In October 1983 Shri Mataji came to Vancouver with some Australian and English yogis. The English yogis came about two weeks beforehand to assist in preparing the ashram and the programmes. The ashram was in West Vancouver, a large home in one of the more elite parts of the city. We had about six people living there at that time and perhaps another dozen or so realised souls who were coming regularly.
The public programme was very successful with Shri Mataji giving realisation to approximately eighty people at the Robson Square Media Centre in downtown Vancouver. She also did something unexpected, and invited everyone who attended the programme to come the next morning to the ashram where She would hold a special programme and cook lunch for everyone.
The following morning about fifty people came and we were blessed to do a simple, short puja to Shri Ganesha. The Ganesha Atharva Sheersha was read aloud, but only the English translation, and Shri Mataji’s hands were washed and the amrit ingredients offered to Her. Shri Mataji blessed our kitchen by cooking an amazing lunch and, in the process, gave some of us instructions as to how to prepare Her special recipes. All who attended the puja stayed on for lunch and unanimously raved about the amazingly tasty food Shri Mataji had made. They were so happy and so full of vibrations, they seemed ready to conquer the world, and everyone promised to come back and to keep meditating.
The following day, before noon, in a small Honda car owned by one of the yoginis, we safely delivered Shri Mataji to the airport where we said good-bye; saw Her through customs and on Her way. It was a whirlwind visit and we again felt completely blessed and blissed out by Shri Mataji’s attention.
Lori Wills