Maharaji at Amaroo April 2001
Judging from the articles written onsite there's a very positive feeling at Amaroo in May 2001, but then everything written by premies is ridiculously upbeat. There had been some missed festivals due to the Speaker being upset by the Courier Mail. Worse was to come with National TV stories about former dedicated, if slightly offbeat, premie Neville Ackland's protests at the front gate. That's past they hope and they've gathered for inspiration from being in his presence. Everyone is feeling so fortunate to be in this "exquisite place" with its "breathtaking views." I'm a patriotic Australian and I like the country around Amaroo but it is certainly not exquisite or breathtaking. There's a feeling of both positivity and anger in Maharaji's speeches. He is surrounded by thousands of devotees and he feels that he's very clever, he's very excited, with phrases like: miracle of miracles, what the divine is, to know, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful stuff but there is also the frustration, the bitterness: useless analysis, don't tell me, to that one person … "You're wrong." making hundreds of thousands of dollars off Kabir, what about listening to the message of that person? Do they have some expertise? Instead of just listening … It must be hard, he knows he is the reincarnation of Kabir, or vice versa, or they're just the one realized soul and people are making money off his poetry and now that there's a global market, he can't write a poem worth a penny. He's a wanker, a whiner and a whinger. I would love to hear his music that he played under the stars, I'm thrilled with Schadenfreude just thinking aboutit.
TIME TO HAVE FUN
Tuesday, April 24, 2001
Today marks the beginning of an eventful week - four days with Maharaji at Amaroo, Australia, From around the world people have gathered to enjoy the inspiration of Maharaji's words and presence. Each day of the event, Elan will bring you up-to the minute news and excerpts from Maharaji's presentations. Today, as people gather here, we look back to a comparable day in 1997, when Maharaji welcomed an international audience to the magic of Amaroo.
Welcome to the Simplicity
Edited excerpt, Maharaji in Amaroo, 18th September 1997
A Thrilling Encounter
Edited excerpt, Maharaji in Amaroo, 18th September 1997
Settling in
Impressions and quotes from around the campgrounds
Many people have been here for two or more days now, enjoying and helping with the myriad aspects of creating a quality setting for Maharaji to meet with his students. The campgrounds have been filling and people settling in. Some people have enjoyed the luxury of getting horizontal after many hours on international flights. Others have had a chance to rest and reconnect with old and new friends. One thread that runs through many of their conversations is how fortunate each is to be here in this exquisite place.
One person who has been helping out for several days and has watched the rapid population expansion, says, "Even with so many people, I feel that I've been here alone, with a quietness of being cared for individually."
Another said, "It didn't take me long to make my home in my tent - a welcome shelter from the elements and the hectic city pace. When the storm broke on Saturday afternoon, I closed the flaps of my tent and enjoyed the thunder shower playing music on the tent roof."
Each campsite has been considerately and carefully constructed, sculptured and landscaped so that the campers are treated to the splendour of its natural surroundings. In one campsite, a massive dead-looking tree reaches into the sky like a sculpture. New life sprouts from its base in a celebration of green leaves. In another site, a grove of trees offers a relaxing area amongst a cluster of tents.
"The views from the tent portals are breathtaking !", was one comment.
At Amaroo, there is something very special happening. People from many countries in the world have come to one place to celebrate the fundamental joy of life. The celebration has already started in the way communication is taking place between people on the site. It is easy to see the joy that people are feeling and expressing. It seems fitting that this expression between people is taking place in this special environment.
One man who has been on site since April 1st said that he was, "amazed at the speed and efficiency with which the pavilion structures have been erected". When one camper attending Amaroo 2001 was asked what she had been doing for the last few days, her reply was an unhesitating, "Enjoying, enjoying, enjoying!"
THE FOCUS IS LIFE
Wednesday, April 25, 2001
It has been another beautiful day in the sun at Ivory's Rock Conference Center. People strolled the paths and clearings, or rested in the shade of tall gum trees and fragrant Jacarandas. Pavilion outlets and shaded areas became popular spots as guests relaxed in a convivial atmosphere. As the time for Maharaji's first address of Amaroo 2001 approached, people headed toward the amphitheater, in its spectacular open-air setting beneath the twin peaks of Ivory's Rock.
Once people settled in, a sense of hushed anticipation began to fill the air. By the time Maharaji came on stage and began to bring his message home, the only sound to be heard was that of the birds - and he addressed one particularly noisy crow personally!
Once again, Maharaji's students were treated to an example of extemporary inspiration at its most profound and humorous, providing them with a renewed understanding of life and the focus that can exist despite all distractions.
THE FOCUS IS LIFE
Edited excerpt, Maharaji at Amaroo, 24th April 2001
A PASSION FOR LIFE
Thursday, April 26, 2001
"I guess it was inevitable", were Maharaji's words as he came on stage after his presentation to sit at the keyboard in shirtsleeves and play two of his own compositions, Inevitable maybe, but no less of a delightful surprise for that.
It was not the only unexpected moment during the evening of the second day of Amaroo 2001. Maharaji was preceded on the stage by a gently humorous speaker, who was followed by an impersonator who delighted the audience with a series of uncanny impressions.. Jack Nicholson advised people in his most abrasive manner to get to grips with what is important in life. Marlon Brando in Godfather mode welcomed so many 'families' from around the world, while Woody Allen was in typical angst as he bemoaned the difficulty of understanding Kabir. Bob Dylan circa 1966 followed with an electric rock song which seemed to be about a house from hell (not a good place to dwell).
As the laughter faded, Maharaji took the mike and enthralled the capacity crowd with his own unique message of the heart.
International Amaroo
This event - Amaroo 2001 - is truly international At lunch in the pavilion, Spanish is heard at one table, German at the next, Slovenian at a third. A Canadian traveller joins the third table and the language switches to French. Meanwhile, two tables away, only English is spoken, but the accents vary from Australian to deep Brooklynese.
In the amphitheater, many are seen tuning in to one of eleven FM radio frequencies with simultaneous translation. Beside European tongues, languages include Mandarin, Chinese, Japanese and Tamil. One frequency is in enhanced English, while two further languages- Greek and Malay-are transmitted on an infra - red system.
The translators work in large comfortable booths at the rear of the amphitheater - some of the best translation booths in the world. Those who cannot understand even a single word of English are able to enjoy Maharaji's message, his jokes, and his timeless words.
The greatest gift
It's late afternoon, sunset, the trees and wooded hills beneath are bathed in golden light. The open-air amphitheater, nestled beneath Ivory's Rock, has fallen silent as over 4,500 people wait for Maharaji to arrive.
In the last row of the amphitheater, centre stage, sit eighteen men and women from Brazil. As Maharaji arrives on stage, they rise to their feet, the letters printed on their T-shirts spelling a message reading: "PLEASE COME TO BRASIL". The audience claps as Maharaji sees them and waves.
Then, dressed simply in a long-sleeved white shirt and tie, he begins speaking. "It's time to shift gears", he says, indicating a change in the evening's focus. "One can present life and Knowledge in a serious way and there are people who do that. But in a way, it's funny - someone who's been given everything and still wishes for something, people who are searching, but don't know what they're searching for."
Maharaji speaks for almost an hour, at times making the audience laugh, at times making them reflect very deeply. As the wisps of cirrus clouds in the sky turn rose, Maharaji says: "The greatest gift you can have is truly to be alive and a greater gift still is to recognise it." Later, under the stars, Maharaji plays some music he's composed. In that setting, with him, on that night, it sounds like the music of the spheres.