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This Friday, November 9 will be the magical festival of Diwali, the celebration of light over darkness. How often we are reminded of this light in our daily practice at the Ashram. As we offer the fire of the aarati lamp each morning and evening in the temple asking to burn away the veil of illusion that keeps us from perceiving the Divine Light that is in each one of us and all around us. We wave the aarati lamp to our Guru, Shri Babaji, (as seen in this photo from Almora, UP taken in August of 1982), we are reminded that the word guru itself means that which takes you from darkness to light. Here at the Ashram, we also live in so much light. The night sky is full of millions of stars, planets, and other celestial bodies of light. The thousands of visitors that come here yearly are seeking that light. The many children that attend our various ceremonies have that celestial light still shining through their little eyes. We are very fortunate to be on this planet at this time of unfolding of more and more light. The Festival of Lights, Diwali, is a very poignant and joyful remembrance of the power and beauty of light.
The temple, earthship, and Ashram grounds are aglow in candles and lights. After we share this powerful time of raising our voices in prayer and song together in the temple, we all enjoy supper and delicious desserts together in the earthship. It is such a treasured time to be together and realize that although our paths may be different, that we all have so much in common. As Shri Babaji said very clearly, “All religions lead to God.”
on Saturday, November 17
Fund Raising Pledge
Another Navratri of being so grateful for the space to chant together, listen to discourses together, and to honor the children in the new kirtan hall. Thank you to all that have made it possible.
Frances Frischkorn, a student at Colorado College, professional singer, and frequent karma yogi at the Ashram is teaming up with Ramloti and other musicians to do a high-energy tour of kirtan, dancing, and Babaji slides called Alive with the Divine to the East in February and early March of next year. The dates and places are not firm yet, but we thought we would see what the response would be of interested people in these areas. Call us at 719-256-4108 if you would like to host an event.  |
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The daily fire ceremonies were all blessed with warm and spring-like weather. At the first fire ceremony, Chalindra Sai Ma blessed us with her presence.
The other photo is from day three when we had two birthdays: Ram, who is offering the khir; and Shriraj, who is seated next to his father is offering the ghee.
So many little children attended the fire ceremonies and other activities each day. They learn to be respectful participants at this very early age, like Rasalis at the fire and little Sage and Sequoia in the temple during the discourse.
Each day we had a special puja to the particular aspect of the Mother being honored. Our children particularly love to participate and are learning to be very vigilant in the pujas.
Navratri is a time to remember our children that carry the Divine Light so innocently in their lives. We honored about 40 children during the festival. The majority on the last day.
Finally there are the many karma yogis that make every thing happen. On the last day, our good friends Shanti and Phil came from Boulder to prepare the delicious Indian feast with lots of other helpers, including Megma from Denver.
Maha Lakshmi Puja at the Creek
Up at the top of our property stands a beautiful statue of Maha Lakshmi blessing our land and over looking the intake for our water system on Spanish Creek.
On the last day of Navratri, several of us processed up to the creek to give Maha Lakshmi a bath in the creek and dress Her in fresh clothes and adornments.
It is a near daily treat for some of us at the Ashram to hike up to Her and give Her our pranams.
Chanting Evenings in Texas
Thank you to Romesh and Pushp Jindal for setting up a very full evening of chanting in Dallas, Texas. Also thank you to Sandra Kachmarik, Tina and Hadi Maniar, and Jason Almendarez in Houston, Texas for a beautiful night of aarati and chanting.
All of these evenings together are a wonderful way to spread Shri Babaji's and the Divine Mother's love and energy. If you would like to host an evening in your area, call the Ashram at 719-256-4108.
A devotee who recently moved away from Crestone to help her aging, ill mother wrote to us about the importance of these gatherings. She says: “I was spoiled living so close to the ashram. Even when I wasn't in aarati I could still visit the beautiful temple that emanates Mother's and Babaji's love. Now I understand why you take trips around the country and do chanting. It is really important for those devotees who are isolated or not able to visit the Ashram to experience Baba's energy like that. Thank you to you all.”
