Service (through cooking) is joy!

Cooking with Nandadevi.

A while ago I signed up to cook dinner for the Village internship program…and then promptly forgot about it. (I have no idea why I didn’t put it on my calendar — duh!)

A couple of days ago I got a reminder about it, and I have to confess that my first thought was, “Oh no! Do I really have time to do this?!?”

Well, tonight was the night, and (as usual) I’m soooo glad I didn’t bail.

Why? Let me count the ways…

  1. My “helper” was Nandadevi, one of my favorite people on the planet. It was lovely chatting with her while cutting veggies; plus Sundara came and helped as well.
  2. Being in the Expanding Light kitchen was great fun, especially since it meant running into people I don’t see in my usual daily flow (like Ana and Darshana) and also getting to visit with ashram residents Matthew and Janaka.
  3. I got to experience anew the truth that “Service is joy!”
  4. And finally, I got to meet a bunch of new interns, a sweet group of souls who’ve come together from all over the country — including Texas, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Florida, and various parts of California.

All in all, an extremely satisfying evening.

Fall colors, sunset light

Sometimes in the autumn at Ananda Village, the fall colors and sunset light combine into such beauty that I feel like I’m living in a Maxfield Parrish painting.

These are just quick snapshots taken on my phone from the Expanding Light Retreat parking lot, but they’re absolutely magical!

International Village choir

NOW we’re officially back. Tonight was our first full choir rehearsal, and what a great rehearsal it was! Part of the wonderfulness is due to an influx of great souls in young (or at least young-ish) bodies who are adding a lot of fresh energy into the mix.

Since we had to leave town soon after these newbies started coming, we decided to join them for tea in the Expanding Light dining room after rehearsal tonight in order to get to know them all a little better.

Looking at the photos I took, it strikes me just how international of a group it is; we are truly evolving into a World Brotherhood Choir right here at Ananda Village. Hari bol!

Arya (Hong Kong), Erin, Linda, Arati (Spain), Dhyan
Lakshman (the 1st, who has recently returned to Ananda Village), Ben, Catarina (Finland), Ashtara (Israel)
Max (Russia) who is serving at Ananda Scotts Valley–so we can’t get him in choir quite yet, Arya, Erin
Catarina, Ashtara, Gaurja (India), Ramesha (Switzerland)