Haidakhandi Universal Ashram Newsletter
 
 



                                                                                                                                                         www.babajiashram.org





Dear Friends,


I think most of you know that I went to the hospital yet one more time and this time had the surgery removing two blockages where scar tissue had wrapped around part of the bowel.  The great news is that it was able to be done laprascopicly and what a difference that made.  The recovery time from this surgery has been much less then the first one in St. Louis.  I am so grateful to be feeling good again after so long and eating all kinds of food without cramping.  One more time I will say, thank you for all of your prayers.  I was pretty amazed at all of the people that I heard from, many living in far parts of the world.


So now it is back to Ashram life, yes still a little restricted as I regain my strength, but still I am partaking in it and looking at it.  What I see is although I love it and and am so grateful to be home, sometimes it can be challenging for me right now.  I honor Jonathan and Premanand who seem to be able to do the same thing over and over again much better then I can.  I definitely seem to need my periodic vacations to visit my family to keep fresh and invigorated.  It may still be the aftermath of nearly three months of illness, copious amounts of drugs, very limited exercise and not being able to fully engage in the spiritual practices that I am used to that is contributing to my feeling of of less then my normal bliss but in all honesty, that is how I feel at times.


If I were to really put my finger on my feeling, I do think I would contribute a lot of it to lack of spiritual practice.  I see this in many people and have watched how they have changed when they focus more on it.  I have not played the harmonium and sung my heart out since early February, nor have I dressed Mother in the early morning, nor conducted a fire ceremony or done more than my simple puja in my hermitage.  To have a regular spiritual practice whether in an Ashram or in the outside world really brings meaning into life particularly in these times of uncertainty. Thank goodness for my mala and repetition of the mantra that have been so helpful to me.  I am currently in San Diego seeing, loving and being nurtured by all of my grandchildren and family.


When I return in a few days, I think I should be strong enough to begin to resume more of my spiritual practices that have brought me so much meaning and joy over the years.  I know eventually I should be fine with or without practice but in the meantime, they are very important and helpful in my life.  I love you all.


Bhole Baba Ki Jai!

Ramloti




Ceremonies and Schedule


The full-moon fire ceremony this month is on Saturday, May 5 and the new-moon fire ceremony is on Sunday, May 20.  The fire ceremonies begin at 10:08 am and are followed by a meal.  Our evening aarati is at 6pm and morning aarati is at 7am with a paduka puja in Shri Babaji’s kutir each morning at 6:35am.  Lunch is served at about 12:30pm. The Maha Lakshmi Shop is open every day from 10am 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 sponsors - Rosewood or Tulsi Mala

$108 sponsorship - Rudraksha Mala or Copper, silver, brass bracelet


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 made to HUA to: P.O. Box 9, Crestone, CO 81131.


We are continually grateful for all of your support of the Ashram.




The On-Line Auction is off to a Good Start and Runs until May 6


It is always so fun and exciting to see all the bidding that goes on to help raise funds for the Ashram and its further growth.  After four days of bidding we have already raised over $2,000!  There are such great items available, something to suit everyone’s taste from the practical to the exotic.  It began last Friday and will continue until Sunday, May 6 at 8:01pm Mountain Time.  If you suddenly have an idea of something to donate, it is not too late to add it to our over 115 items.  Just click on the link below and you can put it up yourself.  You can also call Ramloti at 719-480-5514 and she can help you.


Last year we made $13,500 and this was a huge part in building the first hermitage for Ramloti.  To view what we already have and actually make a donation on line click here.  We so deeply appreciate all of your support of the Ashram.  Call Ramloti at 719-480-5514 with questions, donations, sponsorships or other ideas to make the auction even more fun and successful.  Here are a few new items. 
     





Ceremonies for Carol Huffman and Gene Curtis


Now the weather has warmed we will have ceremonies down at the creek in honor of two dear friends that passed away in the last year. 


Carol Huffman was one of our original Board members and she and her husband, Fred, and son, Kailash, were early builders of the Ashram.  After losing Kailash in 2009 and her husband in 2010, Carol died of cancer at her family’s home in Florida last October.  We will remember her at the full-moon fire ceremony this Saturday, May 5 and proceed to the creek where we will do a ceremony in her honor.  This will be followed by lunch.


Gene Curtis had been coming to the Ashram since 1991 and would often stay for several weeks or months.  His presence here was always a joy and the help that he would provide was always a huge service to the Ashram.  One of his favorite jobs was helping in the garden but he was always willing to do anything that was needed.  His family will be traveling here from Kentucky over Memorial Day weekend with some of his ashes as they knew how important the Ashram was to him.  We will have a small ceremony at the creek for him on Tuesday, May 30 at 11:30am followed by lunch.




