The Ivory Coast
April 2005

I felt from the beginning that Africa is a very important place for spiritual awakening. The African people from the Ivory Cost are naturally spiritual, meaning that they are big-hearted and receptive people. Whatever they have lost in this world, they have not lost their spirit, and the spirit is the true jewel in everything. If you loose touch with Essence then, there is really the feeling of loss in our lives. There's a very good chance for great spiritual fire to ignite the Ivory Coast, lighting the country in Gods graceful glow. I feel privileged to have met these wonderful people.

Here, I'd like to share Ivory Coast passage with all of you.

I was invited to the Ivory Coast by Mr. Desire (pronounced Dez e ray) Dallo and I thought that the time we would have there would be very short, only five days but I felt it was the 'right time' to go and so I did. Those five days were stretched across many wonderful experiences that will remain with me for the rest of my life.
Desire's kindness contributed an over flowing fullness to the small amount of time that we were there. He took care in every detail for our stay there.
The effect the people had on me was (is) truly profound. Even in the very first moments, it was quite obvious that they were lovingly open; to such a degree that I have yet to find anywhere else in the world. 
To me, this is an exciting and wonderful thing. It gives vibrant life to the 'teachings'. Every time we met, they were receptive for the offerings and therefore they created a stirring atmosphere that was felt by all. Every one was nourished by it.
There were only three satsanghs and each was about two hours in length.
The first satsangh about 45 people attended and the next night about 60 and the next about 75, it's a real good beginning. By the way 95% of the people attending were men. This was also a wonderful surprise. I am always happy to see men come into the spiritual arena. Men acquire a shinning and subtle power when they consider the deeper matters of their lives.  In the west I find that women are predominantly active in the spiritual community. Also in this letter I would like to invite more African women to participate in the satsanghs the next time I go there. 
The language of the region is French and Alex (I am sorry I do not know his last name) my translator was very good. He and I spoke in one voice for the people and of course he also spoke from the people to me. Each night by request from a gentleman named Antoine, I mentioned Mahatma Gandhi and his vision, his strength and wisdom as a spiritual man who accomplished his end without violence. Bringing England to their knees, Gandhi and his people worked for the benefit of all beings. I mentioned it because the Ivory Coast has been seeped in turmoil for a long time and the African people would love to see the situation slip completely into the past. I mentioned that Gandhi himself was not aggressive but his “civil disobedience” was aggressive and it needed to be aggressive. He completely believed that everything could be accomplished through non-violent means and he was right…it could be and it was.

We decided as a group to pray deeply for resolution and peace for the people and for the country of the Ivory Coast.
Our prayer is that the African people must be freed from poverty and oppression, that the region must come to peace and that the people may reach their true potential in their own land and in possession of their own resources.
Every night at 9 o'clockAbidjan time we will gather no matter where we are in the world to invoke Gods grace and response to our plea. We want a result.

Anyone who would like to join us, PLEASE DO! The time looks like this
9:00 PM Abidjan (Ivory Coast) time is 11 PM European time 10 PM London, 5 PM New York and 2 PM Los Angeles time. We will make this prayer until April 20^th 2006.

The satsangh assembly wanted to learn the Gayatri Mantra so we did an initiation and before we started, one man was reading a page on the Sacha Lineage that had been handed out to the people and he asked to be initiated into Prebhu Apa Jago mantra, so we joyfully did that. They caught on right away and chanted it beautifully.
One man, (A gentleman named Basil (sp?) noticed the red thread I was wearing on my wrist. Maharajji had tied it there the morning I left the ashram. 

Alex had told me earlier in the week that the red thread on the wrist was also used for protection in West Africa. Basil said he wanted one too and so he activated a wish to receive one and that wish spread across the room quickly. So on the last night I gave the red thread to everyone as well as the Gayatri Mantra and Prebhu Apa Jago Mantra and we of course made our prayer for peace and prosperity for Ivory Coast together. That was a wonderful evening. I didn't want to leave the room when the time came to say good-by.

During the visit Desire Dallo accompanied Swami Satchitananda (Anandaji), Kevin Keating and myself to meet family and friends in the area. That was really nice as we were able to experience the way some of the Abidjan community lives and how they share their homes and their time with visitors. We learned that shaking hands 'respectfully' with a West African meant to grab their hand with both of our hands. Like taking an offering of prasad with both hands shows respect for the offering. I liked grabbing their hands with both of mine it was very friendly and energizing. It's a solid joyful way to connect.
Desire also took us to a place where there are plans to build a special education school. His wife Yvette along with others will teach children with special requirements.
We also visited a potential site for a 'SachaCenter' and temple. There is a plan to offer the Gayatri Mantra, meditation and spiritual teachings at this future center.
We offered blessings for that endeavor. I really want to see it happen.
A good place where the people can be inspired, that's what it's all about.
One morning we drove to the ocean. We had a bit to eat and then, to get to the beach we had to take a boat across a lagoon. On the other side were men pulling fishing nets in to round up the catch for the day. It was amazing how much effort it took how long that they did what they did. How they sang 'net pulling' songs while one fellow played a propane gas bottle like a drum to keep the rhythm. It was hard, hard work. Their bodies were like sculpture. That was a wonderful scene. 
Alex, Ananda and Kevin took a dip in the brightly lit and hot afternoon. To me, it looked like they were having a great time. I sat in the wet sand near the water to cool off and got one wave over me. That was nice, I was soaked. Desire had a nice time with Tony his son, just laying on the beach chairs and taking it easy.
On our last day in Africa we went to an ancient stone site. It was a very unusual sacred place that held a wonderful energy and (I felt) held secrets from long ago that are yet to be discovered.
We had many village men guiding us on that walk. The shapes and the way the stones were, were unusual to say the least, the stones were actually astounding. They were also very difficult to photograph and to get into perspective.
Desire, Alex, Ananda, Kevin and I made a ceremony. We had many elements with us for offerings. Kevin played the drums and the rocks played with his rhythm in their own way. It was wonderful. We prayed for the world as we always do.
We left offerings for the Rock Spirit.
I remember being told at sometime during the visit that Muslims and Christians and every kind of person lived in the village like brothers and sisters. I could feel that.
When we left that place I felt that I would have loved to stay there for a few days alone, in a more silent atmosphere and just be with the rocks and listen to them. Yet, that was not possible and I felt the time we had there was indeed very special. We gave the village men blue silk cloth in strips and asked them to put a pray on the strip and tie it to a tree.
Some did that right away. However, when we returned to the village a couple of the men wanted to cut the pieces smaller so the women could also have a part in the prayers. That was so nice.

On that last night in Africa a few of us gathered in my room to say our prayer and to meditation for the last time. Antoine told about his constant vigilant prayer after he received a heart message to do so. It confirmed our commitment to continue the prayer for the Ivory Coast for the next year.
I look forward to returning there because even in the midst of turmoil I was touched so deeply by the people that I want to do all that I can in my power to bring something to them.
They gave so much just in that very short and wonderful time. It was a beautiful exchange.

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