And enjoyed it very much.
Took the day off
Another beautiful Oratorio
A successful evening and another beautiful Oratorio under our proverbial belt.
Kudos to director, choir, soloists, instrumentalists, audio-video-lighting teams, refreshments crew, and all the other helpers.
And — though we’re completely at home in the Temple of Light by now (after all, it’s been close to five years!) — I have to stop for a moment of gratitude for Panduranga, the wonderful architect who designed the Temple. On nights like tonight the blessing of getting to perform regularly in this amazing building hits me all over again.
The pieces are all in place
We just had our final run-through for tomorrow night’s Oratorio performance and all the pieces are officially in place and ready to go.
Choir, soloists, instrumentals. Sound, lights, song lists. Knowing who goes where and when — and what color they’re wearing. 😊🌈
A myriad of details, but tomorrow we’ll do our best to set them all aside and simply let the inspiration flow.
One of Ramesha’s best
Ramesha recently shared this video from a few years ago. It’s so beautifully moving that I want to share it here as well.
This is what he writes about it in the video description:
This is a rather particular chant titled “They Have Heard Thy Name.” It was written by Yogananda. It’s a heartfelt prayer asking God to give comfort to those who are suffering.
LYRICS:
They have heard Thy name, the blind halt and lame. (2)
They have come to Thy door, Lord, they have come to Thy door;
Give them an audience, Lord.
They have heard Thy name, the blind halt and lame. (2)
Those who are in despair, wipe Thou their tears! (2)
They have come to Thy door, Lord, they have come to Thy door;
Give them an audience, Lord.
They have heard Thy name, the blind halt and lame. (2)
Those who are drowned in sin, to whom will they go? (2)
They have no one, Lord, they have no one;
Do not turn them away.
🙏
Recovery time
Recovery: wishing I could have had another day of it.
Yesterday fit the recovery scenario: I slept late, took it easy, didn’t even leave the house all day.
Today was the exact opposite: the morning was spent on tasks at home; I ran seven(!) errands in the afternoon; then had soloist/instrumental rehearsal in the evening.
And the rest of the week just gets more intense with final preparations for Friday night’s Oratorio performance.
Jai Guru!
LA experiences, past and present
We only had two days in LA — arriving Friday evening, spending all day Saturday at Yogananda Fest, then getting on the road back to Ananda Village directly from lunch after Sunday service at Ananda Los Angeles — but it was enough to feel truly reconnected with our SoCal spiritual family and even with Los Angeles itself.
It was great seeing longtime devotees from when we lived there from 2010-2013, but equally wonderful meeting so many recently arrived folks who immediately felt like soul friends.
Throughout the weekend I felt like I was sort of “checking off” certain key experiences — the iconic skyline at Hollywood and Vine as glimpsed from the freeway; scores of palm trees; the constant sound of traffic; a man dressed in a suit decorated with a peacock feather pattern; the (brief) appearance of a cockroach during Sunday service(!) — which, when taken altogether, added up to feeling LA in my mind and heart.
It was funny how I could even enjoy being in traffic, knowing that it was only for a couple of days!
I also had a nostalgic moment when I saw this sign inside the Ananda LA center, hanging above the door to the sanctuary. Someone (I don’t remember who) had made it for our first Ananda LA ashram in West Hollywood.
We couldn’t use it at the entrance to the house because, as it was a residential area, the zoning laws meant we couldn’t represent ourselves as an official “center.”
But it was a lovely sign, so we used it indoors. It’s lovely to see it still in use.
So exhausted
Sunday service at Ananda LA, followed by a potluck. Then the long drive home.
Completely done in.
A long and wonderful day
Ananda LA’s Yogananda Fest was tremendously successful on every level, filled with inspiration, creativity, service, and satsang.
We reconnected with old friends and met strangers who felt like we’d known them forever.
There’s more I could say but I’m too tired. And tomorrow is Sunday service, followed by the long drive home.
So…good night!
Return to LA
Our three years of living in LA seems like another lifetime. Especially considering that we haven’t been here since 2017 — a full seven years and a pandemic ago!
The constant background noise is hard to believe after so long away. On the other hand, many sweet memories came to mind as we drove into the heart of the city.
It’s great to be back… temporarily!
Choices
Considering that I spent a total of almost three hours driving to and from Roseville for last night’s sleep study…
….and that I’ll be spending all day tomorrow sitting in a car on the way to Los Angeles for Yogananda Fest…
…I’m choosing to keep this short so I can fit in a short walk before it gets too late. My body needs to move a little!