About M.T. Circle
Located on the big island of Hawaii in an area named after Mark Twain, M.T. Circle is made up of two elements: Oolala! (homefarm business) & Oasis Meditation Garden (OMG).
Each functioning in support of the other; Oolala! offers,to the local community: prepared meals, a small shop, and a plant nursery. OMG is a minimalist retreat for those wishing to mediate on life’s fundamental questions.
Residents on OMG may volunteer time and effort to maintain MT.
Proceeds from Oolala! support MT.
Oasis Meditation Garden
I first came across Krishnamurti’s work in 1973. A good friend who worked in a bookshop would get in touch with me whenever a new title that seemed interesting to him had arrived for sale. We would then both read the book and then meet at a local park bench after his work to have a discussion on what we had read. Hungry for some kind of understanding, for almost a year we did this often, covering many topics on philosophy, psychology, religion, mysticism and even science. One day, my friend suggested that we read and discuss a new book that had arrived called The Awakening of Intelligence by J. Krishnamurti. I bought that book and began to go through it.
At first it was difficult to understanding but somehow, perhaps because we were often going through the text together, I persevered. At some point, it was as if lightning had struck, burning away ideas and opinions I had gathered from all my previous study. Not long after, I started to make deliberate life-changes; I quit my university studies and started a business in the hopes of saving enough, perhaps after five years, to be able to live somewhere quietly. I took almost 10 years before I reached that point.
Living in a major city, I had a restaurant business that could support me financially. It was a busy time of my life, but in spite of that, with some friends and family, we were able to find time to introduce Krishnamurti’s work to the public.
Within the walls of my business, we had set up a small library of Krishnamurti books and videotapes, available to the public. We would occasionally rent theaters and halls to show films and video. With the people that we met, we would arrange group excursions to hear and see Krishnamurti talk in Ojai, California as he was still alive then.
But the urge for a quieter, simpler life had stayed with me and only grown stronger. So I gave up my business, left the city, and moved to a small town of less than 1000 people where I still live today. Over the course of very many years of ups and downs as well as various fortuitous events, I was able to establish the beginning of a very simple minimalist retreat. Many interested friends came to visit as the years passed volunteering time, effort and money* to create this place as a contemplatory of Krishnamurti’s work.
My sense of the significance of the Krishnamurti’s contribution to humanity has never left me. So I continue the work and study to this day, personally and with others who care to spend time at and Oasis Meditation Garden. -Rabindra
*On a practical note, we operate a small home farm business (Oolala!) on part of the property in the hopes of providing some financial support to Omg. If they should so wish, visitors may be able to participate in this endeavor.
Oolala!
It began as a dense overgrowth of trees and bush in the Hawaiian country side about 1000 feet above sea level. Over time, some clearing of the land revealed a peekaboo ocean view. That, along with a climate that is blessed with lots both sun and rain, inspired a garden. Then came a greenhouse for growing greens all year round. An idea came of developing the land with a mix of ornamentals for beauty, fruit, and vegetables for food: edible landscaping. Simple sheds were needed for supplies, some of which eventually transformed into modest living quarters. Where are we now? Click here to learn more.
