If you can not view this in your eMail program, please click here.
Ashram Mission Statement
We aspire to live the Teachings of Haidakhan Baba, to share the Love of Babaji
and the Divine Mother with others, to hold this Ashram as Their Home,
to serve humanity, and to be stewards and caretakers of the land.
September, 2008
Dear Friends of the Ashram,
Inward and outward are the two strokes of spiritual practice. Often the inward or unmanifest potential is depicted as the male aspect of the Divine, so beautifully shown in this image of Shri Babaji.
The outward or creative mode is depicted as the female aspect of the Divine. Our Divine Mother is certainly the demonstration of this outflow of energy and creativity.
In a similar way, quiet and joyful chaos has seemed to be the general flow at the Ashram this summer. During the weekends and holiday time there has been continual activity. Yet at other moments, mostly in the wee hours of the morning and during the middle of the week, there is the profound silence that permeates this sacred home of Babaji and the Divine Mother in these pristine mountains.
Just this last weekend, which was Labor Day weekend, we had several hundred people come to visit the Ashram. Many stayed the night or shared a meal with us. You can see several photos below and understand why I describe it as joyful chaos. Although we finally have room for this many people in the kirtan hall, we still do not have adequate space in the kitchen, which serves as well for our dining room in the evenings and in colder weather. The dancing around each other that takes place feels like the dance of life and is generally quite fun.
As we enter September, Premanand and I will do a short trip to Santa Fe and then return immediately to help with the final preparations for Fall Navratri which runs from September 29 through October 7. We will also have our Bal Gokulam (children's program) on Saturday, September 13. Read below for more details.
Evening aarati at the temple is at 7pm (this will change to 6pm on September 29) and morning aarati is at 7am. There is also a small fire ceremony every day (except new and full moon) at 6:30am when the weather is conducive (not raining or too windy and dry). The Maha Lakshmi Shop is open from 9am-6pm daily and lunch is served around 12:30. We invite you to visit.
The full-moon fire ceremony is on Monday, September 15. The new-moon fire ceremony is on Monday, September 29 and is the beginning day of Fall Navratri which will have fire ceremonies each of the nine days until Tuesday, October 7. All fire ceremonies begin at 10:08am and are followed by a meal. If you would like to participate by sponsoring a fire, we would like to send you a blessed item from the ceremony. They are:
- $27 sponsorship - copper, brass, nickel Om Namah Shivaya bracelet
$54 sponsorship - Rose Quartz, Sandalwood or Tulsi Mala
$108 sponsorship - Rudraksha or Crystal-Rudraksha Mala
You can make the donation online by just clicking here or call 719-256-4108 or e-mail the Ashram at info@BabajiAshram.org or send us a check at P.O. Box 9, Crestone, CO 81131. We are continually grateful for all of your support.
In truth and love, Ramloti
Premanand and Ramloti in Santa Fe
Kirtan - Tuesday, September 9 at 7pm
Fire Ceremony - Wednesday, September 10 at 8am
Premanand and Ramloti will be leading Kirtan and a Fire Ceremony in Santa Fe on the evening of September 9 (Kirtan - 7pm) and morning (Fire Ceremony - 8am) of September 10. It will be at the home of Surya and Tias Little. The address is 11 Toltec Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505. For more information call the Ashram at 719-256-4108. For directions call Surya or Tias at 505-989-8060.
Bal Gokulam - Saturday, September 13
Our next Bal Gokulam will be on Saturday, September 1, from 10am until noon followed by a potluck lunch. Each program focuses on a different aspect of the Divine, this time it will be on Lord Shiva.
The program includes stories, yoga, chanting, sharing, and puja. The program has become very popular among the community. We have many children and parents that look forward to coming every time and also there are always new participants as well.
Please call Cindy 719-256-5007 or Shila 719-256-4477 for more information or to let them know what potluck dish you want to share.
