Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore

January 2009 Morning Walk

Date	Sunday, 4th January 2009
Time	8. 00 AM sharp Pre-walk exercise will start on schedule. Please get to the starting point on time.
Place	Bedok Reservoir Park
Meeting Point	By the Swimming Pool at The Tropica. Cars can be parked at The Tropica's Car Park. Following warm up exercises by the pool, we would walk over to the Reservoir Park.
Contact No	Rama: 96514908
Host	Mr & Mrs K. S. Lok 61 Tampines Avenue 1, # 11- 02 The Tropica Singapore 529776 Telephone: (Res) 65883515 (HP) 94235415
Directions to the Apartment	Exit PIE at Bedok Reservoir Road. Keep straight on the road. Then turn right into Tampinese Ave 10. From here, make another right into Tampines Ave 1. MRT Station: Tampines Bus Services: 23 (from interchange), 518 (from Orchard and Pasir Ris), 15 (From Parkway Parade), 8 (from Toa Payoh)
Directions to the Park	MRT Station: Bedok Bus Services: 18, 21, 22, 28, 65, 67, 69, 228, 66, 506. Expressway: PIE Exit 8B (From Jurong towards Bedok)

The hosts will be pleased to welcome those unable to join the walk at their residence at 10.30 am to participate in the prayers and meditation followed by brunch.

However do make it a point to the attend the walk. Remember, it is the walk that gives meaning to the brunch.

Review of the December 2008 Walk

It is not often that one goes for a Sunday walk and comes upon, in the opposite direction, not one, not two but thousands of Marathon runners. What was even more unusual was that one of our own, Adrian, was among the marathon runners.

The group of Sri Aurobindo Society members who gathered in the morning of 7th December near Big Splash started off with a warm up exercise lead by Rama. The warm up routine would have prepared us for the marathon itself. After toning every limb for the walk, we set out along the East Coast Park towards the airport. A lone woodpecker, perched on a tree above us, sounded its rhythmic pecking on the tree's branch as our warm up exercises wound to a close.

Walking with the Sunday morning joggers and walkers is a common activity for every walk. Marathon runners and campers along the East Coast Park made the place seem very crowded. This meant the usual serene atmosphere was not there. But is it not how life is in the modern world? We have to search for the serene calm state inside us while moving actively in the hustle and bustle of city life.

After the walk, we simply had to cross the expressway to reach Nisha's house, all within a few minutes. Another nice surprise was that Anuvrat, one of our young members had just landed in Singapore and he too had come to join us for the prayer and meditation. The prayers started with a devotional number from Jagjit Singh's 'Maa' and Mother's meditation music. There were devotional offerings by some of the members. These gave a unique identity to Nisha's walk this December. A delicious home cooked brunch by Nisha's mother was enjoyed by everyone.

My closing thoughts are that members of the society are inspired to run the marathon in future years. Running the marathon is no easy feat. It requires unconditional dedication and discipline and perseverance. Following in the foot-steps of Adrian, I hope that we will all be able to take up the challenge and prepare ourselves mentally and physically for this fulfilling task.

- Venkat

Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Aravindaya Sharanam Mama