The blue line on the navigator guided me out of Garessio. In Turin I had set our destination with the geographical coordinates Darshana had sent me via whatsapp. My friend was sitting in the back seat of the car squeezed between Enzo and my wife, Susthira. Alisha, on the other hand, sat in the front seat because she suffered from motion sickness. The geographical coordinates pointed to a specific place: The Magic House. That was where we were going.
It’s a house in the middle of the woods, where, for the first time in Italy, forty years ago, friends of Kriyananda had met to meditate and chant. It was here that Kriyananda had decided to carry on the teachings of his guru, Paramhansa Yogananda, by organizing chanting and meditation groups. And it was here that Kriyananda gave the first Kriya initiation in Italy.
This house, over time, had been forgotten, but for the past few years, the former owners had once again revived its function as a gathering place for friends and disciples of the Ananda path – the organization created by Kriyananda.
Today many friends on this path of spiritual quest were traveling to reach the Magic House and spend a day of chanting and meditation all together.
After a few kilometers we reached the small St. Bernard hill. I remember, as a boy, passing there with my father, traveling to the sea when highways had not yet been built. I remember that at that time there was a bar on the side of the road. Today instead, immense wind turbines rotate in the wind emitting their powerful rhythmic rustle. Some disciples were waiting for us under the turbines: “We will take you to the House with our cars, everyone has already arrived.”
The cars drove along a stretch of paved road and a dirt road downhill, then we continued on foot and, at the end of a path, the Magic House appeared.
Among the dense trees was a two-story house brightened in the dark green surroundings by white, blue and shades of violet.
I felt great excitement and my heart quickened its beats as I saw the large number of people moving about on the very green lawn in front of the house.
People were dressed in light-colored clothes, many in white, but there was mostly joy and smiles. But beyond the physical appearance I sensed a very powerful, joyful and positive energy coming from the house and the people.
The sky had clouded over and turned gray, but the light was very intense and penetrated everywhere. I greeted many friends. Some I had seen recently, some I had seen a long time ago, and some I was meeting for the first time.
There were young people and older ones in perfect harmony and joy. I was told there were almost 60 of us. The disciples came from different places in Piedmont and Liguria and were members of different Ananda groups: Ananda Fossano, Ananda Garessio, Ananda Torino, Ananda Ghiri di Guardabosone, Ananda Milano. I can’t name them all.
After doing the energization exercises, we formed a long line and chanted as we set out toward the new temple that had recently been built on a clearing not far away. The original small temple was still in the house, on the first floor. I spent a short time there, meditating and feeling its energy of the past.
Chanting and walking through the woods, we reached the clearing where a blue yurt stood out among the trees. The large round building had a dome that ended with a circular opening that flooded the interior with light.
We spent two intense hours there. Lucilla led the meditation. Dante, Janaka and others played the instruments, and everyone sang joyfully.
As always, we ended with prayers for people who are suffering, and for the world. I felt the healing power and peace and harmony that is generated when souls come together in light and in joy.
We learned that a devotee’s son had suggested naming the new Temple “TEMPLE OF OM.”
By 1 p.m. everything was ready for lunch. Outdoor tables were set up, and the food each person had brought to share with friends was placed on them.
There were those who were gluten intolerant, lactose intolerant or otherwise, those who were vegetarian and those who were vegan, but in the harmony of the place everyone found the suitable food, and we all ate at the tables and on the lawn, in serene joy and harmony.
The day ended as we chatted and bought T-shirts, honey, books and various items to help with expenses.
We pledged to meet again on a date set for the fourth Sunday in June 2025.
The rain that had respected our activities came as we were leaving the lawn in front of the Magic House.
My car was hit by a downpour as I drove through Garessio, and strangely enough, there wasn’t a lot of traffic on the highway to Turin.
I thought it was as if the harmony experienced during the day at the Magic House had strangely infected the Savona-Turin highway at 5 p.m. on a Sunday that had been classified as a red flag day, as people drove back home.
Flavio Massazza