best Primary School Story Award for the Northern Stars Newspapers

6 Page 6 competition. The standard of Kaoshikii dance increases each year making it challenging to choose the winners. However, this year 2 students from each classroom were awarded trophies & everyone who participated received a medal. The school s Annual Awards Ceremony was a great success with many more parents attending. The Awards Ceremony is a way of acknowledging the academic & personal milestones that students achieve. It also encourages their joyful spirit which shines each day, their leadership, & their being outstanding role models. Grade 6 graduation was emotional, seeing 6 graduates move into High School. Parents and students acknowledged the school & staff with heartfelt gratitude for educating their children with Neo Humanist Educational Philosophy. Yogafest, Otago University, Dunedin DC in Nadi, Fiji Didi Ananda Anuprabha and Jiivan organized the annual Yogafest at Otago University Interfaith programme fills Auckland jagrti Dada Shuddhatmananda: Attended Yogafest in Dunedin gave classes on Bio- Psychology, followed by Auckalnd Uni Yogafest & a well attended programme in Waihi, organized by. Liilavati. The Fijian Margiis are happy to have visits from Acaryas & they organized spiritual talks for me. I reviewed lessons, gave initiations and regularized DC in Nadi. Jyotsna organized a multifaith programme that filled to capacity the Auckland jagrti. I attended the HOTA Annual conference that brings together organisations with a common interest in popularizing Yoga philosophy. Regular classes: Auckland Uni, City Hospital & Auckland Jagrti. $AU10,000 paid in lump sum to pay off mortgage. Weekly regular Food distribution, organized by Dada Vimaleshvarananda. Didi Ananda Anuprabha: Together with Jiivan, organized the Yogafest at Otago University. Donation received for AMURT. Ongoing yoga & meditation classes in uni. Attended one day programmes in Auckland &Waihi. Baby naming of Amelendu & Nitya s new baby. Interfaith peace week talk, Dunedin.

7 Ananda Marga Sectorial Office 19 Lovel St., Katoomba, NSW 2780 Tel: Self-realisation and Service to all Upcoming Events, 2015 Event Dates Place Brisbane Regional 6 8 March Ananda Palli Retreat PWSA Retreat March Ananda Madhurii, Gympie Wellington Regional Retreat Sisters Spiritual Lifestyle Training 3 6 April Auckland 5 25 April Ananda Madhurii, Gympie Mid-year Mela 5 8 June Ananda Palli Winter Conference 9 12 July Melbourne Summer Conference 28 Dec 3 Jan 2016 Ananda Palli Ananda Mela 4 10 January, 2016 Ananda Palli Fasting Days, 2015, Brisbane Region E P A JAN 1, 16, FEB MAR 2, 16, APR 14, MAY 14, JUN 12, JLY 11, AUG 11, SEPT 9, OCT 8, NOV 7, DEC 7, Special Event: In May, 1965, Baba started the Women s Welfare Dept. of Ananda Marga. To celebrate this special event, WWD of Suva Sector is organising a Women s conference in Melbourne.. Further details to be announced. Anandotsava (Ananda Marga Festivals, 2015) New Year s Day (International) Niilkantha Divas (Anniversary of failed attempt by gaol doctor in 1973 to poison Baba) Dadiichi Divasa (Commemorating those in Ananda Marga who gave their lives for Dharma) Vasantotsave (Spring Festival) Ananda Purnima (Baba s Birthday) Shravanii Purnima (Kalikananda s initiation, 1 st initiation) Prabhat Samgiita Divasa (Anniversary of 1 st Prabhat Samgiit) Sharadotsava (Autumn Festival) Children s Day, Sunday, 18 October Public Day, Monday, 19 October Fine Arts Day, Tuesday, 20 October Music Day & Baba s Mahaprayan, Wednesday, 21 October Vijayotsava, Thursday, 22 October Diipavali (Festival of Light) Bhra'trdvitiiya (Brothers Day) Navanna (Harvest Festival) Thursday, 1 January Thursday, 12 February Thursday, 5 March Friday, 6 March Monday, 4 May Sunday, 30 August Monday, 14 September 18th-22th October (Sunday to Thursday) Wednesday, 11 November Friday, 13 November Sunday, 15 November