The Wave
A Newsletter & Resource for Devotees
Volume
1 Number
1
July 22, 304 Dwapara Yuga________________________________________________________________
Welcome to The Wave!
This is the first issue of the Wave. It is designed as a resource for devotees to help with businesses, rentals, vehicles, etc, as well as to provide information and a medium for exchange of ideas.Wave of the Sea--How it Started
We started a little harmonium business, I think in April. Margareta mentioned the need for people to repair harmoniums. I said that I had some experience doing that. Zarko and Kai said they were interested in learning harmonium repair. So we talked to a few people and started a little business. Kai and I went to John and Rozanne's and repaired a couple of harmoniums. Nick had a number of harmoniums that needed work so Kai and I went over there and worked on one of them.Soon I had several harmoniums in my van and was selling and repairing them. I worked on harmoniums for Sundaram and for Devaloka Yoga. My van was getting too full of harmoniums.
We kept looking around for a place to work. We would talk to people and drive along the streets and walk through the alleys. Office space that we located was too expensive. I decided to make a systematic search of the several blocks surrounding the temple and ashram. Margareta had mentioned a storage garage that Tom and Linda were using, but it didn't really register. Then Bob said he would give me Tom and Linda's number. I called them a couple times and talked to them at the Friendship Circle. I phoned again and met with Tom at the garage.
He showed me a spot at the end of a bench that I could clear and I was thinking that maybe I could stack three harmoniums one atop the other. Then he showed me a back room that was partly empty and said I could clear all the boxes off the bench and use it for repair. So we had some space. Eventually I removed all the items from the front room to the back room and rigged up some counters and shelves. So we have a place to display harmoniums and to work on them. We also have some of Margareta's pictures and things to sell. So far we have repaired over 20 harmoniums and sold about five. Kai has demonstrated good skill at harmonium repair and is learning more aspects of it all the time. We are looking for a larger place that can be used for retail and other uses.
Mini-Convocation in Encinitas
For those of us who are staying behind...Some of us in Encinitas are planning to meet the first week of August to tune in with the Convocation in Los Angeles. We expect to meditate, chant and share readings from Guruji.
If you are interested in taking part in these activities please call us at Wave of the Sea for schedule and location. Our phone here is 760-635-1955.
Devotee Library
In the back room at Wave of the Sea we have a small library, the seed of what we hope will in time become a much larger and more useful library for devotees. We currently have a number of books by and about Mahatma Gandhi—remnants of a purchase I made years ago when the Unicorn Bookstore was closing down, plus books on the Sanskrit language and a few other books.Also in the library are some videos. Currently we have the Ramayana in several parts, and twenty or thirty videos of a TV show I used to do in Canada.
Devotee VL
We also have the beginnings of a Voluntary League for devotees – just some miscellaneous clothing so far. I remember a number of years ago hearing Daya Mata at a Convocation saying that she felt we had not done enough with the VL. I determined at that time to try to find a way to expand what we do with the VL in SRF. It’s name (Voluntary League) implies a great deal more than just clothing and recycling of items, but that is what it has come to mean for many of us and so it is a good place to start.Our current space for items is limited. If someone knows of a location where we can keep VL items, it would be great.
Others Who Have Helped With Wave of the Sea
Mark and Cathy have helped in various ways such as with lighting, picture taking, encouragement, and ice cream. Lynn Benedict has been very helpful for electricity and telephone hook-ups. Cathy Benedict has donated the use of a number of items including an answering machine and a FAX machine. John and Rozanne have contributed the use of a number of items and have also come up with many ideas. Margareta has worked enthusiastically toward sales and marketing and provided encouragement along the way. Jeff Calcara gave suggestions on hearing harmonium notes that are out of tune. David Todd gave extensive instructions on harmonium repair. Joseph Oszusik offered encouragement and consulting with repair questions. Judy Oszuskik helped me to chase down Joseph (who is a very busy person).Jan scattered rose petals. Linda Lewi and Lauren joined in singing some of the great old songs, as did Margareta.
Brother Anilananda helped me to understand about chromatic tuners. Br. Gordon gave us a harmonium to repair. Andrew had ideas about forming a non-profit corporation. Tom and Linda were helpful and encouraging in easing the transition to having a place to work. Wally, Rita, Cathy, Loren, and Timmaris were our first harmonium purchasers.
Nick Hodgson provided our initial stock of harmoniums for us to repair and sell. Bob Polselli provided resources, ideas, and encouragement. Dorothy laughed at my jokes. Br. Noel kept up our supply of protein bars. Thora and Janabhai invited me in for tea and let me use their phone – before we got our own phone hook-up. Bob, next door, helped me to run an electrical cord. Gita suggested we start a newsletter – of which The Wave is an outcome. Many other people stopped by and gave various suggestions and encouragement.