Invitation to Guru Purnima Celebration in Holland - June 28 - July 3


This summer we invite you heartily to the International Guru Purnima Celebrations at Sada Shiva Dham, Loenen, Holland.  In this time with daily Paduka Puja, Aarti, Havan, etc. also the new temple and kirtan hall will be inaugurated.  The celebrations will be from 28th June, morning, up to 3th July, afternoon.  At this point Shri Muniraji is intending to attend since his health has improved greatly after his surgery.


More informations about this coming Guru Purnima you can find at our website www.babaji.nl and go to the English part, or contact us at ssd@babaji.nl.  We are looking forward to welcoming you and your family and friends. 


Several of us from the US intend to be there for this gala event.  If you would like to make a donation to the new temple and kirtan hall construction in Holland you can run it through the American Haidkahn Samaj for a tax deduction.  Email Richard at rcahall1@earthlink.net for more information.




Annual American Haidakhan Samaj Weekend - July 21-22

 

Several people are organizing their trips to the Ashram for the Annual American Samaj weekend.  We hope you can attend this time together when we share our achievements for the past year and make plans for the upcoming year.  What Babaji activities would you like to see in your area?   What would help your spiritual practice and sustenance?  Come and be a part of these ideas, discussions and decisions.  We are so grateful to the Samaj for all of the support for spreading Shri Babaji’s message around the country.  To read more about the Samaj or to become a member please go to www.BabajiSamaj.org


Come and join in the chanting, fire ceremonies, aaratis, satsangs and meeting.  There is still some room in the dorm but call soon at 719-256-4108 or email us at info@babajiashram.org.




Annual Family Week and Children’s Camp - July 23-26


Family week runs from Monday, July 23 through Thursday, July 26 this year.  Arrival is on Sunday afternoon, departure can be Thursday afternoon or Friday morning.  The program works in some of the daily Ashram schedule with a workshop for children and a concurrent workshop for adults and free afternoons for families to make field trips together to the hot springs, Sand Dunes National Park or horse back riding.  It is always a wonderful time together that children and families look forward to each year, some have been coming since the beginning of it over twelve years ago.  The schedule looks like this:


6am - Paduka Puja and chandan (optional)

6:30am - Sacred Fire Ceremony (optional)

7-8am - Aarati and chanting (optional for children)

8am - Breakfast

9am - Family Meeting

10am - 1pm - Children's Camp and Adult workshop or karma yoga

1pm - Lunch and clean up

2pm - Field trips organized by families to Hot Springs Swimming Pool, Horse back riding, park, hiking or Sand Dunes

6-7pm  Aarati

7pm - Dinner


The Children's Camp includes:  circle time, karma yoga, story-time yoga, chanting, craft or other activities to help learn respectful communication skills, hiking and other fun activities.
 It will be led by Sarah and Amil Wood who have four boys of their own.  Sarah runs kid's camps and classes based on the respectful parenting modality of Redirecting Children's Behavior.  Amil (my son) has been raised on these same principals, as I have been teaching this for many years, he has taken the course and is a great and fun father that children love.  They are traveling here with their four boys, ages 9 months to 7 years (we have a separate child care for children under 3) from Encinitas, CA.  The Children's workshop is a gift from the Ashram and The American Haidakhan Samaj to our children.


We already have most of our rooms booked so please call at 719-256-4108 or email us at info@babajiashram.org to reserve a room for you.  





The Divine Feminine Workshop with Sofia Diaz - July 23-26


The morning workshop running concurrently with the Children’s camp is led by Sofia Diaz and with the theme this year of the Divine Feminine.  it will include group processes, chanting, movement, stories, and introspective exploration.  Sofia is an intuitive, amazing and talented facilitator.  She was raised in a village in Mexico until she was 11 years old.  After moving with her family to the United States and finishing high school instead of following a course headed to a medical career, she followed her heart to India.  Here she studied South Indian Temple Dance in a surviving lineage of Deva Dasi (literally "God Servant") temple arts.  She also dedicated herself to Maha Yoga with an emphasis on all the modalities of hatha yoga.  After over 28 years of study, she is a lineage holder in Deva Dasi Sadir, popularly known as Bharata Natyam Dance and an internationally renowned facilitator of movement both within the physical, spiritual and mental realms of our bodily makeup.  It is a gift to the Divine Mother that she offers this time at the Ashram each year.  We are truly blessed.  The suggested donation for the workshop is $108 for members of the American Haidakhan Samaj and $135 for non members with partial scholarships available.  To find out more about Sofia go to SofiaYoga.com.  To find out more about the Samaj go to www.BabajiSamaj.org.





