On Sunday, 30 July, Sri Chakra Puja and Ganapati Homam were held in Fremont. More than 300 persons attended and were blessed by Sri Swamiji. Many of them were devotee's children, who worked as computer engineers in the silicon valley. They all were so glad to see their Swamiji and the happiness was on their face. After Sri Chakra Puja, Sri Swamiji spoke and in a humorous way questioned the complexity of Hindus worshipping stones, trees, rivers, Gods with three heads and six arms, the multitude rituals and fire worship etc. Then Sri Swamiji answered them in detail. This session was so illuminating that, many, later expressed their gratitude to Sri Swamiji for re-imposing their faith. Foreigners thanked Sri Swamiji for clearing many of their doubts. After Purnahuti, Sri Swamiji blessed all devotees. Before leaving the hall, Sri Swamiji picked up few fruits and sent them flying to different devotees across the hall. Later Sri Swamiji went across the other hall where Annadanam was being performed to all those who attended the function.
In the evening Sri Swamiji spoke to the west coast group and appreciated their enthusiasm in Annadanam project and Blessed them to continue. Sri Swamiji spoke about the selfless and devoted service of the staff of Mysore Ashrama kitchen and said that it was the only department which could never stop but nobody remembers them and thank them enough.
On 31st July, Pujya Sri Swamiji traveled from Sanjose to Bisbee in Arizona. Bisbee is a border town where USA and Mexico meet. That day in the evening a welcome function was held in the San Jose lodge. Sri Swamiji was reverentially welcomed by Smita Patel, Harsha Dave, Nita Dave, Smt. and Sri. J.D.Patel. After Sri. Radha Krishna gave a thunderous introduction speech on Sri Swamiji and Datta Peetham, Sri Swamiji suddenly asked Smita Patel to give a speech, giving reasons for following Swamiji. Her emotional yet lucid speech outlined how Sri Swamiji was the guiding force and spirit behind her actions and how Sri Swamiji had saved her from many a incidents. Sri Swamiji was given a "welcome to Bisbee" cap. The mostly American crowd were enthralled to hear the English speech of Swamiji.
On 2nd August, Sri Swamiji crossed the border and visited Naco town in Mexico. Sri Swamiji visited an orphanage and Blessed the children and made a donation for the orphanage run my Christian missionaries from Tuscan, Arizona. Sri Swamiji then went around the town of Naco. A group of three Mexicans were following Sri Swamiji wherever he went. Then when Sri Swamiji entered a shop, one of the three from the group, a lady, came to Sri Swamiji and asked if he was looking for something. Sri Swamiji replied that he was looking for a Mexican souvenir. The Lady bowed and requested Swamiji to come with her and took to a shop about a block further and showed another shop. Sri Swamiji took a crescent moon made from terra-cotta. The lady, apparently loving the aura of Sri Swamiji requested that Sri Swamiji visit her house and receive coffee. Sri Swamiji smiled and said that it was not the time and conveyed Blessings to her and her children. It was amazing to see how far Sri Swamiji goes to rekindle the relation of lost souls.
Sri Swamiji crossed the border and returned to USA. Staying with the family of Smita Patel, Harsha Dave and Nita Dave, Sri Swamiji spent two quiet days of silence and solitude in the fiery yet beautiful nature of Arizona / Mexican mountains. Sri Swamiji visited Queen Mine, a defunct copper mine, Tomp stone, a wild west town and Krachner Caverns. The last one is a wonderful cave with millions of stalactites and stalagmites which are millions of years old. One such natural pillar called Kubla Khan is 53 feet high. It was amazing to see that in an arid and dry desert like Arizona such a huge wet cave was secretively held by mother earth. These cave formations have endless beauty of amazing sizes and shapes of stalactites, stalagmites, soda strays and crystals. Situated in the depths of Mexican mountain chain, the caves gives us a peep in to the hidden treasures of mother earth.
On 3rd August, Sri Swamiji traveled from Bisbee, Arizona to Los Angeles and Blessed the house of Ashok and Kusum Patel and Left for Trinidad on Saturday the 5th August at 9.30 AM.
Thus the USA segment of Sri Swamiji's world tour concluded. Sri Swamiji had visited Hawaii (Kailasa Nilaya), Baton Rouge (Vedanta discourses and 3rd anniversary of Datta Temple), Saginaw (Tapovan temple), Detroit (Bharatiya Temple), Chicago (Healing music concert at the prestigious Chicago Symphony Orchestra Hall), Datta Retreat Center near Pittsburgh (12th anniversary of the Retreat center and inauguration of Guru Nilaya), New Jersey (Guru Purnima), New York (Trimurti Bhavan), Malibu (Healing concert in Pepperdine University), San Jose, Bisbee, Mexico and Los Angeles.
This was
the 24th year since Sri Swamiji first visited USA in 1976. Thousands and
thousands of devotees, new seekers came in contact with Sri Swamiji and
found their Sadguru, Healer, Master, Teacher, Friend, Guide, Father, Mother,
and to many their own reflections.
Glimpses of the Sanjose and Arizona visit........
Sri Swamiji in Fremont Civic Center on 30th July 2000
Sri Swamiji being received by devotees
Sri Swamiji was given a Bisbee cap upon arrival on 31st July 2000
Sri Radha Krishna gave a wonderful introduction speech on
Sri Swamiji and Datta Peetham
Sri Swamiji is happy to see the dog He had fondly named as Founder in
1993.
This dog (then a small puppy) was an orphan and daily came running to
Swamiji when He
arrived for the Kriya Yoga classes in Augusta, Georgia. When nobody claimed
the puppy,
Sri Swamiji adopted it and later gave it to Harsha Dave's care. Since
it was found,
Sri Swamiji gave it the name 'Founder'. Now Sri Swamiji saw it again in
Bisbee, Arizona.
The seven year old dog was very happy to see Sri Swamiji.
Sri Swamiji crosses the border from USA to Mexico for a two hour visit.
Sri Swamiji in the orphanage in Mexico
The group of three who followed Sri Swamiji in Naco town, Mexico
stand with Swamiji in the town center.
Sri Swamiji with a 115 year old Rose tree (YES!! A Rose Tree) It is sprawling
and is spread over 600 square feet. The trunk of the tree and its spread
can be seen in this photo. A small green sapling was gifted to Sri Swamiji
to be planted in Mysore Ashrama. This is in Tombstone town, which, Sri
Swamiji Visited on 1st August 2000.
Sri Swamiji in a shop which sells red Indian dolls.