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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.
November, 2008
Dear Friends of the Ashram,
This has certainly been a time of many mixed emotions. Concern over the state of the world's condition is one of these emotions. The pain that I see in some of our visitors' faces and hear in their telephone calls, letters, and emails is heart-wrenching. Shri Babaji certainly spoke about these times. He used many graphic illustrations of what it could be like if there was no fundamental change in the hearts of humankind. His directives were to work and serve with all our hearts and to face this kranti (revolution) with courage, with unity, and with steadfast faith in the Divine.
At the same time I see an upsurge in re prioritizing life. Such qualities as: gratitude for what we have; appreciation for the simple joys of life; and a yearning and seeking for a deeper connection to the Divine and all of creation; seem to be a by-product of these trying times. I find myself moving around with a continual prayer of gratitude for the beauty, love, community, and abundance that I experience on a daily basis. There is also a deep awareness of how each of our actions and prayers effect the whole cosmos.
This was certainly the experience of Diwali, the Festival of Light, that we celebrated last week. The symbolism of Ram and Sita (manifestations of Divine Light) returning to their kingdom after overcoming darkness was such a powerful and uplifting reminder to all of us as we chanted songs from many religious backgrounds about peace and light. Our prayers, rituals, and thoughts make such a profound difference in the world. I am hopeful.
Please read below for upcoming events and reports on last months' events. As the weather becomes colder, there is a slowing down in activities. Evening aarati at the temple is at 6pm and morning aarati is at 7am. The Maha Lakshmi Shop is open from 9am-5pm daily and lunch is served around 12:30. We invite you to visit.
The full-moon fire ceremony is on Wednesday, November 12. The new-moon fire ceremony is on Thursday, November 27. 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, Rosewood, 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
Bal Gokulam - Saturday, November 15
Our next Bal Gokulam will be on Saturday, October 18, from 10am until noon followed by a potluck lunch. Each program focuses on a different aspect of the Divine, this time we will honor the Goddess Durga.
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 at 719-256-4477 for more information or to let them know what potluck dish you want to share.
Off to India
Most years at this time, Ramloti heads to India to have darshan of Babaji's home, Haidakhan Vishva Mahadham, which is in the remote village of Haidakhan (also spelled Herakhan) located in the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttar Anchal. It is a magnificent place on the banks of the Gautama Ganga River, said by Babaji to have not only an underground connection with but also all the live-giving properties of the Ganges River.
It is always a wonderful opportunity to see Shri Muniraji in his home in Haldwani. At age 80, Muniraji is such a beacon of light and peace that to sit with him is such a great blessing. Reconnecting with the many Babaji devotees that live in India is also a joyous and inspiring time.
Of course there is much karma yoga to do on the trip, as well, to keep the Maha Lakshmi Shop well supplied for the coming year. If you have a special request, this would be the time to make it known by calling the Ashram at 719-256-4108 or 719-256-4185.
Kirtan Hall Update
Diwali was a very special event with about eighty people in attendance. Once again, having the spacious kirtan hall was so helpful. Before it was built, people had to sit around the back of the existing temple or outside in the cold, since the original temple only sat about twenty-five people squashed on top of each other.
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 $29,500. 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
Bal Gokulam
We had our monthly children’s program, Bal Gokulam on October 18. There was over 20 people participating this time. The last two times we have had adults (with no children) come and join us for the program and they have had a really good time.
Especially popular is when the children show us their favorite yoga postures; it is good to be reminded of how flexible we used to be and can be again. We honored Shri Ganesha this time; we heard a beautiful story and Ganesha was blessed with a puja by many little hands. It was also a day for us to spend time with Vesper and Rasalis since they left Crestone for a year the next morning.
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Bhajans in Denver
Prabhod and Smita Telang's new home in Thornton, Colorado was certainly aglow as over thirty-five folks joined together to bless it with chanting and puja. Ramloti led some of the bhajans on harmonium with Prabhod on tablahs. Several others, including a beautiful eight-year-old girl, led other chants. It was obvious that this was a group of friends that get together often to sing kirtan together.