Our Ashram Board of Directors


The Ashram is a wonderful place that hosts thousands of people.  Behind every great place is a an organizing force, which for us is our Ashram Board.  Most every month this loyal band of folks gather at the Ashram, several travel from Denver, Alamosa or Center to be here.  We are deeply grateful to their dedication and guidance of the Ashram over the years.  We are pleased to announce two new members of the Board.  They are Alycia Chambers, our wonderful Crestone midwife and herbalist; and David Davis, long time devotee who met Babaji in 1979 and is a instructor and practitioner of Structural Integration.  Here is a photo from last week’s meeting with Board members (front row) Sastry Jayanti, Ajay Pradan, Paul Koppana, Ramloti, Denise Vandewalle, (back row) Jonathan Yates, Alycia Chambers, David Davis and Shashi Agarwal.  Unfortunately, Versper Gers and Rita Berault were absent.




Karma Yoga & Ashram Projects


The water purification system has been installed and we are currently testing and monitoring it to get it to just the correct levels.


We have had some great karma yogis here who built a wind fence to the south of Ramloti’s hermitage and laid hundreds of rocks to help keep down the blowing sand and prevent erosion.


Karma yogis also repaired the gates and fencing around the garden as well as dug trenches for the compost.  The Maha Lakshmi Shop got organized, restocked and dusted from top to bottom. The temple is shining with all the cleaning that got accomplished there.



Melody from Iowa has repaired the small havan kund and begun a daily morning fire ceremony during her two week visit to the Ashram, after just four days of fires we have had wonderful much needed rain and even a little snow.


We are always so grateful for all that gets accomplished when our generous-souled karma yogis arrive, particularly all the delicious feasts, this weekend’s prepared by little Sage and Sabina!

 



Ashram Emergency Medical Fund for Ramloti


Thank you to all who continue to donate to the emergency medical fund.  We have completed all payments for the two hospital stays in Alamosa, Colorado and just about completed all in St. Louis.

We are still waiting to hear from the hospital in Encinitas, CA concerning the portion of the co-pay.

We will keep you updated on the details.


If you would like to make a donation, you may make it to HUA notating it is for Ramloti’s medical expenses and it will receive a tax-deductible receipt.  You can send a check made out to HUA 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 for all of your support, love and prayers.




Recent Events



Vama Deva, Premanand and Jeremy Kirtan












  





It was an inspiring evening listening to the kirtan of Vama Deva, Premanand and Jeremy.  The melodious chanting filled the temple as about 40 people joined in, many were dancing in bliss.  The Ashram was grateful to hold such an event here.




Children and Visitors to the Ashram


With the warm weather comes many visitors.  We are grateful to share Baba and Mother’s home with so many wonderful people.  Many of the visitors have been coming for years and it is particularly fun to see the children growing up so beautifully.
 


























Update and Email Correction for  Ram Dass (JD Marston)


Last month we shared the sad news of the motorcycle accident of JD Marston in Thailand which has resulted in the amputation of his right leg below his knee.  He is now in Bangkok where he will be in rehabilitation for the next couple of months.  He has appreciated the prayers and support he has received.  Unfortunately we put an incorrect address for him in the last newsletter.  His correct email is jd@jdmarston.com if you would like to send him some prayers, love and any other support.  May Baba’s blessings fill his life.  Bhole Baba Ki Jai!




Calendar for 2012


April 27 - May 6 - Annual On-line Auction fundraiser for the Ashram.  Go to wwwbiddingforgoodcom/babajiashram to see all the items.


June 28 - July 3 - Annual Guru Purnima Celebration in Holland.


July 3 - Guru Purnima -  Paduka puja at 9:30am followed by a fire ceremony at 10am and a meal to follow.


July 21 and 22 - Annual American Samaj Weekend with fire ceremonies, chanting, satsang and meeting.


July 23 - 26 - Ashram Annual Family Week with concurrent workshop with Sofia Diaz.


October 15 - 23 - Fall Navratri - Divine Mother Festival with daily fire ceremonies, pujas, discourses, reading, chanting and other  ceremonies.


November 13 - Diwali, Festival of Lights 




Maha Lakshmi Shop Report


One of our most abundant items in the shop are our many t-shirts.  Not only do we have the beautiful ones of the Divine Mother and Babaji, we now have new ones with Om Namah Shivaya, Truth, Simplicity and Love and several others.  Some are on special at only $5!  Call us for specifics.


As many of you may have noticed, we are having trouble with our Shop website.  We still have plenty of wonderful items in the Shop but now an email or phone call will have to be used unless you visit us in person.  We are hoping to get a new site set up but this will take some time and energy.  So just call us (every day from 10am until 5pm Mountain Time) at 719-256-4108 with your order, questions and a credit card number like in the olden days.  It is really nice to connect in this way, we love to talk to you.  We accept Visa, Mastercard or Discover.


The Shop is a major support of the Ashram, so we deeply appreciate your patronage.


Maha Lakshmi Mata Ki Jai!

 

May, 2012