India

The Statistics say...

I had a reader from India 
  today 

mother India 
...a place I have 
never been 

except, of course, 
in spirit- 
Ramakrishna, Yogananda 
Thank you, 
so very much 
for coming here... 

and the Beatles too 
for you see, 
without you,
I never would have known
The Bliss, The Peace, 
The Presence.

Back in the day 
long ago 
and far away. 

I was searching 
     for God 
Looking here, there 
and everywhere... 

The Beatles had been 
to see 
the Maharishi 
and so 

I got my flower 
and my thirty-five dollars 
(a lot of money to me, at the time)
and a pretty white-brand new hankie

I still remember that room 
with drapes and quietness 
with incense and kind people present 
and when I meditated with them 
there was this pin-point of light 
way down within my presence 

and almost a sound 
like a little clear bell 
and a feeling 
like being home again 
after so long 
away 

Well that was a long time ago - now -
but I will always thank John, Paul, George, and Ringo 
     for making it so 
for without their publicity 
I'm sure the local chapter of the TM folks 
would never have been

I was so young 
The parents wouldn't let me 
     drive at night 
So Dad went with me 
     But he never went in 
Just sat in the lobby 
     patiently 

I didn't know then 
How special that was 
     or how kind 
We don't always know 
     when we're young... 

But now I formally thank you, father,
     for doing such a thing 
I'm sure you had to work 
     the next day- 

You enabled me 
     to begin a journey 
(I knew Mom would never 
     let me go to India-then)

Full circle 
     it seems 
If life is a dream 
     -Mine is getting better 
          of late 

and it all comes back 
     to that- 
That little white light 
     which has grown bright 
And now 
     is the love 
     Of my life 

Thank you 
India