Fairfield 6: Return to the Raj

Last November I returned for another visit to Fairfield, including extended meditation and more treatments at The Raj. The photos and impressions I have to share cover three categories: updates to the MUM campus,  changes in Fairfield, and a return to The Raj.

MUM Campus
The MUM campus continued to evolve during the seven months since my previous visit. The stairs at the Argiro Student Center had been problematic since its opening with spalling (crumbling or chipping) of both the original and repaired concrete. Now, the stairs and entryway are tiled.

I hadn't taken a good photo of the west face of Argiro before; although it is the back of the building, it's also the side that faces Highway 1. In Sthapatya Ved, the most auspicious orientation for a building is to face east.

Across Highway 1 from Argiro, the wind turbine between the library and the new Sustainable Living Center -- which had its opening just a few weeks after I ended my April visit -- was now completely installed and generating power. Being a student project, it's a turbine of modest size.

On a sunnier day, a closeup of the turbine.

The big sign facing Highway 1 has received a facelift.

Nearby there are new tree plantings.

The railings of a campus bridge were replaced in a style whose arch echoes the Jefferson County recreational trail where it crosses Highway 1, only a few hundred feet away. Here is the refurbished campus bridge,

and here is an earlier picture of the trail bridge.

Many of the residential buildings known as "frats" received substantial makeovers, both inside and out. Here, a new roof is being installed.

New, energy-efficient windows replaced the old ones.

Here is a snapshot of a renovated lobby in one of the frats.

From in front of the frats the view encompasses the Maharishi Patanjali Golden Dome at left, the Victory Tower, the Bagambhrini Golden Dome, and at far right the Golden Dome Market and Cafe.

In previous posts I've shown the expansion of the Golden Dome Market from the outside, and now I can show you the effects on the inside. The northern extension on the ground floor is now the produce room.

Above it on the second floor is additional dining area.

As before the center of the second floor is the main serving and dining area. The southern extension is a new kitchen, so food no longer has to be transported from the kitchen in Argiro. I did not eat here during this visit, but I may make extensive use of it next time; if you're after a smaller meal, as opposed to all-you-can-eat, the Cafe is less expensive than the Argiro, albeit with a smaller selection.

The southern extension on the ground floor is several aisles of dry goods, and I couldn't take a meaningful photograph.

Around Fairfield
The biggest change in Fairfield took place just a few days after I left. After decades of 60 to 80 trains per day blowing their horns as they passed through, Fairfield is now an officially designated Quiet Zone. The crossings were all upgraded with long medians so that vehicles can't maneuver around the lowered gates. No more horn blasts! Here's a picture of one of the new crossings.

There is now a rotating display of Parsons College memorabilia in the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center. Parsons College declared bankruptcy in 1973 and was purchased by Maharishi University of Management, then called Maharishi International University, in 1974. That's how MUM came to be in Iowa.

The stained glass came from the Parsons College chapel. Let's zoom in on it (click on the picture for an enlarged version).

The folks behind the Cafe Paradiso purchased the building next door, and renovated it to offer both residential and office facilities.

The notes on the side of Cafe Paradiso, just noticeable in the above photo, intrigued me. Depending on the angle of the light, they were either clearly metal projections from the side of the building, or sometimes as if painted on the brick. First, the ironwork look:

Then, my attempt to capture the painted look:

Every time I reappear in Fairfield there seems to be a new shop somewhere downtown. This time, it was a combination tea and pottery shop.

The Raj
I documented my first visit to The Raj in some detail here. This time I'll add some more information without repeating the original stuff.

My biggest concern in returning to The Raj for another seven-day round of panchakarma (Ayurvedic treatments) was the possibility of the second-time letdown. That's when the first time you experience something, it's great, and you're eager to repeat it, but when you do the second time doesn't measure up to the first, leaving you with a vague feeling of dissatisfaction. This fear was unfounded.

It was necessary to budget nine days for the seven days of treatment. Because I was doing extended group meditation in the mornings as part of the Invincible America Assembly, arriving at the Dome during early November dawns,

only the afternoons were available for treatments or meetings at The Raj. The first afternoon was a meeting with the director, Mark Toomey, and Dr. Siju, a vaidya (Ayurvedic physician). They interviewed me, read my pulse, and prescribed the series of treatments for the next seven days. I would see them again in the middle of the treatments, so they could evaluate progress, and again after the treatments were complete, receiving advice for herbs, diet, and such when back home.

While taking treatments at The Raj special PK (panchakarma) meals are part of the program. The PK dining room is separate from the restaurant at The Raj; here's my photo.

The meals were a highlight of each day, especially because of the opportunity to converse with other PK diners. We came from diverse backgrounds and with different experiences, and usually found plenty to talk about. Also, across the eight days that I ate there, some guests would reach the end of their stay and depart, while others would arrive.

I took an illustrative photo of one lunch meal.

The main plate has, clockwise from bottom, a chapati (Indian flatbread), spinach, rice, artichoke with a green sauce, and mixed veggies. The bowl to the side is a lentil and veggie soup, while in the shot glass is a digestive decoction, which for me was fennel and coriander based -- there are two main types. This is consumed first. And there are two chutneys next to the decoction. Brought out later were a digestive lassi (yogurt drink) and a dessert, which is usually a stewed fruit dish but is occasionally one of my favorites, rice pudding. These meals are designed to complement rather than interfere with the treatments you're receiving. The idea is to not strain the digestion.

I'll close this blog entry with a final sunrise photo. There are so many when you're walking to the dome at 7:00 AM (I like to get there a little early; 7:30 is when the doors close).

After another springtime visit to Fairfield, I may visit the Raj again next November.