October is a meaningful month for Baan Unrak. Many things have ended during this time, and many others have begun.

It marks 35 years since the birth of Baan Unrak, and it is also the time when the spiritual master who inspired our work left his physical form.

Here at Baan Unrak, we strive to shape this project in a way that highlights his ideology. We see ourselves as a representation of his ideas, aspirations, and hopes. Over these 35 years, more than 1,000 children have benefited from this thought-weave, this vision. We feel as if we are living in a magical world, created by his ideas, experiencing all the ups and downs of life, yet with wonder in our eyes. That is why we feel good here. That is why we feel universal love. And that is why we celebrate.

We waited until all the children were home for this special celebration. October is also the school holiday in Thailand, and we wanted the children to feel the magic of vacation. We chose the most auspicious day, the one when all the children had returned from their journeys and experiences.

We gathered in the early morning, singing “Love is all, Baba Nam Kevalam” for three hours, believing that love is what unites us. After singing, we sat together for meditation, experiencing love in its purest essence.

This year, a new magic unfolded when one of our caregivers chose this auspicious moment to get married, celebrating love in its highest expression. It was a beautiful ceremony.

The children and caregivers listened attentively as the couple exchanged vows. They then made their own oath to the newlyweds, promising to honor and support them in any way possible as they begin their new journey as a family.

We could feel an atmosphere of purity and peace all around us. We all shared water from the same vessel and enjoyed a slice of cake together, which was provided by the couple.

But the celebration didn’t end there. During lunch, we also celebrated the birthdays of all the children born in October with more cake, pizza for everyone, plenty of good food, and the exciting “shower candy.”

We are deeply grateful to our sponsor, who also has a birthday in October, who covered all the expenses for this wonderful celebration. A heartfelt thank you to her.