Crimsondawn February 2024 in PDF
Here is the February 2024 news compilation with a link to the PDF file for easy viewing on your laptop.
Crimson Dawn Dec. 2023 in PDF
We published about fifty copies of Crimson Dawn in color printing. Here is a link to the PDF file for easy viewing on your laptop. You can also buy a printed copy from the New York Sectorial Office.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oWZW4QcT2DUVq6IPiCcjYy_UTgSOaOss/view?usp=sharing
Yours brotherly,
Ac. Diiptimanananda Avt.
Sectorial Office Secretary of Ananda Marga in New York Sector
Activities and Renovations at WWD Office in New York
In the WWD New York Office, the Didis organize a three-hour Akhanda Kiirtan every third Saturday. Usually, 10-15 Margiis attend the Kiirtana. After the meditation, we enjoyed spiritual Satsaunga and delicious food.
Renovation of the ceiling in the basement and office room of WWD New York Jagrti has been completed with the help from volunteer brother Hrdayesh. Initially, there were lots of cracks and mold from the ceilings as the house was old, but we worked on it last two months October to November 2023, and now we have a new ceiling and good looking room for better accommodation.
Ac. Anudhyanananda Avt. is leading the distribution of food and warm winter clothes for homeless people near Flushing, Queens, New York City. The distribution has benefitted about 30 – 50 people twice a month. Local Margiis are happy to help every Sunday after Dharma Cakra in Flushing Jagrti.
Group photo after Akhanda Kiirtana and the WWD Office on 212th Street in Queens Village
Didi Ananda Hitaprabha and Vishvamitra ready with a full car of clothes and blankets
Cloths and food distribution for the homeless in Queens
Hrdayesh scraping off the old paint and repairing cracks
Newly painted ceiling
Meditation Retreat and Diipavalii Celebration in Ottawa Region
Ac. Dayashiilananda Avt. had a successful student retreat at Ananda Kanak on October 7 and 8. Ten people attended the event. It was a wonderful and fun moment. We had several collective Kiirtan and meditation sessions and yoga classes as well. We went for a walk in the forest, and it was energizing. We shared delicious meals prepared from fresh vegetables from our garden.
Ac. Dayashiilananda Avt., brother Nirmal, and Avtk. Ananda Aparajiita Ac. organized a successful new people retreat from October 27 to 29 in Bradford, Ontario. Nine people attended the event. It’s a great time. Most attendees were interested in spiritual philosophy discussions, and some had initiation.
We celebrated Diipavalii on November 11 at Mehoolji’s place in GTA with a 3-hour Akhanda Kiirtan. The attendance was about twenty Ananda Margiis. It’s a particularly joyful, beautiful, and memorable time together.
On September 24, the Toronto Bhukti Margiis conducted a House Entry Ceremony, Prabhat Sangeet Celebration (part 2), the monthly 3-hour Akhanda Kirtan, and Minaha’s 4th Birthday celebration.
Jayant Dev and Pratibha’s home at Coutice, Ontario, was blessed with the Akhanda Kiirtan and House Entry Ceremony. The Margiis all enjoyed the Kiirtana and time together. It was a beautiful event that ended in a blissful Akhanda Kiirtan. We shared a generous and delicious collective meal. Ac. Dayashiilananda Avt.
Diipavalii in Brampton, Ontario
Diipavalii in Brampton, home of Mehool Dave and Sujata.
Weekly online Dharma Cakra
Meditation Retreat in Bradford, Ontario
Avtk. Ananda Aparajiita Ac. giving class or sharing during the retreat
At the house entry ceremony in Coutice, Ontario.
Yoga Healing Intensive Retreat at Ananda Dhiira, Nov. 2023
Avtk. Ananda Acira Ac. organized a meditation retreat and yoga healing intensive at Ananda Dhiira MU in the beautiful Sierra foothills of Northern California from November 8 through 12, 2023.
We were joined by Dada Diiptimanananda and Brother Mukunda (Michael Owen, DC), a chiropractic physician from Oregon. Dada provided instruction on meditation, inspiring talks, and enchanting music. As the host, Didi ensured all were comfortable, well cared for, and well fed; all special dietary requirements were attended to. Brother Mukunda provided classes on natural health care, including healing in the Five Level Model used today by many in the natural health care area.
Dada instructed on meditation and the meaning of Kiirtan for spiritual progress; Didi provided inspiring yoga classes in the mornings and afternoons. Dada and Didi offered private and individualized meditation (initiation/Diik’sa) and yoga instruction for those interested in furthering their spiritual journey. Mukunda offered individualized healing sessions during the retreat and demonstrated Family Constellation Therapy on the last day, a healing method rooted in indigenous cultures and adopted in the natural healing space. This method is used to address health affected by current or past family issues and for ancestral trauma.
