We began today by visiting the beautiful new restaurant, Vegan Hills.
We came to meet with and honor long time friend of Sri Chinmoy and many of us, Steve Odin. Vegan Hills belongs to his wife, Megumi Odin.
The food is quite simply incredible!
Steve Odin is a deeply spiritual and humble person. He is a Professor in East-West Comparative Philosophy at the University of Hawai'i. He specializes in building understanding and finding bridges and similarities between Eastern and Western Philosophy. He is a world authority on the subject, and as the University of Hawai'i is the only one in the world to specialise in comparative East-West Philosophy, his students come from all over the world, and go on to teach what they have learned all around the world!
We were very interested to hear that Steve has found a powerful common thread in worldwide philosophies to be the goal of Enlightenment. He has found this to be most clearly expressed in varying forms of art.
In the 1970's Steve happened by chance to live in the same neighbourhood of Jamaica, Queens as Sri Chinmoy, and attended many meditations held by Sri Chinmoy. He had travelled all over India, and was memorably struck by the fact that Sri Chinmoy taught in silence. He has maintained a deep connection with Sri Chinmoy. We were extremely inspired by his genuine aspiration and dedication to bringing the higher values of spirituality and oneness between all human beings into his work and life, and were honored and grateful to present him with our Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Torch-Bearer Award.
The staff of Vegan Hills were happy and proud to join the celebration.
Steve's wife, Megumi, is also a deeply spiritual person. She has opened several very successful vegan restaurants, including the well-known "Peace Cafe" in Honolulu, which we also visited and throughly enjoyed.
We all shared our prayers for peace.
Thank you, Steve, for all you are doing for peace in the world!
Our next stop was Sandy Beach, to get some photos of where Abhejali finished her swim.
Of course everyone wanted to hold the torch!
The champion! When Abhejali arrived here from Molokai several days ago, after swimming for 21 hours and 52 minutes, the lifeguard made an announcement over the loudspeaker, and everyone on the beach cheered for her!
The happy team!
We were so happy to meet Yarden Sojot and her husband, Joshua of the Hawaii Cold Brew Coffee Company. They are both very keen to be involved with the Peace Run in the future.
Abhejali started the running in Kailua.
Next was Rupasi running hard!
We always take a moment to pray for peace and protection before we start running.
Harita enjoying the scenery!
We met so many beautiful people along the way!
What a great shot!
We saw so many beautiful places along the way!
We took the torch up to the iconic Makapu'u Point Lighthouse, which was our guiding light for the duration of Abhejalis swim.
This fellow was keen to take a daring stance for peace!
You can see it was windy!
A oneness-family
Is the world’s
Mightiest family.
-Sri Chinmoy
Nature’s beauty helps us
To be as vast as possible,
As peaceful as possible
And as pure as possible.
-Sri Chinmoy
