The coming together for four intense days in the remote but opulent lap of Nature, of over a hundred individuals inwardly attuned to a manifesting of the Integral Yoga, set into place an Invocation that brought powerfully into our midst the presence of the Divine Mother, cocooning the event in a serendipitous field, like that of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. 

Above, the sunshine of Her compassionate smile or the lucent starry cloud-net of Her muse, around, the sky-aspiring verdant hills, below, the regal stillness of old trees, the timelessness of grazing golden deer and within, the struggle for clarity and light, the powerful multiplication of the aeonic urge. 

The psychic stimulation of the morning chanting and the transporting evening programs; the physical stimulation of the morning workouts and the long treks through the trees; the vital euphoria of connecting with old dear friends and awakening to new relationships that seem eternal, only asleep until now, or in volunteering one's action or entering into new dynamic work-possibilities for the future, sensing the engines of Divine Intention, the seeing eye of the Divine Will; the profound contemplative intensity of talks by living repositories of yogic practice and its heuristics such as a Manoj Das or a Devan Nair, topped by occasional awakenings to that powerful Divine Presence of the Mother and the Master surrounding, supporting, manifesting through it all, made the four days an integral state of altered consciousness, a hint of the Divine Life in action. Thanks are due to the tireless instruments of the Matagiri Committee who made it possible. 

I'm sure many of us will bask in the ambience of this AUM for a long time. The Internet provides us a possibility to extend its gathered power in space and time, into a global community and into dynamic continuous collective action. 

I wouldn't use the word "Impressions." AUM'97 was an EXPERIENCE. We can no more encapsulate an experience in linear human language than can a caterpillar speak of a butterfly's experience in caterpillar language. 

here was an indescribable ambience about the entire Pathworks Center, an unusually charged atmosphere. One met old and loved friends, came to know and love new ones. Doors and windows within were suddenly flung wide open, and one looked out at quite unexpected perspectives and potentialities — at once individual and collective. One saw in the eyes and faces of others, men and women alike, aspects of one's own seekings, aspirations, sadnesses, successes and failures, and one felt an incredible orchestration of even the tiniest details of gestures, glances, arrangements, timings of events, meetings, music, dance, inner and outer encounters of all kinds, to yield the maximum awakening each was capable of. And there was the unmistakable sense of being just one tiny body in a much, much larger body. Even the huge black bear which came along to scrounge for food in the large garbage bin outside the kitchen was part and parcel of that larger body. But none among the several who watched him in admiration cared to venture out to shake the hand of this ancient cousin of ours, nor to hug him (or her). Not all hands, nor all bodies, you see, are comfortably and safely shakeable or huggable. 

n short, the atmosphere was CHARGED. A Divine electricity was in the air, in the exchanges punctuated by smiles and gay laughter. I understood, felt better than ever Sri Aurobindo's marvelous line in Savitri : GOD SHALL GROW UP WHILE THE WISE MEN TALK AND SLEEP. God was growing up there by the Catskill Mountains on those few days. May HE continue to grow in all of us. 

May the annual AUM gathering never again be annulled. My heart is full of gratitude and love for every single man and woman whom I had the inestimable privilege of mingling with and of loving at AUM '97. 

In ending this brief note, I offer to all those wonderful fellow-seekers, not only to those who came or who, for one reason or another, could not come, another wonderful line of Savitri (with a slight amendment) : FOR EVER LOVE, O BEAUTIFUL SLAVES OF GOD. 

Matagiri visit was the best part of it for me. I could feel some sort of occult presence in that wilderness. Oh, such a nice feeling and presence in the relics room. If you get a chance, make a visit, you will know what I mean. Nice library, paintings by Sam, cute little house charged with calmness and presence. Sam shared his sweet discoveries and stories about Matagiri. He is said to be a non-stop entertainer. Of course one learns as well. A group of us, Chandresh, Prem, Dave, Vishnu-bhai, Lynda, Carolyn, Margo, Larry hike up the mountain and set up a bench there followed a brief meditation inviting Sri Aurobindo and Mother to take a seat, followed by tirtham and prasad in the Indian style. Honestly, I thought the bench was not strong enough for Sri Aurobindo, although may be just right for Mother. 

I am indeed grateful for the organizers, Mother and Sri Aurobindo for giving me such a nice company and consciousness as is to be found in an AUM. My heartfelt thanks indeed. And I wish and feel earnestly that their force continue seeking to manifest strongly in America, in each of the centers and the country as a whole. We only have to have faith and prepare in this divine moment. 

aking this morning to the pre-set wrist watch (that served as an alarm clock at AUM 97's conference), my right arm auto-extended to reach for the dresser that was there yesterday, only to have my hand waving in mid-air. A few blinks later, the body’s windows began absorbing the differences in the surroundings, "mind" began to adjust and I realized I'm no longer at the NY location of Phoenicia Pathworks Center—the beeping of the wrist watch merely serving to alarm me of how silly linear time is… mocking my OWN mind-set, once again, laughing inside… 

I'm awake in here and now. Good morning. 

What I want is to write a long version of accounts and various perspectives; that I’d listened to… reflections of what was spoken of, and the diversity of these wonder-filled creative people and course of events that took place at the Aum 97 Sri Aurobindo Commemorative Conference, most especially to address those whose presence were NOT lacking, even though their physical presences were not in attendance in NY State, USA... 

sharing OUTLOUD that: the "Connection" (on-line and off line) is that of a Solid Aum. And at the same time, am also wanting to write to each individual… (so many who I originally had mixed feelings/thoughts of meeting in the first place, and now, frankly, am missing sorely). 

IN these waking moments, I wonder of those entities enroute the skyway to their alternative *H*aums spread over India, North America, Canada and elsewhere in this universal consciousness, those that have an awareness of being awake in every moment —living Sri Aurobindo, and Living Mother(s). 

Some have not yet completed their air flights, some having to walk (float, haha) back into their nine-to-five realm, and all the energies being redirected, into the various perspectives of Life [echoing again, 'All Life is … '] 

Perhaps others may be having similar feelings to be expressing their experiences (trying not to be anxious, I think my impatience is showing ;) I await to hear from all—for the sharing of the variety of accounts, insights and events of AUM 97… 

Mindful that these things will take "time" (take your sweet time) I look forward to this email format as a tool to be continually sharing… beyond 97… Aum shanti shanti shanthi