Off Crow Canyon Road, up a dirt road, is a small piece of paradise that goes as unnoticed as does the community service performed by its inhabitants.
The
MA. Center at 10200 Crow Canyon Road is approximately 360 acres of green
rolling hills and pathways lined with flowers, fruit trees and number of
vegetable and fruit gardens. But the center’s work and anonymity may be
at an end when it hosts a community meeting Saturday to commemorate the
victims of the Gujarat Indian earthquake.
“This is kind of a coming out party for the ashram,” said Charlie Engel, who has been visiting the center for the past eight years.Saturday night’s event will give the ashram’s neighbors near and far a chance to visit a place that seems a bit like a vision when it suddenly appears at the end of the road, and a chance to meet some people who seemed to have skated right past the daily frenzy of this fast-paced electronic world.
Not to say, however, that the 14 residents of the property’s two impressive houses are living in the past. Dayamrita Chaitanya pulled a ringing cell phone from beneath his traditional cotton garb.
Chaitanya and his colleagues will host a night of prayer for the thousands of victims of the Jan. 26 earthquake and talk about charitable works performed locally, nationally and internationally by the followers of Mata Amritanandamayi. Castro Valley’s ashram was started in 1989 by followers of Amritanandamayi, a 47-year-old Indian woman who sprang up from poverty to do service to the people of India. Along the way she has apparently picked up devotees who say they were drawn to her message about providing for the poor and disenfranchised.
Lisa Lawrence was barely out of high school when migrated from the state most known for its cheese — Wisconsin — to M.A. Center perched above the world in Castro Valley.
“I was drawn by Mother’s message about serving the poor,” said Lawrence.
She parlayed her desire to help into a master’s degree in education and substitute teaching in the Hayward schools.
The background of the center’s residents spans everything from working in retirement funds to landscape gardeners. Their geographical histories span the globe from New Zealand to Oklahoma. Chaitanya came from India where he had worked directly with Amritanandamayi.
“I was a film maker and then I met her and talked with her and decided to join with her,” he said.
Amritanandamayi, who has been deemed by some as a saint in her homeland, encourages her followers to look inside themselves for the part of their being that naturally wants to do charitable works.
“There is a part in all of us that wants to help alleviate suffering,” said Ramaa, who is the center’s premier gardener and founding member.
The members of the ashram are involved in several community projects including Mother’s Kitchen, a project where vegetarian meals are cooked and delivered to St. Joseph’s and St. Andrew’s to feed the area’s hungry. The members also collect clothing and toys for women and children in homeless shelters.
Even Teamsters, who are often painted with testosterone-laden brushes, are soft-hearted when they go to the ashram.
Engel got some of his Teamster buddies together and they recently went up to the Center to pack medical supplies.
In India, Amritanandamayi’s efforts have produced hospitals, schools, orphanages, housing and pensions for women and children.
“When the earthquake hit, we dispatched teams of doctors and nurses, medical supplies, two ambulances and a complete theater to the area from our hospital,” said Ramaa.
Amma, as Amritanandamayi is known by her followers, seems to be a religious leader grounded smack in the reality of everyday life. Her directions are concrete and followable, according to the center’s residents.
“She has simple messages that make sense,” said Chaitanya. Saturday’s event will also feature Supervisor Nate Miley and the Shri Abhayankar. The event starts at 6p.m. and can be reached by traveling 5 miles on Crow Canyon Road from where it intersects with Center Street.