Hawaii

The International Peace Belt made another trip to Hawaii in mid-December, 2009. I am sure it continues to return to that beautiful state because it is called there. Maui is one of the most tranquil and peaceful places in the world. The Peace Belt was an honored participant in the Open Your Heart in Paradise retreat, with spiritual teachers:

Ram Dass – a world renowned author and teacher since the 60’s,

Therese Fitzgerald – Meditation, Saul David Raye – Yoga, and Krishna Das – kirtan, devotional music and

Lei’ohu Ryder – a spiritual leader, visionary, healer, singer/songwriter, and educator on Maui.

The retreat was sponsored by the Love, Serve, Remember Foundation. LSRF is dedicated to disseminating and sustaining the spiritual teachings of Neem Karoli Baba, a Hindu Guru, on Service and Devotion.

All events were held in the Aloha Pavilion in a beautiful resort at waters edge. Daily, the Spiritual Energy, Peace and Love generated in the room filled everyone’s hearts.

The Peace Belt was displayed at the Hospitality Table in the Aloha Pavilion each day of the retreat, and, I am certain that the Amazing Positive Energy generated there resonated in, with, and through the belt, in harmony with all of its previous travels. The most heartwarming thing for me, as caretaker for this trip, was experiencing the Love and Peace Vibrations of the gathering – something I had not experienced in a large group since the 1960’s and 1970’s. My personal lesson was that the Energy is always there – it is always available to all of us – we just have to Open Our Hearts, and let it in.

I am filled with gratitude that I was able to experience the Amplification of that Energy with such a large group of people – who are all now my family, in Peace and Love.

The final day of the retreat began with a beautiful ceremony at dawn on the beach, lead by Lei’ohu Ryder. She is an emissary of aloha and an advocate for the indigenous mind in all people, blind to the labels (race, creed, nationality, ideology, etc.) that can separate us from experiencing the true nature of our selves and others. Her work has been recognized by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Peace Corps and the United Nations. Lei’ohu was awarded the Gandhi-King Peace Hero Award in 2002 and in 2003 the Peace Corps Peace Educator Award. She has shared her gifts all around the world including Japan, Israel, India, and most of Europe. Lei’ohu is deeply connected to the land and the sea, and she held the International Peace Belt as she conducted the ceremony. Also in her hands were Taro Leaves, important to the culture of the Hawaiian people. She included in the ceremony:

“It is respect and surrender to the highest calling of your spirit that takes you to your origin of place of spirit. The message is “Aloha,” that breath of love, that breath of light that goes back to our original intent, love. Spirit is love. When we are fully present, the spirit of place is all about love and compassion and allowing love to transcend all things Aloha is an energy. It’s not just a word; it’s not just love. When you say, “Aloha,” your body fills with the spirit. Aloha energy connects the spirit of place within our bodies with the full spirit of the Universe, of Mother Earth. Just like the beautiful food we eat that is organically grown. You can taste the energy in the food that is loved and cared for. Or when you see a person smile, you are seeing the spirit of place in that person. Their spirit is coming inside you. You can feel that. Tell people to say “Aloha.” When you say, “Aloha,” you can feel your body tingling, your cells erasing all the barnacles that you carry, eradicating all the resentment, hate, and sorrow that have been transmitted from generation to generation through your DNA. Keep saying, “Aloha, Aloha, Aloha,” and visualizing that Aloha. It will be the biggest medicine in your spirit of place that you ever had so you can walk more fully in your divineness.”

Maureen Tary, Membership coordinator for www.ramdass.org