Haidakhandi Universal Ashram Newsletter
 
 

Dear Friends,


It is such a time for new life and the beautiful order of nature, the flowers at the Ashram are appearing one after another.  First we had the daffodils and tulips, than came the lilacs, now we are utilizing magnificent irises and peonies in the temple.  The delphiniums and lilies are getting ready too as are the newly planted marigolds, zinnias and dahlias.   All the vegetables and fruit trees are growing fast.  We have had a lot of very warm weather and we are praying that the afternoon rains begin soon.


This all seems in perfect sync with the final touches on Shri Babaji’s kutir.  Everything is flowing so smoothly.  Many folks have come forward to make or procure each item for furnishing the room with great love and devotion.  The energy is building day by day. This photo of Shri Babaji reminds me of His glee over new things, like this shirt that I brought to Him from Hawaii in 1982.  I so hope you will be able to share in this
excitement on the weekend of the inauguration, annual Samaj gathering and Guru Purnima (July 24 and 25).


Also happening in July is a big Fourth of July weekend with sumptuous Indian food.  Several families have been preparing food to sell in the park to raise money for the Ashram for years.  The generosity around the Ashram is so inspiring.


The other very special event is our Annual Family Week, which has been an important experience for many families and so they keep coming back, some for the last ten years.  Now many of the original children are in their late teens and will be helping run the groups for the smaller children.  Meanwhile, most of the adults will be involved in the “Shakti” workshop led by Sofia Diaz.  July promises to be a very full month!


In truth and love, 

Ramloti




This Month’s Fire Ceremonies and Schedule


The new-moon fire ceremony this month is on Sunday, July 11. On Sunday, July 25 (full-moon) we will celebrate Guru Purnima. The fire ceremonies begin at 10:08am and are followed by a meal.  Our evening aarati is at 6pm and morning aarati is at 7am. Lunch is served at about 1pm. The Maha Lakshmi Shop is open every day from 9am until 5pm.


If you would like to participate by sponsoring a fire ceremony, we would like to send you a blessed item from the fire ceremony. They are:


$27 sponsorship - Copper, brass, nickel Om Namah Shivaya bracelet

$54 sponsorship - Rose Quartz, Rosewood, Garnet or Tulsi Mala

$108 sponsorship - Rudraksha/Crystal Mala or Crystal 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 to: P.O. Box 9, Crestone, CO 81131.


We are continually grateful for all of your support.



Fourth of July


For many years some of our Indian families have come down from Denver to prepare food for well over a 100 people to sell in the Crestone Park after the 4th of July parade.  Each year they have raised around $1,000 toward the support of the Ashram.  Well, the phone call came again this year volunteering to serve in this way.  Other families are joining them so it will be a gala event.  The local community always looks forward to this wonderful food.  We are so grateful to all that come up with these great ideas to help support the Ashram.  This is what has built it and keeps it going so well.  Thank you!




Guru Purnima, Inauguration of Babaji’s Kutir

and Annual Samaj Meeting Weekend – July 24 & 25


We have been hearing from several folks who spent time with Shri Babaji that have not been to the Ashram for many years.  Several are planning on attending this joyous event of the Inauguration of Shri Babaji’s room.  What bliss to bask in the stories of Baba, have a paduka puja i
n His new room, receive chandan there, amidst chanting, continue with aarati and finally a big fire ceremony and feast honoring Guru Purnima.  And as if this was not enough, we will also be getting together earlier in the day on Saturday as a Samaj body to review the year’s work and discuss more ways to bring Baba’s love to others.


The actual timings for all these special events (aarati is a 7am and 6pm) is as follows:


Saturday - 9am until noon - Annual American Samaj Meeting followed by lunch.

Saturday - 3pm - 5pm - Inauguration of Babaji’s Kutir (with stories and chanting).

Sunday - 6am - Paduka Puja and Chandan in Babaji’s kutir with chanting.

10am - Fire Ceremony followed by chanting and Indian Bhandara


This is going to be one weekend you will not want to miss.  Call the Ashram at 719-256-4108 to reserve a space, for more information or carpooling opportunities.  See you there.




Shakti Workshop with Sofia Diaz – July 26 – 30


Life is full of different experiences, some we would choose to have, and others perhaps we would rather not face.  The energy of Ganesh is said to be that which puts these so-called obstacles in our path and it is also Him that removes them.  What is this all about?  What is this energy?  Why is it that when we embrace these less-than chosen situations in our lives that they point us in a deeper direction and give us a huge opportunity to grow.  What happens when we shut down in avoidance or minimize them or cover them up?  These are some of the questions that we will be discussing in the “Shakti” (energy) Workshop.  Facilitated by Sofia Diaz she will utilize discussions, group processes, movement, chanting and quiet to help us understand more deeply this Ganesh aspect.  Having been raised in a small village in Mexico and then having studied in India for years, she brings a unique and deep investigation to this subject.  It is, once again, going to be a profound time together.




Annual Family Week – July 26 – 30


Everything is coming together nicely for Family Week.  We are excited to have a large group of late teens and twenty-year-olds who will actually be working with the younger children.  Several of these young adults have been working with children as their jobs and so bring a variety of skills with them to add to the richness of the week.  Several of them also play harmonium, drums and percussion, so the chanting sessions with the children should be fun and inspiring.


