Tribute to Mary Helen – Jack Alexander

 

Here I am on Saturday morning finding myself in a virtual living room at the Internet wake for Mary Helen.  Although I have lost all contact with her while she and Narad have been in the States, my memories I would share if I were with you all in such a gathering – so I will here too.

 

My connection to Mary Helen was through the East West Community Center in Los Angeles during the late 60's and I knew her first in this new focus of my life as an elder graduating from this "school of seekers" that had attracted me and a host of others in their inner and outer quests.  Her life and that of numerous others was a dynamic association drawing us all to come together in preparation for what for many of us would become out next future – Auroville or The Ashram.  Almost as a memory of an "upperclassman: from high school, Mary Helen and those like her before me was a pioneer that I have looked up to forever since.

 

I knew her initially as one of three in a family involved in the Yoga, doing what was possible/necessary to be involved and raise a child; keep all parts of the development of a sadhak pulled together and headed forward.  Because of my being introduced to her and her family then, I knew her in her first marriage as "Mary Helen Grinnell" along with another very instrumentally influential person, her husband, Chali's father, Larry (later "Dhruva").  Dhruva was one who was around the center a lot during our formative time in L.A. and offered insight as to how to put it all together for those headed to AV.  When they were later at the Ashram, he was our contact with Mother via Maggie for our letters, pictures, anecdotes, etc., when we too sought permission to come.

 

These three and lots of others (Anie & Richard (Narad), Tatsat & Trudi, Diane (Skye) & Phil, Ray and Deborah, were those who's lives were passing through the influence of Dr. Judith Tyberg, known to those of us who were shepherded by her as "Jyoti Priya".  It felt like a graduate school of sorts, a sling shot for many, with Mary Helen and others being the guides to the new comers like Mary and I.

 

Even after they had left for the last time to settle in Auroville, her influence remained as we would gather money and tools for the project at the MM (Matrimandir) Nursery, spending numerous Saturday's and Sundays at East West preparing shipments to carry tools, seeds, books, etc, etc. to this magnet half way around the world.

 

Later as AV newbees with a small child ourselves, circumstances had newly graduate "East Westers" Jack, Mary & Satyavan moving into Mary Helen, Chali and Narad's room at Center Worker's Camp when they shifted into their new quarters at the nursery.  Mary Helen became a neighbor and was an example again of how to keep it all together as a mother, seeker, worker in a rather challenging environment for any one of these categories separately, not to mention all three simultaneously.

 

As one of the members around this imaginary room I want to say to all of you how much all of you mean to me and how much all these memories are treasured.  Thanks for Mary Helen's life and its effect on me and all of us.

 

Love, Jack