Jessamine Verrill

Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BC, making it over 2000 years old. Richard McClintock, a Latin professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, looked up one of the more obscure Latin words, consectetur, from a Lorem Ipsum passage, and going through the cites of the word in classical literature, discovered the undoubtable source. Lorem Ipsum comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum” (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero, written in 45 BC. This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics, very popular during the Renaissance. The first line of Lorem Ipsum, “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet..”, comes from a line in section 1.10.32.

JESSAMINE

Thirty-some years ago, in the year ’59,

The course of time changed — that year was divine.

It was then that Maharishi arrived in the West,

Then that our future began to be blessed.

Maharishi arrived to plant a great seed —

The seed of pure knowledge, most precious indeed.

Great people came forward, chosen by time,

To assist the first upsurge of knowledge sublime.

Among them was Jessamine, whose refinement of heart

Enabled her to recognize the truth from the start.

Together with David, Maharishi they cared for —

They saw that his needs were all met and prepared for.

They tended Maharishi, and when he departed,

They tended the seedling he’d lovingly started.

It was years before most of us heard of TM —

Yet the Movement’s great future was secure there with them.

Together, David and Jessamine both

Devoted their lives to promoting its growth.

They cultured it, nurtured it, day after day,

Trustees of his knowledge when he was away.

David and Jessamine: our very own seers,

Our very own parents, for so many years.

To Jessamine Verrill, our Movement’s great founder,

May infinite blessings gather around her,

The mother of all of us — a million and some,

The mother of the millions and millions to come.

For your heart that’s so pure, and so sweet, and so true

(The City of Angels was named after you),

For all that you’ve done and all that your are,

For lighting our way like the morning’s first star,

For your simple devotion, your service unending,

For the thousands of hours you’ve spent in transcending,

This day will be honored by all generations,

Not only by us but by all the world’s nations.

We wish you all happiness, long life, and all bliss.

We can hardly imagine one greater than this,

Whom Maharishi calls Jasmine, with sweetest affection,

Who’s given to time so divine a direction.

We’re grateful beyond what words can express —

You were born for one simple, great action: to bless.

So dear to Maharishi, like lights in his heart,

Must be those people who served at the start.

We’re growing in bliss, but the ideal specimen

Can clearly be found in our dear, beloved Jessamine.