Smita and friends prepared a delicious feast to end the lovely afternoon. They also placed a donation basket on the alter which folks generously filled. All proceeds went to the Ashram. We are so grateful to all of our friends that do so much for the Ashram.
Diwali, Festival of Lights
What a magical day and night Diwali was with warm weather, bright sun, and lots of folks coming to honor Lakshmi and the light. Even though it was a weekday, we still had over a hundred people participating in the various ceremonies.
It all began with the new-moon fire ceremony followed by a small yatra (pilgrimage) to our-water intake on the beautiful Spanish Creek. Here a lovely three-foot statue of Maha Lakshmi resides overlooking, blessing, and protecting our water.
We all hiked up the hill about fifteen minutes and then carried Lakshmi down to the creek for Her bath. She was adorned in new clothes and ornaments, and aarati was done to Her.
She was then taken back to Her assan (seat) overlooking the creek. It was not too surprising to see the light in the creek that appeared in the photos taken behind Her. The devas or shining ones certainly live in this blessed water.
As we progressed to Diwali evening, luminarias were set up all around the Ashram grounds, candles were placed in the temple, while in the earthship, Christmas lights and candles were lit which enhanced the feeling of intimacy, festivity and the yummy desserts, chai, and the savory Indian food.
We all then went and enjoyed time together and good food and chai in the earthship. Many folks commented on how they felt more hopeful and inspired about life after the evening.
Some Good-byes
As we mentioned above, Rasalis and his parents, Vesper and John-Michael have left Crestone for a year. Vesper has served on our Board of Directors for the last six months and John-Michael has been a huge help with any repairs around the Ashram. We usually see three-year-old Rasalis with one or both of his folks at most fire ceremonies and children's programs. We will certainly miss them, wish them a wonderful journey, and hope they come back soon.
Shila, who has been working at the Ashram for the last year-and-a-half, has also moved on to try out new ventures and to put into practice all the learnings that she has been given. Although we will miss her presence on a regular basis, we are happy that she is still in the community and we will see her at the Ashram. We are grateful for all she has done for the Ashram as well as having begun the children's program, Bal Gokulam, a year ago with Cindy Cleary. She will continue to co-facilitate this program each month.
Calendar for 2008
November 12 - Full-moon fire ceremony at 10:08am followed by a meal.
November 15 - Bal Gokulam, children's program from 10am until noon, followed by potluck.
November 27 - New-moon fire ceremony at 10:08am followed by a meal.
December 12 - Full-moon fire ceremony at 10:08am followed by a meal.
December 27 - New-moon fire ceremony at 10:08am followed by a meal.
Calendar for 2009
February 14 - Shri Babaji's Mahasamadhi. Paduka Puja at 5:45pm and aarati at 6pm.
February 23 - Maha Shivaratri with all-night chanting and fire ceremony the following morning at 10:08am followed by a feast.
March 26 - April 3 - Spring Navratri, the Divine Mother Festival.
July 7 - Guru Purnima Day with Paduka Puja at 9:30am, fire ceremony at 10:08am, followed by feast.
September 18 - 26 Fall Navratri, the Divine Mother Festival.
October 17, 2009 - Diwali, Festival of Lights. Fire ceremony at 10am. Chanting at 7pm.
Maha Lakshmi Shop Report
With Christmas coming, many folks like to buy gifts for their loved ones, particularly children. We want you to know we have many affordable gifts in the Maha Lakshmi Shop such as Indian clothes and jewelry, which Jade is showing.
You can call us on our toll-free number at 866-686-4185 to order or for more information. We love to talk to you. We are happy to send the gift directly to the recipient with a gift card. You can also view our brand new web site at BabajiAshram.org and order on line through pay pal or e-mail us at shop@babajiashram.org.
We thank you for all of your shop purchases as the revenue from the shop is a huge support for the Ashram. We are open daily from 9am until 5pm. We take Mastercard, Discover, and Visa.
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