Earth Day At The Ashram!

Aum Amriteswaryai Namah 

On April 25th, 2009 Earth Day was celebrated AYUDH Style!!! AYUDH helped to organize  the Earth Day Fair at the M.A. Center.

Amma says  "Nature is our first mother. She nurtures us throughout our lives. Our birth mother may allow

 us to sit on her lap for a couple of years, but Mother Nature

 patiently bears our weight our

 entire life. Just as a child is obligated to his birth mother, we should all feel an obligation and responsi

bility towards Mother Nature."

It was a beautiful sunny day which started with the  Eco-Meditation, followed by the workshop "How to grow vegetables at home" and a guided tour of the new orchard at the ashram. AYUDH members have helped plant many of the young trees that will someday produce apples.

Later in the afternoon a picnic lunch was served and the AYUDH band made it's debut! Performing original devotional songs,  the AYUDH music was described by many listeners as "so beautiful"  The band earned much applause and requests for an "encore" at the end.

Following the performance, the celebration continued with lots of family fun. At the AYUDH booth face painting was offered as 

well as an opportunity to sponsor a tree to be planted in a loved one's name or as a gift to Mother Nature in the new orchard.  

Near the pond, AYUDH had set up a bubble station and in the middle of it all AYUDH members, little children (and big kids too!) participated in a rousing game of capture the flag otherwise known as "Rescue Amma" with a photo of Amma in place of the flag.

Other booths had information about how

 to keep bees, solar cooking and other tips for a more green friendly life style that will benefit Mother Nature positively.

The entire day was wrapped up with a relay race in which participants had to cluck like a chicken and walk like a crab! 

It was a warm spring day, the ashram swans floated by on the surface of the pond and the trees swayed gently in the wind. Each summer when She visits San Ramon,  Amma leads an outdoor  meditation  

in the field where we had the celebration.   Spending the day in the grass enjoying the sunshine and fresh air was a good reminder of the love that Mother Nature offers us every day and Amma's

 Presence was strongly felt.   

It was a fantastic way to remember the importance of nature in our lives and to celebrate Earth Day with consciousness and love!