SaturdaySatsang

Great Grace

Margo was not a sweetness and light cookie-cutter devotee. Why do I or we so miss her. To me the story of Margo in all details is the story of Sri Bhagavan’s great Grace.

Margo grew up in a small Texas town called Venus where she described a girlhood on a lake and rowboat rides to go to school or town.

As a young woman, Margo came to NYC where she studied art and acting. She developed a great interest in film. However, by the age of 35 Margo was ripe and ready to give up worldly pursuits for life’s highest goal.

Margo first walked into Arunachala Ashram in September of 1973 and never left. She was among the first group of young adults inspired by Arunachala Bhakta Bhagawata to take up the mission of Self-inquiry and self surrender in all earnestness.

I would like to mention some of the things I find myself missing about Margo…

• Margo's voice – so beautiful – warm, deep and musical
• Margo’s astute insight into people and their motivations
• Her wide-ranging, open-hearted conversations about anything and everything.
• Margo’s sharp wit – as long as it wasn’t directed at me.

I have often thought that living in an ashram would be a bit like being in a fishbowl. Everyone knows the things that Margo loved:
Movies; Spirulina and froyo;  and Flowers – succulents in particular.

Annie & Margo

click to see a large image

Margo‘s love of succulents was a form of meditation in which she expressed an aesthetic ideal of spare beauty among small things. I have often thought that in the world of plants succulents are the devotees – low maintenance, slow-growing endowed with timeless beauty. Hence, an ideal subject of meditation, for one who aspires to simplicity.

And, of course, Margo loved her daughter Annie – Margo’s own heart.

Margo was just always HERE. “When are you coming,” she would ask with genuine happiness to see devotees.

And, an admonition from Margo carried weight – the weight of her insight that would hit the mark.

I would like to close with a fond remembrance of Margo sent by Eric Ford who wrote: “Margo had such warmth and humor. She was such a kind and gentle friend. And of course she struggled with some real challenges too but she kept a steady and resilient faith and determination in the face of it. In this way I found her to be an inspiration. I will miss her friendly presence, and at the same time feel a deep happiness for her rest and repose in the Self.“

The beauty of the story of how Sri Bhagavan took Margo up in his arms – flaws and all – to lead her to life’s goal is that this is our story too… a story of Sri Bhagavan’s immeasurable compassion, power and Grace.

– Evelyn Kaselow Saphier

from: Kerry
date: Thu, Jan 18, 2024 at 09:18

Good morning Arthur

I told Margo about your use of the drawing of Hanuman that she made and held it up to her. She wasn't able to open her eyes, but she very clearly heard and understood. She had a smile and waved. She was present and could hear all her last day, slipping into sleep a lot. She wasn't able to speak or open her eyes, but she conveyed with waves and smiles. We read to her from Letters from Ramanashramam and the last thing we read was the Forty Verses on Reality. When we left her for the night, we played the evening Vedas next to her on her phone. She was resting. It was clear that her body experienced some pain, but she didn't seem to be suffering. She was quite peaceful.

Margo was serious about her spiritual path, but not stuffy about it. She was always ready to go out to a coffee shop or to get frozen yogurt or chat about the news. You can watch the 20 min. interview with Margo in the NY Ashrama on Arunachala Ashrama’s Youtube channel. It is very good.

In the early 80’s I lived in NY for 6 months and I can say Margo was the most fearless New Yorker I have met. This fearlessness helped her through many difficulties.

Margo enjoyed immensely the beauty in little things, she had an artist’s eye.

It was a joy and a privilege to know Margo

In Bhagavan’s Grace, Darlene