2009 Newsletter - November

The end of our first year as Shantipuri Friends Foundation is already rapidly approaching. Or perhaps it is better to say, the beginning of our second year... We have so much to thank everyone for -- everyone who has supported our projects with a donation of any amount; who has sponsored one, or two, or five! of our Distant Adoption children from Puri; who has purchased a book or CD; everyone who has simply come to celebrate kirtan with us throughout the year. As we may have mentioned to at least some of you before, we are in deep gratitude and appreciation for the abundance that has come to the organization, for some of you through true sacrifice. And we are so grateful for this experience of being able to serve in this way -- to contribute what we can to the work of our two beloved Swamis.

We are happy to report that 95% of the funds raised this year have been sent to India to support the many projects -- in particular, the focus in both Omkareshwar and in Puri is to finish construction of two "dream schools". (More information about both of these projects is provided in following posts.) The other 5% is being used to fuel and sustain the organization's efforts here: venue rental, recording and CD production, and general expenses. (Be on the lookout for Swami Nirvanananda's newest CD: "Live in Encinitas 2009" -- the beautifully-mastered recording of his July 26 kirtan at Seaside Center for Spiritual Living. It will be offered along with our current selection of CDs and books online at www.shantipurifriends.org when it becomes available. But if you can't wait, you may preorder by sending a request to info@shantipurifriends.org.) We are also happy to report that from Swami Nirvanananda's US visit, 41 children now have you as sponsors. (!) And 14 of you have renewed previous sponsorships. Thank you!

I just had an inspiring conversation with Jean Raymond, one of our Distant Adoption sponsors. The glow of joy and enthusiasm in her words lifted me, and it felt so perfect to share with everyone. She spoke, with such depth of sincerity, about what a profound gift it is to be able to give to a child in need. Even, or most especially, a child in another part of the world whom you may never meet in person. After sponsoring a child in Guatemala -- from the age four until she married -- she said she felt a vacancy. Not quite an emptiness, but a vacancy where that part of her had been feeding, and had been fed, through an exchange of "love vibes". Her sponsored child used to write to her once a year and tell her that she prayed for her every day. Jean marveled. "I do what I think would make a difference if everyone did just that. It's such a small thing! If everyone realized how little it takes to actually make a difference!" More often, people think about what they are doing for the child or children they are helping. Less common is the awareness of what blessings we receive through the prayers and gratitude of those children. Jean said the best way she could describe what filled that vacant spot in her is as a bubble -- a bubble of joy for doing just one small thing to make this world a better place to be. And it isn't to be casually dismissed as "nice talk". She described her experience as very palpable -- if one can find a place of silence, in a small part of the day, in which to feel it.

And she expressed such admiration and gratitude for Nirvananandaji for the amazing work he has done over the years for so many. It takes so little on our part to do so much; and our Swamis are making it all possible.

Some News from Puri, in Swamiji's Words:

PROJECTS 2008/2009

+ After the flood in September 2008 near Puri, our Sisters of Charity brought relief materials like medicines, food, and blankets for hundreds of people. [See photos]

+ The new tailoring school started last September 2008, and was finished and opened on January 26th, 2009.

+ Repairing of the roof of the Kindergarten

+ Repairing of the old house of Father Marian

We bought:

+ 6 new Rikshaws [See photos]
+ 60 bikes for the students who need to go to higher classes

+ Many special medicines for difficult diseases of some of our children’s parents

+ 1 new water tank and 1 water filter for the school
+ Salaries for 3 teachers of the Beatrix School
+ 12 sewing machines

+ New furniture for the new tailoring school

And Some News from Omkareshwar,

in Swamiji's Words:

+ We have constructed many new classrooms to house the increased enrollment and higher grades:

- A new Middle School for the higher grades with three classrooms, science lab and open meeting hall.
- A new woodworking shop where students are training to eventually build harmoniums, under the guidance of Thomas from Germany.

+ A new youth group has been established in Omkareshwar dedicated to environmental consciousness and keeping the area of Omkareshwar clean. They have had several full-scale cleanup projects in the area, and several drives to instill the idea of a clean environment in the local villager’s minds. They have planted trees and installed waste receptacles all around the island of Omkareshwar. The local youth take part in these projects with great enthusiasm.

+ The ashram has founded a new and very important group in the village for the empowerment of women. This group, called Matri Shakti (The Power of Divine Mother) meets monthly. The ladies discuss their problems and ideas, sing bhajans and the monks of the ashram give a talk and answer questions. In addition to the monthly meeting, there are daily training classes at the ashram after school hours for the ladies to learn computer skills, handicrafts and various vocational skills for the betterment of their lives.