North and Central America

In this first six months of the year 2008 our work in North America, Central America and the Caribbean has seen some unprecedented public recognition.
 
The best news is from Ananda Dhiira master unit were Didi Ananda Lalita and Didi Sweta received a prestigious award from Nevada County. The Didis were voted Conservationists of the Year from the Conservation Department after 2 years of hard work cleaning the local river bed from invasive blackberry bushes and replacing them with native plants. In a public event organized by the Conservation Department they received the award for the year 2008, where it is the first time such recognition was given to an organization instead of a farm.
 
In Nicaragua the multi-pathic clinic is close to completion due to the efforts of Didi Prema with the support of many didis and margiis in all the sector. It takes vast resources to open a public therapeutic facility in a poor country like Nicaragua. The WWD foundation raised a few thousands dollars through a succesful coin campaign.
 
In Haiti LFT Dharma, Dada Mokseshvarananda and Dada Pranesh are working nonstop for the welfare of all Haitians. Under the banner of AMURT, more than 100 volunteers locally and from others part of the world are changing the life of the Haitian people providing necessities like clean water, education and most recently salt, through a newly constructed plant, the first in Haiti.
 
In addition to awards and service projects, intense pracar has been going on throughout the sector. For example, Dada Krpasundarananda and Didi Ananda Ragamaya visited Cuba where the margiis organized yoga classes the first week with asanas lasting three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon followed by a meal. About 25 people came to each class. Another example is in California where in Solano state prison brother Vishvanath and Kishalaya are holding regular yoga classes, dharmacakra as well as organizing service activities with other inmates. They receive regular visits from acharyas with mutual benefit and inspiration.
 
The margiis in Denver have also under taken pracar initiatives. Last month there were seven workshops and lectures arranged in different universities and colleges. Ac. Vimaleshananda Avt gave four and Ac. Dharmapremananda Avt gave three. Also near Denver, construction on a master unit has started. A dorm building and a separate meditation building is being built. It should be ready by the end of the year. The Denver jagrti has been renovated with new carpet in the DC hall, a new chimney, the exterior wall was rebuilt and the floor was sanded and painted. Also, a mass feeding occurred January 13 where 75 people were served.
 
Several regional seminars have been held or will be, covering the 16 regions of the sector. From Denver to Asheville, from Guatemala to Toronto, the Ananda Marga family is coming together renewing its legacy with Baba and his ideology. Several margiis who were initiated years ago have once again found inspiration and have rejoined Ananda Marga. For example, in Cuernavaca, Mexico the spring retreat was very strong and inspiring. Classes were held on nutrition, the spirituality in daily life, Dharma, and cooking. 
 
Also, several radio interviews were conducted in Dallas and in other locations presenting meditation and its benefits. In Dallas, four yoga clubs are active and offer yoga for free to several students on the campus. Vegetarian dinners are prepared regularly every month. Ac. Shubhacetananda Avt. was able to highlight Ananda Marga not only in Dallas but also in Minneapolis, Charlotte and Miami.

The master units in the sector have also been developed. Ananda Arpana in Knoxville has seen important drainage work completed. At Ananda Girisuta in Asheville more than 50 margiis are regularly participating in activities and dharmacakra. Ananda Girisuta, also known as the Prama Institute, is affiliated with Gurukula and has groups booked full through the year. Events include poetry by Robert Bly, and master Wu, a tai chi and chi gong world teacher. Several spiritual groups are attracted to the master unit and are planning to settle there.
 
At Ananda Vrati, there are two ongoing yoga classes and two more have been started at the local elementary school. The certified kitchen has received the first request for utilization from a local bread producer. The community garden is ready for its second season. The Penn State Coop extension has published a map of the local producers including the master unit among the listed farms.
 
The sectorial office in New York has been completely renovated through the combined effort of local acaryas and margiis. The number of margiis coming to dharmacakra has increased, propitiating a future expansion of the dharmacakra hall. In the most recent Ananda Purnima celebration a total number of 105 margiis attended.
 
In Canada the intense pracar in Toronto has brought many initiations as well as made Ananda Marga known to the public, resulting in a new jagrti where Ac. Parinirvananda Avt. can now have a base of operations. Development has taken place also in the master unit Ananda Kanak near Ottawa where Ac. Phanishananda Avt has received cooperation from the margiis and a successfull retreat just concluded.
 
A new jagrti in Columbus has been acquired through the special effort of Ac. Harishananda Avt.

The jagrti in Los Angeles has been renovated with the interest of Ac. Mukteshananda Avt.
 
Among the departments, special recognition goes to RAWA, which has organized Prabhat Samgiita retreats and is organizing the upcoming summer retreat. A successful program was organized in Los Altos Hills and in Knoxville,Tennessee as well as in Long Island with the help of brother Arun from Long Island, New York.
 
The Society Building department has started a systematic campaign for creating more LFTs. Three new LFT (two brothers and one sister) are working in Ananda Marga projects in the sector adding to the already established LFT in Haiti and Guatemala (one brother and one sister).
 
The Public Relations department in the sector is continuing to regularly publish the Crimson Dawn online with a team of five people committed to bring at least two printed editions a year and one monthly newsletter. Good news has published department wise on crimsondawn.info in video format.
 
SMD is engaged in supporting the Ananda Marga school in Port au Prince headed by Dada Gopalakrsnananda.