Community Softball Game
Sunday, September 14
As small signs of fall appear with cooler morning and evenings and a little golden color in the upper mountains, it is almost time to say good-bye to our magnificent Colorado summer. However, not before we get at least one more softball game under our belts. It will be on Sunday, September 14 at 2pm in the Baca Park next to the fire station. It has been great that despite the very busy summer, we have been able to play so often. Last week, as we headed down to the field, I felt a sigh of relief knowing the busy weekend was complete and we were just going to be able to run around and play for a couple of hours. It is the best therapy I know!
The Ashram has plenty of mitts, balls and bats. All skill levels are welcomed, the important prerequisite is a good sense of humor and a good appetite for watermelon at the end of the game! This is the game that no one strikes out in and often ends is a tie!
Fall Navratri
Monday, September 29 through
Tuesday, October 7
We are busily preparing for the beautiful festival of Fall Navratri, nine days honoring our beneficent and magnificent Divine Mother. This year it will begin on Monday, September 29 and complete on Tuesday, October 7.
It is a very full time at the Ashram with daily fire ceremonies at 10am, special pujas, readings, discourses, aarati, feasts, and lots of chanting to the Mother in Her various aspects beginning at 6:40am.
The first three days are set aside in special honor to the aspect of Durga, asking Her to do away with those propensities that are not helpful to us. The second three days, we honor Maha Lakshmi asking Her to fill us with more satvic (life-supporting) tendencies. The final three days we honor Mother Saraswati beseeching Her to fill us with Divine Knowledge.
On the last day, Tuesday, October 7, the sacred fire is followed by a ceremony honoring children for their qualities that they carry so naturally of the Divine Mother. We present the children with crowns, veils, lunghis, malas, and various other gifts. If you child is under ten years of age and you would like to be part of the ceremony, please let us know. It begins about 11:15am.
The dormitory is already quite full for the festivities with folks traveling here from Florida, Hawaii, California, New Mexico, and all parts of Colorado. If you phone us at 719-256-4108 or an email at info@BabajiAshram.org we can let you know what space is still available.
It is truly a special time at Mother's home in the lovely Rocky Mountains of Colorado in all of its Fall splendor. If you can not join us in person, please consider joining us in prayer and spirit. If you do not have an altar already, you may consider setting one up to Mother for those nine days and set aside some time to sing, meditate, dance, or honor Her in whatever way connects you to Her.
If you would like to participate by sponsoring a fire or a feast, we would like to send you a blessed item from the ceremony. They are:
-
$27 sponsorship - Copper, brass, nickel Om Namah Shivaya bracelet
$54 sponsorship - Rose Quartz, Sandalwood, or Tulsi Mala
$108 sponsorship - Rudraksha or Crystal-Rudraksha Mala
Let us know what day you would like to sponsor. You may consider the different aspect of Mother being honored that day. You can make the donation online by just clicking here or call 719-256-4108 or e-mail the Ashram at info@BabajiAshram.org or send us a check at P.O. Box 9, Crestone, CO 81131.
-
Bhajans in Denver
with Ramloti
Sunday, October 12
- Ramloti on harmonium will join Prabhod Telang on tablahs to lead bhajans to bless their new home on Sunday, October 12 at 4pm. The location is 3068 East 143rd Ave, Thornton, CO 80602. For information about the event and directions you may call them at 303- 920-7245 or 303-250-6325.
Kirtan Hall Update
Not a month passes that we are not grateful for the space of the new kirtan hall. Over fifty of us were able to enjoy the lovely Bharatanatyam dance performance by Puja Allepalli.
We are pleased to let you know that through your donations, matching pledges, monthly tithes, and all of your shop purchases, our kirtan hall loan now has been paid down to $36,000. If you have any ideas on ways to help us pay down the loan sooner or would like to organize a fundraiser, please call the Ashram at 719-256-4108.
We would like to encourage you to make a monthly automatic pledge to pay down the kirtan hall loan. Either call the Ashram at 719-256-4108 with your credit card number and ask us to charge a set amount every month ($501, $108, $54, $27, $10.08....) or go to our website and ask PayPal to deduct a certain amount from your account each month, Click Here. You can also send a check to the Ashram at P.O. Box 9, Crestone, CO 81131 or donate online by clicking here. We want to thank you for all of your continued support in this meaningful project.
