Dada Mahaviirananda recently visited Austin around Baba’s birthday and helped the Margiis with Food distribution to the homeless. Because of Texas’s mild winters, and Austin being known as a “liberal” town, homeless are attracted here from other parts of the country to supplement its already substantial indigenous population.
We regularly assist the Food Not Bombs organization on Saturdays to cook delicious vegan meals, but margis have begun to supplement that service with our own distribution during the week. Brother Janaka has shown us that it does not have to be a big production–like the all-afternoon cooking effort on Saturday with FNB. Rather, Janak and Dada picked up bread, peanut butter, honey, bananas, oat bars and bottled water to hand out on occasional evenings during the week.
In celebration of Baba’s birthday we distributed food on May 22nd, May 25th and May 28th. Interaction with the homeless is almost always overwhelmingly positive. People are especially grateful for water now that the weather is hotter. Sometimes we sing kiirtan but we always try to connect by listening to those willing to share their stories. Mysteriously my meditation is deeper and easier after these activities.