Numerous natural healing methods were introduced, including but not limited to individual infrared saunas, castor oil liver packs and the many uses of castor oil, juice fasting, coffee enemas, sunbathing, mud packs, mindfulness walks in nature, meridian therapy for self-regulation, earthing, dipping in the running waters of the South Yuba river, and shielding from Electro Magnetic Fields (EMF’s). Twice-daily yoga classes and daily group meditations were provided consistently throughout the retreat.
Brother Mukunda taught a beginner shiatsu course; everyone got a chance to experience the healing benefits of the method while also being able to give the gift to others. Sister Harmony was an attendee and has extensive training in Chi Quong and was kind enough to provide a course on the method. Sister Kalika has extensive training in Vinyasa and Ashtanga styles of yoga and agreed to lead a perfect and well-received class on this active yoga style.
Delicious vegetarian meals were provided according to ancient yogic dietary guidelines; a one-day tasty juice fast was also offered to deeply clear the intestinal tract. Juices were selected for their ability to gently clear and heal the intestines while opening up detoxification pathways. Juicing fasting is a specialty practice with far-reaching benefits.
Accommodations are spartan but comfortable at the ashram, with most beds being dormitory-style. Sisters were lodged in the big house up the hill where most of the program occurred; Brothers stayed in the smaller house down the hill. Every effort was taken to ensure everyone was comfortable and well cared for, and all special dietary requirements were respectfully accommodated.
Mukunda
Mukunda (second left) and the participants on a morning walk by Ananda Dhiira
Everyone was refreshed after mud-packs, noon meditation, and a cold dip in the South Yuba River.
After noon meditation by the South Yuba River
Sister Harmony led the chi-gong class and added a lot of joy and laughter to the retreat.
Chi-gong class on the deck
Noon meditation on the deck
Infrared sauna in nature!
Group photo on the deck
Women’s Retreat, Sadhana Shivir, and Karma Yoga at Ananda Dhiira
Avtk. Ananda Acira Ac. organized a three-day women’s retreat from Nov. 3 – 5, 2023, at Ananda Dhiira MU, Los Angeles Region, California. During the retreat, we had our regular yoga and meditation, a cooking class, and sister Marisella taught classes on ChiGong. We also did face detox and yoga nidra. The sisters were very inspired, and sister Maricella got an initiation. Nine sisters participated in this retreat.
We also had a Sadhana Shivir and Karma Yoga weekend. The participants completed the railing of the deck at Ananda Dhiira.
Face detox using mud-packs and enjoying the autumn sun on the deck at Ananda Dhiira. Didi Ananda Acira recently had some volunteers who finished putting steel cables on the railing of the deck, thereby completing the deck project started two years ago.
Kiirtana on the deck at Ananda Dhiira
Sister Marisella leading a Chi-gong class
Walk by the Bridgeport Covered Bridge over the South Yuba River, which was built in 1862 and has been recently renovated and opened to the public. It is about ten minutes walk from Ananda Dhiira.
Didi Ananda Acira giving a class on the deck.
Meditation Retreat at Ananda Vrati, Nov. 29 – Dec. 3, 2023
Ac. Diiptimanananda Avt. and Avtk. Ananda Acira Ac. organized a meditation retreat for beginners at Ananda Vrati from November 29 – December 3, 2023. They had two volunteers helping them, sister Kalika and brother Amrtadhara. The participants enjoyed the retreat. The weather was sunny and cool for the first two days, and the Ananda Vrati buildings are well insulated and heated, so the participants did not mind the winter conditions.
Group photo during our first morning walk. This lake is about ten minutes walk from Ananda Vrati.
Yoga class by sister Kalika. She took the participants into deep relaxation at the beginning of the class.
Didi Ananda Acira and sister Kalika preparing for breakfast
Group photo
Delicious and healthy breakfast
Dada Diiptimanananda starting a class by singing Kiirtana
Pracar in New York
Ac. Abhiramananda Avt., Ac. Kovid Brc., Ac. Anudhyananda Avt. and Avtk. Ananda Radhika Ac. have been very active in participating in various events and doing pracar in New York. Here are some photos.
The Gujarati community in New York organized a Diipavali festival. Mr. Harshat Patel invited Ananda Marga. Ac. Abhiramananda Avt. and Ac. Kovid Brc. participated in the program. More than 200 people were there.
Avtk. Ananda Radhika Ac. (left), Ac. Anudhyanananda Avt., Dr. Vartika, and her husband, Mr. Joy (the police officer), and Ac. Abhiramananda Avt. during a program celebrating India Independence Day.
Avtk. Ananda Radhika Ac. and one of the elected officers in Nassau County.
Dadas and Didi Ananda Radhika visited Nassau County and met with the Executive Supervisor during the India Independence Day.
