Why haven’t we heard of you before?

Two Stories from Realise New Zealand Tour, Wed 23rd Sept, 2012

STORY No 1
“Why haven’t we heard of you before?”

On Wednesday we went to West Harbor Primary School in Auckland with 408 children enthusiastically smiling in attendance. These children were 60% Polynesian, 30% Maori and 10% other. They were well disciplined and tightly packed into the hall.

“…all the children’s jaws dropped”
Then Merenia rose to the occasion and with her stunning smile she touched every child’s heart. She started the karanga (Maori powerful call) all the children’s jaws dropped, with their eyes reflecting a mix of astonishment and admiration in stunned silence.

They all responded to her as she greeted them in Maori and said hello in several languages and the children roared in reply, finishing with G’day Mate! Their big smiles revealing their little mouth’s with missing teeth…. And the band struck up with Ganesha Ganesha…and by the time we got to Jai Jai Bolo they all became little Ganesha’s Ganas and were giving us the rhythm and harmonizing with the words Jai Jai Bolo throughout the song.

“…those bright eyed children so receptive to the music”
Jogawa was next and the interaction was dynamic and extremely vocal. John’s aim was to lift the roof off and they gave it their best effort.
What a fantastic experience to see those bright eyed children so receptive to the music so sweet and full of innocence and joy. Caroline enraptured the children with her French accent and treated them with a game of thinking….. to explore not thinking….then to silence… And the concert chilled out with the beautiful Maori lullaby Hine e Hine. With observations from the hall there were many yawning  faces.

They  requested a final song, so we sang Bolo Shiva Shambu Bam Bam Bam. The children filed out of the hall  in rows  giving the MOJ musicians high 5’s as they passed… MOJ continued to dance to celebrate the victory of enlightening these precious kids (kuds)

One man stayed in the hall witnessing MOJ in silence and unbeknown to many of us  he was a principle. We thought he was a teacher. Caroline asked him if he enjoyed the concert and he replied “you guys are just great!”

“Why haven’t we heard of you before?”
He was such a humble presence and a was gently spoken person and he acknowledged us all by speaking in firstly in Maori then in his own native Canadian Indian tongue  from Vancouver. He was deeply moved that we came from many different countries and our music represented many as well.. He was in awe that we sang an American Indian song as that was his heritage and he was grateful and expressed his love by hugging some of his brothers and sisters. He said where have you been all my life Why haven’t we heard of you before? Everyone should know about you! You must come back and TV NZ needs to know you are here.

With love,
Collectively written by the ladies in New Zealand.

[Photos: Yogis enjoying Havan and footsoaking in Auckland]

STORY No 2
“… they responded to it with such a passion”
We had the first program in Ruapotaka Primary School today in Auckland at 1.30pm. The whole school was there (197 kids), aged 5 to 12 years.

We had no idea how we would be received… would they respond?, would they be able to sustain interest over 1 hour?, would there be positive support from the staff etc…

The concert started with Ganesha Ganesha, and we taught the chorus the children before we started. They were with us right from the beginning and the vibrations were very strong. Then we sang Raining on the Rock, first explaining a little bit about Uluru. Then we sang the Native American Indian song “We Are the Children of the Earth”, with Merenia standing out the front doing Maori inspired movements that the children copied. Jai Jai Bolo followed and then the highlight “Jogawa” The children were completely taken by this song and responded to it with such a passion at the end of each verse. It was like a new version of Jogawa, and on the last verse they clapped along with great enthusiasm, shouting out “Ude” and Ho” even where we hadn’t taught them.

Next Caroline (a born Primary teacher) led them through a session of “Mental Stillness” and then we sang a traditional Maori lullaby “Hine e Hine”. To see the deep meditative state that some of these young children (and a few of the staff) were in was incredibly moving. Last song was Haida which was greatly enjoyed by all.

Shri Mataji poured Her love on all present and we all felt uplifted. A very auspicious beginning to this tour of New Zealand (the land of Auspiciousness).

Jai Shri Mataji!
Music of Joy