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

First Impressions

First Impression

Since life is but a continuous series of experiences, everything ultimately helps me towards my final enlightenment.

- Sri Chinmoy

At around ten am the next day I set my eyes on the tennis court, also called Aspiration-Ground, for the first time.

The night before, I had fallen asleep as soon as my head had touched the pillow. Even though the conversations I had had with D on our way home and while getting ready for bed had been truly captivating. She simply knew so many stories about the early days of our path and about Guru. . .

After my morning meditation, followed by a cereal breakfast - courtesy of my gracious host - D had walked with me the short distance to the tennis court. To my utter delight, all the important places of our path there in New York seemed to be situated very close to each other: The 'Divine Enterprises' (disciple owned business ventures one of which, the 'Guru Health Foods' store, had been our savior the other day) were conveniently located right next to each other at Parsons Boulevard. Easily distinguishable from the rest of the shops by their light blue façade. They also happened to be right across from PS 86.

From there the Aspiration Ground, as well as the 'Annam Brahma', an Indian vegetarian restaurant owned by disciples and one of the best places to hang out (especially when one was hungry or cold), were only about five to ten minutes walking distance. Depending on the walkers age, his/her state of mind (from meditative to: "The function is starting!") and whether somebody was laden down with bags/suitcases (having just come from the shops/the airport), or not.

And – best of all - my accommodation happened to be in the middle of all these locations, in one of the many small family homes surrounded by gardens that made up the area.

The weather was beautiful, with a weak, golden sun in a cloudless blue sky. But it was still cold. Quite cold, in fact!

And definitely much colder than Beni had anticipated, who, back in Austria, had tried to figure out the early December temperatures in New York by comparing its latitude to those of various cities in Europe. And as it had turned out to be on approximately the same latitude as Rome, he had therefore incorrectly assumed that its temperature would be similar to that of the Italian capital.

Which was why he appeared to be slightly hypothermic when I met him in the driveway leading to the tennis court, where he was talking to an unfamiliar boy. They were standing next to a low stonewall, which only reached up to their mid-thighs. Its topmost part was almost even with the ground level of a steep, upward sloping garden.

"Hi Beni," I greeted him, as soon as D and I were close enough.

Upon hearing my voice, both boys turned towards me. Beni with a welcoming, albeit a bit forced looking grin, the other boy with a confused expression on his face. Probably, because he had never seen me before and therefore did not expect me to approach him with such a wide smile.

Which was not meant for him, anyway...

"All right, I'll see you later," he hastily excused himself, before turning right and walking down the gravel driveway leading through the gate of a huge wire mesh fence.

"Hello," Beni greeted me, shivering slightly. Taking in the way he was only dressed in jeans and a thick, dark blue pullover, I couldn't help but feel cold by just looking at him!

"Did you sleep well? How is your room?" I asked concerned.

"It has plenty of... crisp air," Beni sighed. "I am staying close by, which is nice, but one of the windows is broken..."