Ac. Abhiramananda Avt. with Consul of New York – Randhir Jaiswal
Ac. Kovid Brc. and Ac. Abhiramananda Avt. at the Students Affairs office at Queens College
Ac. Abhiramananda Avt. with government officials at the Townhall of North Hempstead
Ac. Abhiramananda Avt. and Ac. Kovid Brc. visited the 26th Assembly District, met with Mr. Koshy Thomas, and introduced the Assemblyman in Floral Park, New York. A good meeting was conducted, and Ac. Abhiramananda Avt. introduced the programs of the Ananda Marga. In the future, he will coordinate some yoga and meditation programs in the district. Dada also invited him to visit.
Spiritual Festival, Nov. 17 – 19, 2023
New York Sector organized an online Spiritual Festival from November 17 to 19, 2023, attended by eighty people. The Spiritual Festival highlighted the work of our Ananda Marga departments and trades. The departments presented their work, explained their goals, and initiated discussions. We also had Dharma Cakra, Katha Kiirtana, Bhajans, Prabhata Samgiita, and other spiritual programs. On Friday, November 17, Ac. Iishvarakrsnananda Avt. gave a class on Ista, Adarsha, and Devotion. After Dada’s class, Ac. Anudhyanananda Avt. organized a Katha Kiirtana where Margiis shared their experiences with Baba, both in dreams, their lives, and during Baba’s physical presence. Ac. Rudrananda Avt. gave a devotional class that was highly appreciated by the Margiis and also answered their questions at the end.
Ac. Rudrananda Avt. gave a devotional class
Saturday was a full-day online program starting with Dharma Cakra and a Bhukti Pradhan conference. During the BP conference, Margiis shared their activities in their Bhukti and units, and Ac. Diiptimanananda Avt. gave a short introduction to the role of Bhukti Pradhan.
Brother Dharma gave a presentation on the AMURT and AMURTEL work in Haiti
The BP Conference was followed by an interesting AMURT presentation facilitated by Ac. Unmantrananda Avt. The speakers in the AMURTEL and AMURTEL Symposium were Brother Dharma, presenting the work in Haiti; Didi Ananda Devapriya, presenting her work in Romania; and Dada Vishvarupananda, presenting Food for All DC, the feeding project in Washington DC. The inspiring presentations highlighted the AMURT and AMURTEL work in the New York Sector.
After noon meditation (Eastern Time) and a break for lunch, Dada Diiptimanananda facilitated an ERAWS Symposium with the help of Dada
Dr. Kathleen Kesson, Dr. Carlos, Ac. Shambhushivananda Avt. (Kulapati of Gurukula) and Ac. Diiptimanananda Avt. and Ac. Kovid Brc.
Shambhushivanandaji. Dr. Kathleen Kesson and Dr. Carlos Torre talked about the Future of Education and touched on various topics related to our current education system and how Neohumanist Education can help to transform and improve schooling and the way we prepare new generations for life and the future.
Dada Diiptimanananda then gave a Prabhata Samgiita class, introducing tools for the Margiis to improve their voice and singing accuracy and learn the Prabhata Samgiita songs.
The WWD Symposium was the last program on Saturday afternoon, organized by Didi Ananda Acira. Didi Ananda Radhika, sister Nirainjana, and sister Ruchi gave presentations during the program.
In the evening, after Dharma Cakra and a short presentation by Dada Diiptimanananda, sister Bhagwanti, and Dada Iishvarakrsnananda facilitated a RAWA cultural evening.
Youth Symposium with Avtk. Ananda Acira Ac., Kalika, Girish, Nirmal, Garima, and Ac. Shiilabhadrananda Avt.
On Sunday morning, Madhusudhan and Manish Dev gave a PROUT Symposium followed by questions and answers.
The last program before the closing ceremony was a Youth Symposium, “Warrior Spirit Monk Mind,” facilitated by Didi Ananda Acira. Brother Girish, sister Kalika, and sister Garima presented food and fasting, yoga for spiritual upliftment, and living a Margii student life, respectively. Their presentations were excellent, and many people commended them during the closing, sharing that they really enjoyed seeing the young people give such nice presentations.
Brother Vishoka during Katha Kiirtana with his new book
Women’s Symposium coordinated by Avtk. Ananda Acira Ac., Avtk. Ananda Radhika Ac. and Avtk. Ananda Kalyanmitra Ac. The guest speakers were sister Nirainjana, sister Tapasii and sister Ayesha.
Presentation during the WWD Symposium by Ruchi Chauhan
Girish presented about the importance of Sentient Diet for spiritual progress
Brother Naveen Joshi had some good questions and shared them with Ac. Rudrananda Avt.
Dada Vishvarupananda gave a presentation on the Food for All DC
Dada Shankarananda and Dada Iishvarakrsnananda shared their experience with Baba
