The Hidden Path (WINNER OF THE BEAUTY AWARD for Spiritual)

Joyday

True joy is self-created

It does not depend on outer circumstances

A river is flowing in and through me,

Carrying the message of joy.

This divine joy

Is the sole purpose of life.

- Sri Chinmoy

"Some more great news," Doris announced with sparkling eyes after the Centre-Meditation the next Wednesday. "In three weeks, we shall have an Austrian Joyday at a beautiful location in the mountains." Her enthusiasm was obvious and contagious.

"A Joyday?" I asked, confused. It's not that I did not understand the English words. But put together, they somehow failed to make sense. At least to me.

A quick glance around, however, immediately assured me that everybody else, except for Beni, appeared to be familiar with the term. At last judging by the beaming smiles all around and the excited chatter that had greeted Doris's announcement.

"A Joyday. Yes!" Hanna appeared barely able to contain her excitement. Her voice had assumed a slightly higher pitch than usual and she chuckled in anticipation of what was to come. Beaming at everyone, she clearly expected a similar reaction from all of us.

Realizing that my smile was polite with a hint of confusion rather than ecstatic, she immediately caught on:

"Quite regularly, actually, the disciples meet for a weekend of meditation, prayer, singing and running," she happily explained. "The experience is. . . simply indescribable. . . you receive so much light and joy. . . you absolutely have to go there!" 

I had to admit, this sounded intense. Intriguing.

"And it's going to be quite cheap too," Doris added. "Only about 35 Schillings for accommodation, food and prasad..."

Great. Another attack on my bank account. Once again, fear started to raise its ugly head. Searching for some kind of reassurance and guidance as to what I should do, my eyes found my boyfriend's delighted ones.

"Of course, we shall go. Right, Mia?" Beni, obviously, did not share my concerns. Not surprising, really. He never seemed to worry. Least of all about money. (Hm. He did still owe me 15.000 Schilling. Maybe he just knew how to procure it...)

Taking in the enthusiastic atmosphere that was suddenly permeating our small Centre, my curiosity was peaked. Surrendering to the general mood of happy anticipation, I nodded. "Yes, of course we shall."

Which was why three weeks later, in early October, Beni and I found ourselves somewhere in the mountains in a rustic hostel, together with about 50 other people.

I shared a small four-bed room with Hanna, Doris and Trude. While we were making our beds, using the red-and-white-checkered linens that had been provided, my gaze fell on the huge bags each one of the girls had brought.

Glancing at my own, small backpack, I chuckled: "Wow, you sure need a lot of stuff."

Hanna threw me a knowing grin, while Doris disappeared into the adjoining bathroom to take a shower before changing into her sari for the evening. "Oh, just you wait! In a few years, you will have just as much. If not more..." (Prophetic words.)

"I really don't think so..." I rolled my eyes at the mere thought, rather sure of myself.

At four o'clock, the whole group was supposed to assemble in a small room that would serve as our meeting place for the duration of our stay. Unlike the rest of the house, its walls consisted of paneled, light wood. The grey, carpeted floor had been cleared of any furniture except for a small table decorated with flowers, candles and a white tablecloth, on which the Transcendental had been placed.