Recent Events
Bhole Baba Bhajan Band Blesses Crestone Music Festival
It was a beautiful morning as the Bhole Baba Bhajan Band did its first program in Crestone with the opening blessing at the Crestone Mucic Festival. The Band played six bhajans to an audience of about a hundred people. Many of the folks watching began to dance and sing along with the high-energy chanting.
Ashram Board Members Celebrate their Birthdays
Many people celebrate their birthdays at the Ashram. It is a special place where every one feels at home and birthday cakes and pies are part of the program. The members of our Board of Directors are no different.
Cindy Cleary, our new Chair of the Board and co-leader of the Bal Gokulam children's program, is shown here blowing out her candles while Annelou Perrenoud (our faithful secretary and non-stop karma yogi) looks on.
Also last month, we celebrated the birthday of our newest Board Member, Vesper Gels. Her mom and sister traveled from California to be with her. They gifted her with a new harmonium from the Maha Lakshmi Shop, which made Vesper's already large smile even bigger.
We love that so many people share this special day of their birth with us!
Groups of Visitors
Many groups continue to come to the Ashram for the night or for a ceremony. It is always a treat to share with them the teachings of Babaji and the love and beauty of Mother.
At the beginning of August we had the pleasure of hosting Sofia Diaz's women's retreat for aarati and the full-moon fire ceremony. It was also a Baba blessing that Henk Poncin from Holland and his wife and friends arrived the same evening so that he could share some of his Babaji stories with the group of women.
Many other groups of friends new and old shared evening meals and aarati with us. Friends originally from Nepal, India, and New Mexico are shown in these photos. The Ashram is like a second home to many.
As mentioned earlier, Labor Day Weekend was extremely rich. The dorm and other buildings of the Ashram were full each night with over 40 people and hundreds of others came for darshan, aarati, ceremonies, meals, and shopping.
Calendar for 2008
September 9 - Evening of Kirtan with Ramloti and Premanand in Santa Fe at 7pm. (Surya and Tias Little, 11 Toltec, Sante Fe 87505.)
September 10 - Morning Fire Ceremony with Ramloti and Premanand in Santa Fe at 8am. (Surya and Tias Little, 11 Toltec, Sante Fe 87505.)
September 13 - Bal Gokulam, children's program from 10am until noon, followed by potluck.
September 14 - Softball Game at the Baca Park, 2pm.
September 15 - Full-moon fire ceremony at 10:08am followed by a meal.
September 29 - October 7 - Fall Navratri, nine days to honor the Mother. Daily fire ceremonies, pujas, discourses, and readings.
October 12 - Bhajans in Thornton, CO at 4pm. Call 303-920-7245 or 303-250-6325 for more information and directions.
October 28 - Diwali, the festival of lights. Fire ceremony at 10am. Chanting at 7pm.
Maha Lakshmi Shop Report
The Maha Lakshmi Shop is sad to announce that our shop manager for the last five years, Anna Louise Stewart has resigned to devote more of her time to her personal business and to spend more time with her teenage daughter, Zienna. We are happy that she is expanding in her business though and that we still see her at the various ceremonies at the Ashram. All the Ashram staff and employees will take over the position of running the shop. Their names are Shila, Deborah, Annalou, Jonahthan, Premanand, and Ramloti and they will be happy to answer any questions you may have or greet you in the shop.
Our shipment of forty crates finally arrived at the beginning of the month with many new murtis and harmoniums. Unpacking was done by many volunteers. Here Jonathan, Cindy, Kailou, and Ramloti show one of our biggest items that arrived, a three-foot Nataraj (special order). You can view all the new products in Maha Lakshmi Shop, on our newly updated web site at BabajiAshram.org. You can also call the shop toll-free at 866-686-4185 to order or for more information. We are open daily from 9am until 6pm. We take Mastercard, Discover, and Visa.
You may order on line through paypal or e-mail us at shop@babajiashram.org, or of course, place the order over the phone. We love to talk with you. We thank you for all of your shop purchases as the revenue from the shop is a huge support for the Ashram.
|