Middle East, Mediterranean and Balkans

Cyprus

Dada Krsnasevananda and Didi Ananda Uttama conducted a retreat in Cyprus. The retreat was held as a followup to the Mind Body and Spirit Festival where Ananda Marga had a popular stall. Didi is also training Margii sisters in Cyprus in baby massage and other skills.

Jordan

Dada Krsnasevananda held a retreat in Jordan in the scenic Wadi Rum desert area.

Syria

The Thoughts of P.R. Sarkar was published in Arabic, and other Ananda Marga books such as Yoga Psychology, Light Comes, Liberation of Intellect and Microvita in a Nutshell have already been translated into Arabic and will be published soon thanks to generous donations from Phanendra of Lebanon and margiis in Japan. A Publications Committee was formed to oversee the content, Arabic expression, grammar and spelling of the new books.

The head of the government-sanctioned National Yoga Committee is helping us to set up a new center in Damascus. Beginners, intermediate and advanced classes were conducted by Dada Krsnasevananda. The students in these classes are also helping in the effort to establish the new center, which may be function by January 2008.

Didi Ananda Rainjana started a special women's class and a meditation group every two weeks in Sweida at the request of sisters. She reports that a service committee is functioning smoothly, and that nine margiis regularly help residents of a children's home with their homework. Dada Jayaketan is working on the registration of AMURT in Syria and also teaches advance-level classes in Sweida.

Lebanon

AMURT conducts regular homeopathic clinics in refugee camps near Beirut.

Dada Ganadevananda opened a new yoga center and homeopathic clinic rent in Bysore, a town in the mountains near Beirut. The center is undergoing renovation and when the work is completed, yoga classes and health services will be offered on a regular basis.

Did Ananda Rainjana visited Beirut and gave many classes there. She gave introductory classes to members of Beirut's Armenian community, and they want to have further classes in the future. Didi, a trained doctor, also helped out in the homeopathic clinics in Lebanon.

Croatia

Dada Lokeshananda is guiding activities in this country. In Zagreb margiis attend weekly collective meditation, and also offer a special weekly meditation session for newcomers. The Thoughts of P.R. Sarkar  was published in Croatian this month and Neo-Humanism: Liberation of Intellect was translated and will be published at a later date. Similarly, Commentary on Ananda Sutram was also translated into Croatian.

Working at the master unit, located between Zagreb and Karlovac, Dada Gunaragananda reports that two cars were donated to the project.

Israel

Didi Ananda Jyotishrii gave personal instruction in meditation to several women and also revised the lessons of margiis. Dada Abhidevananda is giving classes for Arab children in Israel.

In northern Israel Radhika is teaching yoga to children in the public schools. Her Circle of Life program reaches more than 300 students every week. The program is increasing in popularity. One school that had five classes last year, now gets 16 classes each week. 280 children from first to third grade enjoy the yoga spirit. Radhika also teaches in two kindergartens and day care centers where both parents and children enjoy her blend of songs, stories, yoga postures, self-massage, guided relaxation and meditation. Many children now say that yoga is their favorite subject in school.

Greece

Didi Ananda Uttama's kindergarten is flourishing, with its highest attendance ever. Didi also holds a weekly collective meditation session.

Turkey

Didi Ananda Rainjana arranged the baby naming ceremonies for new babies of margii couples in Istanbul.

Egypt

Ananda Rama participated in the Body, Mind, Spirit Festival in Cairo. She also published an article in British Council newspaper about her proposed school project. Her yoga classes are well attended, and got a boost from the appearance of Purna (an Ananda Marga member from Turkey) who appeared on TV in Cairo with a yoga demonstration. Didi also set up a local website and people are contacting her through the website. A small group from Portugal visited Cario and Didi guided them on a tour of the Pyramids.

Dada Prabhakarananda, who has been in Egypt for the past five years, conducts yoga classes at several places in Cairo including the American University in Cairo. Dada Priyadevananda has also joined our team in Cairo and is teaching yoga and meditation to newcomers.

Malta

Didi Rasamayii teaches yoga in a local high school. The weekly collective meditation in Malta is expanding and a seminar in October was attended by 25 people. A Prabhat Samgiita concert in September was well attended as was an Akhanda Kirrtan held as a follow-up to the concert. Ananda Marga participated in a Reclaim the World event with other NGOs in Valetta.

Didi and Gaorii also conduct homeopathy clinics at a new immigrant  center with 1000 people benefiting from the services.

At the Sunrise Center, 20 children per day are attending the classes. Didi started also yoga for children classes and yoga for parents, at the request of the parents.