The day
begins with aarati at 7am (optional for small children), breakfast at 8am and a group meeting at 9am.  We then break into groups or go to the workshop (read above) or to karma yoga from 10am until 1pm and then we have lunch and cleanup.  By about 2pm the families are organizing field trips to the Hot Springs swimming pool, horseback riding, hiking or other activity.  We all gather back in the temple at 6pm for aarati followed by dinner.  On the last day (Friday) there is an optional all-day family trip to the Great Sand Dunes National Park (less then an hour away) followed by a final swim at the Sand Dunes (hot springs) Swimming Pool.  Most folks leave after aarati the following morning (Saturday).


The rooms are filling up quickly so call the Ashram at 719-256-4108 if you plan to attend.  The suggested donation for adults to stay for a week at the Ashram is $135, there is no charge for children.




Maintaining Baba’s and Mother’s Home


This month the main focuses for maintenance have been the final exterior work on Shri Babaji’s kutir.  This has included painting the foundation, making a border of pumice stone and lining that and the walkway with rocks.  We have also been doing a great deal of fire mitigation to make the Ashram buildings and land safer in case of wild fire.  We were fortunate to receive a $2,000 grant from the Fire Department to facilitate this work.


Another project we have been working on is extending our conditional water right at the Ashram.  We are very fortunate to be able to utilize the water from the pristine Spanish Creek for our domestic use.  This part of the right is absolute.  However, we also have valuable conditional rights for irrigation, hydroelectric and education.  Since we have not yet utilized these rights, we need to show the state every six years that we are being diligent in researching and planning for them. 


Last week we met with the original builder and designer of our water system, Fred Huffman and the advising engineer, Richard Luckemeier to get their advice on extending the system to irrigate a one acre fruit orchard just north of our water cistern.  We have also been collecting data on costs, appropriate choice of tree varieties for this climate and other information from professionals.  All of these findings are being written up and will be submitted to the Water Court at the beginning of July.  We will inform you next month about the results.  Please keep us in your prayers as this is an important decision for the future growth of the Ashram.


All of this maintenance takes time and funds so we ask you to please donate as you are able and come and lend a hand. You may go to our website and donate through PayPal (you can even set up a monthly tithe). You can also send a check to the Ashram at P.O. Box 9, Crestone, CO 81131 or you can call us at 719-256-4108 with a credit card number. We want to thank you in advance for you support, love, and prayers.  




Ashram Karma Yoga


We have had great help this month.  Below are Jonathan and Kailou prepping Babaji’s kutir for painting the foundation.  Next to them are Jata, Rose and baby who prepared a delicious Indian bhandara served after the new-moon fire ceremony.

Below is Roberta making a yoni for the new kutir.  She has been staying at the Ashram the last couple of months and has been a big help.  Next to her are some of our visiting loyal karma yogis drying the dishes after last Saturday night’s dinner for thirty people.  Finally, a green smoothie crew hard at work preparing fruits and veges.




Crestone Spiritual Communities


One of the very great blessing of having this Ashram in Crestone is the friendship and inspiration that we receive from the 25 other spiritual groups here.  We meet on a regular basis as the Crestone Spiritual Alliance to discuss issues that impact all of us such as land preservation, fire protection and water concerns.  We also participate in one another’s dedications, anniversaries and large occasions.  These are always so enriching to us and a joy to be part of.


Below are photos from the Shumei International Institute’s Anniversary.  The first one is from the World Peace gathering on Saturday.  The next one shows Ramloti speaking with Hanne Strong, the visionary that brought most of the spiritual groups to Crestone, after the address by the Shumei president.  Thank you to Mathew Crowley from Shumei for these photos.




The next photos are  from the dedication of the new Shrine room at the Vajra Vidya Retreat Center.  Several Lamas and Rinpoches where at this consecration chanting their deep and powerful prayers.Thank you to photographer, Bill Elzey for these photos.




Our Children


Hardly a day goes by at the Ashram that we do not see children.  They play in the sprinklers,  collect flowers, help in the shop, sing in the temple, eat the produce and play with the kitties.





Visitors


Summer brings us so many new friends as well as returning ones.  Sometimes it is a lot but it is also very sweet to see the devotion that has people driving for hours to come here to have darshan in the temple and take the blessing of Mother and Baba for their families.








Calendar for 2010


July 11 - New-moon fire ceremony at 10am followed by a meal.


July 24 - Inuaguration of Babaji’s Kutir and Annual American Samaj Meeting.


July 25 - Guru Purnima Day and full-moon fire ceremony at 10am followed by a feast.


July 26 - 30 - Annual Family Week and Concurrent Workshop on "Shakti" by Sofia Diaz


October 7 - 15 - Fall Navratri, the Divine Mother Festival.


November 5 - Diwali, Festival of Lights. Fire ceremony at 10am. Chanting at 7pm.




Maha Lakshmi Shop Report


The Maha Laksshmi Shop is open everyday from 9am until 5pm.  You may view and order the majority of the items online at www.shop.babajiashram.org/  You may also call us at 719-256-4108 with questions or to place an order.  We love to talk with you.We accept visa, mastercard or discover.  The Shop is a major support of the Ashram, so we deeply appreciate your patronage.


 

July, 2010