Dr. Arvind Lal Visits Ashram
It was a pleasant surprise to have Dr. Arvind Lal from Delhi, India come for a visit to the Ashram. Arvind is a long-time devotee of Shri Babaji and has visited the Ashram over the years at times of large celebrations such as our kirtan hall dedication. It was nice to have him here for a few days under quieter circumstances when we could hear some of his stories of being with Babaji since the early seventies. He also sat in on one of our Board of Directors' meetings and gave us some updates and insights on how the Indian Samaj was doing.
Meet Our Board Member
We have had a nice response to our last two articles about new Board members. We decided that it would be nice to also highlight our longer-time Board members. We will begin this month with the Chairperson of the Board, Deborah Michalak.
I live in the town of Crestone with my two daughters, Katherine, who is 22, and Elizabeth who is
19. My daughters actually first brought me up to the Temple and Ashram 13 years ago. They had been coming up for aarati with their friends' family and were invited to come for the Children's celebration at the end of Navratri and I came with them.
Right from the start I could feel the music and energy in my heart and body in a very strong way, so I began coming to aarati on a regular basis ever since. I felt the Divine Mother really softened me and took a way a lot of pain.
When I was asked to sit on the Board, I said yes immediately, which I would normally not do since I do not usually care for meetings and such. But I really support what is going on here at the Ashram and I had heard that the meetings were very harmonious and that the members would attempt to listen to their higher connection to the Divine to make decisions. I also feel that this is a very intentional community that has values and aspirations in honoring the land, environment, and all people much like I do in my own home.
Families Who Come to the Ashram
Jen and Danush have had their baby! It was a big baby boy, named Guthrie Arrow Dopierala born September 29 and weighing 8 pounds 9 ounces. They all attended some of the ceremonies of Navratri. The baby's first night ou
t was actually to the temple for aarati. Much love to them all.
Angela, Jason, Tallus, and Matias are doing well. It is amazing how fast these little children grow.
Our long-time friends, Bhavani and Tiru have had a second baby girl. They brought her to the temple on the last day of Navratri to have her first bite of rice after it was offered to Mother.
Nina and her twins, Willow and Asher, are frequent participants at the fire ceremonies. It takes a lot of planning to get to the Ashram by ten in the morning with two under 2-year-olds!
Calendar for 2007 -2008
November 9 - Diwali, Festival of Lights. Fire ceremony at 10am. Chanting in candle-lit temple at 7pm followed by a light meal.
February 14, 2008 - Shri Babaji's Mahasamadhi. Paduka Puja followed by aarati.
March 6, 2008 - Maha Shivaratri with all-night chanting and fire ceremony March 7 at 10am.
April 5 - April 13, 2008 - Spring Navratri, nine days to honor the Mother. Daily fire ceremonies, pujas, discourses, and readings.
July 18, 2008 - Guru Purnima Day, the day you honor your guru. Paduka Puja at 9:30am, Fire ceremony at 10am followed by an Indian feast.
July 19 and 20, 2008 - Annual American Haidkakhan Samaj meeting. To find out more about the Samaj go to their web site at www.BabajiSamaj.org
July 21 - July 25, 2008 - Annual Family Week at the Ashram
September 29 - October 7, 2008 - Fall Navratri, nine days to honor the Mother. Daily fire ceremonies, pujas, discourses, and readings.
October 28, 2008 - Diwali, the festival of lights. Fire ceremony at 10am. Chanting at 7pm.
Maha Lakshmi Shop Report
The Shop has received a new CD by Pujari from Holland accompanied by Tabla Tom. The CD has many wonderful chants sung in Pujari's very inspiring style. It sells for $18.
We have also received many new items, just in time for holiday shopping, such as: God and Goddesses Calendars for $13.95; tulsi necklaces with and without decorative beads for $5; Deity comic Books for $3; Ganesh statues for $5 and $9; and brass hanging oms for $9. We are happy 
to ship an item for you directly to your loved one with a card acknowledging the gift. You may also wish to consider sponsoring a fire ceremony in their name and we can send the mala or bracelet from Babaji's padukas to them.
You can call the shop toll-free at 866-686-4185 to order or for more information. We are open daily from 9am until 5pm. We do take Mastercard, Discover, and Visa. To view items in the Maha Lakshmi Shop, please refer to our newly updated web site at BabajiAshram.org.
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.
Bhole Baba Ki Jai!